Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 28

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 28

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).

619

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

business life of the town, and is thoroughly appre- . ciated by all the progressive citizens of the com- munity. Mr. Cooper is a member of the State Firemen's Association. He assisted in organiz- ing the Trevorton business men's association in 1906, and has served as its president ever since. He is quite prominent in local fraternal circles, being a past officer of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Woodmen of the World. In politics he is a Republican.

On Dec. 28, 1904, Mr. Cooper married Jennie dent of the former and secretary of the latter C. Zartman, daughter of S. S. Zartman, of Sham- okin, this county. They have one daughter, May he is a Lutheran. Elizabeth.

JACOB R. DEIBLER, who follows farming in Shamokin township, having a fine property at Snydertown, is a well known member of a family which has been settled in that section of North- umberland county for several generations. He was born in Shamokin township March 6, 1857, son of Jonathan Deibler, and grandson of George Deibler, the pioneer settler here. .

George Deibler was born in Dauphin county, 'Pa., and came to Northumberland county about places in the borough. His quick perception of the 1812, locating in Shamokin township, where he purchased land in 1813 and followed farming the remainder of his.active days. He was one of the substantial and respected residents of his sec- tion, and Deiblers Station, in Shamokin township, was named for him. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Bastian, are buried at the Brick church, at Reed's station. They had chil- dren as follows: Daniel, Mary, Jonathan, Han- nah, George, William, John, Catharine, Eliza- beth, Harriet and Rebecca.

Jonathan Deibler, son of George, was born in born at Selinsgrove in 1850 and died there in 1825 on the old homestead at Deiblers station, which farin is now owned by R. S. Aucker, of Shamokin. He was reared to farming, and always followed that vocation, becoming a well known and highly respected citizen of his district. He died Aug. 27, 1887, at the age of sixty-two years, and is buried at Reed's church in Ralpho township. His widow, Elizabeth (Reed), daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Duttinger) Reed, now (1911) eighty-three years old, makes her home with her son Jacob at Snydertown. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Deibler, namely : Flora A., who is married to S. Ellis Klase and lives in Snydertown ; Jacob R. ; and Emma C., who is married to Wallace Hoover and lives at River- side, this county.

Jacob R. Deibler received his education in the of business naturally makes Mr. Moore one of the public schools of the home locality. When a young man he taught for one term. at the American school in Shamokin township, but he did not care make him one of the most popular. He has an for the profession and decided to devote himself to farmning, in which he has been very successful. soda fountain being the finest in Shamokin, and Ile bought the old Jones homestead, at Snyder- he is constantly making changes and improve-

town, having a tract of 135 acres under excellent cultivation. Mr. Deibler has been progressive and thrifty, and has shown such good judgment in the management of his own affairs that he has been called upon to participate in the administration of public matters, having served as township auditor, school director and borough councilman ; he is still filling the latter office, which he has held for seven years. He has taken an active part in the work of the school board and council, having been presi- body. Politically he is a Republican. In religion

Mr. Deibler married Rachel A. Zimmerman, daughter of George and Sarah (Fasold) Zimmer- man, and they have had four children : Helen E., Wallace H., Luther E. (who died in infancy) and Warren E:

JOHN CUMMINGS MOORE is the foremost dealer in his line, confectionery and cigars, in Shamokin, conducting an up-to-date establishinent on Independence street, in the, Parmley building, which is one of the most popularly patronized demands of the public, his readiness to adopt new lines and install new conveniences for the satis- factory service of his patrons, have brought him the best and largest trade in Shamokin. Though handicapped by a lack of early advantages he has made his way to the front, and he has made up in ability and enterprise for any such deficiency.

Mr. Moore was born March 20, 1871, at Selins- grove, Snyder Co., Pa., son of Henry and Annie M. (Rarich) Moore, the latter .a daughter of Amos Rarich, of Snyder county. His father was 1873. He was a saddler by trade. John. C. Moore was a child when he and his mother moved to Shamokin, and here he attended public school until he commenced work, as a slate picker at the mines. He was employed about the collieries for about fifteen years in all, and then commenced railroading in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company, with which he continued for a period of twelve years. Having met with an accident, Aug. 17, 1891, at Locust Summit, whereby he lost his left hand, he began his pres- ent business on a humble scale the following year, and throughout his business career has been lo- cated in the same block on Independence strect, his present number being 132, in the Parmley block. He has been there since 1903. IIis line best known men in Shamokin, but it is his ex- cellent methods and high-class management which attractive and modern store, well equipped, his

620

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ments to facilitate the work of his employees or

tune in his business, and his investments had increase the conveniences of the establishment. proved his farsightedness. At his death he left liis family in very comfortable circumstances.

His stock of confectionery and cigars is complete and attractively. arranged, and everything about the store betokens the management of a man who foresees the demand of his patronage and is willing to forestall it. It is this faculty which has drawn to him the best class of trade in the city. His windows are always the best dressed in town, and all the appointments at Moore's are typical of the proprietor. In addition to this place he con- ducts the cafe at Edgewood Park, and there, too. has made a fine reputation, for the excellence of his meals and service. He deserves all his success, for it is the result of his individual efforts, and he is a credit to his community as well as to him- self.

Mr. Moore is quite prominent in the ranks of the Republican party in Shamokin, served five years as jury commissioner and was committeeman of the Eighth ward for ten years. He is a well known member of the Elks and Odd Fellows fra- ternities.

On Jan. 12, 1892, Mr. Moore married Mary Walker, daughter of Thomas Walker, of Sham- okin, and they have one daughter, Dorothy, who is now in school. The family belong to the Meth- odist Church.

WILLIAM R. KUTZNER, late a successful and enterprising merchant of Shamokin, Pa., was born in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa., Dee. 18, 1835, and died in. Shamokin May 24, 1885.

Edward A. Kutzner, father of William R., was a well known citizen of Northumberland county. He was three times married. By his first wife, Anna Robins, who died at Minersville, he had three children, Rebecca, William R., and a son that died in infancy. His second marriage was to Susan Lawrence, of Schuylkill county, and they had two children, Mary and George. He married (third) Margaret Simington, who died at Prince- ton, Mo., in 1908, the mother of Gertrude, Sim- ington, Preston and Harriet. Mr. Kutzner died aged ninety-one years, eight days.

On June 12, 1861, Mr. Kutzner was married to Anna M., adopted daughter of John B. Douty, and she is still a resident of Shamokin. The children born of this union were: William R., who died in infaney ; John D., who lives at Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ; Anna Laura, wife of Dr. J. M. Maurer, of Shamokin; Lavinia G., who died unmarried ; Kathrina, wife of Edward K. Evert, of Shamokin ; William Edward, who died in West Virginia, in 1909, aged forty years. leaving a daughter, H. Ethel ; Harriet S., who married Howard Bertolette, and lives in West Virginia ; Edith C., of Sham- okin, Pa .; Charles P., who was superintendent of three collieries at Lansford, Pa., now with the Mineral Railroad & Mining Company, of Sham- okin, Pa. Politically Mr. Kutzner was a stanch Republican, and while he was never active in poli- tics he was nevertheless greatly interested in the public welfare. He was a member of the Penn- sylvania National Guard, and during the labor riots of 1877 held the rank of major. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith. Fraternally he was a Mason. belonging to Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M. As a man, both in the business world and in private life, he commanded the re- spect of all who knew him, and his death was sin- cerely mourned.

HENRY . MILLER, a farmer of Shamokin township, has owned his present farin for over a quarter of a century. He has been particularly active in public affairs in his connection with the school board, of which he has been a member since 1896, and is also assessor of his township, where he is a mueli respected citizen.

Mr. Miller was born Jan. 5, 1842, son of Isaiah Miller and grandson of Isaiah Miller, who was one of three brothers. Isaiah. Daniel and Jacob. who came to Northumberland county at an early date. Daniel, who settled in Shamokin township, was a shoemaker by trade; he died unmarried. Jacob, who also settled in Shamokin township. where he died, married Mary Saylor, a sister to his broth- er Isaiah's wife, but left no children. The family is of German origin, and the first of its members to come to America settled in Berks county, Pa., before the Revolution.

- William R. Kutzner was but twelve years old when his parents went West, and in ,his Missouri home he grew to manhood. His first employment was at clerking. In 1857 he returned to North- umberland county, and locating in Shamokin the following year became one of the pioneers of this Isaiah Miller, grandfather of Henry Miller, came to the site of Snufftown, near Paxinos. in what is now Shamokin township, in 1800, making the journey from. Berks county by team, and bought forty-eight acres of land, which he cleared and cultivated. In Berks county he had learned the trade of tailor, which he continued to follow in connection with farming, and he became one of the, best known residents of his section. Upon little city. IIe clerked in a drug store, and later was a member of a drug firm. In the spring of 1861, with John B. Douty as a partner, he entered upon a drug and general store business which they carried on until 1864, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Kutzner then conducted on his own account a drug and hardware store until Au- gust, 1883, when he sold out to Peter E. Buck and retired. He had amassed a considerable for- his farm he built a stone house in 1811, and it is

621

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

still standing and in good repair, though the oldest jects of his attention and have been measurably house in the district at present. He died upon his benefited by his devotion. He is an active mieni- ber of the Democratie party, and has made many friends in all the associations of life. farm in May, 1861, at the age of eighty years, and is buried in Ralpho township at the Blue church, in whose welfare he was deeply interested. He Mr. Miller married Sarah A. Price, daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Weeks) Price, and they have five children: Ezra, member of the firm of Mifflin & Miller (his partner being J. W. Mifflin ), manufacturers of brick at Paxinos, where he resides, married Malissa Slegel; Charles G. lives at Paxinos; Jackson makes his home in Fort Wayne, Ind .; George L. lives in Ralpho township, Northumberland county; Nora married W. E. Snyder and lives in Shamokin township. was a member and official of the Reformed con- gregation there, and helped to build the church. In politics he was a Demoerat. His wife, Susanna (Saylor), born in 1787, died in April, 1878, at the advaneed age of ninety-one years. They had ehil- dren as follows: Daniel, who died young; Isaiah ; Susan, Mrs. Samuel Sehrock; Jacob, who died in Ralpho township: Mary, Mrs. John Rothermel; Peter, who died in Shamokin, Pa. ; and Godfrey, who died at the old homestead.

Isaiah Miller, son of Isaiah, was born in the stone house upon his father's farm in 1817, and died June 12, 1853, at the comparatively early age of thirty-six. He is buried at the Blue church. Mr. Miller learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed in Shamokin township, and for a year before his death carried the mail from Shamokin to Mount Carmel, a distance of eight miles, which he walked; for this service he received eight dol- lars a month. He married Saralı Himmel, daugh- ter of Abraham and Barbara ( Hoffman) Himmel, and to them were born these children: Daniel, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, who died in in- faney ; Mary J., who married Charles Brown ; Su- sanna, wife of George Dentzer; Henry; John J., living at Mount Carmel ; Maria, who married Ja- eob Farnsworth; and Charles W., who died in Brooklyn.

. and then went to Shamokin, where for two years he was employed around the old Lambert colliery. For the next seven years he was engaged in 're- pair work on the Pennsylvania railroad, and he has sinee been engaged in farming. In 1883 he bought the old homestead, which he has sinee cul- tivated. He now has seventy-nine acres of land, and makes a specialty of trucking, attending the Shamokin markets. His suecess has been the re- ward of well directed industry and the exereise of good judgment in his work, and he is regarded by his neighbors as a man of excellent business ability. His barn was built in 1868, and is in first-class condition, in keeping with everything else about his property.

Mr. Miller has held various loeal offiees. having served as road supervisor and assessor, which lat- ter position he still holds. In 1896 he was elected to the school board. and has done good work for the community in his capacity as a member of that body, which he has served as secretary, treasurer and president, at present filling his second term as president. The cause of education and proper publie school facilities have always been pet ob-

DANIEL N. BERKHEISER, who is engaged in business at Trevorton as hotel owner and pro- prietor of the Pleasant View Poultry Yards, was horn at that place Oct. 16, 1860, son of Isaae Berk- heiser. As Isaae Berkheiser died wlien his children were young, Daniel being a boy of ten at the time, little is known of the early history of the family. except that it is of German origin.

Isaac Berkheiser was one of the early settlers at Trevorton, and was a ininer by occupation. He inet his death when fifty years old in 1870, during the time of the W. B. A., at the hands of the Mol- lie Maguires, being shot while sitting up at night with a sick friend. The first shot fired struck the window sill. but the second hit Mr. Berkheiser in the head and killed him. He is buried at Angusta- ville. Mr. Berkheiser was a soldier during the Civil war. His wife, Elizabeth ( Haupt), daugh-

Henry Miller attended the township schools. He . ter of George Haupt, of Irish Valley, Northum- lived with his grandfather until twenty-two years berland county, survived him many years, dying old, meantime working for his clothes and board, in 1900 at Trevorton, where she is buried, in Green- wood cemetery. They had children as follows : Josepliine, who was drowned in a spring when a child ; George, who lives at Freeburg, Snyder Co .. Pa. : Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Al- bert Brosious : Daniel N. : Alice, wife of Frank K. Getche; and William, of Pittsburg, Pa., who is vard foreman in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

Daniel. N. Berkheiser received his education in the public schools. When a boy he began picking slate at the North Franklin colliery. and subse- quently, in turn. was employed at door tending and driving, loading cars and mining. remaining at the same colliery for a period of about twenty years, from the age of ten until he was thirty. Sinee then he has been in business on his own aceount. For about fifteen years after giving up mining he had a store, dealing in groceries. fish, oysters, ete., and enjoyed a profitable trade. For five years he condneted the "Central Hotel"' at Trevorton, sell- ing it in June, 1907. In 1908 he put up a fine. substantial, four-story building at Trevorton for hotel purposes, containing twenty-one rooms with modern improvements and conveniences. Mr.

; į

1 1

: :

----------- --... ! i !

: - .

622

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Berkheiser is also interested in the poultry busi-

Dr. John K. Robins was the first resident physi- ness as proprietor of the Pleasant View Poultry eian of Shamokin after that place assumed the Yards, breeding the single comb Rhode Island reds, and has met with considerable success in this line, as he has in his various ventures. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Trey- orton, and by his industry and exeellent manage- ment has beeome one of the substantial residents of that place, where he is highly respected for his integrity and honorable life. Politically he is a Republican. and in 1908 he was elected a member of the board of school directors of Zerbe township. In religion he is a Methodist, in fraternal connee- tion a member of the I. O. O. F.

On May 26, 1887, Mr. Berkheiser married Anna M. Edwards, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Pengally) Edwards, the former of whom eame from England May 26, 1881. MIrs. Berkheiser was born in England, and was twelve years old when she accompanied her parents to America. Mr. and Mrs. Berkheiser reside next door to his hotel prop- erty above mentioned. They have no children. Her parents had a family of. six: Richard H. (of Trevorton), John. Margaret, William, Jesse and Mary A.

HARVEY SHINDEL ROBINS, now living re- tired at Mount Carmel after a long life of busi- ness activity, was for many years identified with the eoal industry, in West Virginia, the leading characteristic industry of that seetion. But the members of the family generally have been special- ly noted for their honorable connection with the medical profession. Mr. Robins's father was the first physician to settle permanently at Elysburg, this county, and three of his brothers adopted the profession.

Aaron Robins, grandfather of Harvey S. Robins, was a bricklayer and followed his trade at Sun- bury, where he lived and died. He is buried there. He married Rebecea Richardson, and to. them were born five children, namely: William, Joseph Cray- en, David ( who died near Union Corners, this county, and whose son died at Burlington, Iowa), Jolin K. and Anna ( who married Ed. Kutzner and lived at Milton, this eounty). Three of these sons became physicians, William, Joseph Craven and John K.

proportions of a village. He was born at Sunbury April 14, 1820, and began the study of medieine at the age of twenty, graduating from Jefferson Medieal College, Philadelphia, in 1842. In April of that year he began practice at Shamokin, where he was located for nearly four years, thenee re- moving to Catawissa, Columbia county, in Janu- arv, 1846. He made a permanent home there and established a luerative practice, following his pro- fession there until his death. He had two sons and three daughters, William, Joseph, Mary, Ada and another daughter.

Dr. Joseph Craven Robins, son of Aaron, was born at Sunbury June 1, 1806, and there attended the common sehools, later going to the academy at Northumberland, which was then conducted by Robert C. Grier. He first read medieine with his brother William at Sunbury, completing his pro- fessional preparation at the University of Pennsyl- vania, and in 1828 began practice at Sunbury. The following year he removed to Elysburg, at which point he was the first physician to locate permanently, and he was in active practice there for forty-two years, his field covering all the east- ern part of Northumberland eounty and the ad- joining portions of Montour, Columbia and Schuylkill counties. He was of the old "saddle- bag" doetors, and in spite of the hardships of a physician's life in his day survived all his fellow practitioners who were in practice at the time his career began, living to the advanced age of eighty- seven years. He retired from active professional labors about 1870, and in 1877 removed to Sha- mokin, where he lived until his wife's deeease, in 1881. After that he lived among his children, and his death occurred in Harrisburg in 1893, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Swallow. He was buried in the family plot at St. Jacob's church, at Reed's station, Northumberland county. Dr. Robins was one of the most widely known men in the county in his day, and his reputation extended far beyond the limits of his own community. He was one of the charter members of Elysburg Lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M.

Dr. Robins married Leah Shindel, daughter of Peter Shindel, and to their union were born seven

Dr. William Robins, born at Sunbury in 1804, children, five sons and two daughters, namely : received his academie education at Northumber- Galen S., Edwin S., Harvey S., Annie M. (who

land under Robert Cooper Grier, and at the age died shortly after her marriage to S. A. Bergres- ser). Lorenzo D., Rebecca (wife of Rev. Silas C. Swallow, a prominent Methodist minister at Har- risburg, Pa. ) and Joseph (who died young). Three of the sons became physicians, and we give a brief record of their lives. of eighteen years began the study of medieine with Dr. John Kennedy. He furthered his medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, began practice at Sunbury shortly after attaining his ma- jority, and remained there for eighteen years, building up an excellent patronage. Thereafter. Galen S. Robins was born Oct. 4, 1830, began until his death, which occurred in Deeember, 1863, to read medicine with his father, and completed he was settled at Minersville, Schuylkill county. the course at the Pennsylvania College of Medi- He married three times, and had seven children. cine. from which institution he was graduated.

623

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

After a year's practice at Elysburg he located at came to Mount Carmel March 26, 1885, and in- Shamokin, in 1852, and was there in active and vesting in considerable land became extensively en- successful practice until his early death, Oct. 9, gaged in real estate dealing, in that connection 1856. He was for a time associated in practice building a number of houses. He made a success there with Dr. J. J. John, and afterward with of this line, as he did also in the coal business. his brother, Dr. Edwin S. Robins, who at the time of his death was the oldest physician at Shamokin.

With his son Joseph he became interested in the soft coal business in West Virginia, and he named the field of their operations in Fayette county, Edwin S. Robins, M. D., was born June 3, 1832, in Elysburg, and there grew to manhood, receiving . his early education in the common schools. Later he attended Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa., returning to his native place in 1851, when he began reading medicine with his father. In 1852-53 he attended lectures at the University of that State, Alaska. He was also associated with the Lawtous and Brown in the Greenwood Coal & Coke Company, of Lawton, W. Va., and met with considerable success before he sold his inter- ests in this concern. Though he has now retired from active business pursuits Mr. Robins still re- tains his place on the board of directors of the Maryland, Baltimore, and in 1853-54 attended , Union National Bank of Mount Carmel, of which lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, lie was one of the organizers and original direct- from which institution he was graduated March ors. He has done much traveling in his day, and 10, 1854. He commenced practice at Elysburg in 1900 made a trip to California. He has long with his father. in October, 1855, settling at Sha- ranked among the most intelligent and progressive mokin, where he was in partnership with his citizens of his portion of Northumberland county, brother, Dr. Galen S. Robins, until the latter's a worthy representative of a name which has for death in 1856. Dr. Robins built .up a large prac- almost a century been held in the highest esteem tice, and held a creditable place among the pro- here. ·gressive members of his profession, being one of In April, 1859, Mr. Robins married Elizabeth Hefley, daugliter of Charles Hefley, at one time a merchant of Bloomsburg, Columbia county. Mrs. Robins died Dec. 10, 1901, the mother. of three children : (1) Joseph graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and is now located in practice at Charleston, W. Va., where he is a prominent citizen, being president of the National C'ity Bank of that place. He married Anna Knapp and they have three children, Margaret, Joseph E. and Hugh B. (?) Margaret, who died in Sep- tember, 1908, was the wife of H. B. Young, of Mifflinburg, Union Co., Pa., and the mother of two children, William R. and Harvey. (3) Charles H., who lives at Mount Carmel. is in the real estate business. He married Cynthia Hughes, of West Virginia, and they have had four children, Elizabeth, Margaret, Harvey and Charles. the most successful physicians of his county and one of the best known medical men in his section of the State. He inade a par- ticularly fine reputation as a surgeon, per- forming successfully some of the most diffi- cult amputations, and his services in this branch of practice were in wide demand. He served as surgeon of the 7th Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, for several years during Governor Hartranft's administration. `Few inen in any line of work enjoy a longer career of unbroken activity than did Dr. Robins, who continued his practice to an advanced age. He died in 1907. On Oct. 10. 1853, he married Matilda Gulick, daughter of William Gulick, of Elysburg, and they had eight children, five of whom reached maturity, namely : Frank A., Lizzie (wife of F. A. Thomas), Ella (wife of William Brice), Edwin S. and Jos- ephine. The family belong to the Episcopal Church. The Doctor was a Democrat in politics and a Mason in fraternal affiliation. .

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 28

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