Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 21

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 21

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).

In 1894 Mr. Miller married Lydia A. Snyder, daughter of George and Sarah ( Deppen) Snyder, of Greenbrier, Northumberland county, in which locality Mr. Snyder was born. Mrs. Miller was left in comfortable circumstances, and made her home at Herndon until her death, which occurred May 5, 1910. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder : Alexander, who lived in the Mahan- tango Valley, and died in 1910; Charlotte, widow of Peter Ziegler; William, deceased, who lived in Snyder county ; Mary, who married William Otto, both being now deceased ; James F .. a resident of Jackson township, Northumberland county; Isa- iah, of Millersburg, Pa .; and Lydia A., who mar- ried Edward. S. Miller.

James F. Snyder, son of George, was born in December, 18-14, and followed farming all his ac- tive life. He married Anna Witmer, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Rehrer) Witmer, and they have five children, Maggie (married Grant Lem- on), Anna (married David Lower), William, Charles and Clarence.

deputy protlionotary of Northumberland county, and the brothers James and Isaac J. Reitz, cousins of Benjamin F., all of whom are numbered among the most respected residents of that borough.

Andreas ( Andrew) Reitz came from Berks county, Pa., and settled in what is now Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland county.

Jacob Reitz, son of Andreas, was born Jan. 30, 1782, in Upper Mahanoy township, in territory now embraced in Washington township. He was a farmer and a prosperous one, owning what are now the farms of Andrew L. Bucher and Emanuel Kiehl, of Jackson township. On the latter proper- ty hie built a sawmill which he operated success- fully for some years. He died Sept. 26, 1838, and was buried at St. Peter's church, in Jackson, near Washington township. His wife, Anna Maria (Hepler), a native of Hepler, Schuylkill Co., Pa., is buried at the Stone Church. They were the parents of the following named children : Jacob lived in Jefferson county, Pa .; Benjamin (born July 19, 1808, died Jan. 11, 1838) lived in Wash- ington township; Isaac H. is mentioned below ; Zetic (born 1829, died 1855) is buried at Himmel's Church; Joseph lived at Trevorton, Northumber- land county; Samuel is mentioned below: Daniel was a farmer of Little Mahanoy township; Katie (deceased) was the wife of John Fegley; Maricha married George Miller and they lived in Jefferson county, Pa .; Lydia married Henry Dressler and they lived in Center county, Pa .; Mrs. Seiler lived in Schuylkill county.

Isaac H. Reitz, son of Jacob, was born Sept. 10. 1818, on the old Reitz homestead near Mahanoy Church, now owned by Andrew L. Bucher. He learned the trade of house carpenter, which he followed, but he was better known in his capacity of undertaker, having been the only one in that business for miles around his home, which was near the Mahanoy Church. The Mahanoy ceme- tery was once part of his land. He conducted many funerals in his time. He was also known as an extensive dealer in cattle and horses, having been thus engaged for fifty-three years. buying cattle west of the Alleghenies and bringing them overland to Northumberland county, where he found a market for them. He sold herds in Berks county at private sales. A prosperous man in all his enterprises, he owned the farm which Is now the property of his son Galen and also his own homestead, another tract comprising seventy-three acres, and several acres of woodland. He was active in the public affairs of his day, serving as overseer of the poor. school director, constable and assessor, was a Democrat in politics, and a member

REITZ. Among the representatives of the Reitz family in Sunbnrv are Benjamin F. Reitz, of St. Peter's Church at Mahanoy, which he served officially. He was also superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. Mr. Reitz died in the neighborhood where he had passed all his life Nov. 14, 1894. aged seventy-six years, two

588

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

months, four days, and is buried at Krebs (St. that capacity has become particularly well known Peter's ) Church. "Krebs" is the local name for this in official circles, his able discharge of the duties church, and. "St. Peter's" is the corporate name.

Mr. Reitz was twice married. His first marriage was to Lydia Lenker, of Stone Valley, who was born July 18, 1825, and died March 5, 1852. She is buried at St. Peter's Church, at Mahanoy. Three children were born to this union, two sons and one daughter, namely: Gilbert, who died at Mt. Carmel: Carolinc (deceased), who was the wife of Levius Keeler, of Freeburg, Snyder county ; and Lewis, who died at Olean, N. Y. For his second wife Mr. Reitz married Susan Miller, daughter of John Miller, of Gratztown, Lykens Valley, Dauphin Co., Pa., who died June 24, 1899, aged seventy-one years, seven months, thirteen days. His children by this marriage were as fol- lows: Reuben is deceased ; Lovina married (first) Edward Kantz, and (second) Morris Reitz, and they live in Sunbury; Galen is mentioned below ; Lydia married William Kiehl and they live at Tower City, Pa .; Jolin, who lives at Harrisburg, married Alice Bingaman ; Jane . (deceased ) mar- ried Isaiah Wetzel and lived in Shamokin; Benja- . min Franklin is mentioned below ; Ellen married. Benjamin W. Stepp, of Washington township; and Samuel died young.

GALEN REITZ, son of Isaac H. Reitz, was born June 19, 1857, in Washington township, this coun- ty, where he still lives. He was reared to farm ,life and worked for his parents until he reached the age of twenty-six years, after which he began farming near Mahanoy Church, where he has ever since resided. He has a forty-six-acre farm, the produce of which he markets at Trevorton, where he makes a weekly trip. His property is well culti- vated and valuable, and has good buildings, the barn built in 1877 and the house in 1890. He has served six years as school director of Washington township and since 1906 as overseer of the poor, and he is much respected in the neighborhood for his intelligent public services as well as liis able management of his private affairs. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Reitz and his family are Lutheran members of the Mahanoy church, which he has served as deacon, elder and (for four years) trustee.

On Dec. 18, 1876, Mr. Reitz married Lucinda Shipe, daughter of Samuel and Hettie (Herner) Shipe, the former a blacksmith and farmer, and granddaughter of Jacob Shipe, who was a farmer of Lower Augusta township. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reitz: Emma, married to Jefferson Wynn, of Lower Augusta township; Minnie I., unmarried : Isaac S., who married Han- nah Grieger and resides in Harrisburg; Mary A .: Selvia M .: Frances I. : Harvey ; and Samuel, Ber- tha and Claude, all thirce of whom died young. .

BENJAMIN F. REITZ has been deputy protliono- tary of Northumberland county since 1906, and in

of his position having won him the favorable recognition of all who have come in contact withi lim. Mr. Reitz was born in Washington township Sept. 8, 1868, and there began his education in the public schools. Later he was a pupil at the old Freeburg Academy, in Snyder county, also attending a select school at Milton, where he was under the tuition of Professors Wolverton and Goho. He was next engaged at teaching for three terms in the public schools, and two summers in a select school at Elysburg, this county, after which he took a course at the State Normal School at Kutztown, from which he was graduated in 1890. For the next two years he taught at Landingville, Schuylkill county. Then he went to the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he was graduated in 1892, after which he was en- gaged for some time as clerk at the Broad street station, in Philadelphia, Pa. Returning to Elys- burg he taught for seven years or until 1900, when he was appointed assistant clerk in the commis- sioners' office, in 1903 receiving appointment as clerk in the protlionotary's office. In January. 1906, he was appointed deputy prothonotary under Thomas Lawler, and was re-appointed by the pres- ent incumbent, Ira T. C. Dissinger, having filled the position with fidelity and skill, and he is now bookkeeper for the Sunbury Trust & Safe Deposit Co. Mr. Reitz is well and favorably known in the local councils of the Democratic party. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Elysburg and to the Encampment at Sunbury, and in religion is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has the old Reitz family Bible.

On Dec. 31, 1901, Mr. Reitz married Emma L. Reed, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Trego) Reed, of Elysburg, and granddaughter of Jacob Reed. They have an adopted son, Clyde, who was born in 1901.

Samuel Reitz, father of James and Isaac J. Reitz, of Sunbury, lived in Upper Augusta town- ship, in Hollowing Run, and in Lower Mahanoy and later in Little Mahanov, which was his home at the time of his death. He followed farming, and in connection therewith worked at his trade, shoemaking. He died in Little Mahanoy township at the home of his brother Daniel, whom he was visiting, and is buried at Little Mahanoy Church. Mr. Reitz was twice married. His first wife was Kate Reed, by whom he had three children, Kit- tie. Mary and Daniel, his second wife being Har- riet Jones, daughter of Capt. William R. Jones, who was postmaster at Fisher's Ferry for some years. She died Sept. 13, 1883, aged sixty-three years, five months, twenty-eight days, and is buried in the River cemetery, at Fisher's Ferry. They had two children, James and Isaac J.

589

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

JAMES REITZ, son of Samuel, a prosperous busi- Freemasons, belonging to Lodge No. 22. F. & A. · ness man of Sunbury, was born July 1, 1857, in M., Northumberland Chapter, No. 174, R. A. M., Lower Augusta township, where he spent his early and Mount Hermon Commandery, No. 85, K. T., boyhood days. From the age of seven he has lived all of Sunbury; and to Lodge No. 237, B. P. O. Elks, also of Sunbury. in Lower Augusta township and Sunbury. After reaching manhood he learned the trade of tinsmith, On June 1. 1882, Mr." Reitz married Annie Arnold, daughter of Henry and Margaret ( Keefer) Arnold, of Lower Augusta township. They have had one daughter, Maud May, now the wife of Wil- liam Conrad, a clerk in the Sunbury National Bank. Mr. Reitz and his family are members of which he followed in Sunbury for seven years, later taking up slating, to which he now devotes most of his time. He is engaged in job work and contracting in Sunbury and the vicinity, where he has built up a profitable trade. Mr. Reitz's experience as a tinsmith aids him considerably the Reformed Church.

in his present line of work, and he has a particular- ly good reputation as a reliable roofer. He is a Democrat in political opinion, but not active in politics.

ISAAC J. REITZ, an energetic and enterprising citizen of Sunbury, whose various business inter- ests bring him into contact with a large proportion of the residents of that borough, was born July 1, 1863, in Lower Mahanoy township, this county. where he attended public school, and when eighteen commenced to learn the plumber's trade at Sun- bury, where he has followed it continuously since. His business has extended until he not only is fully equipped to fill plumbing and heating con- tracts of all kinds, but also does a large business as a dealer in stoves and tinware, carrying the larg- est and most complete stock of tinware in the town at his store, No. 515 Market street. He has always been a leader in the plumbing business, and in that line alone gives regular employment to four men, having in all ten men employed in the conduct of his various branches of business. He has the local selling agency for the Mitchell automobile, his ter- ritory covering Northumberland, Snyder, Union and Montour counties, and in this connection con- ducts a garage at No. 435 Market street, in .Sun- bury. Mr. Reitz was the first to introduce mov- ing pictures in Sunbury, and he owns and con- duets the Lyric theatre, one of the leading estab- lishments. of the kind in the borough. which he has found a profitable investment. He is a large owner of real estate. Mr. Reitz is thorough in ev- erything he undertakes, and has shown himself progressive in every line of work he has entered. The fact that he engaged in the moving picture and automobile lines, and made a success of botlı, is sufficient evidence that he has an intelligent comprehension of the needs of the dav. The man- ner in which he has developed his original line of business would be a credit to any workman. In both mercantile and mechanical lines he has fol- lowed its possibilities to the limits of usefulness and convenience, to his own profit and the benefit of his townspeople.

Mr. Reitz has represented the Ninth ward in the town council. and is a Democrat in political con- nection. He is a member of the Elks and the

KEARNEY. This is a name which has been represented in Shamokin, Northumberland coun- ty, since 1865, when Matthew Kearney, father of the brothers Matthew A. and William E. Kearney, both of whom are now engaged in the hotel busi- ness in that borough, made a permanent home there. Though he died but a few years later he became a very well known resident of the place, He spent his youth in Lower Augusta township, and his sons have all been useful and successful citizens, all but one still residing in Shamokin.

The Kearney family is of Irish origin, Patrick Kearney, the grandfather of Matthew A. and Wil- liam E. Kearney, having been born in County Mayo, Ireland. Matthew Kearney, son of Patrick, was born in Ireland, and came to America in the early part of 1847 with his mother, wife and three sisters. He first located in Clintonville, Mass., but soon moved to the anthracite coal regions of Penn- sylvania, living for a time in Luzerne county. later in Carbon county, and in 1850 coming to North- umberland county, where he made his home at Trevorton for a number of years. In 1865 he removed to Shamokin, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. He was a miner and con- tractor, driving tunnels in connection with the mining of coal, and had the reputation of being an expert in that line, having driven many of the large tunnels in the early development of the coal industry in the vicinity of Shamokin. At the time of his death, which occurred Oct. 31. 1820. he was serving as tax collector of Shamokin, having been elected on the Democratic ticket.

Mr. Kearney married Ann Devitt, who sur- vived him many years, dying March 25, 1889, and they are buried at Shamokin. They had a family of eleven children, six of whom survive: Matthew A; William E .; Daniel, a detective, who has long been connected with the police force in Chicago, Ill. : Annie, wife of J. F. MeLaughlin. of Wilkes- Barre, Pa .; James J., attorney at law, of Sham- okin : and Bridget; of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

MATTHEW A. KEARNEY, son of Matthew and Am ( Devitt) Kearney, was born Aug. 19. 1856, at Trevorton, Northumberland county. Hc re- ceived his education in the schools of Coal town- ship. When a boy he commenced work as a slate picker at the breaker, in time becoming a miner,

590

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and he worked as such in the collieries about Sham- okin for a period of twenty years. . He has since largely in real estate in this locality on his own ac- been interested in the hotel business with the ex- count and in the interest of others. In the fall of 1898 he was awarded the contract by the borougli ception of about three years during which he lived retired. His first venture in this line was the of Shamokin for the paving of Independence street, "Keystone House," which he conducted for some its principal thoroughfare, the contract amounting to abont twenty thousand dollars. In March, 1889, Mr. Kearney and his brother Matthew, in associ- time, later becoming proprietor of Kearney's Cafe, on Independence street, Shamokin, opposite the Philadelphia & Reading railroad station. : He ation with W. E. Deibert, organized the Shamokin ran this establishment for four years, after which Lock & Novelty Manufacturing Company, a con-

he lived retired for three years, in July, 1908, be- cern which has had a most prosperous existence. In 1905 Mr. Kearney purchased the "Edgewood Hotel," in Shamokin, which has since enjoyed a large patronage, and in 1909 he leased and opened the "Loraine Hotel," at the corner of Spruce and Market streets, in the same borough. His sue- cess in this line has been gratifying, and since he coming proprietor of the "Exchange Hotel," which he still conducts, together with an excellent cafe. This hotel enjoys a large patronage, which under Mr. Kearney's management has widened to an appreciable degree. He has thirty-five rooms, and the house is well equipped to cater to those who value comfort and good service. Mr. Kearney has has had both establishments he has had special fa- the disposition necessary to success as a hotel land- lord, anticipating the wants of his guests and be-

eilities for catering to the comfort of his guests, who appreciate his obliging service and show their ing most accommodating in supplying them. He appreciation by their continued support.

is affable and courteous in his dealings with his

In 1909 Mr. Kearney entered into a new branch guests and thoroughly business-like in all that per- of business, one entirely different from anything tains to their well-being. He is a Demoerat, a else he had undertaken, but in which he has met member of St. Edward's Catholic Church, of the with the same success which has attended his pre- Shamokin Lodge of Elks and of the Aneient Order of Hibernians.

vious enterprises. He began the growing of mush- rooms, to the cultivation of which he now has

In 1890 Mr. Kearney married Ellen Moser, about 6,000 feet of ground devoted, finding a large daughter of Henry Moser, of Philadelphia, who fol- demand for his output in the Philadelphia and lowed a. seafaring life: he was a member of the New York City markets as well as a good local Moser family. that had valuable land holdings in trade. Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Kearney have had three children: Loretta, born in 1892; Matthew, born in 1894; and Lillian, who died in infancy.

As may be judged from a mere mention of the varions lines in which he has been interested, Mr. Kearney has always been a very busy and enter- prising man, for he has worked industriously and WILLIAM E. KEARNEY, son of Matthew and Ann (Devitt) Kearney, was born Jan. 11, 1859, in Trevorton. Northumberland county. He received his education in the public schools of Shamokin, and for several years after eommeneing work was engaged at the mines, beginning as a slate pieker intelligently to make his undertakings successful, and has succeeded. Moreover, he has found time to interest himself in polities and public affairs, having long been an enthusiastic worker in the Democratic party, taking active part in local, State and national conventions, and serving as delegate and rising through the various positions until he in the convention which nominated Jenks for gov-

ernor of Pennsylvania and as alternate to the eon- vention which nominated Polk for Congress. In 1890 Mr. Kearney was elected justice of the peaee, in which office he served two successive terms, until 1900.

became a full-fledged miner, in which capacity he was employed for two years. He was not content, however, and in August, 1881, he went to New York City in the hope of finding more congenial employment. He soon became an apprentice at the barber's trade, which he not only learned in all

On April 28, 1892, Mr. Kearney married Mar- the ordinary branches but also that of hair dress- garet Sweeney, and to their union have been born ing, as well as the manufacture of hair jewelry, five children: Matthew Wilfred A. : Daniel Web- wigs, etc. After two years in New York City he ster: Mary Margaret Adela; Louise, and Loraine.

returned to Shamokin, where he started in the business on his own account, conducting a large hair dressing establishment and also making wigs and all kinds of hair jewelry and ornamental work. He built up a large trade, having a reputation for superior and conscientious work which brought him a most profitable patronage. Meantime, as he prospered, he acquired large real estate interests . in the borongh of Shamokin and the surrounding

neighborhood of Coal township, and he has dealt

FRANK H. STROUSS. attorney at law, a eiti- zen of the borough of Mount Carmel, was born there Feb. 24. 1878. son of Solomon Stronss. The Strouss family has been settled in this section of Pennsylvania since the time of his great-grand- father, Jacob Strouss, who was born near Strouds- burg. Monroe county, and was a pioneer of Mon- tour county, settling about two miles from the

---

-----

1 :

-----

591

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

town of Exchange. He was a millwright, and fol- borough in 1908, and enjoys the confidence of his lowed his trade for some time, but farming was friends and fellow citizens generally, his success his principal occupation in this region, and he be- being recognized as the well earned reward of earn- came very prosperous, owning three farms. He est endeavor and conscientious devotion to duty. lived retired many years before his death, which Mr. Strouss married Gertrude Morse, daughter occurred in March, 1868, when he was ninety-two of George, of Mount Carmel, and they have one years old. His wife was Catherine Newhart, and they are buried at Turbutville, Northumberland county. They had children as follows: Charles, David, Jonathan, Levi, Aaron, Annie (married Henry Shoop) and Rebecca (married Jacob Springer).

child, Carleton M., born Sept. 30, 1906. Socially Mr. Strouss is a member of Lodge No. 378, F. & A. M., of Mount Carmel, of the F. O. E., and of the Bar Association. In religion he is a Luth- eran, and in politics a Democrat, quite active in his party.

CHARLES A. BARRON, who has been en- gaged in the, drug business at Shamokin since 1883, is one of the best known men in his line in that part of Northumberland county. His trade is large and well established and his reputation as a druggist and in a business way is of the high- est.

Mr. Barron was born June 22, 1855, at Potts- ville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., son of Daniel Barron. His paternal grandfather brought his family from France to America and settled in Pine valley, near Hegins, Schuylkill county. There he died.

Daniel Barron came to America with his par- ents. He became a blacksmith by trade, and while living at Pottsville engaged in wagonmaking, Later he settled at Elysburg, Northumberland

only a common school education and learned the gaining considerable fame and success in that line. butcher's. trade, which he followed about three years at Mount Carmel. . His next employment county, where he followed farming as well as gen- was as shipping clerk at the Alaska colliery, and he `eral blacksmithing, prospering by industry, con- was later at the Reliance, remaining in the employ of the Reading Company about twenty-eight years, during which long service he became one of the trusted men. He died in 1909 and is buried at the Alaska cemetery. Mr. Strouss married Chris- tian Reinard. of Mount Carmel, where she still resides. They had the following children : Frank H., Ida M .. Carrie G. and Grover Shindel.

Frank H. Strouss is a self-made man, having gained his education and attained his present standing through his own efforts. Beginning as a slate picker at the collieries, he continued his studies in the local schools and graduated at the . Mount Carmel high school in 1896, after which he entered Dickinson Law School, at Carlisle, where he was graduated in 1898, with the degree of LL. B. He also read law in the office of Hon. Voris Auten, at Mount Carmel, and was admitted to the bar of Northumberland county Dec. 4, 1900, and to practice in the Superior court Jan. 5. 1903. On Jan. 1. 1903, he began his practice at Mount . Carmel in the P. O. S. of A. building, where he is still located. During his school and college days Mr. Strouss continued to work at the collieries at different times until 1900, from which time until 1903 he was in the prothonotary's office at Sun- bury. He has obtained a most creditable clientele in the locality, served as solicitor of Mount Carmel Shamokin Banking Company.

tinued to the end of his active days. He served as captain of a military company of Schuylkill county. Mr. Barron died at the age of eighty-four years, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Kelley, and his wife, Margaret, died Jan. 1, 1893, aged sixty-nine years, ten months, eight days; they are buried at Reed's church. They had children as follows : Theodore F., who is in the insurance and real estate business at Ashland, Pa .; Curtis H., who went West when a young man and is now liv- ing in South Dakota, practicing as an attorney at Jaw ; Clara E., wife of William Krause: Charles A .; and Mrs. Kelley, wife of Dr. J. J. Kelley.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 21

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