Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 26

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 26

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).

. 610

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

starting the mercantile business, at Bear Gap. Aft- er ten years in that line he sold out to his brother, (Startzel) Adams, was born Aug. 17, 1826, upon Nathan G. Adams, and locating at Paxinos lived retired for a time. Thence lie removed to Sun- bury, where he was in the restaurant business for one year, and subsequently had a store at Shamokin one year. Having bought the old homestead, his present tract of fifty-one acres in the vicinity of the Blue church, he removed to that place in 1907, and has since been engaged in its cultivation. He is a man who takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, and is at present serving as supervisor of his township ; previously he served as auditor. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Blue church, and socially belongs to the P. O. S. of A. the homestead in what is now Ralpho township. He received such education as was obtainable in the schools of the period, and after reaching ma- turity engaged in railroad work. For some years he was also employed in the huckstering business and at farming for his father-in-law. In 1863 he purchased the old homestead property, where he continued to follow general farming throughout his active years. He died June 12, 1897, and is buried at the Blue church. His religious faith was that of the German Reformed denomination, and he served as elder of his congregation. In politics he was a Democrat, but though interested in the success of the party took no part in its ac- tivities.

Mr. Adams's first wife, Dora A. (Knobel), daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Kaseman) Knobel. died June 9. 1908, aged thirty-nine years, and is buried at the Blue church. She was the mother of two children: Thomas I., a painter by trade, and Katie MI., both of whom live at home. For his second wife Mr. Adams married Sadie Loss.

ALLISON C. ADAMS, also a farmer of Ralpho township, was born Feb. 10. 1822, on the old home- stead near the Blue church. His early education was gained at the Kaseman school and he re- mained with his father until about twenty-three years old. After working at milling about one vear, near Danville. Montour county. he bought the old Haas farm from his brother, Nathan G. Adams, this place comprising seventy acres along the Center turnpike. It came into his possession in 1902, and he has since lived there and devoted his time to farming, in which he has been success- ful. He is a man of active disposition, identified in varions ways with local affairs, holding various offices with distinct credit to himself and satisfac- tion to his fellow citizens. He has been auditor and school director of his township, and is at pres- ent serving his second term as township treasurer; he is also filling the office of township clerk. Mr. Adams was elected justice of the peace for his township, but never served. In politics a stanch Democrat, he has taken considerable interest in the workings of the party, and has acted as in- spector of elections: He is a meniber of the P. O. S. of A., of the Patriotic Order of Americans, and of the Paxinos Band, in the organization of which, in July, 1907, he had an active part. He was one of the organizers of the Keystone Band. made up of young men of Ralpho township, and continued to play with that band for seven years.

Mr. Adams married Emma Gelnett, daughter of Henry B. Gelnett. of Snyder county, Pa., and they have a family of four children : Verda M., Olive M., Helen T. and Oren A.

George C. Adams, son of Casper and Susanna

On Sept. 12, 1855, Mr. Adams married Susanna Klase, daughter of Valentine Klase, of Shamokin, and she now resides with her son General . G. Adams, in Ralpho township. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams: Alvin A., who was killed on a railroad at Weigh Scales, when twenty- four years old ; Leanna, who is married to Francis T. Borrell and resides in Reading. Pa. ; Mahala, wife of Charles Paul, of Paxinos, and General G.

GENERAL G. ADAMS, proprietor of the "Elysburg Hotel," was born March 9. 1867. on the old home- stead in Ralpho township, son of George C. Adams. He attended the Kaseman school there in his boy- hood, and later assisted his father with the work at home, remaining with him until his death. Aft- er that he bought the farm, which had been owned successively by his grandfather and father, and which comprises 100 acres of valuable land. He continued to cultivate it for another year, until he embarked in the mercantile business at Snyder- town, where he was in business for four and one half years. Returning to the farm, he conducted it for eight years, at the end of that period re- moving to Paxinos, where he engaged in the hotel business, carrying on the hotel there for three years and two months. In 1910 he bought the well known "Elysburg Hotel." to which he re- moved April 9, 1910. Mr. Adams has made great improvements in this property, having an up-to- date establishment, with all the modern conveni- ences and facilities for making his guests comfort- able. The rooms are all airy and desirable, and he prides himself on his table. making a specialty of catering to parties. for dinners, etc. His place bids fair to be well patronized under the present efficient management.

Mr. Adams married Sadie A. Miller, daughter mill when his daughter Sadie was only three months old. One son, George H .. has been born to this union.

In religion he belongs to the Reformed denomina- of Christian Miller, who was killed in a powder tion, being a member of the Reformed congrega- tion of the Blue Church.

In polities Mr. Adams is a Democrat, and while living at Snydertown he took an active interest in public matters, serving as member of the school

611

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

board and in other offices. Socially he belongs to 1865, at Harrisburg. Pa., after which he located the I. O. O. F. at Snydertown. The family are in Blair county, this State, where he followed farm- members of the Reformed Church.

ing for several years. In 18:1 he moved thenee Valentine Klase, maternal grandfather of Gen- , to the West, making a settlement in Clay county, Kans., where he was one of the pioneers. He took up land there, which he improved, and continued to farm in that section for twenty-two and a half years, returning East in 1892. His home has since been in the borough of Milton, Northumber- land county. Here he engaged in the plumbing and tinning business, which he followed with steady sueeess until his retirement, in 1902, at whieli time he sold out to his son, Jolin C. By honorable dealing and good management Mr. Ken- nedy made his business profitable, and he is now enjoying the rewards of a long life of industry and well directed effort.

eral G. Adams, was a farmer by occupation. He died at the old home near Snydertown when over seventy years old, and was buried at Suydertown. His wife, Mary (Baker), of Berks County ( Pa.) stock, was ninety years, five days old at the time of her death; she was a large woman, weighing about three hundred pounds. Their children were as follows: Catharine married Abraham Rimert: Eva married George W. Lerch; John married Margaret Evert ; William married Susanna Adams and (second) Lena Dunkelberger: Lovina married Isaac Boughner ; Sarah married Noah Ware; Val- entine married Sophia Evert; Hannah married Daniel Donbach .; Susanna married George C. Adams.

JAMES F. KENNEDY, a retired resident of Milton, was engaged in the plumbing and tinning business in that borough for fifteen years before his retirement, conducting the establishment now carried on by his son, John C. Kennedy. Though not an old resident of the place, comparatively . speaking, he has been thoroughly identified with its best interests and is a man of substantial worth, esteemed by all who know him. He is a native of Clearfield county, Pa., born Dec. 13, 1843.

Rev. James Kennedy, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, and came thenee to America when a young man, settling first at Lewistown, Pa .. where he was the first Presbyterian minister in that sec- tion. Later he located at Brookville, Clearfield county, where he continued to follow his profession, and he died there. He had a family of four sons.

James Kennedy, son of Rev. James, was born at Lewistown, and became a well known lumber- man, engaging in sawing and rafting throughout his active years. He died in 1847. He married Margaret R. Bradford, daughter of Samuel and .granddaughter of Samuel. early settlers at the Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pa. Two children were born to this union, Jamies F. and Mary Jane, the latter of whom married John Jackson, of Kent county. Delaware.

James F. Kennedy received his education in the schools of his native district, first attending the F. Kennedy, was born in 1789, was a farmer in old-fashioned pay schools and later the public Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, schools. Subsequently he was engaged in farm and lived to the age of seventy-five years, dying April 12, 1864, at Lewisburg. He was a member of Milton Lodge, F. & A. M. He married Rebeeea Rupert, born Sept. 26, 1796, died May 24, 1852, and they are buried at Milton. Their children were as follows: Charles R., Leonard R .. Hiram R., Harry R. (who went West). Elizabeth ( married Col. Joseph Fisher, of the 5th Reserves), Sarah (married Charles Bartholamew, Susan ( married William Nolon and is now living at Harrisburg, work. until his enlistment, in 1861, in Battery F. 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, which was known as Rickett's Battery. He served as corporal, and was in the principal battles included in the opera- tions of the Army of the Potomac during his long service, escaping with but one slight injury, on the right side of his neck, which was made a trifle black by a passing bullet. He has a fine army record. Mr. Kennedy was mustered out in July,

Mr. Kennedy is a Methodist and was at one time quite aetive in church work. He was among the first to help organize a Presbyterian elmurch in northern part of Diekinson county, Kans., and served several years as elder of same. But the distance from his home was so great he united with the Methodist Episcopal denomination and assisted in building the first M. E. church in that section. Socially he belongs to the Union Veteran Legion and the Knights of the Maccabees.

On Dee. 25, 1866, Mr. Kennedy married (first) Isabella Clark; daughter of John Clark. of Blair county, Pa., and her death occurred in Kansas March 28, 1878. To this union , were born two sons : William C., who has taken up land in Jerome, Lincoln county, Idaho, and is engaged in farmning: and John C., born Jan. 16, 1874, in Dickinson county, Kans., who learned the plumb- ing business with his father and succeeded him in 1907 (he married Elsie Austin, of Bellefonte, Pa .. and has three children, James K., William E. and Margaret). By his second marriage. on Nov. 26, 1890, to Clara R. Shearer, Mr. Kennedy has no children.

While in Kansas Mr. Kennedy served in various publie offices, being school director of Athelstane township, Clay county, for sixteen years, road- master eight years, and justice of the peace. Hc is a Republican in political sentiment.

Maj. James Shearer, grandfather of Mrs. James

612

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Pa.), and Mary (married Joseph Mellinger, of time he was in the employ of the Philadelphia & Washington borough, Lancaster Co., Pa., where they lived many years; she is now living in Phila- delphia with her three children, Preston, Lillian and Thad ) .

Charles R. Shearer, son of Maj. Jaines, was the father of Mrs. Kennedy. He was born April 26, 1819, and followed contracting and building at Milton until his death, which occurred May 22, 1864. Socially he was a Mason (member of Milton Lodge, F. & A. M.) and Odd Fellow. He married Mary Ann Alexander, born in 1819, who long sur- vived him, dying in 1882, and to them were born three children, William A. (who is living in Mil- ton), Clara R. (wife of James F. Kennedy ) and Rebecca (who died in infancy).

John Alexander, Mrs. Kennedy's maternal grandfather, was born at Mooresburg, Montour Co., Pa., and followed the trade of wagonmaking. He is buried in Chillisquaque cemetery. His wife, Mary (Housel), was a member of an early family of this district. Their children were: Philip; William ; Jane, who married John Miller, of Lewis- burg ; Mary Ann, who married Charles R. Shearer ; and Sarah, who married Asbury Donachy and lives at Lewisburg.

PATRICK J. GLENNAN, a citizen of Shamo- kin borough who has become well known for his efficient service in various public capacities, was born June 18, 1864, at Locust Dale, Pa., son of Thomas Glennan.

Thomas Glennan was a native of Ireland, born in 1818, and came to America in the fall of 1840, landing at New York City. He continued his journey to Pennsylvania at once, and from that time to the end of his active years followed coal mining in Schuylkill and Northumberland coun- John Cooper, grandfather of David W. Cooper, lived in New Jersey before he came to Pennsyl- vania with his family, about 1804, settling in Au- gusta township, Northumberland county. It is thought some of his children were born in Penn- sylvania. He is said to have been a farmer by oc- ties. In 1871 he settled in Shamokin, where he died at his home, No. 136 West Willow street, Dec. 28; 1891. He was married at Pottsville, Schuyl- kill county, to Mary Fongerty, like himself a na- tive of Ireland, who came to America when a young girl and lived at Pottsville until her marriage. cupation. He and his wife are buried at the old She died April 17, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Glennan/ stone church at Augustaville, but they have no were members of St. Edward's Catholic church. tombstones. Their family consisted of four sons They were the parents of eleven children, as fol- and two daughters: Israel, who located in Indiana, where he engaged in farming; Jacob, who also lo- cated in Indiana; Henry, who lived at Blooms- burg, Pa. (his son Charles lives in Shamokin, this county) ; John : Mary, Mrs. Philip Renn ; and Mrs. Barrett.

lows: John ; Patrick, who was killed at the Potts colliery, at Locust Dale, when fifteen years old; James; Margaret, wife of John Brennan ; Mary, wife of Patrick E. Brennan; Eliza, who died young; Thomas, who died young; Patrick J .; Annie, who married Patrick Wallace ; Thomas F .; and Ellen, deceased.

Patrick J. Brennan attended the schools of Coal township, Northumberland county, but not for the length of time now required. . He was but ten years old when he began picking slate at the break- ers, and when sixteen he began mining, which work he continued to follow nntil 1905. During all this

Reading Company. In 1905 he was elected county commissioner, and served three years in that office, making a high record for public-spirited and in- telligent service. He has also served his ward- the Fourth-as councilman, and he is a well known and respected figure in local public matters. In 1909 he was appointed by W. H. R. Smink, bur- gess of Shamokin, as inspector of the street paving, also looking after the crossings and supplies. Dur- ing 1909 he also served as mercantile appraiser of Northumberland county. Mr. Glennan's wide experience has made him a practical authority on borough affairs, and he is considered a valued counselor.

Mr. Glennan holds membership in a number of the local fraternal bodies, belonging to the Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ancient Order of Hi- bernians and Knights of Columbus. and he was a charter member of the West End Fire Company. He is a Catholic in religion, belonging to St. Ed- ward's Church.

On May 12, 1891, Mr. Glennan married Mary E. Golden, daughter of James and Mary (Clark) Golden, and they have had seven children (of which five are living), namely: Thomas, Maria, James, Ellen, Edward (deceased ), Madeline and Catherine (deceased).

DAVID W. COOPER, who is living retired at Sunbury, Northumberland county, was a success- ful farmer in Upper Angusta township for a num- ber of years and for nine years a resident of East Lewisburg, this county. He is a native of Upper Augusta township, born Ang. 3. 1844. and accord- ing to tradition the family has been settled in that section since early in the nineteenth century.

John Cooper, son of John, was born Aug. 19, 1807, in Northumberland county. and passed his life in Upper Augusta township, dying on his farm there Sept. 3, 1879; he is buried in the old sonth (Fourth street) cemetery. Mr. Cooper was a suc- cessful farmer, owning the property of 245 acres which now belongs to his son David W .. and he took an interest in the public affairs of the town-

613

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ship, serving as a member of the school board. He burg he was identified with the Lutheran Church was a Republican in politics and a Lutheran in at Lewisburg, and served as trustee of that con- religion, holding membership in Zion's Church gregation. at Sunbury .. His. wife, Catharine (Snyder), of Upper Augusta township, was born April 13, 1809, and died Sept. 19, 1893. She is buried at her hus- band's side in the old south cemetery. They were the parents of eleven children, born as follows: Hiram P., Sept. 25, 1830; Jeremiah, Aug. 23, 1832; Isaac N., July 29, 1834; Thomas G., Nov. 15, 1836; Harriet S., Oct. S, 1838; John L., Dec. 19, 1840: Simon, July 1, 1842; David W., Aug. 3, 1844; Mary C., Oct. 4, 1846; Dr. Joseph, Feb. 1, 1849 ; Luther S., May 3, 1851.

David W. Cooper received his education in the public schools of the home locality, and was reared to farm life, working for his parents until he at- tained his majority and remaining at home until he was twenty-seven years old. He taught school in his native township for three years, 1870-11-72. Mr. Cooper succeeded his father in the ownership of the farm, which he cultivated until 1902, when he retired and settled in Sunbury. Meantime, however, he was away from the place for nine years, during which time he resided in East Lewis- burg. On his removal to Sunbury he built the -comfortable residence at the corner of Fourth and Church streets, in 1902-03, which he and his wife have since occupied. Mr. Cooper has always been a public-spirited citizen. willing to work in a cause for the general good, and he served six years as a member of the board of school directors in Up- per Augusta township, which was the first town- -ship in Northumberland county to adopt the free textbook plan; this change was made during his service. He was treasurer of the board for a time. He has always been a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party and was committeeman of his town- `ship. for a number of years. In 1897 Mr. Cooper was appointed a member of the Farmers' National Congress, by the late Gov. Daniel H. Hastings, the meeting being held at St. Paul, Minn. Mr. Cooper attended this congress with thirty-three other delegates of Pennsylvania, and he is now a life member. He is the vice-president of the Penn- sylvania delegation. For some years he held mem- bership in the I. O. O. F. and the Conclave.

On Feb. 15. 1872, Mr. Cooper married Hannah Fasold, daughter of Jonathan Fasold, of what is now Rockefeller township. She died Feb. 23, 188-4, aged thirty-eight years, the mother of one child, George, who was accidentally shot when seventeen years old. On March 29, 1888, Mr. Cooper mar- ried (second) Emma Lesher, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Vandling) Lesher, of Blue Hill. Sny- der Co., Pa., and granddaughter of George Lesher. They had one daughter, Catherine P., who died at the age of fifteen years.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper worship at Zion's Luther- an Church, Sunbury. While living at East Lewis-

KEISER. The Keiser family has been repre- sented in Northumberland county for several gen- erations, having been founded in this section by Henry Keiser, a native of Berks county, Pa., who had several brothers, Daniel, John and Renben all locating in central Pennsylvania. Renben even- tually went West. Daniel was a farmer and tobac- co grower in the vicinity of MeEwensville, and is buried in that vicinity. He had children : Judiah, Henry, and a daughter now deceased, and Susan, who married John Bender and lived near Milton, Northumberland county.

Henry Keiser was born June 25, 1781. in Berks county, and came to Northumberland county after his marriage. Locating in Lower Angusta (now Rockefeller) township, on a large tract of land, he followed farming as well as his trade of carpen- ter. The Keiser homestead is now owned by the Nelson Miller estate, and the log house built there- on by Henry Keiser is still standing (1911). He cleared his land and remained there until his death. which occurred Nov. 13, 1861. He is buried in the now abandoned Dunkelberger U. E. Church graveyard and was a devout and active member of that church. The church itself has been torn down and the cemetery is in a sadly neglected state. Mr. Keiser's first marriage was to Eva Zim- merman, born Aug. 5, 1781, who died March 11, 1852. and his second was to Mrs. Anna ( Chamber- lin) Morey. His children were all by the first union, namely : George is mentioned below : Han- nalı married John Foy; Polly married Nathaniel Lytle : Daniel, who married Mahala Lytle, lived for many years in Shamokin township, but died at Mount Carmel ; Isaac died in 1894 at Mount Carmel. where his widow, Susan (Kerr). now lives: Henry is mentioned below: Christina mar- ried Asa Morey and they lived in Potter county, Pa. ; one daughter married Jonathan Smith : Teina married Mr. Morey.

George Keiser, son of Henry, was born Feb. 16, 1810, in. Rockefeller (then Lower Augusta) town- ship, and became a farmer, occupying part of his father's original tract, where he died Aug. 24, 1877. He was a Lutheran member of the Angusta- ville Stone Church. Mr. Keiser married Magda- lena Bloom, daughter of Samuel Bloom, and to this union were born five children : we have record of Elizabeth ( Mrs. Wesley Haupt), Absalom B. and Harriet (who was choked to death by a bean). His second wife was Elizabeth Bloom, sister of the first, born Nov. 9, 1813, died Sept. 2, 1901. Sev- eral children were born to this marriage: Hulda married George B. Conrad : Jacob S. married Polly Ruppert ; Albert married Pauline Lerch, who lives in Hollowing Run, in Lower Angusta township;

614

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Jerome is out West, in the gold fields; Mary mar- ried M. Luther Conrad and they live on the George Keiser homestead ; Aaron B. is a resident of Mount Carmel. Some children died when young.

ABSALOM B. KEISER, now a retired resident of the borough of Sunbury, was born July 17, 1839, in Lower Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, son of George Keiser. He lived on the home farm until of age. During the Civil war he served as a member of Company H, 172d Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Drafted Militia, into which he was sworn for nine months or to the end of the war, and he reached the rank of corporal. At the close of his term, 'after the battle of Gettysburg, he returned to Lower Augusta township in August, 1863, and until 1865 cultivated his father-in-law's farm in that township. In 1865 he settled in Sunbury, where that year he bought a piece of ground con- taining one and a half acres upon which he built a small house, on Catawissa avenue. His wife had agreed to have a home anywhere but in the flat. When he drove his well he went down fifty 'fect and came to rock, finding plenty of water, but as others dng wells the supply was not so plentiful and he went down seven feet through the rock, with satisfactory results. In course of time he enlarged his house, and there he has remained to the present time, being now the oldest resident of his part of the borough. His land has greatly increased in valne. For the first two years after his removal to Sunbury he burned lime and drove team, and he continued to follow hauling and dray- ing throughout his active years, until his retire- ment in 1907. He prospered by thrifty manage- ment and industry, and now owns, besides his home property, a house in Augusta street and sev- eral lots.

On April 8, 1862, Mr. Keiser married Mary Ann Gass, who was born July 29, 1840, daughter of Joseph Gass, of Plum Creek Valley, and died Sept. 18, 1901. She is buried in the family plot in Pomfret Manor cemetery. Six children were born to this union: Martin L. died young : Della married Henry Heckert and has children, Lottic, Harry, Roy and Sarah ; George died young ; Maria G. married Frank Houghton (they have no chil- dren) ; William died young; Elizabeth, who is un- married, keeps house for her father.

Mr. Keiser is a Democrat in political inatters, and he has taken some part in local affairs, having served several terms in the council of East Sun- bury; a few terms as constable of the borough of Sunbury ; and four years as supervisor of Upper Augusta township. He is a citizen who has always commanded the respect and confidence of his fel- lowmien, and his upright life and faithful public services have gained him many well wishers. He was catechiscd at the Augustaville Stone Church, and he and his family have been identified with the Lutheran Church in Sunbury.

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 26

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