Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II, Part 19

Author: Collins, Emerson, 1860- ed; Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York : Lewis
Number of Pages: 626


USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 19


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June 30, 1897, he was united in marriage to Miss Ray Rowe, the daughter of John and Jane Rowe. No children have been born of this union. In religious affairs Mr. Moore and his family are members of the Lutheran Reformed church.


FRANK C. WENCK.


Frank C. Wenck, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Villamont dis- trict, was born March 21, 1862, in Sullivan county at Campbellsville, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Henry and Ellen (Hart) Wenck, who were farmers. Henry Wenck was born in Sullivan county, Pennsyl- vania, 1817. Politically, he was a staunch Democrat, and in his religious belief a Methodist. He died in 1891. His wife was born in England, coming to this country when but a small girl, accompanied by her parents, William and Harriet Hart. They were among the pioneer band that settled Sullivan county and were sturdy farmers.


(II) Henry Wenck was the son of John and Mary (Warren)


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Wenck (1). He was born in Germany and came to our shores when a young man, and was among the early Sullivan county settlers. The Warrens were English people, who came direct from England to Sulli- van county, Pennsylvania. John Wenck was a soldier of the war of 1812 and two of his sons, including George, served in the Civil war from 1861 to 1865. Ephraham was killed.


(III) Frank C. Wenck, the subject, received his education at the common schools, and added a business course at the Susquehanna Col- legiate Institute of Tawanda, Pennsylvania, after which he engaged as a salesman, traveling for H. J. Shaylor, of Tawanda, in the farm im- plement business. He followed this vocation five years and a half. He remained on his father's farm, however, until twenty-one years of age. July 1, 1890, he purchased a bottling business at Williamsport, Penn- sylvania, and made large amounts of soft drinks known as "temperance drinks; " also mineral waters. He has expanded and been compelled to erect a fine building and a fine residence, one of the best in the city.


He is an honored member of the Royal Arcanum, and in politics, usually votes the Democratic ticket. He was married September 15, 1892, to Caroline D. Schneider, born in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 29, 1868. She is the daughter of Peter and Maria ( Klees) Schneider, a hotelkeeper of Hughesville. Mr. and Mrs. Wenck have two children : Ruth Elizabeth, born July 19, 1901; Dorothy Caroline, born September 13, 1903.


The old farm at Campbellsville has been owned by the family for about one hundred years. It was first taken up by John, when it was all a wilderness, and from him it was handed down to his son, Henry, who had ten children as follows: I, Wallace, of Bradford county, Pennsylvania; 2, Charles, a farmer of Sullivan county, Penn- sylvania; 3, Charlotte, wife of F. D. Kerrick, ex-county treasurer of


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Bradford county, Pennsylvania; 4, Josephine, wife of Thomas R. Winder, of Williamsport, ex-county commissioner and clerk; 5, Laura, wife of Joseph Diffenbach, farmer of Bradford county; 6, Frank C .; 7, John N., a farmer of Hornbrook, Pennsylvania: 8, Serenda, wife of Harry Maurer, of Wilkesbarre; 9, Jennie, wife of Stephen Cox, Brad- ford county, a railroad man; 10, William, a Bradford county farmer.


Peter Schneider was a native of Germany and came to America when a young man. He served bravely in the Civil war in the Union army. His brother, William, also served in that conflict. He was shot and died from the wound. Their father came to this country several years after his son came. He was a butcher at Ashland, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wenck's father died young on account of exposure in time of war. His wife, Maria (Klees) Schneider, was the daughter of Isaac and Anna (Stephens) Klees. The Stephens were English Quakers.


LEVI GANN.


Levi Gann, a lifelong resident and highly respected citizen of Lycom- ing county. Pennsylvania, and an enterprising and practical farmer, was there born, in Nippenose Valley, in 1845, a son of Israel and Lealı (Moore) Gann, and grandson of John and Catherine (Crist) Gann. His grandparents resided in Lycoming county, near Collomsville, for many years, and were by occupation farmers. John Gann died about 1846. and his wife lived until about 1866.


Israel Gann, father of Levi Gann, was a native of Nippenose Valley, and there his entire life was spent. He was a well-to-do, excellent farmer and highly esteemed citizen. He married Leah Moore, and to them eight children were born, five of whom survive: William, Levi, Joseph; Mary, who is the wife of James Van Dyke; and Ida, who married J. W.


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Van Dyke. The death of Israel Gann occurred in 1870, and his wife survived him until 1880.


In early life Levi Gann was engaged in assisting his father with the farm work, and later engaged in the sale of pianos and musical instru- ments. Subsequently he removed to Williamsport, there conducting his music business with considerable success for twelve years. In 1903 he purchased the fine old homestead of a Mr. Crane, situated a short dis- tance south of Jersey Shore, on the Susquehanna river. The property consists of seventy acres of finely laid-out, highly cultivated land, and to this Mr. Gann has recently added seventy-five acres, this having been purchased from the adjoining estate of George Crane (deceased). Mr. Gann makes a specialty of raising tobacco and potatoes, and has met with the most gratifying success in this line. He is an excellent farmer and thorough business man, and in conjunction with the management of his agricultural interests conducts in a small way the music business at his rural residence. In politics Levi Gann is a sound Democrat, and is deeply interested in the welfare of that organization, although he has never aspired to public office.


In 1884 Mr. Gann was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lampe, the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Lampe of Williamsport. Mr. and Mrs. Gann are the parents of the following named three children : Lon, Alice and Emily.


MOSES LIONEL GEE.


Moses Lionel Gee is a descendant of old French settlers. His grandfather, Moses Gee, located at Virgil Corners early in the history of our country, and there married Abigail Rush. They were supposed to be Yankees of French extraction. To them were born seven chil-


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dren: Katie, Nancy, Sallie, Fergus, Philemon, Joseph, and Vanrasler. The last named is living at Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania.


Philemon, the father of our subject, was apprenticed to the trade of wagonmaker and blacksmith, and carried on this occupation in con- nection with farming. He owned a farm at Barton, New York, which he sold in 1865, and moved to Richford, New York, where he bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres, and engaged in the lumber and jobbing business as well. He lived here until his death in 1885. He was very religiously inclined, taking great pleasure in perusing his Bible, and was a regular attendant at the Lutheran church. He was a man prominent in the affairs of his town, and was greatly respected. He married, first, Abigail Gee, who was a cousin several times removed, and they were blessed with six children: I. Nancy, who married Derozel Owen; she died, and Mr. Owen married (second) Sallie, and they had four children: Eugene, Rosa Belle, Josephine, and Philemon. Mr. Owen served with great credit in the civil war, and at his death his widow married Samuel Vandermark. 2. Sallie. 3. Mary, who married Charles Ayers, who also served in the civil war; they were the parents of three children: Josephus, Robert, and Jabez, all of whom are now orphans. 4. Derozel. 5. Josephus, killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1864. 6. Leroy, who married Cora Gee; they have one daugh- ter, Flora, who married Dr. Frank Forshee. Philemon married (sec- ond) Martha A. Vandermark, January 25, 1852, and of this union were born four children: I. Moses L., the subject of this sketch. 2. Noah W., who is the proprietor of a large stock farm near Bradford, Penn- sylvania, and who married Emma Zimmer; they have two children, one son and one daughter: Illa and Viola. 3. Charles resides at Trout Run and married Ella Jenkens; they have four children: Bert, Bessie,


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Moses, and Florence. 4. Myra, who married William Kyes, a farmer at Steamburg, Cattaraugus county, New York.


Moses Lionel Gee, son of Philemon and Martha A. (Vandermark) Gee, was born at Barton, Tioga county, New York, November 14, 1852. He began his education in the common schools, and at about the time of his entering his fourteenth year his parents moved to Richford, Tioga county, New York, where he received another year's schooling. He then worked for his father, cutting and skidding logs, and also assisted on his father's farm of one hundred and forty acres, forty of which were . cleared. He remained in his father's employ and living at home until he had attained the age of twenty-one. It was his father's custom to give each of his sons a parcel of land consisting of twenty-five acres, when he thought they were able to take care of it. This land was en- cumbered with timber. When Moses L. Gee received this land he ex- changed his horses which he had raised on his father's farm for a yoke of oxen, cleared the timber from his land, and manufactured it into lumber, which he sold. He then undertook the cutting and peeling of logs with which to stock a mill for H. S. Finch, and sold the bark to Davage and Horton, tanners. After this he bought out his brothers, who had received the same quantity of land from their father that he had. This gave him about one hundred and seven acres, which he culti- vated and on which he erected a home for himself. During the winter months he undertook lumbering for different people. This occupation he followed until 1891, when he moved to the village of Richford, Tioga county, and lived there for two years. In 1893 he moved to English Center, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and accepted a position with the Elk Tanning Company, as superintendent of the woods for them. This position he held for one year.


In 1894 he came to Trout Run, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania,


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and entered into partnership with J. W. Allen and Duncan McClacken, and has resided here ever since. They erected a mill at Trout Run and operated it for two years under the firm name of Allen Lumber Com- pany, at which time C. R. Finch bought out the interest of Duncan Mc- Clacken, and one year later Mr. Gee bought out both of his partners. He carried on the business alone for about a year, when he sold a half interest to his former partner, J. W. Allen, and the business was carried on under the firm name of M. L. Gee and Company until January I, . 1893, when he again bought out his partner and continued the business alone until April, 1894. At this time the mill was burned down, and he at once set to work and erected a new mill and had it in operation in July of the same year. In 1898 he built his present residence, which is one of the finest and most commodious in the place. Mr. Gee has bought and remodeled a number of properties, and in 1904 he built a large double dwelling. Mr. Gee is an active member of the Presbyterian church, and it is largely through his instrumentality and liberality that the congregation was enabled to remodel the building. He was a member of the building committee, and not alone did he contribute freely from his own means, but he collected the greater part of the funds needed for the work. Mr. Gee held many town offices while living in New York state, being commissioner of highways for seven years, and trustee of the public schools and collector of the school tax. Since living here he has been director of the public schools six years and treasurer of the board five years. At present he is deacon and trustee of the Presby- terian church. He is a member of Trout Run Lodge No. 851, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held the offices of chap- lain, conductor, vice-grand, and trustee.


Mr. Gee was united in marriage at Berkshire, New York, to Miss Jennie Haynes, who was born at Richford, Tioga county, New York,


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January II, 1854. She is the daughter of Sylvester C. and Louise T. (Burleigh) Haynes, and was educated in the common schools of Rich- ford, New York, and studied for several years at Dryden Academy and at Lisle Academy, from all of which she graduated. Mr. and Mrs. Gee are the parents of one daughter, Ida Louise, born July 27, 1880. Ida Louise was a graduate of the Dickinson Seminary in 1903, and graduated in music from the same institution in 1904. She follows the profession of music and resides with her parents.


Mr. Gee is prominently identified with all the best interests of the town in which he lives, and has filled the various offices he has held to the great satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He is prosperous, and a fine representative of what pluck and perseverance can do. He is strong in his convictions and tenacious of his rights, equally respecting the rights of others.


WILLIAM FOLLMER.


William Follmer, of Trout Run, Pennsylvania, is well and favor- ably known as a builder. He is a descendant of the early settlers, his great-grandfather, Michael Follmer, having come from Germany to Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1737. He settled near Milton, North- umberland county, in 1778, and died in 1793. He was the father of six sons and three daughters. The family donated the site of the Follmer Lutheran church and a farm of eighty acres to the congregation. He and his wife are buried in the cemetery at that church.


Adam Follmer, son of Michael Follmer and grandfather of William Follmer, the subject of this sketch, sent his three sons ( William, Jona- than, and David) to Lycoming county about 1815 to settle a tract of land in Loyalsock township, which he had purchased.


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William Follmer, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Turbut township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he was born December 19, 1793. William Follmer married Catharine Schwartz, a daughter of Peter Schwartz, a native of Germany and one of the pioneers of Loyalsock township, where she was born April 9, 1791. He cleared and improved his land and became one of the promi- nent and substantial farmers of Loyalsock township. He was a Demo- crat and filled various of the township offices. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and lived and died in that faith. Mrs. Follmer died April 2, 1855. He survived her fifteen years and died April 25, 1870. They were the parents of thirteen children: I. Mary M., widow of William Wheeland, of Loyalsock township, born Decem- ber 14, 1815. 2. Sarah, wife of George Hartman, of Syracuse, Ne- braska, born March 2, 1817. 3. Rosanna, born August 6, 1818, and died September 18, 1826. 4. Adam, of Williamsport, born May 19, 1820, died July, 1903. 5. Catharine, born December 29, 1821, married Chris- tian Edler, and died September 20, 1847. 6. Julia Ann, widow of Jesse Strieby, of Eldred township, born July 10, 1823. 7. Susanna, widow of James McWilliams, of Kansas, born May 21, 1825. 8. Margaret, wife of William Hayes, of Montoursville, born March 1I, 1827. 9. Charlotte F., second wife of Christian Edler, of Montoursville, born February 6, 1829. 10. Lydia, wife of James M. Neece, of Williams- port, born October 29, 1830. II. Amelia, widow of Jesse Hyman, of New York state, born May 13, 1833. 12. William, the subject of our sketch. 13. Peter, born February 1, 1837.


William Follmer, son of William and Catharine (Schwartz) Foll- mer, was born in Loyalsock township, Lycoming county, on the farm on which his brother Peter still resides, on April 23, 1835. He was edu- cated in the common school in the building known as the old Union


17


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school house, in Loyalsock township, Pennsylvania. He remained under the parental roof until he was about twenty-two years of age, and then taught one term each in the Warrensville and Fairview schools. On one occasion, during his term as teacher, the schoolhouse was demolished by a fierce storm which was raging.


He entered into a partnership with William Hayes in 1862, built a flour mill at Farragut, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and operated it for a year. He purchased a mill in Greggs township, Union county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1864, and superintended the work actively until 1868. Previous to this, in 1866, he built the bridge between Allenwood and Dewart, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. He came to Trout Run in 1868 and erected a mill there. The flour mill at Hepburnville, now operated by Fleming and Sholenberger, was built by him in 1875, and was operated under his personal supervision until 1877, when he was elected prothonotary of Lycoming county; he was re- elected in 1880, and served six years. He sold the flour mill at Hep- burnville in 1883, and bought the Trout Run mill and operated it until 1890, when he sold it and bought a mill at Watsontown, and operated the same under the name of Follmer, Fowler and Company, and moved his family there in 1890. He rebuilt the bridge which had been washed away by the great flood of 1889. In 1895 he retired from active work in the milling business and turned over all his interests to his sons, he himself returning to Trout Run to live. Mr. Follmer has built the abutments of twenty-two county bridges. It was through his efforts that the Presbyterian church was built, as he solicited all the money, and the church was then built in 1884. He is an elder and trustee of the church, and when living in Watsontown he was elder in the Lutheran church there. He has held the office of county auditor for seven years, been school director two terms, and in 1905 was elected justice of the


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peace at Trout Run. Mr. Follmer was married in 1857 to Catharine Biehl, who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, May. 1838, and died in 1891 of lockjaw caused by stepping on a rusty nail at Watsontown; she is buried in Williamsport cemetery. She was the daughter of Peter and Rachel Biehl, farmers, of Fairfield township. William and Catharine had eight children born to them: The first died in infancy. 2. Ella, born August 5, 1859, married J. C. Fowler, and they are the parents of seven children. Mr. Fowler is the cashier of the First National Bank of Montgomery, Pennsylvania. 3. Jennie A., born November, 1861, unmarried. 4. Clayton C., born April 12, 1864; he married Verena Anderson, and they have one child, Bertha. Clay- ton was educated in Williamsport and has been engaged in the milling business all his life. At present he is in partnership with his father at Watsontown. 5. William Sherman, born 1866, died 1874. 6. Clemmie C., born March, 1870, married Rev. C. P. Bastian (Lutheran minister ). now living in Littlestown, Adams county, Pennsylvania; they have two children, Frederick F. and Ruth. 7. Harris L., born April 12, 1872, a farmer below Trout Run, in Lewis township; single. 8. Margaret, born August, 1874, was educated in Williamsport high school and Dick- inson Seminary. On October 31, 1903, Mr. Follmer married Susan Cornwell, daughter of Thomas and Harriet Cornwell, the former born March 5, 1832, died February 28, 1903, and the latter born November 31, 1839, died February 16, 1891. Mr. Cornwell was a prominent lumberman of Trout Run.


Mr. Follmer enjoys great popularity in the social circles of Trout Run, and is noted for his liberality. He is always ready to help those in need, and is universally respected.


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GEORGE G. COCHRAN.


George G. Cochran, a representative agriculturist of Woodward township, who operated nearly one hundred acres of valuable land on which has been discovered rich mineral ore and one of the best sulphur springs in the state, was born in Nippenose Valley, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1844.


John S. Cochran, father of George G. Cochran, was born in Lewis- burg, Pennsylvania, a son of William Cochran, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to this country at an early day and was drowned in the river in Lewisburg. John S. Cochran was a shoemaker by trade, which line of work he followed for a number of years, and later in life turned his attention to farming. He resided for a time in Union county, from whence he removed to Collomsville, Lycoming county, and thence to a farm on Pine Run, northwest of Linden, where the remainder of his life was spent. He held the office of tax collector in Woodward town- ship for several years, and was a man of considerable influence in the community. He married Anna M. Clark, a native of Nippenose Valley, daughter of William Clark, a well remembered tavern keeper of Nip- penose Valley, where he conducted a business at the foot of White Deer Mountain, one mile east of Collomsville. Thirteen children were the issue of this marriage, nine of whom grew to maturity, namely : Will- iam; Agnes, wife of B. S. Meyers; Mrs. E. R. Main ; Mrs. W. A. Aber- natha; David Antes, a veteran of the civil war; Mrs. Joseph Schultz; Henry, who lost his life during the period of the civil war, in which he took an active part; Benjamin F., deceased; and George G., mentioned at length hereinafter. John S. Cochran was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife was a member of the Presbyterian church. Their deaths occurred in 1864 and 1873, respectively.


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George G. Cochran was reared and educated in Woodward town- ship, whither his parents removed when he was one year old, and with the exception of four years has resided there all his lifetime. He di- rected his attention to agricultural pursuits, and in 1865 took up the butchering business, which he has followed in conjunction with farming ever since, a period of forty years. He purchased his present farm in 1889, which he has greatly improved and beautified, and being a prac- tical man and experienced farmer has derived a large income from this investment. He erected a modern and commodious residence for him- self and family on this property, and a fine barn costing in the neighbor- hood of $2,000. The discovery of natural gas and sulphur water of a fine quality on his premises makes it a very desirable site for summer cottages. Mr. Cochran has been the incumbent of several township offices, which he filled in a creditable and acceptable manner. He is well known in the vicinity of his home, and enjoys the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends.


Mr. Cochran was married in 1870 to Sarah J. Bomgardner, born in Mifflin township, December 1, 1852, daughter of Henry A. Bomgard- ner. To this union were born seven children, five of whom are living, as follows: Mrs. L. R. Knight, Stephen S., Mrs. S. M. Locker, David M., and Laura T. Cochran.


JAMES M. WOLF.


James M. Wolf, of Waterville, ex-sheriff of Lycoming county, is a representative of one of the old and honored families on Pine Creek, well known for their enterprise and patriotism, who have made for them- selves a prominent place in the history of this section of the state.


Michael Wolf (grandfather), a native of Berks county, Pennsyl-


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vania, and son of a German emigrant who served in the revolutionary war, settled in Lycoming county at an early day, coming from Berks county. He located near the mouth of Pine Creek, the place now being known as Phelps Mills, purchased property and erected and operated a grist mill, that being his trade. He operated the same up to the time of his decease, and was then succeeded by his sons. He married Cath- erine Miller, of Berks county, who bore him the following children, all of whom are deceased at the present time ( 1905) but Henry M., men- tioned hereinafter. Their names are as follows: John, Henry M., Jacob, George, Thomas, William, Catherine, who was the wife of John Stout; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Haggerty; Susan, who was the wife of Thomas Bonnell; and Sarah, who was the wife of Jacob Bonnell. Mr. Wolf was a member of the Lutheran church, and a Demo- crat in politics.


Henry M. Wolf ( father) was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1814. He removed to Lycoming county with his parents, and remained upon the homestead until he attained manhood. He was em- ployed for a number of years by various lumber companies, and subse- quently took contracts for getting out lumber, in which he was quite successful, until 1840, when he leased what is now known as the Ross Mill, which he operated for six years, after which he engaged in farm- ing. He then moved to Jersey Mills, where he followed farming and lumbering up to 1861, at which date he located in Waterville. Here he purchased five hundred and sixty-eight acres of land, a portion of which he cultivated up to his retirement from active work. He is still the owner of this property, but his sons now look after his interests. He is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Lycoming county, the esteem in which he is held being evidenced by the fact that he has filled all the principal township offices, including that of county




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