USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 24
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Elmer T. Lewis, who also served in the rebellion as a private in the Thirteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, survived the
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struggle and is now a prosperous business man in Vandalia, that state. He is married and has had three children, two of whom are living.
Misael B. Lewis resides in Cory, Michigan, and is engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. He is married and has a family of five children.
Charles E. Lewis, mental healer, was born in Vandalia, Michigan, April 29, 1855. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, graduating from the Vandalia High School with the class of 1872, and he began the activities of life in the butchering and live-stock business. He was subsequently employed as a contractor in the service of the Cincinnati and Wabash Railroad Company for a period of two years, at the expiration of which time he went to Emporia, Kansas, where, for the ensuing four years, he was engaged in the hardware business. From Kansas he went to Nebraska, where he devoted about two years to the raising of thoroughbred stock. Being fully convinced of the truth and possibilities of mental healing, he determined to devote his future energies exclusively to that science, and with this end in view he pursued the regular course of instruction at the Wellmer School of Healing and Mental Science in Nevada, Mississippi, graduating in 1904. After practicing in Amarillo, Texas, for a few months, he returned north, and in the spring of 1905 located permanently in Williamsport, estab- lishing himself in handsomely furnished office-quarters at No. 604 East Third street.
Dr. Lewis was first married in 1878 to Miss Martha Ross, daughter of Mayor Ross, of Marcellus, Michigan. She died in 1894, leaving no children. On July 6, 1896, he married for his second wife Miss Ora M. Stetler, of Williamsport, daughter of Seward Stetler. Mrs. Lewis has three brothers residing in Williamsport, namely : Albert, Charles and Raymond Stetler, and also a sister, Mrs. Rundio.
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G. S. RANDALL.
G. S. Randall, a prosperous farmer of Piatt township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was born October 7, 1873, a son of O. H. and Abigail (Chase) Randall. His father was born in New York state, but subsequently took up his residence in Lycoming county. He removed to Williamsport before the Civil war, in which conflict he took an active part. He was taken prisoner and was confined in Libby Prison for some years. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. To him and his wife, Abigail Chase, were born children as follows: Dr. W. H., Mrs. Fannie Waltz, Mrs. W. H. Waltz, Mrs. S. McCoy, G. S., mentioned further hereinafter; and two deceased. O. H. Randall is deceased, but his widow is still living (1905).
G. S. Randall acquired his intellectual training in the Williamsport high school and Milton College. Immediately after leaving the school- room he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been eminently successful. He owns and cultivates a farm of one hun- dred and thirty-four acres of valuable farm land, which compares fa- vorably with the finest in the country. He was engaged for eight years in the dairy business, being successful in that line also. Mr. Randall is a Republican in political proclivities, and is a Baptist in church connec- tions. Socially he is a member of the Maccabees.
He married Miss Rosa Sawyer, and the issue of this marriage is one child, O. H.
JOHN S. BROWN.
John S. Brown, an honorable and enterprising citizen of Williams- port, in which city he has resided since 1891, was born in Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland, July 30, 1841, son of George and Margaret
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(Mitchell) Brown, natives of Scotland, their births occurring in Tana- dice, Forfarshire, and their deaths occurred in their native land, of which they were lifelong residents, in 1864, both passing away in the same year. They were the parents of six children, five sons and one daugh- ter. Mr. Brown was a tanner by trade. He was one of the prominent men of the locality, promoting in every way possible the growth and development of the same, and served in the capacity of town councilor. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church, in which both he and his wife held membership, and they were very strict in their doctrinal views.
John S. Brown spent his boyhood days in Scotland, attended the public schools, thereby obtaining a good, practical education, and with his father learned the trade of currier. In his nineteenth year he be- came a traveling salesman and continued as such for four years, his ter- ritory covering the northern part of Scotland. In 1864 he came to the United States on a visit, but being so favorably impressed with the country and its many advantages for a successful career, he decided to remain here permanently. He followed his trade in various states of the Union until 1881, when he became a bookkeeper in a plumbing and gas fitting establishment at Toronto, Canada, remaining there until 1891, a period of ten years. He then took up his abode in Williamsport, Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, and secured employment as bookkeeper for the Kettle Creek Coal Company, which position he holds at the present time (1905). He is treasurer of the Susquehanna and Buffalo Railroad Company. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, the doctrines of which were inculcated in him during his youth. He is a Republican in politics, and although an ardent supporter of the candi- dates of that party, he has never aspired to public office. He is liberal- spirited, and interested in all matter of mutual welfare, and ever ready to assist in the work of improving his home locality.
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In 1892 Mr. Brown married Miss Ada M. Howell, of Brantford, Canada, daughter of Levi Howell, a farmer at Ayr, Canada, and a de- scendant of old American people, the Howells having been residents of New Jersey for many generations: Three children were the issue of this marriage: George L., Adele Alevia, and Mary Margaret Brown.
J. W. CHRISTMAN.
Up to the present time (1905) the business career of J. W. Christ- man, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has borne unmistakable evidence of ability, natural and acquired, and the reliable manner in which he performs his duties has contributed in a large measure to the prosperity which has attended his well directed efforts. He is a native of Carbon county, Pennsylvania, a son of Adam D. and Julia A. (Keiper) Christ- man, and grandson of Solomon and Mary M. (Kunkle) Christman.
Adam D. Christman (father) was born in Monroe county, Penn- sylvania, in 1836. He was educated in the district school, and after laying aside his books, at the age of fifteen, came to Carbon county, locating in Penn Forest township, where for a number of years he was engaged in teaming, hauling goods to the Lehigh river. Later he pur- chased a sawmill, located on Strong creek, and subsequently became the possessor of two other sawmills in the same township. He was also the owner of large tracts of land in Carbon county, which have been accumulated through years of industry and unceasing labor. In 1860 he was elected by the Republican party to the office of justice of the peace, and for many years honorably fulfilled the duties of the position. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia A. Keiper, daughter of Henry Keiper, of Monroe county, died in 1893. Their family consisted of ten children.
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The educational advantages enjoyed by J. W. Christman were ac- quired in the common schools of his native place. He then took up civil engineering and surveying, which he followed for two years, after which he went to Hyner, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and took charge of his father's interests in that place and elsewhere. He continued thus until 1890, in which year he purchased the business from his father and con- ducted operations alone until 1894. He then removed to Williamsport, Lycoming county, and from then up to the present time, a period of eleven years, has continued in the manufacture and sale of lumber. In 190I he formed the Christman-Miller Lumber Company, of which he is president, and he also serves in the same capacity for the Catawissa Coal Company. He is vice-president and director of the Pennsylvania Steam Coal and Coke Company, and a director in the following named companies : The Avoyelles Company, which is operating one hundred and nine thousand acres of land in Louisiana; the American Relief As- surance Company of Philadelphia; the Red Mountain Railroad Mining and Smelting Company of Colorado; the Jennie Creek Mining and Mill- ing Company of Denver, Colorado; and the Federal Engineering Com- pany of Ohio. He is also the owner of a one-half interest in the Wind- sor Cafe of Williamsport.
Mr. Christman was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Valentine, and they are the parents of one son, Milton Valentine Christman.
ALFRED BASTIAN KAST.
Alfred B. Kast was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son of Jacob E. and Nancy J. (Bastian) Kast, the latter named being a daughter of John Bastian, and they reared a family of nine children, as follows: Alfred Bastian, mentioned at length hereinafter; Howard
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C., who died aged about eighteen years; Laura Idell, who became the wife of C. E. Faber; Viola May, who became the wife of Packer B. Troxell, and their children are: Frank, William and Blanche Troxell ; Florence, deceased; Elmer E., deceased, was married and had one son, Howard Kast; Walter, unmarried; Charles C., married Jeanette Barclay and had one child, Earnestine; Dr. Clyde, who married Ida Leiter. Jacob E. Kast (father) came to this country from Germany when he was a young man and went to Philadelphia; he was a cooper by trade, also a practical brewer, and he gained a good livelihood by following these lines of work in Philadelphia and Williamsport.
Alfred B. Kast acquired a practical education which prepared him for the activities of life in the public schools of Williamsport. He ac- companied his parents to Williamsport in 1865 and secured employment in the hotel business, continuing the same until he was sixteen years of age, when he went with the firm of Culver Barber & Co. to learn the lumber business. He remained there one year and then entered the employ of Finley Young & Co., with whom he remained six years, after which he was employed in the Beaver Mill, and at the same time estab- lished a small notion store at the corner of Hepburn and West Jefferson streets. He followed this until 1885 and then went to Newberry and rented the Old Homestead Hotel, which he conducted for four years, after which he purchased the property which he now owns on Arch street, continuing the hotel business until 1902, when he left the business to his son, Edward Kast. He resides on West Third street, his youngest son, Leonard L., residing with him. He was the first foreman of En- gine Company No. 5, paid firemen. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Turnverein of Williamsport. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and a Democrat in politics.
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Mr. Kast was united in marriage to Leonora Whitman, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Welshans) Whitman, who are also the parents of a son, Erastus Whitman, who married Maggie Wolf. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kast, namely: Edward H., who married Lillie Westfall, and they have one child, Leonora May; he is a member of the Presbyterian church, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and a Democrat in politics. Leonard L., who married Edith May Winner; he is a member of the Presbyterian church, a member of the Williams- port Wheel Club, a Democrat in politics, and at present is engaged in the confectionery business in the Opera House block in Williamsport.
REV. JOHN COSTELLO.
Rev. John Costello, present rector of the Church of the Annuncia- tion, studied his classical and philosophical course in St. Jarlath's Col- lege, Galaway, Ireland, his theological course in St. Bonaventure's Col- lege, Allegany, New York. His first pastoral charge was at Athens, Pennsylvania. During his occupancy of that charge the church building was renovated, a rectory built and a site for a cemetery secured. A church and rectory were also built at Sayre, an adjoining town, as well as another church at South Waverly, Pennsylvania. In March, 1899, he was appointed irremovable rector of the Church of the Annunciation at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, since which time the interior of the church has been decorated, and a large school house, equipped with all modern appointments, has been erected.
THOMAS RAMSEY.
Thomas Ramsey, of Ramseyville, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was there born April 30, 1821, and is a descendant of one of the pioneer settlers of this county. They are a family of English origin, of consid-
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erable distinction, and it is said that they date back to Sir Alexander Ramsey, who fought against the Bruces of Scotland.
Thomas Ramsey, grandfather, was a native of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, and served in the war of the Revolution. After peace was declared Thomas migrated to the north, locating in Pine Creek, pur- chasing a tract of land comprising three hundred acres, on a part of which his grandson now resides. He engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and also cleared considerable bottom land along the creek. Later he removed to Ohio, settling on the Miami river, near Tippecanoe, where he and his wife died. Their children were: Samuel, Allen, Robert, William, John, Thomas, to be further referred to; Nancy, married Jona- than Baker; and Mary, married Andrew Berrybell. Some of these chil- dren went to Ohio with their parents, where they became prominent and influential citizens.
Of those who remained in Pine Creek one was Thomas, youngest son, and father of the present Thomas Ramsey. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1772, and was a sturdy pioneer of the Pine Creek region. He was an experienced raftsman, and invented the blade oar for steering rafts. In conjunction with lumbering he followed ag- ricultural pursuits. He was a man of considerable influence in the community, and for some time occupied the position of justice of the peace. He was a Democrat in political proclivities, and in religious faith a Presbyterian. His wife was Sarah English, to whom children were born as follows: Mary, Thomas, to be further mentioned herein- after; John, Fannie (1), Elizabeth, William, Fannie (2), Allen, Mar- garet, James and Sarah J .; of these children, Thomas, Elizabeth, James and Sarah J., are now living ( 1905). The father, Thomas Ramsey, died July 4, 1847, and was buried on Sugar Island.
Thomas, second child and eldest son of Thomas and Sarah ( Eng-
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lish) Ramsey, was reared and educated in Ramsey, and now owns one hundred and seventeen acres of the land taken up by his grandfather, Thomas Ramsey (I). Like his ancestors his life has been spent in the woods in winter and on the farm in summer. He engaged very ex- tensively in lumbering, not only in rafting logs, but in the manufacture of lumber. In his younger and more active days he owned as much as fifteen hundred and fifty acres of timber land. His mill was burned in 1880, and seven years later he erected a steam sawmill, which was also destroyed by fire in 1891.
Like many of the residents of Pine Creek, Mr. Ramsey has won distinction as a sportsman. He delights, always, in fishing and hunting. There has always been, and is now, an abundance of deer in Pine Creek, and it was no unusual occurrence for Mr. Ramsey to bring down three deer in one day. Indeed, it was an exceptional thing for a deer to escape his vigilant eye or out-distance his unerring rifle. Bear and wild- cat were common and were often the trophies of the chase in his earlier life. In political affiliations, Mr. Ramsey is a sound and loyal Demo- crat.
He married, in 1845, Miss Harriet, the daughter of Daniel and Mary Mourey, and to this union children were born as follows: Jennie, the wife of George Barnes ; George A .; Asbury (deceased) was the hus- band of Jennie Dye, and of this union two children were born ; Torrance, married Annie Dinglar, and they have seven children, two of whom are deceased ; Tacie; Fannie, the widow of George Forbus; Alice, the wife of George Gulliver, and mother of three children; William, deceased ; Henry ; Grant; and Ella M., now Mrs. Harbrauft, the mother of four children.
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GEORGE A. RAMSEY.
George A. Ramsey, a lumberer and farmer of Ramsey, Lycoming county, was there born June 9, 1847, the son of Thomas and Harriet (Mourey) Ramsey. (For ancestral history of Mr. Ramsey, see pre- ceding sketch.) After receiving a common school education he turned his attention to the pursuits of a farmer and lumberer, and has since confined himself to this occupation. He is now the owner of seven hun- dred and ten acres of valuable farming land, some of which is under cultivation. On this property is located a quarry of valuable stone which is used for flagging purposes. He has erected on his farm a commodious and modern house, which adds largely to the beautiful appearance of the town. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held the office of postmaster at Ramsey since 1889, and is also interested in edu- cational affairs, having served as a school director for eighteen years.
George A. Ramsey married, in 1884, Miss Viola E. Whipple, daughter of David and Sophia (Kaufman) Whipple. Samuel Whip- ple, her grandfather, was of New England stock, a resident of Muncy, and a distiller by occupation. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife was Ann Hare, of Ohio, and their children were: David, Sarah, John, James and Jane. David Whipple, father of Mrs. Ramsey, was a millwright and boat builder. He and his wife, Sophia Kaufman, had the following children : Viola E., Lizzie L., Sheldon L. and Orrin B.
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Ramsey are the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, namely: Pansy N., M. Elizabeth, Olive and Chester W.
WILLIAM GANN.
The Ganns, represented at Oriole by William Gann, are a German family which, in the early history of central Pennsylvania, settled in
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Berks county. John Gann, one of the descendants of the emigrant an- cestor, migrated to Milton, later moved to Lewisburg and thence to Dry Valley. In 1808 he came to the Nippenose valley, making part of the journey by canoe and part by Indian trail. He settled first near what is now Oval, but after a short time took up the land which has long been called the "old Gann homestead," which he purchased for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, the number of acres being three hundred.
Mr. Gann married, at Milton, Catherine Christ, and their family consisted of the following children: Harry; Jacob; John, mentioned at length hereinafter; George; Andrew; Lewis; Israel; and Elizabeth. Mr. Gann lived to be seventy-two years of age, and his widow passed her eighty-fifth year.
John Gann, son of John and Catherine (Christ) Gann, was born in 1806, in Dry Valley. He was an excellent farmer, owning four hundred acres of land in Nippenose township, and as a citizen was much respected, filling several township offices. He married, in 1833, Adeline Cruse, by whom he was the father of two sons: William, mentioned at length hereinafter; and Alfred, deceased. His second wife was Rachel Coff- man, to whom nine children were born: Adeline, deceased; Catherine; Amelia, deceased; Mary and Jane, twins, deceased; Rachel; Matilda; John; and Peter. All but Peter grew to maturity.
William Gann, son of John and Adeline (Cruse) Gann, was born May 16, 1835, in Limestone township, where he was reared and edu- cated. He turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and now owns and cultivates seventy-five acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in faith, having served as deacon and elder in the church of his choice.
Mr. Gann married, March 19, 1861, Harriet Meixel, of Union county, and three children were born to them: Albert M., who mar-
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ried Alice Fenstemacher; Elmer M., who married Lilla Sheedle; and George W., who married Jesta Sheedle. In 1900 Mr. Gann and his three sons were deprived of the presence of the wife and mother, whose death occurred in that year.
AUGUSTUS ECK.
The family of which Augustus Eck, of Oval, is a representative is of German extraction. Joseph Eck was a prosperous farmer who mi- grated with his family from Berks county to the Nippenose valley. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Eck married Mary Bower and their children were: Maria A., who was born May 20, 1816; Reuben, who was born September 18, 1817; Samuel, who was born in 1819; Nathan, who was born September 25, 1820; Joel, who was born February 2, 1822; William, who was born February 20, 1823; James, who was born July 1, 1824; Augustus, men- tioned at length hereinafter; Joseph J., who was born December 2, 1827; Leah, who was born in 1829; Susanna, who was born May 17, 1831; Lorenzo, who was born May 17, 1834; and Jonas. The mother of these children died in 1864 and the father expired at the age of sixty-eight.
Augustus Eck, son of Joseph and Mary (Bower) Eck, was born September 30, 1825, in Berks county, and was seven years old when, in 1832, the family sought a home in the Nippenose valley. During his early life, large game, such as deer, bears, wolves and foxes, abounded in that region, and Mr. Eck, with other members of his father's family, as well as their neighbors, took great delight in the chase. In the course of time he became one of the hardworking men in the valley, cleared his own land, built his own houses and raised the best country produce pre- sented in the market, where it commanded the highest price. He has
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purchased and now owns three first-class farms, comprising in all four hundred acres, situated in Limestone township. In his retirement from active service he resides on his own property. He is a Republican in pol- itics and a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Eck married, in 1853, Fannie Dougherty, and of the twelve chil- dren born to them eleven grew to maturity and the following are now living : William H .; David F .; Abraham E .; Hezekiah O .; Augustus, junior ; Richard; Daniel; and Susanna. These children and their father have, in recent years, suffered a severe bereavement in the death of the wife and mother, who passed away in October, 1900.
DANIEL WALTZ.
The family to which Daniel Waltz, of Linden, belongs was planted in this country about 1800. The first to come to Lycoming county was John Waltz. He was a farmer and a worthy man who reared a family of good and loyal citizens, in number seven sons and four daughters.
Gotlieb Waltz, one of the sons of John Waltz, was born in Lycoming county, and was all his life a successful farmer. He owned and culti- vated one hundred acres of land and held several township offices. His wife was Catherine Helner, and their family consisted of the following children : George W .; Hiram; Elizabeth; Daniel, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Barbara; Catherine; Amanda; Sarah; and two deceased.
Daniel Waltz, son of Gotlieb and Catherine (Helner) Waltz, was born August 9, 1852, in Lycoming county, where he was reared and edu- cated. Subsequently he adopted for his own the independent life of a farmer, and is now the owner of one hundred acres of fine valley land which, under his skillful management, is extremely productive. He holds
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the office of deacon in the Baptist church, of which he and his family are members.
Mr. Waltz married, in 1875, Phoebe J. Kyle, and ten children have been born to them: Minnie, who is the wife of Harry Good and has four sons; Perry, who married Blanche Berry and is the father of one son; Erwin; Pearson ; Ella ; Edna; Lloyd; Della; and two who are de- ceased. By this family is recruited the number of descendants of those German settlers who contributed so largely toward laying the founda- tions of the prosperity of Pennsylvania.
JOHN HAUSER.
A worthy representative of one of the best types of our foreign- born citizens is John Hauser, of Woodward township. Mr. Hauser is a son of Peter Hauser, a native of Germany, who in 1840 emigrated to the United States. He settled in Bastress township, where he owned and cultivated one hundred acres of good farming land, and by industry and thrift acquired a competence. His wife was Anna Kenach, and of their nine children seven were born in Germany, six came to this country and two died in the fatherland. The names of seven of the nine were: George; Peter; John, mentioned at length hereinafter, and the sole sur- vivor of the family; Mary; Cassie; Rosanna; and Adam. Mr. Hauser closed his useful life in 1862, and his widow outlived him more than thirty years, passing away in 1893.
John Hauser, son of Peter and Anna (Kenach) Hauser, was born in 1840, in Germany, and was but one year old when the family migrated to their new home across the sea. He was reared and educated in Bastress and Woodward townships, and has always confined himself to agricultural pursuits, with the single exception of the lumber business,
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