Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 68

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 68

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).

803

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

IRWIN H. WIEST, son of John T., was born Oct. that county, where he owned property and followed 21, 1868, in Jordan township, where he was reared farming. Among his children were: Abbie. who married Jacob Harris (deceased ), of Richfield, Juniata Co., Pa., and now lives with her daughter at Fremont, Pa. : Polly, who married Hiram Pun- tius (they live in Elkhart, Ind. ) : and John.

to farming, working for his father until he was nincteen years old. He was married at that time, and then worked a year for his father-in-law, Si- mon Trautman, in the spring of 1890 commene- ing to farm on his own account, in Lower Mahanos township, where he rented for a year. He then lived at Hebe for some years, and in the spring of 1907 moved onto his own place, 124 acres in Jor- dan township which was formerly the Henry Miller homestead. This farmi lies along the road from Dalmatia to Klingerstown. Mr. Wiest is an intel- ligent and ambitious farmer, and is doing well.

On Feb. 25, 1888, Mr. Wiest married Elizabeth Trautman, daughter of Simon and Sarah (Schadel) Trautman, and they have had three chil- dren. Maud, Carrie (who died in her fifteenth year) and Nora. The family attend the Hebe Church, of which he is a Reformed member, Mrs. Wiest belonging to the Lutheran congregation. Mr. Wiest is a Democrat in political faith.

E. T. Wiest, son of Jacob K. Wiest, was born Feb. 18, 1854, and was reared upon the farm, working at home until he was grown. When quite young he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed at Pillow for fully twenty years, for some years being associated with his brother Frank in that business. They killed as many as twenty head of cattle weekly. Mr. E. T. Wiest then conducted

the hotel at Uniontown (Pillow) for four years, a resident of Herndon, this county: Stella died

after which lie was at Dalmatia for one year, in the same line. He next engaged in the mercan- tile business at Wiconisco, in Dauphin county, where he remained two years. After living for several years at Pillow he again embarked in the hotel business, at Hickory Corners, where he has conducted the "Keystone Hotel" since 1907. Mr. Wiest is very well known, as he has a particularly fine reputation for the good table he sets, and Dr. Emerick's numerous patients usually patronize his table when they come to town.

On March 28, 1880, Mr. Wiest married Edith Musser, daughter of Henry and Annetta ( Noblet) Musser, of Millersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Wiest have three children: Lizzie married Lane Reeser and they live at Wiconisco: Stella May is unmarried and lives at home: Edward H., born Sept. 18. 1889, married Beulah Harris, daughter of Walter and Incy A. (Schaffer) Harris. Mr. Wiest and his family are members of the Reformed congre- gation of Zion's Stone Valley Church. On polit- ical questions he is a Democrat.

LENTZ. Andrew Lentz, proprietor of the "Van Kirk House" at Northumberland, and John H. Lentz, farmer of Rockefeller township. are sons of the late John Lentz, of Rockefeller town- ship. and grandsons of Jesse Lentz. The latter was a native of Dauphin county, living at Halifax,

Jolin Lentz. son of Jesse, was born in 1834 at Halifax, Dauphin Co., Pa., and was reared to farm work, which he followed all his life. He was mar- ried at Halifax and tarmed there for some years before his removal to Rockefeller township. North- umberland county, purchasing the farm in that . township now owned by his son John H. Lentz. It comprises seventy-eight acres, upon which he built the present barn in the sixties, and there he farmed until his death, which occurred March 16, 1899. He is buried at the Cross Road Church. as it is popularly known, the Emanuel Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church, of which he was a member ; he served in the church council. He was a pro- gressive man, and interested in the Augusta Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he was treas- urer. Politically he was a Republican.

Mr. Lentz married Louisa Shade, and they had children as follows : Julia died young ; Senora mar- ried Lewis Hetrich : Andrew is mentioned below ; Polly married William Eady, of Shamokin: Se- villa married George Eckman : David died young ; John H. is mentioned below : Permelia married George Miller: Emma died young: Charles R. is young ; Bessie married George Rebuck.

ANDREW LENTZ, son of John Lentz, was born Aug. 9, 1864, in Lower Augusta ( now Rockefeller) township, this county, and was there reared. He followed farming until twenty-five years old, after which for five years he was in Sunbury. Return- ing to his farm of 120 acres in Rockefeller town- ship. he cultivated it for six years, at the end of that period going back to Sunbury, where he con- ducted a hotel, at the same time engaging in the lumber business. For six years he was thus occu- pied. in November, 1908, purchasing the stock, good will and fixtures of the "Van Kirk House." the leading hotel in Northumberland borough. from George Hancock. He has since carried on this hotel, which has thirty rooms, and the steady patronage-old and new-indicates that he has im- proved every opportunity and kept it up to stand- ard. Mr. Lentz is an able business man and has shown considerable executive ability in the man- agement of his affairs, for besides looking after his hotel business he conducts a farm of eighty- six acres which he owns, in Upper Augusta town- ship, near Keefer's station, and he is engaged in trucking to some extent. He and his family are . members of the Wolf's Cross Road Church in Rockefeller township, in which Mr. Lentz has been an active worker, and he contributed toward the erection of the church, in the welfare of which

S04

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

he is deeply interested. He has been particularly fifty years, dying in April, 1873, at the advanced' concerned in the popularity and prosperity of the Sunday school. Socially he is a member of Lodge No. 167, B. P. O. Elks, of Sunbury, the Protected Home Circle and the Conclave, both also of Sun- bury.

age of ninety-three. They were of the German Reformed faith, and are buried side by side at the Deep Creek Church. They had seven children, namely : John is mentioned below ; William is men- tioned below; Betty married John Bressler and In December, 1889, Mr. Lentz married Laura Gonser, daughter of Jesse and Harriet ( House- worth ) Gonser, of Snydertown, Pa., and they have one child, Jesse E., who assists his father with his business affairs. they lived in Deep Creek Valley; Sallie married David Stutzman ; Maricha married Michael Stutz- man, who was killed in the Civil war; Catharine married a Mr. Warfel and they lived in Deep Creek Valley (their son is a prominent minister of the United Evangelical Association) ; Mrs. Oss- man and her husband were members of the United homestead where he has spent all but four months Evangelical Association and moved to Iowa.

JOHN H. LENTZ, son of John Lentz, was born Feb. 10, 1872, in Rockefeller township, on the of his life. He was reared to farming, and in the spring of 1900 commenced on his own account, having purchased the place in September, 1899. It is a tract of seventy-eight acres, and Mr. Lentz has made a number of improvements on the prop- erty since it came into his possession. He has exceptionally fine live stock. Much of his produce is sold at the Shamokin markets, which he at- tends regularly. Mr. Lentz is a progressive citi- zen, enterprising in the management of his own affairs and interested in movements which affect the general welfare, and he is vice-president and a director of the Irish Valley & Seven Points Telephone Company, in which he is an active spirit. He was a school director of his township for three years, and is a Republican in political matters. On March 8, 1897, Mr. Lentz married Henri- etta Kelly, daughter of George Kelly, and they have three children : Orpha, Rachel and Myrtle K.

FRANKLIN L. KEHRES, of Rebuck, is en- gaged as a inerchant, hotel-keeper and farmer, carrying on a business established by his grand- father many years ago. He has the leading. store and hotel at the place. Mr. Kehres was born in Washington township, where he has passed all his life, Nov. 30, 1857, son of Nathan E. and Cath- arine (Hoffman) Kehres. He belongs to an old family of this region, his father and grandfather having lived in Washington township, and bears a name which, in various forms, is now nuner- ously represented in Pennsylvania. The original form was Gehres, and the branches of the family found in Berks and Schuylkill counties, and in the Shamokin region, still retain that spelling or the variation Gehris ; William Kehres, grandfather of Franklin L. Kehres, made the change from "G" to "K" which has been followed by his posterity.

John Gehres, son of John and Catharine (Otto) Gehres, located at the upper end of the Deep Creek Valley in Schuylkill county, and was a farmer by occupation. After his retirement, being advanced in years, he made his home with his children for a number of years before his death, which oc- curred in 1908, when he was ninety-six years old, while he was living with a married daughter in Berks county. He was twice married, and sur- vived both his wives, one of whom was a Reed. Among his seventeen children were: Sarah, Lo- vina, Carolina, Lydia, Emanuel (of Upper Ma- hantango Valley), Daniel (of Shamokin, Pa. ) and Mrs. Haupt (who lives at Mount Carmel, Pa.). A number of the posterity of this John Gehres have lived in Berks and Lehigh counties, some now (1910) residing in Hamburg, Berks county, and one Milton Gehris, who formerly taught school in Berks county, now holds a responsible government position at Washington, D. C. This branch of the family adhere to the original spelling of the name.

William Kehres, son of John and Catharine (Otto), born April 5. 1808, was but twelve years old when his father died. He lived in Washing- ton township, Northumberland county, where he was active throughout a long life, in his earlier manhood following farming exclusively and later building the Kehres mill, on Greenbrier creek, which he operated for many years besides follow- ing agricultural pursuits. This mill was contin- med in operation until about 1893. His farm consisted of about 160 acres. Mr. Kehres was an early settler at Rebuck, where he was one of the first merchants, being succeeded as such by his son Nathan. He died March 3, 1891, and he and both his wives are buried at the Himmel Church. Mr. Kehres first married, April 26. 1831, Lydia Erdman, who was born July 4, 1812, and died Sept. 14, 1834. They had four children : George E., born Sept. 19, 1831, whose wife Sarah, born Nov. 1, 1828, died March 21, 1885: Nathan E., born Sept. 29, 1832 : William E., born Aug. 1, 1834: and Lydia, who died young. On Oct. 4,

John Gehres, the emigrant ancestor of this fam- ily, is said to have come from Germany, and he first located in Berks county, Pa., whence he moved across the Blue Mountains into Schuylkill county, settling in the Deep Creek Valley, where he owned 1835, Mr. Kehres married (second) Catharine Erd- land. He died in 1820, and his wife, whose maid- man (a sister of his first wife), who was born May en name was Catharine Otto, survived him over 25, 1818, and died July 8. 1895. Nineteen chil-

805

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

dren were born to this marriage, as follows: Dan- plements, in which line he has built up a good iel, Oct. 6, 1836 ; Emanuel, Oct. 20, 1837 (his wife trade, and he has been postmaster at Rebuck since Rosanna, born Aug. 3, 1848, died July 21, 1904) ; the Harrison administration, having been appoint- ed by John Wanamaker. One of the leading cit- izens of his district, he is identified with everything affecting its development and progress. Lydia, Oet. 17, 1838: Maria, Jan. 21, 1840; Hen- rietta, Feb. 1, 1842; Sarah, May 18, 1843; Cathar- ine, Sept. 30, 1844; Levi, June 3, 1846; a daugli- ter, March 4, 1847 (died in infaney) ; Paul, Mareh 11, 1848 ; Lavina, March 9, 1849; twin of Lavina (born dead) ; Malinda, July 11, 1850; Amanda, Jan. 22, 1853; a son, Jan. 20, 1854 (died in in- faney) ; a son, November, 1854 (died in infaney) ; Fietta, Aug. 27, 1855; a daughter, 1856 (died in infancy) ; Jacob Wilson, Jan. 31, 1358.

Nathan E. Kehires, son of William, was born Sept. 29, 1832. in Washington township, and died Sept. 10, 1902. He was a farmer until 1873, when he also engaged in the general mercantile bus- iness at Rebuek, continuing same until sueceeded by his son F. L. Kehres in 1888. He was a sue- .cessful man and left a valuable estate, owning sev- eral farms in Washington township and also one at Klingerstown (of over one hundred aeres). He was a useful and respected citizen, served his town- :ship faithfully as treasurer, and was an active mem- ber of the Reformed congregation of Himmel's .Chrureh, in which he held the offices of deacon, elder, trustee and treasurer. Originally a Demo- crat in politics, he later became an adherent of Re- publiean principles.

On June 15, 1856, Mr. Kehires married Cath- :arine Hoffman, who was born Jan. 9, 1835. in Up- per Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, daughter of Henry D. Hoffman, of Berks county, :and died Nov. 11, 1895. Children as follows were born to their union : Franklin L. is mentioned be- low; William H. was born Jan. 26, 1860: John M. was born Jan. 19, 1862 ; Lydia E. married E. R. Reitz: Mary Etta. born July 18, 1867, died Aug. 10, 1886: C. Reuben was born Sept. 21. 1869; :Samuel was born Dec. 12, 1871, and died Jan. ( ?) 9, 1876 : Kate A., born Aug. 14, 1877, married Da- vid C. Drumheller ; Rosie A., born Jan. 21, 1880, married A. J. Schwalm.

Franklin L. Kehres received his education in the sehools of the home loeality and was reared to farm life. At an early age he began running a huekster team to Shamokin and Ashland, with produce, and was thus engaged for seven years. meantime commencing to elerk in the store for his father. Eventually he gave all his time to look- ing after the store, and in 1888 sueceeded his fa- thier in the mercantile and hotel business, having moved to the old stand two years previously. Re- buek is an old-established business center in Wash- ington township. Mr. Kelires earries a full line of general merchandise, continues to conduet the lio- tel, and operates his farm of ninety aeres in eon- Mr. Gehris married Ada Shaner, who survived junction with his other interests. He enjoys a him with the following children: Ella. wife of large share of the patronage in huis section of the Dewitt Engel : William : LeRoy : Isaae : and Agnes. county. He is agent for fertilizers and farm im- wife of William Trout-all of Boyertown. One

On June 23, 1878, Mr. Kehres married Sarah E. Hetrich, who was born in Washington township Dec. 2, 1860, daughter of Daniel Hetrich, and died Sept. 22, 1893. They had three children, John O., Cora A., and Gertie M. (wife of Norman Peifer). On Nov. 30, 1899, Mr. Kehres married (second) Katie E. Reed, daughter of Henry A. Reed. They have no children. Mr. Kehres and his family are Reformed members of the Himmel Church, and he has been joint treasurer of the church sinee 1903. In polities he is a Republican.

John O. Kehres, eldest of the family of Frank- lin L. Kehires, was born Oct. 11, 1879, and obtained his early education in the local public schools. Lat- er he attended the Interstate Commercial College, at Reading, and he subsequently formed a partner- ship with William Hetrich, under the firm name of Kehres & Hetrich, engaging in the lumber business and the manufacture of cider, and also operating a gristmill, in Washington township. They were associated in business for ten years, and since 1904 Mr. Kehres has been in partnership with his father in the general merehandise business. He is an en- terprising and respected young man. and is pro- gressing steadily in business circles. He is a men- ber of Lodge No. 355, B. P. O. Elks, at Shamokin, and since 1900 has belonged to Lodge No. 351, I. O. O. F., at Mahanoy.

Ephraim R. Gehris, late of Bovertown, Berks Co., Pa., was also a member of the Gehres family of which this article treats. He was a native of Boyertown, son of Isaac and Sarah Gehris, and passed nearly all his life there. He followed the occupation of tinsmith, and was a faithful em- ployee, having been with Jacob B. Yalın for more than thirty years. In politics he was always an active and enthusiastic Demoerat, and held several minor offices in the borough. From early youth he had played in the Boyertown Band, first as snare drummer, later as trombone. He was a charter member of the Keystone Fire Company, in which he was very popular, and served as chief, engineer for a number of years. He belonged to the Knights of the Mystie Chain at Boyertown and to the In- dependent Order of Mechanies at Pottstown. Mr. Gehris died in June, 1910, at his home on Waslı- ington street, Boyertown, aged fifty-three years, six months. eleven days. He was buried in Union cemeterv.

806

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

daughter, Florence, died several years before her (Startzel) Adams, was born in 18 ?? on the old father. Mr. Gehris's father, Isaac Gehris, survives homestead near Elysburg, in Ralpho township. He him, but his mother and sister preceded him in followed farming all his life, owning a tract of death.

about fifty acres near the Blue Church, and in connection with his agricultural work engaged in lime burning. He died June 20, 1892. Mr. Adams

HENRY N. ADAMS, whose home is in Cleve- land township, Columbia Co., Pa., just across the married Sarah A. Pensyl, who was born in 1829. Northumberland county line at Bear Gap, is a daughter of Leonard Pensyl, and died Jan. 4, 1908. member of an old Northumberland county family.

They are buried at the Blue Church. Twelve chil- dren were born to their union, viz .: Francis is a resident of Shamokin ; John is deceased ; Henry N. lives near Bear Gap, in Columbia county ; D. Alon- zo is on the old homestead in Ralpho township; Leonard M. is a resident of Shamokin ; Nathan G. is located at Paxinos ; Allison C. is living in Ralpho township; Marietta (deceased) was the wife of Frank Erdman, commissioner of Northumberland county ; Emma married George Erdman; Eliza- beth married Philip Richard and they live at Elys- burg, Northumberland county: Lydia married

Casper Adams, his great-grandfather. the first of the family in this country, was born April 25, 1755, at Langendiebach, Offenburg, Germany. Lit- tle is known of his early life. On coming to this country he lived in Berks county, Pa., before com- ing to Northumberland county, where he was one of the earliest pioneers in Ralpho township, own- ing several hundred acres of land there. He cleared some of his land and followed farming. He died Jan. 26, 1832, and is buried at St. Peter's (the Blue) Church in Ralpho township. Casper Adams married, in Berks county, Elizabeth Hinkle, of Thomas Boughner, of Ralpho; Casper died young. that county, and they had a large family, six sons and six daughters, namely: Frederick (1792- 1853), John, Samnel, Casper, Leonard, Peter, Nel- lie (married George Startzel), Susanna (married Samuel Startzel). Elizabeth (married Gilbert Liby), Polly (married Peter Strausser), Maria (married Jacob Kreher) and Catharine (married Samuel Anspach).

Henry N. Adams was born upon the homestead near the Blue Church Nov. 18, 1851, and was raised by his grandfather, Leonard Pensyl, in Ralpho township. He remained with him till about thirty years of age and then left home after the death of his grandfather. He was employed for several years by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Companies. for a few years was section track foreman, and then was employed at the Pennsylvania yard at Weigh Seales. In 1889 he located upon his present farm Gap, which he purchased, having 145 acres of val- nable land, among the best in the district. It has an abundant supply of spring water. He is a much respected citizen of his community, having been elected auditor of his township, which office lie is filling at present.

Casper Adams, fourth son of Casper and Eliz- abeth ( Hinkle) Adams, was born April 10, 1796, on the homestead farm in Ralpho township, and was there reared to farin life. When he became of in Cleveland township, Columbia county, near Bear age his father deeded 100 acres of land in Ralpho · township to him, this being the farm afterward oc- cupied by his son George C., near the Blue Church. Mr. Adams was a man of active mind, one who interested himself in the general welfare as well as in the promotion of his own interests, and he was one of the foremost men of his locality for On Feb. 4, 1888, Mr. Adams married Lydia Dimmick, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Leiby) Dimmick, and they have three children, Calvin B., David L. and Clara M., ali at home. He is a member of the Reformed ( Blue) Church, and in politics is a Democrat. many years, well known as a stanch Democrat and as one of the most liberal supporters of the Blue Church, with which he was identified all his life; he served as elder of that church and was one of the most generous contributors toward the erection of the church edifice. He married Susanna Start- zel (daughter of John), who was born March 14, STAMM. The Stamm family has many rep- resentatives in Northumberland county, descend- ants of old Berks county ( Pa. ) stoek, the Stamms having scattered from that region over various parts of Pennsylvania. 1800, and died Jan. 22, 1873; Mr. Adams died Jan. 28, 1882, and is buried at the Blue Church. Their children were: Benjamin, who died in 1895, at the age of seventy-four years ( Edward, William F. and Lucinda were his children) : Dan- iel H. ; Casper, deceased : George C., born Aug. 17, 1826; David, born in 1830: Jacob, born in 1833,

The name Stamm or Stam is found frequently in the lists of emigrants to America. On the pas- senger list of the "Hope," Daniel Reed, master. who died in 1895; Samuel, deceased ; William: from Rotterdam, qualified Sept. 23. 1734, is the Elizabeth (deceased), who married William , name of Peter Stam, aged twenty; on the "Sam- Smith ; Susanna (deceased ), who married William uel." Hugh Perey, captain. from Rotterdam, qual_ Klase : Polly, Mrs. Fry, deceased; Angelina, who married William Smith : and Harriet. deceased.

Daniel H. Adams, son of Casper and Susanna

ified Dec. 3, 1740, that of Adam Stam, aged twen- tr-five: on the "Franeis and Elizabeth." George North, master, from Rotterdam, qualified Sept. 21.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

807

1742, those of Johann Adam Stam and Werner Stam ; on the snow "Charlotte," John Mason, mas- ter, from Rotterdam, Sept. 5, 1743, Johann Jacob Stani; on the "Phoenix," William Wilson, con- mander, from Rotterdam, Sept. 30, 1743. Jo- hannes Stamm : and on the "Union," Andrew Bry- son, captain, from Rotterdam, Sept. 30, 1774, Adanı Stam.

The Stanim family is one of the oldest in Berks county. Werner (or Peter) and Johann Adam Stam (or Stamm) , brothers, were natives of Switz- erland and emigrated to the New World on the ship "Francis and Elizabeth," George North, com- mander, from Rotterdam. It qualified at Phil- adelphia Sept. 21. 1742, and of the 141 male emi- grants who had taken passage many settled in Berks county, their descendants being still found in goodly numbers in the districts where they lo- cated. Where Johann Adam Stam settled, or what became of him, we do not know. The other broth- er, Werner, was the ancestor of the Stanims of Berks county. He was born Nov. 13, 1726, in Bern, Switzerland; and died May 16, 1795. He burg, Pa .; and one that died in infancy.

settled in what is now Bern township in 1763, obtaining a large tract of land in the vicinity of Mount Pleasant, in Berks county, where he lived and died. He and his wife are buried at the old Bern Church. He married May 26, 1748, Cath- arine, born in 1728, died Nov. 4, 1812. Among his children were two sons named Nicholas and Frederick.

(The nanie Peter is said to have been Werner Stam. There is a Werner Stam buried at the Bern Church. The Pennsylvania Archives record the name as Peter, but this is reputed to be an error, the tax lists, church records, etc., all bear- ing evidence to the contrary. However, it is rea- sonable to suppose that Werner Stamm was under age when the two mentioned in the Archives ar- rived, and that for that reason his naine does not appear. The date of their landing agrees with the date tradition and old members of the family have of Werner's coming to America.)

Nicholas Stanım, son of Werner, born April 22, 1752, died Oct. 6, 1828. He married Catharine Lerch, born April 21, 1754, died May 16, 1844. Like his parents, they are buried at the Bern Church. Among their children were: Johann Adam, Frederick, Peter. John. Mrs. Benjamin Graeff, Philip, William, Catharine (married Peter Reinhart) and Benjamin. Some of this family moved to Lycoming, Snyder and Northumberland counties, Pennsylvania.

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 68

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