Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 94

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 94

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Henry D. Gold, Jr., born June 4, 1867, was, educated in the common schools and the Normal school at Money. He was reared to farming, as- sisting his father in the store until he moved to. Lewis township, he and his brother owning the. farm jointly for some years, when he sold his in- terest to his brother Horace, for whom he has since worked. He is holding a local office at present and takes an interest in public affairs. In politics he is a Republican, in religion a member of the Pres- byterian Church.

On July 4, 1861, Mr. Gold married Sarah Coon- er, who died April 13, 1910, aged seventy-nine years. She was a Presbyterian in religious faith, while Mr. Gold is a Lutheran. They had children as follows: Davilla, unmarried, who lives at Mc- Ewensville: Ambrose, unmarried, of Homewood, Pa .; Mary, who married Dr. E. J. Schlicher, and lives at MeEwensville : Inez. wife of Charles Wol- - ler, living at Williamsport: Elizabeth, who died in infancy; John C .. who died in the oil region in Olio, by suffocation : and Susan, who married Wil- son Cotner, of McEwensville.

AARON SHAFFER, a farmer near the village Henry D. Gold. another son of David Gold, was born Feb. 10, 1829. in Bushkill township, North- ampton Co., Pa .. and came with his parents to Northumberland county in 1841, loeating at Me- Ewensville. where he grew up. When about eighteen he began clerking in a general store, fol- lowing that work some years, after which he con- ducted a store of his own at Exchange. Montour county, where he was in business for some years. of Urban, in Jordan township, was born Feb. 1. 1853. on the farm where he now lives, son of Wil- liam T. and Mary (Lenker) Shaffer. He is a grandson of Michael Shaffer, who came into this region from Berks county, and who it is supposed was a descendant of Michael Sheaffer, who settled "on Tulpehocken" in 1233 and died about 1160. Among his children were: John Nicholas; Maria Catharine: Mrs. John Jacob Lareh: Anna Bar- Moving thence to Clarkstown, Lycoming county. he bara, who married David Brown: Margaretta carried on a general store at that place until his death, Feb. 8. 1899, when he was seventy years old, less two days. He was a Republican in sen- timent, but was no politician. Widely known as a business man, his patrons came from a large ter- ritory, and he was universally liked and respected. For twelve years he served as postmaster. He is buried at MEwensville. Mr. Gold was a Lutheran in religious faith. He married Eleanor Wilson, who was born July 3. 1831. daughter of William and Eleanor ( Blaine) Wilson, of Lewis township, this county, and died Feb. 9, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Gold had three children: William W., born in April, 1859, who died in his fifth vear, in Febru- ary, 1864; and Horace and Henry D., Jr., both born in Muncy Creek township. Lycoming county. Elizabeth, who married Hieronymus Rudy; and Leonard. We have record only of Leonard, who was a resident of Heidelberg township, Berks coun- ty. where he owned a farm and the old Sheaffer hotel stand, which he conducted for some years. Ile died in middle age, and his wife conducted the hotel for some years, marrying for her second hus- band George Gernant, who was sheriff of Berks county from 1844 to 1847. One daughter was born to this union, Harriet. who became the wife of Henry Van Reed. To Leonard and Elizabeth ( Hain) Sheaffer were born children as follows: Leonard. who died when twenty years old : Ben- jamin, who married Catharine Mengel and died in Cumru township, Berks county, Nov. 24, 1887. in his eightieth year: John, who settled in Wash- Horace Gold, born April 9, 1864, was educated in the common schools and in the Lycoming county. seph, whose son Daniel is a well known cigarmaker normal school, and when seventeen years old was licensed to teach. He taught five terms in his na- ington, D. C., where his children still reside; Jo- at Norristown, Pa .; Catharine, who married John Saylor : and Sophia, who married Daniel Hebener,

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a drover of Reading, who it is believed was mur- of age. When quite young he began to burn lime, dered, as he never returned from a trip on which he went with money to buy cattle.

Michael Shaffer; the grandfather of Aaron Shaf- fer, was born in Berks county Mareh 12, 1783, therefore it would seem likely he was a grandson of the Michael Sheaffer mentioned above if he came from that stock. Moving from Rehrersburg, Berks county, he settled in Dauphin county, near Gratz, where he lived for abont two years, thence remov- ing to Jordan township, Northumberland county, where he took up land upon which he resided the remainder of his lite. He was one of the pioneers in the Stone Valley, where he was one of the ex- When Mr. Shatfer's grandfather, Michael, owned the farm, which has been in the family name at least since 1830, its acreage was much greater. between 250 and 300 aeres. extending down to Urban. When Aaron Shaffer bought the home- stead it comprised only ninety aeres. to which he has added until he now has 130. The present house and barn were erected by William T. Shaf- fer. the latter about 1866-67, and there is still standing on the traet a log tenant house built by Michael Shaffer. Aaron Shaffer is a progress- ive but conservative member of his community. respected and trusted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He has been a valuable cit- tensive land owners and substantial citizens of his day. Physically he was of medium size. He died June 30, 1860, and is buried at St. Paul's Church, at Urban, of which he was a Lutheran member. Michael Shaffer was married before his removal into this section, his wife being Elizabeth (To- bias), born June 13, 1788, died Oct. 6, 1861. She, too, is buried at the Urban Church. They had three sons and two daughters: Joseph settled in Crawford eounty, Pa .. where he followed farming and died leaving a large family: William T. is mentioned below : Moses, who was a carpenter and fariner, settled in Jefferson county, Pa .. where he died (he had two sons ) : Lydia married Abraham . izen, having served many years as a member of the Klock and they lived and died in Northumberland county : Amanda married_Edw. Baum ..

township school board, and for a number of years . past he has been an overseer of the poor. Politie-

William T. Shaffer, son of Michael, was a farm- ally he is a Democrat, and in religion he is a Luth- er on the old homestead in Jordan township, where eran, belonging to St. Paul's Church: he was he passed all but a few years of his life. moving deacon for many years, later an elder. and since

away for a short time after his marriage. He was 1900 has been a trustee. born June 17, 1819, and died May 28. 1888. In In 188? Mr. Shaffer married Lizzie Baum. daughter of Henry_D. and Catharine_( Mover) Baum. of Mahantango township, Schuylkill Co., Pa .. and they have had five children: Jennie M .. who married Charles Engel and lives at Herndon. Pa. : William H., born May 31, 1887: Charles D .. born Feb. ? , 1889; Mamie C .: and George R. his earlier life he was a boatman on the Pennsyl- vania canal, and later he was extensively engaged in lime burning as well as farming, keeping many teams busy hauling his lime. He was aetive in church and public affairs, and held offiees in his township and church. He and his wife, Mary, are buried at St. Paul's: she was born July 4, 1816, daughter of Michael Lenker (who married ROTHERMEL. The Rothermel family is well represented in Jordan township, where William W .. Lazarus W .. Manasses W. and Momme Rothermel. all sons of the late Isaac Rothermel, reside. The Rothermels have been identified with this section an Emerich), and died Dee. 28, 1896. They were the parents of the following children: Michael, who served as a soldier in the Civil war, after which he went out to northwestern Nebraska. where he became a cowboy (he had a family of four of Northumberland from the beginning of the children) : Moses: Isaae: Aaron: William, who last century, when Abraham. Rothermel, grandfa- died young : Catharine, married to Jacob Byerly: ther of the four brothers mentioned, came hither Louisa. married to Daniel Sherry : Mary, married . from Berks county, where his ancestors located in to William Kutz: and Jane, who married Jesse an early day.

Stehr and (second) Charles Shade. Aaron and Jane are the only survivors of this family.

Aaron Shaffer was reared under the parental roof, and learned the details of farm work at an early age. He obtained a good, practical educa- tion in the publie schools of the home locality and by applying himself as he grew older, and he lived at home, working for his parents. until he became name Rothermel.

which he hauled to the different farmers summer and winter, after that became the custom. In the early days, when he burned as much as 28,000 or 30,000 bushels in a year, the farmers came for the lime, doing their own hauling, but it soon became the custom for the lime burner to deliver it. When he eame to carry on this business less extensively. Mr. Shaffer averaged 12,000 bushels annually for ten years. For a number of years Mr. Shaffer furnished the horses to the State of Pennsylvania for use at the annual encampments of the National Guard, held at Mount Gretna and Gettysburg.

This Rothermel family traees its genealogy back some four hundred years to one Johannes Rother- mel, who won both fame and a name in the early wars of Germany. He was a brave soldier, and so frequently dyed his arm in the blood of his enemies that his eomrades designated him as der Roth Er- inel (red sleeve), and in this way he acquired the

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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

John Rothermel, descendant of this early pro- old. This worthy couple were the parents of the genitor, was born in the Province of Wachbach, following children: Charles, mentioned at length Holland, in 1688, and in 1708 married Sybilla below ; Martin, who located in Ogle county, Ill.' Zimmerman, native of the same province, and a sis- (his son Robert served in the Union army, and ter of the famous General Zimmerman of the he had also a son Amos) ; Hannah, who married Michael Emerich (no children) ; Susanna, who married Jacob Hoffman, of Washington, North- umberland county; Mary, whose first husband was a Mr. Geist, her second Andrew Kahler (they located at Red Bank, in Jefferson county, Pa.) : Catharine, who married Charles Boardsherry, and lived at Northumberland ; Isaac, mentioned below ; and Amos, who settled in Illinois, and whose daughter married a minister (he served in the Fed- eral army during the Civil war and met his nephew, William, in the general review at Washington at the close of the war).

Dutch army. In 1730, after the birth of one daughter and five sons, he set sail from Rotterdam with his entire family for America. John Roth- ermel died at sea and never saw the shores of the country for which he started. His wife and chil- dren arrived at Philadelphia Aug. 29, 1:30, and the following year settled in what is now Berks county, Pa. The daughter, Anna Maria, who had married Peter Fetherolf in Wachbach in 1729, soon settled with her husband in Macungie town- ship, Lehigh Co .. Pa., where they passed the re- mainder of their lives. The five sons were: Lawrence, Peter, Paul. John and Christian, all of whom settled in Berks county. All the early Roth- ermels are buried in the family cemetery at Wal- nuttown, Berks county. Lawrence, the eldest son, settled in Windsor township, where he married a Miss Kuhns; he rose to be one of the foremost citizens of that section. Paul purchased a large tract of land in Maiden-creek township and settled upon it: he married Catharine Maurer, by whom he had five sons and one daughter. Peter beeame a large land owner in the fertile valley of the Manatawny, where he prospered and raised a fam- ily of four children. John settled in Windsor township, where his elder brother, Lawrence, had already located. Christian, the youngest of the family, purchased a large tract of land in Maiden- creek township, adjoining the property of his broth- er Paul : he married and had six children, two sons and four daughters.

One Leonard Roadarmel, "late of Berks county," died in Rush township, Northumberland Co., Pa., in 1835. On June 12, 1835, letters of adminis- 'tration were granted to his son John Roadarmel, who gave bond in the sum of $500 (record at court- house, Sunbury, Pennsylvania).

A son Abraham is recorded among the children of Peter Rothermel, son of John, but as the rec- ords say Abraham had a brother Joseph, "a tall man," he could not have belonged to that family, as Peter had no son Joseph. Abraham was evidently, however, a grandson of John and Sybilla, but through which son these records do not show.

Abraham Rothermel was born in Oley township, Berks county, Aug. 22, 1777, eame to Northum- berland eonnty after his marriage, and lived near Rebuck, in what is now Washington township. He owned a large farm (now in the possession of Dan- iel Kahler), was a blacksmith by trade, and was noted for his strength. He died Feb. 23, 1861, when over eighty-three years old, and he and his wife. thus four years, after which he moved to Eldred Catharine Yeager (or Feager), are buried at the Himmel Church ; she was born Dec. 21, 1729, and died Sept. 1, 1872, when over ninety-two years

Charles Rothermel, son of Abraham, was born Aug. 8, 1808, and died aged eighty-three years, seven months, five days. He was a farmer, resid- ing where Daniel Kahler now lives, in Washington township, and owned that farm. having 133 acres cleared and some woodland. He was a Democrat, served as school director of his township, and was an active member of the Reformed congregation at the Himmel Church, where he held the offices of deacon and elder many years, also giving long service as member of the church couneil. He was twice married, and by his first wife, whose maiden name was Bower, had children : Killian, Harriet (wife of Benjamin Phillips), Aaron, Joseph and Amanda. We have record of Joseph Rothermel, who died Oct. 5, 1904, aged sixty-three years. eleven months, six days, and who may have been the son Joseph here mentioned. Amanda Rother- mel, "daughter of Carlos and Elizabeth," born Nov. 4, 1842. died June 3, 1861. For his second wife Mr. Rothermel married Mrs. Harriet ( Beis- sel or Beisel) Clark, daughter of Daniel Beissel or Beisel and widow of John Clark. She was born April 28, 1823, and died Jan. 1, 1894. By this marriage there were eight children: Abraham, born in 1847. who died in 1862: Helena, who mar- ried Elias Oxenreider (he is deceased) ; Daniel, mentioned below ; Frank, now a resident of Trer- orton, Pa .: Catharine, twin of Frank, who was born in 1855, and died in 1862; Lewis B., who is mentioned later in this article : Mary, who married James Geist and (second) Monroe Rebuck: and Sarah. deceased, who was the wife of Daniel Sny- der.

Daniel Rothermel, son of Charles, was born Sept. 22, 1852, in Washington township, and was reared upon the farm, working for his parents un- til he attained his majority. He began farmning on his father's homestead as a tenant. continuing township. Sehmylkill county, where he farmed for seven years. He then spent four years in Wash- ington township, Northumberland county, four

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years in Jackson township, and for the next seven eight acres of cleared land. formerly belonged to years farmed in the Lykens Valley. In 1902 he his uncle, Joseph Rothermel, and before his owner- ship was a Reitz homestead. It is in Washington township, near the Himmel Church. Mr. Roth- ermel is at present serving as one of the auditors of his township. He is a Demoerat in politics, and in religion clings to the Reformed faith, belong- ing to that congregation at the Himmel Church, where his wife holds membership in the Lutheran congregation. On May 28, 1904, Mr. Rothermel married Katie Kahler. daughter of Andrew and Mary (Paul) Kahler, prominent residents of Washington township, and they have three ehil-

returned, to Washington township and purchased the David Ferster homestead of 135 acres, owning also his father-in-law's house near Urban, where he lives ; this house stands on an acre of ground which formerly belonged to the Ferster farm. Mr. Rothermel rents his own farm. Mr. Rothermel married Catharine Ferster, daughter of David and Judith ( Brosius) Ferster, and they have had a large family, viz .: John died at the age of twen- ty-one years: Jane married Wilson Brosius and they live in Washington township; James, born May 4, 1879. is now the tenant on his father's dren: Charles, John and Allen. farm, which he is engaged in cultivating (he mar- ried Anna Bohner. daughter of Peter Bohner, and they have one child, Carrie) : Ida lives in Sunbury : Charles is in business as an undertaker at Herndon, this county : Levi is mentioned below ; Katie and Mabel are engaged as silk workers at Sunbury ; Minnie died aged four years ; one son died in infancy. Mr. Rothermel is a Demoerat, and in religious connection he and his family are Reformed members of St. Paul's Church at Urban, . of which he was deacon some years and since 1903 has held the office of elder.

Levi Rothermel, son of Daniel, was born in Washington township and received his early edu- eation in the common sehools, later attending Union Seminary, in Union county, Pa. In 1904 he received his license to teach publie sehool and has since been engaged in teaching in Washing- ton township, the past four terms in the Salem sehoolhouse. During the summer months he en- gages in clerking in the store at Mount Carmel.

Lewis B. Rotherinel. son of Charles, passed his earlier years in Washington township, where he was engaged in farming. In 1895 he moved into Upper Mahanoy township, where he also carried on farming, and in 1902 he purchased the farm. where he afterward made his home, dying there Sept. 22, 1906. aged forty-eight years, nine months,

WILLIAM W. ROTHERMEL, son of Isaac, was born May ?, 1842, in the same district where he now twenty-two days. He is buried at Howerters lives in Jordan township. He remained at home on the farm until he went into the army during he was a Democrat. in religion an adherent of the the Civil war. as a member of Company A. 50th

Church, in Upper Mahanoy township. In politics Reformed faith. His wife, Mary R. (Brosius), daughter of Andrew Brosius, died July 1, 1902, aged thirty-nine years, two months, sixteen days. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rother- mel: Minnie, who married John Miller : Lizzie, unmarried : Harvey A. : Etta, who married Samuel Snyder and lives in Nebraska: Allen; Arthur: Francis : John, and Mary.

Isaae Rothermel, son of Abraham, the pioneer of the family in Northumberland county, was born April 13, 1820, in Washington township, and died Oct. 1, 1896, in Jordan township, at the home of his son Manasses. He was a man of medium size, raw-boned and muscular, and followed the trade of blacksmith in his earlier life, later devoting himself to farming. He had his blacksmith shop in Jordan township, where his son William now lives, and he carried on farming from 1851 until his retirement. some years before his death. He made his home with his son Monroe, though he did not die at his house. Mr. Rothermel was a Re- formed member of Klingers Church, but he and his wife Hannah ( Wiest) are buried at Zion's Union Church, near Klingerstown. She was born Dee. 10, 1823, daughter of Samnel Wiest and granddaughter of Jacob Wiest, of Berks county, and died Sept. 7, 1887. To Isaac Rothermel and his wife was born a family of twelve children : William W .; Amos; Jestina, widow of John Weiser ; Lucy, Mrs. Nicholas Adams; Eve, who died voung ; Catharine, who died young : Lazarus W. ; Manasses W .; Esrom ; Monroe; Abraham; and Hannah, Mrs. Ammon Houck.

Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. en- listing for three years or during the war. He was nineteen when he entered the service. Before the expiration of this terin he reenlisted, in eastern Tennessee, at Blaine's Cross Road, for another three years, in the same company and regiment. and served to the end of the war. He became a third sergeant and right general guide. His ex- for army life. He not only traveled all over the South, but also in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and was in thirty-two engagements, including Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Antietam, South Mountain, Vicksburg. Jackson, siege of Knoxville and oper- ations in front of Petersburg. He was in Sher-

Harvey A. Rothermel was born Sept. 19, 1882, perienees of trial and hardship were unusual. eveu on the Charles Rothermel farm near Rebuck, at- tended the township schools, and was reared to farm life. For four years he worked in the store for F. L. Kehres at Rebuck, and for one year hired out on a farm, beginning for himself, at his pres- ent place, in 1906. This farm, which has seventy-

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man's army. Returning to Northumberland county at the close of his service, he soon began farming in Hubley township, Schuylkill county, where he was a tenant for nine years. in 1877 settling at his present location in Jordan town- ship, Northumberland county. His home is on a tract of twenty-two acres, which he cultivates, though he leads a semi-retired lite. He is a car- penter, and has followed his trade in connection with agriculture. He is serving at present as an auditor of his township, has been school director and supervisor, and is one of the most respected residents of his section. He is a Republican in politics. On Dec. 30. 1865. Mr. Rothemmel was married in Northumberland county to Sarah Shaf- fer, daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Bohner) Shaf- fer, and they have the following children : Emma, Mrs. John Saltzer: Manasses, of Klingerstown : Polly, Mrs. Charles Brown: Monroe, of Gowen City, Pa. : Jennie, Mrs. Gordon Klinger: and Minnie, Mrs. Harvey Smith. Mr. Rothermel and his family worship with the Reformed congrega- tion of the Klingerstown Church, which he former- ly served as elder, at present holding the offices of trustee and treasurer.

MANASSES W. ROTHERMEL, son of Isaac, was born Sept. 24, 1852, on the farm in Jordan town- ship where he now lives, and was there reared to farm life. After working for his parents until he reached the age of eighteen years, he followed the blacksmith's trade for seven years, in Uniontown and at Klingerstown. He was next engaged in huckstering for about fifteen years. In the spring of 1898 he began farming on his father's home- stead, where he has since lived, now owning the place, which contains 1013 acres. This farm is part of a tract of 500 acres which long ago be- longed to the Bickels, who lived in Berks county, and was bought by them from Samuel Wiest : it is now divided into several farms. On April 20, 1908, Mr. Rothermel had the misfortune to lose his house by fire, which totally destroyed it with all its contents, including valuable documents of historie worth. The summer of that year he erected the nice frame house which he and his family now occupy. The barn on the farin is a landmark of the region, having been built by Isaac . Rothermel in 1851, when he came to Jordan town- ship, and he built the house (the one burned in 1908) the same year: at that time only ten acres of the farm were cleared. Mr. Rothermel is one

LAZARUS W. ROTHERMEL, son of Isaac, is a farmer in Jordan township, where he was born of the substantial and esteemed residents of his .April 15, 1855, on the homestead, which is now neighborhood, being a typical member of a family which has long been known for solid worth. owned by his brother Manasses. He was reared to farm life, and worked for his parents until he In 1880 Mr. Rothermel married Eliza Wentzel, danghter of Isaac Wentzel. and to them were born eight children, all of whom are deceased. His sec- ond marriage was to Susan Bixler, daughter of John and Sallie (Baum) Bixler, of Valley View, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and they are the parents of five children: A. Robert, Ruth, Mabel G., John E. and Manasses. Mr. Bothermel and his family are members of the Reformed congregation at the Klingerstown Church, and he has served as deacon and elder. In political matters he is a Republican. reached the age of twenty-six years. when he mar- ried, after which he began farming on his own ac- count in Hubley township,. Schuylkill county. After three years' residence there he settled in Jor- dan township, purchasing a tract of seventy acres adjoining his father's homestead. It was formerly the Israel Geise place. The present house was re- modeled by Mr. Rothermel, and in 1890 he built the substantial Swiss barn. He has made a spe- cialty of poultry raising, and has been very suc- cessful in his work, being one of the leading farni- David Bixler, Mrs. Rothermel's grandfather. was related to the Bixlers of Berks county, the families often exchanging visits. He served in the Civil war, and died soon after his return home from the army. He married Susan Wolfgang, and their children besides John were: Elias, Amos, Emanuel. Paul, Helen, Maria, Katie and Matilda. ers of his township. He has served three terms as school director, and is also active in church life, being a member of the Reformed congregation of the Hebe Union Church, where he has held the office of elder for a number of years. Before be- coming a member at Hebe he was identified with Klingers Church, of which he served as deacon. In politics he is a Republican.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Part 94

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