Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 75

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 75

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).

Leonard Kerstetter, son of Leonard, was a farm- er in the western part of Cameron township, where he and his wife, Barbara ( Heller), are buried. They had five children: John, who died young : Simon Peter; Isaac; Catharine, who married Dan- iel Kraemer ; Salome, who married Solomon Gott- shall.

Philip Kerstetter, son of Leonard. lived at Trev- orton. He was a farmer for some years, in his later life hanling coal. He was twice married, and by his first wife had two children. Robert and Adan. To his sceond marriage, with Catharine Eisenhart, were born three children : Felix, Mary and Cath- arine.

John Kerstetter, son of Leonard, was a farmer in Cameron township. "His children were: John, Abraham, Adam, Salome and Elizabeth.

George Kerstetter, son of Leonard, was a farm- er and landowner of Cameron township, and is buried there. His wife was a Derek, and their chil- dren were: Daniel, George and Levi.

Daniel Kerstetter, son of Leonard, lives in the eastern part of Cameron township, near Gowen

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City. He engaged in work around the coal mines. been an ardent Republican in politics, and served He married Lusenna Wary, and among their chil- as committeeman of his party in Cameron town- dren are Alexander and Joseph.

Michael Kerstetter, son of Leonard, lived in Bear Valley, two miles from Shamokin, where he did work about the coal mines. He married a Martz, and they had a large family. Their son William is out West. Charles was another son.

Simon Peter Kerstetter. son of Leonard and grandson of Leonard, was born June 3, 1840, and spent niost of his life in Cameron township, work- ing in the coal mines. He now, however, lives in Little Mahanov. On April 15, 1866. he married Elizabeth Bingaman, and of their four children three are deceased, the survivor, Benjamin Frank- lin Kerstetter, being a farmer in Little Mahanov township, where he owns the original John Dunkel- berger homestead. He married R. Agnes Long, and their children are: - Elizabeth, Lloyd, George, Francis and Theresa.

WILLIAM HENRY FRANCIS, proprietor of the "Central House" at Trevorton, is one of the progressive business men of that town and is re- garded as one of its reliable citizens. He was born July 19, 1874, at Excelsior, this county, son of Jolin Paul Francis, who is now living retired at Trevorton.

Matthew Francis, his grandfather, was born in 1808 in Cornwall, England, where he followed ore mining. Coming to America in 1840, he settled at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he followed mining until his death a few years later, in 1847. His wife, Sarah ( Paul), had come to America with their children in the fall of 1842, her husband meeting them at New York City. She survived Mr. Francis over forty years, dying Nov. 29, 1891, , aged eighty-three years. six months, fourteen days. The children were: Matthew, who died in Iowa ; John Paul: Joseph, who died in Philadelphia : Sarah, widow of Charles Webb, now living at Shen- andoah, Schuylkill county : Jane, who married Wil- liam Botham, of Newcastle, Pa. : Mary, widow of James Clifford, living at Allentown, Pa .: and William Henry, a resident of Trevorton.

John Paul Francis, son of Matthew, was born Feb. 26, 1836, in Cornwall, England, and was six years old when his mother brought him to Amer- ica. At the early age of eight he began picking slate at the breaker, and in time became a miner, which occupation he followed for about forty years, becoming foreman. in which capacity he served at the Glendower colliery, near Minersville, Schuyl- kill county, and at the Enterprise colliery, oper- ated by Thomas Baumgardner & Co. Having set- tled in the Mahanoy Valley, in Cameron township, Northumberland county. he followed farming for thirty-four years before his retirement from active labor. In 1909 he removed to Trevorton, where he las since led a retired life. Mr. Francis has long

ship, where he was also elected to the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Church. and has always taken an interest in everything affecting the public good. During the Civil war he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Company B, 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three months as a private, being discharged at Carlisle, Pa., in August.

Mr. Francis first married Eliza Jane Craze, daughter of William Craze, of Schuylkill county, Pa., and she died in 1888, the mother of seven children, namely: Thomas M., born April 18, 1864, died March 22, 1866: Jemima, born Oct. 1, 1865, married Benjamin Machmer, of Trevorton; John H., born July 4, 1867, died Sept. 19, 1890; Emma Jane. born July 7, 1869, died Feb. 6, 1871; Joseph F., born July 6, 1871, married Ada Kline, daughter of Joseph, and they have one child, Paul A. (they live at Trevorton ) : William Henry was born July 19, 1874; Eliza H., born Dec. 16, 1876, died in July, 1877. For his second wife Mr. Fran- cis married Mary Margaret Holzapfel. daughter of Philip M. and Anna M. (Ernst) Holzapfel, na- tives of Germany who came to America and settled in Cameron township, Northumberland Co., Pa., where they lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have had children as follows: Benjamin H., born Oct. 18, 1888, died Aug. 11, 1903; Stanley E., born Oct. 23, 1890, and Wilfred P., born Dec. 30, 1892, are at home; Carrie G., born Sept. 9, 1896, died Aug. 1, 1907; Elva B., born Aug. 12, 1899, is in school.

William Henry Francis, son of John Paul Fran- cis by his first marriage, went with his parents to the Mahanoy Valley when a boy and there grew up. attending the local public schools in his earlier years, and in time commencing work at the mines. He was thus engaged for about fifteen years, at the North Franklin colliery. For a short time fol- lowing he had a grocery business at Trevorton, in June, 1907, buving out the interest of D. N. Berkheiser in the "Central Hotel," which he has since conducted. It is a well known hotel stand, and Mr. Francis has shown considerable business ability in the manner in which he has carried it on. He is ambitious and a good manager, and has every prospect of taking a permanent place among the substantial business men of the town. He has served four years as auditor of Zerbe township, and has been quite active in local political circles as a worker in the Republican party, having been town- ship committeeman for four terms.

In 1898 Mr. Francis married Sarah Ann Reed, youngest daughter of Emanuel Reed, of Trevorton, and they have one son, Franklin Reed Francis.

Peter Reed, Mrs. Francis's paternal grandfather, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., and when only

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a young man he was killed while blasting (3) Peter, born April 21, 1733, dicd Feb. 19, 1866. roek, on the Broad Mountain township road, in (4) Sarah (Sally) married John Hendershot Schuylkill eounty. His wife was Madalena Kauf- (1790-1851), and died Feb. 23, 1863, aged sev- man, and their children were: Henry, who is de- ceased ; Emanuel; Samnel, who was killed while serving in the army, in 1864; and Peter, deeeased. enty-two years, three months, one day. They had six daughters and two sons, Eliza (Mrs. David Shipman), Harriet ( who married Sylvanus Ship- EMANUEL REED, son of Peter, was born July 5, 1840, in Lykens Valley, Schuylkill county, and was twelve years old when he came to Trevorton. He began work as a slate picker and followed mining until he reached the age of sixty-three years, sinee when he lias lived retired. In 1864 Mr. Reed en- tered the Union service, enlisting in Company B, 184th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and saw serviee at Cold Harbor, the Wilderness, Peters- burg, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station and Hateher's man, brother of David), Lydia (Mrs. Christian Fisher), Jane (Mis. Jolin Jones), Rebecea (Mrs. Sylvanus Shipman), Mary Ann (Mrs. Chambers Wynn), Isaac and Hiram. (5) George, born Sept. 3, 1785, dicd Feb. 9, 1812. (6) Casper lived near Sunbury, in Upper Augusta township. He had sons Thomas and Simon, and daughter Cath- arine (who married John Cooper ; we have record of one daughter, Mary Cooper). (7) Catharine married William Silverwood and had sons, James, : Run, remaining in the army to the elose of the William and Hiram, and daughters Elizabeth war. He married Sarah Holshue, daughter of (Mrs. Jolin McPresson), Sarah (Mrs. John Climer), Harriet (who marriedl Samuel Coul- dren) and Susannalı ( who married in the West) . George Holshue, and they had the following chil- dren : Alice married Richard Phillips, of Sha- mokin; Elizabeth J. married Joseph Heim, of Trevorton ; Helen J., twin of Elizabeth J., mar- ried Wilson Kline, of Trevorton; Emma married Jacob Snyder, of Trevorton; Mazzie married Dan- iel Reitz, of Shamokin Dam, Snyder county; Sar- ah Ann married William Henry Franeis; Peter, Stephen, William and Emanuel, Jr., are residents of Trevorton.

John Snyder, son of Casper, was born in Lower Augusta township Nov. 29, 1776, and there made his home, owning the farm which is now the prop- erty of Martha Gass. His holdings were very large, his property having been divided into eight farms, seven of which he gave to his children. He owned and operated a distillery, cider press and sawmill and kept several teams busy transporting goods for him between here and Philadelphia, HUBERT E. SNYDER, farmer and dairyman of Rockefeller township, Northumberland county, was born June 18, 1869, in Lower Augusta town- ship, where the founder of the family in this region settled before the Revolutionary war. which was the market center for grain and provi- sions. A prominent and influential citizen of his day, lie served twenty-five years as justice of the peace and held the rank of colonel in the State militia, standing at the head of the militia in his Casper Snyder, the pioneer of the family in Northumberland county, eame from Germany and settled here before the Revolution. He was a large land owner, having nearly one thousand aeres, in- cluding what is now a part of the Updegrove farm, brick tavern known as "Bluc Ball Tavern." He distriet for some years. He died April 29, 1851. His wife, Maria Margaret (Fisher), known as "Peggy" (only sister of Christian Fisher), is bur- ied in the Presbyterian cemetery. They had chil- dren as follows : George, Thomas, Elizabeth the Thomas, Peter and Adam Snyder farms, the (ealled Betsy, married John Wynn), Peter J., traet now owned by Dennis H. and Newton W. John, Adam (born April 9, 1814, died Dec. 15, Snyder, his great-grandsons, ete. He was a farm- 1895; his wife Martha died Sept. 30. 1860, aged er and tavern-keeper, his tavern being located on forty-six years, five months, ten days) and Sally the old Harrisburg and Sunbury road, where his (born Jan. 10, 1809, married John Ebright, and son Peter succeeded him : in 1798 he built the old died July 23, 1850). Of these, George, born Sept. 2, 1801, dicd Feb. 2, 1866. He was the pro-

and his wife, Elizabeth Farst, are buried in the genitor of another branch of the family fully men- tioned in this work.

River cemetery at Fisher's Ferry, and according to the records there he was born May 2, 1745, and died Sept. 3, 1821. "Elizabeth," wife of Casper

John Snyder, son of John and Maria Margaret (Fisher) Snyder, was a millwright by trade, fol- Snyder, born Feb .. 5, 1754, died Aug. 12, 1823. lowing that business all over the State. He also did farming, owning a small farm in Lower Au- gusta township. A man of active mind, he took an interest in matters of general interest, hield the- rank of eaptain in. the State militia, and at the time of his death was serving as overseer of the

They had the following children: (1) John, born Nov. 29, 1776, died April 29, 1851. (?) Polly, horn June 24, 1782, died Mareh 7, 1856, married a Mr. Updegraph and had three sons and one daughter, Isaac, Thomas. Adam and Sarah. Of these, Adam went to look after the vast fortune poor. He was an old-line Whig in politieal eon- due the Snyders as heirs of the brother (of Eliza- betli) Farst in Holland, but the connection was lost and he had no proofs to establish the elaim.

viction. He died Mareh 25, 1877, aged sixty-nine years, eleven months, eleven days, and his wife, Martha (Norvinger), born Dee. 23, 1808, died

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Jan. 31, 1862. They are buried at the Mountain has since conducted with great success, making a Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Snyder was a Metho- specialty of dairying in addition to general. agri- culture. Hc wholesales his milk in Sunbury. He is an intelligent and thrifty farmer, employing up- to-date methods in his work and proving himself thoroughly progressive in everything he under- takes. His standing in the community is high, and he deserves the respect of his fellowmen. dist in religious connection. They were the par- ents of eleven children, viz .: William; Matthew ; Margaret, Mrs. Peter Shipman; Levi; Maria, Mrs. John Shipman; John N .; Henry C .; Susan, Mrs. David DeWitt; Jemima, who died unmar- ried ; Stephen D., a railroad engineer ; and Lydia, Mrs. Charles B. Smith. John N. is the only sur- viving son, and three of the daughters are living : Margaret, Susan and Lydia.

On Aug. 3, 1908, Mr. Snyder married Edna Stanım, daughter of J. William Stamin, of North- umberland, this county. They have one son, John William. The family belong to Lantz's Reformed Church. In political matters Mr. Snyder is a Re- publican.

GEIST. The Geist family has been well known in the lower end of Northumberland county for several generations. In 1828 one John Geist was a trustee of the Reformed congregation at the old established Himmel Church, in Washington town- ship, with which the Geists have been prominently identified down to the present day. When St. John's Lutheran and Reformed Church, of Upper Mahanoy township, was organized in 1853 Peter Geist was one of the first trustces.

Christopher Geist, a German mineralogist, went from his native land to England, and from there was sent to Schwenkville, in Montgomery county, Pa., to manage or superintend a copper mine which is to this day an old landmark of that district. It is believed that one of the sons of this cmigrant located in Longswamp township, Berks county. We find that one Christopher Geist came to America in 1:40 on the ship "Lydia"; Fried. Wilhehn Geist came on the ship "Ranier" to America in 1749; and Hans Jacob Geist came on the "Brothers" in the west bank of the Schuylkill river in that county (it is thought he was buried at a Mennonite meet- inghouse in that county) ; and John H. Geist, of Sunbury, is a great-grandson of Conrad Geist, who came from Germany about 1760 and located in Berks county. In 1790 there lived in Lancaster county the families of George and Jacob Geist, and in the same year the families of John and Matthew Geist lived in Montgomery county. In 1790 Con- rad Geist, of the borough of Reading, had three sons over sixteen years old; two daughters; and wife. The same year there is record of George Geist, of Longswamp township, Berks county, with one son under sixteen years of age, one daughter, and wife; and of Valentine Geist, of Longswamp township, with one son under sixteen, two daugh- ters, and wife.

Hubert E. Snyder was reared upon the farm, and worked for his parents until he reached his ma- jority. In the spring of 1908 he began farming An Andrew Geist died early in January, 1850, his father's fann in Rockefeller township, which he in Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland

John N., Snyder, born March 5, 1838, on the Snyder homestead in Lower Augusta township, followed milling in that township until his health failed in 1876, when he moved to Rockefeller town- ship. There he owns a farm of 145 acres in Brush Valley, which formerly belonged to Maj. Samuel Lantz, who built the large frame residence now standing on the property. Here Mr. Snyder farmed and followed dairying until the fall of 1908, and he has been succeeded by his son Hubert E. In the spring of 1909 he retired and moved to Sunbury, where he resides at No. 108 South Tenth street. He was made a Mason in 1874 in Lafayette Lodge, No. 194, F. & A. M., and in 1908 was transferred to Lodge No. 22, of Sunbury. Mr. Snyder served with the Union army during the Civil war under two enlistments, the first for nine months, during which he was a member of Company C, 136th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, of which he was a non-commis- sioned officer. Upon the expiration of that term he enlisted in Company H, 5th Pennsylvania Cav- alry. He participated in tlie Antietam campaign, in the engagements at Fredericksburg and Chan- cellorsville, the Richmond and Petersburg cam-

paign, the battle of Five Forks, the flank move -. 1754. It is believed that the Geists now living in the ment on Richmond, etc. The morning of Lee's Falkner Swamp district, Montgomery county, and surrender he was engaged with Custer's forces, the Geists of Longswamp township, Berks county, was dismounted, and after the surrender was sent arc of the same stock : and there were other Geists back to camp at Richmond with other dismounted in Chester county, one Matthias Geist living on and disabled troops, and there received his dis- charge, by general order of the war department. Politically he is a Republican. He is a citizen who has always been willing to do his duty by the community, though lic has taken no official part in the administration of public affairs.

In 1868 Mr. Snyder married Katie E. Seiler, daughter of George Seiler, of Lower Augusta town- ship. Their sons have been born in Lower Augusta township, their daughters in Rockefeller township, namely : Hubert E .; George A., of Sunbury; Claud H. ; Lizzie E., who married . Addison C. Miller, a farmer and dairyman of Upper Augusta township, where they reside ; Turic M., unmarried ; and Jennic E., wife of Horace B. Neff.

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county ; his executors were Andrew Geist and Jo- has owned the homestead place, which is a valu- seph Feger. Another Andrew Geist died in July, able piece of property and has been kept in a 1860; his executor was Solomon Schonkweiler.

Andrew Geist, grandfather of Wilson H. Geist, of Upper Mahanoy township, was born in Upper Mahanoy Jan. 5, 1801, son of Andrew Geist. He lived on the farm there now owned by his son Andrew, a tract of 11? acres which formerly be- longed to one Andrew Snyder, and died there Feb. 12, 1878, his son Andrew succeeding him as owner of the property. Earlier he had owned and occupied a farin near by. He and his wife Mary Magdalena (Hepler), born May 4, 1803, died April 5, 1869, are buried at the Himmel Church, where several generations of Geists have been in- terred. He held several offices as an active member of the Reformed congregation of that chureh. His WILSON H. GEIST, son of Daniel H. Geist, was born Feb: 22, 1867, in Upper Mahanoy township, where he is still engaged in farming, on his fa- ther's old homestead near Leck Kill. He received children were as follows: Elias located in Jeffer- son county, Pa .; Sarah married Daniel Seiler ; Emannel, born in 1828, died in 1844; Daniel H. is mentioned below ; Lydia, born in 1834, died in . his education in the township schools, and his 1836; Andrew is mentioned below; John, now (1910) sixty-five years old, has been an invalid all his life, having never been able to walk, and he now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Felix D. Mattern (the latter being his niece), who eare for him tenderly, he being entirely helpless (he has a life interest in the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Mattern) ; Mary is de- ceased.

Daniel H. Geist, son of Andrew, was born May 31, 1832, in Upper Mahanoy township, and was a lifelong farmer. He lived three quarters of a mile west of Leck Kill, on a sixty-five-acre tract of val- uable land now owned by his son Wilson H. Geist, and built the present barn there about 1825, put- ting up the house several years later, in 1883. He died there Aug. 13, 1901. He was a Democrat, and served many years as member of the township school board. His religious connection was with the Reformed congregation of the Himmel Church, to which his family also belong, and he served offi- cially as deaeon and elder. His wife, Cecellia (Up- degraff), daughter of Jaeob and Catharine (Kim- mel) Updegraff, died Dee. ? 9, 1896. aged sixty- five years, nine months. They had ehildren as follows : Mary died young: Aliee married Ru- dolph Snyder ; James married Mary Rothermel and died while a young man, leaving children, Edwin, Maud and Flossie ; Wilson H. is mentioned below ; Cassie married William Bast, of Leck Kill. and they have children, Gertie, Jennie, Walter, Mor- ris, Stella, Harry and Clarence; Henrietta mar- ried Daniel Kieffer and they live in Washington . township; Sylvester died when nine years old; Katie is the wife of William B. Geist.

profitable state of cultivation under his efficient inanagement. He met with continued success in his work, and during the later seventies built the fine large brick residence on the farm which he has since occupied. Mir. Geist married Mary Latsha, daughter of the late Michael Latshia, of Jack- son township, and they have had five children : Ida married Felix D. Mattern: Agnes married David Trautman; Jesse married Alice C. Reitz; Osear died young; Ella married Calvin Miller. Mr. Geist and his family are members of the Himmel Church, which he has served as deacon, elder and trustee. On political questions he is a Democrat.

training to farm work under his father's super- vision, working for his parents until he eame of age. He has sinee been farming on the homestead on his own account, and his work has been sue- cessful to such an extent that he has been able to add twenty-two acres to the property, having one of the most valuable places along the Green- brier creek, better known as Swabian creek. Mr. Geist has taken an interest in the local welfare and has served the township as overseer of the poor some years and as member of the road com- mission since 1907. Politically he is identified with the Demoeratie party. He and his family are Reformed members of the Himmel Church.

In 1890 Mr. Geist married Helen Koppenhav- er, who was born Feb. 21, 1872, in Shamokin, this county, daughter of Joseph and Rosanna ( Faust) Koppenhaver, and they have had eight children : Maizie Edna, who died when exactly five months old; Beulah May, who died when one year, ten months old ; Vertie M. : Earl R .; Edith A. ; Luma E .; Helen M., and Russell W.

Abraham Geist, grandfather of William B. Geist, of Upper Mahanoy township, was born in Upper Malianoy March 20. 1813, and was a sue- cessful farmer and enterprising business man, be- ing one of the first dealers in live stoek in his district. He had the best farm in the township, a place of 160 aeres. He died Ang. 28, 1883, and is buried at Himmel's Church, as is also his wife, Elizabeth ( Hepler), who was born June 10, 1813, and died July 14, 1888. She was a large and powerful woman, weighing nearly three hundred pounds. Besides John H. Geist they had ehil- dren as follows: Christian (daughter), born in 1834, who died in 1835: Frank; William; Sam- uel ; Lizzie, who married Alexander Gonser and

Andrew Geist, sou of Andrew and brother of Daniel H. Geist, has passed all his life in Upper Mahanov township, where he was born July 4, 1839. He was reared to farming. which he has always followed, and since his father's death he lives at Lewisburg; William (2); Lydia, who

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married Daniel Swartz and lived at Urban, Pa .; Hettie, who married Jacob Snyder (they are bur- ied at Leck Kill Church) ; and Polly, who mar- ried Michael Powell and (second) a Mr. Shoe- maker.

John H. Geist, son of Abraham, lived for a number of years in Upper Mahanoy township, of which he was one of the best known residents in his day. He was a most enterprising business man, a merchant, huckster, butcher, hotel-keeper and farmer, owned Leck Kill and several large farms there, was postmaster at Leck Kill, and in every way the leading spirit of the place. For ten years before his death he conducted the "Cen- tral House" at Williamstown, Dauphin county, and his son John has succeeded him as proprie- tor of this place. He died there in 1905, at the age of sixty-one years. His widow, Harriet ( Bei- sel), is still living at Williamstown. They had children : Wilson O., William B., Anson, Charles, James, Martin, John and Laura (married to George Troutman and living in Snyder county).

WILLIAM B. GEIST was born Dec. 5, 1864, at Leck Kill, in the section of Upper Mahanoy township where he still resides. He obtained his education in the local schools, and was reared to farm life, which he has continued to follow. After working for his father until he attained his ma- jority, he has since become one of the best known hucksters in his section. He began raising truck and general farm crops for himself in 1890, and now owns a forty-two-acre farm a quarter of a mile east of Leck Kill, which is under profitable cultivation. He has a huckster route which cov- ers his own and surrounding townships, and makes weekly trips to Shenandoah, Ashland and Girardville, disposing of produce and poultry. IIe has built up a steady custom, and by honorable dealing and reliable methods has gained and. re- tained a large number of patrons who depend upon him for their supplies in his line.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 75

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