Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 48

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 48

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reunion was held. The ancestor Bloom and his helpmate had eleven children. seven sons, four

JOHN BLOOM, son of William, lived retired oll his farm in Rockefeller township after a busy and daughters, and from them are descended the many useful career. He was born June 20, 1835, in hundred of Blooms of Clearfield and surrounding Lower Augusta township, was reared to farm life, counties. The eighth generation of the family and followed farming throughout his active years, participated in the reunion in 1909. The Blooms beginning on his own account when he reached have figured extensively in the affairs of Clear- his majority. He retired in 1907, and died Jan. field county since its organization. They are a 5, 1911. Mr. Bloom's farm, which is located on hearty and tall people, noted for longevity and the Tulpehocken road. is an old-established busi- multiplicity. Ross Bloom, of near Curwensville, ness stand, formerly owned and conducted by Wil- who was eighty-eight years old, attended the gath- liam Deppen. After him one John Schmick had a ering of the family. Benjamin Bloom, who at- tended the reunion, has a record of which he is proud. He is seventy-seven years old, and the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom are liv- ing. He has so many grandchildren that he fears of missing some should he endeavor to eount them,

. tannery on the property, and a tavern was also con- ducted there in a stone house many years ago; it is probable that William Reeser ran the tavern at one time. Mr. Bloom always led a quiet and un- assuming life, refusing all offers of public position. He was a Lutheran member of the Augustaville seores of great-grandchildren and seven great-great- Church, to which his family belong. grandehildren.

On April 12. 1859, Mr. Bloom married Matilda Shipman, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Yoxtheimer) Shipman, and ten children were of its sons to do battle for their country."

"The Blooms are members of the Democratic party. During the Civil war the family sent many

born to their union, viz. : Valeria married William

Isaac Bloom, son of William, was like all his E. Bloom; Thamar married Daniel L. DeWitt; brothers and sisters born in Clearfield county. He Irene married John F. Bloom : Flora died in child- was a farmer by occupation, and owned the farm hood ; Emma died at the age of twenty-nine years, on which he died. He married Mary ( Polly ) Ap- unmarried : Charles S. died in intaney ; George. E. gar, who survived him, dying in 1870 at a ripe old died in infancy ; Ella married William E. Reitz; age, and they had a family of twelve children, six

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sons and six daugliters, namely: John. James A. bushel. He received $5 a day and his board, William, George, Reuben, Benjamin, Caroline five meals daily and drink free, but eighteen (Mrs. Owens), Priscilla (married John Norris and had eighteen children), Geneise ( married Samuel Taylor), Mrs. George Ogden, Margaret (married Nicholas McCracken) and Mrs. George Garrison.

James A. Bloom, son of Isaac, was born in 1808 and lived to the age of ninety-four, dying in 1902. He is buried in the country graveyard at Bloom- ington, in Clearfield county. A man prominent in the business and public affairs of his day, he was a well known and substantial citizen. He had the farm of 160 acres now owned by his son Harvey, and in connection with farming followed lumbering, rafting down the West Branch of the Susquehanna river to Marietta, in Lancaster coun- ty. He filled the township offices of constable, su- pervisor and school director. His wife, Mary Ann (Hile), of Shamokin Hills, died aged seventy- nine years. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, as follows: Naomi married Robert Owen; Frampton, a retired railroad man, is a resident of Sunbury; Harvey lives on the old homestead in Clearfield county ; Jane is a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Edward is a resident of Grampian. Clear- field county ; Amos is mentioned below : Julia died of whooping cough; Hattie lives in Binghamton, N. Y .; Mary died in September, 1910, at Philips- burg, Pa .; Alfred is a resident of Luthersville, Pa .; Daniel was accidentally killed by a tree, at the age of twenty-six years; one daughter died in infancy. .

to twenty hours constituted a day's labor. After two years in the West Mr. Bloom returned to Penn- sylvania and resumed his former method of life, following carpentry in the summer and teaching in the winter, continuing thus until 1875. That year he engaged in the mercantile business at Northumberland, Northumberland county, whence in 1885 he came to Sunbury. He has since done an extensive general business in that place, having a well stocked store at No. 44 North Fourth street, where he carries a good line of general merchandise and wall papers. Mr. Bloom is un- doubtedly one of the busiest men in the borough, for he has acquired additional interests during the passing years which keep him thoroughly occupied. He is a director and secretary of the Sunbury Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company, having served as such since its organization, in 1896; has been sec- retary of the North Branch Fire Insurance Com- pany (capitalized at $300,000) since 1910; is a director and treasurer of the Sunbury Ice Com- pany ; and is treasurer of the Hydraulic Ram Com- pany of Sunbury.

Mr. Bloom has not taken an active part in the local administration except as member of the town council. Politically he is a Democrat with inde- pendent inclinations. He is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has been grand master of the jurisdiction of Penn- sylvania since September, 1906. In religious con- nection he is a member of the Baptist Church at Sunbury.

Amos BLOOM, son of James A. Bloom, is one of the forcmost merchants of the borough of Sunbury, where he has been doing business for the past On Aug. 27, 1873, Mr. Bloom, married Kate Lesher, daughter of Danicl and Sarah J. (Van Kirk) Lesher. They have had one daughter, An- nie Irenc. twenty-five years. He was born July 14, 1846, in Clearfield county, was brought up on the farm, and had such educational advantages as the free schools of his day in that locality afforded. The district was then a typically rural section and the HARRY E. LEIBY, present chief burgess of Snydertown, Northumberland county, is a young man who has risen rapidly in the business world and has also become prominent in social and po- litical circles through his energetic and forceful "schoolniaster ruled with the rod, whippings be- character. Mr. Leiby was born at Paxinos, this county, May 7, 1886, son of Francis M. Leiby and grandson of Daniel Leibv. school and its equipment typical of the times. Slabs were used.for seats, goose quills for pens, the old Sanders reader and an old-fashioned "cipher- ing" book were the manuals of instruction and the ing common." Mr. Bloom's mother was a woman of unusual intelligence and taught her children at home, so that by the time he was seventeen Amos Daniel Leiby was born in Columbia county, Pa., near Bear Gap, and died in that county at a com- was able to teach school. He taught in all ten terms of four months each, and received $35 a paratively early age. He was a farmer by occupa- tion. His wife, Rebecca (Yost). is still living at the homestead. Children as follows were born to this couple: Esther, who married Joseph B. Campbell; Amy, who married George Frederick ; William, of Sunbury ; Abraham L., of Bear Gap; and Francis M.

month for his services. which was considerable in those days, his board costing him but $5 per month. Meantime he also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed during the summer months, school being held in winter, when the boys were not needed so badly at home to help with the farm work. When twenty-two years old Mr. Bloom Francis M. Leiby was born Oct. 2, 1859, in went to Iowa, where he followed his trade and Columbia county, Pa., and has been a lifelong also found profitable employment for a time bind- farmer. He first lived with Eli Neice for a time, ing wheat, which was then selling at 65 cents a in Rush township, and eventually began farming

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

on his own account, now owning a farm of about son of Anthony Leam, both of whom were natives 150 acres in Rush township, near Snydertown. He of England. On coming to America with his fam- gives all his time to its cultivation, in which he lias ily Anthony Leam settled at Port Carbon, Pa., where he followed mining, and there he died. His children were: Anthony, Thomas, Martha (Mrs. Brown) and Harry. been very successful. Mrs. Leiby conducts a store in Snydertown. On Feb. 14, 1885, Mr. Leiby married Ida M. Haupt, daughter of Freeman and Ella (Neyhart) Haupt, and they have had two Harry Leam was born in England and came to America with his parents. His education was lim- ited, as he commenced work when still a boy. Lo- cating at Ashland, Schuylkill county, he built up children: Harry E. and Edna M., the latter born Sept. 22, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Leiby are Metho- dists in religious connection. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. They are a successful business as a contractor and builder, well known and higlily respected citizens of their community.

Harry E. Leiby received his early education in the public schools of Rush township, later attend- ing the State normal school at Bloomsburg. He then became a clerk in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company at Sunbury, where he re- mained one year. Going to Philadelphia, he found employment in the hat department of Strawbridge & Clothier's large establishment, where he con- tinued for six months. In 1906 he made a trip to Europe, and returning to New York City became a drug clerk on Long Island, for a time. He then came back to Snydertown, in 1907 embarking in the vehicle business in which he has since been in- terested, his location being at the corner of Market and Walnut streets, in the borough of Shamokin. In 1910 he became associated with Solomon Martz in this business, under the name Shamokin Motor Car Company, their specialty being the Buick motors. They are doing a promising business, their enterprise and up-to-date methods command- ing a discriminating class of patrons. Mr. Leiby is well known in various portions of the county besides his business and home boroughs, and he belongs to the Americus Club and Lodge No. 267, B. P. O. Elks, at Sunbury. He also holds mem- bership in the Odd Fellows lodge at Snydertown.

Outside of his business Mr. Leiby has taken par- ticular interest in politics as an ardent member of the Republican party. In March, 1910, he was honored with appointment to the office of chief burgess of Snydertown, which is the largest bor- ough in area in the State of Pennsylvania. It was a compliment to his ability and substantial qual- ities, and an evidence of the confidence of his fel- low citizens, not often shown to a man of his years.

HENRY L. LEAM, treasurer of The Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company, of Shamokin, Northumberland county, has been connected with that leading financial institution since its organiza- tion, in 1896, in his present capacity the greater part of the time. Before entering this line he was engaged in newspaper work almost from the begin- ning of liis active career.

Mr. Leam was born Nov. 15, 1865, at Ashland, Schuylkill Co., Pa., son of Harry Leam and grand-

building many breakers, and he met his death while engaged in this work, on a slope, in 1867. All of his business life was passed at Ashland, where he became well known as an honorable, self-made. intelligent man. He married Esther Lewis, who still resides at Ashland, and they had three children, Annie, Henry L. and Minnie, the former still residing with her mother.

Henry L. Leam received his education in the public schools of Ashland, and upon commencing work found employment as a shipping clerk. From his native place he went to Pottsville, same coun- ty, where he became a member of the reporting staff of the Miners' Journal. His next experience was at Scranton, where he was city editor of the Tribune, a well known newspaper, and from there he went to Philadelphia, where he was engaged as a reporter on the Press. Moving to Shamokin, he became editor of the Shamokin Daily Dispatch, which position he held for three years, until he assumed his present business relations. On March 1, 1896, when The Guarantee Trust and Safe De- posit Company opened for business, he became teller, and two and a half years later was pro- moted to hiis present position, that of treasurer, which he has held ever since. His high personal character, no less than his business ability, has made him a most valuable man in this responsible office, which he has filled with honor. Outside of liis connection with the bank Mr. Leam is well

known in Shamokin as a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Masonic fraternity, in the latter connection belonging to Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., Reading Chapter, No. 264, R. A. M., and Shamokin Commandery, No. 77, K. T. He is a Presbyterian in religious connection, and is serving the church in which he holds inember- ship as a member of the board of trustees and secretary and treasurer of that board.

In August, 1894, Mr. Leam was married to Louisa A. Shields, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and they have had one son, Henry L. Leam, Jr.

JOHN ADAM CAKE, attorney, of Sunbury, has been engaged in the practice of law in that borough for a period of forty years and has exten- sive real estate holdings in that part of the bor- ougli formerly known as Caketown, the manage- ment of which occupies considerable of his time.

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For a number of years he was actively interested for three years at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., in politics, from which he withdrew, however, and then returning to Sunbury read medicine with some years ago.

Joseph W. Cake, his father, laid out an exten- sive addition to the original town plat of Sun- of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated bury which was named Caketown in his honor, and in 1893. He practiced at Sunbury from that time which he had surveyed in September, 1863. He until his death, meeting with a degree of success died Jan. 1, 1879, and his wife died Aug. 25, 1879. She is buried at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., while Mr. Cake is buried in Pomfret Manor cen- etery at Sunbury. They had children as follows : Alice, who married J. G. Lowery; Joseph; John Adam; Edith, who died young; and Amy, who married Joseph S. Adam.

John Adam Cake was born Aug. 25. 1846. in Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pa., and received his preparatory education at Russell's Military School, taking his collegiate course at Yale and Princeton. He studied law under Benjamin H. Brewster, at Philadelphia, and was admitted to the Northum- berland county bar at Sunbury in March, 1870, for a year previous to which event he had continued his law studies under Messrs. Rockefeller and Rohrbach, in that borough. He has ever since maintained a law office in Sunbury, in that part of the borough once known as Caketown, but which has for many years formed a part of the munici- pality.

Mr. Cake was quite active in political affairs for a number of years. In 1867 and 1868, during his father's incumbency of the position of United States collector at the port of Philadelphia, he was assistant cashier at the custom house in that city. He was one of the early advocates of the Greenback movement, and was a delegate to the convention held at Toledo, Ohio, in 1878, for the organization of the National Greenback and Labor party, taking an active part in the work of that

convention. He represented his district in the useful citizens. The name, originally Hallobush national conventions of that party held in 1880 or Hallowbush, is now spelled in many ways-

and 1884, working hard during the Weaver and Butler campaigns, and in 1880 was himself the nominee of his party for Congress, in 188? for judge of the Supreme court. Since the disinte- gration of the Greenback party he has been a Re- publican, but he has not taken any direct part in public affairs or in promoting the success of the party beyond the regular casting of his vote. He is an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, and uses his influence in a quiet way for the promotion of all worthy objects which have in view the ad- vancement of the general welfare.

On Feb. 27, 1868, Mr. Cake married, at Potts- ville, Pa., Minnie E. Mccullough, daughter of Capt. Hugh McCullongh, who lost his life while serving in the Union army at the battle of Mur- freesboro. Mrs. C'ake died the mother of four chil- dren : (1) John Adamı, born at Sunbury Jan. 19, 1869, died there. He graduated from the Sunbury high school in 1887, after which he was a student

the late Dr. F. B. Masser, completing his prepara- tion for the medical profession at the University

which comes to few. He was a working member of the Northumberland County Medical Society. Dr. Cake spent much time at college in the gymnasium and athletic sports, for which he always retained a fondness. In February, 1894, he married Clara Jones, of Shamokin, and they had one daughter, Helen Marie. (2) Minnie C. is the wife of Mason Noble. (3) Joseph W. is engaged as a conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad. (+) Edith.

Mr. Cake was married (second) to Mrs. Dunkel- berger. He is a Mason, holding membership in Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., of Sunbury.

JOHN A. HILBISH, a resident of the borough. of Northumberland who has recently retired from farming to devote his attention to other interests, is one of the leading spirits in the promotion of the development of his town and section and recog- nized as one of the most progressive citizens of his community. He has been associated with various projects affecting the general welfare of the lo- cality, and his public spirit and efficient services have made him one of the most influential workers in the advance movement toward greater North- umberland. Mr. Hilbish was born Aug. 2, 1851, in Washington township. Snyder Co., Pa., son of Daniel P. Hilbish, grandson of Peter Hilbish and great-grandson of Peter Hilbish.

This family comes of the sturdy German stock which has given Pennsylvania so many of her

Hilbush, Hillbush. Hillibish, Hilbish and Haller- bush. Christian Hallowbush, the emigrant ances- tor of John H. Hilbush, of Shamokin, Northuni- berland county, was born in 1718 in the German l'alatinate, and came to America in 1724 with his brother Peter and widowed mother. They landed at Philadelphia, locating shortly after in Salford township, Montgomery county. Peter Hallowbush was born in 1709, and died in 1768, leaving five children, Catharine, Johst, Magdalena, Margaret and Ann Maria. Christian Hallowbush died in Montgomery county in 1728, the father of four children, Magdalena, Henry, Adam and Peter. Undoubtedly the family here under consideration is descended from this source.

Daniel P. Hilbish was born in 1810 in Wash- ington township, Snyder county, and died in Feb- ruary, 1861. He is buried at Freeburg. A farmer by occupation, he prospered in his calling, and not only owned, the old Hilbish homestead in

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Snyder county but also the farm in Point town-

rying on a general store. In 1882 he built a fine ship, Northumberland county, now owned by his residence in Freeburg. In 1883 he came to North- son John A. Hilbish. He was a man of more than umberland and began the cultivation of his 230 acre farm, which has been in the family name since 1846. Hc farmed this place from 1883 to 1910, when he gave up agricultural pursuits to look after his other interests. He sold forty-seven acres of his land to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which established its vards at that point. and in 1910 he laid out sixteen acres of his land in building lots. Mr. Hilbish has furthered other projects for the good of the community. He was one of the organizers of the new bank of North- umberland. ordinary intelligence, a leader in the affairs of his district, held various public offices, and was one of the original founders of the Freeburg Academy, serving on the building committee and later as trustee. He contributed largely to the construc- tion and was the leading spirit in the foundation of this institution, where his children were edu- cated. On the question of education he had strong convictions, and he did much work beneficial to the community. He was a Republican in politics, and in religion a member of the Reformed Church, which he supported with his influence and means. He was liberal in such matters as he was generous and broad in all the associations of life. The old homestead which he owned, and which his son Samuel G. took after his death, has now (1910) been in the family name for 125 years, and was all in the forest when taken up by his grandfather, Peter. In 1846 Daniel P. Hilbish purchased the farm in Point township mentioned before, upon which he erected a full set of buildings, which the .

On Feb. 10, 1884, Mr. Hilbish married Melissa Kautz, daughter of Samuel B. and Sarah (Wet- zel) Kautz, of Freeburg, and they have had three children, Charles E., John C. and Sarah I. Both sons arc graduates of Bucknell University, and the elder is now engaged as a contractor in Northumberland ; he is also a public surveyor. The daughter is a member of the class of 1912. Northumberland high school. Mr. Hilbish and his family worship at the Presbyterian Church Pennsylvania Company purchased in 1909. He of Northumberland. He is a Republican in poli- was a man whose judgment was so highly esteemed tics, and has held public office. In 1909 he erect- that he was frequently sought for advice by his ed the new brick house at the corner of King and neighbors, and he had the respect of all who knew Hilbish streets, in Northumberland, in which he and his family now reside. The location is beau- tiful, affording an ideal view of the surrounding landscape. him. He married Elizabeth Glass, danghter of George and Sarah ( Brill) Glass, of Washington township, Snyder county, whose family were pio- neers in that district, coming thither while the Indians were still roaming the territory. Mrs. Hil- FREDERICK W. V. LORENZ, a civil engineer of high standing, and one of the best known and most prominent citizens of Northumberland coun- ty, was born in Burgsteinfurt, Westphalia, Ger- many, Dec. 26, 1853, son of Victor and Augusta (Drost) Lorenz. bish long survived her husband, dying in 1888 at the age of seventy-six years, and is likewise buried in the family plot at St. Peter's Church, at Free- burg, in Washington township. Eight children were born to them: Samuel G., who lives on the homestead ; Sarah S., wife of Philip B. Moyer; Mary A., who married William Motz : Catharine A., who. married James P. Artley; one that died in infancy ; John A .; George A., who died in 1877, aged twenty-four years : and Emma K., deceased, who married Dr. J. D. Hilbish and after his death became the wife of John Motz.

Victor Lorenz, the father, held high place in his native land. He was born Oct. 15, 1833, and received an excellent education. When but twenty- five years old he was made counselor to the Prince of Bentheim Steinfurt, a position he continued to fill for almost half a century. He died Oct. 14, 1902.

John A. Hilbish was born on the Hilbish home- Frederick W. V. Lorenz was a student at the stead and was during his early youth a pupil in University of Halle, on the river Saale, until 1873. the local public schools, later attending Freeburg In 1877 he came to the United States, locating Academy, from which he was graduated in 1866. in Philadelphia. where, however, he remained but Subsequently he attended Palatinate College, at Myerstown, Pa., and later the Millersville State Normal school. In 1868 he was licensed to teach public school and began teaching at Middleburg. In all he taught for five terms, during which time he gave the highest satisfaction to patrons and pu- pils alike, being regarded as an able disciplinarian as well as an efficient instructor. He holds the esteem of his old pupils to this day. In 1872 he. engaged in the mercantile business in Freeburg the position of civil engineer in the construction and continued same successfully until 1881, car- of various branches. In September, 1887, he was

three months, in January, 1878, joining the P. . & T. Collins expedition to Brazil. He was engaged in that country until November. 1879, when he returned to the United States, and became a civil engineer in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, and afterward was a clerk in the construction of the coal docks at Eliz- abethport, N. J., until January, 1882. At that time his employers sent him to Shamokin to fill

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appointed teller of the First National Bank, a turned out in his section of the State. This was position he filled for some years. During 1895-96, during Civil war times. He prospered in this and several times later, he filled the office of city business, employing from twelve to twenty-five engineer. inen, and he also had a farm. From 1892 until

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 48

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