Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 74

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 74

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).

On Aug. 6, 1878, Mr. Hendricks married Esther 1 Amelia Bright, daughter of George and Sarah (Weiss) Bright. They had no children. They resided at Woodlawn avenue and Third street, Sunbury, in a house which was originally built by George Sherwood, from Philadelphia, in 1775, the oldest house now standing in Sunbury. It is one and a half stories high, and built of logs, which are now, however, covered with weather- boards.

TIMOTHY NEARY. proprietor of the "Penn- sylvania House" at Gowen City, in Cameron town- ship, Northumberland county, was born in the borough of Shamokin July 28, 1853, and is of Irish deseent. His grandfather, James Neary, Northumberland county.

settled in New York State upon his emigration from Ireland, and there passed the remainder of his life.

James Neary, son of James Neary and father of Timothy Neary, was born in Ireland and was a young man when he came to America. He first lived in New York State after his arrival in this country and was there engaged at day labor. Coming later to Shamokin, Northumberland Co., Pa., he was employed at the mines. He died at Shamokin. To James Neary and his wife Mary (Kennedy) were born children as follows: until 1845, when he sold out and moved to Lebanon Maria, Timothy, James, Bridget, Eliza and John.

county. His wife Hannah (Gernant) bore him the following children: Catharine, William, Lewis, publie schools of Shamokin. When a boy he Maria, Franklin, Susan, Rudolph, Milton T. (born in 1848) and Isaac (who died young). William, Lewis and Franklin were soldiers in the Civil war. Lewis losing his life at the battle of Cold Harbor. -

Timothy Neary obtained his education in the began work as so many of the youth of the region did, as slate picker. He was thus employed at the Loeust Gap and Cameron collieries for some time, and later tended door and loaded cars before he began cutting coal. He followed this work for fifteen years, most of the time employed at the Cameron colliery, and in 1892 retired from mining. He has since been engaged in the hotel business. For several years he carried it on in Shamokin, in April, 1902, buying his present stand at Gowen City from Elias Gonser. This hotel was built by Peter Weikel in 1852, and was

dren : Mary, who is now the wife of Joseph Yeager and has two children, Mary C. and Elleanora ; and John, at home. Mrs. Neary died Sept. 13, 1896, and is buried at Shamokin. Socially Mr. Neary belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In religion he is a Catholic, a member of St. Edward's Church, and in politics a Democrat.

HENRY J. DONMAYER, a farmer of Wash- ington township, Northumberland county, was born May 22, 1856, in Jordan township, son of Davis and Catharine (Geise) Domnayer.

According to family tradition four Donmayer brothers eame from the Fatherland and loeated in Berks county, Pa., one of them, Nicholas, locating across the Blue Mountains in the terri- tory which in 1771 became part of Pine Grove township, Schuylkill (then Berks) eounty. His name on the first assessment list, made in 1772, appears as Nicholas Dornmeier. From him de- scended Henry Donmayer, the grandfather of Henry J. Donmayer, of Washington township,

Another of the four brothers, Peter "Dorn- meyer," settled in Greenwich township, Berks county. In 1790 he had one son under sixteen years old, a wife, and three daughters. His oecu- pation was farming. Milton T. Donmayer, a prominent and influential citizen of Kutztown, Berks Co., Pa., is a deseendant of Peter through Benjamin Donmayer (1799-1864), who was born in Longswamp township, Berks county, and died in Union township, Lebanon county. He was a farmer in Maxatawny township, Berks county,

Henry Donmayer, grandfather of Henry J. Donmaver, lived in Wayne township, not far from Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, and was a mill- wright and farmer. His descendants are still found in that section. He and his wife Susan (Snyder) had children as follows: Davis: Henry (Harry), who lived in Schuylkill county ; Susanna, who died unmarried; Catharine, who died young;

831

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and Mary, who married Edward Nies and lived members of St. John's Church, which he has for a time in Schuylkill county, later coming to served as deaeon. Jordan township, Northumberland county.

Davis Donmaver was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., and died Sept. 9, 1906, in Jordan township, Northumberland county (aged eighty years, seven months, four days), where he is buried, at St. Paul's Church, Urban. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, which he served as elder and deacon. In his earlier life Mr. Donmayer was a farm laborer, later becoming a boatman on the old abandoned Union canal from Pine Grove to Middletown, and in time he went into the lime-burning business in Jordan township. In 1878 he commenced farming in that township, homestead, Aug. 27, 1853. He is descended from a family which has been settled in Pennsylvania from the early days, and which is still numerously represented there. The Federal Census Report of 1790 showed thirty-seven heads of families of this naine in Pennsylvania alone, so that it is difficult for the genealogist to trace any one line without re- liable records in the possession of the various branches of the family. The line in which we are interested is traced from Valentine Paul.

which he continued until his death. He owned a tract of thirty-eight acres. Mr. Donnaver was a Democrat, and he was a citizen who enjoyed the confidence of his fellow men, serving as treas- urer and supervisor of his township. His wife, Catharine (Geise), daughter of George and Cath- arine (Schwartz) Geise, died May 9, 1907, aged eighty-two years, nine months, twenty-three days, the mother of the following children : Mary J., Mrs. William Heim ; Daniel, who died in his twen- tieth year; Henry J .; George, Elizabeth and Charles, who died young.

Henry J. Donmayer obtained a common school education in Jordan township, and was a boy of only ten years when he began teaming regularly with his father, hauling coal, lime and doing all kinds of draving. In the spring of 1878 he began farming in Jordan township, on a thirty-six-acre tract upon which he lived for eight years, and in 1887 he engaged in the butcher business, at which he continued for ten years. During this time he lived at Urban. In the spring of 1898 he moved to Gowen City, in the eastern part of Cameron township, where he farmed for two years, thence' moving to Eldred township, Schuylkill county, where he also farmed for two years. Mov- ing back to Jordan township, he was engaged in farming there for several years, until he sold out and moved to Lebanon, Pa., at which place he . worked in the rolling mills. In the spring of 1907 he came to his present home, the old Daniel home- stead in Washington township, which farm con- sists of 110 acres. It was in the Daniel name from 1774. to 1907. Two log houses stand on until his removal in 1856 to Illinois, where his this land, one of which was built in 1800 and is still used as a dwelling: the other is not quite so old. Mr. Donmaver has modern agricultural implements and is up-to-date in all the branches of his work, using scientific methods wherever prac- ticable and working his land intelligently. He is a Democrat and has been active in promoting the success of his party. While a resident of Jor- dan township he filled the office of school director. brother George's house for a time, later moving three years. He and his family are Lutheran

In 1882 Mr. Donmayer married Snsan J. Sny- der, daughter of George B. and Susan ( Ramer) Snyder, of Eldred township, Schuylkill county, and they have five children: Adam F., Katie G., Charles O., Jerre E. and Harry R.

GEORGE W. PAUL, merchant and postmaster at Line Mountain, in the most easterly part of Upper Mahanoy township, has been one of the most active residents of that section for a num- ber of years and has passed all his life in the township, having been born there, on the Panl

Valentine (known as "Falty") Paul, the pioneer who settled in Northumberland county, in that district now embraced in the territory of Upper Mahanoy township, located at the source of the Greenbrier creek, and owned a large tract of land, some of which he cleared and put under cultiva- tion. In 1805 he purchased 120 acres in Mala- noy (now Upper Mahanoy) township for 550 pounds lawful money "truly in hand paid" front Philip and Magd. Diehl. The same year Philip and Magd. Diehl and their son Michael Diehl and his wife Magd. sold a second tract, lying adjacent to the one just mentioned, to Valentine Paul. He built a log honse on what is now the farm of Peter H. Paul, and it was a very old structure when it was razed, in 1879. Valentine Panl was a member of the Reformed Church. He is buried at Howerters Church, but his grave is not marked. To him and his wife Susanna were born the fol- lowing children : Benjamin, George, Michael, Val- entine and Daniel. Of these, Michael is the an- cestor of the branch of the family to which George W. Paul belongs. Concerning the others, George succeeded his father on the homestead, living there

descendants continue to reside : his children were Valentine, Peter, Jacob, Hannah and Sarah. Val- entine, who was a farmer, lived on another part of his father's homestead : among his children were Michael (who moved West), Andrew (who was killed by a "Yankee" through some trouble about a land transaction). Polly and Catharine (mar- ried John Dichl). Daniel lived in part of his out West. where he prospered : he married Hannah

832

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Heim, and they had one daughter, Mary, who was young when her parents mnoved West. In 1803, when St. Jacob's Lutheran and Reformed Church was organized, Michael and Benjamin Paul were among the prominent members.

Michael Paul, son of Valentine, was born in Upper Saucon township, Northampton Co., Aug. 13, 1768, and was there baptized. In Northum- berland county he settled two miles south of his father's homestead, on a tract which is now the property of David D. Paul, a grandson, having a farm of 135 acres which afforded him a good liv- ing. He died at an advanced age and is buried at the Salem (Herb) Church, of which he and his family were members. His old family Bible, now in the possession of the widow of Elias Paul, shows date and place of his birth; that his wife Elizabetlı Kuntzelman was born Jan. 25, 1773 (the wife of Michael Paul is recorded elsewhere as Eliza- beth Geissinger, born Jan. 25, 1773, died Jan. 17, 1853; as his son Michael apparently married a Kuntzelman the surnames may have become mixed ), and that their children were born as follows: Johannes, 1793; - Dec. 27,

1794; Sept. 20, 1796; Michael, Sept. 21, 1798; Catharine, Oct. 27, 1800; John, Jan. 31, 1803; Samuel, Nov. 27, 1805; Susanna, Nov. 20, 1807; Tobias, Oct. 29, 1808. (Another account gives the children as Valentine, who remained on the homestead; Michael; and Lydia, who married Peter Brown. Lydia, wife of Peter Brown, was according to tombstone rec- ords born Sept. 23, 1817, and died March 27, 1887.) Among other items in the old Bible men- tioned we find that Elias Paul, son of one Michael Paul, was born Oct. 15, 1824, and died May 8, 1906; his widow, Catharine (Maurer), was born Feb. 28, 1831.

Michael Paul, son of Michael and Elizabeth, was born Sept. 21, 1798, on the homestead, and died March 3, 1879. He is buried at St. John's Church, in Upper Mahanoy. He was a carpenter and an all- around skillful mechanic, being able to make shoes and wagons and do tailoring, in fact there was little in the way of handicraft that he did not undertake successfully. He was also a prosperous farmer, owning a tract of 100 acres, on which he built the house which still stands in 1868. In

1866 hie built a barn, but it was destroyed by light- ning in 1898 and rebuilt by his son Peter. He took an active part in local affairs, serving as sup- ervisor and school director, and was prominent in the religious life of the community, being a Luth- eran member of St. John's Church, which he served officially during the greater part of his ma- ture life. His wife. Esther Hornberger, was a daughter of George Hornberger, who is buried in a private burial ground in a field in the eastern part of Cameron township. (Tombstone records say Michael L. Pant, born Sept. ? 1, 1798, died

3, 1879, aged eighty years, seven months, twelve days; wife Catharine Kuntzelman, born July 22, 1800, died Nov. 2, 1873. Johannes Kunt- zehman and his wife Margaretha Reissin had a daughter Maria Catharine, born July 22, 1800.) To Mr. and Mrs. Michael Paul were born chil- dren as follows: John, who died in the Stone hospital, Washington, D. C., while serving in the army during the Civil war; Catharine, who mar- ried Elias Kahler; Peter H .; Polly, who married Andrew Kahler; George W .; Daniel H., who lives in Dauphin county, Pa. (his post office is Prog- ress) ; and William, a resident of Upper Maha- noy township.

Peter H. Paul, son of Michael, is a retired farm- er of Upper Mahanoy township, where for many years he was well known in public affairs, as well as in business life. He was born Aug. 5, 1848, and began his education in the subscription schools, later attending the free schools for two terms. Like his father, he is a mechanical geni- us, being able to work at many trades, and thus he has worked as a carpenter, blacksmith and wheelwright, has made a number of new wagons, and has made cloth for his own use, being handy at all sorts of mechanical work. He farmed for some years, owning eighty acres of the original Paul homestead, and he built the present barn on that tract in 1898. His undertakings prospered well under his efficient management, and his abil- ity was recognized by his fellow citizens, who elected him for three terms as assessor and for the same period as school director. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party.

In November, 1873, Mr. Paul married Eliza- beth Snyder, daughter of Simon and Leah ( Wet- zel) Snyder, of Upper Mahanoy township, and they have one daughter, Mary G., now the wife of Albert Gessner and the mother of one child, Leroy Allen ; Mr. and Mrs. Gessner live with her parents, and he follows farming and carpentering. Mrs. Paul suffers almost constantly from rheumatism, having been an invalid practically since 1902, but her mental faculties are unimpaired, and she bears her infirmity with Christian fortitude. Mr. Paul and his family are Lutheran members of St. John's Church.

George W. Paul first attended the subscription schools, later receiving the benefits of the free schools. He was reared to farm life, and accord- ing to local custom worked for his parents until of age, in 1875 beginning to farm on his own ac- count, at the homestead. The following spring he settled at his present farm in Upper Mahanoy, which contains ninety-one acres. It was at one time a Wren homestead, but the present set of buildings was erected by one Elias Smith. It was Wren, however, that established the mercantile business, about 1825, conducting it for many years, and he was succeeded by George Snyder, Elias

833

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Sehankweiler, and Smith & Herner, in turn. For in his father's brickyard. In 1878 he moved to sonie years after Smith & Herner discontinued Milton, Northumberland county, where he still business the store was closed, but Mr. Paul re- makes his home, and has ever since been engaged in opened it after moving to this location, in 1876, the teaming business. He is an industrious and thrifty man, and is regarded by all who know him as an excellent citizen. On Dec. 30, 1875, Mr. Boyer married Emma Lattimere, daughter of Rob- ert and Juliann (Gross) Lattimere, and they have the following children: William C. is mentioned below ; Celia married Myron Fowler ; Myrtle mar- ried Joseph Boyer: Mary; Catharine; Bertha ; Robert. and two years later he succeeded in having the post office re-established, it having been removed to a place then known as Maurey's Hotel, near St. Jacob's Church. . The store and post office are the most easterly in the township. Mr. Paul owns another farm besides his home place, a tract of 160 acres formerly known as the Daniel Howerter place, also in the eastern end of the township. Mr. Paul has been intrusted with various public responsibilities, was assessor of the township for some years, and was elected justice of the peace, but did not care to assume the duties of that po- sition. On political questions he is a Democrat.

In 1874 Mr. Paul married Amelia Haas, daugh- ter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Knorr) Haas, and they have had a family of four children : Sophron- ia, wife of Herbert C. Knerr, living in Shamokin, Pa .; Francis M., who married Katie Kehler and lives in Shamokin : George V., and Mabel C. Mr. Paul and his family worship at St. Jacob's Union Chureh, and he has been one of its useful members, having served eight years as deacon, and being present treasurer of the Sunday school, which of- fice he has filled continuously since 1894.

WILLIAM C. BOYER, who has an up-to-date meat market and groeery in the borough of Sun- bury, is one of the younger business mnen of that place whose energy and progressiveness have been marked factors in the bringing about of present conditions in its commercial life. He has been a resident of Sunbury since 1900. Mr. Boyer was born in Montour county, Pa., Nov. 13, 1876, and is a member of an old family of that region whose founder there, Henry Boyer, moved from Berks county, this State. He followed farming until his death, and is buried at the Follmer Church. He and his wife Catharine had children as follows : Jacob, Henry, Christopher, Susan, Benjamin, Phebe (Mrs. Thomas Bieber), Leah ( Mrs. George Bieber) and Maria (Mrs. Henry Roul).

Benjamin Boyer; son of Henry, lived in Mon- tour eounty, had a small farm, and engaged in farming and the manufacture of brick. He died Oct. 20, 1889, aged seventy-six years, and is buried at the Follmer Church. To him and his wife Mary (Miller), daughter of Samuel Miller, were born these children : Samuel M. lives at Pottsgrove, Pa., where he is serving as postmaster; George Francis lives in Michigan ; Catharine died in in- fancy ; Zacharias M. lives at Milton, Pa .; Charles P. lives on the homestead near Pottsgrove; U. was valued at six million dollars. Grant lives at Clarkstown, Pennsylvania.

William C. Boyer obtained his education in the common schools of Chillisquaque township, North- umberland county. He was employed at farm work until he reached the age of sixteen, after which he worked in the Godcharles iron works at Milton for about eight years. On Jan. 7, 1900, he arrived in Sunbury, where he completed an ap- prenticeship as butcher, in 1904 engaging in the butcher business on his own account, at his pres- ent location, No. 330 Line street, corner of Cat- awissa avenue. In 1906 he added a line of gro- ceries, and he has since continued both branches of the business, having built up a large trade, one of the most extensive enjoyed by any tradesman in the city. He employs three men steadily. Mr. Boyer carries a very complete and desirable stock of groceries, both staples and fancy lines, and his meat market has the highest reputation. His prosperity is well deserved, for he has worked hard to attain his standing, and is much respected in business circles as well as among his patrons.

On June 23, 1905, Mr. Boyer married Mary Amelia Martz, daughter of William J. and Louisa (Lenig) Martz, of Sunbury, and they have four children : Mildred E., Charles W., Geraldine and Rachel. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of Zion's Lutheran Church at Sunbury. Fraternally he belongs to the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen and the P. O. S. of A., all at Sunbury.

EMANUEL WILSON KERSTETTER, pro- prietor of a thriving general store at No. 619 West Pine street, Shamokin, is a native of Schuylkill county but a member of an old Northumberland county family. He is a descendant in the fifth generation from George Kerstetter, the founder of the family here.

George Kerstetter came to this country from Germany and settled near Shamokin, in North- umberland county, where he owned 250 acres of valuable land at what is now Ferndale, where lie died. The old Nelson and Last Chance collieries were located upon this tract, which at one time

John Kerstetter, son of George, was born at what is now Ferndale, near Shamokin, and died in Cam-

Zacharias M. Boyer, son of Benjamin, was born May 6, 1851, on the homestead in Montour county, eron township, this county. He was a shoemaker Pa. He was reared upon the farm and also worked by trade. His children were: Simon; John F .; 53

834

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Adam, living in Coal township; Abraham, living in Cameron township; Sasan, who married George Latsha ; Kittie, who married Elias Derk; Salena, who married Jacob Weikel; Eliza, who married Daniel Kobel.

John F. Kerstetter, son of John, was born Oct. 30, 1817, in Little Mahanoy township, North- umberland county, and died April 29, 1875, in Cameron township, where he is buried, at St. Peter's Lutheran church. He followed the stone- mason's trade in the Mahantango Valley and owned a farm of seventy-six acres in Cameron township. His wife, Abbie (Kramer), daughter of Christian and Lydia (Weary) Kramer, died in December, 1905, aged eighty-two years. They had a large family, viz. : Elizabeth married Alfred Schroder : Hettie married Samuel Croffert : Joel is mentioned below ; Seth lives near Gosstown; Nathaniel lives at Mount Carmel: Helena married Jonathan Long; Heury lives on the old homestead in Camer- on township ; Lewis, born Aug. 20, 1854, a resident of Shamokin, married Mary A. Stahl, and their children are Laura Ella, Daniel H., Oswald W. and Lewis Oliver ; Andrew is deceased : James is de- ceased ; Jacob lives at Shamokin; Joseph lives on the old homestead in Cameron township; Susan married James Latsha, of Mount Carmel; Cath- arine married Amos Rhoads and they are living in the West.

Joel Kerstetter, son of John F., was born in 1848 in Northumberland eounty, and has followed farming all his life, now living in Upper Maha- noy township, where he owns a farm of ninety acres. He is a prosperous and respected citizen of his community. He married Hattie Dunkel- berger, daughter of Joseph and Rachel ( Federolf) Dunkelberger, and they have had seven children, namely: Emanuel W., Amelia, William, James, Mary, Carrie and Ida.

Emanuel Wilson Kerstetter was born Sept. 10. 1869, at Klingerstown. Schuylkill Co., Pa., and received his education in the schools of Upper Mahanoy township and at the Gratz Academy, in Dauphin county. He had good advantages. and after leaving school as a pupil taught for seven years in all, being tlms engaged in Upper Maha- noy township, this county, and in Eldred township, Schuylkill county. Coming to Shamokin in 1894, he found employment with N. C. Wolverton, as clerk, remaining with him about four years, sinee which time he has been engaged in business on his own acconnt. He has a fine store at No. 619 West Pine street, and carries a stock of general mer- chandise which meets the local demand. He has good judgment in buying and antieipates the wants of his customers, whom he holds by satisfactory goods and prompt service. His store is well patron- ized and has a steadily growing trade. Mr. Ker- stetter is regarded as one of the progressing busi-

ness men of the borough. Ile is a member of the Board of Trade and takes an intelligent interest in all projects which have for their objeet the welfare of the community, the promotion of trade activities and the encouragenient of up-to-date pub- lic institutions.

On Dce. 25, 1891, Mr. Kerstetter married Aliee Schreffler, daughter of Isaae and Malinda ( Daniel) Sehreffler, and six children have been born to them : Mabel, Charles, Hattie, Luther, Leona and Irene. Mr. Kerstetter is a member of the Lutheran Church and Sunday school, and soeially he unites with the P. O. S. of A.

LEONARD KERSTETTER was an early set- tler in the western part of Cameron township, Northumberland eounty. He owned a traet of for- ty-four acres on which he farmed, ereeted a house and barn on this place, and died aged about eighty years. He is buried in Cameron township. In 1778 the names of Leonard and Martin Kerstetter appear among the pioneers of Mahanoy township, but in the first assessment of Cameron township, in 1814, Leonard's name appears among the taxables. His name appears in 1803 among the organizers of St. Jacob's Lutheran and Reformed Church, in Upper Mahanoy township. His wife's maiden name was Gerhard, and she is buried by his side. They had a large family, namely: Leonard, Phil- ip, John, George, Daniel, Michael, Susan (married Peter Weigel ), Hannah (married John Reichard), Mary Elizabeth (married Michael Derk and died in May, 1898, aged one hundred years, three months, eighteen days, at the home of her nephew, Simon Peter Kerstetter, in West Cameron township; she is buried at St. Peter's church in that township).

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 74

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