Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 59

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 59

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Frank W. Dreibelbis, son of Jacob, was born in 1850 at Georgetown, in Lower Mahanoy township, and is engaged at present in farming in that town- ship. When less than nineteen years old he learned the milling business, which he followed for six vears. In 1884 he began farming at his present location, having a tract of 115 acres, some of which is woodland. There is some limestone on this land. Mr. Dreibelbis is a Republican in pol- itics, and since 1899 has been overseer of the poor in his distriet: He is a Reformed member of the Dalmatia Church, of which he was deacon seven years and elder four years.

In 1874 Mr. Dreibelbis married Lizzie Philips, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Philips) Phil- ips, and they have had these children: Jacob F., who lives in Little Mahanov township; Malinda, wife of John H. Bohner, of Elizabethville, Pa .; Katie, wife of William Koppenhaver, of Malta, Pa. ; and Lubin.L .. who is a butcher at Dalmatia.

Jacob F. Dreibelbis, son of Frank W., was born June 20, 1875, in Lower Mahanoy township, was educated in the public schools, and was reared to farm life. For five years he followed butehering, four years at Hickory Corners and one year at his present location, in Little Mahanoy township, to which he moved in the spring of 1906, when he purchased the place. This was an old Dunkel- berger homestead. later owned by Samuel Long, and Mr. Dreibelbis purchased it from Silas Hensyl. The tract comprises about 160 acres, 100 acres of which have been cleared. The land is valuable, and there are a number of substantial improve- inents, including a large brick house. The water supply is as good as any in the State, both in re- gard to quality and quantity, and in 1910 Mr. Dreibelbis. made a notable improvement on his place when he had the water piped from Trevor- ton Mountain to his home, both house and barn being now -supplied with running water: this is what is known as red shell or gravel water, and is always pure and fresh. He has a complete farm stock, modern machinery, and all the facili- ties for carrying on his work in the most sys- tematic and up-to-date manner, being one of the intelligent and progressive men of his neighbor- hood.

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politics he is a Republican, and he has served as Herb; Lydia married Philip Reitz; Harrison was election inspector.

REBUCK. The name of Rebuck is perpetuated in Northumberland county in the post office Re- buck, named after one of the members of this fami- was a farmer during his active years, and now lives ly its representatives are numerous and among the most respected residents of their section -- Washington township and the surrounding terri- tory. According to tradition the first ancestor of the family in this country was from the Ger -. died in September, 1904, in her seventy-second man Palatinate and came to America to avoid year, and they had children : John, James, Elmira service in the war then being waged in his native L., Augustus, J. Wilson and Reilly.

land. The older members of the family say that his name was Schaffer, but that he assumed the name Rebuck to prevent his being traced and taken back to the Fatherland, where punishment for such an offense as his was severe. This pioneer ancestor was known in the New World by the name John Adam Rebuck. He first located in Berks county, whence he came to Northumberland coun- ty, settling in Jackson township, in that part now embraced in Washington township. There is the old-established business stand, now for many years conducted and owned by the Kehres family, where the postoffice and hamlet .of Rebuck are located. The hainlet contains about a dozen dwellings. The pioneer was a farmer. Among his children were Valentine, John Adam, Jr., and Michael. Of these, Valentine Rebuck in 1778 was among the bore him children as follows: Cassie, a widow, who taxables of. Mahanoy township, which then included considerable territory in the lower end of the county.

Michael Rebuck, son of John Adam, the pioneer, was born July 14, 1769, and died Oct. 7, 1852, when over eighty-three years of age. He lived on Greenbrier creek, in Washington township, and was an extensive farmer, following agricultural pur- suits all his life. He had a tract of 162 acres which is still in the family name, being now owned by his grandson, John Rebuck. He built the barn still standing on that property, and also a small dwelling-house. He was a Reformed mem- ber of the Himmel Church. His wife, Catharine (Reis), born Aug. 21, 1775, died Nov. 7. 1858. Their children were: Bevvy, who married Peter Ferster ; and Godfried, called "Big Godfried."

Godfried Rebuck, son of Michael, was born July 28, 1798, and died May 29, 1875. He was a tall, heavy man, with dark hair, was a farmer by occu- pation, and owned much land, living on the Green- brier homestead of the Rebuck family. He and his family worshipped with the Reformed congre- gation at the Himmel Church, and they are buried there. His wife, Catharine ( Wagner), born March 26, 1801, died June 30, 1860. They had children of his community, and has served as supervisor as follows: Salome married John Schreffler ; Dan- iel W. is mentioned below ; Catharine married Harry Rebuck: Hannah married JJohn Wentzel: Polly married Peter Snyder and (second) Henry

born July 12, 1834; Jacob, born in 1837, died unmarried, in 1855: John, born in 1839, died un- married, in 1861 : Sarah married John Kieffer and (second) Jacob Reber. Of this family, Harrison at Herndon, Pa., with his son J. Wilson Rebuck. During the Civil war he was in the Union service as a member of Company K, 172d Regiment, for nine months. He married Elizabeth Paul, who

Daniel W. Rebuck, son of Godfried and Cathar- ine (Wagner) Rebuck, was born on the Green- brier homestead in Washington township. Though le owned considerable land, he followed his trade of shoemaker principally, leaving the cultivation of the farm to his children. He made many new shoes and did repairing, and his sons also took up the trade. His farm at one time consisted of. nearly three hundred acres. A tall, heavy and strong man, he was thrifty and industrious, and brought his children up in the same way. He was a regular attendant of the Himmel Church, many members of the Rebuck family belonging to the Reformed congregation there, and held various offices in that church. His wife, Lydia (Delp), daughter of George and Maricha ( Thomas) Delp,

has been twice married, first to Joseph Hepler and later to George Wolfgang; Charles, who died aged twenty-one years; Mary, who died when twenty years old : Joel ; Lydia ; Eliza, wife of Sam- uel Zartman; Elsworth; Daniel, deceased: and Jolin. All the surviving members of this family live in Washington township.

JOEL REBUCK, son of Daniel W., was born Sept. 8, 185-4, on one of the Rebuck homesteads, and was reared to farm life, remaining at home until he reached the age of twenty-six years. He was twenty-four at the time of his marriage, and two years later began farming on a fifty-acre tract in Washington township, where he lived for two years. Thence he moved to another farm in the - same township, the Elias Lahr place, where he lived until 1901. For the next two years his home was at Trevorton, from which place he re- turned to the farm for three years, at the end of which time he moved to his present place, where lie has resided since 1906. He has 110 acres of good land, which is now cultivated by his son William. The large stone house on this prop- erty was built in 1823 and remodeled in 1904. Mr. Rebuck has been an active and useful inember

and school director of Washington township, hold- ing the latter office nine years. He is a Demo- crat in politics. He and his family attend re- ligious worship at the Himmel Church, where he

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has held all the offices and done his share of the wife, Catharine Ferster, daughter of Michael Fers- work. Mr. Rebuek has the old German family ter, was born Nov. 23, 1818, and died June 23, 1881. Their children were as follows: Benjamin, who never married ; Samuel ; Isaae, of Washington township; Daniel, born in 1851, who died in 1870; and Joseph, of Washington township. Bible which his emigrant aneestor brought from the old country, and which contains an inscrip- tion specifying that it shall never be sold, but deseend from the oldest to the next oldest of the family, always remaining in the Rebuek nanie. It bears the date 1748, and is highly prized by the family.

In 1874 Mr. Rebuek married Amanda Lalır, daughter of Elias and Polly (Snyder) Lahr, of Herndon, Pa., and they have had a family of eight children : Ida, who married Frank Klock, after his dceease becoming the wife of William Reitz; Emma, who married Roy Snyder; Daniel; William E .; Agnes, who married Anthony Heath; Gertie, who married Daniel Dubendorf; a son that died in infancy ; and Charles.

John Adam Rebuck, Jr., son of John Adam the. pioneer, born July 8, 1763, died in Upper Mahanoy township (of which Washington was then a part) June 15, 1835. He made his last will and testament Sept. 28, 1831, and it was entered for probate June 23, 1835. The executors were his sons John and Godfried. The will is on ree- ord in the courthouse at Sunbury, in Book 3, page 202. The wife it appears had died previously. The records show Maria ( Haubt), wife of Adam Rebuck, born Jan. 20, 1763, died July 29, 1830. The following were his children : John, Adam, Con- rad, Henry, Peter, Michael, Maria ( married Jacob Robenhover ), Frederick, Godfried, Jonas and Leonard. Nine of the sons grew to manhood and reared families. The son Godfried was called "Little Godfried," and had a son Godfried who because of his red hair was known as "Red God- fried."

Henry Rebuck, one of the sons of John Adam Rebuck, Jr., was born May 24, 1790, and died Oct. 17, 1867. He lived and died in Washington township, and he and his family are buried at the Himmel Church, of which they were Luth- eran members. He owned a traet of seventy acres about one mile south of that ehureh, his home place, and another traet of forty-five acres in the saine township. "Henner" Rebuck, as he was known, married Anna Maria Brosius, who was born May 10, 1795, and died Jan. 13, 1869. They had two sons, Peter and Elias, both of whom were farmers in Washington township. The latter had the following children : Henry ; John; Susanna, who married William Krissinger ; and Maria, who married Luther Rebnek.

Peter Rebuck, son of Henry, was born May 10, 1815, in Washington township, and died Mareh 19, 1858, in the prime of life. He was a mem- ber of the Himmel Church, where he is buried. By oeeupation he was a farmer, owning the place and he is buried at St. Peter's Church, of which of 118 acres now owned by his son Isaae. Ilis he was a Reformed member. His first wife, Ly-

SAMUEL REBUCK, son of Peter, born on his father's farm in Washington township Aug. 3, 1845, obtained sueli education as the subseription sehools which flourished in his boyhood afforded. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and began farming for himself on his father's place of about 120 aeres, living there from 1860 until 1895, when he removed to his present home. It is a ninety-six-aere tract situated between Maha- noy and Rebuck, and was formerly the Michael Smith farm. Mr. Rebuck has enlarged the barn, remodeled the house, and beautified his surround- ings in many ways during his ownership of the place, which is nicely situated and shows the mod- ern methods which he has employed in the man- agement. In 1873 Mr. Rebuck married Dinah Reitz, daughter of David Reitz, and they had the following children : Alice, who is deecased ; James ; and Morris, a farmer, living with his father. On Sept. 17, 1886, Mr. Rebuck married (seeond) Katie Reitz, daughter of Peter and Mary (Het- rich) Reitz. No children have been born to this union. Mr. Rebuck and his family are Lutheran members of the Himmel Church.

Michael Reitz, grandfather of Mrs. Samuel Re- buek, was a farmer, and lived a half mile north of Himmel's Church. He married Lena Eister, and they had children as follows: Peter, Abraham, David, Leonard, Jonas and Christiana.

Peter Reitz, son of Michael, had a family of five children : John, Samuel, Louisa, Katie ( Mrs. Sam- uel Rebuek) and Henry.

Peter Rebuek, one of the sons of John Adam Rebuck, Jr., was a native of Washington town- ship, born Jan. 12, 1794, and died March 21. 1857. He is buried at St. Peter's (Krebs) Church, near which he lived, owning the farm which now be- longs to. the Diener Estate, a tract of about sixty aeres. There he lived and died. He was twice inarried, his second wife being Eve Groh, who is buried at Valley View Church. They had chil- dren as follows: Susanna, Helena, Lovina, and Peter.

Peter Rebuck, son of Peter, was born Mareh 4, 1829, in Washington township, and was a lifelong farmer, owning the property in that township which now belongs to Benjamin Stepp. He also followed carpentering, and was active in the af- fairs of the connnunity as well as in his own busi- ness. He was a Demoerat in polities and served as supervisor. His death occurred March 9, 1875,

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dia (Ferster), born May 9, 1830, died Feb. 8, 1870, the mother of six children: Luther; Williamn; Henry; Samuel, born in 1863, who died in 1882; Mary, who married William Seiler, of Valley View; and Harriet, born in 1868, who died in 1870. Mr. Rebuck's second inarriage was to Sus- anna Brown, and they had two children : John and Lovina.

L. J. CHAMBERLAIN, of Shamokin, repre- sents in his business interests the new order of amusements -- a phase of the life of the community which has come into existence but recently, and made possible only by the wonderful advances in the science of photography accomplished within the last few years. He has the distinction of being the pioneer in the motion picture business

LUTHER REBUCK, son of Peter and Lydia ( Fers- in this section, and is at present the proprietor ter) Rebuck, was born Feb. 9, 1855, in Washing- of two motion picture shows in Northumberland

county, one at Mount Carmel and one at Shamo-

ton township, and was educated in the local public schools. When sixteen years old he went to learn kin. By enterprising methods and up-to-date serv- the carpenter's trade with one Joseph Brosius. ice he has gained a large circle of regular pa- trons in bothi places, where his appeal to the best popular taste has likewise established him firmly in the good will of the citizens generally.

Subsequently he worked a year at Hickory Cor- ners, and then for a number of years was employed in the lumber districts of the East. For seven years he followed tinsmithing. In the. spring of Mr. Chamberlain was born in 1874 at Lock Haven, Clinton Co., Pa., son of William and Mary (Bottorf) Chamberlain, both of whom are deceased. His father was also a native of that place, and lived and died there. At the age of seventeen William Chamberlain enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company F, 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Vol- unteers, with which he served faithfully. Mr. and Mrs. William Chamberlain had a family of five children, Harry, Bert, Nora, Floy and L. J. 1895 Mr. Rebuck returned to Washington town- ship, where he has since followed farming, own- ing a Rebuck farm which formerly belonged to Elias Rebuck, and which came to him through mar- riage into the Reitz family. It comprises 120 acres. On July 17, 1902, Mr. Rebuck's barn was destroyed by lightning, together with the entire year's crop, entailing a heavy loss, but he immedi- ately rebuilt ; putting up a good barn 80 by 35 feet. Mr. Rebuck is a man of intelligence and broad views, his varied experiences and travel in L. J. Chamberlain attended school at Lock Ha- ven and was particularly well educated in music, his younger manhood having made him familiar with human life in its various phases. He has to which he has devoted his principal attention. a number of old and valnable books, and an old family Bible which le cherishes greatly.

He entered the amusement business at the age of eighteen in the capacity of musician with travel- On March 7, 1895, Mr. Rebuck married Maria ing organizations, and within a few years was at Rebuck, daughter of Elias and Mary ( Reitz) Re- the head of his own band, known as "Chamber- lain's All American Band," acting as director and general manager. This organization toured the country successfully with the stellar attractions,

buck, and granddaughter of Henry Rebuck. Their only child is Sarah Alice. Mr. Rebuck and his family are members of the Reformed Church.

WILLIAM REBUCK, brother of Luther Rebuck, also filling park engagements, etc. He also trav- was born in Washington township Nov. 27, 1856, eled for a while in company with his brothers, and has spent all his life in the same district. He under the name of Chamberlain Brothers, whose was reared to farming, and worked as a hired man "Railroad Shows" exhibited for a number of years and laborer until able to start for himself, begin- in vaudeville houses and under canvas. At that ning farming at his present home in Washing- ton township in the spring of 1899. His farm of eighty-one acres, an old Reitz homestead, was formerly the property of one Jonathan Reitz and later of Daniel Latsha. Mr. Rebuck is a Democrat, and gave several years' public service as overseer of the poor of his district. He and his family worship with the Lutheran congregation of the Himmel Chrelı.

On June 23, 1887, Mr. Rebuck married Mary Amelia Reitz, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Reitz) Reitz and granddaughter of Daniel Reitz (who lived where Luther Rebuck is now located) and of Philip Reitz (who lived at the present home of Cornelius Adams). Mr. and Mrs. Rebnek have four children : Lydia A., Harvey E., Ida L. place of the kind to meet with success in the bor- and Gertie M.

time the motion picture business was in its in- fancy. With keen foresight of the possibilities of motion photography Mr. Chamberlain turned his attention to the new field, and for a number of years exploited traveling organizations of that character. On Aug. 28, 1907, in company with Capt. J. M. Shindel, he opened the first success- ful motion picture theatre at. Mount Carmel, known as The Theatorimm, which is still in oper- ation, standing high in the local public favor. On April 28, 1908, under the firin name of Cham- berlain & Shindel, they opened the Theatorium motion picture house at Independence and Ninth streets, Shamokin, which has been in successful operation since, and which, indeed, was the first

ough. It has the reputation of being the most

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popular and best patronized show of the kind ler; Mrs. Jacob Straub; Mrs. Samuel Seeller; there, and the latest and most ingeniously arranged Jesse; Peter L., who lived at MeEwensville, Pa., films are shown, the entertainments being varied later moved to Michigan, and returning to Penn- and so well up to high standards that the audi- sylvania settled at Milton in 1861 (he married enees are of profitable proportions and high class. Mary E. Hood) ; Jaeob, who lived in Center coun- ty, Pa .; Daniel, who lived in Center eounty, Pa. ; Samuel, who was killed in the Mexican war; and John, who died at New Berlin, Pennsylvania. Chamberlain & Shindel aequired extensive amuse- ment interests, ineluding park, vaudeville and mo- tion picture theatres, and they were associated un- til June, 1910, when Captain Shindel retired from the firm, his interests being purchased by Mr. Chamberlain, who has since been sole owner of the business. In April, 1911, he was instrumental in organizing the General Amusement Company, Incorporated, of which he is president and general manager, which has now in preparation the es-

Jesse Haekenberg was born about 1816 at Free- burg, Pa .. but for many years he lived at North- umberland, Northumberland county, where he died and is buried. His death occurred in November, 1887, when he was past seventy years of age. By occupation he was a carpenter. He was a member of the Baptist Church. His wife was Susanna Jacob, Daniel, Jesse, Albert, Susanna, Mary, Han- David.

tablishing of a chain of theatres throughout the Nagel, and they had a family of twelve children:

new company will be opened at Sunbury Nov. 1st nah, Betsy, Amelia, Catharine, Deborah and

country. The first theatre to be operated by the of this year ; it will have a capacity of one thou- sand, is modern in every partieular, and consid- ered to be one of the finest houses of the kind in the State.

Mr. Chamberlain is engaged as dealer and agent for moving pieture and electrical supplies as well as promoter and operator of amusement enterpris- es, maintaining his main office at No. 819 Wash- ington street in the borough of Shamokin. Thor- oughly experienced in all branches of the business, he has catered successfully to the wants of the amusement loving publie, and has made a perma- nent place for himself and his enterprises in his home community and among his fellow citizens at large.

Mr. Chamberlain married Blanche Custard, of Loek Haven, and they have one son, Boyd D. The family are Methodists in religious connection. Mr. Chamberlain is a member of Shamokin Lodge of Elks, No. 355: of Aerie No. 560, F. O. E., of .

Lock Haven : of Lodge No. 144, K. of P., and of the Maceabees.

ALBERT HACKENBERG, a retired eitizen of Point township, Northumberland county, was born April 5, 1835, at Freeburg, Snyder Co., Pa., son of Jesse Haekenberg and grandson of Peter Hack- enberg.

Coming to America when quite young he settled at Freeburg, Snyder Co., Pa., and followed farm- On Nov. 28, 1858, Mr. Haekenberg married Ma- years before his death, which occurred about 1845, (Knouse) Brouse, who lived in Point township,

Albert Haekenberg attended sehool for a few months in the winter season during his boyhood, and was reared to the practical work of farming, which he has followed practically all his life. For a few years, however, he was at Montandon, this county, where he kept a groeery store, and where for about half a year he was associated with his brother-in-law, Samuel Fry, in general merchan- dising. He eame to Point township in 1847, and with the exception of his brief stay at Montan- don continued to live in that seetion until 1897, in which year he moved to Northumberland bor- ough. There he made his home until 1908, when he returned to his farm in Point township, which is a valuable tract of fifty-three acres, in the form of a square. He has a most desirable home, hav- ing built a new house upon the property, for which he paid $8,500. Mr. Hackenberg has served his township eleven years in the office of super- visor, and he is regarded as a valuable eitizen, a man deserving of the esteem and good opinion of his neighbors. He is a Republican on political questions. He belongs to the Lutheran Church at Northumberland, with which his family also unite, and served as a member of the church council. He has been a director of the Northumberland Cemetery Company for twenty-one years. and

Peter Hackenberg was a native of Germany. served as. president of the board for six years of this period.

ing during his active years, retiring a number of ria Bronse, daughter of Samuel and Catharine and granddaughter of Henry Bronse, who eame from Germany. Mrs. Hackenberg's maternal grandfather, Abraham Knouse, lived near Kratz- erville, Snyder county. Mr. and Mrs. HIaeken- berg have had two children : Alice S. married Charles Ertley and they live at Northumberland ;

when he was advanced in years. He had prospered in his agricultural operations, and was a substan- tial eitizen, owning several farms. For some years he served as a justice of the peace of Washington township, Snyder county. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, and is buried at Freeburg. To him and his wife Susanna ( Shaf- Harvey Edward, who lives at Cleveland, Ohio, mar- fer) were born six sons and four daughters: Han- ried Lizzie Miller (by whom he had one child, nah, who married Mr. Balliet; Mrs. Samuel Shel- Harvey J. A.) and (second) Annie Lawrence.

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STAHL. There are two branches of the Stahl umberland county with his father after the Revo- lutionary war, and he eventually obtained part of the four hundred acres his father took up, his tract containing 115 acres, now owned by Charles F. Rovenolt. He farmed and followed black- smithing. Hle was a member of the Reformed family in Northumberland county whose progen- itors came hither from Northampton county, the descendants of John and Adam Stahl. As the former lived in Northampton county for some time before removing to this county, and as the latter was a native of that county, it is possible they Church, and he and his father were among the were related, though the present records do not organizers of the Paradise Union Church, among establish the fact.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 59

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