Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 50

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 50

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Francis Peter Schwartz, son of John, was born in 1796, and died in 1862, aged sixty-six years. He was well known in Northumberland county in his day, and for many years taught school and wrote decds and wills. He had a wide reputation for superior cducation. ] In his young manhood he was employed for a year in one of the depart- ments at Washington, D. C. For some time he conducted the Publick Inquirer, one of the early

Packer. During the war of 1812 he served as en- sign in Capt. Jacob Hummell's company from Northumberland county, and has the distinction of being the only soldier of the war of 1812 that was buried at Recd's church, in Ralpho township. He

`John J. W. Schwartz attended the public schools, but from the carly age of ten years was obliged to contribute to the support of the family, hiring out to neighboring farmers in the Shamokin Valley until he reached the age of eighteen. Dur- ing this time he had three or four months' school- ing each year. When about eighteen years of age he became a clerk in the store of Haas & Fagely, of Locust Gap, at a salary of a hundred dollars a year and board. This occupation he continued for a period of twenty-five years, and became a very valuable man. He remained with the firm until June 16, 1863, when he and George Martz of Shamokin were mustered into the United States army, in Company 1, 28th Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, Capt. Thomas R. Jones, serving dur- ing the emergency. On his return from the army Mr. Schwartz resumed his former position, remain- ing therein until Jan. 1, 1864, when he came to Shamokin to clerk in the store of William Fagely . & Co. From there he went to the Cameron col- liery to keep books and ship coal for the firm of John Haas & Co. This firm was later succceded by Haas, Fagely & Co., but Mr. Schwartz continued in its employ until the workings were sold July 1. 1871, when he went back to again clerk in the store of Haas, Fagely & Co. and their successors, Fagely & Martz. In February, 1873, he accepted a position as bookkeeper for the firm of Patterson, Llewellyn & Co., miners and shippers of coal. He worked for this firm until he announced himself as a candidate for the office of county treasuref on the Republican ticket, and at the election the people of the county showed their trust in his hon- esty and integrity by giving him an excellent ma- jority. His clection was doubly honorable because of the fact that he was the first Republican to attain that office in Northumberland county. From 1885 to 1887 he served as treasurer of the county, having been elected on the Republican ticket. Mr. Schwartz was also an earnest worker in municipal affairs. For twelve years he served on the school board, part of the time as its secretary, and for one term was a member of the council. In 1888 he became chief burgess of Shamokin. He clerked in the prothonotary's office three years and seven months, from 1894 to 1897. being deputy under

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Charles L. Kramer. He has served his party as works. In so doing he was shot down and county chairman. In 1897 he was appointed jus- wounded, this occurring on the same day he re- tice of the peace, by Governor Hastings, to fill the ceived his promotion to Color Sergeant. unexpired term of the late Squire Francis A. Mil- MAJ. JOHN SCHWARTZ, brother of Francis Peter and uncle of John J. W., was born in Northum- berland county Oct. 27, 1793, and was ten years old when the family settled at Reading. He clerked in a local store, and became familiar with in the iron business, and with Simon Seyfert as a partner erected the Mount Penn Furnace, in C'umru township, Berks county. He met with great success in his undertaking, and retired from business in 1858. ler, who died in 1897, and in 1900 was elected for a five years' term. This was during the great coal strike, when his office was a hard one to fill. He was at one time owner and editor of the Shan- okin Daily Herald. From 1903 to the time of his the mercantile world. Later he became interested death he was a notary public. He was engaged also as pension agent and in the real estate and in- surance business, representing the Svea Company, of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Pittsburg Under- writers. He was assessor of his ward, the Ninth. His office was at No. 543 North Market street.

Major Schwartz was always a stanch Democrat, In his work he had the advantage of speaking fluently in both German and English and was a man of unswerving integrity and possessed an un- and after his retirement from business became active in his work for the party. In 1858 he was elected to Congress as an independent Democrat. impeachable character. Socially he was genial and He made a deep impression upon his fellow mem- pleasant, always having a heart of sympathy and bers there for his fearless championing of any a broad hand of generous help for the suffering, measure he thought right, and a speech he made the poor and the needy. With these noble traits of in May, 1860, on the tariff, was long remembered character he formed friends by the legion who for its able exposition of that vexing problem. A grieve and lament his sad death. He was a char- short time afterward he was taken ill, and died ter member of Lincoln Post, No. 140, G. A. R., of in Washington in June, 1860. Both bodies of which he was a past commander. Fraternally he Congress adjourned at the announcement of his belonged to Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M. death, and his remains, accompanied by the ser- Both these organizations were represented at his geant-at-arms of the House and a committee, were funeral.

Mr. Schwartz married Elizabeth Strawser, daugliter of John R. Strawser. They had the fol- lowing children : George, who died young; Wy- nona I., who married Charles E. Hale; Catherine A., of Shamokin ; William H., of Shamokin : Ber- tha, who died young; Reuben F. ; John F. M., of

taken to Reading, and interred in the Charles Evans cemetery.

During the war of 1812-15 Gov. Simon Snyder appointed him quartermaster of a brigade raised in Berks and adjoining counties, with the rank of major. He marched with the brigade to Balti- more, and was on duty at Camp Dupont until the Philadelphia ; and James A. G., of Kansas City, threatened British invasion was averted. He was Mo. There are four living grandchildren. Mr. Schwartz died Nov. 8, 1910, after a six months' illness, and is buried in the Shamokin cenictery.

a member of Trinity Lutheran Church at Reading, and was prominent in Masonry. He was of a so- cial nature and had many friends, while in business and public life he maintained ever a reputation

John F. M. Schwartz, son of J. J. W., born at Shamokin, Pa., March 4, 1880, was educated there, for lionesty and integrity that was never ques- and spent some time in his father's office. He en- tioned. listed for service in the Spanish-American war, was in the army ten months, and has been engaged

of Pottsville, Pa. She was the daughter of Charles Fisher, a Civil war veteran, whose war record was as follows : Joined Company C, 96th Regt., P. V. I., at the age of fifteen years, and served under Generals Mcclellan, Pope. Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Slieridan and Grant. He saw service at the following battles: Gaines's Mills, Charles Charles Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg. Sa- lem Church, Gettysburg, Hacketts Mills, Wilder- ness, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Spottsylvania. At the latter place or battle, he was promoted to Color Sergeant and had the honor of placing the first Union flag on the enemy's 46

PROF. MICHAEL F. KANE, who was the first in the brokerage business since 1899, having his principal of the Coal township high school at its offices in Philadelphia. He married Mary Fisher, establishment in 1899, has been a teacher sinee 1884 and throughout those years has been engaged in Coal township, where he bears a high reputation as an instructor and a citizen of the most useful and valuable type. He was born Sept. 10. 1855, at Johnstown, Pa., son of James Stewart and Mary ( Breslin ) . Kane.

City, Malvern Hill, Second Battle of Bull Run, of Ireland, and on coming to America first set-

James Stewart Kane was a native of the North tled at Johnstown, Pa. Before the breaking out of the Civil war, however, he removed to Pittsburg, and there he entered the Union service Inly 12. 1861, as private in Knapp's Pennsylvania Bat- tery (E), with which he served until his death. in November, 1864. from typhoid fever. He is buried

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in the National cemetery in Georgia. His army

(deceased). F. Cyril and Michael J. The family service was highly creditable, as he rose by meri- home is at No. 1271 Oneida street, Shamokin. torious service to the rank of second lieutenant. Professor Kane is a member of St. Edward's He married Mary Breslin, like himself a native Catholic Church, a member in high standing of of Ireland who came to America when young, and

the Knights of Columbus, the Holy Name Society their marriage took place at Johnstown in 1834. and the Knights of St. Edward, and an active Mrs. Kane died in 1870, at Phoenixville, Chester member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society. He also belongs to the Sons of Veterans. He is vice president of the Central Building and Loan As- sociation of Shamokin. Co., Pa. She was the mother of four children : John, who died young ; James S., now a resident of Atlantic City, N. J .; Martha, who is the wife of Robert Tole, of Shamokin, Pa .; and Michael F.

The Eichholtz ancestors emigrated from Ger- many to America about 1750 and have pursued various trades. Numerous ancestors are recorded in the annals of Lancaster connty as having fought in the war for independence. Rev. George Eich- holtz, grandsire of William Frederick, was a Luth- eran minister, whose calling took him to all parts . of eastern Pennsylvania, and he died in Lycom- ing county, this State, in 1885, at the age of sev- enty-two years. His wife, Harriet (Ely), died in 1881. To Rev. George and Harriet Eichholtz were born eight children, four sons and four daughters. The father of Rev. George Eichholtz came to America from Germany with John Jacob Astor, with whom he was for a time engaged in the fur trade.

Jacob Ely Eichholtz was born Nov. 11, 1836, in Lebanon, Pa., second son of Rev. George and Har- riet (Ely) Eichholtz. He learned the printer's trade at Mifflintown, and was engaged in newspa- per work all his life, as "jour," publisher. reporter, editor and proprietor. He came to Sunbury Jan. 1, 1867. and purchased The Northumberland County Democrat, which publication he continued during. his lifetime. On Dec. 6. 1872. he estab- lished The Sunbury Daily, which was one of the pioneer. penny newspapers of Pennsylvania. He was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland in May, 1885. He died Oct. 30, 1898. He was first married in Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 19, 1860, to Harriet Erisman, who died in 1863. By this mar- riage he had two sons, one who died in infancy, and Herbert, who died in 1909. His second marriage, which took place in Lewisburg. Pa., Feb. 11, 1866, was to Rosa Schaffle, a member of the Lewisburg Schaffle family, of French and German descent, who emigrated to this country over a hundred years ago. Rosa (Schaffle) Eichholtz was the mother of four children, two girls and two boys, William Frederick, the third child, being the

On July 13, 1883, Mr. Kane married Sarah A. Durkin, daughter of Edward Durkin and member only one, however, who survived early childhood. of a family which settled in Shamokin in the early .She died May 3. 1898.

William Frederick Eichholtz is a native of Sun-

days. Seven children were born to this .union : James M., Mary A., Edward F., Gerald, Regina bury, born Aug. 12, 1872. He obtained his early

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Michael F. Kanc attended parochial school in WILLIAM FREDERICK EICHHOLTZ, one Pittsburg and later was a pupil at St. Vincent of the owners and editors of The Sunbury Daily College, at Latrobe, in Westmoreland county, Pa. and The Northumberland County Democrat, is a In 1870 he came to Mount Carmel, Northumber- son of Jacob Ely and Rosa (Schaffle) Eichholtz. land county, to live with his uncle, Bernard Breslin, with whom he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in all for about fifteen years. He had attended public school to some ex- tent after coming to Mount Carmel, and having retained his ambition for a higher education he took a course at the old normal in Milton taught by Prof. William Wolverton. In 1884 he began teaching, for several years having different schools in Coal township-at Bear Valley, Excelsior, Coal .Run and Springfield. When the Coal township high school was established, in 1899, he was elected the first principal, which position he now fills, proving himself an educator of unusual resource, one who has been a leader in progressive methods and an exponent of the most approved modern ideas upon the training of the young. For some time Mr. Kane also discharged the duties of vice principal at his school. He is naturally one of the best known teachers in this part of Northumber- land county, and he is, moreover, one of the most popular with old and young alike. His success in his profession is not only the result of special fit- ness for the calling of his adoption, but of un- wearied preparation carried on and continued along with his experience. He has the earnest en- thusiasm of the educator who follows his work be- cause he loves it, and he makes his influence felt in every circle into which his duties call him. He is one of those teachers who have enlarged the spliere of the educator's usefulness until it now has no recognized limits, and he is respected by his co- workers and beloved by many former pupils who trace their first ambitions to his suggestion and encouragement. Mr. Kane was supervising prin- cipal of the Coal township schools for six years, and was the first to establish an organized system in the district. Principally through his efforts the schools reached their high standard of excellence.

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education in the common schools of the borongh, since, having been reappointed under President graduating from the high school with the class Taft. His services are highly efficient, and ap- of 1891. He entered Bucknell Academy after his preciated by all coneerned. Three rural free de- graduation from the high school, and graduated from Bueknell University with the degree of Baeh- elor of Seience in 1897. Upon graduation from college he became a member of the publishing firm of Eichholtz & Co. Through both inheritance and training he was fitted to fill the position to which he afterward fell heir.

Mr. Eichholtz holds an enviable position in Ma- sonic circles in Sunbury, having served as Master of Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., as High Priest of Northumberland Chapter, No. 174, R. A. M., and as Eminent Commander of Mount Hermon Com- mandery, No. 85, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the B. P. O. Elks.

DANIEL L. GRIER, postmaster at Watson- town, Northumberland Co., Pa., is a native and lifelong resident of that borough, born Oct. 24, 1859, son of Benjamin F. and Caroline . (Tobias) Grier.

livery routes start from the Watsontown post office -No. 1, going northwest; No. 2, covering territory northeast of No. 1, and No. 3, running east of town. The office is now third class, and the busi- ness has increased over two hundred dollars during Mr. Grier's time. His administration has been highly satisfactory in every respect. his conscien- tious effort to serve his fellow citizens faithfully being universally recognized.

On Jan. 25, 1887, Mr. Grier married May M. Lloyd, daughter of James and Susan (Straub) Lloyd, the former a merchant at Selinsgrove, Sny- der Co., Pa. To this union have been born four children, namely: B. Lloyd, contraetor for the Standard Steel Company, of Burnham, Pa .; Ned A., who assists his father in the post office; a son who died in infancy, and Anna Marie.

Mr. Grier is associated fraternally with the Ma- sons (as a member of Watsontown Lodge, No. 401, F. & A. M.) and with the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He attends the Methodist Church. Po -. councils of his party, but he has never held any

Benjamin F. Grier was born in 1814 in one of the lower counties of Pennsylvania, was a black- litically he is a Republican, and stands well in the

smith, and followed his trade at Watsontown. He assisted in building the Pennsylvania railroad in official position connected with the administration of borough affairs. In December, 1902, he was a candidate for county auditor, being defeated by

his district. He was one of the earliest members of the Methodist Church there, and also a charter member of the local organizations of the follow- only seventeen votes.

ing orders: Masons. I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias. He married Caroline Tobias, daughter JOHN PHILIP OTTO, deceased, who was a resident of the borough of Northumberland from 1873 until his death, was throughout that long period engaged as a shoemaker and shoe merchant. He was one of the substantial and valuable cit- izens of the place, and was serving as seeretary of the school board there at the time of his death. of William and Saralı ( Follmier) Tobias, the for- mer a native of Berks county and member of an early settled family of that region. To Mr. and Mrs. Grier were born the following children : William, deceased : Sarah, who died young ; Ben- jamin F., deceased; Alfred, deceased ; Calvin, de- ceased ; Oliver W., of Watsontown; Jeremiah, of Mr. Otto was a native of Germany. He was born on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1851, at Geldburg, Saxony, Williamsport : Daniel L., of Watsontown; and Mary, deceased. Mr. Grier died Aug. 11, 1901, at at 7:30 a. m., son of George and Catharine ( Feder) the age of eighty-six years, ten months.

Daniel L. Grier was reared at Watsontown, and there received his education in the public schools. When a young man he began work with the Wat- sontown Planing Mill Company, was later with the Wagner-Hiles Company, of Watsontown, and was subsequently engaged in contracting for some years on his own aceount, in 1886-87 being con- traetor in the blind department of the Watsontown Planing Mill Company. He found this work eon- genial and profitable, and after the mill burned resmned work with the company. He was also en- ployed by the Watsontown Door and Sash eom- pany, with which company he was connected at the years in the German army, in which he held a time of his appointment as postmaster.

Otto, who were of Hanover, Germany. His god- father was John Philip Metzger. The family came to America in 1854. loeating first in New York State, four miles above Albany, where they lived for a year and a half. In 1856 they removed to the city of Philadelphia, Pa., where the parents passed the remainder of their davs. George Otto dying in 1867, at the age of fifty-five. His wife died on Thanksgiving Day. in 1865, aged forty- four. Mr. Otto in Germany was known as "Herr" George Otto. He had royal blood in his veins, and was a man of rank and wealth, but lost all his pos- sessions after coming to America. He served seven

colonel's commission. and while living in Geldburg. Saxony, was engaged as a butcher and hotel pro-

On April 12. 1905, Mr. Grier was appointed postmaster at Watsontown, to succeed the late D. prietor. He had three brothers, two of whom C. Hoguel. receiving bis commission April 15, were John and Henry (a Lutheran minister in 1905. He has filled that position continuously Saxony), and also sisters. He and his family

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were Lutherans in religious faith. The following children were born to George and Catharine Otto: Lehow. The first spelling found in the Pennsyl- Gustav, of Philadelphia, who died the latter part vania Archives, Lcehe, is believed to be simply an unintentional mis-spelling, one of the common mis- takes of that time. In the following the Roman numerals indicate the generations, beginning with Christopher, the immigrant. of February, 1911; Wilhelm, who died young; Christian, who died young; Henry, who died young : John Philip ; Mary, who died on the ocean while the family were en route to America (these six were born in Germany, the others in America) ; Peter, who died in Pueblo, Colo., several years ago ; Charles, who died at Milton, Pa. ; Annie, who died in the West: Harry, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., now the only survivor of the family ; and Mary, who died in infancy.

John Philip Otto commenced to learn shoemak- ing at Pottsgrove, Northumberland Co., Pa., when he was fifteen years old. He followed the trade in Philadelphia for two years, in 1873 coming to Northumberland, in which borough he ever after made his home. He was in the shoe business all these years and prospered by industry and perse- vering labor, being one of the most esteemed res- idents of the place, where his upright and useful . county, which is on the southern side of the Le- life won him universal good will. He was a school director for some time, being secretary of the sehool board at the time of his death. Politically he was a Republican. Mr. Otto passed away at 8 a. m. Wednesday, March 23, 1911, and was buried in Riverview cemetery March 25th.

On April 16, 1875, Mr. Otto married Mary A. Gilbert, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Teats) Gilbert, of Union county, Pa., and they had two children: Carrie M. married B. F. Merrel, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and they have a daughter, Ruth A .; Christian Herman died when seventeen years old. Mr. Otto was a Seventh Day Adventist, to which religious belief his wife also adheres.

A branch of the Otto family living at Williams- port, Pa., came from Hanover, Gerinany. They are extensive manufacturers of paper and give ein- ployment to a large number of people.

have entirely changed the spelling to the form of

It is believed that (I) Christopher Lecha eamne from Alsace-Lorraine, which, although German in language and customs, then belonged to France (1648-1871). Family tradition states that he came with La Fayette during the Revolution, and served under him in that war. However, the first known official mention of him is made in the Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. III, page 769, where in a military record of June 10, 1784, he is enrolled in the 8th Company, 2d Bat- talion, of the Northampton county militia, under command of Col. Philip Boehm. In the Third Series, Vol. XIX, page 90, it is stated that he re- sided in Lower Saucon township, Northampton high river as it empties into the Delaware. At the taking of the first census, in 1790, he still resided here, and that place is given as his home between 1790 and 1795. At this time the name had be- come Lighy. From this place he migrated. prob -. ably up the Lehigh, across the mountains at Wilkes- Barre and down the Susquehanna, to Danville, Pa. Here he acquired considerable tracts of land, the major portion of which he lost, just prior to his death, about 1820, due to conflicting title claims. He is buried in the Grove Presbyterian church- vard at Danville. Christopher's wife was named Rachel. They had five children, John, Henry, Elizabeth, Lewis and Tobias, the elder three har- ing been born in Northampton county.

(II) John Lighou, son of Christopher, born March 23, 1783, in Northampton county, changed the spelling of his name from Lighy. About 1795 LEIGHOU OR LEIGHOW. There are two fam- ilies of this name in Point township, Northumber- land county, descendants of Christopher Lecha, the aneestor of all the members of the Leighou braneli in Ameriea. During the one hundred and thirty years that the family has been in this country the spelling of the name has undergone many changes. From the time of the arrival of the first settler un- til 1788 it was spelled Lecha-pronounced Lễh' yah. By 1790 it had beeome Lighy. In 1809 he came into Northumberland county with his fa- ther. On June 6, 1809, he was married by Rev. Philip Pauli, of Reading, to Sarah Weimar, who was born Feb. 20, 1787, daughter of Peter and Catharine (Lybrand) Weimar, and about this time, or earlier, he located in the Tuckahoe Valley. In 1824 he bought from John Cowden the traet of land which is now the homestead of his grandson Oscar. in Point township. This tract was known as "Martin's Valley." having been surveyed at the in- stance of Robert Martin, the first permanent settler his eldest sou, at least, had changed the name to of Northumberland, in 1773, and bought by John Lighou, while the younger members of the family, Cowden from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seemingly without exception, adopted the letter in 1822. Also, he bought the land comprising the present farms of the Edward Leighow heirs, How- ard Leighow, William Geise and Mrs. Margaret Knonse. He was a member of the Unitarian Church established by Dr. Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen. In 1834 he was one of the "w" for the termination. Within the next two deeades an "e" was inserted before the "i" in both spellings, thus making them Leighou and Leighow. At present there is but one branch of the family retaining the "n" termination, and further. other branches, notably those of Colorado and Kentucky, trustees of the church who secured the property

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 50

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