Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 39

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 39

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by conscientious devotion to her duties in every line. She married May 18, 1911, Warren L. Shipman, Esq., son of Saul Shipman. (2) Rev. George Irving Lenker received his elementary ed- ucation in the public schools of Lower Mahanoy and taught school for two terms in his native township. He then entered Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, Pa., in 1898, and after his work there became a student at the Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary, Germantown, from which he was graduated in 1901. He was ordained at Phila- delphia, and stationed at Grace Lutheran Church, Allegheny, which he served as pastor for seven years, resigning because of failing health. He is now sojourning at Southern Pines, N. C., for the benefit of his health. (3) Katie P. married M. Samuel is engaged in farming in Jaekson town- ship: Franeis J. lives at Portland, Oregon.

Oscar Engel and they reside in Sunbury. (4) Jolin B., a carpenter, residing at Sunbury, mar- ried Elsie Eister. (5) Lucy J. died unmarried, at the age of eighteen years, and is buried at Wolf's Cross Road ( Emanuel) Church in Roek- efeller township. (6) Ulysses H., who graduated from the Sunbury high school in 1910, is now living with his parents.

ROBERT L. RIEGER, of Herndon, Northum- berland county, has been in business at that point since 1902, and also condnets two farms in Jack- son township. He is a progressive citizen, and has been a useful man in various eircles, taking an intelligent interest in the general welfare and managing his own affairs with the good judgment whieli has won the recognition of his fellow men in all the associations of life.

The Riegers are of German origin. Christian Rieger, great-grandfather of Robert L. Rieger. lived at Gien, an independent walled eity in Wur- temberg, Germany, was a man of fine intellect and an able minister, a servant of the king. The family belonged to the German nobility.

. John Rieger, son of Christian Rieger, passed all his life in Germany. He was a shoemaker by trade and oeeupation. and also a eity poliee- man for years. He was the father of sixteen chil- dren, only four of whom, however, reached. ina- turity, the other twelve dying young.

Casper Rieger, eldest son of John, was born Dec. 20, 1833, in Gien. and eame to America in May, 1852, landing at Philadelphia, where he spent two years. After a short residence at Read- ing, Pa., he eame to Herndon. and he followed his trade of stone cutter until 1894. Meantime he acquired an eighty-acre farm in Jackson town- ship, which his family cultivated. He is now liv- ing retired, in Jackson township. During the Civil war Mr. Rieger served his adopted country as a member of Company B, 172d Pennsylvania. Regiment, in September, 1862, and in Company A, 208th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In-

Back in the seventeenth century one of tlie forebears of the Riegers was a general in the reg- ular army. He was arrested and tried for treason, and was sentenced, and during his imprisonment composed and penned a number of hymns still' in use in the Lutheran Hymnal. He was subse- quently pardoned and reinstated in his former offiee, and when he retired from active service received a letter of honor from the king for faith- ful service. This letter descended to the eldest son in each generation, and Casper Rieger, being in the direct line, was entitled to it, but neglected the privilege, leaving the country when he was eigliteen years of age. Gien had been captured by Napoleon and given to the Kingdom of Wurt- emberg, and though the officers of the independent city eseaped with their lives they had nothing left to boast of, and the influence of the Riegers in Gien was at an end. Hence Casper Rieger, who believed very much in independent govern- ment, came to America without his "letter of honor."

Robert L. Rieger was born April 26, 1864, in Jackson township, and obtained his education in the township schools. He was reared to farming, and gave all his attention to agriculture for some years, in 1889 purchasing White island, at Hern- don, which contains 131 acres of valuable land. He lived there for a period of twelve years. In 1902 he settled at Herndon, engaging in his pres- ent line of business, which he has enlarged and added to to meet the demands of trade until his stock and interests are now quite extensive. He is engaged as a manufacturer of and dealer in bill humber, flooring, shingles, siding, molding, window sash, doors, bricks, shingle bands, eoal, and similar commodities, doing a thriving busi- ness, which he has built up by enterprising and accommodating methods. He also operates a farm of 208 acres, and one of sixty-six aeres, in Jack- son township. Mr. Rieger is president of the board of health of the borough of Herndon and

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has given useful service in that capacity. He is died Nov. 30, 1830, married Christophel Dunkel- independent politically. berger), and Maria Magd. (born March 5, 1791,

On Dee. 13, 1829, Mr. Rieger married Elmira died October, 1812, married Wilhelm Schneider). Lenker, daughter of Henry and Mary (Witmer) Among the taxables in Little Mahanoy town- Lenker, of Mahantango, Pa., and they have had ship when the first tax was collected, in 1814, three children: Alice imarried T. S. Updegrove, after the township was organized (in 1813), were who is now engaged in farming White island; Leonard and John Ferster. Charles L. is a farmer in Jackson township;

Peter and John Ferster had the first eight-day ('linton W. is also a farmer. Mr. Rieger and his elock ever in use in Little Mahanoy township; family are members of the United Evangelical this was in 1804. They bought it in Reading, ('hureh at Herndon, in which he is quite active, Pa. The Fersters were noted for their strength, serving at present as trustee of the church and John and Peter performing the feat of lifting a teacher of a large men's class in the Sunday school. full barrel and drinking out of the bunghole. In He is'a graduate of the Perkasie Park Normal Assembly Course.

Washington township, this county, there is a val- ley known as "Foersters Thal," Fersters Valley. In the early records the spelling is sometimes

CONRAD YEAGER. a native of Berks county, Furster.

P'a., abont the year 1800 settled near Elvsburg, in Northumberland county. He had a son, Conrad, of William Ferster : George Ferster became a farm- Jr., and a number of daughters.

Conrad Yeager, Jr., was born in Berks eounty about the year 1795, and when a child came with

We have the following record of the four sons

er and settled in the State of Indiana. He married and had a family.

Leonard Ferster, born March 23, 1777, died his parents to Northumberland county, settling in Aug. 3, 1843. He lived in Little Mahanoy town- Rush township. He was a farmer. He was a ship, where he owned the farm now belonging to .Lutheran in his earlier life. but at the time of his Daniel W. Wirt. His wife, Anna Barbara ( Het- death was a Baptist. He and his wife, Elizabeth rich), born Aug. 17, 1780, died Jan. 6, 1853, (Reed), are buried at Reed's Church. Their elev- and they are buried at the Little Mahanoy Church. en children were: John, Absalom, Conrad, Henry, The Fersters are Lutherans in religious eonnee- Solomon, Jacob, Elizabeth (married Isaac Hile), tion. To Leonard and Anna Barbara ( Hetrich) Esther (married Christopher Rhine), Deborah Ferster were born children as follows : Peter (men- (married Joseph Haas), Sarah ( married Leonard tioned below), Sally, Betzy (married Jacob Phil- ips), Catharine (married Samuel Wagner) and

Boyer) and Mary (married Jacob Pensyl).

Solomon Yeager, born in Shamokin township George (mentioned below).

July 18, 1837, now resides at Sunbury, Pa. He

Peter Ferster located in Washington township,

married Losanna Dawson, and they have children : where he took up considerable land in what is now J. Truman, Clarence, Reuben, Lizzie, Emma and known as "Fersters Valley," practically all the res- Ella.

idents being Fersters. and four adjoining farms JOHN A. FERSTER, a prominent farmer of Little Mahanoy township, has passed all his life there on the farm where he now resides. Several generations of Fersters have lived in the lower part of Northumberland county. One William Ferster belonging to Fersters. Peter Ferster lived on the tract now owned by his grandsons Elias and Frank Ferster (sons of Simon). He was twice married, his wives, Christina and Barbara, respec- tively, being sisters and daughters of Michael Re- buck. To the first union were born children as settled there prior to the organization of the follows: Peter: Simon, who died March 1, 1901, county, in 1722, and in 1728, in the list of tax- ables of Mahanoy township (which then included aged seventy-six years, five months, eleven days (his wife Mary A., born Dee. 18, 1821, died Oet. all that part of the county lying south of Line 29, 1880) : Daniel : David, mentioned below ; Isaac. Mountain), were the names of William. George, born March 5, 1832, who died Nov. 10, 1862: Peter and George Ferster. Jr .. William being the and John. mentioned below. The son John was father of George and Peter. William Ferster died only fourteen weeks old when the mother died, when his son Peter was a young. man, and is in 1838. By his second wife Peter Ferster had buried on his farm in Little Mahanoy township, a son George, who married Peggy Thomas: they in a field on the east side. Other persons were live in Much Valley, in Washington township. buried near him. but the plowshare now turns Michael Ferster (son of William), born. Fch. the sod over his grave. He owned the land which ?2. 1787, lived and died on a small traet near Rebuck. HIe had a farm farther up the valley.

is now the property of the Joseph Haas estate near Dornsife. His children were: George, Leon- His death occurred Nov. 18, 1840. and his wife ard, Peter, Michael, Sally ( married Bernhard Lydia ( Hepler), born Nov. 22, 1292. died Jan. Adam), Lydia ( Mrs. Miller), Catharine ( married . 12. 1858. They are buried at the Himmel Church. David Dunkelberger), Eve (born July 8, 1280, Their children were all daughters: One daughter

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married IIenry. Reitz (he was married four times) ; first wife, was born April 7, 1859. in Little Ma- Kate married Peter Rebuck (known as "Curly hanoy, in which township he is still engaged in Peter" Rebuck) ; Sarah married Peter Rebuck farming. He was reared in his native place, and (known as "Little Peter" Rebuck, also as "Levvy worked for his father until twenty-five years old, Peter") ; Lydia married Peter Rebuck (known as at which time he married and moved to Shamokin, "Pette Balser" Rebuck : she was the "Rod Lyd") ; Harriet married Joseph Rebuck; Hannah married Samuel Malick.

Peter Ferster, son of Leonard, lived for some years on the farm in Little Mahanoy township now owned by Daniel W. Wirt, which was his father's homestead and may have been a part of the land belonging to his grandfather, William

where he lived for ten years, meantime working in the coal mines, for the Reading and Pennsyl- vania Coal Companies. In December, 1895, he mnoved with his family back to Little Mahanoy township, settling on a farm which adjoins his father's homestead to the northeast. This place- was one time the Daniel Wagner homestead, and Mr. Ferster owns a nice tract of sixty-six acres,. Ferster. A log house still (1910) standing on, some of which is timberland. He is engaged prin- this farm was built by Leonard Ferster. George Ferster, brother of Peter, obtained nineteen acres of this farm. In his later years Peter Ferster crossed the Susquehanna and settled near Richfield, in Juniata county, Pa., where he died and is bur- ied: His wife's maiden name was Peifer, and among their children was a son George, who lived at Richfield and reached an advanced age.

cipally in truck farming, and attends market at Shamokin every week. Mr. Ferster is a Democrat and has officiated at elections, and he was school director for. a number of years, his last term ex- piring in 1910. He and his family are members of the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, which he is serving as deacon.

On Aug. 31, 1884, Mr. Ferster married Mary J. Hoffman, daughter of John and Sarah (Het- rich) Hoffman, of Washington township, and they have had a family of seven children: Cora, who died young ; Mabel M., who married George Bing- aman ; Edna S .; Robert L., who died young; An- nie P .; Katie A. ; and Adam Fred.

Jolin A .. Ferster, son of Adam and Rebecca (Runkle) Ferster, was born Aug. 13, 1875, in Little Mahanoy township, and has passed all his life on the farm where he resides, which belonged in turn to his grandfather and father. His father added to the original tract, and the-

Adam Ferster, son of George, was born on the farm in Little Mahanoy township, where his son John A. Ferster now lives, and passed his entire farm at present contains sixty-five acres, which

life there, dying Jan. 14, 1897, at the age of Mr. Ferster devotes to general crops. He sells his produce at Shamokin, where he attends market every week. Mr. Ferster is one of the energetic and intelligent young farmers of his section, has held the office of school director since 1909, and has been high constable of the township since. 1902. For one year he was supervisor. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, in religion a Lutheran, be- ing a member of the Emanuel Evangelical Church (Little Mahanoy), to which his family also be- long : he was deacon of this church. sixty-seven years, six months, twenty-eight days. He was a blacksmith, and followed the trade in addition to farming, having a shop which is still standing on his son's farm, along the road. He was' considered a good mechanic, and had plenty of work to do when the timber on the surround- ing inonntains, was cut. He was an active and ' intelligent man, interested in everything that con- cerned the general welfare, and held various politi- cal and church offices, being willing to do. his share as a good citizen. In politics he was a Dem- On Feb. 1, 1898, Mr. Ferster married Sallie- Raker, daughter of Isaac and Wilhelmina (Zart- man ) Raker, of Little Mahanoy township, and they have had three children: Ida, a daughter that died in infancy, and Adam. ocrat. His first wife, Catharine ( Bohner). daugh- ter of John Bohner, is buried at the Little Maha- noy Church. She was the mother of three chil- · dren : William, who lives at Snydertown. Pa .; Emeline, wife of David Long: and Aaron. Mr. David Ferster, son of Peter and grandson of William, was born March 2, 1828, in Washington township, and died Aug. 11, 1903, at his home. in the southwest portion of that district. He learned the trade of wheelwright. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company K. 172d Regi- inent, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After Ferster's second marriage was to Rebecca Runkle, who was born Oct. 13, 1841, daughter of Philip and Susanna (Brown) Runkle, and died Jan. 17, 1908. Adam and Rebecca Ferster are buried at St. Peter's Church, Mahanoy. They were the par- ents of three children : Susan, married to Henry Kahler ; George E., who is unmarried; and John A. the war he settled down to farming in Washing-

Aaron Ferster, son of Adam Ferster and his ton township, where he owned two farms, one How

George Ferster, son of Leonard, was the grand- father of John A. Ferster, and lived at the same place his grandson occupies, though he had a much smaller tract. He was born March 24, 1804, and died Oct. 26, 1830, at the early age of twenty-six years, and he is buried at the Emannel Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he was a member. Hc married Barbara Rebuck, and they had two children, Adam and Catharine, the latter the wife of John Bohner.

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the property of his son James, the other owned Zartman, and to them were born two sons, Daniel by his son-in-law, Daniel Rothermel. He was a and Peter Z. The latter, who also lived in Fers- ters Valley, died March 10, 1899, aged thirty-five years, eight months, twenty-seven days: he had been twice married, his first wife, Lovina ( Re- buck), dying Feb. 17, 1894, aged twenty-two years, ten months, seventeen days, the mother of one child, Charles, who died young ; by his second wife, Ellen J. Miller, he had one child, Alice, who lives with her grandparents.

man of enterprise and public spirit, and served as school director. and overseer of the poor in Washington township. His wife Judith ( Bros- ius) was a daughter of .Gottfried and Catharine (Klock) Brosius, and died March 3, 1904, aged seventy-five years, eleven months, six days. David Ferster was prominently identified with the Urban Church, and he and his wife are buried there. They had children as follows: Marie E., born April 22, 1852, married Urias Schreffler, and they are farming people of Washington township; Catharine, born Dec. 1, 1854, married Daniel Rothermel, and they, too, are farming people in Washington township; James and Levi are inen- tioned below ; Sarah, born Aug. 14, 1864, married Killian Philips, and they are farming in Lower Mahanoy township; Emma J., born Nov. 12, 1867, is the wife of Charles R. Kauffman, a farmer of Washington township.

James Ferster, son of David, was born Mav 20, 1857, and when eighteen years old commenced to learn cigarmaking, which trade he followed for eight years. For nine years he was engaged as store clerk in Mahanoy, and since 1887 has culti- vated the farm of the late Rev. J. Charles Smith, on the Pottsville road between Mahanov and Ur- ban. In 1880 he married Sevilla Philips, who was born in 1860 and died in 1901, the mother of these children : Susan, Maud, J. William and Gertrude E. In 1904 Mr. Ferster married (sec- ond) Cora Brown, and to them have been born two children, John E. and Amanda S.

Levi Ferster, son of David, was born Dec. 16, 1859, and worked on the farm for his parents until he was twenty-eight years old. At that time he married, and in 1889 he began to farm the to Northumberland county about 1810 and set- tract of 144 acres in Washington township where he has since lived, and which he now has under a fine state of cultivation. In 1891 he built the and are buried there, at the Himmel Church. They

present barn on that property. He is a prosper- ous farmer and one of the substantial citizens of his township, which he has served as school direct- or for nine years. He is also prominent in church work, being a member of the Lutheran congrega- tion at the Himmel Church, which he has served officially as deacon, elder and. at present, trustee. In 1887 Mr. Ferster married Mary A. Kahler, and they have had children as follows: Katie, Mary Elizabeth. Charles M., William I., John D. and Daniel J.

John Ferster, son of Peter and grandson of William, was born July 31, 1838, in Jackson (now Washington ) township, where he was reared, and throughout his active years was a farmer in what is locally known as Fersters Valley. He owns ninety-five acres of land, part of his father's farm. In 1863 Mr. Ferster married Harriet Zartman, who was born Oct. 17, 1836, daughter of Pavid

Daniel Ferster, son of John, was born Aug. 9. 1870, and was reared to farm life in Fersters Val- ley where he still resides. . Until he was of age he worked for his father, and has since been farni- ing on his own account, in 1900 settling on the place of eighty aeres ( formerly an Eyster farm) where he has since remained. The barn on this place was built by David Eyster in 1871, and Mr. Ferster has made a number of improvements on the tract since he acquired it. He married Ella Lebo, daughter of John and Polly ( Kobel) Lebo, late of Jackson township, and they have one daughter, Carrie May. Mr. Ferster is a Demo- crat, and at present is serving as school director of Washington township. He and his family are Lutheran members of St. Peter's Church, at Ma- hanoy, and he is now filling the office of deacon.

CHARLES H. ROTHERMEL, proprietor of the "Trevorton House" at Trevorton, is one of the younger business men of that place who are by their energy and enterprise winning a place among its substantial citizens. He was born June. 5, 1878, in Washington township, Northumberland county, and comes of a family long settled in that section. His great-grandfather. Abraham Rothermel, a native of Berks county, Pa., came tled in Washington township. He and his wife, Catharine ( Yeager), both died in that township, had children as follows: Charles, Martin. Isaac, Amos, Katie, Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Emeriek.

Charles Rothermel, son of Abraham, was the grandfather of Charles H. Rothermel. He came with his parents from Berks county and lived in Washington township, where he owned a farm and followed agricultural pursuits. He was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife being Bower, and to them were born four children: Kil- lian; Joseph : Aaron, who is living at Mount Pleasant Mills, in Snyder county, Pa. : and Har- riet. His second wife, whose maiden name was Beisel. bore him the following children: Lena, Daniel. Benjamin F., Lewis, Mary and Sarah.

Benjamin F. Rothermel, father of Charles H. Rothermel, was born Ang. 9, 1855. in Washing- ton township, and in his early life followed farm- ing. Subsequently he was employed for some years on public works, and he is now working at

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the Dunkelberger colliery. He has made his home Jacob Leapley, date May 7, 1779, Will Book I, at Trevorton since 1907. Mr. Rothermel's first page 13. Under date of June 12, 1779, Will wife, Emma (Hoffman), daughter of Jacob and Book I, page 14, we find: Michael "Leaply," de- Sarah (Drumheller) Hoffman, died March 6, ceased, administrator John Nye. 1880, and is buried in Washington township. She

Isaae Lepley, Sr., father of Mr. Isaac Lepley was the mother of two children: Charles H. and of Lower Augusta township, had two brothers : Edward, the latter dying young. Mr. Rothermel has since married (second) Lydia Brown, daugh- Joseph, who lived in Snyder county, Pa., where he was engaged in farming; and Samuel, who ter of Andrew Brown, and they have had one lived in the upper part of Pennsylvania. daughter, Ida, who died in infaney.

Isaac Lepley, Sr., was born at Winfield, in Charles H. Rothermel received his education Union county, Pa., was a lifelong farmer, and met in the publie schools and passed his boyhood upon with unusual prosperity in his undertakings, ac- the farm. When twelve years old he began pick- quiring the ownership of three farms, two in Un- ing slate at the mines and later became a regular ion county and one in Snyder county. The lat- miner, being thus engaged until April. 1910. Be- ter contained forty-five acres, and those in Union fore this, in 1905, he had become interested in county comprised eighty-two and forty aeres, re- the hotel business, but he continued his work at speetively. The forty-acre tract was valuable lime- the inines for several years, until he felt that his stone land, and Mr. Lepley erected three kilns hotel business needed all his attention. He is a and burned lime on an extensive seale. His tal- popular host and has one of the leading hotels ents as a business man were generally recognized, in the locality, enjoying a well deserved patron- and he was called upon to, serve his community age. In this connection, and as a member of the officially, being a member of the school board and Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Red Men and the frequently serving the county as juryman. His Cameron Gun Club, he is very well known. He efficient services were much appreciated. He died is a member of the Republican party and inter- in Union county about 1890, at the age of sixty- ested in its success, and during his residence in eight years, and is buried at Kratzerville, Snyder Cameron township served as a member of the county. He was a Lutheran member of the Kratz- election board. In religion he unites with the erville Church, in the work of which he was proni- Reformed denomination.

inent, holding the offices of deaeon, elder and

On May 17, 1902, Mr. Rothermel married trustee. His second wife, Catharine ( Kline), died Lottie Long, daughter of Felix and Lena Long, about two years after he did. They were the and to them have been born the following chil- dren : Clarence, Charles 'B., David F. and El- mer E. parents of two children. Isaac and Sarah, the lat- ter the wife of Jacob Kreisher. By his first mar- riage Mr. Lepley had three sons: John, who lives in the borough of Shamokin, this county; Sam- Thomas, who lives in Snyder county, three miles

ISAAC LEPLEY, who has lived upon his uel, who died at the age of thirty-five years; and present farm in Lower Augusta township sinee the spring of 1909, is a native of Union county. from Winfield, Pennsylvania. Pa., born Nov. 26, 1864, two miles from: Win-

Isaae Lepley has followed farming all his life. field, son of Isaae and Catharine ( Kline) Lepley. having assisted his father during his early life

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 39

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