USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume I > Part 32
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John Hays (3), eldest son of John (2) and Barbara (King) Hays, was born August 2, 1763, and on the occasion of his marriage moved to Lycoming county, where he settled on a farm which he had purchased of his father. In 1807 he was elected sheriff of the county, and in 1817 was chosen elder in the Lycoming Presbyterian church at Newberry. He married, May 21, 1795, Jane Horner, and they were the parents of one son, John King, mentioned at length hereinafter. The death of Mr. Hays occurred October 9, 1821, and his widow passed away September 25, 1824.
John King Hays (4), only child of John (3) and Jane (Horner) Hays, was born January 13, 1797, and married Jane, daughter of Thomas Hays (his father's half-brother), on March 1, 1827. They had two
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children, Jane Elizabeth and John Walker, the latter mentioned at length hereinafter. Mrs. Hays died November 6, 1830; and Mr. Hays mar- ried, May 31, 1832, Martha, daughter of John and Jane Grier, of Brandy- wine Manor. By this marriage there were three children: James G., Martha Ann and Henrietta. After the death of his second wife, which occurred April 8, 1867, Mr. Hays married, September 24, 1868, Mrs. Jane H. Teas, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Teas had been a brides- maid of the first Mrs. Hays. After his third marriage Mr. Hays resided in the old home in Williamsport until he was again left a widower, on November 25, 1876. Mr. Hays lived to be eighty-one years of age and expired March II, 1878.
John Walker Hays (5), son of John King (4) and Jane (Hays) Hays, was educated in the public schools and at Williamsport Academy. He learned the tinner's trade, and from 1850 to 1880 was engaged in the tin, stove and heating business. His father was one of the original stockholders of the Williamsport Saving Institution, and since his death Mr. Hays has succeeded to his place on the board of directors. As a citizen he is active and public-spirited and is highly esteemed and implic- itly trusted by his neighbors. From 1860 to 1863 he was a member of the borough council, and from 1867 to 1877 belonged to the common council of the city. He served on the board of health about ten years. He is a member of Lodge No. 106, A. F. and A. M., of which he served as master in 1857. He is also a member and past high priest of Lycom- ing Chapter No. 222; and past eminent commander of Baldwin Second Commandery No. 22, K. T. He belongs to Adoniram Council No. 26. Mr. Hays was reared a Whig and voted for Fillmore for president in 1856, and for Bell and Everett in 1860. Soon after this he joined the ranks of the Democrats, to whose organization he has since given his
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support. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian church, of which he was a trustee for many years.
Mr. Hays married, May 17, 1855, Rachel, daughter of Andrew Allen, a resident of the neighborhood of Williamsport, and four children have been born to them: John King, mentioned at length hereinafter; Martha Jane, who is the wife of Charles R. Stearns, of Williamsport, and the mother of the following children, Rachael Hays, Catharine, Emilie Lyon, John Wallace (deceased), Martha Jane, George L., Jr., Delphine and Joan Hays, George A. and Charles A. The two last named are deceased.
John King Hays (6), son of John Walker (5) and Rachel ( Allen) Hays, was born August 18, 1856, in Williamsport, where he received his preparatory education. He graduated from Lafayette College in the class of 1876, read law with Messrs. Allen & Gamble, and on May 10, 1879, was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county. He has made for himself an honorable place in the ranks of his profession, and as a citizen is ever mindful of the best interests of the community in which he resides.
Mr. Hays married, June 25, 1885, Sarah B., daughter of John B. Coryell, of Williamsport, and the following children have been born to them : John C., James B., Walker A., who is deceased, and Margaret C. Mr. Hays is a member of all the various bodies in the Masonic fraternity, both of Symbolic and Consistory Masonry, and is a past officer in his lodge, chapter, commandery and council. He is connected with the Re- publican party, and has served as city comptroller for part of the term by the election of councils. He has been identified with various indus- trial corporations and is at present engaged in manufacturing business in Williamsport. He served five years in the Pennsylvania National Guards, and was mustered out as sergeant.
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WILLIAM H. SLOAN.
William H. Sloan, cashier of the First National Bank of Williams- port, Pennsylvania, having held this responsible position for thirty-four consecutive years, is a native of that city, born December 6, 1845.
Alexander Sloan (1), grandfather of William H. Sloan, was a native of York county, Pennsylvania. Subsequently he removed to Williamsport, Lycoming county, where he was the first cabinet maker. In 1802 he was the proprietor of a shop on the west side of Market street, between the canal and Black Horse Alley, and as was the custom in those early days he conducted an undertaking business in connection with cabinet making. He was honorable and conscientious in his busi- ness transactions, and therefore achieved large financial gain.
Robert Sloan (2), father of William H. Sloan, succeeded to the business established by his father, which he conducted along the same lines and in which he was eminently successful. He won an enviable reputation among his business associates, which he retained up to the time of his decease. He was united in marriage to Hannah Harris, who bore him six children, one of whom died in infancy, and the surviving members are as follows: Sarah, who became the wife of Charles R. Hoffman, and their children are Burnett D., who married Adahleen Keene, no issue, and William E., who married Carrie Fisher, no issue; William Harris, mentioned hereinafter; Harriet F., unmarried; Mar- garet M., unmarried; Ida, who became the wife of James A. Gibson and mother of one child, Margaret Sloan.
William H. Sloan (3) received a public school education, and being desirous of learning the mercantile trade accepted a clerkship in a general store, where he remained about two years. He was then appointed clerk in the postoffice, serving in that capacity two years. In 1865 he entered
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the employ of the First National Bank as a messenger boy; from this he advanced to bookkeeper, and from that to various other positions until 1871, when he was appointed cashier, which position he has filled in a capable and efficient manner up to the present time (1904), a period of thirty-three years. He is a director of the bank, fills a simi- lar position in the Williamsport Bridge Company, and is manager and secretary of the Williamsport Cemetery Company. He is a member and elder in the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport, and a mem- ber of the Ross Club and Board of Trade. His political views coincide with those of the Republican party.
OTTO G. KAUPP.
Otto Godfrey Kaupp, a well-known member of the Lycoming county bar, was born in Shrewsbury township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, June 2, 1866.
The father of Otto Kaupp was Matthias Kaupp, born April 2, 1834, in Schopfloch, Oberamt county, Freudenstadt, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America in the year 1851, settling in Shrews- bury township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and pursued the occu- pation of farming. He was educated in the common schools of his na- tive state and learned to read, write and speak the English language after the time of his arrival in the United States. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He continued his occupation of farming until 1865, at which time he enlisted in the United States Army in Company G, One Hundred and Ninety-Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He held many township offices and was elected and served as one of the commissioners of Lycoming county from 1882 to 1885.
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The mother of Otto Kaupp was Anna Catherine Kaupp, nee Hep- perlen, born July 19, 1833, in Bissingen (under Teck), Oberamt Kircheim, Koenigreich Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America with her parents in the year 1852. She received a good education in the German language and learned to speak, read and write fluently the English language after her arrival in this country, and is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. She was married to Matthias Kaupp, January 17, 1856, and shortly thereafter they moved to their farm in Shrewsbury township, Lycoming county, where they continued to live until the year 1890, when they sold the farm and moved to Hughes- ville where they resided until the time of Matthias Kaupp's death on the 19th day of February, 1895.
Matthias Kaupp was the son of Matthias Kaupp, Sr., and Sophia his wife, nee Smith, and only one of eleven children who grew up to manhood, ten of them having died in infancy.
Anna Catharine Kaupp, nee Hepperlen, was the daughter of John Andreas Hepperlen and Anna Maria (nee Weber) who came to America in 1852 and settled at Huntersville in Wolfe township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where her father continued to reside until the time of his death, June 12, 1884, her stepmother having died a short time after their arrival in this country.
Matthias Kaupp and Anna Catherine, his wife, had born to them the following children : John Andrew, Henry Matthias, William Frank- lin, Annie Mathilda, Albert Theodore, Otto Godfrey, Charles Elmer (died in infancy), Mary C. M., and Edward Hepperlen, all of whom are still living.
Otto G. Kaupp was educated in the common schools and afterward graduated from the Lycoming county normal school and the Williams- port Commercial College. For a number of years he was a school
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teacher in the public schools of Lycoming county, having been princi- pal of the Hughesville public schools, the Montoursville public schools, and a member of the faculty of the Lycoming county normal school. He registered as a law student in the office of W. E. Crawford, Esq., of Hughesville, and was admitted to practice on the first day of April, 1890, since which time he has continued the practice of law at Will- iamsport, Pennsylvania.
He is a Democrat in politics, was elected to the office of district- attorney in 1898, which he filled with great credit and ability, and was the nominee of the Democratic party for Congressman in the Sixteenth congressional district of his state in 1900, and succeeded greatly in re- ducing the majority of the Republican nominee. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church; also of Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M. and Baldwin II, Commandery No. 22, K. T., and a member of Lodge No. 1007, I. O. O. F., Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
He was married to Katherine M. Heller, February 5, 1891. Two children were born to them, Katherine, February 6, 1892, and Charles Otto, April 2, 1894. She was educated in the public schools and also a graduate of the Lycoming county normal school; taught in the public. schools of the county, and was a pianist of exceptional ability. She died April 17, 1895. On the 24th day of March, 1898, he married Elizabeth M. Heller, who was educated in the public schools of Lycom- ing and the Lycoming county normal school, and to them were born two children, Elizabeth on September 29, 1900, and Donald Heller, Jan- uary I, 1904. Both wives were the daughters of John Hilgert Heller and Mary A. Heller, nee Eckert, of Fairfield township, Lycoming county. John Hilgert Heller was a direct descendant of Philip Hilgert, who was wounded in the battle of Cowpens in the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Kaupp stands high in his chosen profession and has a lucrative
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practice. By his genial manners and obliging conduct to all he has won the esteem of every loyal, law-abiding citizen of the county in which he has lived his entire lifetime.
REV. JOHN KOEPER.
There is not in connection with the history of the city of Williams- port a more interesting narrative than that of St. Bonifacius (Roman Catholic ) church, which has existed for more than a half century (fifty- two years), and whose present rector, the Rev. John Koeper, has in the providence of God been permitted to witness its constantly expand- ing usefulness during a pastoral life covering the unusual period of thirty-six years, and who, in his ripened years is yet in possession of his powers in all their fulness, and continues his ministrations with the people between whom and himself exists the warmest affection.
St. Bonifacius church was organized with thirty families in 1853, and a frame church edifice was erected in 1855. This was then the only Catholic house of worship in Williamsport, and the Rev. George Gostershing came from Milton twice a month to celebrate the mass un- til January, 1857, when the Rev. John B. Bach became the first resi- dent priest, and remained until September, 1861. A small addition was made to the church edifice, a parochial school was formed and con- ducted for a short time, and a plot of ground on Wyoming street was purchased for cemetery uses. Father Bach was succeeded by the Rev. Philip Woerner, who in March, 1862, was followed by the Rev. James A. Moshal, who had charge of the parish until October, 1865. To this time the preaching had been in English, German and French, but now St. Bonifacius became a purely German body, the Annunciation congregation having been formed out of it. After this separation, St.
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Bonifacius was visited once a month by the Rev. John Lenfart, rector of St. Mary's, in Bastress township. Under his pastorate an additional tract of land was purchased, increasing the church property to one hundred and four feet on Washington street and two hundred and eight feet on Anthony (now St. Boniface) street. Such were the conditions in 1869, when the Rev. John Koeper came to the parish. The narra- tive which follows is taken from the local newspaper reports of one of the most impressive events in the history of the city-the Silver Jubilee of Father Koeper.
The Rev. John Koeper was born in Lenhausen-Westfalen, Ger- many, in the diocese of Paderborn, December 30, 1837. Early in life his inclination was to the priesthood, and, having completed his studies in the lower branches, on June 1, 1853, in his sixteenth year, he began a classical course under the instruction of the parish priest. In the autumn of the following year he entered the classical college of the Gymnasium at Paderborn, and completed the classical course in the autumn of 1860. For a year following he studied philosophy in the Muenster University, and from 1861 to 1863 studied theology in Pader- born, and late in the latter year entered the clerical seminary. March 31, 1865, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Right Rev. Conrad Martin, a divine well known throughout Europe for his piety and deep learning. From April 16, 1865, to May 30, 1869, Father Koeper was missionary rector at Hausberge, near Minden Westfalen, and it is a nota- ble fact that he was the first Catholic priest stationed there since the Reformation. At his coming the inhabitants were mostly poor laborers, and there was neither church, school nor rectory. At the expiration of four years he had provided all these buildings, out of money collected in various parts of Germany, and transmitted his charge to his successor without indebtedness of any kind.
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The circumstances connected with his emigration to America, as narrated by the Rev. Father Nagel, seem providential. His father had died nine months after his ordination, and in February, 1869, he was called home to make his last mournful visit to his dying mother. Mean- time the Archbishop of Pennsylvania had requested Father Nagel to secure two good German priests for his arch-diocese, and the request was transmitted to the priest in whose parish Father Koeper was born. This letter was received while Father Koeper was there upon his filial errand, and it was handed to him by the parish priest, with these im- pressive words: "The Lord has sent you a message; follow His advice."
His last ties of home being sundered by the death of his revered mother, Father Koeper left Germany on July 3, the same year, and arrived in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of the same month. After a sojourn there of four weeks, to familiarize himself with condi- tions in America, he went to Williamsport, in accordance with his let- ters of assignment, arriving there August 16, and at once entered upon his duties as rector of St. Bonifacius. The parish had fallen into a deplorable condition through mismanagement, and there was a debt of three thousand dollars against the property. To use the words of Father Nagel, "Father Koeper called the wandering and lost sheep back to the fold, and at once began the reconstruction of the congrega- tion, and his efforts were crowned with most pleasing success. St. Bonifacius congregation possesses a large and beautiful church, a com- fortable parsonage, a residence for the sisters, four school buildings and a valuable cemetery. But more is praise due Father Koeper for the manner in which he discharged his spiritual duties. Viewed from a Catholic standpoint, the German Catholic church of Williamsport ranks among the highest in the state of Pennsylvania. It was by the provi-
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dence of God, and not by chance, that Father Koeper, the right man 'in the right place, came to Williamsport in the right time." The mag- nitude of the work which he has accomplished can only be appreciated by a brief recapitulation. The new church edifice is fifty-six by one hundred and forty-five feet, of Gothic design, after the plans of a New York architect, Francis Himpler, and has a seating capacity of eight hundred. The cornerstone was laid June 22, 1873, and on that day an outstanding indebtedness of three thousand dollars was liquidated, and there was a fund on hand of five thousand dollars in cash. The cost of the building as completed was forty thousand dollars. Near the church is a substantial brick parochial school building. In 1904 the sum of $16,000 was expended for interior church decorations. In 1880 was built upon a lot opposite the church, a handsome brick residence for the sisters who teach in the school; this contains a chapel and eleven rooms, and cost four thousand one hundred dollars. In 1881 a new cemetery of four acres was purchased; this is situated at the corner of Penn and Wyoming streets, and was consecrated in 1885. All these properties were acquired under the rectorate of Father Koeper. The congregation at present (1905) consists of 360 families and 1, 100 com- municants. Connected with the church are four societies: the St. Bonifacius Beneficial Society, with 150 members, and $2,000 in its treasury ; the St. Elizabeth Altar Society of 179 members; the Young Men's Sodality of 198 members; and the Young Ladies' Sodality of 259 members. The first school was opened in 1870, with sixty-nine children. At the present time there are four graded schools, with 260 pupils. Charles Cremer was the first teacher, and remained in charge of the schools until June, 1874, when four sisters of Christian Charity, banished from Prussia by Bismarck, were placed in charge; the number
1
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of teachers has since been increased to ten, with Sister Cleopha as superioress.
This narrative would be incomplete without reference were made to the celebration of Father Koeper's silver anniversary, April 9, 1890, as the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The proper date was March 3Ist, but postponement was made on account of its occurring at the most solemn part of the penitential season of the church. To this occasion came from all parts of Pennsylvania and from other states friends, clerical and lay, who delighted to thus pay honor to a beloved priest and friend whose untiring zeal in the holy cause of religion had challenged their admiration. On the night preceding, a serenade and public demonstration made a brilliant and impressive scene, and a touching feature was the singing of a German home song, the music arranged for the occasion by the choirmaster, Mr. Crombo, followed by an admirable congratulatory address by F. Dietmeier, Esq., and another by Mr. Patrick Bradley. Upon this occasion, and at other times during the celebration, many valuable gifts were bestowed upon the beloved priest, and which remain among the most treasured adorn- ments of the rectory.
The religious celebration occurred in the Church of St. Bonifacius, which was beautifully decorated for the occasion with all description of floral ornament. The procession was the most brilliant which ever entered the sacred edifice. After the celebration of high mass by Father Koeper, a sermon of much power and beauty was delivered by the Very Rev. P. C. Nagel, of Wilkes Barre, a lifelong friend of Father Koeper, and who had been assigned to the pleasant duty by the Right Rev. Bishop O'Hara. Portions of this address have been quoted in previous parts of this narrative. The congregation was also addressed by the Riglit Rev. Bishop O'Hara, who added his words of commenda-
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tion to those which had been uttered by Father Nagel. In the after- noon Father Koeper gave a banquet in honor of the visiting bishops and priests. In every feature of this unique and impressive occasion was evidence in deed and word of a universal wish as expressed by one of the lay speakers at the opening of the anniversary celebration :
" May the Lord God, Who has blessed you and us, by you, His servant, grant your reverence yet many joyful days on earth. May the St. Bonifacius congregation enjoy the good fortune of remaining for many years to come under the guidance of their reverend pastor, and may this congregation have the pleasure and happiness to celebrate twenty-five years hence the golden jubilee of Rev. Father Koeper."
ERNEST HOWELL DAVIS.
Ernest Howell Davis, of the Williamsport Passenger Railway and Electric Lighting Company, was born November 13, 1859, at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. His father was Thomas Rees Davis, who emi- grated from Wales when about eighteen years of age, in 1840. Early in life he became connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad, being finally auditor of disbursements, continuing until death, December 10, 1891, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His wife was Catherine Fosselman, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who died in Philadelphia, August 30, 1886. Their children were: Josiah Rees Tudor, Gwelym George, Ernest Howell and Herman Haupt.
Ernest H. was educated in the public, including high schools of his native city and took law for a profession and was admitted to the bar in 1882 in Philadelphia, where he practiced law. He became president of the Brooklyn, Bath & West End Railroad Company in 1892, and two years later became connected with the passenger rail-
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ways and electric lighting company of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with which corporation he is officially and actively engaged at this time, February, 1905. He was president of the Pennsylvania Street Railway Association in 1903 and of the National Electric Light Association in 1904-5.
He was united in marriage to Helena A. Klemm, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1895.
WILLIAM PARSON BEEBER.
William P. Beeber, a member of the firm of J. A. & W. P. Beeber, attorneys-at-law of Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, is a direct descendant of Valentin Bieber, who emigrated from the Ger- man Palatinate, probably from near Zweibrucken, being a German Luth- eran (i. e. Huguenot), sailing from Rotterdam, via Cowes, on the ship " Betsy," S. Hawk, captain, and arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1768. He was accompanied by his three sons: Nicholas, Adam, and Johannes, also his brother Michael. Valentin and his sons settled in Maxatawney township, Berks county, Pennsylvania.
Johannes Bieber, youngest son of Valentin Bieber, born 1761, died 1846, enlisted in the Revolutionary war, became court martialman, and at the close of the war, 1783, settled on Muncy creek in Lycoming county, where he acquired lands by medium of war-pay warrants. He followed the occupation of farming. His brothers came to Lycoming county about the same time, and all were active in the forming and building up of Immanuel's Lutheran church, Clarkstown, signing its constitution in 1794, this probably being the first church in the bounds of Lycoming county. The descendants of Nicholas and Adam, brothers of Johannes, remained mostly in Muncy valley, the exceptions being two
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sons of Adam, one of whom located in Lewisburg, where his descend- ants now reside, and one in the state of Arkansas.
John Bieber, who sometimes spelled his name Beaver, aforemen- tioned as Johannes Bieber, married Mary J. Dimn, or Dimner, who was born in 1762, and died in 1818. Little is known of her history : she may have been a sister of Christopher Dimn, who settled in Muncy valley in 1796, whose father, John Dimn, emigrated from Wurtem- berg, Germany, to Berks county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bieber, who were married after coming to this county, were the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, all of whom settled in the immediate vicinity.
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