USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 29
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Charles F. Plankenhorn attended the public schools in the vicinity of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to which place his parents moved when he was two years of age. He then served an apprenticeship at the trade of file cutting, but after serving for a short period of time at this occu- pation returned to the homestead and assisted his father in the manifold duties of the farm. After the death of his father he purchased the inter- est of his brothers and sisters, and he and his mother continued the operation of the farm for a number of years, and finally he purchased her share and now conducts the estate alone. His stock consists of about fifteen head of cows, and the milk and cream therefrom, being of a superior quality, find a ready sale in the city of Williamsport. The confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens is evidenced by the fact
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that he was chosen to fill the office of overseer of the poor, and also a member of the board of school directors. He is a Democrat in politics.
Mr. Plankenhorn married Chrissie Rothfuss, second daughter of George and Ursula (Hyde) Rothfuss, who were the parents of twenty children, many of whom died in infancy; those who attained years of maturity are as follows :
I. Adam, who was sheriff of Lycoming county ; he married Kate Carothers, issue, two children, Frank and Sarah Rothfuss.
2. Mathias, married Elizabeth Smithgall, issue, six children, Mary, George, Edward, Aaron, Linda and Luther Rothfuss.
3. Maggie, wife of John Rothfuss, issue, four children, Fannie, Carrie, Minnie and Pierce Rothfuss.
4. Chrissie, aforementioned as the wife of Charles F. Planken- horn.
5. Rebecca, wife of Christian Plankenhorn, brother of Charles F. and Daniel Plankenhorn, no issue.
6. Phebe, unmarried.
7. Charles H., married Martha Huffman, issue, seven children, Herman, Lloyd, Paul, Howard, Reuben, Christian and Lucy.
8. Reuben H., married Mattie C. Moore, issue, two children. Ursula and Leslie. Reuben H. Rothfuss is now serving as county com- missioner ; he is a Democrat in politics.
Six children were born to Charles F. and Chrissie (Rothfuss) Plankenhorn, namely: George, married Maud Hunter, and their chil- dren are: Christine and Luther. Lottie, unmarried. Margaret, wife of George Reeder. Frank; Walter; Carl. The family are members of the Lutheran church. In 1891 Mr. Plankenhorn built for himself and family a beautiful home about one thousand feet from the West Branch, on a knoll about seventy-five feet above river level, setting back from
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the main street about two hundred and fifty feet. It is equipped with all modern conveniences for the comfort of its inmates, and is one of the most attractive and beautiful pieces of property in the city.
Daniel Plankenhorn received his education in the public schools of Williamsport and vicinity, and after laying aside his books assisted his father in the dairy business until he reached the age of eighteen years. Being possessed of a natural gift and aptitude for handling tools, he then learned the carpentering trade and for thirteen years there- after worked in the capacity of journeyman. In 1882, with the capital he had been able to accumulate from his earnings and with some money he obtained on a loan, he started a grocery store on a very small scale. By close application to business and dint of hard work he and his wife soon paid off the loan and also increased their stock. Gradually they worked their way upward, until now ( 1905) they have a very extensive trade. He purchases his goods in carload lots, and the business he conducts is the largest in its line in South Williamsport. He is the owner of a large storehouse, and also a tract of woodland on the mountain which has in it two beautiful springs of pure water, which is never failing, does not freeze, and he has laid twenty-seven hundred feet of pipe from these to his home, thus securing a delightful water supply. In the near future he intends to utilize the power to run a cold storage plant, and in this manner will be able to furnish his own electric light. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and an adherent of the Democratic party.
Mr. Plankenhorn married Louisa Houser, daughter of Herman and Barbara (Keebler) Houser, and granddaughter of Ludwig and Caroline Houser ; she was one of six children, namely: Caroline, who became the wife of Jacob Burkhardt, no issue. Frederick, who married Annie Glenn, their children being, Herman, Louisa, Elsie and Harry
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Houser. Louisa, aforementioned as the wife of Daniel Plankenhorn. Lena, who became the wife of William Kuntz, issue, six children, Chris- tine, Ida, Arthur, Viola, Maggie and Louis (twins), Charles, unmarried. Christine, who became the wife of Martin Housman, deceased, their children being, Viola, Charles, Louisa and Clarence Houseman. Six children were the issue of the marriage of Daniel and Louisa (Houser) Plankenhorn: Fred., who married Mary Kreitz; Herman, who mar- ried Clara Kreitz; Archie; Arthur; Willis; Oscar (deceased). Mr. Plankenhorn owns a beautiful and comfortable home on the main street of South Williamsport, which is fitted up with all modern improvements, including steam heat, sewer, etc.
GEORGE W. HARDER.
George W. Harder, register and recorder of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, residing in Williamsport, is a native of the state, born in Athens, Bradford county, April 12, 1852, and is of German extraction.
His paternal grandfather, John Harder, was born in Claverick, Scho- harie county, New York, and died in Athens, Pennsylvania, where he lived the life of a farmer. He served in the war of the revolution, and his wife was a pensioner of the government in recognition of his service. He married Elizabeth ( family name unknown) and they reared a family of six children: Thomas, Jacob, Fail, Henry, Frank, Elizabeth. An eloquent attestation of the sterling patriotism of this family is found in the fact that four of the five sons served their country during the entire period of the civil war, Jacob alone remaining at home to aid in the maintenance of the family. The sons were all brought up as mechanics ; in religion they were Methodists and Baptists, and in politics they were Whigs until the dissolution of that party, when they allied themselves with the Republican party, then just formed.
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Jacob Harder, second child and son of John and Elizabeth Harder, was born in Claverick, Schoharie county, New York, September 2, 1820, and died September 1, 1898, in Paterson, New Jersey, wanting but one day of completing his seventy-eighth year. When he was sixteen years of age he went to Binghamton, New York, where he learned gunsmith- ing, and he followed that trade throughout his life at Lock Haven, Penn- sylvania. He married Maria Fritcher, who was born in Athens, Penn- sylvania, in 1833, and died in 1871. She was a daughter of George Fritcher, of a German family, and who was reared to the blacksmith's trade, but for many years carried on a grocery business. Of this mar- riage were born four children : I. George W., to be further referred to hereinafter; 2. John, who is a gunsmith and merchant in Clearfield, Penn- sylvania; 3. Frank, who is similarly engaged in Lock Haven, Pennsyl- vania ; 4. Emma, who became the wife of Samuel Demarest, of Paterson, New Jersey.
George W. Harder, eldest child of Jacob and Maria (Fritcher) Harder, received an excellent practical education, and chiefly through . his own efforts. After graduating from the high school in Lock Haven, he studied for two years in the State Normal School in Mansfield, Penn- sylvania. When he left that institution he was well qualified for teach- ing, and was solicited to devote himself to educational work as his life work, but he was inclined to mechanics, and declined all such proposi- tions. He learned gunsmithing with his father, and was associated with him in business for a period of six years. The following nine years he followed the same business on his own account in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. In 1885 he located permanently in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and conducted a sporting goods establishment until January 1, 1903, when he retired from business in order to enter upon the position of register and recorder, to which he had been elected at the fall election of the pre-
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ceding year. A Republican in politics, and possessing excellent business qualifications and elements of personal popularity, he made a most suc- cessful canvass, defeating his opponent by a plurality of 529. He has made an excellent record in his office, and he is held in esteem for his accuracy and affability in the dispatch of business.
Mr. Harder enters largely into the social life of the community, and has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the following bodies of the order : Ivy Lodge No. 397, F. and A. M .; Ly- coming Chapter No. 222, R. A. M .; Adoniram Council No. 26, R. and S. M .; Baldwin Commandery No. 22, K. T .; and Williamsport Con- sistory, S. P. R. S., thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite. He is also a noble in Irem Temple Mystic Shrine; and a member of the local bodies of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, and the Patriotic Order of Sons of America. He is a member of the Pine Street Methodist Episcopal church and financial secretary of its board of trustees. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and is earnest and forceful in support of the principles and policies of the party.
In 1876 Mr. Harder married Miss Ida E. Hanscon, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Hanscon, a native of Maine, and of English extraction. Of this union have been born four children : George N., Frank N., Emily M. and Ruth L. Harder.
H. MONROE IRVIN.
H. Monroe Irvin, district agent for the Northwestern Industrial Life Insurance Company, whose office is located in the Jamison Block, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was born in Turbutville, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1870. He is an son of Daniel and Mar- garet E. (Miller) Irvin, the former born in Columbia county, Pennsyl-
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vania, February 22, 1829, died January 2, 1900, and the latter born February 12, 1833, and resides at the present time ( 1905) at No. 820 Locust street, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Daniel E. and Margaret E. (Miller) Irvin were the parents of the following named children : I. Frank M., born April 15, 1855, married Mary Gouger, now deceased, issue, one child, Bessie, born December 27, 1880. Mr. Irvin is employed as cabinet maker by the Rishel Furniture Company. 2. William R., born September 30, 1858, died August 2, 1904; he married Lucy Shultz, daughter of Jacob Shultz, no issue. 3. Laura J., born February 4, 1859, wife of Peter Sitz, no issue. 4. Carrie, born July 16, 1860, wife of C. L. Young ; issue, Emma, born March 29, 1898. 5. Wood B., born July 16, 1864, is superintendent of the Pru- dential Insurance Company at Altoona ; he married Anna Hanst; issue, Carl Frederic, born December 29, 1888. 6. Harriet S., born March 17, 1867, resides at home. 7. Margaret E., born August 19, 1868, wife of George H. Parke, who is a merchant and draughtsman in Williams- port. Their children are: George H., born December 22, 1897; Rob- ert, born April 12, 1899; Margaret B., born December 8, 1900; and Ross M., born October 20, 1904. 8. H. Monroe, mentioned herein- after. 9. Daniel Webster, born December 29, 1869, was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a brakeman, and was killed Feb- ruary 17, 1890. 10. Edward H., born December 28, 1872, is employed in the D. S. Andus & Company music store; he married, October I, 1903, Katharine Gildner, issue, Edward D., born January 26, 1905.
H. Monroe Irvin was educated in the common schools of Williams- port and spent his boyhood days under the parental roof, working in the various sawmills of Williamsport. He then accepted a position with the Otto Furniture Company, with whom he remained for three years, after which he served two years as messenger boy with the Pennsylvania
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Railroad Company. On January 1, 1889, he accepted a position with the Prudential Life Insurance Company under the superintendency of F. B. Byers, and served as agent till 1898, when he was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent, in which he served until his res- ignation, August 15, 1903. He then accepted a position as agent for the New York Life Insurance Company, resigning therefrom in order to accept the district agency with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insur- ance Company, in which capacity he is now serving. His territory covers Potter, Tioga and Lycoming counties, Pennsylvania, and his of- fice is located in Room 4, Jamison Block, Williamsport. Mr. Irvin pos- sesses rare musical gifts, having an exceedingly fine tenor voice, and for the past fifteen years has served in the prominent churches in the city, among them being the Church of the Covenant, Baptist church, Third Presbyterian church, St. Mark's Lutheran church and St. Paul's Lutheran church. He has been a faithful patron of the arts and has assisted in securing the appearance in Williamsport of the greatest mas- ters of instrumental and vocal music. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and his political support is given to the candidates of the Prohibition party.
Mr. Irvin married, June 1, 1893, Frances M. Evans, daughter of Leiper and Grace Evans, of Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, the former named being a prosperous farmer. Six children were the issue of this union : Grace, born June 6, 1894. Dorothy A., born January 15, 1898. M. Donaldson and W. Addison (twins), born September 22, 1899. Margaret E., born February 12, 1902. Clifford W., born July 4, 1905.
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JOHN PHILIP HAAG.
John Philip Haag, M. D., who is a successful practitioner at Will- iamsport, Pennsylvania, was born September 20, 1864, in this city. He is the son of Philip Haag, who arrived from Merstetter, Germany, March 1, 1854, first stopping at Brooklyn, and from there to Williams- port in 1855. He was a shoemaker and conducted a shoe store in Will- iamsport many years. Philip is the son of John George and Mary Haag. He received an academic education at the Elmira Evangelical (Protes- tant) Academy, and was one of the builders of Market Street Evan- gelical church of Williamsport. Philip Haag married Sarah Lehman, daughter of Simon and Mary Lehman. Simon Lehman was born in Shopfloch and Mary Lehman in Disingen, Germany. They settled at Williamsport in 1855, and later removed to a farm in Hepburn town- ship, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. The date of Philip's birth was November 29, 1835, at Merstetter, Germany. His wife was born at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1839. Politically he is a Repub- lican.
Dr. John P. Haag, the son of Philip Haag, obtained his education at the common schools of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and also Bing- hamton (New York) Institute, and while there became much interested in the study of medicine, and hence he soon entered the Hahnemann Medical School of Philadelphia and graduated with the class of 1888. Politically Dr. Haag is a Republican, and served as county (Lycoming) physician three terms. In his church relations he is a Methodist Epis- copal. He is numbered among the members of the Knights of Macca- bees, and was the state medical examiner for the order one term.
He was united in marriage, March 14, 1889, to Eva Derr, of Will- iamsport. She is the daughter of James and Isabelle Derr. Mrs. Haag
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attended the public schools of her native town. By this marriage two daughters were born : Isabella Sarah, born July 8, 1892, and Katherine Margarete, born October 10, 1893.
WILLIAM D. CROOKS.
William D. Crooks was born in the county of Durham, England, August 26, 1848. His parents came to this country the following year, landing in Philadelphia, and finally settling in Blossburg, Tioga county.
His early life was spent on a farm. When eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the carpenters' and joiners' trade. Three years later he came to Williamsport and followed his trade until he en- gaged in the lumber business with Weigle & Miller, near Roaring Branch, Lycoming county. At the end of three years he sold out his interest and returned to this city to resume his former occupation as con- tractor and builder.
It was not until 1886 that he engaged in the manufacture of cabinet veneered doors and fine interior trimmings, in South Williamsport. The venture was begun in a small room 20 by 40 feet, being a part of Valen- tine Luppert's planing mill. His capital amounted to less than $400, and his crew consisted of himself and one man. But by energy and close attention his business increased, which enabled him to enlarge the plant from time to time and give employment to additional men. On January 13, 1898, the factory was destroyed, together with a large amount of finished and raw material. Mr. Crooks shortly after pur- chased the Reading, Fisher & Reading factory, which he is at present operating. The plant has not only been enlarged, but new modern ma- chinery added, and dry kilns and lumber sheds built to store seasoned material. Mr. Crooks at present employs fifty to sixty hands. His
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materials have been used in the United States Capitol building, at Wash- ington, and many of the public buildings and private houses in this county bear the stamp of his workmanship.
C. B. FARR.
C. B. Farr, vice-president of the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company, and a resident of Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, is a descendant of the following genealogical lines, the paternal Farr, and maternal, Putnams.
I. Abraham Farr, of New England, married Rachel Faskett and had a son named Abraham.
II. Abraham Farr, son of Abraham Farr, son of Abraham and Rachel (Faskett) Farr (I), was born in Stowe, Massachusetts, in 1762. He married Polly Harris in 1784, and among the children born to them was Rufus Farr.
III. Rufus Farr, son of Abraham and Polly ( Harris) Farr, was born March 2, 1783, in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and died in Wind- ham, Windham county, Vermont, May 5, 1858. He married Susan Stone, October 25, 1810, and had issue named Eli Stone Farr.
IV. Eli Stone Farr, son of Rufus Farr (3), was born July 15, 1814, in Windham county, Vermont, and died at Tioga, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1890. He married December 26, 1837, Mary Adeline Putnam, by whom was born C. B. Farr, the subject of this notice. The children of Eli Stone Farr and wife were: Eli L., born December 17, 1839, died January 31, 1843; William Oscar, born March 19, 1842; Abraham, born May 12, 1844; Creon B., born February 22, 1846; Eli Leroy, born February 8, 1848, died July 6, 1895. All were born at Windham, Windham county, Vermont.
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The mother, Mary Adeline ( Putnam) Farr, was born December 28, 1816, in Grafton, Windham county, Vermont. She was the daughter of William and Esther ( Hubbard) Putnam. Eli Stone Farr, the father, with his wife and four sons came to Tioga, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1853, settling at the "Old turn out," on the Blossburg and Tioga railroad, about one and one-half miles below Tioga village. He re- mained there a short time and then went to Foster's Mills, and then returned with the family to Vermont, but in 1855 came back to Tioga, Pennsylvania. Later they removed to Wellsboro, where Mr. Farr con- ducted a hotel where the Coles House now stands. He next took the hotel where now stands the Wilcox House. When the civil war broke out he was still operating that house. In 1864 he moved to Tioga and kept a hotel there. He spent his last days in Tioga, dying as stated above.
V. Creon B. Farr, son of Eli Stone and Mary Adeline ( Putnam) Farr (4), was born February 22, 1846, at Windham, Windham county, Vermont. When seventeen years of age, in 1863, Mr. Farr went to Gaines Pine Creek, where he was employed by A. P. Coen, who operated both a mill and store. He remained there a year and went to Tioga, where he worked with his father until 1866 and then went to Troy, Penn- sylvania, in the employ of Messrs. Reddington, Maxwell & Leonard, in a general merchandise store. After about one year there he formed a partnership with T. A. Wickham, as Wickham & Farr. Mr. Farr subse- quently dissolved the partnership and joined O. B. Lowell in the tannery business. In 1885 he engaged in timber and bark business in Tioga county, selling logs and shipping lumber and bark to tanneries. In 1890 he with others purchased what was known as the Bankard lands, on Pine Creek. In 1891 he superintended the construction of the Tia- daghton & Fahnastalk railroad, now called the Letonia railroad, built
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for the purpose of delivering the logs and bark to the Fall Brook rail- road. Mr. Farr operated in that business until the spring of 1893, when was organized the large tannery company, the "Union Tanning Com- pany," which acquired the above lands and railroad. In August, 1895, he came to Williamsport to superintend the business of the Keystone Lumber Company, which corporation had acquired all the saw-mills and lumber of the Union, Elk and Penn Tanning Companies; Mr. Farr was the president of this company until June, 1903, when the property was sold to the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company, of which he is now vice-president.
December 13, 1870, Mr. Farr married Ella Amelia Wellington, at Tioga, Pennsylvania, by whom two sons were born; Lowell Well- ington Farr (6), born March 9, 1872; Quincy Wellington Farr (6), born July 27, 1874.
Of Mrs. Farr's ancestry it may be stated that she traces her pa- ternal line back to England. Her parents were Samuel Barney Well- ington and wife Amelia (Greene) Wellington. The grandfather Wellington was named Quincy, and his father was Paulsgrave Welling- ton. On the maternal side Mrs. Farr's mother ( Amelia Greene) was the daughter of James Greene, whose father was also named James.
Politically Mr. Farr is a Republican, and in religious faith is an Episcopalian and a vestryman of Christ Church of Williamsport. He is a member of Lodge No. 373, Free and Accepted Masons, of Tioga, Pennsylvania, and all the higher bodies of Williamsport-chapter, council and commandery, and also of the Scottish Rite of Williamsport, having attained the thirty-second degree. He is a member of Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre, Howard Temple Club of Williamsport, the Ross Club (the leading social club of Williams- port), and the Young Men's Republican Club.
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Returning to the maternal side of Mr. Farr's ancestry, let it be said that John Putnam was one of the Pilgrims who came over in the "Mayflower" and landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. The New England records show that "John Putnam and wife Priscilla and three sons, John, Thomas and Nathaniel, came from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1634." John died December 30, 1662, as is shown by the historian of Framingham and Sutton, Massachusetts. The Ashburn- ham and Salem town records, say: "Nathaniel Putnam married Eliza- beth -; John Putnam married Priscilla -; Samuel Putnam married Hannah Cutter (1678). John Putnam married Sarah Maveris, in 1737, at Sudbury, Massachusetts." It is also found by records, civic and mili- tary, that Captain Daniel Putnam was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, October 25, 1755, and he became a "citizen" of Ashburnham, Massa- chusetts, about 1770. He assisted in establishing American Independ- ence while acting in the capacity of a soldier and lieutenant. He served in the revolutionary struggle on two occasions before he was twenty years of age, and was a captain prior to his second marriage in 1787. his commission bearing date of 1786, from Massachusetts. He died October 21, 1819, at Windham, Vermont. He was a first cousin of Major-General Israel Putnam, of revolutionary war fame. For his first wife he married Elizabeth Lock, March 18, 1777; she died August, 1787. By this union five children were born. The youngest died when four days old; Elizabeth and Daniel died young; John and Jacob lived to manhood and married. John died at Williamstown, Massachusetts, and Jacob at Drewsville, New Hampshire. For his second wife, Cap- tain Daniel Putnam married Keziah Polard, November 29, 1787. Rev. John Cushing officiated at their marriage. By this union twelve chil- dren were born, seven at Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and the others
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at Windham, Vermont, where he moved about 1812. Keziah (Polard) Putnam died in Windham, Vermont, March 30, 1830.
Among the children of Mr. Putnam by his second marriage was William, born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, January 18, 1789; moved to Vermont about 1800, and from there to Saratoga Springs, New York, where he kept the Irodine House, on Front street. He mar- ried Esther Hubbard, who was born May 25, 1792, and died January 2, 1870, in Townsend, Vermont. They had six children, three boys and three girls, including Mary Adeline, the mother of C. B. Farr. Will- iam Putnam died September 24, 1870.
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