Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 22

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 22

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).

Charles A. Barron attended public school at Elysburg and in 1822 came to Shamokin, where he has continued to make his home to the present time. He began work as a clerk in the employ of the late William R. Kutzner, with whom he re- mained eleven years, until he went into business for himself. In September, 1883, he formed a partnership with Dr. Robins and Dr. Weaver, the firm being known as C. A. Barron & Co. This association lasted for nine years, when the firm became Barron & Robbins, continuing as such until 1908, when Mr. Barron became sole pro- prietor. His well known store is at No. 610 North Shamokin street. Mr. Barrou is a director of the

Jonathan Strouss, son of Jacob, born in 1816, lived in Montour county, for some time at Comly. By occupation lie was a farmer. He died at Com- ly Oct. 9, 1888, aged seventy-two years, seven months, and his wife, Sarah Truckenmiller, born in 1818, daughter of Solomon and Mary (Schwartz) Truckenmiller, passed away Sept. 6, 1902, aged eighty-four years, nine months, twenty- six days. Mr. and Mrs. Strouss are buried at Tur- butville, this county. Their children were: Ja- cob Henry married Esther Reedy and they live at Muncy; David is living at Muncy; Solomon is mentioned below : John E. married Martha Cal- lins ; Mary married John Koons.

Solomon Strouss was born in Lewis township, Northumberland county, in 1845. He received .

---------------

592

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

On May 4, 1882, Mr. Barron married Mary E. was graduated in 1899, with the degree of A. B., Jones, daughter of the late Enoch Jones, and a and for a year after he taught the high school member of a family widely and favorably known at Turbutville, meantime reading law with C. B. in Shamokin. Three children have been born to this union : Howard Curtis, an attorney at law, now located at Wheeling, W. Va. ; Charles A., Jr., a druggist, who is with his father; and Ruth Eliza- beth.

Witmer, Esq., at Sunbury. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1902, and in the fall of that year established himself in the borough of Shamokin. His offices are in the Masonic Temple building. At the election held Nov. 7, 1907, Mr. Deibler was Mr. Barron is a member of Lodge No. 355, B. chosen to the office of district attorney by a ma- P. O. Elks, of Shamokin, and of the following Ma- sonic bodies : Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. jority of 2,265, and had the distinction of being the first successful Republican candidate for the M .; Shamokin Chapter. No. 264. R. A. M .; office in thirty-six years. This circumstance alone Shamokin Commandery, No. 77, K. T. ; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading.

would indicate the measure of his popularity and the confidence in which he is held by those among whom he is pursuing his life work.

AMOS K. DEIBLER, district attorney of

Mr. Deibler is very well known in the fraternal Northumberland county, has been engaged in legal bodies in Shamokin, holding membership in Sham- okin Lodge; No. 255, F. & A. M .; Shamokin Chapter, No. 265, R. A. M .; in Bloomsburg Con-

practice at Shamokin since 1902, and was elected to his present position in 1907. Mr. Deibler was born Feb. 11, 1869, in Shamokin township, this sistory, thirty-second degrec; in the Temple Club ; county, where his grandfather, George Deibler, the I. O. O. F .; the Red Men; the Sons of Veter- was a pioneer settler.

ans; the F. O. E .; and the P. O. S. of A. His

George Deibler was born in Dauphin county, religious connection is with the Methodist church. Pa., and came to Northumberland county about On April 21, 1901, Mr. Deibler married Ella 1812, locating in Shamokin township, where he Farrow, daughter of William and Isabella (Wil- purchased land in 1813 and followed farming the kenson) Farrow, and they have had one daughter, remainder of his active days. He was one of the Isabella. substantial and respected residents of his section, and Deiblers Station, in Shamokin township, was SAMUEL H. RUTHRAUFF, one of the leading contractors of Sunbury, Northumberland county, named for him. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Bastian, are buried at the Brick Church. has been a resident of that borough since 1882. at Reed's Station. They had children as follows: He began business on his own account in 1894, and Daniel, William, Jonathan, John, George. Susan, Hannah, Rebecca, Harriet and Catharine.

John Deibler, son of George, was born in Shamokin township in 1836. He learned the trade of stone and brick mason, which he followed until he was about forty years old, after which he devoted himself to farming, on property he still owns, about a half mile south of Deibler's station. He retired in the year 1903, moving to Snydertown, where he now makes his home. Mr. Deibler has long been a stanch Republican in po-

has been identified with a number of important building operations, his work standing the tests for substantial and reliable construction. Mr. Ruthrauff was born in Union county, Pa., on Little Buffalo creek, Oct. 12, 1845, and is a son of Daniel Ruthrauff and grandson of Henry Ruth- rauff.

Henry Ruthrauff was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 11, 1767, and spent his earlier life in his native State. Going to Baltimore, Md., he learned shipbuilding, and continued to live there litical sentiment, and he served the Union as a until about 1795, when he settled in Union county, soldier during the Civil war. He was township

Pa .. at the junction of Little Buffalo and Big" treasurer before his removal to Snydertown. To Buffalo creeks. He moved from Baltimore by him and his wife, Sarah (Reed), daughter of Jolın I. and Sarah (Arter) Reed, have been born nine children, namely: Grant, who died in in- fancy; Alineda, married to Frank Wighington, of Snydertown; Amos K. ; William F., who is now superintendent of boiler works at San Francisco, Cal. ; John E., a contractor and builder, of South Carolina: H. S., living in Sunbury, this county; Thomas J., of Snydertown ; George W., and Agnes. The two last named are still living with their parents.

Amos K. Deibler received his early education in the public schools of the home locality. Later he attended Bucknell University, from which he

wagon, and was considered a wealthy man in his day, having two "kegs" full of gold money when he came into this region. He had a tract of about three hundred acres in White Deer township, and was one of the earliest settlers in that district. He followed farming the remainder of his life, cleared all his land, built a barn on his place, and about 1815 put up a frame house thercon, which is still standing and in a good state of preservation. Mr. Ruthrauff died June 3, 1824, quite suddenly. while engaged in hewing a watering trough out of a log. His wife, Magdeline Renninger, a native of Cumberland county, Pa., born May 20, 1768, died June 5, 1838, and they are buried at old

593

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

White Deer Church. He was a Lutheran, a inen- mother of Mother L., Dora A., M. Abbie, Morris ber and supporter of White Deer Church, and a and Virginia) ; Daniel R., who is now an invalid, strict man in his own life and in the discipline living in Sunbury, married Sarah Doek, of Snyder of his children. He and his wife were the parents county, and they have a daughter, Ida L .; Didama P. is unmarried. of a family of fourteen, several of whom died young, of smallpox, and were buried in the garden

Samuel Hİ. Ruthrauff was born and reared on near the home. We have record of the following: the old Ruthrauff homestead and received his Elizabeth married John High; Henry married Elizabeth Seibert, and after living for a time in Union county they moved to Seneca Falls, where : he died; Sallie married William Dieffenbacher, and they lived near Salladasburg, Pa .; David lived in New York State; Samuel married a Miss Pontius and they lived near Seneca Falls, N. Y .; Nancy married Jacob Buser and they moved to Warren, Ill. (she lived to be ninety-three years, six months old) ; Solomon married Lydia Mill- house and moved out to Freeport, Ill., where he accumulated a large fortune; Hannah married George Matthews, and they lived and died at Canoga, N. Y .; Daniel was the father of Samuel H. Ruthrauff.

education in the country schools of the locality. He was trained to carpentry from early boyhood, and when twenty years old began to follow it as a journeyman, in the oil regions in Venango county, this State. In 1882 he came to Sunbury and be- came foreman for George Keffer, contractor, for whom he worked a number of years, in 1894 be- ginning to take contracts on his own account. Since that time he has filled many important con- tracts. He has built the two United Evangelical churches; the- Catholic church and rectory; the A. W. Pontius store and residence; the fine resi- dences of the two members of the firm of Blank & Gottshall; two of the leading school buildings of the borough-the Lloyd T. Rohrbach building

Daniel Ruthrauff was born May 29, 1813, in (1909), and the Francis E. Drumheller building Union county, and in his youth learned the car- (1910), said to be one of the finest buildings in the eastern part of the State; and many other structures-about four hundred all told. While in the employ of Mr. Keffer he worked all over the State, but his work has been principally in Sunbury since he began business for himself. He is one of the most progressive and energetic busi- ness men in the borough, thoroughly up-to-date in his line, in which he is considered a most reliable authority. He served nine years as a member of the council from the Eighth ward, and was chair- man of the street committee three years, a posi- tion for which he proved himself highly qualified. Mr. Ruthrauff has had a most successful career, and his prosperity has been brought about by the most honorable methods and creditable trans- actions, gaining him the confidence and respect of his patrons and all who know him. · penter's trade, becoming a skillful woodworker .. He had an inventive mind and possessed mechani- cal genius of a high order and a good intellect, but he never developed his abilities to any extent or made great profits out of his undoubted talents. He. invented the fly net cutting machine, and hav- ing shown it to a family who foresaw its possi- bilities was asked to let them keep it a few days. They stole the invention, had it patented, and bc- came rich in its manufacture. Mr. Ruthrauff was a useful citizen, taking an intelligent interest in all the affairs of his day, in which he was some- thing of a leader,. being a lieutenant of the Mc- Ewensville. Light Horse Cavalry in its palmiest days, and the last captain of the old State militia. He was courageous, patriotic and public-spirited, a man who held the respect of all who knew him. In his earlier life a Whig, he became a Republican On Dec. 23, 1875, Mr. Ruthrauff married Lydia Hummer, daughter of Joseph Hummer (who came from New Jersey) and sister of John W. Hummer. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Ruthrauff worship at the Methodist Church, and socially he belongs to Lodge No. 96, B. P. O. E., Lodge No. 620, I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Malta (charter member), all of Sunbury. Politically he is a Republican. His home is at No. 101 Cata- wissa avenue. upon the organization of the new party, and in religion he was a Methodist. He served many years as school director of White Deer township. Mr. Ruthrauff married Judith Ann High, who was born Jan. 6, 1815, daughter of Samuel High, and died Nov. 21, 1902, on the sixty-third anni- versary of her marriage. Mr. Ruthrauff died Nov. 3, 1876, . and they are buried at Pomfret Manor cemetery, Sunbury. They had the follow- ing children: William H. H. died in infancy; Mary C. married Joseph Nicklin (he was cap-

REV. JOHN F. RUTHRAUFF (brother of Henry tured while serving in the Confederate army and Ruthrauff, mentioned above as grandfather of Sam- taken to Elinira, where he remained until ex- uel H. Ruthrauff, of Sunbury) was a pioncer mis- sionary minister and head of a famous family of American Lutheran pastors, his sons Frederick and changed, after which he fought in a New York regiment) ; Samuel H. is mentioned below ; David L. died when four years old ; Annie married John Jonathan becoming eminent preachers ( the former W. Hummer and lived in Rush township, North- serving congregations in southeastern Pennsylvania umberland county (she died July 16, 1886, the and Maryland for nearly forty years, and the latter 38

594

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

serving for twenty-five years), and his grandson part in the affairs of Dauphin county. He served William P. filling important pulpits in Ohio and

several terms, as county commissioner and was Indiana ; his great-grandson, Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff, known as Republican leader of the upper end of 1). D., was the honored president of Carthage and Wittenberg Colleges. the county. One of his sons, Philip C. Swab, filled the office of register and recorder for two terins and was otherwise identified with public matters in Dauphin eounty during his residence there. Subsequently he removed to Hartranft. Tenn., where lie became interested in the coal and inining business, his son, Daniel C. Swab, becom- ing his associate in that line. The latter was ad- mitted to the bar and attained an eminent posi- tion, being now State senator from Tennessee.

John F. Ruthrauff was born Jan. 14, 1764, in . Northampton eounty, Pa., and his parents were pious German immigrants who early impressed him with religious truths. He did not commence his regular theological training, however, until 1790, and lie preached his first sermon in 1:93. During the next two years he had charge of several churches in York eounty, and subsequently preach- . ed for a season at Carlisle. His biographer tells us that in June, 1195, "he received and accepted a call for the Green Castle congregation and several others, in some of which he labored upwards of forty years." His charge embraced MeConnells- burg, London, Mereersburg, Waynesboro, Quincy,

Allen Swab, son of Eli, was born March 16, 1845. He is a prominent citizen of Elizabethville. Dauphin county, and connected with some of the most important industrial and financial institu- tions of his region, being treasurer of the Eagle Tanning Company. of Elizabethville, and a direc- Smoketown, Jaeob's Church and several in Wash- tor of the First National Bank of Millersburg, ington county, Md. He also preached in the that county. He was formerly president of the neighborhood of Emmitsburg, MId., and for a time at Chambersburg, and continued to supply the

Lykens Valley Bank of Elizabethville. He is a large owner of real estate, his holdings including congregation at Carlisle and another about twelve part of the original Swab homestead in the Lykens miles from Harrisburg. This was distant from valley, iu Dauphin county, upon which the pioneer of the family in that section, Jacob Schwab, lo- his home about fifty miles, and he made the journey onee every month. Some of his eongre- cated about the time of the Revolution, coming gations were fifteen or twenty miles apart, and a

from Reading, Berks county. Mr. Swab owns 100

high mountain separated two of the churches he aeres of the homestead place, which was a traet had to serve on the same Sabbath. As soon as he of 241 acres, for which his ancestor paid nine left the pulpit he mounted his horse, with his din- hundred pounds in English money. He is a man ner in his hand, that he might be able to meet the of proved ability, conservative but progressive. one who holds the confidence of his fellow citizens and is looked upon as a substantial and reliable member of the community in every respect. He is a stanch Republican, and has held a number of local public offices. seeond appointment of the day. He had a vigorous constitution and great powers of endurance, so that he was well fitted for the work of the mis- sionary pioneer. A score or more ministers are now engaged in serving the field which Mr. Ruth- rauff then occupied alone. This devoted servant of the Master continued his labors as pastor until the year before his death. He died Dec. 18, 1837, in the seveuty-fourth year of his age. His last words were "Victory, vietory, the Lord is here." -The above is taken from the "Lutheran Woman's Work," September, 1909.

MARK L. SWAB, of Sunbury. deputy county treasurer of Northumberland county. has been serving iu his present position since Jan. 1. 1909, under Treasurer William M. Lloyd. Previously he had made a high reputation in the milling busi- ness and ranked among the most progressive and successful young business men of the borough, where he has resided since 1902. Mr. Swab is a native of Dauphin county, Pa., born Jan. 18, 1880, at Elizabethville, and comes of an old family of that section whose members have occupied high place in business and political circles for many years.

Eli Swab. son of John Jaeob Swab and grand- father of Mark L. Swab, took a very prominent

Mr. Swab married Ann Eliza Lehman, daugh- ter of John and Dinah ( Koppenhaver) Lennan, the former a farmer of Mifflin township, Dauphin county, and they have had three children: Laura M., deceased. who was the wife of Rev. W. Penn Barr, of Weatherly, Carbon Co., Pa. ; Elenora, mar- ried to I. W. Matter and living in West Fairview, Cumberland Co., Pa. : and Mark L.

Mark L. Swab lived on the old Swab homestead until he was sixteen years old, and received his early education in the common schools of Eliza- betliville. He subsequently entered the University of Philadelphia, where he took the business course, graduating in 1899. and was later a student at the Banks Business College in Philadelphia. For two years Mr. Swab was in the employ of the United States Express Company at Wilmington, Del., as billing clerk, and for three years after completing his commercial training he was with the Eagle Tanning Company at Elizabethville, as secretary. Selling out his interests in that eoncern, he came to Sunbury in 1902, and for about a year there- after was engaged by the Susquehanna Silk Mill

-------

----

595

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

as bookkeeper. He then entered the milling busi- C. Gugel, of Mobile, Ala .; Nellie, Mrs. Kahler, of ness, leasing the historic old Haas mill, which he Jacksonville, Fla .; and Josephine, at home. conducted for a period of five and a half years as the Sunbury Roller Mills, making a decided suc- cess of the venture. This mill was built in 1837 by MeCarty & Davis, in the extreme eastern end of Sunbury near Shamokin creek, near the site where, before 1:24, stood the first mill erected within the present limits of Northumberland coun- ty. It is a substantial brick structure, and the milling was done originally, perforce, by water power. The equipment was changed from time to time to keep up with the progress of the day, and in 1887 was remodeled to a modern system. Dur- ing Mr. Swab's ownership it had all facilities necessary for an up-to-date flour mill, and the capacity was sixty barrels daily. His product had a high reputation and was in steady demand.

Mr. Swab, like most of his family, has been active in politics, and he is regarded as one of the local leaders of the party, for which lie has worked faithfully in many contests. He served two years as member of the borough council of Sunbury, and during his second year was president of that body, being chosen to that lionorable position after a fierce fight between the two factions. He is at present giving his energies to the duties of deputy county treasurer. Mr. Swab is one of the most prominent young men in Sunbury, well known so- cially as well as in business and official circles. He is a member of Lodge No. 22, F. & A. . M., of Sun- bury ; Northumberland Chapter, No. 174, R. A. M .; Mount Hermon Commandery, No. 85, K. T .; Lodge. No. 267, B. P. O. Elks, Sunbury ; and of the Modern Woodmen. He and his family belong to the Lutheran Church.

On May 25, 1904, Mr. Swab married Kate A. M. Stanley, daughter of Dr. A. G. Stanley, of Lykens, Pa., and they have had one daughter, Arlene May.

GEORGE O. ROBERTS, D. D. S., of Sham- okin, practicing dentist and secretary of the Sham- okin Dental Protective Society, is well known to the public and the profession in his cliosen line of work. He has been located in Shamokin since 1901.

George O. Roberts received his preparatory education in the schools of his native city. For his professional training he went to the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, from which institution he graduated in 1891. He began practice at Ashe- ville, N. C., where he was located for seven years, spending the next three years in the city of Phila- delphia, Pa. He also spent some time at Balti -* more and Williamsport before settling, in Septem- ber, 1901, at Shamokin, where he succeeded to the practice of Dr. A. A. Lay. Dr. Roberts does all kinds of mechanical and operative dentistry, be- ing thoroughly skilled in all the branches of his profession, as the result of both training and ex- perience. He devotes all his time and attention to its duties, and has built up a remarkably good practice, his work having the highest reputation. He has fine offices in the Llewellyn building, and liis equipment is modern and complete. The Doctor is up-to-date in all that pertains to his work, and the Shamokin Dental Protective So- ciety was organized in his office; he is serving as secretary of that body. The Doctor is lecturing knight for Shamokin Lodge of Elks, No. 335, of which he is a prominent member.

In 1907 Dr. Roberts married Jeanne May, daughter of the late Maj. James May, of Shamo- kin, and they have one daughter, Louisa. They reside at No. 223 Franklin street.

WILLIAM J. HIGGINS. of Mount Carmel, where he has been engaged in the furniture, un- dertaking and livery business for almost thirty years, is undoubtedly one of the best known citi- zens of his section of Northumberland county. During his long residence in the borough he has become interested in other lines of business, hav- ing since 1903 been a director of the Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and he has numerous social connections.

Mr. Higgins is a grandson of William Higgins. a native of Ireland, who came to America when a young man, some ninety years ago and settled in Schuylkill county, Pa. He was one of the pioneer settlers at Tamaqua, that region being in its primi- tive condition when he first made his home there.

Dr. Roberts was born Nov. 13, 1868, at Savan- nalı, Ga., where his father and grandfather lived John F. Higgins, son of William, was born in 183? in Tamaqua, and was long a well known resident of Shenandoah, Schuylkill county, where lie died in 1893. He learned the trade of molder, which he followed for some years, later, however, engaging in the shoe business. He served as tax collector of Shenandoah in 1891 and 1892, and was quite active in the work of the Democratic party in his locality. He married Margaret Franey, and to them were born the following and died. Henry Roberts, his father, was a well known business man of Savannah, being the lead- ing spirit of the Savannah Brick Manufacturing Company ; the grandfather was also a brick manu- facturer. Henry Roberts died in September, 1901, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, Mary (Puder), a native of New Orleans, La., still makes her home in Savannah. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts had six children : William H., who is now in New York; George O .; Lottie, wife of Dr. E. H.' named children : Alice, wife of Edward Ratchford. Rawles, living in North Dakota ; Ada, wife of W. of Shenandoah, Pa. : William J .; John F., Jr., of

596

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Shenandoah, who served as State senator from George, namely : Henry, John, George and Philip- the Thirtieth Senatorial distriet; George J., of If these Wolf's were of the same family as the Shamokin, local agent of the Philadelphia & Read- forefathers of David C. Wolf the records at hand ing road and also agent of the United States Ex- do not show the connection. press Company : Melissa M. : James C .; Nellic E .; Kate M .; Charles C .; and Julia A. Most of this family live in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.

William J. Higgins was born Dee. 11, 1861, at Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, where he received his early education. He then entered Villanova College, near Philadelphia, and in 1881 came to Mount Carmel, where he has since been located. He embarked in the furniture, undertaking and livery business, being one of the first in the borough to engage in undertaking, which has to the present been his specialty. He did not long continue the furniture line. During the thirty years he has been located in Mount Carmel he has conducted about thirty-five hundred funerals. He built his place of business, at No. 40 South Mar- ket street, in 1882, and his residence is next door. Mr. Higgins's business has brought him into, con- tact with many citizens of this vicinity, in all the walks of life, and his efficient services and pro- gressive methods, 110 less than his estimable per- sonality, have won him the respect of all with whom he has had dealings in any of the relations of life. He is a director of the Anthracite Build- ing and Loan Association, the oldest institution of its kind in Mount Carmel, and since 1905 has been connected with the Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company in the same capacity. He has served in the council as representative from the Third ward, having been elected on the Demo- eratie ticket. Mr. Higgins is treasurer of the local organization of the Foresters: treasurer of Aerie No. 644, F. O. E. ; member of the Eagles Home Association : of the A. O. H .; the Sons of Vet- erans ; and the Knights of Columbus. He is a Catholic in religious faith and a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society.

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 22

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