Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 85

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 85

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chased in 1890, and which was formerly the Dan- iel Zartman place, having been in the Zartman name for one hundred years. It was the ok] homestead of Daniel Zartman, who built the brick house now standing on the property in 1853. Zartman's U. E. Church, which stands ou this

progressive farmer, and he has not only been an intelligent business man but a wide-awake citizen. one who has served the community well. He was school director of the township for six years and township treasurer for two years. He has long been an active worker in the ranks of the Demo- cratie party, and served two years as county com- mitteeman. He has likewise been diligent in church work, having been deacon four years and at present a trustee of St. Peter's Church at Ma- hanov, where he and his family unite with the of Mahanoy Lodge, No. 551, I. O. O. F.

DRUMHELLER. The branch of the Drum- heller family here under consideration has repre- sentatives in various parts of Northumberland county, Oliver R. Drumheller, proprietor of the "Aldine Hotel," at Sunbury, being a well known business man of that borough : Emanuel C. Drum- heller is a prosperous farmer in Lower Augusta township : Albert Z. Drumheller, late of Mahanoy., was a lifelong resident of Jackson township and for many years the leading undertaker in his district.

Members of the Drumheller family came to America in the early days of this Commonwealth ... the Pennsylvania Archives ( Vol. XVII, page 441 ) showing that J. Leonhart Drumheller arrived Oct. 26, 1754. on the brigantine "Mary and Sarah." That they were for a number of years settled in Berks county is shown by the Federal Census Re- poit of 1790, which records the names of John and Nicholas Drumheller, of Earl township, that county: Jolin had one son above sixteen. three sons under sixteen and one daughter: Nicholas had one son above sixteen. three sons under six- teen and three daughters. Rev. C. R. Drumheller. of this stock, served as Lutheran pastor of the Stone Valley Union Church in Northumberland county, 1883-84: and of the Vera Cruz Union Church. in Dauphin county, 1883-84.

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that war, and that George Drumheller later was a Revolutionary soldier from Northampton coun- ty (page 649) : that Jacob Drumheller was a soldier in the Continental Line from Berks county (page 212) : and that Jacob Drumheller was a private in Capt. John Reese's company ( which formed a part of the 20 Pennsylvania Battalion), commissioned from Jan. 5, 1776, to Nov. 25, 1776.

Johann Nicholas Drumheller, great-grandfather of Albert Z., Emanuel C. and Oliver R. Drum- heller, was born March 14, 1750, in Odenwald. Germany, came to America with his brother, and settled in Berks county, Pa. He married ( first) Margaret Fischer, of that county, by whom he had two children, John and Nicholas, and after her death he married her sister, Catharine, in 1776. They had a family of eleven children: David. Margaret, Catharine, Abraham, Susanna ( married a Hoffman), Philip, Anna Elizabeth, Daniel. Mar- tin, Elizabeth and Nicholas (born Dec. 19, 1801, died Aug. 13, 1854. whose first wife was Eliza- beth Hetrich, born March 29, 1808, died Nov. 24, 1873). Johann Nicholas Drumheller died in Up- per Mahanoy in March. 1825, aged seventy-five · years ; his wife Catharine, born June 14, 1759. died On Sept. 13, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Dec. 18, 1832, and both are buried at Himmel's Church.

Abraham Drumheller, son of Johann Nicholas. was born Sept. 25, 1789, and died in 1850, at the age of sixty-one. He was a native of Wash- ington township, this county, but lived for a num- ber of years in Little Mahanoy township. where he was among the taxables in 1814, and after the death of his wife he returned to Washington town- ship to make his home with his brother Martin, dying there. He is buried at Himmel's Church. His wife, whose inaiden name was Seitz. died a few years before Mr. Drumheller. They had five children : Elizabeth married John Sweinhard ; Isaac is mentioned below : Nicholas S. is mentioned below .; Sarah married Abraham Dreibelbis, and they moved out to Brookville, Ill., where they died (their children were Adam, Eve and another daughter, the danghters being married to brothers by the name of Groli) ; Jesse, of Pottsville, Pa .. married Amelia Martz, and they have two sons and one daughter.

Isaac Drumheller, son of Abraham, was born in the vicinity of Mahanoy, and lived in the vi- cinity of St. Peter's Church in Lower Augusta township until his declining years, when he bought the property at Augustaville which he occupied until his death. He owned the tract of fifty-seven acres now the property of his son Emanuel and besides farming followed his trade of blacksmith. During the Civil war Mr. Drumheller served as a member of Company F, 122d Regiment, Pennsyl-

1895, when he was aged seventy-five years, eleven months, one day, and he is buried at the new Lutheran (St. Peter's) Church at Asherton, in Lower Augusta township, of which he was a mem- ber. Ile was a Democrat in politics and served his township as supervisor. Mr. Drumheller mar- ried Mary Conrad, daughter of John D. and Lydia Conrad, and she preceded him to the grave, dying Sept. 3, 1888, aged sixty-three years, ten months, three days. Six children were born to them, namely : Malinda married J. H. Inkrote, of Selins. grove Junction, Pa. ; Emanuel C. is mentioned below : Samuel, who lives in Lower Augusta town- ship, served as a Union soldier during the Civil war: Hiram C. is mentioned below : Jemima mar- ried George Zimmerman, of Shamokin, Pa .: Mary L. married Oliver Hawk, of Millersburg, Pen- sylvania.

EMANUEL C. DRUMHELLER, son of Isaac, was born March 19, 1846, in Lower Augusta town- ship, where he is now engaged in farming. He was trained to agricultural work from early boy- hood, working for his parents until he reached his majority, after which he was engaged at work on the Northern Central railroad for ten years. 210th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for one year, but served only nine months, when he was discharged by reason of the close of the war. After leaving the railroad work Mr. Drum- beller began burning lime, a business which he continued for three years, burning between four thousand and five thousand bushels annually. In 1896 he purchased his father's homestead, a tract of over fifty acres which he has since cultivated. He lives upon the Samuel Conrad homestead. a tract of four acres which Mrs. Drumheller in- herited, and has erected all the buildings on that property, including the residence, which he put up in 1870.

Mr. Drumheller has taken considerable part in the administration of local public affairs, having served as constable of the township for twelve successive years, supervisor one year, justice of the peace for five years, and tax collector. He is a Democrat in political affiliation and stands favor- ably with his party.

In 1870 Mr. Drumheller married Sydney N. Conrad, daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Kauff- man ) Conrad, of Lower Augusta township, and they have a family of five children, namely : Palmer F .. who conducts his father's farm : George A., of Ashland, Pa. : Anson B., of Sunbury. Pa. : Mamie E. and Emma V., both of whom are at home.

HIRAM C. DRUMHELLER was born May 28, 1853, in Lower Angusta township, and received his edu- ration in the common schools. During his young . vania Drafted Militia. His death occurred at Au- . manhood he filled teachers' places a number of gustaville, in Lower Augusta township, Jan. 23, 56

times, but never cared to teach regularly. When

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seventeen years old he began to learn the plaster- of Green Ridge, Northumberland county. Mr. er's trade with Milton Drumheller, a distant kins- Drumheller's second marriage was to Abigail Kembel, by whom he also had six children : Mary married Samuel Werniz, of Shamokin : Lydia mar- ried Frank W. Shipe, of Herndon : Ellen married W. P. Boyer, of Lower Mahanoy ; Wilson K., born Oct. 13, 1860, died April 8, 1879, aged eighteen years, five months, twenty-five days, and is buried at Zartman's U. E. Church; Alice married Wil- liam E. Zartman, of Jackson township: John Packer, born in 1872, died Oct. 23, 1875. aged three years, fifteen days, and is buried at Zartman's Church. man, and has continued to follow that vocation ever since, not only in his own district but also in Sunbury, Shamokin, Trevorton and other cities and towns of this section : for two years he worked in West Virginia. He owns a farm of forty acres in Lower Augusta township formerly the property of one Gross, and which was once part of the old Daniel Kauffman tract. Mr. Drumheller is at present serving as school director of the town- ship. He is a Democrat in political sentiment, but votes independently.

Mr. Drumheller married Susan Hollenback, daughter of Daniel Hollenbach and granddaughter of Michael Hollenbach, the pioncer. They have had a family of nine children : Lulu Mabel married Ralph Snyder and they live at Limestone, Pa. ; Hiram Herman married Abia Reitz and they live near Selinsgrove Junction : a son died in infancy ; Emery L. married Dora Herner and they live near Selinsgrove Junction : Frederick married Jennie Wirt and they live at Sunbury; Bertha died of typhoid fever in Virginia, where she was employed as an exchange girl; Olive E. married James Riland and they live at Limestone, Pa .; Frank and Eva live with their parents. Mr. Drumheller and his family are members of the new Lutheran (St. Peter's) Church in Lower Au- gusta township, which he has served in various official positions.

Nicholas S. Drinheller, son of Abraham, was born in Northumberland county May 25, 1821, and died Sept. 24. 1896, aged seventy-five years, three months, twenty-nine days. He is buried at Zartman's U. E. Church. He led an active and useful life. In his earlier years he followed shoe- making, making many shoes by hand, and later became a farmer, owning sixty-nine acres of land which he cultivated with characteristic thrift. His home was in Jackson township, on the south side of Mahanoy mountain. and he was active in local affairs, serving as overseer of the poor and for many years as supervisor of the township. In political connection he was a Republican, and dur- ing the Civil war he was an ardent Union man, serving as a soldier in that struggle.

Mr. Drumheller was twice married, his first wife, Rebecca Zartman, daughter of Jacob Zart- man, dying June 15, 1853, at the age of thirty years, three months, one day, the mother of six children, viz. : William Z., born in 1842, who died Nov. 17, 1876, and is buried at Zartman's U. E. Clurch; Harriet, who married ( first) Samuel

ALBERT Z. DRUMTIELLER was born Dec. 24, 1850, in Jackson township, and received his education in the subscription schools there, which were in vogue before the establishment of the free schools. He was trained to farm life, working upon the farm until he reached the age of eighteen years, after which he learned cabinetmaking at Pillow, Dauphin county. After following that trade sev- eral years as a journeyman he established himself in business at Mahanoy in 1875, following cabinet- making and undertaking at that location until his recent death-for a period of thirty-five years. For years after beginning the business he made coffins by hand, and continued to make a specialty of undertaking, in which line he became the leader in his section, having handled nearly five hundred funerals. In his earlier years at Mahanoy he made considerable furniture by hand, and in the course of his long business career gave employment to a number of men. His death, which occurred April 15, 1910, was quite unexpected, and was caused by a carbuncle. It took away one of the most substantial and respected citizens of the town. He was serving as anditor at the time of his deccase, and had been previously elected assessor of Jack- son township, though he was a Republican in a Democratic district.

In December, 1873, Mr. Drumheller married Mary Jane Gellinger, daughter of Daniel Gellinger, who died Nov. 17, 1909. Three children were born to this union: Charles H .. who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa: John, who died when six and a half years old ; and Edward A., who died Dec. 1, 1910. The family home is on the street between Herndon and Mahanov, a quarter of a mile from the latter place. Mr. Drumheller be- longed to the Reformed Church at Mahanov, as did his family.

Martin Drumheller, son of Johann Nicholas. was born Nov. 6, 1795, and died Dec. 5, 1852. He lived in Washington township, where he en- Kulp and (second) Anthony Culton : Henry Z., gaged in farming, and in his day was also a popu- born in 1847, who died Jan. 10, 1882, aged thirty-four years, six months, twelve days, and is buried at Zartman's Church : Sarah, who died aged three years ; Albert Z. ; and Isaac Jacob, a teamster, They bad children as follows: Levi, Adam, Sen-

lar auctioneer, crying most of the sales held in that section in his time. His wife, Elizabeth Frey, born Aug. 11, 1797, died Oct. 29, 1852. -

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erius (who settled out West), Mrs. Hetrich, Mrs. Danville to Sunbury to assume charge of the "Al- Heim (whose husband was a cabinetmaker) and dine Hotel," which he had purchased. It is a Edward T.

modern, up-to-date house, with forty guest rooms,

Edward T. Drumheller, son of Martin, was born located near the Pennsylvania railroad station, and Oct. 22, 1830, in the Swabian creek valley in under the present management is considered one Washington township, and lived in that township of the leading hotels of central Pennsylvania. until 1861, when he moved to Sunbury. There he Guests are accommodated upon either the Euro- was engaged as a hotel-keeper during the remain- pean or the Americau plan, Mr. Druniheller hav- der of his active years, though he was a tailor by ing a first-class restaurant in connection with the trade. His first venture was as proprietor of the hotel. His wide experience, his natural adapta- "Susquehanna Hotel." at the corner of Fourth and bility for the business and his courteous treatment Penn streets. In 1821 he built the "City Hotel," of his patrons, merit the success which has been which he completed and opened in January, 1822, his portion. His son, Dr. W. E. Drumheller, has conducting it until his retirement, when he was been associated with him, under the firm nanie succeeded by his son Oliver R. Drumheller and of O. R. Drumheller & Son, since he took charge son-in-law T. H. Hutchinson. He continued to of the "Aldine Hotel." Mr. Drumheller is nat- reside at the hotel, however, until his death, which urally well known in his business relations, but occurred there March 4, 1893. He married Mary he has a wide acquaintance outside of such asso- Elizabeth Hoffman, who was born Aug. 26, 1833, ciations, and is esteemed as a reliable and valuable daugliter of William Hoffman, of Washington citizen in his community. His substantial worth township, and died Feb. 10, 1905. They are buried is attested by all who know him. Mr. Drum- in Pomfret Manor cemetery, where their resting heller has traveled considerably, and he has at- place is marked by a large granite monument. Five tended many conventions of the B. P. O. Elks, children were born to their union: Oliver R .; Ella to which fraternity he belongs.

On Christmas Day, 1878, Mr. Drumheller mar-

M., wife of T. II. Hutchinson ; Seran C., who died unmarried March 29. 1892, aged thirty-four years, ried Elizabeth I. Shultz, daughter of Dr. B. F. three months, eight days; Dr. Francis E., of Sun- Shultz, of Danville, Pa. They have had one son bury ; and Harvey M., who died unmarried June and one daughter, Walter E. and Mary E. The 27, 1901, aged thirty-three years, eight months, daughter lives with her parents. Walter E. Drum- four days. Mr. Drumheller was one of the most heller graduated from the dental department of able, all-around hotel men Sunbury has ever known the University of Pennsylvania and practiced at and prospered so well in the business that he en- Berwick. Pa., and Philadelphia. He is active in joyed a substantial position at the time of his the fraternities as a Mason, a member of the Elks death. The "City Hotel," which he built, is to and of the Knights of Malta. He married Grace this day one of the most up-to-date hostelries in . McAnall. Sunbury.

OLIVER R. DRUMHELLER, present proprietor of D. ROSSWELL ROTHROCK, M. D., has been the "Aldine Hotel" in Sunbury, was born Jan. a resident of the borough of Milton, Northumber- 21, 1855, in Jordan township, this county. He land county, for twelve years and more, but though lived there until his parents settled in Sunbury in not one of its older citizens is well known, having 1861, and this has been his home for the most during his long residence in the town of New Ber- part ever since. He received his education in the lin, Union county, not many miles distant from common schools and literally grew up in the hotel his present home, made a reputation which pre- business, the details of which have been familiar ceded him hither. He owns a fine farm in Mon- to him from early boyhood. In 1882 he engaged tour and Union counties, also the cottage home he . in that business on his own account at the "City lives in, located at No. 40 Centre street.

Hotel," which he and his brother-in-law. Mr.

Dr. Rothrock was born Dec. 28, 1861, at New Hutchinson, conducted in partnership for five Bethlehem, Clarion Co., Pa., and is the third gen- years,. at the end of which time the latter retired. eration of his line to follow the medical profes- Mr. Drumheller and his brother Seran C. then sion, being a son of Dr. Rosswell Rothrock and a conducted it for five years, after which a younger grandson of Dr. Isaac Rothrock. Joseph Roth- brother, Harvey M. Drumheller, carried it on for rock. his great-grandfather, was born in what is a few years. It has since been operated by Dr. now Lebanon county, Pa., of German parentage. Francis E. Drumheller, of Sunbury. For eight In early manhood he removed to Mifflin county years, from 1893 to 1902, Oliver R. Drumheller and settled near Lewistown, where he followed conducted the well known "Windsor Hotel" at farming. He was well known among the early Shamokin, this county, and he was subsequently pioneers and was a bishop in the German Baptist in Danville for four years, there operating what Church. In polities he was a Whig. Ilis first was then known as the "Oliver House" (now the wife. Nancy, was the mother of all his children. "City Hotel"). In May, 1906, he came from and for his second wife he married a Miss Sell.

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The children, eight in number, were: John, Abra- rock married Mrs. Lydia (Bowersox) Leonard. ham, Isaac, Lizzie, who married Jonathan Amich, who died in February, 1857, leaving one daugh- Nancy (Mrs. Price), Mary ( Mrs. Hannavalt), ter, Adda L., who was born Sept. 20, 1854, and Mrs. Jacob Mohler and Mrs. Daniel Bashore. married R. R. Long, of Gettysburg. Pa. To his fourth marriage, with Angelina Wallace, a native of Mifflintown, no children were born. She died March 29, 1879, and is interred at Adamsburg. She was an earnest Christian and a devoted Sab- bath school worker.

Dr. Isaac Rothrock, son of Joseph, was born Nov. 22, 1798, at the old homestead near Lewis- . town. He was a student from early youth, mathe- matics and grammar being his favorite studies, and he retained his fondness for such pursuits to his old age, enjoying the solution of a difficult problem to the end of his days. He began his medieal studies with Dr. Ezra Doty, of Mifflin. Juniata county, and continned them with Dr. Thomas Van Valzah, of Lewisburg, later attend- ing three regular courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and although he did not graduate he was afterward given a com- plimentary diploma by the Eclectic Medieal Col- lege, Philadelphia. He began practice in Middle- burg with Dr. Henry Lechner, but afterward moved to Mifflintown and then to Adamsburg, where he purchased property, making his home. there until 1864. His medical practice took him over a large territory, and he continued in it for fifty-one years, spending his last years, however, in retirement at Adamsburg, in the enjoyment of his books, living there after 1864 until he died. Though so busy with his professional duties, he was not too busy to be a useful man in local pub- lic affairs, and he served his community in a num- ber of offices, including that of school director, also representing his district, composed of Lycom- ing, Union and Snyder counties, in the State Leg- islature, to which he was elected in 1866. In politics he was originally a Whig, later a Repub- lican. Like his father he was a devout member of the German Baptist Church. He died June 8, 1872.

Rosswell Rothrock, M. D., son of Dr. Isaac, was born Oct. 14, 1831, at Adamsburg, where he was reared and received the advantages afforded by the common schools. He tanght a few terms in a public school in the vicinity of Adamsburg, mean- time also reading medicine, until ready to enter Jefferson Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1851, when barely twenty years old. He was in active practice from that time until his death, which occurred March 1, 1897, at which time he was the oldest practitioner in Snyder county. His first location was at Adamsburg, where he remained until 1853, that year moving to Millville, Clarion county, where he was located nntil 1855. He was then at Bea- vertown, Snyder county, for a time, in 1860 mov- ing to New Bethlehem, Clarion county. He served over three years during the Civil war. On Aug. 29, 1861, he became surgeon of Company C, 78th P. V. I., was sent to the front, was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, and with eleven others of his regiment marched across Lookout Mountain to Ringgold, where they boarded a train for Rich- mond. After a month in Libby prison the Doc- tor and 125 others were marched away in the night and placed on Belle Isle or "Devil's Den." where he was held until Feb. 22, 1862. Again at night they were taken to the Pemberton build- ings, where they were placed aboard a train for Andersonville, where they found thirty-five thon-

Dr. Rothrock was married four times. His first wife, whose maiden name was Snyder, was a niece sand other prisoners with whom they endured all

of Governor Snyder. She died soon after inar- the horrors of that place nntil Sept. 5th. That date the Doctor was sent with a body of two thou- sand prisoners to Savannah. Six weeks later he had orders from the Confederate authorities to gather np all the men who could stand transpor- tation and board a train. for an unknown desti- nation, which proved to be Millen, Ga., where a new stockade had been built. Shortly afterward came the welcome news that ten thousand pris- of the first six hundred to be sent north, the jour- ney being made via Annapolis, Md. He rejoined his family, who were then residing at Clarion, Pa., and on Nov. 27, 1864, received an honorable discharge from the service. riage, and the only child of this union died in infaney. His second marriage was to Susan Swenk, a native of Middleburg, daughter of David Swenk, a well known justice of the peace. . She died in June, 1852, the mother of children as fol- lows : Rosswell is mentioned below : Mary J., born Dec. 28, 1832, married David Heckendorn. the first superintendent of publie schools of Union and Snyder counties, and (second) Philip Derr, oners would be exchanged. and the Doctor was one of Philadelphia, who is also deceased; Isaac S., born May 22. 1835. graduated in dentistry in Chi- cago and Philadelphia, and now resides in Ban- nerville, Pa. (he has been an invalid for over forty years from spinal tronble, which also affected his eyes) : Harriet C., born May 11. 1837, is the widow of James Herlacher, of Haven, Kans. ; David C., born May 3, 1842, is a dentist in Me- Clure, Pa .: Allen E., born Feb. 13. 1851, is a tanner in Lewistown. For his third wife Dr. Roth-

In 1866 Dr. Rothrock located at Bannerville. Snyder county, and in the spring of 1879 estab- lished himself in practice at Middleburg, as the place afforded better educational advantages for his children. In 1884 he made a permanent home

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at McClure, Pa., where he lived to the end of his he returned home to attend school during the life, practicing until his last sickness interrupted his work. As a physician, as a citizen, as a man, there were few who equalled Dr. Rothrock. He was the ideal general practitioner, not merely a prescriber of medicines, but a friend, adviser and comforter in every sense of the word, treating all his patients with exactly the same care, which was the best lie could give. When necessary he was nurse as well as physician, never considering his own health in his devotion to the welfare of oth- ers, but he had his reward in the affectionate es- teem manifested wherever he went. Though a busy man he had been active in the work of the G. A. R., and devoted to the interests of Capt. M. Smith Post, No. 355, which he served one year as commander and ten years as surgeon. At his request the Post took charge of his funeral (which took place at MeClure) with the assistance of the I. O. O. F., to which he belonged as a member of McCInre Lodge, No. 770, in which he was right supporter to the vice grand in 1896. Though not active in politics he was an ardent Republican in sentiment, but he was prominent in religious work as a member of Christ Evangelical Church at MeClure, for a number of years before his death.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 85

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