Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 8

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 8

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.EPHRAIM D. WITMER, son of Benneville, was born July 29, 1862. on the farm where he still resides. situated near Vera Cruz, in the extreme southwestern part of Lower Mahanoy township. He was reared to farming and has followed that calling all his life, purchasing the. homestead from the estate after his father's death. In addition .he owns an adjoining farm, which was also the property of his father. Mr. Witmer has made numerous improvements in his buildings and on his property. and has done well, meeting with success in his operations, which are conducted on intelligent lines. He is a substantial and es- teemed citizen of his township, which he has served in the office of school director .. In politics he is a Republican.

On Nov. 28, 1887, Mr. Witmer was married to Laura E. Koppenhaver, daughter of John and Hannah ( Moyer) Koppenhaver and granddaugh- ter of Jonas and Catharine ( Hepner) Koppenhav- er and of Daniel Mover. the latter of Lykens Val- lev. Mr. and Mrs. Witmer have had two children, William C. (who died in infancy) and Clarence E. The family are Reformed members of St. Luke's Church at Vera Cruz. and Mr. Witmer, who has a fine bass voice. was chorister of that church for twenty years, being still a member of the choir. His son is also musically inclined.

Clarence E. . Witmer, son of Ephraim D., was born May 30, 1889, and has been well educated, having begun his education in the local public schools and later attended Union Seminary. at New Berlin, and Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster. He is now assisting his father with the, farm work. He married Stella T. Martz, and they have one danghter, Ethel M.

In January, 1891, Mr. Witmer married Lizzie A. Fenstermacher, daughter of Isaac and Lena ( Reitz) Fenstermacher, and tour daughters have been born to them: Lena A .. Oct. 10, 1891; Anna MI., June 19, 1896: Mary H., July 31, 1901, and Elsie M., Jan. 17, 1904.

JOSEPH WITMER, son of Benneville, was born Jan. 1, 1871, on his father's homestead, and was there reared to farm life. After leaving the farm he engaged in the mercantile business at Vera Cruz as successor to W. S. Schwartz & Co., entering this line in February, 1897. on his own account. He has since continued the business successfully. and is one of the best known merchants in Lower Mahanoy township. carrying a full line of general merchandise and also dealing in country produce and poultry. Mr. Witmer has been active in poli- tics as a stanch member of the Republican party. and has considerable influence in his locality ; he has been delegate to county convention. He and his family are Reformed members of the Union Church at Vera Cruz.

On May 17, 1896, Mr. Witmer married Jennie M. Snyder, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth ( Holshue) Snyder, of Vera Cruz. late of Jackson township, and they have had two children, K. Stanley and Frederick Edison, the latter of whom died in infancy.

WILLIAM D. WITMER. son of Benneville, born Feb. 25. 1864. in Lower Mahanoy township, re- ceived his education there in the common schools. He worked for his father until he was twenty- three years old. on the farm and in the sawmill, Samuel Witmer was born Nov. 6. 1811. and and then marrying settled in Dalmatia ( George- died May 2. 1875, aged sixty-three years, five town), where with the exception of a few months, months, twenty-six days. He is buried at Zion's

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Stone Valley Church. Mr. Witmer was a farmer stein, Mrs. Peter Dunkle, Mrs. Jacob Hoffman : throughout his active years, living upon and own- Maria, Mrs. Daniel Althouse; Sarah, who died ing the farm now occupied by his son Henry S. unmarried, and Betsy, Mrs. Williams.

He served as .tax collector of his district. Mr. Witmer married Sarah Spots, born Jan. Weidenhamer, and son of John Adam, was born 11, 1811, died Sept. 12, 1869, and they had in 1797 in Berks county. He married Susanna Dreibelbis, born Oct. 1, 1805, who died Dec. 2, 1887. She was a native of Berks county and

a family of four children: John, who died at the . age of sixty-eight; Emanuel, deceased, who was a farmer in Lower Mahanoy township; Cornelius, a daughter of Daniel Dreibelbis, of Richmond who died in Missouri, where he is buried; and township, that county. In 1837 Mr. and Mrs. Henry S.

HENRY S. WITSIER, son of Samuel, now a re- tired fariner, was born May 2, 1844, on the farm in Lower Mahanoy township, two miles south of Dalmatia, where he is still living. He has been a lifelong farmer, and made a number of im- provenients upon the property during his active born children as follows: Wellington D., who career, building the north end of the barn, which lived and died at Limestone; Sarah, who lived was erected by his father, and putting up the and died at Limestone; William : Daniel, now liv- present dwelling on the place during the eighties. ing in Milton ; John A., who died in Watsontown; and Elizabeth E., who first married John Sheep and later Emanuel Mauser, and had two children, The farm contains 109 acres of excellent land, well watered, there being an excellent, never-fail- ing spring near the house. Mr. Witmer has served Edward Sheep and May Mauser. as township school director. He is a Republican in political matters and in religion a member of the Reformed denomination, belonging to the Re- formed congregation at Zion's Stone Valley Church, his wife uniting with the Lutheran con- gregation at that church.

In 1869 Mr. Witmer married Phoebe Zartman, daughter of Adam Zartman, and to their union rick), born Jan. 9, 1803, died July 19, 1876. Wil- have been born seven children, three of whom died young. The survivors are: Frank G. married Martha Mertz; Addie married George Emerick; Emma married John M. Engel; Katie is un- married.

WEIDENHAMER. The progenitor of this family in America was Johannes Weidenhamer, a native of Germany, born Nov. 14, 1726. In 1750 he married Margaret Magdalena Eblinger, and they were survived by five sons and four daugh- ters, twenty-seven grandchildren and forty-eight great-grandchildren. £ Johannes Weidenhamer died Aug. 3, 1804, in his seventy-eighth year. His wife, who was born in 1729, died in April, 1812, when eighty-three years old. The original Weiden- hamer homestead in this county was about three- quarters of a mile north of Moselem Springs, Berks county, Pa., on the Easton road.

John (or Johann) Adam Weidenhamer, onc of the sons of Johannes, the emigrant, came with the family from Germany. He married Elizabeth Danker, and they lived in Maiden-creek town-

. ship, Berks county, where he followed farming. To them were born children as follows: Jacob ; Benjamin, who moved to Ohio, where he died ; George, who died in Maiden-crcek township, Berks county ; John ; Susanna, Mrs. Daniel Kauff- man, whose children were Mrs. Charles Hotten-

Jacob Weidenhamer, grandfather of Edward

Weidenhamer moved to Montour county, this State, and settled in Limestone township, where Mr. Weidenhamer bought a valuable farm of about two hundred acres. Here he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1863, in his To him and his wife were sixty-seventh year.

William Weidenhamer, father of Edward Weidenhamer, was born Jan. 29, 1831, in Berks county, and died July 7, 1910, near Milton, North- umberland county. He married Margaret Kutz, born Feb. 8, 1836, died Aug. 16, 1887. She was the daughter of George Kutz, born June 8. 1798, died Dec. 25. 1863, and his wife, Anna ( Kilpat-

liam Weidenhamer and his wife bought the farm, one mile east of Milton, on which they lived for over forty years. They were industrious, respected and influential citizens in that community. Mr. Weidenhamer was one of the original directors of the Pleasant Valley Creamery and Milton Fair Association and filled many other responsible po- sitions. Eight children was born to his marriage, as follows: Clarence A. married Lou Platt, and has four children, May, Florence, Frank and Clar- ence: Harry married Jane Seers, and has five children. Gertrude, Lloyd, Sidney. Margaret and Alice : Thomas S. lived and died at Milton, pass- ing away in his forty-ninth year ; William married Sarah Biddle and lives in Altoona: Edward is mentioned later: Ada G. married Lloyd Cooper and lives in Altoona ; Ellis C. married Clara Bur- ton and has two children. Norma and Burton : George S. married Ella Smith and has four chil- dren, William. Viola. Edward and George. Jr.

EDWARD WEIDENHAMER, son of William, was born Jan. 31, 1866. in Turbut township, Northumberland county, near the borough of Mil -. ton. Pa. His early education was neglected be- cause it was necessary for him to work on his father's farm. Before he was twelve years old he drove team regularly and made a full hand haul- ing building stone from the farin to Milton. At the age of eighteen his father allowed him to leave

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home and earn his own living. He then worked wife, Mary M. ( Dunkelberger), daughter of Henry mornings, evenings and Saturdays for his board, Dunkelberger, survived him, and died near Pax- inos, in Ralpho township. She remarried. becom- ing the wife of James Van Horn. Five children were born to her union with James Goss: Benne- ville, Elizabeth, William, John and Reuben. By her marriage to Mr. Van Horn she had three

and walked four miles each day to attend school. He was a faithful student and his progress in his studies was rapid. During the winter of 1887 and 1888 he taught school six months in Thr- but township at the maximum salary, thirty dollars a month. In April, 1888, he entered the junior children: Franklin P., Monroe D. and Mary. John Goss was born Ang. 27, 1848. in Shamo- class of the Central State normal school at Loek Haven, Pa., using the money he had saved to ad- kin, and he received his education in the public vanee his edneation, and in June passed the exam- schools near his boyhood home. When a young ination admitting him to the senior class of that man he learned blacksmithing. but he followed the school. That fall he again tanght school in Turbnt trade only a short time, engaging in farming. In 1890 he bought the property he now owns in Ralpho township. In 1896 he built the present other buildings, having brought the farm into ex- cellent condition, both as to land and improve- ments. Though a busy man he has found time to serve the township as school director, and he has also been an active member of the Blue Church, in which he has been elder. Politically he is a township, at an increase in salary. In 1889 he entered the senior class of the Central State nor- mal school and graduated in June, 1890, at the dwelling on that place, where he has also erected head of his class. He was immediately. elected principal of the Fourth Ward schools of Lock Haven, Pa., and held this position until the fall of 1892, when he entered Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. During the summer of 1893 he began to work for Ginn & Company, school book publishers, and by working for them during each vacation he Democrat.

Mr. Goss married Mary M. Bear, daughter of lowing year at college. In June, 1896, when he William and Susanna ( Rothermel) Bear, and they

earned enough money to pay his expenses the fol- graduated, President George E. Reed -of Dickin- son College said : "Mr. Weidenhamer has, in my judgment, every qualification for any position to which he may aspire. and will be sure to give sat- isfaction. I know of no man whom I could more heartily recommend."

have three children : Ada L. married Thomas W. Smith and has a son, Frank L .; Catharine R. is the wife of Frank Erdman, at present serving as county commissioner of Northumberland county : and Anna C. is the wife of Aumond J. Startzel.

Since graduating Mr. Weidenhamer has given all his attention to the book business, in which he which has many representatives among the best citizenship of Northumberland county, is descend- ed from one Frantz (John Francis) Latshar, a native of Switzerland, who came to America on

LATSHA. The Latsha or Latshaw family.

has been very successful, being at present general agent for Ginn & Company, with fifty-three coun- ties in Pennsylvania under his charge. He is him- self the author of a well-known textbook, "Weid- the "Mortonhouse," which qualified at Philadel- enhamer's Mental Arithmetic." nearly 500,000 copies of which have already been sold throughout the United States. Mr. Weidenhamer has been a useful citizen in Milton. where he has .served as president of council and in many other proni- inent positions. He is a member of Milton Lodge, No. 256, F. & A. M., and of Williamsport Consistory, thirty-second degree.

phia Aug. 24, 1728. On the list of passengers his name is spelled "Frans Latshow." His first settlement in Pennsylvania was near a place called Upland. in Chester county, where he remained a few years, and then went to Oley, Berks county, later settling in the Tulpehocken Valley in the latter county, where he died. He made a perma- nent home in Colebrookdale township. His last will and testament, made in 1781, was probated Oet. 29, 1795. He was twice married. the first

In February, 1901, Mr. Weidenhamer married Alice M. Hanna, daughter of W. B. Hanna. of Lock Haven, Pa. They have one daughter. Helen, time in Switzerland, and tradition says his first born in August, 1902.

wife died leaving him a number of small children : JOHN GOSS has lived on his present farm and no one to help in the house. Accordingly he went to Philadelphia (as the pioneers were ob- in Ralpho township since he bought the property, liged to do in those days for merchandise or help) in 1890, and he has made a number of valuable for a woman to look after his home and children. improvements there during that time. He is a Hle was told of a young woman of good repute son of James Goss and grandson of William Goss. from the Tulpehocken Valley, in Berks county,

James Goss was a shoemaker and followed that whose husband. a Mr. Gabel. had died on the trade in Shamokin, this county, later removing vovage to America, leaving his wife with two small children. At Philadelphia she began a struggling to what is now Ralpho township, where he died Dec. 30, 1854, aged forty-seven years, seven life with her children, finding a place as servant months .. He is buried at the Blue church. His in a Germantown family. Mr. Latshar bocame 34

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acquainted with her, persuaded her to accompany fore the Revolutionary war, and Abraham, who him home as housekeeper, and later they were settled in Chillisgnaque township, Northumber- imarried. Her son, Henry Gabel, was taken along land county (evidently the Abraham referred to with them, and early in life was taken into the above).

Rutter household, the Rutters being the early iron- of the Rutter money, also being remembered in his stepfather's will. He was a Mennonite and is buried at Boyertown: his birth oceurred in 1734. Frantz Latshar and his second wife, whose maiden name was Sowers, had children also. He left a large estate, which is divided equally among his children, those mentioned in his will, as recorded in' Book B, page 398, being John. Frantz, Abra- ham, Jacob, Mary Lantes ( Landis), Henry Gabel (stepson), Rebecca Shelly (deceased, the mother of six children) and Catharine Lantz (stepdangh- ter), of whom Abraham lived on the Hereford township ( Berks county ) farm and Frantz else- where in the same township. We have the follow- ing aecount of the sons. John Latsha, born in 1756, died in 1810, and masters of Colebrookdale, and he fell heir to some is buried with two of his sons, Joseph and Gideon, in a private cemetery on the farm where he lived and died. If not the first settler in what is now Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, he was among the very first, as he had three acres of his land cleared for farming before the Revo- lutionary war. He took up a traet of 304 acres from the Commonwealth, erected the first set of buildings on the land ( these in later years giving way to more modern structures), and followed farming there, his home being near Mahanoy Church, where he died. He served in the Revolu- tionary war, according to one account nnder Cap- tain Farmer, and after his discharge had two thousand dollars coming to him. The Pennsyl- vania Archives. 5th Series, Volume II, page 417, record one John "Latcha" a private in Capt. Lewis Farmer's Company, Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, 1726; Samuel Miles, colonel.

John Latsha lived in Colebrookdale township, where he died in 1794. He made his will in 1787 (Will Book B, page 360), dividing his es- tate among his brothers and sisters. He made his home with his brother Jacob, and if he was mar- ried he had no children.

John Latsha's wife, Catharina ( Daniel), was born in Tulpehocken township, Berks county, Jan. 28, 1763, and died Oct. 31, 1852, in her ninetietli

Frantz Latshar ( Latchar) made his will April 1, year. (N. B .: These dates are given for Susanna, 1802, and it was probated July 1st of the same nee Daniel, wife of Johannes) : she is buried in vear. His wife Esther survived him and was given 400 pounds in gold. They had three sons, Frantz and Jacob receiving all the land in Hereford township, and John the homestead. the graveyard at Mahandy Church. Seven chil- dren were born to this pioneer couple: John, Jo- hann Henry, Frederick, Daniel. Catharine, Mada- lena and Elizabeth. Of these. John was a farmer and lived in Washington township. His wife, Maria Catharine Shutt. bore him children as fol- lows: John. Wendel (born March 4, 1811, died March 4, 1816; wife Susanna Gonser. born March 28. 1815, died Dec. 17, 1892), Isaac, George, Dan- iel, Bevvy and Ketty.

Abraham Latshar, half brother of Jolm (men- tioned just below), served several years in the Revolutionary war, holding the rank of major. Jacob Latsha, full brother of Abraham, was a lieu- tenant in the Revolution, in which he served a number of years. Abraham Latsha lived in the section of Colebrookdale township now included in

Johan Friederich Latsha, son of John and Cathi- Washington township. He died in 1814. His arina ( Daniel). was born Ang. 24. 1188, was a will, in English script, but German words. is, on farmer, and lived and died on the farm in Wash- ington township now owned by William M. Lat- sha : this was the old homestead. and at the time of his ownership it comprised 133 acres. His record in Volume 4, page 114. His children were : Samuel. Johannes, Jacob, Anna, Elizabeth, Cath- arine, Heinrich (who lived for a time in Clayton and then left. for parts unknown), Alexander and home was a log cabin. He died July 8. 1875, Abraham.

when over eighty-six years old, and his wife. Mag- April 22, 1871, when seventy-four years old. They had children as follows: Betzy, born in 1817, died in 1848, ummarried : John died unmarried : Polly

The founder of the branch of the family in dalena (Wagner), born March 18, 1797, died

Northumberland county with which this article is concerned, John or Johannes Latsha ( Eatshaw ). was undoubtedly immediately connected with the Latshas referred to above, having been born in married Daniel Kiehl: Magdalena married Dan- 1756 in Washington township, Berks county. Ac- iel Kiehl : Mary Ann died, ummarried : Isaac mar- cording to the family he was a son of the emigrant, tied Harriet DeTurck and (second ) Susan Schoff- stall : Catharine died unmarried: Frederick W. is mentioned below : Adam W. married Wilhelmina Fegley. All this family lived in the region about Mahanoy Church.

but that does not agree with the more complete account, and as John the son of Frantz received his father's homestead it seems more likely he was the son of Abraham. It is said that among. his father's children were also Hemy, who settled in FREDERICK W. LATSHA was born Jan. 7, 1837, Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, be- on the Latsha homestead. and received such lim-

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ited advantages as the subscription schools of his their confidence in him by eleeting him treasurer boyhood days afforded. He was reared to farming, of Washington township, which office he is filling `which he followed all his life, beginning on his at present. His religious connection is with the own account after his marriage, and in 1877 he Reformed congregation of the Himmel Church. came to the place in Washington township where

In 1900 Mr. Latsha married Bruella Sachoff- he resided at the time of his death, owning a stall, who died Jan. 1, 1907, aged twenty-three highly cultivated tract of sixty-seven acres. His years, ten months, sixteen days, and they had three death occurred May 18, 1910. Mr. Latsha, with children. Irene, David and Fred. On May 30, 1909, he . married (second) Fietta Schreffler,

his family, was a most active member of the Re- formed congregation of St. Peter's Church, which daughter of Nathan Schreffler. he served officially as deacon, elder and trustee, and he and his family donated a memorial win- dow, to that church. The Latshas have erected handsome monuments on their family burial plot. Mr. Latsha was a Democrat in political connec-

DANIEL LEWIS LATSILA, youngest son of Fred- erick W. Latsha, was born July 12. 1883, in Wash- ington township, where he was reared and edu- cated. When eighteen years old he learned his trade from his brother Edward, a blacksmith, and tion. He was a highly esteemed member of the in 1904 engaged in business for himself at Maha- community, where his widow is no less respected as a woman of sterling qualities. In 1862 Mr. Latsha married Mary Reitz, daughter of Simon and Catharine ( Reed ) Reitz, and they had a fam- ily of six sons: Levi R., a farmer of Washington township; Edward R., a blacksmith, of Uniontown (he has a daughter, Mabel Ellen) ; John Charles, who operates a threshing machine; Henry Reuben, a farmer, who assisted his father until the latter's recent death : George H., a merchant ; and Daniel Lewis, a blacksmith, at Mahanoy.

noy, in Jackson township, where he has ever since been located. He has built up a large trade in general blacksmithing and wheelwrighting, em- ploying a wheelwright for that branch of the work. He has a half interest with his brother George H. Latsha in the firm of George H. Latsha & Broth- ers, owners of the store and hotel stand at Rebuck, in Washington township, conducted by George H. Latsha, and though they have not been proprietors long the business is thriving satisfactorily. On Nov. 2, 1907. Mr. Latsha married Amelia A.

LEVI R. LATSILA, son of the late Frederick W. Tressler, daughter of Adam Tressler. of Jackson Latslia, was born July 10, 1862, and has always township, and they occupy their own home at followed farming. He owns a valuable tract of Mahanov. Mr. Latsha is a Reformed member of ninety-two acres in Washington township, an old St. Peter's Church at Mahanov, his wife belonging Hoffman farm, and has proved himself intelligent to the Lutheran congregation of that church. Po- and thrifty in his cultivation and management of litically he is a Democrat, but though interested the place. He married Mary Ann Ferster, who in the welfare of the party has not been particu- was born March 25, 1866, and died May 29, 1905, larly active.

the mother of two children : Willard Wesley, born Sept. 17, 1901 : and Mary Edna Dianna, who died aged ten months, eleven days.

John Henry Latsha, second son of John and Catharina (Daniel) Latsha, was born May 15, 1785. and died June 30, 1859. He was a carpen-

GEORGE H. LATSHA, senior member of the firm of George H. Latsha & Brother, was born in Wash- ter, and followed that trade as well as farming. ington township Jan. 22, 1881, son of the late living at the place in Mahanoy township occupied Frederick W. Latsha. He was educated in the by the late Frederick W. Latsha, in which section local public schools, which he continued to attend he was well and favorably known. His wife, Mary until he was sixteen years old, and was trained Ann ( Eirich), born Dec. 16. 1821. died Sept. 9,

to farm work from boyhood. being only fourteen when he commenced to run a huckster wagon. For fourteen years he continued thus and also took his produce to market, gaining considerable valuable experience. On Dec. 5, 1908, he and his brother Daniel L. Latsha formed a partnership under the firm name of George H. Latsha & Brother, renting the old established store and ho- tel stand at Rebuck which they now conduct, one

1888, aged eighty-six years, eight months, twen- ty-three days. They had children as follows : Adam. Henry, Abraham, Eva, Mary Ann and Kate (wife of Henry Wear), all residents of the borough of Shamokin.

Mrs. Mary Ann ( Eirich) Latsha's grandfather fought under Washington in the Revolution, and with several other soldiers was killed while cross- ing the Delaware river. He married Mary A. Wil- of. the oldest places in the district. The brothers son, who after his death became the wife of Abra- have been very successful. George H. Latsha, the ham MInsser. Jacob Eirich, son of this Revolu- active member of the firm. has proved his business ability in the management of the store and hotel, and has made an assured place for himself among the substantial young men of the township. He is a Democrat, and his fellow citizens have shown tionary soldier. lived in York county. Pa., for a time, thence moving to Philadelphia, later . to Schuylkill county, and eventually to Northumber- land county, settling near Shamokin. By trade he was a weaver, later finding employment in the

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 8

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