Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 24

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 24

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dusky county. He followed farming. He died at Wales Corners, of typhoid fever. His chil- dren were: Oliver, who is now a resident of Riv- erside, Pa .; Wallace A .; Lillian, of Clyde, Ohio, married to Frank Deck (they have no children) : Cora, married to Elbert Crockett and living at Marshall, Mo. (they are farming people) ; and

Samuel Hoover, son of John and Margaret (Ritter) Hoover, was born Aug. 26, 1806, in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, and Sarah (ealled Kitty), unmarried, of Tontogany, in his early life followed the cooper's trade. Later Ohio.

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WALLACE A. HOOVER, lumber merehant and farms. That part where Abraham Kerstetter now planing mill operator at Riverside, Pa., was born makes his home was the homestead; another son, March 11, 1866, near North Monroeville, Ohio, Adam, had a second part, which he sold to Na- and was educated in the public schools of Wales than Latshaw ; and Elias Derk, a son-in-law, has the third part. Mr. Kerstetter was a leading man among the early settlers in that region. Physi- cally he was tall and slim. He is buried at St. Paul's Church in Cameron township. of which church he was a Lutheran member and active in its work, serving in the church couneil. To him and his wife Polly ( Raker) were born children as follows: John F., of Cameron township, who had a large family; Simon : Salome, who married Jaeob Weikel; Susan, who married George Lat- shaw : Catharine, who married Elias Derk; Eliza, who married Daniel Kobel; Adam of Coal town- ship; and Abraham, of Cameron township. Corners. He assisted with farm work until he was fifteen years old, at which time he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade, following that calling until he reached the age of twenty. Com- ing to Snydertown, Pa., he worked for his uncles Eli and Oliver at carpentering. being thus en- · gaged for five years. He then became a partner of the firm of Oliver Hoover & Co., contraetors and builders, and besides conducting a planing mill manufactured beehives. This firm did busi- ness at Snydertown for six years, at the end of that period moving to Riverside, where the busi- ness was carried on under the same style four years longer. Mr. Hoover and his brother Oliver Simon Kerstetter, son of John, was born Jan. 17, 1825, in what is now Cameron township, where he grew to manhood and resided until 1860, farm- ing on his father's land. He learned the trade of stonemason, which he followed during his earlier manhood. From 1860 he farmed in Rock- efeller township, owning and residing upon the farm now owned by his son George M. Kerstet- ter, a fertile traet of sixty aeres situated in the Plum creck valley. There he resided for forty- four years, dying March 7, 1904. He is buried at the Emanuel Evangelical Church at Wolf's then bought the business, which they conducted as Hoover Brothers for eleven years, Mr. Wallace A. Hoover becoming sole proprietor, by purchase, in Mareh, 1906. He has since continued the busi- ness alone, and gives employment to twenty men. Mr. Hoover does general contracting and build- . ing, and has the only lumberyard on the south side of the river ; his post office is Riverside, and he resides on Gearhart street, in that borough, where he is regarded as a substantial and val- uable citizen. He is at present serving as school director, and while living at Snydertown filled Cross Road in Rockefeller township. During the the office of assessor. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat. Fraternally Mr. Hoover holds membership in Danville Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M., Dan- ville Chapter, No. 239, Royal Arch Masons. and Calvary Commandery, No. 37, K. T., also of Dan- ville.

Mr. Hoover married Emma C. Deibler, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth ( Reed) Deibler, of Snydertown. They have no children.

GEORGE M. KERSTETTER, a farmer in the upper Plum creek district of Rockefeller township, Northumberland county, was born Oet. 5, 1850, in Cameron township, where his father was born and where his grandfather settled at an early day. .

One George Kerstetter came to this country from Germany, and settled near Shamokin, in Northumberland county, where he owned 250 acres of valuable land at what is now Ferndale. citizen of his community, a ereditable representa- where he died. The old Nelson and Last Chance tive of a name old and honored in Northumber- collieries were located upon this traet. which at land county. one time was valued at six million dollars.

On July 2, 1871, Mr. Kerstetter married Sarah

John Kerstetter, son of George, was born at Zimmerman. daughter of Sebastian and Elizabeth what is now Ferndale, near Shamokin, in Coal (Schlobig) Zimmerman, of Mahantango township. Schuylkill Co., Pa., and they have had three ehil- township, and lived in. that township until his removal to Cameron township. His homestead dren : Mary, who died in infancy: William. of there is now occupied by his son Abraham. He Pluim Creek: and Emma J., who married W. F. was a shoemaker by trade. and followed farming, Bittinger, of Sunbury. Mr. Kerstetter and his owning considerable land, now divided into three family are Lutherans, members of Wolf's Cross

Civil war he served on the Union side as a mem- ber of Company H, 172d Pennsylvania Volun -. teer Regiment. His wife, Hannah (Maurer), was born May 20, 1825, daughter of Philip and Sar- ah (Hornberger) Maurer, of Little Mahanoy township, and died May 4, 1896. They were the parents of one child, George M.

George M. Kerstetter was ten years old when he eame with his parents to Rockefeller town- ship, where he has sinee resided. He obtained his education in the publie schools. Mr. Ker- stetter inherited his father's farm, which he has carried on successfully, and has improved the property in various ways since it came into his possession, bringing it up to date and using mod- ern methods in its eultivation and management. He is not only a good farmer but possessed of considerable mechanical ability, and does his own shoemaking. He is a substantial and respected

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Road Church, which he served officially for many years as member of the eliureh council.

Abrahamn Kerstetter, son of John and Polly (Raker) Kerstetter, was born on the homestead farm, and was reared to farming. Soon after he was twenty years old he began to work in the coal mines at Shamokin, and he has beeome an experieneed miner, having continued to follow the work for a number of years. He helped to build the Burnside breaker, and worked at that col- liery as well as at Bear Valley and Trevorton. When quite young he learned the trade of shoe- maker, which he followed for some years in Cam- eron township, while living on the homestead. He now lives on part of his father's property, in Cameron township. He is a Democrat in poli- ties, was supervisor of Cameron township for many years, and has been prominent in the ad- ministration of the affairs of St. Paul's Church, in Cameron township, of which he and his tam- ily are members, and in which he has held offiee for over a quarter of a century. His wife, Lydia Ann Derk (Derek), is a daughter of Daniel and (Wheary) Derk, farming people of Cam- eron township: Mr. Derk was also a gunsmith and a man of general mechanical ability, having a little shop for his work of this kind. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Abra- ham Kerstetter; Katie, who is unmarried; Fran- eis ; Emeline, who died when eighteen years old ; Peter, of Cameron township; Harry, of Cameron township; Franklin D., of Cameron township; Hettie, Mrs. George Wheary; John D., of Cam- eron township; and Sallie, who died, aged thir- teen years.

Francis Kerstetter, son of Abraham, was born Nov. 13, 1865, in Cameron township, was reared on the farm, and has made his living praetically sinee he was eight years old. At that tender age he began work about the coal mines as slate piek- er, then looked after the feeding gates, oiled wag- ons, drove mules and eventually beeame a con- duetor on the "dinkey" engine, bringing coal from the mines to the breaker. He then drove inside and brought coal out of the earth : drove wagons outside, and dumped wagons, working around the mines for. twenty-four years in all, during which he was a regular miner for many years. When about sixteen he was earning a man's wages. In the spring of 1898 Mr. Kerstetter settled down to farining on the place he has sinee occupied in Rockefeller township, having ninety acres (for- merly the Peter M. Reitz farm) in a high state of cultivation. He is an energetic man, profi- cient in the use of tools, makes his own harness and also does his own shoemaking, and frequently does work in the latter line for neighbors. Sinee 1904 he has also acted as agent for a fertilizer . company, selling ninety tons of fertilizer per annum.

In November, 1888, Mr. Kerstetter married Sarah S. Henninger, daughter of Nathan Hen- ninger, of Cameron township, and they have had seven children : William and Harvey (twins, the latter dying in infancy), Nathaniel, Bertha S., Milton, Arabella and Rosa Edna. Mr. Kerstet- ter and his family worship at the Emanuel Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, which he has served as deaeon. Politically he is a Democrat, with inde- pendent proclivities.

BENJAMIN A. BEALOR, M. D., who is en- gaged in the practice of medicine at Shamokin, Northumberland county, was born April 19, 1879, at Herndon, this eounty, and is the eldest son of a distinguished medieal practitioner of this see- tion, John W. Bealor. He is a member of an old Pennsylvania family long ago identified with Berks eounty and for several generations with Perry county.

Mark Bealor, the first of this family of whom we have record, lived in Germany until his im- migration to America. He first settled in Berks county, Pa., thence moving to Perry county, where he passed the remainder of his life. engaged in farining. He served in the Mexican war.

John Bealor, son of Mark, and the next in the line of deseent to Dr. Bealor, moved with his father from Berks county to Perry county. He was a fariner by occupation.

Benjamin F. Bealor, son of John, was born in Perry county, and like his father and grand- father became a farmer. He followed agrieul- tural work until his health failed, when he re- moved to Virginia in the hope of regaining his strength, but the change did not benefit him as he expected, and he returned to Pennsylvania, settling in Philadelphia. He lived retired there until his death, in the fall of 1897. He married Elizabeth Weibley, and they had a family of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. Mr. Bealor was a Democrat and active in the politics of his locality, serving as overseer of the poor for two terms: in religion he was a member of the Reformed Church and a worker in the congregation, serving a number of years as deaeon.

John W. Bealor, son of Benjamin F., was born March 19, 1854, in Perry county, and there re- ceived his preparatory education in the public schools and at the New Bloomfield Academy, from which he was graduated in 1873. He then be- gan to study medicine under Dr. G. A. Riehard- son, of Newport, Perry county, and took the course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md., graduating therefrom with high honors in 1876. Ilis first location for prac- tice was at Elliottsburg, Perry connty, where he remained for years. after which he was at Locust Gap, Northumberland county, a year and a half before settling in Shamokin, in May, 188 ?. Here

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he at once entered into a most lucrative general tablishment, which was the leading industrial con- practice, both medical and surgical, and in addi- tion established a large drug store, for the accom- modation of his own patrons and also for general

cern in the borough in its day. He served a num- ber of years as justice of the peace after coming to Northumberland and was a substantial citizen prescription work and the sale of pure drugs and here as elsewhere; he had valuable property hold- druggists' sundries of all kinds. His reputation as a physician and druggist is second to none, and his high personal standing has been won. by years of conscientious service to his fellow inen. Dr. Bealor is a valucd member of the Northum- berland County Medical Society, and socially he is well known as a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F .; Washington Camp, P. O. S. of A .; and the B. P. O. Elks. He, is a Dem- ocrat in political faith.

Dr. Bealor married Mary C. Albert, daughter of George Albert, and six children were born to theni, namely: Benjamin A., Florence E., Quilla E., Henry Mark, Helen Mary and John Watt, the last named dying when two years old.

Benjamin A. Bealor attended public school in Shamokin, including one year in high school, and graduated in 1893 from the Shamokin Business College. For three years he was a student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Balti- land. The Dodge family is of English descent. more University School of Medicine, at Balti-

Joseph R. Dodge was born July 31. 1836, at more, Md., from which he was graduated in 1906, Northumberland, where he still makes his home. subsequently taking a post-graduate course at the. Atlantic Medical College, at Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1909. Returning to Shamokin at the completion of his course he lo- cated at No. '51 North Second street. He is do- ing excellent work in his profession, and his pat- ronage during his short period of actual practice has been most gratifying. Dr. Bealor is well known among the local fraternal bodies, belong- ing to the Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen and the Sons of Veterans. He is a · member of the Reformed Church and a Republi- can in political sentiment.

On July 30, 1908, Dr. Bealor married Mabel A. Roberts, only daughter of E. E. Roberts, of Sunbury, Pa., and they have a son, John Albert, born May 26, 1910.

DODGE. At Northumberland, this county, re- side the brothers Charles H. Dodge and William Henry Dodge. both of whom are engaged in busi- ness in that borough and included among its sub- stantial citizens. They are sons of Joseph R. Dodge and grandsons of David Stone Dodge.

ings at one, time, and Jeft an estate in Kentucky valued at over $45,000, which his heirs were un -- able to secure possession of because of the lack of legal. proof of their claims. He was a Whig in politics and a Presbyterian in religiou. "Squire" Dodge was first married to a Kentucky woman and the second time (in New Jersey or Pennsyl- vania) to Mary Anderson. To the first union were born eleven children, who are now scattered all over the eastern part of Northumberland coun- ty. By his second marriage there were two sons and one daughter, Emcline, Stephen B. and Jos. eph R. Stepheu B. Dodge was a resident of Northumberland, and died in 1906 at the age of seventy-four years: his children were David S., John, Alice, Heinline Stone, Sallie, Harry, Ed- ward, William E. and Fannie. "Squire" Dodge died in 1850, at the age of sixty-seven years, and is buried in Riverview cemetery, at Northumber-

He received his education in the local schools, and at an early age began working in his father's rope factory, spinning twine before he was twelve years old. In 1868 he became a puddler, working for the Van Alen Company as an iron worker for thirteen years, until he met with an accident which crippled his left hand. He then built him- self a store at the corner of Queen and Second strects, in the borough of Northumberland, and engaged in business, dealing in tobacco, confec- tionery, flour and wheat for many years, finally selling out. For two years thereafter, 1893-94. he was jury commissioner of the county, was then engaged for some time as agent of the Prudential Insurance Company, and in 1905 began driving a" bakery wagon for his son, William H. Dodge, who is engaged in the baking business in North- umberland. Mr. Dodge has always been a Repub- lican, and at one, time was quite active in the party and in local public affairs, serving nine Years as constable of the county, eight years as overseer of the poor, one year as supervisor, and three years as councilman in his borough. He has given efficient and public-spirited service in every capacity, and is a well and favorably known

David Stone Dodge was born in 1783 in the State of New Hampshire, and went from his na- citizen, commanding the estcem of all who know

tive State to Kentucky, where he lived until 1824. him. From there he went to New Jersey and eventu- On Dec. 12, 1857, Mr. Dodge married Mary A. Hine, daughter of Jacob and Catharine ( Hnlli- gan) Hine, of Northumberland, Pa., and they ally to Northumberland county, Pa., keeping a store at Elysburg some years and thence moving to Northumberland. At the latter place he had have had six children: Emma, who died when . a rope manufactory, which he carried on until small; Mary J., who died when small; Charles H. : his death, employing some thirty men in his es- William Henry; Florence M., who died small;

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and Harvey O., of Baltimore. Mr. Dodge and men of the borough, where he has the leading trade his family are members of the Methodist Church. in his line. He has the most modern appliances

CHARLES H. DODGE, dealer in real estate and and equipment, and his trade has become so ex- insurance at Northumberland, where he has built tensive that he employs five men constantly and keeps three teams busy. Mr. Dodge has also be- come interested in the artificial ice business, run- ning a team the year round. He is a well known man in this section, a member of P. O. S. of A. Camp No. 622, at Northumberland, and of Lodge No. 141, of the Beavers. Politically he is a Re- publican, and in 1896 he served as supervisor of streets in Northumberland. up a creditable business, to which he now gives all his time, was born in the borough of North- umberland Sept. 17, 1867. He attended public school until he reached the age of twelve years, and began work in the Van Alen nail mill at Northumberland, where he was employed until sixteen. At that time he became a pupil at the Williamsport Commercial College, graduating from that school in 1885. Returning home he On Nov. 11, 1891, Mr. Dodge married Mary J. Housel, daughter of Jacob B. and Harrict L. (Gibbons) Housel, of Northumberland. Six chil- dren have been born to them: Joseph R., who is head baker for his father; Margaret E., who died in infancy ; Martha H. ; George D .; William G., and Mary E. Mr. Dodge and his family are members of the Methodist Church. took a position with the Pennsylvania Railway Company in 1887, in the clerical department at Sunbury, making his residence at Northumber- land. He remained with that company until June, 1909, when he gave up his position to de- vote all his time to his real estate and insurance interests. His office is at No. 228 Queen street. . Mr. Dodge had commenced this business some time previously, gradually building up a patron- JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, one of the young suc- age which has come to require all his time. He cessful and enterprising business men of Milton, began selling insurance first, later dealing in real Pa., who has "made good" in every position he has estate, and he now has a lucrative business in been called upon to fill, now presiding with both lines. He is at present handling the Priest- marked ability and impartiality as president of ly Terrace property, which is very well located the town. council, was born in that town Nov. 23, 1882, son of Edward W. and Sallie S. (Hous- el) Johnson. near the borough, and which he has been quite successful in selling. Mr. Dodge has filled the office of town clerk of Northumberland for the past fifteen years. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F., and, with his fam- ily, identified with the Lutheran Church. .

In June, 1887, Mr. Dodge married Bella Ja- coby, daughter of E. R. Jacoby, of Northumber- land borough, and they have three children: Florence, Ezra and Mary.

The early home of the Johnson family was in Northampton, England, and there in the village of Guisborough was born James Johnson, Jan. 24, 1774. He died in Northumberland county, Pa .. Aug. 31, 1834. His wife Ann, whom he mar- ried in England, was born at Naseby April 2, 1776, and died at Northumberland March 31, 1865. They came to America shortly after their marriage, and settled in this county, where they reared their children. These children were: John, Thomas, George, Samuel, William, James, Eliza- beth and Phoebe. Of these, Samuel served in Company. B, 5th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and

WILLIAM HENRY DODGE, who has been engaged in the bakery business in Northumberland bor- ough since 1905, was born Feb. 1, 1871, at the place where he now lives, and received his educa- tion in the local public schools. When fifteen years old he began working in the nail mill, died at Annapolis Dec. 19, 1864, at the age of twenty-six years.

where he was employed six years, until an acci- dent caused the loss of his right eye. From that Thomas Johnson, son of James, was born in 1808, and died in 1877. He followed farming in Point township, and also operated a saw and grist mill. becoming one of the prominent men of his district. He married Sophia Gibbons, born 1804. died 1876, and both are buried in North- umberland county. Their children were: Amos; Isaiah: Reuben, born in 1834, living in this coun- ty : Albert; Edward W .; Josiah; and Hester, who married Joseph Wertz. time until 1898 he teamed and hauled freight, and for the next five years was in the employ of Persing & Cooke, at Arters. this county. He operated a coal digger for Simcox & Dodge for two years, and for about two years was engaged as a janitor, in 1905 purchasing. the stock, good will and fixtures of Ralph Mertz, baker, at North- umberland, where he has since been engaged in business. The establishment is known as the Central Bakery, located at Church and Orange Amos Johnson, son of Thomas, was born in 1831, and followed farming in Point township, owning a farm of 170 acres. He died there in 1860, and is buried in the Northumberland cemetery. In politics he was a Republican, in religion a streets, and Mr. Dodge now owns the building in which he is located. Though he started with almost nothing, he has managed so thriftily, and operated the business so successfully that he is now considered one of the prosperous business member of the Methodist Church. To him and

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his wife Mary (Willard) were born the follow- weighmaster at the Weigh Scales and chief clerk ing children : Edward W .; Abbie E., who became at the Shamokin station for the Pennsylvania the wife of Clement Wallace; Ward W .; Amelia, Railway Company. He was also prominent in who married William Warren and died Aug. 9, Q. A. R. circles, having been a veteran of the 1891; and Daniel, who is now living in Oakland, Civil war and one of the organizers of Lincoln California.

Edward W. Johnson, son of Amos, was born in Point township, this county, Feb. 4, 1853, and died at Milton Nov. 6, 1905; he is buried at Northumberland. He grew to manhood in his native township, but later went to Northumber- land and clerked in a general store for a few years, after which he came to Milton, and for

James Bird, his great-grandfather, a native of some years was employed in the mills as a nailer. Warren county, N. J., came to Pennsylvania and Failing health necessitated a change of work, and settled in Rush township, Northumberland coun- he bought out William P. Hull's coal vard in ty, remaining on the farm where he then located until his death. Ini New Jersey he married, and his family consisted of nine children, as follows: John, Rachel (Mrs. Jacob Shipman), Sarah (Mrs. Scott), Susanna ( Mrs. William Kimball), Ziba, James, Joseph, William and Sylvanus. 1897. This yard had been established by Thomas Hull, father of William P., and was, as now, lo- cated at No. 55 Centre street. Here Mr. John- son carried on a successful business until his death. He was a man of upright business prin- ciples, and had a genial manner that won him many friends. He was enterprising and keenly alive to the needs of the town, and his death was regarded as a loss to the whole community. He married Sallie S. Housel, who resides in Milton. This union was blessed with but one son, Jos- eph H.

Joseph. H. Johnson attended the local schools and graduated from the Milton high school in 1901. He then entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pa., where he was a member of the Sig- ma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and from which he was graduated in 1905. He had taken up the served twenty years as justice of the peace.

study of medicine at Philadelphia, but after a few months was summoned home by his father's illness, and he was obliged to take charge of the business. On the death of the father he assumed full control, and he has built up a fine trade.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 24

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