Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 54

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 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Seaman, son of Johan Ludwig, married Elizabetli Schlappig, and to them were born chil- dren as follows: John, Christian, Samuel. Cath- arine, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Christiana, Maria and Johan George.

Johan George Seaman, son of John. who owned the old homestead in Upper Bern (now Tilden) township, a tract which then consisted of 275 acres, lived on the place now occupied by John Becker. He was in comfortable circumstances and was well and favorably known in upper Berks county. He married Magdalena Kauffman, and to them were born these children : John; William

On Christmas Day, 1886, Mr. Troutman mar- ried Susan M. Lahr, daughter of Josiah and Har- riet (Rebuck) Lahr, and they have a family of ten children, born as follows: Grant, June 21, K. : George, Jr. ; David ; Reuben ; Mary, who mar- 1888 (he has been engaged in teaching public ried Samuel Kline; Rebecca, who married Wil- liam Loeb ; Hester, who married Benneville Mach- mer : Catharine, who married William Machmer ; and Eliza, who married John Geschwindt. school in Jordan township and in the spring of 1910 entered the Keystone State normal school, at Kutztown, Pa.) ; Clarence, Nov. 30, 1889; Earl, Sept. 25, 1891 : William, Dec. 31, 1892: Ammon J., June 29, 1894; Eva G., May 30, 1896; Net- tie, June 4, 1898; Rosco R., June 30, 1900; Ruth F., May 12, 1902; Paul L., Nov. 2, 1906.

William K. Seaman, the grandfather of Edgar O. Seaman, was born in Tilden township, Berks county, and after his marriage and the birth of some of his children moved to North- umberland county. Pa., settling on a farm at Pottsgrove, in Chillisquaque township, where he put up a fine set of buildings. He prospered in his own undertakings, but lost considerable money going bond for others. He died in July, 1898, at the age of eighty-four years, and is buried in Harmony cemetery at Milton. Mr. Seaman was a Lutheran in religion and a Democrat in politics. He and his wife Mary had children as follows: P'enrose, who settled in Union county, Pa. ; Caro- line, Mrs. Charles Hoy; Manassa, who died when about fifty years old ; and William B.

739

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

He was at that location for about thirty years, while living with his son Adam II. Seaman, in thence moving to another farm in the same town- Northumberland county, and he and his wife are ship, which he cultivated for eight years. In buried at Zion's Stone Valley Church. Mr. Sea- 190? Mr. Seaman retired from active pursuits and man was a member of the Reformed denomination, settled in the borough of Watsontown, where he remained only two years, however. He has since lived in Washington, D. C., with his daughter, Mrs. McCardle. Like the members of his family generally, he is a Democrat and a Lutheran. Mr. Seaman married Barbara L. Miller, who was born in 1844 and died in November, 1898 ; she is buried at Watsontown. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Seaman, namely: Franklin died when fourteen years old; William H. died in infancy ; Mary Emeline married U. F. McCardle ; Edgar O. died in infancy.

his wife of the Lutheran Church. Her maiden name was Phillipine Hepner, and she was born Jan. 12, 1825, daughter of Jacob Hepner. She died Sept. 6, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Seaman had the following children : Isaac; Aaron, who married Lucy Klinger; Rebecca, Mrs. Fetter; Levi, who died unmarried ; Sarah, Mrs. Adam Spotts; Elias, who married Sarah Ann Michael ; Frank, who mar- ried Molly Aurand; Adam H .; Jere, who married Lucy, widow of his brother Aaron ; and a son that lives in Watsontown.

ADAM H. SEAMAN, son of Adam, is a farmer in Lower Mahanoy township, this county. He was born July 21, 1862, across the Mahantango creek in Dauphin county, Pa., and spent all his boy- hood in this vicinity. His education was begun

Edgar O. Seaman, son of William B., received his education in the public schools of Delaware township, and at the Watsontown high school. He farmed for his father until 1902, since which year he has been in business in Watsontown, where he at home and continued in the local public schools was a coal dealer for three years. For the next and at Uniontown high school, which he attended year and a half he was in the livery business in for two terms. Later he took a business course the borough, and then conducted a grocery store at Delaware, Ohio, graduating in 1886 from G. for two years, in 1909 embarking in his present line. He handles all kinds of vehicles and farm implements, including cream separators, as well as harness and fertilizers, and has the local agency for the famous Weber heavy wagons, finding a steady and profitable demand for all his goods in the territory adjoining Watsontown, where many prosperous farmers are located. He understands his customers and their wants, and by obliging and intelligent service has built up a large trade. Socially Mr. Seaman is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and he is a member of the Lutheran Church. W. Michael's business college at that point. When twenty-one years old he began to teach public school in Mifflin township, Dauphin county, and was thus engaged for two terms. Sawmilling, however, was his principal vocation during liis young manhood. . For fifteen years he was thus engaged at different points in central Pennsylvania -Williamsport, Danville, Harrisburg and Marys- ville-as well as in Snyder county and at Tusca- rora. Then he went to Boiling Springs, Cumber- land Co., Pa., where he took a contract to operate a double stave and shingle mill for the South Mountain Land Company for five years. During John Seaman, evidently of the same stock as above, was a native of Berks county, Pa., who settled in Butler county, this State, at an early day. three and a half years of this period he lived with his family at Boiling Springs. ' In the spring of 1907 Mr. Seaman settled in Northumberland, not far from his birthplace, purchasing a tract of twenty-seven acres on which, the same year, he Samuel Seaman, son of John, came from Berks county, and died in the Mahantango Valley, where he owned a home, his house standing near the site of the present residence of his grandson, Adam H. Seaman. His son Adam also lived there. Samuel Seaman is buried at Zion's Church in Stone valley, in Lower Mahanoy township, North- uniberland county. He married in the community in which he lived and died. He was an excellent wood worker, and made many grain cradles, some of which are still in use in the Mahantango Val- ley. Tltey were considered as good as any made. erected a large modern home. Here he has since engaged in farming, being an up-to-date agricul- turist, enterprising and able to make the cultiva- tion of his property profitable. He also owns twenty-five acres of timberland in the locality, across the Mahantango creek in Mifflin township, Dauphin county. Mr. Seaman is a useful citizen, and has twice been elected auditor of Lower Ma- hanoy township, on the Republican ticket. He and his family are members of Zion's Stone Valley Church, Mr. Seaman belonging to the Reformed congregation, his wife to the Lutheran. He has. served as deacon.

Adam Seaman, son of Samuel, was born Jan. 24, 1819, and passed the greater part of his life in On Feb. 25, 1888, Mr. Scaman married Emma E. Radel, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Lenker) the Mahantango Valley, engaged at laboring work. He owned his home, which was located along the Radel, and they have had a family of six children, Mahantango creek, not far from County Line, namely : Gurney G .; Grace V., who married Scott Northumberland county. He died Nov. 5, 1899, T. Sundy and lives at Ismay, Mont. ( they have

740

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

two daughters, Edith Irene and Edna May) ; Lov- W. Reynolds, and served after the balance of the etta Ruth, who died in childhood ; Mabel M., who company was mustered out. He is now general manager of the Elk Graphite Milling Company,

is a mute and at present a student at the Pennsyl- vania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Mount of St. Mary's, Pa. He married Frances Hettrick, Airy, Philadelphia ; Emery V. ; and Jennie M.

JOHN WESLEY FRYLING, of Sunbury, who Serves as clerk for the Sunbury Water Company and is interested in fruit growing in that region, having a tract of thirty acres in Rockefeller town- ship, is a son of the late John Wolverton Fryling.

John Wolverton Fryling was born at Sunbury July 4, 1817, and in his early life did farm work. Prof. J. H. Black, well known as one of the first He taught private school and singing school, and 'principals of the Sunbury high school, and they later, in Sunbury, did private tutoring, in Latin now make their home at Huntingdou, Pa. (6) and mathematics, for boys entering college. He John Wesley is fully mentioned below. (7) then became a clerk at Sunbury in the employ Charles Wesley married Alice Dundore and they of his father-in-law, Heury Yoxtheimer, one of the have had six children, Elsie M., Ruth, Charles and Harry, living, and two deceased ; this family lives at Sunbury. (8) Annie, twin of Charles Wesley, married David McMahan and they live at Walton, Harvey Co., Kans. (9) Sarah L., born Jan. 30, 1850, died Aug. 2, 1858. (10) Willie P., born June 19, 1860, died May 9, 1867. (11) Elsie, born May 10, 1863, died June 5, 1873. first wholesale and retail merchants in that place, remaining with him ten years, at the end of which time he bought out the business. After conducting it alone for several years he took Mr. W. T. Grant into partnership, and Fryling & Grant continued the business successfully for several years. Mr. Fryling then became interested in the manufac- ture of caskets and building supplies as a member of the firm of Fryling, Bowen & Engel, being thus engaged until 1874, when he went to Upper Augusta township, Northumberland county, and commenced farming, carrying on agricultural pur- suits there for a period of four years. His next move was to Newton, Harvey Co., Kans., where he bought a farmi of 160 acres which he cultivated for three years. Returning to Sunbury, he clerked a few years and then took the position of tax col- lector for the borough, holding same until his death, which occurred May 22, 1888. Mr. Fryling was one of the best known citizens of Sunbury in his day, and he held the respect of the many who knew him. He was an ardent Republican, and during the Civil war enlisted in Company D, 3d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, then known as "minute-men," with whom he was out for service a short time; but owing to business demands he called upon his son Harry to take his place, the young man serving with credit and honor. Mr. Fryling was an active and generous member of St. John's Methodist Church at Sun- bury and served as a member of its building com- mittee. He married Margaret Yoxtheiner, who was born Nov. 30, 1821, daughter of Henry Yox- theimer, of Sunbury, and died Jan. 11, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Fryling are buried in the old Sun- bury cenietery. They were the parents of eleven children : (1) Henry Yoxtheimer, born July 17, 1841, was a member of Company D (Capt. C. J. Brunner, Lieuts. A. J. Stoah and Jacob Rohr- bach), 3d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, mustered in at Harrisburg Sept. 11-13, 1862, was detailed for special duty on the staff of Gen. John

of Hummels Wharf, and they have three children, George, Helen and Frances. (?) William A., born Feb. 12, 1843, died Aug. 29, 1843. (3) Rebecca A., born July 17, 18-, married Capt. Andrew N. Brice, of Punxsutawney, Jefferson Co., Pa., and their children are Mayme, William and Edward L. (4) Mary E. married Capt. E. Torrington, and they reside at Topeka, Kans. (5) Emma married

John Wesley Fryling was born Feb. 11, 1855, at Sunbury, and in his early years attended Colone! Rohrbach's private school in the old Statehouse building, Sunbury, then Prof. N. Foster Brown's Academy at Klines grove ; later the academy moved to Sunbury. Subsequently he attended Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, for two terms, after which he did farm work for his father until 1878. That year he went to Columbia county, Pa., where he farmed one year, in 1879 going out to Kansas, where he remained one season ; he was the only man in his district who raised his own cabbage plants. Coming back to Sunbury he was engaged in selling sewing machines for a time, until ap- pointed assistant postmaster there, in 1880. His service in that capacity covered four years and nine months. In October, 1885, he went to work for the Pennsylvania Railway Company. in the shops as carpenter, and the following year was transferred to the freight office of the Philadelphia & Erie road, where he kept all the accounts. He was a trusted employee of that company until he left its service, in 1906, on Sept. 1st of which year he became a clerk for the Sunbury Water Company.

In 1903 Mr. Fryling bought thirty acres of val- uable land in Rockefeller township, this county, and he is making a specialty of apple growing, having already set ont a thousand apple trees. He is an expert in this particular branch of fruit enl- ture, and has also had success with other fruits, finding the business both agreeable and profitable. He lias thirty-five acres of timberland adjoining this thirty-aere tract. On April 16. 1910, he bought the Rohrbach farm, 255 acres in Upper Angusta township, a mile from Sunbury, 100 acres

741

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of which are in timber. In the spring of 1911 he planted a fifteen-acre orchard, one thousand peach trees.

In elmireh connection Mr. Fryling is a Methodist .and well known for his untiring efforts in the interest of that denomination. He first joined St. John's Church, in 1869, and he handled all of the facing brick used in the construction of that edifiee, having the honor of laying the last briek. He served as steward of that chureh, and is now officiating in the same capacity in the Catawissa Avenue M. E. Church, in which he now holds membership. He is a Republican in politics.

On Nov. 15, 1877, Mr. Fryling married Mary Catharine Seasholtz, who was born June 2, 1857, daughter of Christian B. and Lueinda ( Yetter) Seasholtz, and died Oct. 4, 1887; she is buried in the Sunbury cemetery. Three children were born to this union : Robert Bruee, born Oct. 12, 1878, died Jan. 4, 1879; Edith Mabel, a graduate of the Sunbury high school. elass of 1900, is now buyer for the art department of Hennessy's depart- ment store, Butte, Mont .: Margaret Yetter grad- mated from the Sunbury high school in 1904 and from Ursinus College, at Collegeville, Pa., in 1909 (she made a special study of the elassies, history and political economy) and taught in 1910-1911 in the public schools in Sunbury. The family home is at No. 444 Catawissa avenue, Sunbury.

BLASSER. The Blasser family has been settled "in Northumberland county for about a century, and the brothers Abraham D. and Jaeob D. Blas- ser, of Herndon, 'Pa., now living retired, are worthy representatives of a name which has been respected throughout that period. They are grand- sons of John Blasser, who was one of three broth- -ers (another being Abraham) who eame from their native country, Switzerland, and settled along the Susquehanna river in Union township, Snyder Co., Pa. In 1812 John Blasser crossed the river into Northumberland county, settling in Lower Maha- noy township with his wife and one ehild, a daugh- ter, Betzy. He was a farmer, a man of good busi- ness ability and highly successful, and was an influential citizen. prominent in publie matters as well as in the interest of his private eoneerns. He owned seven hundred aeres of land, a large part of which he obtained by warrant from the State, and profitably operated Blasser's Fishery on the Susquehanna, at what is now known as Dal- matia. He caught shad by tons, single fish often weighing as much as nine pounds, and as the river then abounded with fish this business was served as a member of the school board. very mmerative. He served as general supervisor On May 14, 1860, Mr. Blasser married Eliza- over the roads of five townships. making his trips beth Lenker, daughter of Adam and Sallie ( Mess- -over. the roads of which he had charge on horse- ner) Lenker, and to them were born two dangh- ters : Sarah D., born in 1863, died in 1866: Mary baek. In religious faith he was a Mennonite, and :attended services at a meetinghouse in Snyder Agnes, now the wife of Capt. Jacob F. Hoffman,

comity, though most of the meetings at that time were at the homes of those interested. John Blas- ser died about 1850, at the age of seventy-four years, and was laid to rest in a private burial ground on his farm, but in 1876 he was reinterred in the cemetery of the Stone Valley Union Church. His wife, Susanna Riegel, died in 1861, aged sev- enty years. They had three sons and one daugh- ter: Betzy, who married Henry Latsha; John, who died aged twenty-one years; Jacob, at one time a resident of Lower Malianoy township, who moved out to Indiana in 1858 and died there (he was a farmer) ; and Abraham.

Abraham Blasser, son of John, was born April 10, 1816, in Lower Mahanoy township, and was a lifelong farmer there, dying April 7, 1866, on the farm where he was born. He was a man of high worth and held the confidenee of his fellow eit- izens, who chose him to a number of township of- fices, in all of which he gave faithful serviee. Like his father he was a Mennonite in religion. He married Anna Mary Daniel, daughter of John Adam and Rosina (Wagner) Daniel, and they are buried at the Stone Valley Church. They were the parents of three sons and three dangh- ters: John died unmarried; Abraham D. and Jacob D., twins, are mentioned below ; Mary mar- ried David Wetzler; Sarah married John Seal : Susanna married Andrew Star.

ABRAHAM D. BLASSER, son of Abraham, was born Dee. 9, 1837, on the Blasser homestead farn in the upper section of Lower Mahanoy township, this eounty, a large and valuable traet containing nearly five hundred aeres, which he and his twin brother Jacob D. Blasser own in partnership. It is nearly two miles long. and is the largest single farmi in Northumberland county. The brothers were reared to farming, which they continued to follow successfully throughout their active years, cultivating the farm in partnership and making many improvements on the property, which is in excellent condition. Both lived there, there be- ing two dwelling-houses, two large barns and two sets of buildings on the land. Upon his retire- ment from active work, in 1891. Abraham D. Blasser settled in Herndon, of which plaee he has since been a inuch esteemed citizen. He was instrumental in the organization of the borough. was one of the first couneilmen, continuing to hold that office six years. and has done mueh to fur- ther the best interests of the place, where he is recognized as a man of intelligent publie spirit. While living in Lower Mahanov township he

742

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

received hier education in the local public schools Peter, Sampsel; George, who lived in Lower Au- and at Allentown (Pa.) Female College, mean- gusta township; Jacob, who lived in the vicinity time, before she entered college, teaching in the of Milton, this county; Henry ; Mrs. Zimmerman ; public schools of Lower Mahanoy township and at Sallie, Mrs. Leopold; and Mrs. Campbell. Berrysburg, Dauphin county. Mrs. Hoffman has George Yoxtheimer, son of Henry and Maria, was the grandfather of George W. Yoxtheimer. marked artistic talent, and has a gift for painting, doing creditable work as a scenic artist and china decorator ; she is also a musician of rare attain- ments, holding several diplomas and medals of honor.

Mr. and Mrs. Blasser live on Main street, in the borough of Herndon, their home being next door to that of his brother. They are members of the Reformed Church. He is a Republican in political opinion.

JACOB D. BLASSER, twin brother of Abraham D., Their children were as follows: Hulda, Charles Blasser, has practically the same history, the broth- W., George W., Mary E., Benjamin T. and one that died young.

ers have always lived together on the home place until they retired. Jacob D. Blasser, however, did not remove to Herndon until 1893. They have

always been on terms of ideal brotherliness, and and at Selinsgrove Institute. He taught school at their homes in Herndon are side by side.

On Aug. 25, 1857, Mr. Blasser married Harriet Leader, daughter of Marks and Sallie (Wolf) Leader, of Jackson township, and granddaughter of John and Susanna (Marks) Leader, of the same township; Susanna Marks was a native of Berks county. Sallie Wolf was a daughter of Michael Wolf. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blasser: (1) Julius Frank, whose home is at Millersburg, Pa., married Minerva Em- erick, and they have eleven children (including two sets of twins), Charles and John (twins), Ma- bel, Mary, Jacob, Hattie, Naomi, Julius and Alice (twins), Ray and Moses. (2) Sarah A. married Andrew Bucher, and they resided at Mahanoy, where she died May 23, 1895, at the age of thirty- two years. They had one son, Charles. (3) Mag- gie D. married John Schwab, of Elizabethville, Pa., and died July 2, 1909, aged forty-one years, the mother of three children, Dory F., Mary E. 'to his son-in-law. He has since lived retired. In and Erma.

Mr. and Mrs. Blasser are now Reformed mem- bers of the church at Herndon. While in Lower Mahanoy township they were identified with the Stone Valley Church, of which Mr. Blasser was an elder for three years. He is a Republican in politics, but he has always refused to run for pub- lic office.

GEORGE W. YONTHEIMER, who is now liv- ing retired in the borough of Northumberland, was born March 12, 1848, in Point township, and was for many years engaged in farming there. He is a great-grandson of Henry Yoxtheimer, Sr., a farmer who lived in what is now Rockefeller town- ship, being a pioneer in the Plum Creek Valley. He was a Lutheran in religious faith. He and his well; Stella A. married John G. Brown ; Margaret wife Maria had children as follows: Maria, Mrs. F. married Charles E. Orwig. Mr. Yoxtheimer

Henry Yoxtheimer, son of George, was born in 1809 in Rockefeller township, and died in 1857 in Snyder county, where he is buried, in the Schrein- er graveyard. He was a laborer and farmer, and at the time of his death was living a half mile north- west of Shamokin Dam, in Monroe township, Sny- der county. His wife, Elizabeth ( Mayer), daugh- ter of Peter Mayer, died in 1881, at the age of sixty-nine years, and is buried at Selinsgrove.

George W. Yoxtheimer was educated in the pub- lie schools in the neighborhood of his early home Selinsgrove for a time, but his active years were devoted principally to farming, to which voca- tion he had been trained from boyhood. For six years he worked out among farmers, and after he was married began farming on his own account in Snyder county, living near the Union county line -in fact, some of his land was situated in that county. After renting four years lie again crossed the Susquehanna, and buying a house in North- umberland borough was in the employ of the Van Alens for four years, running plate rolls. At. the end of that time he bought a tract of forty- five acres in Point township, to which he added as his circumstances and opportunity permitted, and later he bought a 100-acre farm. Twelve years later he sold his first purchase and the twelve acres mentioned to his son James H., who also bought nineteen acres of the 100-acre farm. and in the spring of 1910 he rented his home farm March, 1910, he purchased a home in the borough of Northumberland, to which he moved early in 1911. Mr. Yoxtheimer was an industrious man .. and was successful beyond the ordinary. He took" an active interest in the local welfare, serving three years as school director and later three years as supervisor. He is a man who has the thorough re- spect of all who know him.

On Aug. 17, 1875, Mr. Yoxtheimer married Mary C. Gibbons, daughter of Abel and Susan (Morgan) Gibbons, who occupied the place later owned and occupied by their son-in-law. Mr. Yox- theimer, and six children have been born to this nnion : James II. married Anna V. Jones ; Susan E. married John K. Young; Alvena married George E. Derk; Hattie M. married James Hope-

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

743

and his family are members of the Methodist by most of the present members of the family : Church at Northumberland. Politically he is a the earlier spelling was probably Wirth, as shown Republican.

by tombstone records. The family is of German Henry Yoxtheimer, another son of Henry Yox- theimer, Sr., was born in Northumberland coun- ty in 1793, and died Nov. 27, 1849. He is buried in the Fourth street cemetery, at Sunbury. Mr. Yoxtheimer was a potter by trade, and followed origin. Adam, the first of this line to come to America from Germany, arrived in this country with his wife Eva before the Revolutionary war, and settled at what is now the site of Millersburg, in Dauphin county, Pa. These pioneers had nine sons, who settled in different parts of the country, that business on Arch street, in Sunbury, opposite the family becoming scattered over New Jersey, the jail: There he began merchandising on a small

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 54

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