Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 88

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 88

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On Aug. 2, 1860, Washington Otto married Harriet Bower, and to them were born twelve chil- dren. We have the following record of the fam- ily: William H. H., born Oct. 31, 1863; Abra- ham L., born April 22, 1865; Agnes, who is un- married : George L., who died Jan. 1, 1908, aged forty years : Mary, wife of E. S. Hilbush. a farmer, living near Otto station: Lydia, wife of D. P. Russell, of Otto station, the engineer at the pump- ing station ; John C., born in 1874, who died Nor.

William H. H. Otto came to Northumberland county with his parents when a boy and received attending the academy at New Berlin, Union Co., Pa. He continued to work at farming with his father until his twenty-first year, in 1883 coming to Shamokin, where he became a clerk in the em- ploy of Seiler & Zimmerman. He remained in that connection until his death. By strict atten- tion to business, and giving evidence of more than average ability, he rose in the confidence of liis

John Otto, son of Conrad and Barbara (Seiler) Otto, was born in Berks county May 7, 1804. and came to Jackson township, Northumberland county, with his father early in the nineteenth century. He was a cobbler by trade, but in time. employers to such an extent that in 1896 he was gave his attention to farming, owning a farm in taken into partnership, the firm becoming Seiler, Jackson township, and he was also engaged on the Zimmerman, Otto & Co. The honse did a very construction of the Schuylkill canal. He died successful business, being one of the largest job- bing establisliments in the grocery line in central Pennsylvania, and Mr. Otto was considered a val- uable man throughout the period of his relations Aug. 3, 1886, at Herndon, where he had lived retired for nearly twenty years. John Otto was twice married, his first union being to Rebecca Groh, born Oct. 28, 1810, who died Dec. 20, 1845, . with the firm. He died in March. 1902, at the the mother of the following children : Washing- age of thirty-eight years, mourned by his busi-

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ness and personal friends, who were many. as well as by his family. The firmn is now Seiler, Zimmer- man & Seiler.

Mr. Otto was a member of the Reformed Church and took an active part in its work, serving his church as deacon; as financial secretary of the church board and as a teacher in the Sunday school, having a class of young men.

In 1888 Mr. Otto married Katie A. Glatfelter, daughter of Peter and Charlotte (Arnold) Glat- felter, of Juniata county. Pa .. near Richfield, who had a family of eleven children, namely: Refena, Emma, Henry, Calvin, Elizabeth, Jacob. Phebe, Katie A. (Mrs. Otto), Ellen, Daniel and Austin.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto had two children: C. Alva, born July 3, 1891. graduated from the Shamokin high school with the class of 1909; Waldo, born Sept. 18, 1893, is attending the high school. The family occupy the fine residence at No. 133 North Eighth street, Shamokin, which Mr. Otto erected in 1891.

PHILLIPS. The Phillips (Philips) family to which Elias Philips and Benjamin Phillips. broth- ers, and farmers in Jordan and Lower Mahanoy townships, Northumberland county, respectively, belong is of old Berks county stock, the progen- itors of the line in this country having settled in that part of Bern township, Berks Co., Pa .. now enibraced in Center township, that county. From this locality came several of the name to North- umberland county. settling in Mahanoy township. The brothers named trace their descent from the early Berks county settlers through two lines, ma- ternal as well as paternal, their mother, Susanna (Phillips), having been a daughter of Georg Phil- lips, the first of his line to come to this county. He was born in Berks county March 24, 1774, and died April 8, 1852. His wife, Sarah ( Fuchs), died Sept. 25, 1836, aged sixty-one years, three months, twenty-six days. They are buried at Zion's (Stone Valley) Church in what is now Lower Mahanoy township. Their children were : John ; Heinrich (born Jan. 9, 1803, died Oct. 23, 1853) ; Maricha, who married Peter Brosius : Elizabeth, who married Peter Witmer; Catharine (born April 9, 1805, died Sept. 30. 1889), who married Michael Witmer (born March 29, 1804, died Jan. 28, 1842) ; Sally, who married Hein- rich Fox; Christine, who died unmarried: and Susanna, who married Jacob Phillips.

Solomon Phillips, the progenitor of the family in America, came to this country in the ship "Phoenix." Capt. John Mason, which arrived at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 28, 1750, he being the only Phillips among the 339 passengers. He set- tled in Bern (now Center) township, where many of the name now reside. and lived to advanced vears, as did his son Michael. He reared a large family, two of his sons being Michael and Hein-

rich. Michael's son, John H., attained the ave of 105 years, and the latter's son Jacob lived to be ninety-two years old.

Heinrich Phillips resided near Belleman's Church, where he and his wife Esther ( Mogel ) lie buried. They reared children as follows: Peter, Jacob, John, Samuel, John Adam, and several daughters.

Jacob Phillips, father of Elias and Benjamin Phillips, was born in Berks county, and caine to Northumberland county when eighteen years old. He settled in Lower Mahanoy township, where he found work among farmers, one of whom was Georg Phillips, whose daughter Susanna he after- ward married. After his marriage he commenced farming on his own account in Lower Mahanoy, where he remained a number of years, moving thence to a farin he purchased in Jordan township, the property now owned by his son Elias. He cultivated this place for several years, later pur- chasing the George Phillips farm in Lower Ma- hanov, to which he moved, making his home there- on until his death, which occurred there April 20, 1862, when he was fifty-four years. ten months, four days old. So well had he prospered by steady industry that at the time of his death he owned the two farms mentioned and one in Snyder county, and had several thousand dollars in money. He and his wife Susanna. who died Aug. 16, 1892, at the age of eighty-one years. eight months, twelve days, are buried at the Zion's (Stone Valley) Church. They were the parents of fourteen chil- dren, seven sons and seven daughters, viz .: Isaac. Elias, Benjamin. John, William, George, Jacob. Sarah (who died May 15, 1895, aged fifty-eight years, nine months, six days, married William Schaffer, who died May 6. 1895, aged fifty-nine years, one month, twenty-four days), Ann (mar- ried Samuel Spotts), Catharine (married Isaac Spotts, brother of Samuel. who married her sis- ter), Malinda (married Isaac Trego). Susanna (married Emanuel Boyer), Lizzie (married Frank Dreibelbis) and Emma J. (died young).

ELIAS PHILIPS was born Oct. 30, 1832, in the western part of Berks county; and was about two . years old when his parents returned to Northum- berland county. When a young child he went to live with his maternal grandfather, Georg Phil- lips, who owned a large farm on the banks of the Susquehanna river in Lower Mahanoy township. He remained in his grandfather's household until about eighteen years old, when he returned to his father, who was then on the farm which he him- self now owns and occupies. Elias Philips having come into possession of it upon his father's death. This place, which is one mile west of Urban, in Jordan township. contains 162 acres of the very best land in the locality, and is nearly level : Mr. Philips has large fields, on one of which, com- prising thirty-eight acres, he raised over eleven

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

hundred bushels of wheat about 1900. The place and his family among the working members, and was originally settled by members of the Lesher he is at present acting as church treasurer and as family, and the barn still standing was ereeted a member of the cemetery committee. He has been by Jaeob Lesher. The old house was burned Feb. deacon, elder and trustee of that congregation. 28, 1908, having taken fire about ? o'clock in the.

On May 10, 1888, Mr. Philips married Sarah morning, and the family escaped narrowly. The Jane Geise, daughter of the late Daniel and Fro- present dwelling was put up by Mr. Philips the enica (Trautman) Geise, also of Jordan, and to same year. He is a man respeeted for the useful them have been born three children, Charles Jay. Edwin and Katie Jemima.

and industrious life he has led, useful to others as well as in promoting his own affairs. He served

GEORGE J. PHILLIPS, son of Elias, was born on his township as supervisor and was a school di- his father's farm in Jordan township Mareh 16. reetor when the free school system was established 1862. He was reared to farming, working for in this region and the schoolhouses were built, his father until he reached the age of twenty- during the late sixties. In religious matters he three, when he commenced agricultural pursuits on and his family are Lutherans, belonging to St. his own account on the homestead. He was in Paul's Church at Urban, which Mr. Philips served partnership there with his brother Elias four many years in official capacities, being deacon. years, lived elsewhere for two years, and then, re- elder and trustee, giving up these duties only when advaneing age made it advisable. He is a Dem- ocrat in political opinion.

On Aug. 29, 1854. Mr. Philips married Kate Krissinger, daughter of John and Esther ( Bush) Krissinger, and they had children as follows: Sarah (married Wilson Schadel). Lewis. Kate (married Rudolph Schlegel), George J .. Jane (married Isaac Michael ). Elias K., John, Susanna (married Aaron Updegraft) and Agnes ( married John Strohecker and a Mr. Troxler ). Mrs. Phil- ips died June 5, 1889, aged fifty-two years, ten months, two days.

ELIAS K. PHILIPS, son of Elias, was born Oct. 19, 1862, .on his father's farm, and was reared to farm life, working for his father until he be- came of age. In the spring of 1890 he began farming on his father's property, which is consid- ered the finest place in the Stone Valley, continu- ing there for a period of six years, four years in partnership with his brother George and two years alone. In the spring of 1896 he came to his pres- ent, plaee in the Stone Valley, in Jordan township, comprising seventy-five acres which formerly be- longed to William Shaffer and earlier to the Lesli- er family. It is limestone soil and in excellent condition, Mr. Philips having made numerons im- provements during his ownership, repairing and

turning to the home place, farmed it alone for three years. During the two years mentioned he was on the Wert farm in the same valley. For five- years he lived in Toad Valley, on the farm of his- father-in-law, Jacob Michael, coming to his pres- ent place, in Lower Augusta township, along the. Susquehanna. in the spring of 1904. having pur- ehased it the previous fall. It was formerly the George Seiler homestead, and comprises 140 acres of fertile land, being one of the extra good farms in the region. There are good buildings on the- place, the best in this section, and the large barn is comparatively new, having been built in 1900 by Aris Seiler, son of George. Mr. Phillips has modern machinery and has prospered by up-to- date methods combined with industry and good management. He keeps his place up to the mark all the time, and though his buildings and equip- ment are first-class it is his thrift and intelligent use of his resources which deserve special mention. The water supply on the place is unusually good. and most conveniently arranged, the barn men- tioned being particularly well favored in this re- spect. It has other sanitary arrangements, ce- mented stables, entries, ete., which commend them- selves to the modern farmer. It is considered one- of the model barns of Northumberland county.

On Jan. 18, 1890, Mr. Phillips was married to. adding to the buildings, putting into practice the Mary Michael, daughter of Jacob and Catharine most approved ideas on modern agriculture. and in ( Bobb) Michael, and five children have been born various ways adding materially to the value of the to this union, namely: Harry E., May K., Ray property. Close by he owns another tract, con- G .. Lee J. and William R.

taining thirty-nine acres a little south of his home Mr. Phillips and his family are members of the .Stone Valley Church (Zion's), he being a mem- ber of the Lutheran congregation. and Mrs. Phil- lips belonging to the Reformed congregation. He has held the office of deacon. He is a Democrat in politics, and is at present holding the office of school director of Lower Augusta township. place, and there is a set of buildings on that prop- erty also. He is known as one of the most enter- · prising men in his district and well deserves the reputation. He is at present serving as super- visor of Jordan township, and has also held the offices of tax collector and school director. He is an active Democrat, taking considerable interest Isaac Phillips, son of Jacob, began farming in in the success of the party. The Lutheran Church partnership with his brother Elias, of Jordan town- at Urban, with which the Phillips family has been ship, on the farm where the latter still lives. Att- identified for several generations, also claims him er a number of years' residence there he moved to.

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the farmn of his grandfather, George Phillips, in hanoy township, where he was reared to farm life. Lower Mahanoy township, remaining at that place He began farming on his own account in 1858, for over twenty years. He was then a tenant for one year in the same township, and thence removed to Juniata county, Pa., where he owned a thirty- acre farm upon which he lived until about six months before his death. He died near Dalmatia Oet. 28, 1902, aged seventy-one years, three months, eleven days, at the home of his son Isaac F. Phillips. He is buried at Stone Valley (Zion's) Church, and was a member and officer of the Luth- eran congregation of that church, to which his Berks county and who in his day was one of the family also belonged, his wife, however, being a member of the Reformed congregation there. In politics he was a Republican, and he served many vears in the office of supervisor in his township. His wife, Catharine ( Freymover), daughter of Jacob Freymoyer (whose wife's maiden name was Kloek), is also buried at the Stone Valley Church. They had children as follows: Emma. Mrs. Dan- iel Tyson; Lizzie, Mrs. Newton Schaffer; Jacob ; John F. ; Isaac F .; Senera ; and William, Eman- uel and George, all of whom died young.

Jacob Phillips, a prosperous farmer of Lower Mahanoy township, was born Oct. 5, 1861. in Jor- dan township, and was less than a year old when his parents moved to Lower Mahanoy township. He was reared to farming, which he began on his own account in 1892 in the southwestern part of the township, being a tenant on the Charles Kop- penhaver farm for four years. In the spring of 1896 he moved to the farm whereon he has since resided, a tract of 106 acres, fertile land, nicely loeated and well watered, which under his care has been maintained in a fine state of cultivation. It is between Stone Valley Church and Union- town (Pillow), and was formerly the homestead „ of Christophel Witmer. It has been in the Witmer name for considerably over one hundred years, and is at present owned by Hon. Charles B. Wit- mer in partnership with Mr. Phillips. Since 1880 Mr. Phillips has been engaged in threshing, in which line he is the leading man in his section, threshing as much as twenty thousand bushels of grain in a season. He has a fine Peerless outfit, and is prepared to do anything in that line that comes his way. He has been a school director of Lower Mahanoy township since 1903.

on one of his father's properties near his present place, and remained there one year. Then, in partnership with his brother Elias, he purchased the farm in Jordan township where the latter now lives, and they were together on that place for three years, at the end of which time Elias Philips . bought the property, Benjamin Phillips coming to his present place in the Stone Valley. This was the old home of Isaac Dreibelbis, who came from characters of this region, the older settlers still recalling many pleasant memories of "Essack's Schlissel." He operated a tannery on the place, , and the old foundation is still standing. Mr. Phil- lips has 110 acres of the finest land in the town- ship well located and under a fine state of culti- vation, the owner possessing the thrifty and in- dustrious habits and faculty for good management characteristie of his family. He built the present barn in 1895, part of the house in 1894, the old part being remodeled.

On Dec. 11, 1859, Mr. Phillips married Harriet Rothermel, daughter of Charles Rothermel and granddaughter of Abraham Rothermel. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding Dec. 11, 1909, amid a large con- course of relatives and friends who came to do them honor and to wish them many more years of hap- piness and prosperity. Eleven children blessed their union : Sevilla married James Ferster : Chilion is a farmer in Lower Mahanoy township: Frank died in his twenty-seventh year (he was married ) ; Charles lives in Lykens Valley. in Dauphin county: George W. died young: Lizzie married John A. Spotts: Nettie married Jere Radel. of Dalmatia ; Elias lives on and farms the homestead : Isaac is a resident of Lykens Valley : Katie married Conway Bohner : James died young. Mr. Phillips and his family are Lutheran mem- bers of Zion's (Stone Valley) Church, in which he was an active worker for many years, serving as deacon, elder and trustee. He is a Democrat in politics.

CHILION PHILLIPS, son of Benjamin, was born Sept. 2, 1861, on one of the Jacob Phillips farms. and he has been interested in farm work all his life. Mr. Phillips married Maggie Witmer, daughter of Isaae and Susanna ( Bubb) Witmer, and a sis- ter of Hon. C. B. Witmer, one of the foremost eitizens of Northumberland county. Eight chil- dren have been born to this union, namely: An- nie, Harry, Fred, Alice, Molly, Clarence, Milton and Minerva. Mr. Phillips and his family are served some years as deacon. Politically he is a Republican. He worked for his parents until he reached his majority, after which, for cleven years. he followed threshing, during the latter part of this period also engaging in farming in Lower Mahanoy town- ship. Sinee 1893 he has devoted his energies ex- clusively to farming. During the eighties he pur- chased the farm near Hickory Corners. in the members of the Stone Valley Church, and he Stone Valley, where he now lives, one of the John Kiebel homesteads, which consists of fifty-nine aeres of the most fertile land in this productive BENJAMIN PHILLIPS, son of Jaeob and brother belt. Mr. Phillips put up his present barn in of Elias, was born March 23, 1838, in Lower Ma- 1902 and his other buildings in 1904. He is a

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

substantial and successful farmer, believing in Donald, who was born in Queen's County, Ireland, both up-to-date methods and old-fashioned indus- and with whom he came to Schuylkill county, Pa., try, a combination which, in the results he has before the Civil war, subsequently moving to Trev- obtained, speaks for itself. He is a Democrat, orton. Mr. Coates was killed in the mines in De- and has served one term as school director. He cember, 1868. He is buried at Trevorton. There and his family are Lutheran members of the Zi- were five children in his family: John M., Eliz- on's Union Church of Stone Valley, and he has abeth, Katie, Thomas J. and Margaret. served as deacon.

Thomas J. Coates attended school at Trevorton In March, 1881, Mr. Phillips married Sarah B. and was only a boy when he began picking slate Ferster, daughter of David and Judith (Brosius) at the breaker. He was employed in the mines Ferster and granddaughter of Peter Ferster. They about twelve years before he went to learn the have had three children: Katie, wife of David trade of cabinet-maker, at Trevorton. Later he Lenker, a school teacher and farmer; Gertie, who took up carpentry, and in 1893 he engaged in died aged nine years ; and. Charles B. business as a contractor at Shamokin, becoming as- umder the name of T. J. Coates & Bro. They have had a profitable business from the beginning, and

WILLIAM PHILLIPS, son of Jacob and brother sociated in that line with his brother John M., of Elias and Benjamin. was born Oct. 12, 1841, on his father's farm, and received his education in the old-fashioned pay schools which were the rule some idea of the magnitude of their operations, during his boyhood. The instruction was in Ger- 'and of the class of work intrusted to them, may be man, and the terms were only a few months long, gained from the statement that they have had the so that the advantages they afforded were none too contracts for the following school buildings in liberal. Working for his parents until he was of Coal township: Washington, at Springfield ; Stev- age, Mr. Phillips has since followed farming on his ens, at Bear Valley : Webster, at Hickory Ridge: own account and has also engaged extensively in lime burning, owning a limestone ridge. His an- nual output is about fifteen thousand bushels, and one year he burned twenty-four thousand, five hundred bushels for his brother Elias. His farm consists of twenty-five acres in Jordan township about one mile west of Urban. Penn, at Boydtown; Lincoln, at Johnson City; Schaeffer, at Uniontown : Lafayette, at Fairview : Longfellow, at Hickory Swamp; Whitney, at Ex- celsior : McKinley, at Edgewood : and St. Ed- ward's, at Shamokin. Among other important contracts which they have filled are those for St. Patrick's church and parsonage at Trevorton; for the Shamokin and Coal township almshouse; the first residences at Edgewood, and the first resi- dences at Johnson City. The partners are both men of high business and personal standards, and they deserve the prosperity which has rewarded. their enterprise.

. In 1866 Mr. Phillips married Elizabeth Nace, daughter of Daniel and Magd. ( Hartranft) Nace. and six children have been born to this union. Mintie A. married John Byerly; Maggie married Ira Held: Cora married John Thomas: Clara married Henry Suyder: Alice married George Baum : Thomson died aged fifteen years. Mr. Mr. Coates married Annie V. Coulston, daugh- Phillips and his family are members of St. John's ter of William J. Coulston, and six children have Church at Urban, in which he has served as deacon, been born to them: John William, Thomas, An- nie. John, James and Catherine (who died in in- fancy). Mr. Coates is a member of St. Edward's Church and of the Holy Name Society. elder and trustee. He is a Democrat in political connection, and has acted as school director and in various other local offices.

THOMAS J. COATES. of Shamokin, mem- lives with Mr. and Mrs. Coates, was born in Eng- ber of the firm of T. J. Coates & Bro., who do a large business as contractors, can point to many evidences of his skill and executive ability in the number of public buildings which have been erect- ed under his supervision during his career in this line. Eleven schoolhouses in Coal township alone are the work of this firm, which receives a gener- ous share of the patronage in Northumberland county in its particular branches of work.

Mr. Coates was born at Trevorton, Northum- berland county, June 3. 1866, son of Thomas Coates. a native of County Galway, Ireland, who came to America in young manhood. His first Fenan, he had three children : Annie V. (Mrs. location was in New York City, whence he went Coates), William (who is deceased) and Wil- to New Jersey, there following the business of liam A. gardener. At Matteawan, N. J., he married Katie

William J. Coulston, Mrs. Coates's father, who land May 15, 1825, and came to America in 1846 on a sailing vessel with 280 other passengers. He landed at New York City. Coming to Shamokin in 1866, he has since made his home there, being now one of the oldest residents of the borough. For several years he was in the employ of the late Thomas Bauingardner, at the mines. He is an in- telligent man, and well informed. By his first wife, Catherine Cocklin. Mr. Coulston had children as follows: Himes, Thomas, John, Joseph. Thom- as (?). Elizabeth, Susanna, Margaret, James and Martin H. By his second union, with Bridget

JOHN M. COATES, brother and business partner

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

of Thomas J. Coates, was born in 1858 in New had ten children ) : Frank died young; Emma J. Jersey. He followed mining until he engaged in married R. B. Latsha and they live at Catawissa, business with his brother. Mr. Coates has been Pa. ; Ella C. died young ; Charles B. carries on the a well known figure in public life in this county old farm. for a number of years, having been elected jury commissioner of the county in 1902 and reelected in 1906, and he has also served as assistant assess- or of Coal townhip. He is a Democrat in political sentiment. He is a prominent member of St. Edward's Church and of the Knights of St. Ed- ward, of which organization he was the first audit- or, still holding this office; he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and secretary of his lodge.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 88

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