USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume I > Part 20
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in the Revolutionary war, but with his own teams conveyed supplies for the American army from place to place.
Isaiah, son of Jacob and Mary (Cleaver) Castlebury, was born on the family homestead, and died in Loyalsock, Lycoming county. Hc married Hannalı Breech, a native of Catawissa, whose parents, Charles Breech and Mary Barger Breech, came from Devonshire, England. After their marriage, Isaiah and Hannah Castlebury settled upon a farm in Fairfield township, Lycoming county, where they reared, a family of eleven children.
John Castlebury, youngest son of Isaiah and Hannah (Breech) Castlebury, was born in Fairfield Center, Lycoming county, in 1824. After his marriage he settled in Spring Garden Mills, Loyalsock town- ship, Lycoming county. For about nineteen years he followed farming, and also operated a grist mill. He then removed to Montoursville, and there resided until 1894, carrying on a contracting and building busi- ness. In 1894 he located in Williamsport, where he is living a retired life in " Vallamont," a suburb of the city. He married Elizabeth Foll- mer, who was born in Loyalsock township, a daughter of David and Catherine (Dietrich) Follmer, farmers there. Her father, son of Adam and Rosanna Boone Follmer, was born in Milton, Pennsylvania ; and her mother, a daughter of Frederick and Susan (Knorr) Dietrich, was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Adam Follmer was descended from Jacob Follmer, who came from Germany. It was a prominent family, and had several representatives in the Revolutionary war. The Diet- richs also came from Germany.
John and Elizabeth (Follmer) Castlebury were the parents of three children, of whom two are physicians, and a third is the wife of a physi- cian-Alzine, Caroline, and Frank F. Castlebury.
Alzine Castlebury received her early education in the public schools
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in Loyalsock township and in the Lycoming County Normal School. She prepared for the medical profession at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and served for one year as resident physician in the Woman's Hospital there. Since her graduation she has practiced her profession in Williamsport. Caroline Castlebury became the wife of Dr. C. E. Heller, a practicing physician in Williamsport.
Frank Follmer Castlebury was reared upon a farm in Loyalsock township, and began his education in the district schools. He then at- tended in turn the Lycoming County Normal School at Montoursville, and the Williamsport Commercial College, from which he graduated with the class of 1886. He was so apt a student that, at the age of seventeen years, he was engaged as teacher in the Pine Run school in Wolf township, Lycoming county, and later taught for six terms in Loyalsock, his native township, the same county, and five terms in the borough of Montoursville. For one year he taught school in what was then known as the Everett building in Williamsport, and at the end of that time was elected principal of the Washington school. While thus teaching he had never ceased to be a student himself, and he was so well equipped for educational work that he would undoubtedly have risen to high rank in the teaching profession had he persisted in it. He how- ever had a predisposition for medicine, and in 1893 he resigned the prin- cipalship of the Washington school to begin his professional studies under the tutorship of Dr. C. E. Heller, of Williamsport. He subse- quently entered the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He practiced his profession in Williamsport for two years, and then removed to Roaring Branch, which has since been his residence, and where he has built up a large practice, which he has conducted with great success. He is a member of the Lycoming County Medical Society. He is a Republican in politics.
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Dr. Castlebury married, August 30, 1888, Miss Annie Lichtenthaler, of Montoursville, a daughter of David and Caroline (Lunger) Lichten- thaler, whose families were of German extraction. Two children have been born of this marriage-Galen D., born December 22, 1892, and John Kenneth, born August 17, 1899.
THEODORE H. LIEB.
Theodore H. Lieb, who conducts a leading mercantile business in the village of Roaring Branch, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and is held in high regard as an upright and progressive citizen, is a native of the county in which he resides, born in Montoursville, July 20, 1860, son of John and Maria Catherine (Metzgar) Lieb.
John Leib was born February 2, 1828, in Dettingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, a son of John and Agnes Lieb, both natives of the same local- ity. John Lieb, Sr., was a farmer by occupation, and lived and died in the land of his nativity; his widow emigrated to the United States, where she died at the age of eighty-seven years. Their son, John Lieb, was brought up to the milling trade, and performed military service in the war between Germany and Austria. In 1851, at the age of twenty- three years, he came to the United States, first locating in the city of New York, where he worked as a baker for some time. He subsequently removed to Montoursville, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in milling, in time extending his operations to include both grist and sawmill work, and in which he continued until his death. In Montoursville he mar- ried Maria Catherine Metzgar, who was born in Pfullingen, Wurtem- berg, Germany ; her father was a weaver by occupation, and he and his wife lived and died in their native land. To John and Maria Catherine Lieb were born twelve children, of whom ten came to maturity :
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I. Jacob F., died in infancy.
2. Augustus W., who came to Williamsport when fifteen years old ; he clerked for a time in a hardware store, and in 1885 engaged in the same line of business upon his own account; he had various partners at different times, and is now head of the firm of A. W. Lieb & Son. August 7, 1877, he married Miss Elizabeth Bubb, a daughter of Charles Bubb, of Montoursville, and to them was born one child, Charles A., who is associated with his father in business.
3. George H., deceased.
4. Theodore H., to be further referred to hereinafter.
5. Amelia L., who became the wife of C. A. Schuman; they reside in Williamsport.
6. Emma C., who became the wife of Frank J. Zimmerman; they reside in Williamsport.
7. Alberta M., who is unmarried.
8. Maria B., who became the wife of Orin S. Pidcoe; they reside in Williamsport.
9. John C., who lives in Roaring Branch.
IO. Laura C., died July 16, 1871.
II. Clara, died in 1882.
12. Edward A., who resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
John Lieb, father of the above named family, died September 3, 1881, having survived his wife, who died in 1873. They were Lu- therans in religion. Mr. Lieb was a Democrat in politics, and his sons are all Republicans.
Theodore H. Lieb, fourth son and child of John and Maria Cath- erine (Metzgar) Lieb, spent his boyhood days in Montoursville, and received his education in the public schools of that village. When sev- enteen years of age he went to Williamsport, where he procured employ-
David Bly
The Lewis Publishing
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ment in a saw mill and planing mill, and was so engaged for about two years. January 15, 1884, he located in Roaring Branch, and became associated with Charles Bubb, under the firm name of Bubb & Lieb, in a general mercantile business. The partnership was dissolved after a period of nine years, and Mr. Lieb removed to Red Run, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a general store for two years, entirely upon his own account. Returning to Roaring Branch he resumed partnership with his former business associate, Mr. Bubb, and the association was profit- ably maintained until June, 1902, when dissolution took effect. Mr. Lieb now purchased the Schnars building, which he improved and mod- ernized, and where he has since conducted a general mercantile business of large dimensions, his custom covering a wide territory. In all the relations of life he has maintained an unblemished reputation, and has ever been regardful of the best interest of the community, for whose ad- vancement he has constantly labored with genuine public spirit and broad intelligence. With his family he holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church. His political affiliations are with the Repub- lican party.
May 7, 1889, Mr. Lieb married Miss Amanda Plank, a daughter of Benjamin and Christina Blank, who after their marriage settled in Union township, where they manage a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Lieb have been born two children: Clarence H., September 22, 1894; and D. La Rue, September 11, 1900.
CAPTAIN DAVID BLY.
Captain David Bly, deceased, was born at White Deer Mills, Union county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1839, son of John and Lydia (Rhoads) Bly. John Bly was a native of Virginia and moved with his
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parents to Union county, Pennsylvania, when a young man. While a resident of that county he was united in marriage to Lydia Rhoads, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and subsequently they removed to Watsontown, Northumberland county, where he was interested in the lumber business, having been a member of the Watsontown Lumber Company. His death occurred in Watsontown. Ten children were born to John and Lydia (Rhoads) Bly, Captain David Bly having been the second son. Four of the sons participated in the war of the rebel- lion : Joseph was a member of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty- first Pennsylvania Volunteers; James and William were members of the same company, and after their terms of enlistment expired re-enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry; David enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and subsequently served as captain of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment.
David Bly received a common school education and at the age of seventeen years began clerking in the store of Ario Pardee, of Watson- town, and was serving in that capacity when President Lincoln made his first call for troops. He immediately enlisted in Company G, Elev- enthi Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in the ranks three months. After his discharge he returned to Watsontown and resumed clerking. In May, 1862, he received a commission from Governor Curtin as second lieutenant and recruiting officer. He recruited one hundred and thirty- one men in Northumberland and Union counties, and early in August, 1862, reported with his company at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, and was mustered in as captain of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty- first Pennsylvania Volunteers. Captain Bly served fourteen months, and besides various minor engagements participated in the famous battles of Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. After completing his service Captain Bly found
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employment with the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company as civil engineer and was assigned to the western division, with headquarters at Erie. His duties were confined principally to harbor improvement, rights of way, etc., and he remained there until March, 1865. He then located in Pittsburg and engaged in business as an oil broker, and after- wards operated a refinery. He was forced to abandon this business be- cause of the aggressive and grasping actions of the Standard Oil Com- pany, and retired from the oil trade at Pittsburg in 1877. He came direct to Williamsport and engaged in the same business, but after a short period was again compelled to abandon it. He then engaged in the marketing of bituminous coal, and in 1888 organized the Kettle Creek Coal Mining Company, serving as its first president and later as general manager. Still later he again engaged in the oil brokerage business in Williamsport, which he followed up to within a few months of his death. Captain Bly owned the property known as the White Deer flouring mills, and engaged in the manufacture of flour and other grain products. He was a stockholder in the Merchants' National Bank, the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and various other insti- tutions of the city, and was one of the organizers of the first board of trade. While a resident of Pittsburg, Captain Bly served as a mem- ber of the city council one term, was a member of the school board of Williamsport three years, and president of the board in 1887-88. Dur- ing his presidency the high school building on the corner of Third and Walnut streets was erected. He was a prominent member of Reno Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and served as commander of the same in 1891. He was a consistent member of Christ ( Protestant Epis- copal) Church. In politics he was a Republican, though not a strong partisan.
Captain David Bly was married September 6, 1877, to Vinnie C.
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Crain, who was born in Cooperstown, Pennsylvania, daughter of Charles G. and Mary (Mason) Crain. Captain Bly died in Williamsport, Penn- sylvania, October 8, 1901, leaving one daughter, Bessie B., who is now the wife of H. F. Clapp, of Williamsport.
On the paternal side Mrs. Vinnie C. Bly, widow of Captain Bly, is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. William Crain, the pioneer ancestor, was born in county Down, Ireland, in 1704, and died in 1780. His wife Jean was born in the same county in 1695 and died February 15, 1754. In 1734 they emigrated to America and located on the Manada, a branch of the Swatara creek, in what is now Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. They reared several children, among whom were Ambrose, born in 1734; George, born in 1736; Joseph, born in 1738; William, born in 1740; and Richard, born in 1743.
Ambrose Crain, son of William and Jean Crain, enlisted as a private in Captain John Marshall's company, March 25, 1776, and September 15, 1776, was appointed quartermaster-sergeant of Colonel Samuel Miles's battalion, Pennsylvania line. At the expiration of service he returned to his home, subsequently serving as captain of a company of " Associators," which was active in protecting the settlers from the encroachments of the British Tories and their Indian allies during the closing year of the war for independence. In 1793-94 he removed to Loudoun county, in the valley of Virginia, and his death occurred there a few years later.
George Crain, son of William and Jean Crain, died May 12, 1796. He was twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, whom he married in 1760, was Jean Sturgeon. He was married a second time by the Rev. John Elder, January 22, 1778, but the maiden name of his wife is unknown. His children, all of his first union, were: George, born in 1761, married Martha Ritchey; William, born in 1763, mar-
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ried Mary Sawyer; Jean, born in 1765, married Andrew Robinson; James, born in 1767, married Margaret McClure; Lydia, born in 1770, married James Ainsworth; and Jeremiah, born in 1772, married Ann Cochran, November 3, 1803.
Joseph Crain, son of William and Jean Crain, was married about the year 1764 to Mary Moore, who was born in Derry township, in 1744, daughter of Andrew and Sarah Moore. Andrew Moore, of Derry, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who died in October, 1767, was the father of the following named children: Elizabeth, who married James Forster; Agnes married a Craig; Mary married Joseph Crain, above mentioned; John married Agnes Forster, issue: William, Sarah and Agnes; and William married, June 1, 1761, Margaret Wright and had one son, Andrew Moore. Joseph Crain died in February, 1789, and his wife died April 8, 1789. Their children were: Andrew, born in 1765, married Jean Strain, December 20, 1790, and was residing in Hanover township in 1792; Jean, born in December, 1767, married John Barrett, June 3, 1788, died May 9, 1830; George, born in 1769, died in November, 1824; William, born in 1771; Sarah, born in 1773, married William Knox; Joseph, born in 1775; Richard Moore, born in 1777, married Elizabeth Whitehill; Mary, born in 1779; John, born in 1781 ; and Nancy, born in 1783, married James Humes, of Lancaster.
William Crain, son of William and Jean Crain, served as a private in Captain William Brown's company of " Associators " in 1776. He married Ann Espy, born in 1739, died December 12, 1802. Ann Espy was a sister of Abigail Espy, who married Anthony Creight, or McCreight. Abigail died March 5, 1804, and Anthony died February 26, 1804. They were the parents of five children, namely : Jane, Sally, John, Thomas and Benjamin Creight. William Crain died January 8, I802.
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Richard Crain, son of William and Jean Crain, whose death occurred in Middle township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, previous to 1790, located west of the Susquehanna river prior to the revolutionary war, during which he served as an officer in one of the " Associators " battalions. He also participated in the battle of Long Island under Colonel Frederick Watts, and was captured by the British, but shortly afterward was paroled on account of wounds received in that engage- ment. The maiden name of his wife is unknown. Their children were: Espy, a schoolmaster, who died in Middle township, October, 1804; Elizabeth, William, George, Mary, who married James Hamilton; Jane, who died prior to 1804, married Joseph Van Horn and had two children : Espy and Mary ; Ann, who married Mathew Dill; and Richard.
George Crain, son of George and Jean (Sturgeon) Crain, and grandson of William and Jean Crain, was born in 1761 and died prior to the year 1800. He married Martha Ritchey, and they were the parents of four children, namely: Joseph, born in July, 1789; Andrew Lee, born in December, 1791; Martha, born in 1793; and Frances, born in 1795. Martha (Ritchey) Crain was married in 1803 to Major Robert Boal and removed to Ohio.
William Crain, son of George and Jean (Sturgeon) Crain, and grandson of William and Jean Crain, was born in 1763, died January 8, 1802. On June 24, 1788, he married Mary Sawyer, who was born in 1767, daughter of William and Jane Sawyer, and her death occurred about the year 1820. William and Mary Crain had several children, among whom were: Mary, born in May, 1789; and William Sawyer, born in October, 1791.
Richard Moore Crain, son of Joseph and Mary (Moore) Crain, and grandson of William and Jean Crain, was born in Hanover town- ship, in November, 1777. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, but
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early in life relinquished that occupation and went to Harrisburg, where he became prominently identified with public affairs. During the incum- bency of General Andrew Porter, surgeon-general of the state, he received the appointment of deputy-secretary of the land office, a posi- tion he acceptably occupied through the various changes of adminis- tration for a period of forty years, or until the advent of Governor Rit- ner, when he was superseded by the candidate of the party then in power. Retiring to his farm in Cumberland county, he was chosen a delegate from that district to the constitutional convention of 1837, in which he figured as a leading spirit. During the war of 1812-15 he commanded a company of volunteers from Harrisburg, and was subsequently com- missioned a colonel in the state militia. Colonel Crain died Friday, September 17, 1852. He married Elizabeth Whitehill, who was born in 1771, daughter of Robert and Eleanor (Reed) Whitehill. Robert Whitehill, son of James and Rachel Whitehill, was born July 24, 1758, in the Requa settlement, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was edu- cated in the schools of the Rev. Francis Alison. In the spring of 1771 he located upon a farm situated two miles west of Harrisburg. He participated actively in the exciting agitation culminating in the Declara- tion of Independence, serving on the committee of 1774-75 and that of July, 1776, and was a member of the assembly for the years 1776- 77-78. Colonel and Mrs. Crain were the parents of five children, namely : Dr. Joseph, born December 28, 1803, died April 18, 1876, married (first) Rebecca Gibson Wills, and (second) Ellen Chambers; Eleanor, who became the wife of Dr. William Wilson Rutherford; Mary Adeline, who died in Camden, New Jersey, March 3, 1881 : she was three times married ; first to Dr. Joseph Junkin, of Cumberland county ; second to Dr. Alexander Y. Dean, who died in Harrisburg, November 4, 1834; and third to Isaac Vanloon, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, who
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married Leopold N. Wickhoff, who was born in Philadelphia, August 30, 1800, and died in Harrisburg, October 30, 1874; and Agnes, who died in Harrisburg. Elizabeth (Whitehill) Crain died October 2, 1848.
William Crain, grandfather of Mrs. Bly, was born March 4, 1764. He removed from Cumberland county to Venango county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1805, settling in the vicinity of Cooperstown, and the active period of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. His wife Elizabeth was born July 14, 1764, and they reared a family of six chil- dren, namely: George, William, James, John, Charles G., and Maria, who became the wife of Judge John McKalmont, of Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania.
Charles G. Crain, father of Mrs. Bly, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1803, and was about two years of age when his parents removed to Venango county. He was married March 13, 1828, by the Rev. Thomas Anderson, to Mary Mason. The children of this union were: Nancy, George, Elizabeth, Reuben, Laura, Emeline, Mary, Robinson, Vinnie C., the widow of Captain David Bly; and William. Charles G. Crain ( father) died April 3, 1879.
Alem Bly, a brother of the late Captain David Bly, and the hero of the hour some three years ago for his bravery in defending the Montoursville trolley line power house from the fierce attack of a band of robbers, was born at White Deer, October 14, 1849. He was formerly employed by some of the leading lumber operators in this locality, and assisted in constructing a railroad in Brazil, where he also served as a locomotive engineer. He was subsequently employed in the same capac- ity by the Pennsylvania Railroad, but relinquished the service in order to resume lumbering. He finally accepted the position of chief engineer of the Montoursville (street) Railway Company, and while serving as such was forced to participate in the desperate encounter above referred
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to. Early in the morning of October 2, 1902, while on duty, the lower power house, in which the office of the company was located, was attacked by a band of robbers, who effected an entrance by battering down the door. The six masked desperadoes immediately began discharging their revolvers at the engineer, who was the only person on duty at the time, and he received two bullet wounds, one of which proved exceedingly serious, crippling him for life. Heedless of the excruciating pain he succeeded in obtaining possession of his revolver, which was kept in the drawer of a desk in another room, and with it he soon made himself master of the situation, killing one of the ruffians outright and wounding at least two others, who continued firing upon him after he had dis- charged the contents of his weapon. He then fought his way out with his fists and succeeded in reaching a nearby furniture factory, the steam whistle of which sounded the alarm, thus forcing his assailants to seek safety in flight. Mr. Bly's escape from death was almost miraculous. He still suffers from the effects of the terrible ordeal, and his successful defense of the company's property in the face of such unequal odds won the undying admiration of the entire community. Alem Bly married Miss Elizabeth Sahley, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Snell) Sah- ley, and they are the parents of one son, Thomas, who is now an elec- trician in New York city and resides in Brooklyn. Thomas Bly mar- ried Miss Mary E. Hart, of Brooklyn, New York.
WILLIAM RIDDELL.
William Riddell, sheriff of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, is a native of the county named, and was born September 26, 1844, and is of Scotch-Irish descent.
His paternal grandfather, Francis Riddell, was of Scotch ancestry,
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and was born in the north of Ireland. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Susquehanna township, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, where he passed his life as a farmer, and there died. His wife, whom he married in Ireland, bore to him four children, all of whom were born and reared in Lycoming county, and there married and brought up families of their own. Robert Riddell, son of Francis Rid- dell, followed the occupation of a farmer in his native township of Sus- quehanna. He was a Presbyterian in religion and a Democrat in poli- tics. His family comprised seven children, who were early deprived of their father, and were tenderly cared for by the mother, who died in 1882. The children were :
1 John W., who was a gallant soldier during the Civil war, and
was subsequently elected recorder of deeds in Williamsport, where he died.
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