USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
After completing a common school education, Thomas J. Ritter turned his attention to farming and lumbering, these pursuits proving highly remunerative. In 1902 he became the proprietor of a general store in Lairdsville, which he has since conducted, and in addition to this he owns and operates a mill. The esteem in which he is held in the community is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen to fill several town offices, among them being that of justice of the peace, serving
167
LYCOMING COUNTY
therein for thirteen years. He is actively interested in religious work, has labored faithfully for the furtherance of the same, and has contributed liberally toward the building of churches throughout the nearby towns. He has held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for twelve years, during which time he has aided greatly in the building up of the order in the town of Lairdsville. He is an active and consistent member of the Lutheran church.
In the town of Lairdsville, January 5, 1871, Mr. Ritter was mar- ried to Almyra Magargle, born March 8, 1844, died June 30, 1905. She was educated in the Normal School in New Berlin, a daughter of Brit- tain Magargle, one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Lairdsville, coming here from Philadelphia, a Baptist in religion, and a faithful worker for the advancement of the interests of that denomination. Their children are: Mary E., born June 4, 1872, educated in the common schools. Anna G., born March 31, 1875, educated in the common schools. William R., born December 21, 1876, educated in the common schools and Muncy Normal School, and is now a teacher in the schools of Moreland township; and Thomas J., born September 29, 1878, edu- cated in the common schools, married Alice Houseknecht; no issue.
WILLIAM A. GIBSON.
The Gibson family is among the early pioneers of Susquehanna township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. It was founded by John Gibson and his wife Elizabeth, natives of Ireland, born July 1, 1774, and May 24, 1775, respectively. About 1796, shortly after their marriage, they emigrated to America and settled on what is known as the old Gibson place on the bank of the West Branch of the Susquehanna near Nisbet. He purchased nearly two hundred and fifty acres of land, an
168
LYCOMING COUNTY
almost complete wilderness, on which he erected a small log house, which was later replaced by a more modern structure. He was a thrifty, in- dustrious man, and with the help of his family soon had a considerable portion of his land under cultivation. He was a Presbyterian in re- ligion, and a Whig in politics. After a long and useful life John Gibson died September 17, 1847. He survived his wife a short period of time, she having passed away July 5, 1846. Their children were as follows :
I. William H., born July 13, 1816, died July 9, 1894. 2, Robert R., mentioned hereinafter. 3, Mary, born December II, 1803, died December 22, 1885. 4, Elizabeth, born 1806, died February 3, 1872, aged sixty-six years; she was the wife of Robert Smith. 5, Letitia, born 1809, died December 8, 1832, aged twenty-three years; she was the first wife of Charles Burrows. Nancy, the second wife of Charles Burrows. John, born October 28, 1811, died October 29, 1831.
Robert R. Gibson, son of John and Elizabeth Gibson, and father of William A. Gibson, whose name heads this sketch, was born on the old homestead in Susquehanna township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, July 29, 1818. Early in life he turned his attention to agricultural . pursuits on an extensive scale upon the same land that his father owned. He operated one hundred and twelve acres, besides wood land, which made in all two hundred and thirty-five acres. Half of the wood land was formerly the property of his brother, William H., from whom he purchased the same. He made many necessary improvements, consist- ing of a large brick building of eleven rooms, and a commodious barn with ample accommodation for stowing away his extensive produce and also for the caring of his large stock of cattle. He was a man of marked ability and influence in his township, and was unanimously elected to every local office. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder and trustee.
169
LYCOMING COUNTY
Mr. Gibson married, January 16, 1851, Sarah Hyndman, who was born in Ireland, November 16, 1829. Their children are as follows: John R., born December 7, 1851, married Lizzie Young, no issue. Alex- ander, born March 22, 1854, unmarried, resides on the old homestead. Mary E., born April 1, 1856, unmarried, resides on the old homestead. William A., born October 30, 1858, unmarried, resides on the old home- stead. Robert, born April 18, 1861, died May 4, 1861. Annie H., born March 20, 1865, wife of Joseph G. Stewart, and mother of three children. Robert H., born November 27, 1873, married Estella Faultz. Robert R. Gibson, father of these children, died March 24, 1897. He was survived by his wife, Sarah (Hyndman) Gibson, who died January 31, 190I.
JAMES O. BENNETT.
One of the first of the pioneers of Lycoming county to settle in what is now Susquehanna township was James Bennett, great-grand- father of James O. Bennett, who was formerly a resident of New Jersey. His advent to Nisbet was quite early in the history of Lycoming county, and he took up a large tract of land in Susquehanna township, west of Nisbet, which was known for a long time as the "Bennett Tract," re- ceiving his deed direct from the state as he was the original purchaser. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Dalton, bore him the following children : George, deceased; James, Elizabeth, Thomas, Wingrove, William, Hannah, Ann and Jane.
George Bennett, grandfather of James O. Bennett, was born in New Jersey. He was about ten years of age when his parents migrated to the state of Pennsylvania. He was reared there and subsequently made large purchases of land, which was then a complete wilderness,
170
LYCOMING COUNTY
from the state. He was a man of marked ability, and was an active factor in the growth and progress of the community in which he resided. He was instrumental in making the West Branch of the Susquehanna navigable, and served as supervisor during the construction of the Penn- sylvania canal. He was justice of the peace for a number of years, and was one of the most intelligent and influential men of his day in that section of the county. He married Mary Carpenter, a native of Penn- sylvania, of English parentage, and eight children were born to them: James, George, Ann, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, Thomas and Hannah. Elizabeth is the only surviving member of the family, and is now ( 1905) eighty-nine years of age; she is unmarried. Mr. Bennett married for his second wife Mrs. Colton, no issue.
Thomas Bennett, father of James O. Bennett, was born in Susque- hanna township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. He was a practical farmer, owning and operating one hundred and five acres of fine bottom land, which is now the property of his son, James O. Like his father, Mr. Bennett was a man of marked intelligence and progressive ideas, and served with distinction and credit in several township offices. He was united in marriage to Amanda Yeager, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Woolever) Yeager, and eleven children were born to them, seven of whom attained years of maturity, namely: Oliver, deceased; Augusta; James O .; Elmer E., deceased; William A .; Howard, de- ceased; and Charles, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Yeager were natives of Columbia county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Yeager was a cooper by trade, a first class mechanic, and upon the establishment of a distillery in Nisbet removed thither and was engaged in the manufacture of barrels for use in the same.
James O. Bennett, son of Thomas and Amanda ( Yeager ) Bennett, was born in Susquehanna township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on
171
LYCOMING COUNTY
the farm he now owns, May 25, 1861. He was reared in his native township, and attended the common district school. He followed farm- ing up to June, 1880, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as telegraph operator at Nisbet, continuing as such up to 1886. He then accepted a position as train dispatcher for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company, in which capacity he served faithfully and well for sixteen years, being then compelled to resign on account of failing health. He has recently returned to his farm, and intends in the future to follow agricultural pursuits. At the present time (1905) he is school director in his township. Socially he is a member of La Belle Lodge No. 232, Free and Accepted Masons, of Jersey Shore, of which honorable body he was worshipful master in 1901. He was made a Mason in 1898. He is a Republican in politics. On February 22, 1897, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Lizzie McDermott, daughter of Philip and Josephine McDermott, natives of Ireland. Their children are as follows: Charles F., born August 22, 1897; Nellie E., born June 1, 1899; and James O., Jr., born June 14, 190I.
HARRY S. FAGUE.
Harry S. Fague, a resident of Picture Rocks, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was there born October 14, 1870, a son of Abner and Angeline (Bull) Fague. He is a descendant of William Fague, who settled in Penn township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, at the close of the revolutionary war. Mr. Fague was the owner of a tract of land, comprising between four and five hundred acres, which is still in the possession of his descendants. Here he erected a homestead on the site where his grandson, W. B. Fague, now resides. On this farm, en-
172
LYCOMING COUNTY
gaged in agricultural pursuits, he spent the greater part of his life. He married Miss Mary Poust, and they had the following children; Eliza- beth, Frederick, John, Samuel, Sarah, Catherine, Daniel, George, and Julia, who is the only surviving member of the family. She married a Mr. Parrs and resides in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
John, the son of William Fague, and grandfather of Harry S. Fague, was born in Lycoming county in 1807, and was reared on his father's homestead. He subsequently purchased a tract of land in this county, embracing the site of the borough of Picture Rocks. He mar- ried Miss Jane Lockard, and to them were born five children, namely : Peter, deceased; Savilla, Mary J., Barbara A. and Abner.
Abner, second son and fifth child of John Fague, and father of Harry S. Fague, was born in Lycoming county, October 15, 1840, and died June 24, 1900. He received his education in the common schools of his native county, and having a strong liking for farming, devoted his attention chiefly to that occupation. A large portion of his father's farm was in his possession up to the time of his death, and he resided thereon within the corporate limits of the borough of Picture Rocks. Besides the cultivation of about four hundred acres of land, Mr. Fague is also engaged in the occupation of lumbering. He imported the first Hol- stein stock in Lycoming county, and was also among the first to intro- duce Jersey Red hogs into the county. He was also largely interested in the breeding of blooded horses, and was justly regarded as one of the most progressive agriculturists in this section of the state. He was the representative of Lycoming county on the state board of agriculture. When the civil war broke out, Mr. Fague enlisted in Company I, Thir- teenth Pennsylvania Militia. On the 9th of November, 1865, he mar- ried Miss Angeline Bull, and six children were born to them, namely : M. Alice, Charles S., deceased; Harry S., Cora E., Alida M., and Gusta
173
LYCOMING COUNTY
J. Politically Mr. Fague's sympathies are with the Democratic party, and he belonged to the Baptist church of Picture Rocks, in which his wife also held membership.
Harry S. Fague received his early education in the common schools of his native county, and also attended the normal school at Muncy, Pennsylvania, for some time. He taught school for two years, and then went to Iowa, where he remained for some time; from Iowa he went to Minneapolis, where he taught school. He returned east and, September 3, 1900, was married to Miss Effie Green, who was born June 20, 1872, a daughter of Milton Green. They have two children, Dorothy, born May 10, 1901, and Martha, born March 2, 1902. After his marriage he bought the old homestead of his grandparents, where he has resided ever since, following farming for an occupation. He is very fond of horses, and has in his possession at the present time some very fine ones. .
ELMER E. SHEFFER.
Elmer E. Sheffer, a contractor and builder of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was born in Liberty, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, the son of Martin and Margaret (Beck) Sheffer, who were the parents of four children, namely: Elmer, mentioned, at length hereinafter; Ida, the wife of Murray Mase, Liberty; Frank and Phillip, deceased. The father of these children was a native of Tioga county, a son of John Sheffer, who when but a child removed with his parents from Lancaster to Lycoming county. Martin was a farmer by occupation. His death occurred in 1892, and his widow still survives and resides at the old homestead.
Elmer E. Sheffer was reared in his native place and there obtained
174
LYCOMING COUNTY
his education. At the age of eighteen years he entered into an appren- ticeship to learn the carpenter trade, and since 1885 has successfully conducted a contracting and building business. His skilled workman- ship and upright business dealing have in a few years won for him an enviable position in business circles. He resided in Liberty until 1898, when he removed to Blossburg, Tioga county, and in 1901 took up his residence in Jersey Shore. During the period of his residence in the latter place he has contributed in a large measure to its upbuilding, hav- ing erected a large number of splendid buildings and residences in the thriving city. He has now in his employ a force of fifty men, and per- haps no builder and contractor of his state can boast of greater promi- nence or greater success in his chosen line than can Mr. Sheffer.
Politically Mr. Sheffer is a staunch Republican, and a member of Blossburg Lodge No. 350, F. and A. M., and Blockhouse Lodge No. 390, I. O. O. F., Blossburg. In matters of religion he accords with the doctrines of the Baptist church, of which he is a regular and consist- ent attendant.
September 26, 1887, Elmer E. Sheffer was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Neal, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Herrer) Neal, both natives of Tioga county, Pennsylvania. The death of Mr. Neal occurred in 1904. Mrs. Neal now (1905) resides at Liberty.
JAMES HYNDMAN.
James Hyndman, of Nisbet, Susquehanna township, where he has owned and operated a farm of fifty acres since 1871, is one of the sub- stantial men of that little hamlet. He is industrious and trustworthy, a man in whom his fellow citizens have implicit confidence. He was
175
LYCOMING COUNTY
born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1835, son of Alexander and Esther (Hill) Hyndman.
Alexander Hyndman (father) was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1801. He was a farmer by occupation, and a most worthy and ex- emplary man in every respect. Immediately after his marriage to Esther Hill, who was born in County Derry, Ireland, November 5; 1801, he emigrated to this country, locating in Canada, where they remained but a short period of time. They were both children of well-to-do par- ents, reared in affluence, and soon became homesick in their new environ- ment, so consequently they returned to Ireland, and in that country their ten children were born. In 1850 they again came to the United States, locating in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but shortly afterward Mr. Hynd- man died from the effects of cholera, August 17, 1850. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. His widow and her children removed to Lycoming county in 1857, and there the children married and settled. Mrs. Hyndman died in December, 1891. Six children came to this country, of whom five are now living: Mrs. Esther Peacock, Mrs. M. Smith, Mrs. Ellen Jannay, James, and Mrs. Elizabeth Grier.
James Hyndman was fifteen years of age when his parents emi- grated to the United States. Seeing the possibilities before him, he determined to make for himself a name and place in the world. He turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has succeeded wonderfully, and while his farm is not large it is productive and well cared for, and the neat and thrifty appearance indicates the supervision of a master hand. Mr. Hyndman served his township as supervisor. During the civil war he was drafted twice; the first time he hired a sub- stitute, but the war ended shortly after he was drafted the second time, so he was not called upon for active service.
Mr. Hyndman married Martha Kennedy, who bore him three chil-
176
LYCOMING COUNTY
dren, two of whom attained years of maturity: John and Margaret. The former, however, died after he reached young manhood; he was auditor for the Williamsport and North Branch Railroad Company at the time of his demise, and everything was bright for future success and usefulness. Margaret is the wife of A. Zeuber, and the mother of one daughter, Martha Zeuber.
JOHN MUMMA YOUNG.
In a list of the men to whom Lycoming county is largely indebted for the maintenance and increase of her industries the name of John M. Young would stand very high. Mr. Young is a representative of a family of German origin, the history of which is traced through the following generations :
David Young (1), a native of Germany, emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania. He married and had a family, and among his children was a son, Charles (2), who married and became the father of a son, William (3). This William was the father of William (4), who married Eliza Mumma. Of their children two grew to maturity : John M., mentioned at length hereinafter, and a daughter, Mary R. The latter, who was the elder of the two, married William A. Schreyer, of Milton, Pennsylvania, and became the mother of four children : Maria E., who married William R. Kramer; Rebecca Y .; John Y., who married Carrie H. Smith, and has two children, Mary and Eleanor; and Harry H., who married Bertha Datesman, and has two children, one of whom is named William and one Louise.
John M. Young (5), son of William Young (4) and Eliza ( Mum- ma ) Young, was born in Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, and received his early education in the public schools. Subsequently he entered Penn-
177
LYCOMING COUNTY
sylvania College, Gettysburg, from which he graduated. He then ap- plied himself to a course of legal studies at the Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, afterward going to Topeka, Kansas, where he entered upon the practice of the law. After a time he removed to York, Pennsylvania, and then came to Williamsport, where he engaged in business as a manufacturer. In company with several others he organized a new firm from an old one, under the title of the Williams- port Iron & Nail Company. The business was established in 1882, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and the company was organized April 15, 1892, as follows: C. La Rue Munson, president ; John Y. Schreyer, secretary; John M. Young, treasurer ; John Jenkins, general superintendent; directors: W. A. Schreyer, S. W. Murray, W. A. Heinen, C. La Rue Munson and Constans Curtin. The company manufacture cut nails, both iron and steel, and give steady employ- ment to about one hundred and seventy-five hands. They make from thirty to thirty-five tons of nails per day. Mr. Young was formerly president and is now a member of the Board of Trade, and has been for many years a director in the First National Bank of Williams- port.
During the Civil war Mr. Young enlisted three times for the service of his country, the first time in 1862, the second in 1863 and the third in 1864. In the autumn of the last named year he was finally (lischarged. He served in the infantry of the Army of the Potomac, later in the mounted infantry, and during part of his term of service was under the command of General Philip H. Sheridan.
Mr. Young is a member of the Masonic order. Politically he is a supporter and advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Young married, August 25, 1868, at Gettysburg, Pennsyl-
12
178
LYCOMING COUNTY
vania, Amelia Caroline Van Patten, and they are the parents of the following children: I. William, who was born April 23, 1870, in Topeka, Kansas, and is a lawyer in New York city and now a member of the New York State Assembly. 2. Edwin Parson, who was born December 9, 1871, in Middletown, Ohio (as were the three next fol- lowing), and is a lawyer at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 3. John Paul, who was born April 28, 1873, and is a mechanical engineer and now superintendent of the Youngstown, Ohio, Car Manufacturing Company. 4. Mary, who was born April 7, 1875. 5. Charles Van Patten, who was born November 30, 1876, is a Presbyterian minister and now a professor in Cornell University. He married Eleanor Mahaffey, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and has one daughter, Eleanor. 6. Carrie Van Patten, who was born March 6, 1880, in York, Pennsylvania, as were the two following. 7. Ruth Van Patten, who was born March 30, 1882. 8. George Harper, who was born January 13, 1878, and is a mechanical engineer and assistant treasurer of the Williamsport Iron & Nail Com- pany. He married Alice Holland, of New York city. All the sons and also the daughter Carrie were graduated from Cornell University.
Mrs. Young is a daughter of Charles Hansen and Amelia Caroline (Harper) Van Patten, and graduated in June, 1866, from the Gettys- burg Female Seminary. On the paternal side she is a direct descendant of Charles Frederick Van Patten, one of the founders of Schenectady, New York, and of Carl Hansen Toll, a member from New York to the Colonial Congress, in which he served for thirteen years. Through her mother she belongs to the ancient family of the Harpers, who trace their ancestry back to 965, and is a direct descendant of John Harper, who in 1681 came from England with William Penn in the ship " Wel- come," and settled in Frankford, now a part of Philadelphia.
179
LYCOMING COUNTY
BYRON A. WEAVER.
Byron A. Weaver, postmaster and merchant of Montoursville, Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, is a native of that borough, his birth hav- ing occurred December 23, 1856. He is a son of John and Catherine (Shaffer) Weaver and grandson of Jacob Weaver, whose parents were natives of Germany.
Jacob Weaver (grandfather) was born in York, York county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1790, died July 2, 1880. For many years he conducted the freight route by train from York to Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Baltimore, and subsequently devoted his attention to dis- tilling and farming, conducting his operations in Lewisburg, Union county, to which he removed in 1832, McEwensville, Northumberland county, and Clearfield township, Lycoming county, to which he removed about the year 1835. He was a Presbyterian in religion and a Democrat in politics. He married (first) Catherine Smith, born in York county, December 9, 1790, died September 11, 1846, and their children were as follows: William, born May 19, 1811, died March 14, 1894; Susan, born November 6, 1813, died November 3, 1830; John, born September 26, 1816, died April 27, 1888; Henry, born February 19, 1819, died October 28, 1876; Margaret and George, twins, born December 2, 1821, both deceased; Samuel, born July 2, 1824, died September 9, 1890; a twin of Samuel, unnamed, died in infancy; Eleanor T., born March 4, 1827, wife of William Edler, of Williamsport, both of whom are living at the present time ( 1905) ; Jacob, born March 2, 1830; Mary Almira, born November 9, 1832, died May 11, 1881; and Lewis Mannel, born March 29, 1835, died in 1903. The mother of these children died in 1846. Mr. Weaver married ( second) a Mrs. Mull. His death occurred July 2, 1880.
180
LYCOMING COUNTY
John Weaver (father) was born near Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, September 20. 1815, died April 2, 1888. In early man- hood he removed to Montoursville, Lycoming county, where he en- gaged in boating on the canal, and was also proprietor of the Central Hotel, which was well patronized by the traveling public. He was a Republican in politics, and the esteem in which he was held by his fel- low citizens is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen to fill various borough offices, in which he performed his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He married Catherine Shaffer, born September 15, 1820, died April 5, 1894, daughter of John and Abigail Shaffer, who bore him the following named children: Jane Sarah, born February 10, 1842. Catherine, born November 16, 1843, died April 6, 1888; she married William Gundrum. Anabell, born July 11, 1845, became the wife of Charles Bubb, of Williamsport, Penn- sylvania. Lindsay M., born November 30, 1846, died June 29, 1897; served at one time as postmaster at Montoursville; he married Viola Shaffer, and they have one daughter, Fannie. John B., born July 10, 1848, died November 14, 1880; he married Jane Bastian, deceased. George W., born May 20, 1850, married Sarah E. Wilson, and they are the parents of four children, of whom Edna and Catherine are living. William, born June 27, 1852, died May 5, 1888. Oscar B., born No- vember 30, 1854, married Etta Deiner, and they are the parents of four children : Helen, Edith, Oscar, and Charles. Byron A., born December 23, 1856, mentioned hereinafter. Mary F., born December 6, 1859, be- came the wife of Dr. W. E. Ritter, of Muncy; they have three chil- dren: Catherine B., living, and Kenneth and James, deceased. Clara E., born October 5, 1860, became the wife of John E. Callahan, born December 8, 1861 ; they are the parents of four children: Boyd, Maize, Max, and Sarabell. Mr. Callahan is a member of the firm of Weaver
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.