USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 23
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he served an apprenticeship at the bricklayer's trade under the direction of his father, and was subsequently employed as a journeyman in his na- tive township for a number of years. About the year 1890 he moved to Williamsport, where he followed his trade some five years, and in 1895 he purchased a farm in Piatt township, in the immediate vicinity of Jer- sey Shore, where he has ever since resided. For the past ten years he has divided his time between farming and bricklaying. In politics he acts with the Democratic party. His religious affiliations are with the Pres- byterian church.
On May 20, 1885, Mr. Littley was united in marriage with Miss Ardella Robinson, daughter of James and Martha (Missimer) Robin- son, of Linden, Pennsylvania, both of whom were born in this county. Mrs. Littley's paternal grandfather, John Robinson, was born in Amer- ica, of Irish parents. Her father, who is now over eighty-four years old, is a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Linden. Her mother died in 1903. James and Martha (Missimer) Robinson were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Litt- ley have one son, J. Clement Littley.
EDGAR RAYMOND KIESS.
Edgar Raymond Kiess, prominently identified with the business, social and political interests of Lycoming county, is a native thereof. born in Warrensville, Eldred township, August 26, 1875.
Mr. Kiess comes of an honorable German ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Christopher Kiess, was one of that little band of religious exiles who came to America in 1806 and settled in "Blooming Grove," Lycoming county. He received a liberal education in his native land and was a weaver by trade. After settling in Lycoming county he cleared a
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farm and also did weaving for the pioneer settlers, and for many years taught a German school. He was a member of the Dunkard church, and was active in religious work. Before leaving Germany he married Christina Sheets: four children were born to them before their emigra- tion, and seven others after their coming.
Emanuel, youngest son of Christopher and Christina (Sheets) Kiess, was born on the homestead in Lycoming county, in 1818, and re- sided there until his death. During the Mexican war he served in the militia with the rank of first lieutenant.
Samuel S. Kiess, son of Emanuel Kiess, was born in Eldred town- ship December 23, 1844. He is a carriage maker by occupation. He married Annie Winner, who was born October 27, 1850, in Loyalsock township, Lycoming county. She was descended from English Quakers. Her parents were Enoch and Mary (Collins) Winner. Her father, son of Abraham Winner, was born in Hepburn township, Lycoming county, in 1823, and made his residence in Loyalsock township. He learned the trade of carpenter. During the Civil war he was in active military service for three years. The children of Samuel S. and Annie (Winner) Kiess were Edgar Raymond, to be further spoken of, and Murray, born in 1890.
Edgar Raymond Kiess began his education in the public schools, from which he entered the Lycoming County Normal School, and grad- uated therefrom with honors in 1892 at the early age of seventeen years. For two years he was a teacher in the public schools, serving efficiently and creditably. He then accepted a position with the Eagles Mere Rail- road, and in 1895 was made auditor of the company, meantime taking up his residence in the borough of Hughesville, where he has since re- sided, at once becoming actively identified with its business and social life. In 1898 he assumed the management of the Eagles Mere Chautau-
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qua at Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, of which he has made a pronounced success ; and, in connection with it, he has also successfully managed The Forest Inn, a large summer hotel. At Hughesville he is a member of the general insurance firm of Kiess & Emery, and is president of the Hughesville Printing Company, publishers of an excellent local news- paper, " The Independent." In addition to his business interests he has always taken an earnest and intelligent part in the advancement of the higher interests of the community. He is vice-president of the Muncy Valley Farmers' Club, and a useful member of various of its most im- portant committees. He is a regular attendant of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Hughesville, and has been for a number of years a sus- taining member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Williams- port. He has always taken a deep interest in fraternal affairs. He be- came an Odd Fellow so soon as he had arrived at the age which would permit him to become a member, and is connected with Hughesville Lodge, No. 331. He is affiliated with all the higher Masonic bodies, and is a member of Muncy Lodge, No. 299, Free and Accepted Masons ; Baldwin II Commandery, Knights Templar, of Williamsport; Williams- port Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (thirty-second de- gree) ; of the Howard Club of Knights Templar, and of Irem Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Wilkesbarre. He is also a member of several years' standing of Washington Camp, No. 158, Patriotic Order Sons of America at Hughesville.
Mr. Kiess has always been an ardent Republican, bearing an active part in political affairs, and has served as delegate to county and state conventions of his party. In 1904 he was elected to the legislature from Lycoming county, and his firm hold upon the esteem and confidence of the people is eloquently attested by the fact that he received a plurality of 1, 174 votes, while the county is normally Democratic by a plurality of
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about one thousand. The handsome vote which he received was ac- corded him out of recognition of his sterling integrity, wide business ex- perience, thorough knowledge of the needs and wishes of the people, both of the farm and town; his sustained interest in education, and his tire- less energy and demonstrated ability to accomplish the purposes which commend themselves to him as being in the interests of the entire peo- ple. Mr. Kiess is unmarried.
WILLIAM EMERY.
William Emery was born in Flemington, New Jersey, August 12, 1844, a son of William P. Emery, who was a native of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and whose father was one of the early settlers of that locality. The Emery family are of German extraction.
William Emery, of this review, grew to manhood in Flemington, New Jersey, and about 1867 came to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he has since resided.
SAMUEL L. YOUNGMAN.
The ancestors of the Youngman family were natives of the Rhein provinces, from whence they emigrated to the new world, locating for a time in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later, at the instance of the Penns, they settled on what is known as the Falkner claim of the Penn lands in Montgomery county, same state.
Elias P. Youngman, grandfather of Samuel L. Youngman, upon attaining young manhood moved to Nippenose township, took charge of the grist mill and farm of Colonel Antes, his father-in-law, and later removed to the farm and fulling mill on Antes creek, now the site of the Nippenose woolen mills. In 1838 he was appointed by Governor
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D. R. Porter, register and recorder of Lycoming county, and after the adoption of the constitution was the first man elected to that office. He was united in marriage to Amelia Antes, daughter of John Henry Antes, a son of Colonel John Henry Antes, who erected Antes Fort, near the mouth of Nippenose creek, and served in the Revolutionary war. Henry Antes, the pioneer ancestor of the Antes family, a native of Holland, erected a grist mill on Swamp creek, Pennsylvania, the proceeds of which, together with the income from his farm, he dedicated to the sup- port of the Moravian school, for which he employed as teachers John G. Youngman and Anna, his wife. This school was one of the first if not the first Moravian school in Pennsylvania, and it increased so rapidly in membership that Mr. Antes, as agent for the Moravian brethren, purchased land on which the school of Bethlehem was established and superintended the erection of their buildings, etc. The death of Elias P. Youngman occurred at his residence in Nippenose township, August 30, 1864.
George W. Youngman, father of Samuel L. Youngman, was born in Youngmanstown, now Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, June .30, 1819, the eldest son of a family of thirteen children. During his father's incumbency of the office of register and recorder of Lycoming county, George W. was appointed deputy recorder, and while serving in that capacity he attended the Latin school conducted by the Rev. J. P. Hudson and read law with Hon. Anson V. Parsons. After passing a successful examination he was admitted to the bar in August, 1842, and shortly afterward was appointed county attorney, and served three years in that office. His experience in the orphan's court, and in recording and investigating land titles, together with his knowledge of the German language, rapidly brought him a lucrative business. In 1844 he pur- chased the property now known as Youngman's Block, on Pine street
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Williamsport, and thirteen years later erected the present brick building, which has since borne his name. In 1857 he purchased a farm of two hundred acres situated west of Lycoming creek, and laid out about forty acres in town lots, known as Youngman's addition to the Seventh ward. In 1864, after the demise of his father, he purchased the shares of his brothers and sisters in the homestead property on Antes creek, erected a saw mill thereon, and organized a company which erected the Nippenose woolen mills at an expense of about one hundred and twenty-five thou- sand dollars. Until the dissolution of the company after the panic.of 1873, Mr. Youngman was the principal stockholder and served in the capacity of president. He then purchased the entire property, retired from its active management, and afterwards leased the mill. He was also one of the original stockholders of the Williamsport Bridge Com- pany, of the Williamsport Water Company, and was instrumental in the organization of the Wildwood Cemetery Association and in the pur- chase of the land and laying out of the grounds, the name " Wildwood " being adopted at his suggestion. He was the incumbent of several local offices, among them being school director, which he filled acceptably for six years. He organized the Society of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and passed through the several grades of that society.
On March 26, 1844, George W. Youngman was married to Ann E. Ludwig, daughter of Samuel Ludwig, of New Columbia, below White Deer Station, Lycoming county. Their children are: Alonzo P., Samuel L., George W., William L., James M., Mary L., widow of James Mahaffey, and Dr. Charles W. Youngman.
Samuel L. Youngman was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1846. He acquired an excellent literary education in the public schools and at Dickinson Seminary, after which he read law with his father and was admitted to the bar April 22, 1868. During the
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same year he began the practice of his profession, and has ever since devoted his attention to that calling and the real estate business. Dur- ing the Civil war, when the country was in sore need of the services of her loyal and faithful sons, Mr. Youngman volunteered and served as one of the emergency men. The political belief of Mr. Youngman brings him into connection with the Republican party, the principles of which he upholds with his ballot.
On February 22, 1871, Mr. Youngman was married to Margaret Louisa Rissell, daughter of Henry Rissell, of Lycoming county, and their children are as follows: William Sterling, Mary V., Julia Ross, Amanda Louise, and Samuel Antes Youngman. The family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.
WILLIAM C. RILEY.
William C. Riley, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is a descendant in the third generation of Patrick Riley, a native of Ireland, from whence he emigrated to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth cen- tury. In 1830 Patrick Riley secured a contract on the West Branch di- vision of the Pennsylvania canal, commencing a short distance below Williamsport and extending to Loyalsock creek, at which time his family removed to Lycoming county, and representatives thereof have since then filled various places of trust and responsibility. Upon the com- pletion of this contract Mr. Riley relinquished the business of contract- ing, which he had followed for several years, during which time he was also engaged on the Lehigh canal, and purchased a farm in Hepburn township, from which he removed in 1839 to Williamsport. Patrick Riley was a member of the Catholic church, and his wife was reared in the Church of England.
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William P. Riley, son of Patrick Riley, and father of William C. Riley whose name heads this sketch, was born in Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, in 1828. He accompanied his parents upon their removal to Williamsport, and in that city was variously employed in summer and attended school in winter. In 1845 he engaged with John B. Hall to learn the trade of iron molder, which occupation he followed with but little interruption until after the outbreak of the rebellion. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-second Regiment, and was discharged from the service in August, 1865. Shortly after his return to civil life he took measures for the establishment of the business in which he had been educated, resulting in the formation of the firm of Sechler, Riley & Company, composed of Michael Sechler, William P. Riley and Daniel Riley. The works were adapted to the manufacture of stoves, plows and light castings. During the first year the firm was changed to Heath- cote, Riley and Company, and subsequently to Riley & Maitland, which continued until 1878. Upon the retirement of Mr. Maitland in that year Mr. Riley assumed sole control, and the establishment was then known as the Valley Iron Works. The character of the products also changed, stoves and plows having long since been superseded by machinery of various kinds. The leading specialty is the Valley Automatic Engine, patented and placed on the market in 1886, and the favorable reputation of this engine has been attested by orders from every state and territory of the Union, as well as Canada, Mexico, South America, India and Japan. Mr. Riley is a Republican in politics, but has never held or sought public office, preferring to devote his entire time to business. He holds membership in Reno Post, No. 64, Grand Army of the Republic.
In 1852 William P. Riley was united in marriage to Mary A. Yost, daughter of Harman Yost, of Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, and four children were the issue, namely: Francis H., who died in
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1856; Edward H., employed in the Valley Iron Works; William C., also employed in the Valley Iron Works; and Walter Lee, who was accident- ally killed in 1887, at the age of eighteen. Mr. and Mrs. Riley are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
CHARLES WELSHANS.
The grandfather of Charles Welshans, of Jersey Shore, was Con- rad Welshans, a native of Baden, Germany. He was a gunsmith, and on his immigration to this country settled in Little York, Pennsylvania.
William Welshans, son of Conrad Welshans, was born in 1791, in Little York, and, like his father, followed the trade of a gunsmith. In 1840 he moved to Lycoming county, where he purchased six hundred acres of land in the Nippenose valley, and there engaged in farming and lumbering in addition to attending to the demands of his trade. Mr. Welshans was twice married. His first wife was-Griffin, who bore him six children : Catherine, Daniel, William, Abraham, Mary and Rebecca. For his second wife he married Margaret Judun, and was by her the father of the following children: James, George, Adeline, Joseph, Charles, mentioned at length hereinafter, Hester, Thomas, Martha, Frank and Henry. Mrs. Welshans was a native of Milton, Pennsylva- nia. Mr. Welshans died in 1871, leaving an estate valued at the amount of thirty-one thousand dollars.
Charles Welshans, son of William and Margaret (Judun) Wel- shans, was born in 1832, in Upper Fairfield township, and was eight years old when the family moved to Lycoming county. He turned his attention to the life of a farmer, and has followed agricultural pursuits with profit and success, owning and cultivating sixty-five acres of land, which form part of the old homestead. His neighbors have elected him
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to the offices of tax collector and school director. For the latter posi- tion he was peculiarly fitted, having during his early life been for seven years a teacher, and being still a close student of current events as well as an advanced thinker.
Mr. Welshans married, in 1855, Nancy Jane Sheadle, and they were the parents of two sons: Alvin A. and Horace O., both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Welshans is the granddaughter of Michael Sheadle, who came to the Nippenose valley, in 1812, with his wife, Mary (Wise) Sheadle. He was a wagonmaker and also a farmer, his farm consisting of one hundred and fifty acres of land.
Michael Sheadle, son of Michael and Mary (Wise) Sheadle, was born in 1806, in the Luykins valley. He was a millwright and owned a half interest in two hundred acres of farming land. He married Phoebe, daughter of Jacob P. and Catharine (Showers) Sallada, and their fam- ily consisted of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity: Sam- uel Thomas, deceased; Nancy Jane, who became the wife of Charles Welshans, as mentioned above: Henry James, deceased; Rebecca Ann; Abner Sallada; Jacob Evans, who is a physician; Laura Della; How- ard Sylvester, and Robert Carson.
CHARLES R. HERRITT.
Charles R. Herritt. a progressive business man of Waterville, Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, was there born April 4, 1876, a son of William and Harriet (Dusenberry) Herritt. (For ancestral history of Mr. Herritt see preceding sketch of Lancaster D. Herritt. )
Charles R. Herritt obtained his early education in the common schools of his native place, and later attended Dickinson Seminary, Wil- liamsport. Immediately after leaving the school-room Mr. Herritt en-
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tered into his first employment in the service of his brother, Lancaster D., who is extensively engaged in the lumber business, Jersey Shore, and re- mained with him for four years. On the death of his father-in-law, Mr. Bonnell, which occurred December 17, 1899, Mr. Herritt assumed charge of the general store which the deceased had built up and thor- oughly established. During the time Mr. Herritt has been engaged in this business he has shown his aptitude for this line of work in various ways. Not only does he conduct the general merchandise business, but superintends a large stone quarry and deals extensively in flagging stone, and aside from working his own quarry, buys and sells stone. He also deals in railroad ties, and in 1904 shipped nine thousand of these, both oak and chestnut. From the beginning, Mr. Herritt's business career has been one of the most flattering success, and his store enjoys a generous and ever increasing patronage. Mr. Herritt is a strong Democrat in politics, and is interested in educational affairs; he is a member and president of the school board.
Mr. Herritt married, in September, 1898, Miss Blanche E. Bonnell, only child of Michael and Rebecca (Campbell) Bonnell. Of this mar- riage union two children have been born, viz .: Cristene, and Otto Dean, who died May 31, 1905, aged four and one-half years.
WILLIAM F. LAUBACH.
William F. Laubach, a worthy farmer of Limestone township, Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, was born in Lehigh county, July 31, 1846, the son of Charles and Sarah (France) Laubach, both natives of Lehigh county. Charles Laubach was formerly a blacksmith, which occupation he followed for a number of years with good success. In January, 1847, he removed to Clinton county, Pennsylvania, locating in Crawford town-
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ship, where he purchased one hundred acres of land. In Clinton county Charles followed lumbering for some time, but subsequently engaged very extensively in farming, in which he achieved the most gratifying results. He is a prominent man in the community and has held various public offices.
Charles Laubach married Sarah France, and they had children as follows: William F., H. C., Joseph, Emanuel, Jacob, Uriah, deceased, Amanda, France and Emma. Charles Laubach is still living (1905), aged eighty-two years. His wife passed away in 1883.
William F. Laubach, the eldest child of Charles and Sarah (France) Laubach, has resided for twenty-five years in Limestone township. He is a practical and successful agriculturist, owning and conducting a farm of fifty-three acres of excellent farming land. Mr. Laubach has served his township in various offices during his residence there. He erected a splendid residence in 1903 and a barn in 1896.
In April, 1876, he was united in marriage to Kate Dochler, of Larry's Creek, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two children, viz: Edith H., the wife of J. Eck, a promising young farmer of Lime- stone township; and Franklin C.
T. H. GIBSON.
The father of T. H. Gibson, of Okome, is Thomas Gibson, who was born in Scotland, but as a young man emigrated to the province of New Brunswick, where he has since lived. He married Agnes also a native of Scotland, and their family consists of the following children : Janette; William; T. H., mentioned at length hereinafter ; Agnes; Robert; and Lizzie. With the exception of T. H., Robert is
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the only member of the family who came to the United States, and, like his brother, is a resident of Okome.
T. H. Gibson, son of Thomas and Agnes Gibson, was born in 1846, at Woodstock, New Brunswick, and was educated in his native town. He came to the United States, making his home at Slate Run, where he engaged in the lumber business. In 1869 he migrated to Missouri, but at the end of two years returned and occupied his present farm, which he purchased in 1872. It consists of one hundred acres, sixty- five of which are cleared and are maintained in a high state of cultiva- tion. He has erected a fine house and barn, both of which are supplied with all the latest facilities for comfort and convenience. He has on his farm a superior specimen of fire clay which will soon be developed and manufactured at Cammal. He has held the office of tax collector for six years, and that of school director for the same length of time. His political affiliations are with the Democrats, and in religious belief he and his family are Presbyterians.
Mr. Gibson married, February 21, 1869, Deborah Moore, and they have been the parents of the following children : I. Olive, who is married to D. J. Hurst, and is the mother of two children. 2. William, who married Marta Crum and has two children. 3. Chloe, who is the wife of William Campbell. 4. Lizzie, who became the wife of Silas Hostrander, and has four children. 5. Robert H. 6. George W. 7. Ellis Jeremiah. 8. Jennette, deceased.
Mrs. Gibson is a granddaughter of Isaac Moore, who in early life was a sailor and afterward became one of the pioneers of Pine Creek. His children were: Nelson, Dennis, John, Mary, Deborah, and Sarah. Four of these settled on Pine Creek. Nelson, with his brother John, moved up to Okome, where they became the owners of one hundred acres of good farming land. Nelson married Jane Simcox, and the
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following children were born to them: Deborah, who became the wife of T. H. Gibson, as mentioned above: Jeremiah, George, Margaret, Lizzie, Agnes, Olive, and Thomas. Of this number, Thomas, Margaret, and Deborah (Mrs. Gibson) are living.
DR. CHARLES E. LEWIS.
Healing disease by means other than that prescribed by allopathy or homeopathy is now considered a reality, and in this particularly use- ful line of work Dr. Lewis is rapidly acquiring popularity in Williams- port, although he has practiced there but a short time.
On the paternal side Dr. Lewis is of German origin, and his grand- father, Rodman Lewis, who was a native of Rhode Island, settled in Erie county, New York, where he followed agriculture during the active period of his life.
Jonathan Lewis, Dr. Lewis' father, was born in Erie county and reared upon a farm. When a young man he went to Michigan, where he was engaged in the live-stock business for about twenty years, and during that time he drove cattle from Michigan to New York city. He married Emily Ferguson, who was born in Bodina county, Ohio, in 1821. She died in 1857. Jonathan and Emily Lewis were the parents of seven children, namely: Francis Samuel, James Henry, Elmer T., Misael B., Charles E., and two daughters who died in infancy.
Francis S. and James H. Lewis enlisted in the Fourth Regiment, Michigan Cavalry, for service in the Civil war, and were both killed in action at Slow River, in 1862.
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