Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 84

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 84

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their union being blessed by three children. David city. He was a public school pupil until his gradu- ' Clark ( who died when three years, six months old), ation from the high school, after which he entered Charles Willitts ( a graduate of Lehigh University) and Eleanor .Clark (married Frederick C. Kirk- endall and had one son, Charles F.) ; a daughter, twin of George M., died in infancy; Bonham R., born May 20, 1843, long connected as cashier and later as president with the First National Bank of Danville, married Mary Louise Yorks, daughter of Sanmel and Mary Ann ( West ) Yorks, and they had two children, Anna M. (who married M. Grier Youngman, cashier of the Danville National Bank and has children Mary Louise and John Bonham ) and Robert Y .; Jasper married ( first) Florence Yorks and after her death Margaret Thompson, and has one daughter, Emma ; James B. died un- married ; Alexander Montgomery, born at Danville July 26, 1846, for many years station agent at Danville for the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Railway Company, married Martha McCoy, daughter of Robert and Eleanor (Voris) McCoy, and they had one daughter, Nell Bonham. who married William L. McClure and had three chil- dren, Harold Russel, Donald C. and Jasper: M. Grier completed the family.

William Gearhart, son of Capt. Jacob and Cath- arine (Kline) Gearhart, married Sarah, and they had a son John. John Gearhart married Martha Martin, and they were the parents of one son, Wil- son M., and one daughter, Sarah, who married Al- fred Sober.

the country schools, later attending the Danville Institute and Dickinson Seminary, at Williams- port, Pa., from which latter he was graduated in 1865, having completed the classical course. From that time until 1868 he was engaged in teaching, was next a bookkeeper until 1872, and then em- barked in business on his own account, continuing thus until 1875. That year he was elected pro- thonotary of Montour county, on the Republican ticket, although the county was strongly Denio- cratic, and his popularity was further shown in his subsequent reelection, several times. Receiv- ing the appointment of chief clerk in the State de- partment at Harrisburg, he retained that position up to the time of his death, in 1898. He married Jane Beaver, daughter of Jesse Beaver, of Dan- ville, and to them were born three children: En- eline, who is deceased ; J. Beaver, mentioned be- low : and Lois, who married John R. Sharpless, of Hazleton, Pa., and has two children, Jane and John R., Jr.

the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1892. This was followed by a course in dentistry, and in 1895 he opened an of- fice in Danville, where he has since. engaged in practice. He commands a wide patronage in his professional work, and personally enjoys unusual popularity. On April 2, 1895, he enlisted at Dan- ville in Company F. 12th Regiment, of the Penn- sylvania National Guard, and served as a private until July 25, 1897, when he was appointed ser- geant major of the battalion. On April 26, 1898. he was appointed battalion adjutant, with the rank of second lieutenant, and was recommissioned April 28, 1899, with the rank of first lieutenant. On July 31, 1899, he accepted election as first lieu- tenant of Company F, 12th Regiment, and on Nov. 4, 1899, he was elected captain of that company, which he commanded continuously for about nine years, having been unanimously reelected upon the expiration of his first commission, in 1904. He served nearly four years thereafter, when he re- signed and was placed on the retired list of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. . During the Spanish-American war Dr. Gearhart served as bat- talion adjutant and regular A. C. S. of the 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, from May 12, 1898, to Oct. 29, 1898.

Charles Gearhart. son of Capt. Jacob and Cath- arine (Kline) Gearhart, married Sarah Ephland, and their family consisted of two sons and one daughter, as follows: (1) Charles Perry, born Jan. 18, 1818, died in December, 18 --. He mar-

Wilson M. Gearhart, son of John and Martha (Martin) Gearhart, was born Jan. 23. 1846, in Northumberland county, and spent his early life on a farm. He received his preliminary education in ried Agnes Blue, daughter of Isaiah and Agnes

(Childs) Blue and granddaughter of Michael Blue, a soldier of the Revolution. To them were born six children : Arthur Clarence, who died un- married : Amanda, who married S. M. Oberdorf; Edith, who married Philip Mettler and had chil- dren, Charles G. (a captain in the United States army), Agnes (who married John Smith). Edith. Alice, John and Catharine: Mary Alice, wife of E. M. Eckman : Gertrude G., wife of G. H. Sonme- born, deceased ; and Charles P., mentioned later. (?) Samantha married Thomas Jamison and they had children : Helen is unmarried : Charles mar- ried ( first ) a Miss Lyon, by whom he had three children, Nellie ( Mrs. Harry Billmeyer, who has one daughter, Martha), Thomas (married Elsie Kardisky) and Loue (married V. V. Hidaker). and his second marriage was to Elizabeth Lau- bach: Arthur is deceased : Frank married Alice Richardson and had children Mary and Catharine. (3) Arthur and his wife Lucy are the parents of four children : Arthur, unmarried: Anna. un- married: William, who married Lena Herman : and Sarah, who married Samuel Detwiller and has

J. BEAVER GEARHART, D. D. S., only son of Wil- son M. and Jane ( Beaver) Gearhart, was born in Danville, and spent his boyhood days in his native children Lucy and Clara.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Charles P. Gearhart, son of Charles P. and Ag- manufacture and sale of confectionery. His first nes (Blue) Gearhart, was born in Gearhart town- ship and there received his early education in the local schools. Later he attended Danville Acad- emy under Prof. James Kelso, read law with Judge Hinckley, and was admitted to the bar in 1890, since when he has been engaged in legal practice. In 1905 he was elected district attorney of Mon-

location was in the old Painter building, on Market street, between Second and Third streets, and later he moved to a location on the same street between Third and Fourth streets, where he had his place of business and residence as well. He continued his establishment until 1901, when he closed out the business, thereafter living in retirement until tour county, Pa., and was reelected to that position his death, which occurred Nov. 3. 1903.

in 1908. Politically he is a Democrat. In 1881 Mr. Gearhart enlisted in the National Guard of Pennsylvania; in 1887 he was elected captain of Company F, 12th Regiment ; and in 1897 becanie major of that regiment. He retired from the serv- ice in October, 1909, after a service of nearly twen- ty-nine years.

.Jolin Gearhart, son of Capt. Jacob and C'ath- arine (Kline) Gearhart, married Anna Cool, of New Jersey. Their children were : Ann E., Tunis, William Cool, Jacob and John. Of these, Ann E. became the wife of. Wilson Mettler, who

At the time of his death Mr. Gearhart was the was born in 1813, son of Philip and Susan (Car- oldest resident Freemason in Sunbury. He served

ter) Mettler, and died Oet. 8, 1900. To Mr. and . Mrs. Mettler were born four children: Sarah Elizabeth, Susan M., Spencer and Anna. Sarah Elizabeth Mettler married a Hoffman, and had one daughter, Anna, who married William G. Wil- liams; Susan M. Mettler married Hugh Vastine and had children. Wilson M., Elizabeth B. and for him a list of the members showing all delin- H. Spencer ( who married Sarah P. Mettler and has had children Pauline and Rachel) ; Spencer Mettler married Anna Brandon and had chiklren, Flora Augusta (who married C. V. Ammerman and had a daughter Ruth) and Spencer Wilson (who died young).

Maclay Cool Gearhart was born Sept. 14, 1828, in Rush township ( what is now, Riverside), North- umberland county, son of William Cool and Mary Harris. (Awl) Gearhart, and a grandson of John Gearhart. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, for be- sides being a seion of the Gearhart family was a On June 28, 1854, Mr. Gearhart married Ro- sanna Gossler, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Petry) Gossler, and they had a family. lineal descendant of John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, Pa., and of William Maelay, one of the first two United States senators from Penn- ROBERT HARRIS GEARHART, son of Maclay Cool and Rosanna ( Gossler) Gearhart, was born Aug. 28, 1855, in Sunbury, where he grew to manhood. receiving his education in the public schools and academy of the borough. For a short time he was in the employ of the Adams Express Company. subsequently assisting his father for a number of years, and then returning to his former employ- ers, with whom he continued for six years. He had been familiar with the confectionery business from boyhood, and he again became his father's assistant in that line, continuing until his father sylvania. He was about two years old when his parents moved to a farm near Sunbury (close to what is now Seven Points), and his father dying Sept. 15, 1834. a few years afterward he moved with his mother to Sunbury. He received his edu- cation in the public schools of that place, attend- ing at the time the public school building was lo- cated on Third street, on the present site of the old Masonic hall. At Danville. Pa., he served the greater part of his apprenticeship to the tailor's trade, which he finished learning with George C. Welker, of Sunbury, serving from 1818 to 1851. closed out business. Mr. Gearhart has been prom- Afterward he served an apprenticeship and learned inently identified with polities from early man- the confectioner's trade, in Philadelphia, whence hood, actively associated with the best interests of he returned to Sunbury, in 1854, and started the the Republican party in city and county affairs for

Mr. Gearhart was a prominent citizen of Sun- bury for a number of years. For many years he was an influential member of the school board of that borough, serving one year as treasurer of the board : was a member of the Sunbury town coun- cil one term ; and served two terms as treasurer of the borough. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church from boyhood, transferring his membership to the Lutheran Church in order to have his family together in one church. He served a number of years as member of the church coun- cil, in both churches.

two terms as worshipful master of Sunbury Lodge. No. 22, F. & A. M .; having served so faithfully during his first term, he was elected the second time from the floor of the lodge. During his see- ond term the lodge was in straitened circumstances financially, and he ordered the secretary to prepare

quents, after which he made a personal canvass among the members, collecting the back dues and thus placing the finances of the lodge on a firm ba- sis. During his service as worshipful master, in 1870, occurred the big fire which destroyed the corner where the Oppenheimer & Jonas clothing store now stands, burning to Court street. As there was great danger of the Masonic Hall build- ing burning he removed all the lodge paraphernalia to his residence, packing the same in chests and personally caring for the property.

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a number of years. In 1890 aud 1900 he was cen- men under his supervision. Mr. Gearhart is one sus enumerator of the Second ward of Sunbury, of the oldest men, in point of service, in the em- where he resides ; in 1898 he was appointed, by the ploy of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. board of county commissioners, as mercantile ap- On June 18, 1879, Mr. Gearhart married Emma Lucia Schoch, daughter of Benjamin and Mar- garet (Bright) Schoch, of Selinsgrove, Pa., and they have a family of two sons and two daughters: Bessie S. married Prof. George L. Swank, a grad- uate of Harvard University and now superintend- eut of public schools at Elysburg, Pa .; Heber praiser ; and served the Sunbury standing com- mittee as secretary and treasurer for a period of seven years. On May 13, 1902, he was appointed assistant postmaster of Sunbury, and has since been re-appointed, by F. K. Hill, the present post- master. He is a capable official and a highly re- spected citizen,

Gossler, a graduate of State College, Pennsylvania, is a civil engineer, and at present engaged as assistant superintendent of construction with the McClintie-Marshall Construction Company, of Pittsburg, Pa .; Margaret A. is living at home; Samuel G., Jr., a graduate of Pennsylvania State College, is an electrical engineer in the employ of the General Electric Company, of Pittsfield, Mas- sachusetts.

In 1879 Mr. Gearhart married Mary Cornman, daughter of Ephraim and Barbara ( Sehrumm) Cornman, of Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., the former of whom was the first public printer of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Gearhart is a descendant of Pocahontas through her connection with the Ran- dolph family of Virginia. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart: (1) Rev. Eph- raim Maclay Gearhart, pastor of Trinity Luther- Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Gearhart are members of Zion's Lutheran Church, Sunbury, and Mr. Gearhart has long been active in church work. He has served a number of years as a member of the church couneil, and as secretary of the council ; was for a number of years financial seeretary of the church, and was secretary and librarian of the Sunday school. He has been a member of the an Church at Sunbury, married Minnie Kline, of Williamsport, Pa., who died in 1907, leaving a son, Ephraim Maclay, Jr. (2) Rosanna G. mar- ried Prof. Lewis H. Mackiney, one of the high school teachers at Sunbury, where they reside, and they have one son, Arland H. (3) Robert H. is a theological student at Gettysburg Sem- inary. (+) Marion R. married Bessie Miller and Lutheran Church from boyhood, and Mrs. Gear- they reside at Carlisle, Pa. (he is a printer). (3) hart's family have all been connected with that Mary C. graduated from Sunbury high school with the class of 1911, taking first honors.

Mr. Gearhart and his family reside at No. 47 South Fifth street. They are members of Zion's Lutheran Church at Sunbury, to which he has be- lie has filled the position of chairman of the district longed since 1872. He was made a Mason in 1876, being. entered in October, crafted in November and raised in December, and he was one of the young- est men ever initiated into the fraternity at Sun- bury, where he is associated with Lodge . No. 22.

SAMUEL GOSSLER GEARHART, son of Maclay Cool and Rosanna (Gossler) Gearhart, was born July 13, 1857, in Sunbury, and obtained his early education in the public schools of that borough. He later had a term at what was then Missionary Institute, now Susquehanna University, at Selins- grove, Pa. Assisting his father from boyhood, he learned the candy business, both the work in the visiting brothers being present. factory and the work in the store. When about eighteen years old he was employed one year in a planing mill at Loek Haven, Pa .. as an appren- tice, to learn beneli carpentering. Ou June 26, and Mr. Gearhart decided to do his own work. 1876, he began to learn telegraphy, entering the Accordingly he learned the work from Mr. Cres- singer, and the first night he sat as worshipful master, Jan. 24, 1891. he raised two candidates. During his term of office he entered eight, passed two and raised seven candidates.

service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as telegraph operator Aug. 1, 1877, since which time he has been engaged continuously on the Sunbury and Shamokin divisions of that company. On March 14, 1883. he was promoted to train dis- pateher, and to Division operator and assistant trainmaster May 1, 1891. He holds this position at the present time, having now over two hundred

church. Mr. Gearhart has taken special interest in the welfare of the Y. M. C. A., and is now serv- ing his fourth year as president of the Railroad Y. M. C. A. at Sunbury ; for the past three years committee Y. M. C. A. work of the State of Penn- sylvania.

In 1887 Mr. Gearhart was made a Mason in Lodge No. 22, Sunbury-entered March 9, passed April 8, raised July 5. On account of his apt- ness in learning the work he was elected to fill the high offices of his lodge, serving as junior warden in 1889, as senior warden in 1890 and as worshipful master in 1891. On Nov. 26, 1889, he exemplified the first degree in Freemasonry in Lodge No. ?? at a visitation of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, over three hundred brothers and At the time Mr. Gearhart was serving in the chairs the work of conferring the degrees had been done for a num- ber of years by Past Master Jacob R. Cressinger,

William Gearhart, brother of Capt. Jacob Gear- hart, was born in Strasburg, Germany, and eame to America in 1754. He settled in Hunterdon coun-

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ty, N. J. When the Revolutionary war broke out he ried Elizabeth Folk, of Berks county, born Mareh enlisted in the Hunterdon county militia and was 3, 1781, died Nov. 20, 1869, and to them were promoted to ensign. After the war, about 1790, born ten children: Polly, Jacob, Henry, Daniel, he came to Northumberland county, Pa., and pur- Jr., Betzy, Joshua and Jesse (twins), Rachel, Jo- chased a large tract of land to the southeast of seph de Y. and Hettie. C'apt. Jacob Gearhart's tract, settling in Rush

Daniel Hilbush, Jr., son of Daniel, Sr., was township. In New Jersey he married Eleanor born Dec. 20, 1807, in Berks county, Pa., and came DeKnight, and they were the parents of four sons to Washington township in his young manhood. and three daughters, as follows: William, Aaron, He was a plasterer by trade, and followed that Tobias, Jacob, Elizabeth ( Mrs. Amens), Ann occupation in connection with farming. He lived (Mrs. Amens), and Mary ( Mrs. Lamberson). in Washington township until 1865, when he came William Gearhart, son of William, was born in to Jackson township, farming there until his re- New Jersey, married Sarah Boone, and had chil- tirement. He died in Jackson township March dren as follows : Maybury, born in 1813; Harriet, 17, 1897, in his ninetieth, vear. Mr. Hilbush 1815 (married Lewis Yetter) ; Juliann, 1818 married Nancy Romberger, daughter of Adam, of (married Samuel Darder) ; Eleanor, 1819 (mar- Lykens township, Dauphin county. She died in Shoop). ried David Clark) ; Amelia, 1821 (married G. M. 1891, in her eightieth year. They are buried at Mahanov Church in Jackson township. Mr. and JOHN D. HILBUSH, one of the active and Mrs. Hilbush had children as follows: Jacob R., of Mahanoy, Jackson township; Henry Adam; energetic business men of Shamokin, comes of the and Elias R., of Mahanoy, Pa., who owns the sturdy German stock that has given Pennsylvania homestead in Jackson township. Daniel Hilbush, so many of her most useful citizens.

Jr., was an active member of the Reformed Church The name, originally Hallobush (or Hallow- at Mahanoy, serving as deacon, elder and trustee, bush), is spelled in many ways-Hilbush, Hill- and he was also interested in the affairs of his bush, Hillibish, Hilbish and Hallerbush. Christian township, serving two terms as overseer of the poor. Hallowbush ( Hallobush ). the emigrant ancestor of

Henry Adam IFilbush, son of Daniel and Nan- John D. Hilbush, was born in 1:18 in the German cy, died in 1908. He learned the plasterer's trade, Palatinate, and came to America in 1724 with his and this he followed in Little Mahanoy township, brother Peter and widowed mother. They landed

together with farming. He spent about five years at Philadelphia, locating shortly after in Salford at farming in old Virginia, and then came to township, Montgomery county. Peter Hallowbush Shamokin, where he lived retired until his death. was born in 1709, and died in 1768, leaving five He married Elizabeth Dillfield, of Dauphin coun- children, Catharine. Johst, Magdalena, Margaret ty. Pa., born April 25, 1843, died May 10, 1907. and Ann Maria. Christian Hallowbush died in and their children were: James, Clara, John D., Montgomery county in 1728, the father of four children, Magdalena, Henry, Adam and Peter.

Amanda, Abbie, Isaac, Daniel (deceased), Thama and Herbert.

Daniel Hilbush, Sr .. evidently a grandson of John D. Hilbush attended the public schools of Christian, was the great-grandfather of John D. Little Mahanoy township, and worked on the farm Hilbush. He was born Sept. 27, 1779, in Long- until he attained his majority. He then came to swamp township, Berks Co., Pa., and moved from Shamokin and learned the carpenter's trade. In his native county in about 1800. In 1820 he 1903 he formed a partnership with A. P. Rutz. purchased a farm of 300 acres in Mahanoy town- and in 1905 became treasurer of the East End ship, Northumberland county, npon which he set- Lumber Company, also holding the position of out- tled that same year, passing the remainder of his side foreman for the company. He has other busi- life on that property, where he died March 11, ness interests, being a director of the Shamokin 1862. He was a stonemason by trade, and followed and Mount Carmel Department Store Company, that calling in connection with farming, and he and of the Shamokin Department Store Company. was a man who bore an active part in the affairs the latter being located at No. 5 Market street, of his community. In 1823 he was commissioned Shamokin. He is an active member of the Mer- justice of the peace, and served as such continuons- chants Association. .

ly until 1860; the office was out of the family Mr. Hilbush, was united in marriage to Ida only five years. however, his grandson, Jacob R., Raper, daughter of Conrad C. and Susan ( Dorn- having been elected in 1865. In 1833, when the seif) Raper, and to this union were born three bridge across Greenbrier creek was constructed, children, Edward O., Susan E. and Reuben HI .. Daniel Hilbush, Sr., was served as commissioner the last named dying when four years old. Mr. of Northumberland county. He was one of the Hilbush has long been an active member of the military officers of the county, being a captain. Evangelical Church, in which he has served as and his company was second on the list to be class leader and trustee. In every position in called out in the war of 181? if needed. He mar- which he has been placed, he has been conscien-

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tious and painstaking, and he has the respeet of he still lives, a farm of 196 aeres which he pur- all who know him.

JACOB R. HILBUSH, son of Daniel and Nancy, was born March 14, 1835, in Lykens township, Dauphin county, and was but an infant when his parents settled in what is now Washington town- ship, Northumberland county. Here he was reared on the farm, and commenced to learn his farm, was built in 1854. Mr. Hilbush is a most. father's trade, that of plasterer, when eight days less than fourteen years old. He continued to follow it, off and on, until he reached the age of twenty-five. His educational advantages in his boyhood were only such as the old subscription schools afforded, and he gained most of his scho- lastic training after he was twenty-one years old, in the Freeburg Academy. But he improved his time there so well that he became competent to teach, and was thus engaged from 1858 to 1861,

in Freeburg. Ilis salary the first term was but eighteen dollars, and his compensation was in- Reformed congregation. Socially he is a member creased two dollars a month each term : he taught in all nine terms. Since twenty-eight years old On Oct. 6, 1894, Mr. Hilbush married Mary A. Otto, daughter of Washington Otto, and they have had three children : Robert W., Harry A. and Harriet L. he has followed surveying, being the only surveyor in his section of the county. In 1865 Mr. Hilbush came to his present home, the lot adjoining his father's old farm of 130 acres, which his brother Elias R. now owns. His home is pleasant and comfortable.

In 1865, as previously stated, Mr. Hilbush was elected a justice of the peace, and with the ex- ception of two terms has served in that office ever since, holding a commission from Governor Cur- tin down to the present date. In this connection he has been a very busy man, having made over sixteen hundred deeds and mortgages since enter- ing upon his duties, and he is a well known and popular citizen. Mr. Hilbush has been active in promoting the interests of the Democratic party for many years, having served as delegate.to sev- eral county conventions.

In 1867 Mr. Ililbush married Amanda Zartman. daughter of John and Mary ( Seiler ) Zartman, and they have had three children, all daughters : Annie, who died in her seventeenth year ; Mary and Lydia, both of whom are ummarried and live at home. All the family are members of the Re- formed Church.

EDWIN S. HILBUSH, a farmer of Jackson town- ship, near Otto Station, was born Aug. 15, 1866, son of Elias R. and Harriet (Seiler) Hilbush, of Jackson township, and grandson of Daniel Hil- bush, Jr. He was educated in the common schools of the township and reared to farm lite, working for his parents until he reached the age of twenty- The name was well represented among the Colon- ial sympathizers during the Revolutionary war. In the Pennsylvania Archives (5th Series, Vol. IV) we find (page 318) that George Drumheller belonged to the Continental Line, serving as a nine years. He was in the employ of the National Transit Company for fifteen years as fireman, be- ing at the Latsha station fourteen years and at State Line, Bradford 'county. In the spring of 1892 he commenced farming on the place where private in the Northampton county militia during

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 84

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