Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 4

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 4

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of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia & Reading railroads, and covers an area of about fifteen thou- sand square feet. The mill is thoroughly equipped with the most approved modern appliances for producing the highest grade of work, carefully selected lumber is used in filling all orders, and the establishment has a reputation for reliable and well finished products which accounts for its popu- larity. All classes of work, from the most in- expensive to the mnost elegant, are undertaken, and a force of twenty-five hands find steady employ- ment. Electric power is the motive force, and the plant is up-to-date in every detail. Mr. Fetter's mechanical skill, combined with unusual executive ability, has made his success possible within a comparatively short time. Though busy with his own interests he has found time for service on the school board, having been director from the Ninth ward since 1905, and he is the present treasurer of the board. He is a Republican in his political views.

On March 6, 1897, Mr. Fetter married Hattie Susanna Bogar, daughter of Paul S. and Matilda (Musser) Bogar, of Adams township, Snyder Co.,, Pa., and granddaughter of Daniel and Susan (Sampsel) Bogar, also of Snyder county. Mr. and 170 South Tenth street, adjoining his mill prop- erty, which he designed and crected in 1903, a substantial brick dwelling which is an ornament to the locality and much admired. They are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.

.ELIAS FETTER, son of Daniel, was born July 24, 1855, on the homestead in Upper Mahanoy township, and received his education in the free schools of the locality. He was reared to farm life, and in his earlier years did laboring work for others, until he began farming on his own ae- count, in 1879. From that time to the present he has farmed his father's old place, to which he has added eighteen acres and which he has improved in many ways, having a most desirable property on the road between Leck Kill and Rough and Ready, near the Schuylkill county line. His father built " a residence on the place in 1866, and Mr. Fetter erected his present home thereon in 1901. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit, one whose opinion on matters generally is held in high re- gard, and he is a prominent man in his township in many respects. He has long been actively identified with the work of the Democratic party, having helped to hold a number of township elec- tions, and served twelve years as auditor of the township. He has also been a valued member of the Lutheran congregation of Salem Church, where he and his wife belong, having served as deacon and at present holding the office of trustee.

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Washington township, this county. They have no township; Farietta married Landis Brosius, who family. farms the homestead for his father-in-law, Mr. Fetter.

Frederick Fetter, son of Philip, the emigrant, was born in Berks county, Pa. He came thence to Northumberland county about 1815, from what township is not definitely known, but his grand- son, John Fetter, thinks it was Heidelberg, and settled on a farm of some eighty acres at Leck Kill, in Upper Mahanoy township. He followed farming throughout .his active years, and was not an old man at the time of his death. He adhered to the Reformed faith, and is buried at Howerter's Church. His wife, Catharine (Schmidt), was like himself from Berks county, and their eldest child, George, was born there. Besides this son they had four daughters, namely : Hannah died un- married; Elizabeth, born Nov. 2, 1798, died Aug. 20, 1865, unmarried; Sallie was an invalid; Catharine married John Brown.

George Fetter, son of Frederick, was born July 4, 1801, in Berks county. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the homestead in Upper Ma- hanoy township, and resided thereon some vears. thence moving to a farm of 118 acres north of that property ; this latter place is now the property of one of his grandsons, Charles H. Fetter. George Fetter served his township as overseer of the poor. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Reformed Church in religious matters, uniting with the Howerter Church, where he is buried. His wife Catharine (Mertz), daughter of John Mertz, of Berks county, was born April 19, 1803, and died Dec. 24, 1876. and Mr. Fetter died July 17, 1878. Their children were as follows: Charles lived at Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co., Pa .; Daniel, born Nov. 27, 1825, died Dec. 30, 1864, unmar- ried ; John is mentioned below ; Benneville is men- tioned below ; Catharine married Charles Kahler. and died Aug. 1, 1908, aged seventy-three years; Esther, born Sept. 3, 1836, died Feb. 27, 1872.

John Fetter, son of George, now a venerable resident of Upper Mahanoy township, was born in that township Feb. 28, 1832, and has passed all his long life there. He was reared to farming and gave all his active years to that vocation, owning and cultivating his father's old place for seven- teen years. Reselling this tract to his father. he purchased his present place, a tract of 107 acres. in 1869, and has since resided there. This was the of Leck Kill. old Michael Braun homestead, and Mr. Braun in 1829 built the stone house which still stands on the property and is occupied as a residence. Mr. Fetter retired from farming in 1908. He is a member of St. John's Church, in Upper Mahanoy township, which he has served officially as older.

Benneville Fetter, son of George, was born April 21, 1841, on the homestead in Upper Mahanoy township, where he was a lifelong farmer, owning and living upon his father's place, which is now the property of his son Charles H. He died Jan. 6, 1887, at the comparatively early age of forty- five years, and is buried at St. John's Church, where he and his family united with the Reformed congregation, and he was serving as deacon at the time of his death. Mr. Fetter had a harrowing ex- perience with the Molly Maguires, who terrorized the coal regions for a number of years, being robbed by them of two hundred dollars while he was going across Broad Mountain. He was a hucksterer, and was on the road between Pottsville and Minersville. He married Louisa Malick. daughter of David and Elizabeth (Leitzel) Malick, and four children were born to them: Wilson M., Charles H., John F. and George M., the last named dying in childhood.

CHARLES H. FETTER was born July 19, 1867, on the homestead, and there worked for his parents until he reached the age of eighteen years. When his father died he took charge of the farm of 118 acres, which he has since cultivated. It came into his possession in 1888. He disposes of his produce in Shamokin. Mr. Fetter has been quite interested in local affairs, has been overseer of the poor in his township since 1905 and was supervisor for three terms. He is a Republican in political sentiment.

On Nov. 9, 1890, Mr. Fetter married Lizzie A. Beissel, daughter of Daniel H. and Abbie ( Horn- berger) Beissel, of Upper Mahanoy township, and they have had a family of eleven children, as fol- lows: Sadie Maizie, Harry D., Clyde E., Welling- ton C., George C., John C., Cally L., Dora W .. Katie A., Jennie L. and Lydia E. Mr. Fetter and his family worship at St. John's Church, where they are members of the Lutheran congregation, and he has been very active in the work of that or- ganization, having served as deacon eleven years in succession, as superintendeut of the Sunday school for three terms, and since 1907 as elder. He takes a keen interest in all the activities of the congre- gation and is one of its most valued workers. He is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 260, I. O. O. F ..

JOHN F. FETTER, son of Benneville, was born Nov. 16, 1871, in Upper Mahanoy township. where he received his education, attending school at Leck Kill. Leaving school at the age of eighteen years, he went to Mount Carmel to learn the carpenter's ·trade when he attained his majority, and has been engaged at that work ever since, being established

In 1875 Mr. Fetter married Sarah Ann Runkel, who was born in 1842, daughter of Philip and in his native township. Since the spring of 1909 Susanna (Cherry) Runkel, and they have had two he has also been engaged in farming, owning forty- children : William is a farmer in Upper Mahanoy nine aeres located along Line Mountain. This

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was formerly the Solomon Enderline homestead in 1790, Samuel Schwartz lived in Longswamp and subsequently owned by E. B. Tschopp, who township, Berks county, was a farmer, and head of built the present frame residence in 1893. Mr. a family consisting of himself and wife, a son then Enderline operated a tannery there for many years. over sixteen years old. and four sons under six- teen, as well as three daughters. It was his eldest son, Peter, born 1763, died 1831, who founded the family in the territory now embraced in Jordan township, Northumberland county, he having set- tled near Urban, the business center of the town- ship.

On Dec. 30, 1893, Mr. Fetter married Annie Brosins, daughter of Michael and Katie (Bush) Brosius, and they have had two children, Katie L. and Lloyd A. All this family are members of the Reformed congregation at St. John's Church. Like his father. Mr. Fetter is a Republican in poli- tics, and socially he affiliates with Mount Carmel Commandery, No. 22, Knights of Malta, and with the carpenters and joiners organization, No. 711, at Mount Carmel.

DANIEL S. SCHWARTZ, one of the leading and substantial farmer citizens of Jordan town- ship, was born on the Schwartz homestead there Sept. 23, 1846, and is now the owner of that place. He is a great-grandson of Peter Schwartz, the founder of the family in Northumberland county, who came hither from his native county, Berks.

There were a number of other Swartzes in Berks connty at this period, the following wills being of record there: Book B, page 209, Casper Swartz, died 1787 (executors John and Leonard Swartz) ; Book A, page 383, Jacob Swartz, died 1798 (exec- utor, Philipina Swartz) ; Book 4, page 169, Leon- ard Swartz, died 1803 (executors Ludwig Swartz and Henry Krum) ; Book 4. page 436, John Swartz, died 1807 (executors Rachel Swartz and John Garber).

Peter Schwartz, eldest son of Samuel and grand- son of Nicholas, was born in Longswamp town- ship, Berks county, and upon his removal to Northumberland county settled in what is now Jordan township. He took up and bought over three hundred acres of land, located in the vicinity

The emigrant ancestor of this old Pennsylvania family was one Nicholas Schwartz, and he was one of the carly residents of Longswamp township, Berks Co., Pa. (There was another Nicholas Schwartz in Berks county, a much earlier settler of Urban, which village was founded by his son there.) In 1759 he was assessed, paying fourteen" Daniel on land originally belonging to Peter pounds tax, and one Daniel Schwartz, who paid Schwartz. The latter was a farmer by vocation, two pounds, is said to have been his brother. In and he was a man of progressive and enterpris- the tax list the name is spelled Swartz, but in his ing disposition, erecting a number of buildings and materially improving his holdings. He be- longed to the Reformed congregation of St. Peter's Church at Mahanoy and was active in every phase of the church life, holding all the church offices and assisting liberally in the finan- cial support of the organization as well as in the erection of the church edifice. He is buried at that church, as is also his wife, who was a native of Berks county and a member of one of the old- est and most representative families of that re- gion, the Hochs. The inscriptions on their tomb- stones read as follows : last will and testament Nicholas wrote the name Schwartz in legible German. In this document, which is on record in Will Book ?, page 336, in the Berks county conrthouse, he gives his occupation as shoemaker. On May 9, 1778, during the prog- ress of the American Revolution, letters of ad- ministration were granted to his wife, Mary Eliza- beth Schwartz, and their sons John and Sammel. Nicholas Schwartz made ample provision for his beloved wife, who was to receive annually 18 bushels of good wheat, 100 pounds of pork, 50 pounds of beet, 6 pounds of good wool, 10 pounds of "heckled" flax, S pounds of hemp, ? barrels of good cider and 3 gallons "oyl." The children of Hier ruhet der Leib von Peter Schwartz Geboren Sept. den 19ten 1763 Starb July den 2ten 1831 Sein alter war 70 yahre 7 monate und 14 tage Nicholas and Mary Elizabeth Schwartz were seven in number, five sons and two danghters: John, Samuel, Daniel, Christian, Nicholas, Sarah and Mary Elizabeth. The estate being a large one, all received considerable for that day, John and Sam- uel obtaining land: the homestead it appears was divided into two parts, John receiving that Hier ruhet der Leib von Debora Schwartz Geborne Hochein war gebohren April den 12ten 1761 Starb Sept. den 7ten 1833 : Ehr alter war 72 yahre 4 monate und 26 tage part on which stood the original set of buildings. Daniel received a tract of land and twenty-five pounds in money. Christian was to receive 200 pounds in money and a mare not over ten years. . old. Nicholas received 200 pounds in money, Sarah a like amount, and Mary Elizabeth 100 . pounds in money. Peter Schwartz and his wife had three sons

When the first Federal Census Report was taken, and two daughters, viz. : Daniel; Samuel, a school

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teacher, who moved to Mereer county, Pa., and some years. He was a justiee of the peaee of who married a Schiaffer (he had a son Jonas) ; Jordan township for many years, and was aetive Peter; Catharine, married to George Geise; and in the public affairs, church and social life of the Hannah, married to Elias Leitzel. district. Later he moved to Sunbury, where he

Daniel Schwartz, son of Peter, was born Dec. died Dec: 14, 1903, aged seventy-three years, 2, 1794, in Berks county, and eame with his par- four months, twenty-seven days; he is buried at Urban. In political eonneetion he was a Demo-

ents to Northumberland county, where he be- came a prominent eitizen of his seetion. He was crat. He married Susan Coleman, and they had two daughters, Mary and Jane.

a farmer and merchant, owned the farm of 160 acres now belonging to his grandson Daniel Schwartz, and was the founder of the village of Urban (so named by the government when the post office was established), erecting the first building and starting the first store and hotel there. His establishment was the prineipal busi- ness center in the township, and he continued in sueeessful business for many years, during which time he was also aetive in many ways in promoting the general welfare of the community. He was a valuable member of society. The pub- lic school system received substantial encourage- ment from him and he helped to establish it in his.district. He donated the ground upon which St. Paul's (the Schwartz) Church at Urban is

David Sehwartz, son of Daniel and Rachel ( Beisel) Schwartz, was born July 28, 1819, be- came a farmer and the owner of the homestead, now owned by his son Daniel S. Schwartz. The property now comprises 104 aeres. In 1822 he built the barn now standing on this tract, and he assisted in the erection of the house, whieli was put up about 1856. He owned another farm, of 130 acres; in Little Mahanoy township. Mr Schwartz was an industrious and prosperous man, and not only looked well' after his own affairs, but found time to serve his fellow citizens, hold- ing the offices of school director and supervisor of his township. He was also aetive in ehureh af- fairs as a member of the Reformed congregation erected, and contributed liberally of both time and at St. Paul's Church, holding all the church of- money toward its ereetion, was a zealous member fiees, in faet he was serving the church in an of the Reformed congregation there, holding all offieial eapacity during the greater part of his the church offiees, and participated in all the work adult life. He died June 5, 1887, and is buried at St. Paul's Church.

of that organization. Politically he was a Demo- crat. His wife, Rachel (Beisel), daughter of Peter Beisel, was born July 11, 1797, and died fer, who was born Feb. 3, 1822, daughter of Mich- Dec. 29, 1862. Mr. Sehwartz died Sept. 30, 1857. ael Sehaffer, and died Dee. 25, 1887. They had a They were the parents of the following children: family of four children: Catharine, who died David; Josiah, who married Anna Shaffer (she young: Daniel S .; Raehel, Mrs. Durell Sehaffer ; · was born May 28, 1826, and died Oet. 4. 1861) : and Amanda, Mrs. Daniel Wert.

Elias; Rachel, Mrs. Smith (she and her husband moved to Indiana ) ; Hannah. Mrs. John Daniel : Elizabeth. Mrs. Elias Shaffer: and Sarah, who married John Emnerieh (1831-1872).

Peter Schwartz, son of Peter and Debora (Hoch) Schwartz, born Aug. 9, 1805, died Jan. 4, 1885, and is buried at St. Paul's Church. He remained in the vieinity of Urban. where he fol- lowed farming and merchandising, owning a traet of about one hundred acres (now the property of Charles Heim and John Byerly) which he cul- tivated, and for several years earrying on a mer- In 1869 Mr. Schwartz married Lydia Geist, who was born Feb. 6, 1844, daughter of Abraham and eantile business east of Urban. He was twice married, his wives being sisters named Merkel. Elizabethi (Hepler) Geist, and died Sept. 7, 1907. and the following record found in the cemetery of To this union was born one son, James Morris. St. Peter's Church at Mahanoy probably refers JAMES MORRIS SCHWARTZ, born Mareh 7, 1870, to his first wife: Hannah Mereklin, wife of Peter on his grandfather's farm in. Upper Mahanoy Sehiwartz, born Dec. 11, 1806, died May 20. 1847. His second wife, Elizabeth Merkel. born Dee. 23, mon schools. Later he attended the conimereial 1823, died July 30, 1887. His children were: Daniel M. and Harriet, the latter the wife of Charles Heim.

township, received his early education in the eom- college at Williamsport. from which he was grad- uated in 1894. Meantime. in 1890, he had re- ceived his license to teach public school from Prof. William Bloom, and he later received a license

Daniel M. Sehwartz, son of Peter. was an es- teemed schoolmaster of his day. teaching at and from Prof. Ira Shipman, under whom he was around Urban, where he was also a merchant for

granted a professional certificate. He also took

In 1843 Mr. Schwartz married Elizabeth Sehaf -.

Daniel S. Schwartz received his edueation in the publie sehools of Jordan township, was reared to farm life, and has continued to follow agri- cultural pursuits, being the present owner of the Schwartz homestead near Urban. He is a thor- oughly respected resident of that locality, has held the office of tax colleetor of his township, and has served the Schwartz Church in various official ea- pacities, having been elder and trustee. Politieally he is a Demoerat. He now resides with his son, James Morris Schwartz, on the old home place.

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an examination under Prof. Benjamin Apple. His his brother Jacob, and Paul Grosscap, the ances- first term was taught in Jordan township in 1890, tor of the Chicago jurist, Peter Grosscup. at the Hebe school, where he also remained for Daniel Long was born in Berks county June 2, a second term, and his third term was at the For- 1804. He had no brothers, and but one sister, who est school. For the next four terms he was en- died young. His father died in Berks county when yet a young man, and his inother, whose maiden name was Krissinger, then came to North- umberland county, Pa., where she married (sec- ond). Jacob Raker, of Lower Augusta (now Rocke- feller) township. To her second marriage were cob, Lovina (Mrs. Daniel Malich), Mrs. Harry Keiser and Mrs. John Hoover. gaged at the Urban school, then for two terms at the Linden school in the same township, and his last termi was taught in Washington township- ten terms in all. He met with continued success as an instructor, keeping up the traditions of the Schwartz family, which has had a teacher in ev- born children as follows: Solomon, George, Ja- ery generation 'on record. He has the retentive memory and active mind characteristic of the fam- ily, and his conscientious work made his services as an educator highly valued. Mr. Schwartz is

Daniel Long made his permanent home in Northumberland county after coming hither with now residing with his father on the old homestead his mother. He lived in Rockefeller township, and devoting himself to its cultivation, and he and owned two farms, one the place now owned succeeded his father in the office of tax collector by his grandson William E. Long and the other of Jordan township, which responsible position he owned at present by his daughter, Mrs. Permelia has filled without interruption since 1894. He is J. Conrad. He was a maker of planes, using a Democrat in politics, and like so many other beechwood in their manufacture. Here he mar- members of the family a Reformed member of the Schwartz (St. Paul's) Church at Urban, to which his family also belong. He has been sec- retary of the church council since 1906. Mr. Schwartz is, indeed, a representative member of an old and honored family of Jordan township, one of the most influential in that section of Northumberland county, substantial and valuable citizens who have proved their worth in every generation. They are still interested in the Ur- ban store property, and have other valuable in- terests. ried Catharine Shipe, who survived him, his death occurring Sept. 19, 1876, hers on Feb. 10, 1887, when she was seventy-eight years, nine months, twenty-two days old. They are buried at the Augustaville Lutheran and Reformed Church. Their children were as follows: Barbara Ann mar- ried John Martin and they lived in Shamokin township; Elizabeth Ann married Thomas Wolf and they lived at Tamaqua, Pa .; Samuel S. is mentioned below; Sarah, born in 1833, died in 1838; Catharine Ann married Solomon Miller and (second) Andrew Snyder, and lived at Williams- port, Pa. ; Mary Ann married Peter Reeser and they lived at Trevorton, this county: Catharine; Permelia J. married Nathaniel Conrad; William, born May 1, 1842, died Sept. 1, 1844.

On March 29. 1905, James Morris Schwartz married Bertha Kauffman, danghter of Daniel and Sarah (Burns) Kauffman, of Sunbury, earlier of Upper Mahanoy township. Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz have an only son, Daniel K.

LONG. There are three Long brothers, all en- gaged in farming in Rockefeller township. North- umberland county, sons of Sammuel S. Long and grandsons of Daniel Long. a native of Berks county, where the family has been settled since the early half of the eighteenth century. On Aug. 30, 1737, the brothers Jacob and Johan Nicholas Long, who were from the Rhine country, Ger- many, arrived in America on the ship "Samuel," of London, Hugh Percy, captain, from Rotterdam, last from .Cowes.

This Johan Nicholas Long was the ancestor of the Northumberland county family with which this article is to deal. He settled in Rockland township, Berks county, at an early date, and died there in 1782, survived by his wife Elizabeth and children: Mary Appolonia, who married Joh Kercher: Jacob: Nicholas: John, and Henry. The three last named were under age at the tinie of their father's death. His will was witnessed by

Samuel S. Long, son of Daniel, was born March 27, 1837, in Rockefeller township, and died Jan. 29, 1904. He is buried at the Augustaville Church previously mentioned, where he was a Re- formed member and active in church work, serv- ing many years in the church council. Mr. Long followed farming, owning the place now in the possession of his son William E. Long, who is the third in direct line to own it. He was not only a good farmer, but a man of rare mechanical gifts. making shoes, planes (many of which are still in use in this section). harnesses, etc., could do mason-work. and in fact almost anything he turned his hand to. He served his township as school director. Mr. Long married Mary Conrad,' daughter of Daniel P. and Lydia ( Kreeger) Con- rad, and she survives him. continuing to live on the homestead. She celebrated her seventy-third birthday Jan. 1. 1911. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Long, Daniel C., George M. and William E.

DANIEL C. LONG was born May 4, 1863, was

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reared to farming, and has followed that voca- Farming has always been his occupation, and he tion all his life in Rockefeller township. He is now the owner of the homestead, 140 acres of worked for his parents until his twenty-fourth fertile land, well located, in the southeastern por- vear, in 1886 commencing to farm at his present location in Rockefeller township, working it on shares until he purchased the property, some years kota. This was formerly the homestead of Peter Reeser, who erected the present set of buildings on the place. It consists of forty-six acres in Rockefeller township, which contains the most fer- tile land in the township, and in addition Mr. Long owns a tract of thirty acres which formerly belonged to John R. Malick. There is a good set of buildings on that tract also. Mr. Long has served six years as school director. He is a Dem- also went to market for years, Mr. Long having ocrat in politics, and in religious connection he and his family are Reformed members of Zion's Union Church at Augustaville, which he has served as deacon since 1902.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 4

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