USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 20
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auditor and county commissioner, having been appointed in 1851 and 1863, respectively. He is a member of the Baptist church, and was a liberal contributor toward the building of the churches of that denomi- nation at Jersey Mills and Jersey Shore. He is a Democrat in politics.
In 1837 Henry M. Wolf married Mary Gamble, daughter of Andrew Gamble, who bore him eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity; George T .; Andrew G., deceased; James M .; Michael; Jane E., deceased ; Oliver W .; John G .; Sarah A., and Henry M., Jr. The mother of these children died in 1877. For his second wife Mr. Wolf married Mrs. Ellen B. Sears, daughter of a Mr. Butler, a representative of one of the early families of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.
During the war of the rebellion Henry M. Wolf was a staunch sup- porter of his country's cause, and five of his sons and one son-in-law served in the Federal ranks. George T. and Andrew were members of Company G, Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry ; the former was sergeant, and the latter was killed at Charles City ; Oliver was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was wounded at Fredericksburg; and Michael was a private in Company G, Forty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. James M., whose name heads this sketch, organized a squad of men in 1862 which formed a part of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment, serving nine months. He was made first lieuten- ant of the same company. After the expiration of his first term of service he recruited another squad of men for Company G, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which company he was made first lieutenant as before. During the hottest of the fighting in 1862 he was confined in the hospital. Henry M. Wolf and his wife, with the anxiety of loving parents, desired to go to the front and visit their son, but orders
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were strict and permission would not be given a civilian. To overcome this, a friend of Mr. Wolf, who was in the commissary department, sent him as his representative, furnished him a pass, and as a government em- ploye he was passed through the lines to the front. He took his son home with him and nursed him back to health, thus no doubt saving his life.
James M. Wolf was born on Pine Creek, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1840. Here he was reared and educated, attending the common schools and a business college at Syracuse, New York. Later he entered into partnership with his brother Michael, and under the firm name of J. M. and M. Wolf they successfully conducted a milling and lumber business for a number of years. The saw mill, grist mill and planing mill gave employment to a large number of people, and thus was a source of benefit to the community and its residents. During the flood in 1889 every- thing was swept away, involving a loss of thirty thousand dollars. Mr. Wolf was elected sheriff of Lycoming county in 1887 and served in that capacity until 1890. He was justice of the peace for five years, and also held all of the important offices in the township. He is now in the employ of the state, looking after the lands belonging to it, there being fifteen thousand acres in Cummings township alone. He is a Baptist in his religious views, and a Democrat in politics. During his war service, above mentioned, he participated in the battles of Fredericks- burg, Second Bull Run, Antietam and Chancellorsville; and at a later day he aided in the maintenance of law and order during the Minersville coal riot. He is a member of Reno Post, and the Knights of Malta.
Mr. Wolf was married three times-first in 1872, to Amanda A. Ranck, daughter of Cyrus Ranck, who bore him two children, and who died in 1877; second, to Elsie J. Carson, daughter of William Carson,
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who bore him two children : Frances E. and James B .; and third, to Tacey E. Ramsay, daughter of Thomas and Harriet Ramsay, who bore him one son, Rowland H. Wolf.
HENRY WHIPPEL.
One of the oldest and most respected citizens of Woodward town- ship is Henry Whippel. Mr. Whippel is the son of Philip Whippel, who was born in North Branch and was a farmer of considerable ability. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife was Charlotte Cole, a native of Little Pine Creek, and the following children were born to them: Hannah, Polly, Jane, Susan, Catherine, Margaret, Daniel, and Henry, mentioned at length hereinafter. Of this number only the two last named are living.
Mr. Whippel was one of the pioneers of Woodward township, and at the time of his settlement deer, wolves and bears were found there in large numbers. At one time the dogs chased a deer so closely that it took refuge in the mill-dam. On this occasion Mrs. Whippel proved her- self a worthy consort of her pioneer husband, for she caught the deer in the water and killed it on the spot. The descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Whippel now living include two children, six grandchildren, twenty- seven great-grandchildren and twenty great-great-grandchildren.
Henry Whippel, son of Philip and Charlotte (Cole) Whippel, was born May 18, 1823, in Woodward township, of which he has ever since been a continuous resident. His early life was spent in boating, owning a boat himself. He subsequently purchased a farm of one hundred acres which he still owns and upon which one of his sons resides. A portion of this land he inherited from his father. Politically he and his sons are Republicans, and in matters of religion he and his family are
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divided, some being Methodists, some Evangelicals and others Baptists.
Mr. Whippel married, in 1845, Elizabeth Miller, and of the thirteen children born to them eight grew to maturity: Catherine, deceased; Harriet; Daniel; Jane; Margaret, deceased; Henry; Letitia; and Ida. The mother of these children passed away in September, 1901, an irrep- arable loss to them and to their father.
Mr. Whippel was in his younger days a practical farmer, but is now enjoying the leisure so well earned by his many years of industry and endeavor.
MUNRO CLAY SNYDER, D. D. S.
The grandfather of Dr. Munro Clay Snyder, of Jersey Shore, was Jacob Snyder, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and who, with Phoebe, his wife, formerly a resident of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, removed in early life to Lairdsville, Lycoming county. Philip Snyder, son of Jacob and Phoebe Snyder, was born September 10, 1838, at Lairdsville, where he attended the common schools and worked on the homestead, and in his father's saw-mill, which was one of the first mills in the neighborhood, and was one of the old " up and down " variety. After his father's death he carried on the business, becoming one of the well known lumbermen of the county. He made many improve- ments on the homestead, building the large barn in 1884, and his new residence in 1888. Some time since he retired from the lumber business and now resides on his farm which consists of nearly two hundred acres. He has held the office of school director a number of terms. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist. He is a deacon in the Baptist church and superintendent of the Sunday School, having held both positions for a number of years.
Mr. Snyder was married, March 5, 1862, to Mary Jane, daughter
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of Peter and Sarah Sones, and their children were I. Ellis M., born May 12, 1863, married Melissa, daughter of Burgess and Alice Swisher, of North Mountain, and they have one child, Mary Alice. 2. Mary E., born September 12, 1865, died June 23, 1891. 3. Thomas C., born February 7, 1868, freight agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, at Bloomsburg, Columbia county, married Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hartman, near Lairdsville, and has one son, Herman, about twelve years old. 4. Jacob P., born November 24, 1870, dentist in Williamsport, married in the fall of 1899 to Sophia, daughter of Jacob and Rosanna Heim, of Hepburn, this county. They have one daughter, Rosanna, born November, 1902. 5. Munro Clay, mentioned at length hereafter. 6. Sallie E., born February 26, 1875, wife of George Stadon, of Moreland, and mother of children, Munro, Lloyd, Frank and Ethel. 7. Fannie, born February 5, 1878, died July 17, 1880. 8. Herbert D., born November 24, 1880, assisted his father on the homestead, married Mazie, daughter of John and Melissa Myers, and has three children, Maurice, Melissa, and Irene. His death, which occurred May 19, 1905, was the result of typhoid pneumonia. He was a member of the Baptist church, from where he was buried, the funeral being very largely attended and the services conducted by his pastor, Dr. H. C. Munro, of Whitehall. 9. Jennie, born February 22, 1882, died September 22, 1884.
Munro Clay Snyder, son of Philip and Mary Jane (Sones) Snyder, was born March 26, 1873, at Lairdsville, attended the public schools, worked on his father's farm and saw-mill, and at the age of sixteen entered the Muncy Normal school. The winter of 1889 and 1890 he taught the Laurel Run school, in Moreland township, returning to the Muncy Normal the following summer, and teaching the North Mountain school in Franklin township the next winter. He then gave up teach-
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ing for three years, spending a part of the time at home on his father's farm, when he again spent some time at Muncy Normal, and taught the Crescent school in Hepburn township for two consecutive terms. In October, 1897, he, with his brother Jacob, entered the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, Philadelphia, graduating therefrom in May, 1900. In November of that year he settled in Jersey Shore, opening a dental parlor in the Molly Parker building. He remained there until April, 1902, when he moved to the Sallada Block, where he has a fine office and a large practice. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Na- tional Protective Legion, and the Earnest Americans, holding important positions in each. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, having voted that ticket since attaining his majority. In his religious faith he is a Baptist, but since his residence in Jersey Shore, not wishing to take his wife from her church in her home town, he joined her church, the Lutheran.
Dr. Snyder married, August 29, 1900, Capitola Coder Poust, born August 16, 1876, at Jersey Shore, daughter of Albert H. and Alice (Irvin) Poust. The ceremony was performed in the presence of a large number of invited guests, at the home of the bride, by the Rev. Calvin Fasold, then pastor of the Lutheran church, Jersey Shore.
Mrs. Snyder, before her marriage, was for a number of years one of Jersey Shore's most successful public school teachers. She and her hus- band were the parents of one child, Ruth Irvin, born January 27, 1904, Some months after the birth of their child, Mrs. Snyder's health began to fail, though it was not considered serious. A visit to the country was being arranged for, in the hope that she would regain her normal health, but before arrangements were completed, she was suddenly taken sick, and after but three days' illness, departed this life, June 25, 1904.
Her death, coming so unexpectedly, was a great shock to the entire community, and her loss was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends,
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the sphere of her usefulness having been widely extended. What may seem a singular coincidence, is that her most intimate friend, Miss Ruth Reeder, of Montoursville, was seriously ill at the same time, and died in less than a week after Mrs. Snyder. Mrs. Snyder was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church since early childhood, was a teacher in the Sunday school, an active worker in the Luther League, the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. At the time of her death she was president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and treasurer of the Missionary Society. The funeral services, which were very largely attended, were conducted by her pastor, Rev. Charles Fickinger, assisted by Rev. P. H. Lynch of the Baptist church. There was a beautiful display of floral tributes, among them being floral designs from the National Protective Legion, the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the Luther League, the Sunday School, and from her husband, relatives and many friends. Interment was made in the local cemetery.
HENRY BOWER.
One of the finely improved and therefore productive farms of Ly- coming county is located in Bryans Mills and is the property of Henry Bower, who through perseverance and good judgment has gained a prominent place among the agriculturists of the community. He has been a life-long resident of the county in which he now resides, born August 22, 1828, a son of Henry and Elizabeth Bower.
He attended the common schools of the neighborhood and thus acquired a knowledge of the rudimentary branches of education, and later by reading and observation became well informed on a number of
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subjects. He has made many valuable improvements to his property through the course of his ownership, has placed the soil under a high state of cultivation, and in addition to general farm products raises a large quantity of cows, horses, pigs and chickens, which he readily dis- poses of to the nearby markets. He supports the principles of the Pro- hibition party, and his religious views are in accord with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which organization he holds mem- bership.
On December 28, 1858, Mr. Bower married Emma E. Clark, who was born December 18, 1838, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Clark, and they were the parents of five children, namely: Clara E., Thomas M., Reena, Emma L. and Harry C. Bower.
CHARLES FREY.
Charles Frey, a venerable and esteemed citizen of Hughesville, Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, was born February 19, 1829. In his parents' family were eleven children, the others being: Daniel; John, deceased ; George: Savilla, who became the wife of George Worthing- ton, and they reside in Kansas; Christina, who became the wife of Rob- ert Worthington, and they reside in Penn township; Susanna, Barney, William, Sophia and Caroline, the five latter named being deceased.
Charles Frey received the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that early day, but by reading and observation he became well informed on a variety of subjects. During the dark days of the civil war period he was drafted to serve in the army, but owing to the illness of his wife, who was the mother of several small children, he was compelled to remain at home and in consequence paid his fine to the United States government. He was chosen by his fellow citizens
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to serve in various offices of trust and responsibility, among them being that of overseer of the poor for twelve years, tax collector for one term, and assessor.
Mr. Frey was united in marriage to Miss Savilla Yagle, daughter of Elias and Susanna (Flick) Yagle, the former having been born in the year 1799, a son of Andrew and Mary ( Yeagle) Yeagle, and a direct descendant of the pioneer ancestors of the American branch of the fam- ily, who came from Britonburgh, Prussia, in 1770, took up land and set- tled in a home in the state of Pennsylvania, and the latter was a descend- ant of John and Mary ( Young) Flick, who came from France about the year 1725, and also settled in the state of Pennsylvania. Elias and Susanna (Flick) Yagle were the parents of the following named chil- dren : Edward L., deceased; Thomas Jefferson, born in 1824, now re- sides in Williamsport; Margaret U., born in 1829; Effie Kathryn, born in 1831, became the wife of Frank Miller, and they reside in Williams- port ; Emeline; Mary Jane, born in 1841 ; and Saville, aforementioned as the wife of Charles Frey.
Mr. and Mrs. Frey are the parents of seven children, as follows : Emma C., born April 17, 1853, became the wife of Silas McCarty, and they reside in Kansas; Margaret C., born October 22, 1854, became the wife of William Fedhroff, and resides in Fairfield, Pennsylvania; Flor- ence M., born September 12, 1856, became the wife of Daniel Andrews, and resides in Moreland, Pennsylvania; William E. F., born October 14, 1859, married Jennie Townsend, and they reside in Penn township, Penn- sylvania; Charles E., born August 10, 1861, married Mary Brown, and they reside in Muncy Creek township, Pennsylvania; Gordon E., born October II, 1864, married Lizzie Kelley, and resides in Penn township, Pennsylvania ; and Jennie F., born November 18, 1871, became the wife of Elias Hill, and they reside in Penn township, Pennsylvania.
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OSCAR C. ANTES.
Oscar C. Antes, born November 17, 1876, in Chapman town- ship, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, is the son of Frederick T. and Maria W. Antes. Having become an important factor in the gen- eral upbuilding of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, a sketch of his life very naturally finds a place in this connection. He was educated at the common schools in Susquehanna township and at the Commercial College of Williamsport. He finished his school days in 1899, and the following year was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, as a "section hand." November 6, 1900, he entered the office of McVaugh & Mason, as bookkeeper, continuing until the dis- solution of the company, which was succeeded by the McVaugh Lum- ber Company. September 8, 1893, Mr. Antes succeeded that company. and is still carrying on a general planing mill business, at the corner. of Third and Rose streets.
As a rule, a very just estimate may be placed on a man's career and business affairs by what the local press publishes concerning him, hence the following, which appeared January 20, 1905, in the columns of the Williamsport Sun, is here appended :
"Of the many business enterprises that have helped to make Will- iamsport one of the chief commercial centers in the country, the lum- ber business has held an important place. There is no business that bears a greater importance than a well-equipped planing mill and lum- ber yard; in fact, a factory of this nature is a practical necessity to all progressive communities.
"The concern of which Oscar C. Antes is the head, began under its present management about two years ago, at which time Mr. Antes succeeded the McVaugh Lumber Company. The mill and yards of
Oscar LAaxess
.
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this company are conveniently situated at the corner of Third and Rose streets, and have all the facilities for transportation that two rail- roads can offer. It is not an uncommon sight, at this place, to see, nearly every morning, carloads of rough lumber placed on their switches, ready for dressing and planing. The plant occupies about two acres of ground, and all is fully equipped in the most modern and scientific manner, with all necessary wood-working machinery for sawing, planing, matching, grooving and general planing mill job work. A new Glencove planing and matcher machine, which will facilitate greatly in all their varied work, has recently been put in by them and great results are expected from it."
January 14, 1893, Elsie M. Moore became Mr. Antes' wife. She is the daughter of Ellis and Mary J. Moore, of Montoursville, Penn- sylvania.
Mr. Antes is a member of the Grace Street M. E. church of Will- iamsport, Pennsylvania, and politically is in sympathy with the Pro- hibition party, receiving in 1903 the nomination for register and re- corder at that party's hands, but was not elected. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., Washington Camp No. 299, at Montoursville, Pennsylvania : also of Eureka Lodge, No. 335, A. F. & A. M. of the same place. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree and is a member of the Ancient Scottish Rite, Valley of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM LUCAS.
William Lucas, proprietor of the Central Hotel, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, which he purchased in 1888, is a native of Tampa Bay, Florida, the date of his birth being December 15, 1843. His parents were Luther Wesley and Mary Ann (Cassidy) Lucas, the former named
18
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having been born near Richmond, Virginia. Later he located in the state of Pennsylvania, where he engaged in mercantile business for a number of years, and subsequently changed his place of residence to the state of Florida, from which he enlisted in the Fifth United States In- fantry, and was killed in battle during the Mexican war. His wife and children, of whom William is the only one now living, moved to Johns- town, Pennsylvania, in 1849, where she resided until her death, August 19, 1861.
In 1856, at the age of thirteen years, William Lucas left home and located in Montoursville, where he at once engaged in boating on the canal, continuing this occupation until July 1, 1861. That year being the crisis in our nation's history, Mr. Lucas was one of the first to re- spond to the call for troops, enlisting in Company G, Twenty-eighth Reg- iment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served for three years and one month, during which time he participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which his company took part. At the close of hostilities between the north and south Mr. Lucas returned to Montoursville and resumed his former occupation, boating, until 1884, in which year he became pro- prietor of the Central Hotel, a well-known and popular hostelry, and four years later he became the owner of the property, which is located in the best portion of Montoursville and therefore of considerable value. Mr. Lucas is a liberal and public-spirited citizen, justly meriting the esteem in which he is held. He has served as burgess and constable of Montoursville, discharging the duties of office in a highly creditable and satisfactory manner. He is a staunch adherent of the principles of Re- publicanism. He holds membership in Eureka Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Fairfield Lodge and Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Union Veteran Legion; and Reno Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Williamsport.
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In September, 1865, Mr. Lucas was united in marriage to Mary L. Frock, and their children are: Jennie M. and Harry S. Lucas.
HARRY K. FRONTZ.
Harry K. Frontz, of Montgomery, a leading member of the dental profession, conducting an extensive and lucrative practice in the above named town, is a native of Hughesville, Pennsylvania, born April 12, I868.
George Frontz, father of Harry K. Frontz, was also a native of Hughesville, born in 1841. He married Emma Kistner, and their chil- dren are as follows: Howard, who married Mrs. Jessie Acher, and they reside in Huntington, Pennsylvania. C. Benjamin, a resident of Colo- rado; he studied the profession of dentistry, but his entire time and at- tention is devoted to the management of a gold mine, of which he is the owner. Charles J., a Lutheran minister, married Mary Worthing, of Salem Grove, and they are the parents of one child, Catherine. J. Arthur, a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, who married Florence Honn, of Philadelphia. Harry K., mentioned hereinafter.
Harry K. Frontz attended the Susquehanna University at Selins Grove, completing his course there at the age of twenty years. For a short period of time he was in the office of Dr. Reedy, a leading dentist, and subsequently he entered the Pennsylvania Dental College, at Phila- delphia, from which institution he was graduated. In 1895 he engaged in the active practice of his profession in the town of Montgomery, which he has conducted continuously up to the present time (1905). March 1, 1903, he was appointed postmaster at Montgomery, the duties of which office he has performed faithfully in addition to his other in- terests.
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Mr. Frontz was married to Laura Shelden, who was born August 5, 1870, a daughter of Edward M. and Lucy (Mayer) Shelden, resi- dents of Hughesville, whose family consisted of the following named chil- dren : May, deceased; Anna, wife of H. S. Hill, and mother of three children-Chandler, Caroline Edna, and Harry, deceased; and Laura, aforementioned as the wife of Mr. Frontz. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Frontz are as follows: Blanche, born August 15, 1897; and Harry K., Jr., born June 30, 1899.
JAMES GLASS.
James Glass, one of the representative business men of Montgom- ery, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, whose success in life has been the direct result of integrity, energy and perseverance, is a native of Brady township, born June 23, 1854. His parents were Charles and Sarah B. (Wasser) Glass, who reared a family of ten children, namely: James, Charles, Reuben, Hannah, Adeline, Catherine, Sadie, Emma, Cotner, and Hattie Glass.
James Glass attended the common schools of his native township, completing his studies at the age of fourteen years, after which he com- menced farming for his father, continuing thus until he was twenty- eight years of age. He then engaged in the lightning-rod business, ac- cepting a position with the firm of Raber, Hunter & Company, with whom he remained for the long period of eighteen years, one year as a laborer and the remainder of the time as a salesman. The following seven years were devoted to other occupations, and from then to the present time (1905) has been actively connected with the milling busi- ness. He is a staunch adherent of the principles of Republicanism, and
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