Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 79

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 79

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On Nov. 5, 1861, Mr. Kearney enlisted, at Harrisburg, Pa., in Company D, 52d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served three years in the Civil war, participating in twenty-two battles, among which were: Williams- burg, May 5, 1862: Fair Oaks, May. 31, 1862; the Seven Days' Fight, including Mechanicsville (June 26), Savage Station (June 29), White Oak Swamp (June 30), and Malvern Hill (July 1). . Chester county; Stephen Folk, of Cumberland The command then went to Harrison Landing, county ; and a George Folk of Weisenburg town- ship, Northampton (now Lehigh) county, from which latter descends the Northumberland county branch of the family. This George Folk had (in 1790) five sons and four daughters, one of these sons being Jacob, who is said to have settled in Mahanoy township, Northumberland county. July 2, remaining there until Aug. 16, then to Yorktown, where they remained until Dec. 29; and south to Morehead City, N. C., and to Hilton Head, S. C. On July 10, 1863, Mr. Kearney accompanied the command to Morris Island, under General Gilmore, taking part of the island, after which they were engaged in the capture of Fort Jacob Falck was born April 14, 1782, in Lehigh county, Pa., and came to Northumberland county about 1804, locating in what is now Upper Mahanoy (then Mahanoy) township, on the farin now owned by his great-grandson, Edward Harvey Falck. This tract of eighty acres was all wood- land at that time, and Mr. Falck built a small log house about three rods north of the site of the present residence. That honse served as a dwell- ing for about fifty years, and the original barn. which stood abont two rods east of the present residence, served until 1828, in which year the present barn was built: some of the wood from the first structure was used in the construction of the new one. Jacob Falck died Dec. 25, 1856, and is buried at St. John's Church. On his tomb- stone the name is spelled "Folk." but his descen- dants chose to write the name differently, most of Sumter, and on Sept. 2, 1863, failed in the attempt to take Forts Wagner and Gregg. They next went to Fort Johnson, July 3, 1864, at James Island, S. C., and Mr. Kearney was one of fifty-four men from his company who went ont with a lieutenant one night on a hazardons undertaking, the danger of. which may be judged from the fact that only seven returned alive. Leaving Morris Island Nov. 9, 1864, he went to Hilton Head, where he received his discharge Nov. 15, 1864. He had the unusual honor of having his discharge papers signed by Commanding Officer Gen. John George Foster. Mr. Kearney was promoted to corporal in August. 1862, after the Seven Days' Fight. He arrived at his home in Shamokin Nov. 19, 1864, with an honorable record, and without having suffered injury in his long term of service.

On Dec. 14, 1848, Mr. Kearney was married to Miss Catharine McAndrew, daughter of William McAndrew. She passed away July 27, 1892, at the age of sixty-two years, and is buried in St. Edward's cemetery. £ Ten children were born to this union : Mary, who married James Laughlin and (second) Patrick Hennessy; Bridget, who is the wife of James Phelan ; Cecelia, wife of Edward Earley; Catharine, at home: William A., of Shamokin; Annie, at home; Margaret, who died in infancy; Patrick, who married Alice B. Bitten- bender, of Shamokin; Eleanora, wife of Dr. John Loftus, living in Denver, Colo .; and Agnes, wife of Henry J. Tanner, of Shamokin.

Mr. Kearney is a member of Lincoln Post, No. 140. G. A. R. He is a Catholic in religious faith, holding membership in St. Edward's Church.

EDWARD HARVEY FALCK, an enterprising young farmer of Upper Mahanoy township, oc- cupies the farin there settled by his great-grand- father, Jacob Falck, in the early days. ·

The Falck family is a numerous one in eastern Pennsylvania, where the name is variously spelled, .Folck, Folk and Falk being variations of the original form. For many years it has been es- pecially well represented in Berks county, where the Federal Census Report for 1790 shows George Folk, Sr., and George Folk, Jr., another George Folk, Jacob, John, two other Jolins, Johan Wil- liam, Joseph, Sr., and Joseph, Jr., Peter and Phil- ip Folk, a total of twelve heads of families there. The same authority records the names of Fred- erick Folk of Philadelphia; Daniel Folk of

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them spelling it Falck; one grandson, Richard, Lovina Schreffler, daughter of John and Salome writes it Falk. The maiden name of Jacob's wife was Raubenhold and she was from Snyder county. She is buried at the Himmel Church. Their chil- dren were: Solomon; Lydia, Mrs. Snyder ; Sallie, Mrs. Abraham Fegley ; and John, who died young.

Solomon Falck, son of Jacob, was born in 1808 in Upper Mahanoy township, where his grandson Edward II. Falck now lives. and owned that farm, following agricultural pursuits all his life. He built the present dwelling there, now occupied by William S. Falck was born on the homestead June 27, 1874, and was reared there, meantime re- ceiving his early education in the public schools of the district. Later he attended the academy at Berrysburg. In 1901 he began farming for hini- self, in that year purchasing his present farm, a tract of fifty acres in Upper Mahanoy township, on the road between Rebuck and Leck Kill. He has lived there since 1898. In the early days it was a Rhone homestead, later owned by Jacob Kauffman, from whom John Falck purchased it; William S. Falck acquired it from his father. He has made various improvements on the property his grandson and family. An active and enter- prising citizen, he served many years as supervisor of his township and was also a member of the school board. He was prominent in the Reformed congregation of St. John's Church, being one of its working members, served in various official capacities, and as a member of the building com- mittee did his share when the present church edi- fice was erected, in 1853. His family also wor- shipped with that congregation. In politics he was a Democrat. His death occurred in 1887. On 'March 25, 1828, Mr. Falck married Salome Geist, daughter of Andrew Geist, and they were the since it came into his ownership, and he is one of parents of eighteen children, viz .: Daniel, born in the substantial and reliable agriculturists of his 1830 (now living in California) : Andraes, Octo- . locality. He has served his township six years in ber, 1831; Carolina, 1833; Edward, 1834; Mary, 1835; Sarah Ann, 1838 ; Salome, 1839 ; Johannes, 1841; Molly, 1842; Solomon, 1843; Amanda, 1848; Jesse, 1850; Jacob, 1851; Richard, 1855; and Harriet and three others who died young. Of this family,

Richard Folk (as he spells the name), born at Greenbrier, Northumberland county, Jan. 8, 1855,- obtained his education in the public schools of the township and when twenty years old commenced to learn cigarmaking, which trade he followed for thirteen years, in Philadelphia and in Snyder county, Pa. He resides in Upper Mahanoy town- ship at present. IIe married and has two children, Lloyd and John.

John Falck, son of Solomon, was born Sept. 25, 1841, on the homestead farm in Upper Mahanoy township, and obtained his education in the local subscription schools, the only educational institu- tions of the day in that section. IIe was reared to farm work from boyhood, and for many years was engaged hauling lime during the winters. In 1866 he began farming on his own account, on the old homestead, of which he retained the ownership until 1907, on Thanksgiving Day of which year he moved to his present home, on the road between Rebuck and Leck Kill. He is now living retired, having been in poor health since May, 1903. Mr. Falck has always led an industrious life, tending exclusively to his own affairs and refusing offers of public prefermient, although he was active in church work. He and his family worship at St. John's Church, where he held office as deacon and elder for twenty years in succession. In 186; be married

( Rebuck) Schreffler, and they have had a large family, viz .: Cora married William Derrick, of Shamokin; Oscar is a resident of Shamokin ; Wil- liam S. is mentioned below ; Ella is deceased ; Jane married Frank Engel, of Sunbury, this county; Emma is deceased; one son died in infancy; Ed- ward Harvey is mentioned below; Addie is the wife of John Reitz; Flora is deceased ; Sallie mar- ried Francis Oxenreider.

the capacity of assessor. On Sept. 16, 1898, he married Katie Schoffstall, daughter of David and Hannah (Snyder) Schoffstall, and they have had six children : Charles II., Gladys E., Florence E., John D., Harry D. and Hannah L. Mr. Falck and his family worship at St. John's Church, of which he is a Reformed member, and Mrs. Falck a Lutheran inember. Ile served four years as deacon. In politics Mr. Falck is a Democrat.

Edward Harvey Falck was born March 12. 1880, on the farm in Upper Mahanoy township which he now owns and cultivates. He was educated in the public schools of his district and was brought up a farmer, working for his father until he attained his majority. In the spring of 1908 he began farming on the old Falck homestead, which he purchased that year from his father, the property being a valuable and fertile tract of eighty acres. Ile. is an energetic and progressive man. and has done excellent work on this land, which shows the good care it receives.

On Jan. 20, 1906, Mr. Falck married Agnes Brown, daughter of Adam and Sarah (Brown) Brown, of Upper Mahanoy township. and they have one son, Harvey Lester. Mr. and Mrs. Falck are Reformed members of St. John's Church, which he is at present serving as deacon.

JOSEPH LAMBRIGHT, a farmer of Rocke- feller township who has made his home there since shortly after his arrival in this country from Ger- many, is a self-made man who has won prosperity and standing by his own industry, and his honor- able position in the community shows how well his

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fellow residents there think he deserves his re- iel Malick; Mrs. Henry Keiser; and Mrs. John ward. He was born July 5, 1865, in Wurtem- Hoover. berg, Germany, of which kingdom his parents, Solomon Raker, son of Jacob, died Feb. 6, 1897,

Wendling and Elizabeth (Gans) Lambright, were aged seventy-five years, eleven months, ten days. also natives. They were farming people, and lived His first wife, Elizabeth (Dornsite), died Nov. and died in Wurtemberg. Of their ten children, 28, 1878, aged fifty-six years, six months, twenty -.

six still survive: John is living on the old home- one days, and he subsequently married the widow stead in Germany; Josephine, Mary and Caroline of Paul Hollenbach. Six children were born of are married and living in Germany; we have no the first marriage: Elias (1843-1864), who died record of Carl.

at Hampton ( Va.) hospital from wounds received Joseph Lambright grew to manhood in his native land. At the age of seventeen he came to America, landing at New York City on August 24, 1882, in battle while serving in the Civil war; John; Martin (1852-1907), who married Louisa Conrad (1852-1902) : Susan, Mrs. Jesiah Dunkelberger; and thence proceeding to Philadelphia, where he Mary, Mrs. Emanuel Conrad; and Harrict, who remained two days. He was next at Lock Haven, died unmarried. One daughter, Gertrude, was born to the second union. Pa., for two weeks, thence going to Renovo, Pa., where he found work in the car shops and con- George Raker, the second of the three brothers mentioned, had children as follows: Jonathan, who lived and died at Sunbury : George: Samuel ; Daniel ; Peter; Catharine, Mrs. William Yordy; and Sarah, who never married. tinued for two years. He has since lived in Rocke- feller township, Northumberland county. He en- tered the employ of John Wirt, a farmer, with whom he remained for fifteen years, ten years be- fore his marriage and five years afterward, his George Raker. son of George, was born Nov. 16, 1831, and died May 18, 1894, aged sixty-two years, six months, two days. He married Eliza Yordy. who was born July 5, 1830, danghter of Joel and Rebecca (Hummel) Yordy, and though past eighty is well preserved, mentally and physically. She is living with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Lambright. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Raker; Isaac. who died in his eighth year; Lafayette, who died in his fourth year, these sons passing away within a week ; Har- riet, Mrs. Joseph Lambright; and Wilson, who married Mary Jane Reitz, and died Oct. 8, 1900, aged thirty-two years, six months, four days. three sons having been born on the Wirt farm. In 1899 he purchased his present place of seventy 'acres in Rockefeller township, where he follows general farming. Mr. Lambright commenced life in this country with no capital but his honesty and industry, but he has donc well, his energy and good management having brought him prosperity and the respect of all who know him. He is at present serving his second term as school director of his township, and has been a valued member of the Reformed congregation at Zion's Union Church, Augustaville, having served many years as a member of the church council. ITis family are also members of that church. In politics Mr. Lambright is a Republican.

Dr. John Raker. brother of Jacob and George, was born Nov. 6. 1805, and died April 12, 1875. On Dec. 25, 1893, Mr. Lambright married Har- riet Raker, daughter of George and Eliza (Yordy) A large monument marks his resting-place at Zi- on's Church, Augustaville. His wife Sarah, daugh- Raker,.and to them have been born four children, ter of William Bartholomew, was born March 12,

three sons and one daughter : Ralph, who died when two years old ; two sons that died in infancy; and Mary E.

THE RAKER FAMILY; of which Mrs. Lambright is a member, formerly lived in Montgomery conn- ty, Pa., and was for some time located at the "Block House" in the Wyoming Valley. After the danger of Indian attacks had passed three broth- ers, Jacob, George and Dr. John Raker, settled in Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, Northum- berland county.

1812, and died Oct. 14, 1885. She, too, is buried at the Augustaville Church. They resided at An- gustaville, in Rockefeller township, and he had a large practice, having a high reputation as a com- petent and skillful "old school" practitioner. Their children were: Dr. William, who died in August, 1910, at Uniontown, Pa .: Kate, wife of Azariah Kreeger: Dr. Henry Morris, who died June 19, 1908, aged sixty-eight years, one month, twenty- four days; and Lizzie, who died unmarried in 1909.

Jacob Raker, born May 1. 1788, died in Rocke- JAMES H. SMITH, foreman in the blacksmith shop of the American Car and Foundry Company. and the oldest employee of that company in point feller township Ang. 19, 1851. He married Mrs. Mary ( Krissinger) Long, who hailed from Berks county, and was the widow of Daniel Long's father. of service at Milton, Pa., was born in Turbut town- She was born Aug. 13, 1:82. and died Feb. 15, ship, Northumberland county, Sept. 28, 1848, son 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Raker had the follow- of James R. Smith.

ing children : Jacob, who died suddenly: Sol- James Smith, his grandfather, was a native of omon ; George J., who lived and died near Seven Northampton county, Pa., where he followed farm- Points, in Rockefeller township ; Lovina, Mrs. Dan- ing near Bangor, and where he died. He married

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Margaret Smith, who also died in Northampton county. They had four children, namely: Mary, who died unmarried ; Isabella, who married Sam- uel Horn ; Elizabeth, who married John Pysher ; and James R.

James R. Smith, son of James and father of James. H., was born in Northampton county, and in his young manhood learned the blacksmith's trade. After his marriage he came to Northum- berland county, and settling in Turbut township, there followed farming for several years. He then located in Milton and here resumed work at his trade, continuing at it during the remainder of his active days. He died at Milton and is buried in the Upper Cemetery. He married Margaret Young, who was born in Northampton county, and died in Milton. They became the parents of the following children : Ellen E., who married Samuel Long, and has three children, Frank M. (of Mil- ton, and a Past Master of Milton Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M.), Laura S. and Charles ; James H .; Mary E., unmarried ; Clara A., who married Frank Hinshelwood, and lives at Seattle, Wash .; Jose- phine, who married Frank Bond, of Philadelphia ; and Luther C., of Selinsgrove, who . has a son Frank.

James H. Smith attended the public schools of Turbut township and at Milton, and in his six- teenth year began to learn the trade of blacksmith at the car shops. This was in 1863, and in 1878 he became foreman of that department, a position he has held ever since. It is given to but few men to work for their entire active life for one company, and this speaks in highest terms of both employer and employec. Mr. Smith, it goes without say- ing, is a skilled workman, faithful in the perform- anee of his work, and loyal to his company.

Mr. Smith is a prominent Mason. He was master of Milton Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M., in 1877 : is past high priest of Warrior Run Chapter, No. 246, R. A. M., Watsontown ; member of Mt. Hermon Commandery, No. 85, K. T., Sunbury ; Adoniram Council, No. 26, Williamsport ; and Wil- liamsport Consistory, 32d degree. In 1879 he be- came treasurer of the Blue Lodge, and that office he has filled without intermission to the present time. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of his elee- tion the Lodge presented him with a beautiful gold Masonic ring.

In other ways Mr. Smith has given testimony of his right to be termed a good citizen. He has been a most valuable member of the Board of Health, and has freely given of his time to the fur- thering of every movement tending toward the moral and material growth of his town. In his re- ligious faith he is a Methodist, and for twenty- seven years served as treasurer of the Church, and for the long period of thirty-three years he has been secretary of the Sunday school. He never Inarried.

JOHN A. CROSS, coal and ice dealer of Sun- bury, Northumberland county, has been engaged in that business from early manhood and enjoys a prosperous trade, which he has built up by honor- able dealing and satisfactory serviec. He was born in Sunbury April 7, 1874, and is a son of George W. Cross.

Mr. Cross's great-grandparents lived in the. Mo- hawk Valley, near Troy, N. Y., and died when comparatively young, leaving three children : Den- nis, a farmer, who settled in Bradford county, Pa., and there married a Miss Webster (he is buried near his old homestead) ; Hannah E., Mrs. Con- nors, who lived in northern New York; and Au- gustus.

Augustus Cross, grandfather of John A. Cross, was born in 1811 near Troy, N. Y., and was a small boy when his parents died. About 1840 he moved from New York State to Pennsylvania, making the journey with teams, and settled in Bradford coun- ty, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1882. He was a farmer, owning a small farm, where he spent all his later years, previous to which he had also followed shoemaking and stone masonry. He held local office, and was a useful eitizen. Mr. Cross married Margaret Teller Whit- lock, who was born in 1819, and died in 1890. and they are buried in Canton township, Bradford county. They had ten children, as follows: Han- nah E., Catharine M .. Margaret J., Thomas D., William D., George W., Perkins A., Mary R., Phoebe A. and Imogene. Mrs. Margaret Teller (Whitlock) Cross was one of the descendants of Anneke Jans, heirs to the famous estate inelnding the Trinity Church property, in New York City, which has so long been a matter of disputc.

George W. Cross, son of Augustns, was born Sept. 3, 1847, in Canton township, Bradford Co., Pa., received his education in the public schools there, and worked on the farm until 1863. Then, though only sixteen years old, he enlisted for serv- ice in the Civil war, becoming a member of Com- pany C, 30th .Regiment, Pennsylvania Emergency Men, with which he served six weeks during the . emergeney. He was at Carlisle the night the Con- federates burned the barracks. Returning home to the farm, he remained there until February, 1864, when he enlisted in Company B, 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving as a private in that command under Grant and Gregg, from the battle of the Wilderness to Appomattox. He received his sce- ond honorable discharge Aug. 20. 1865. Mr. Cross went back to the farm, and worked at agricultural pursuits and in the lumber woods nntil May 1. 1871, when he came to Sunbury and at once en- tered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, as brakeman. The following year he became a fireman, and in 1879 was made engineer. serving as such until incapacitated by blindness. brought on by nervous dyspepsia, in 1966. Mr.

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Cross was a faithful and efficient employee through- out his active years and is still retained on the payroll of the company. He is a well known resi- dent of Sunbury, particularly in fraternal cireles, being a member of the I. O. O. F., which he joined when twenty-two years old : a Mason, having joined Bloss Lodge, No. 350, F. & A. M., at Blossburg, Tioga Co .. Pa., in June, 1870 ; a member of Lodge No. 416, K. of P., of Sunbury, which he served as treasurer for a number of years, until his blind- ness prevented further service ; a charter member of True Cross Commandery, No. 112, Knights of Malta, of Sunbury, of which he was first treasurer, holding that office eight years ; a member of Lieut. William A. Bruner Post, No. 335. G. A. R., and a member of the Veteran Railroad Association of the Eastern and Susquehanna Division. Polit- ically he is a Republican.

On Sept. 3, 1870, Mr. Cross married Amelia A. Williams, daughter of John J. and Margaret ( Har- ris) Williams, of Blossburg, Pa. Four children have been born to this union, namely: George M., of Westchester, Pa .; John A .: William, who died in infancy; and Harry P., who married Ber- tha Seaman, of Snyder county. Pa., and has one son, George Perkins. The family live in the home at Sunbury erected by Mr. Cross in 1884.

John A. Cross attended publie school in Sun- bury, graduating from the high school in 1891. He- and his brother George M. carried on the iee business in partnership until 1897, when John A. Cross purchased the brother's interest, and has sinee conducted the business alone. Meantime, in 1894, he had enlarged his experience in that line Ice Company, in Philadelphia. Sinee 1895 he has had a retail eoal business, and at present he keeps four teams busy, doing a prosperous business in both lines, and holding his trade by upright methods. He is well thought of in the commun- ity, and has served two terms in the borough coun- cil. Mr. Cross is a Republiean in politics, and fraternally a member of several secret organiza- tions.

by working for a time for the old Knickerbocker George P., Ruth E., Blanche E., William H., Jr.,

On Oct. 26, 1908. Mr. Cross married Cora M. Mertz, of Northumberland borough, a daughter of Benjamin F. Mertz (who died in April, 1910) and a granddaughter of George Mertz, who was born in Berks county, coming to this eounty along with the Hummels and Hilbishes.

Peter Mertz, great-grandfather of Mrs. Cross. was a pioncer of Union county, Pa, He settled near Freeburg, and went to farming, his farm con- sisting of 112 acres. He is buried at Freeburg. Pa .. He and his wife had children as follows : a Mrs. Straub : Catharine, who married (first) a Mr. Brown and (second) a Mr. Heimbach; Peggy, Mrs. Snell ; Philip, who lived near Lewistown, Pa. : John, who lived at Freeburg: Peter, who lived. at Freeburg; and George.

George Mertz was born in April, 18?1, near Freeburg, Pa., and he died Sept. 17, 1887, aged sixty-six years. He is buried at Northumberland, Pa. He was a wheelwright, after his marriage go- ing into the mercantile and hotel business at Free- burg. He then came to Northumberland, Pa., and lived in Point township, following farmning there until three years before his death, when he re- tired to the borough. He had a farm of 110 aeres, part of which is still in the family name. He was a Republican and was school director many years, being also auditor. A man of intelligence and in- tegrity, he was influential in his community and took an important part in all local matters. He and his family were members of the Lutheran Church. He married Amelia, born in 1823, daugh- ter of Benjamin Hummel (1788-1869) and his wife Catharine (Hilbush) (1795-1868). She died in 1880. The children of George Mertz were: Mary E., who married Hammond Rhodenbaugh : Catharine A., twin to Mary E., who married Cyrus Walter ; Benjamin Franklin, father of Mrs. Cross : Emma J., who married George Long; William H .: George Albert and John Peter, the latter dying aged seven months : John Philip: A. Amelia, who married Peter Mertz, her cousin, both dying a few years after marriage ; Sarah I., who is unmarried : Lillie V., who married Charles Biehl ; Amos A. and Flora E., Mrs. Benner ; and Adda C., who married Harry Jacoby.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 79

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