USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
One of the foremost business men and lumber manufacturers of Pennsylvania and a leader in many enterprises, is Charles Sumner Hor- ton, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mr. Horton is the eldest son of
41
LYCOMING COUNTY
Lucien and Harriet Burr Horton, and was born January 3, 1863, at Lake Como, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where his father was engaged in tanning hemlock sole leather. The history of the family can be traced back to Barnabas Horton, who came to this country from Leicester- shire, England, and settled at Southold, Long Island, in 1635. In 1865 his father moved to Berkshire, Tioga county, New York, and estab- lished a tannery and afterwards became engaged in the same business at Newark Valley, New York, and other points in Pennsylvania. It was at Berkshire, New York, that he received a public school education, which was supplemented by a course in the Geneseo State Normal School. After leaving this school he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he retired after a short time to enter into commercial pursuits, and found an open- ing in the business of his uncle, Walter Horton, at Sheffield, Pennsyl- vania, where for two years he acted as clerk and doing general office work. He afterwards engaged for a short time in the manufacture of lumber and wagon hubs at Berkshire, New York.
In 1884 Mr. Horton obtained a position with the firm of Davidge & Company, sole leather tanners at English Center, Pennsylvania, and in 1885 was made superintendent of the Leicester tannery at that point, and two years later became a partner in the firm, of which Mr. S. P. Davidge was at the head. This concern carried on an extensive busi- ness, acquiring considerable timber lands, and later on a tannery in Warren county, Pennsylvania, and a wholesale leather business in Will- iamsport, Pennsylvania. In 1893, when the firm had obtained consid- erable prominence in the lumber and tanning industry in its section of the country, its business was acquired by the United States Leather Company, which was organized at that time, and which business was divided into three operating concerns, one known as the Union Tanning
42
LYCOMING COUNTY
Company with headquarters in Williamsport. Pennsylvania. Mr. Hor- ton was chosen general superintendent and afterwards president of this company, and at that time moved his family to Williamsport and be- came prominent in the business and social life of that place.
In 1903 the Tanning Companies, which controlled vast hemlock timber tracts, and which up to that time were operated for the bark alone, the timber being disposed of from time to time to sawmill men, decided that the business could be best handled by the organization of a company to manufacture the timber from these lands, and the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company was organized with a view of develop- ing the lands, and in the summer of 1904 became one of the largest if not the largest producer of hemlock lumber in the United States, having, during the lapse of one year, placed in operation eight sawmills, all of which were fitted with modern equipment, and have a capacity for pro- ducing one million feet of lumber daily. The company was organized May 25, 1903, Mr. Horton being chosen president, and associated with him as officers of the company are C. B. Farr, vice-president; Mr. R. G. Brownell, secretary, and Mr. F. E. Bradley, treasurer. One of their largest plants is located in Williamsport, the others being at Grays Run, Laquin, Jamison City, Leetonia, Tiadaghton, Mina and Lolets, all in Pennsylvania, together with some smaller operations on the line of the Tionesta Valley Railway, with headquarters at Sheffield, Pennsyl- vania.
In addition to handling the large production of lumber, the com- pany is extensively engaged in peeling and delivering to the tanneries controlled by the United States Leather Company an enormous quantity of bark, estimated at from 250,000 to 400,000 cords per annum. The company also owns or controls two hundred and fifty miles of railroad, which includes the Susquehanna & New York Railroad, the Tionesta
43
LYCOMING COUNTY
Valley Railway and tramroads connected therewith. For a large por- tion of the year the company carries on its pay-rolls the names of ap- proximately seven thousand persons, and during the bark-peeling season the services of five thousand additional employes are necessary. The timber territory owned and operated by the company aggregates from 450,000 to 500,000 acres located in the counties of Mckean, Warren, Forest, Elk, Potter, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Bradford, Tioga, Bed- ford, Luzerne and Wyoming, and is undoubtedly the largest body of hemlock timber lands under single control in the United States. In addition to the hemlock stumpage upon these lands there is a large quantity of hardwoods and some pine.
The chief executor and moving spirit in this great corporation is Charles Sumner Horton, whose wonderful energy and prodigious ca- pacity for work and organization has evolved an enterprise that moves with the greatest precision. Mr. Horton keeps familiar with every de- tail of his great operations, and no matter is so small or apparently un- important that he does not consider it worthy his attention.
In addition to his interests in this company, Mr. Horton is con- nected with various other concerns. He is a director of the United States Leather Company, is president of the several railroads controlled by this company, has investments in timber lands and several smaller industries, and is identified with the banking interests of Williamsport. His real estate holdings are extensive, and he had added materially to the architectural attractiveness of Williamsport by erecting several fine buildings. Mr. Horton is one of the most active members of the Will- iamsport Board of Trade, and is energetic in helping to forward any movement looking to the advancement or industrial development of the city of his adoption. Although a strong Republican, he holds aloof from active participation in political affairs.
44
LYCOMING COUNTY
Mr. Horton is particularly favored in his home life, and even press- ing exigencies of business do not lessen the devotion of a large portion of his leisure time to his family. He married Miss Stella M. Jones, of Towanda, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1887, and they have been blessed with four children, Harriet Burr, Gifford Davidge, Charles Sumner, Jr., and Harry J. Horton. The family occupy a handsome residence in Will- iamsport.
Mr. Horton is a devotee of sport, being an expert automobilist and a great admirer of baseball. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason and Knight Templar, and is a member of the Ross and Howard Clubs, as well as the Haleeka Country Club. Although but forty-two years of age, Mr. Horton has crowded a great deal into his active and busy career. He is a man of strong constitution and powerful physique, and no matter what the requirements of the time may impose it is said that he was never known to tire. He is of a genial and affable temperament, and is a man whom it is a pleasure to know.
JOHN EGLI.
John Egli, a prosperous lumber manufacturer and farmer of Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was born in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1835, the son of Jacob and Catharine (Caseman) Egli. His father, Jacob Egli, was born in Switzerland in 1784, and was a weaver by trade. March 31, 1822, he emigrated to this country, settling in Shamokin township (now called Ralpho township), Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. He was engaged in driving a team from Sunbury to Pottsville, carry- ing grain down and store goods back. In religious belief, Mr. Egli was a Presbyterian. In 1830 he was married to Catharine Caseman,
45
LYCOMING COUNTY
and the following children were born to them: Frederick, August II, 1832: John, January 2, 1835; Henry, March 26, 1837, died September 2, 1845; Elizabeth, born October 19, 1838; Daniel, March 4, 1841 ; Mr. Egli died in 1844, three years after the birth of his last child. John Egli's mother, Catharine (Caseman) Egli, was born in Berks county, August 9, 1813. a daughter of William F. Caseman. After the death of her husband, Jacob Egli, she married Gotleib Fogle, in 1849, in Fair- field township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, having by him one child named Mary, born February 27, 1850; she married Mart Schryner and now resides in Fairfield township. Mrs. Fogle's father, William F. Caseman, was one of the most remarkable citizens of Shamokin town- ship. He was born in Nasa, Dilburn, Germany, June 8, 1760, and at the age of twelve years, with his sister and brother, emigrated to this country, landing at Philadelphia in 1772, when he was sold for his passage to George A. Sell, near Kutstown, Berks county, for seven years, for the debt of twelve pounds. At his death he held the agreement which says, that the said George Sell was bound to give him his board and lodging and apparel, and have him taught to read and write, and at the end of the term give him two suits of clothes, one of which must be new, besides twelve pounds of money. Soon after the expiration of his indenture, he came to Shamokin township and settled there. About 1815 he purchased a tract of land of about sixty acres, which he cleared up, and afterwards added to by subsequent purchases. He was an ex- cellent farmer and a successful business man.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Huntsinger, in Berks county, and they were the parents of Jacob, who died in Ohio; John ; Joseph : Daniel; David; Lydia, who married John Pensyl; Catherine, who was twice married, first to Jacob Egli, and secondly, to Gottleib Fogle ; Eliza- beth, who married Leonard Pensyl. Up to within four years of his
46
LYCOMING COUNTY
death, Mr. Caseman continued to do his share of the farm work. He was one of the original members of St. Peter's Reformed church, of which he was elder and deacon for years. He died August 1, 1867, at the remarkable age of one hundred and seven years. He was buried in the old graveyard of St. Peter's Reformed church. His funeral service was preached from the following text selected by himself, " Is not my help in me, and is wisdom quite driven from me?" Job, Sixth Chapter, Thirteenth Verse. His wife and family died many years before him.
In 1840, John Egli moved with his parents from Shamokin to Fair- field township, his father having bought a farm in that place from a man named Ashton. There being no school in the township at that early date, his educational advantages were limited. After the death of his father, he was compelled, at the tender age of nine years and three months, to work on the farm to help make a living for the family. On the 4th of March, 1855, he started to learn the wagon-making trade at Hall's Station with Martin Keebler, and worked here two and a half years for sixty-five dollars (a trifle less than seven cents a day), and board and lodging ; also earning about two dollars a week haymaking times, and fifty cents and a dollar a day for mowing and harvesting for Samuel Gundrum, Jacob Arnold and others, at Hall's Station. In the fall of 1860 Mr. Egli moved to Montoursville, and there purchased two lots on Washington street from S. C. Williams, where he built and constructed a wagon-making shop; also a house which he still holds in his possession, and where he carried on wagon-making for twenty-five years. In the spring of 1864 he purchased a boat called the " North Star," sailing this for one year, when it was lost in a flood. He built another boat at James Fuller's wharf, which he launched on the sixth of August, 1866, and kept this running for five years, when he sold it and purchased three
47
LYCOMING COUNTY
hundred and sixty-five acres of land. on Bald Eagle Mountain, acting in a small way in the capacity of lumberman. In May, 1890, he bought a portable saw-mill, and built at Muncy, Pennsylvania. The mill was destroyed by fire, September, 1891. Ten days after this disaster, Mr. Egli set to work to rebuild the mill, which, with his valuable, lumber, was destroyed in 1898 by the most devastating flood that was ever known in the Susquehanna river. Undaunted by the great losses he had sustained by fire and water, and being possessed of strong moral and physical courage, Mr. Egli immediately set himself to the onerous task of rebuilding, and is to-day in happy possession of a splendid saw-mill and valuable farming lands.
On the twenty-second day of March, 1860. Mr. Egli was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Fry, at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by the Reverend Joshua Kelly. Miss Fry was a daughter of Jacob Fry and his wife, Lydia, who was a daughter of John Shoch, formerly of Berks county, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Egli were born the following children : Alice, November 9, 1860. married Thomas Castleberry, of Loyalsock township; William Frank, born May 4, 1865, married Lulu Banghart, East Muncy, and had three children; M. Jane, born April 4, 1869, married Richard George of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and had two children, both girls: J. Erving, born August 23, 1872, married Jane Brass, and had three children-two boys and a girl; Samuel C., born September 27, 1876, married in Carter county, Tennessee, and had one daughter ; Clara, born May 30, 1879, married S. W. Lowman of New York city, and had one son and one daughter.
In political matters, Mr. Egli is a strong prohibitionist, although it is his custom to cast his vote for the man whom he considers best fitted for the position. Ten years after his marriage Mr. Egli and his wife
.
48
LYCOMING COUNTY
joined the Lutheran church in Montoursville. Mr. Egli served as a deacon of that church for nineteen years, when he moved to Muncy and became connected with the Lutheran church of that place.
ROBERT RUSSEL McMICHAEL.
The borough of Muncy is the home of many energetic and pros- perous business men, who have won for themselves both an enviable reputation and financial success, but none merit more praise, or are more highly esteemed, than Robert R. McMichael, a descendant of a Scotch- Irish lineage, who has been an active and influential factor in the building up and development of the varied industries of Muncy, where he has resided since 1850. a period of five and a half decades.
William McMichael (grandfather) was a native of Scotland, from whence he migrated to this country in 1792, accompanied by his wife . and several children. He located in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupations of farmer and distiller, thereby being enabled to provide a comfortable home for his family, which consisted of his wife, Elizabeth Wilson, and seven children: Euphemia, Eliza- beth, Eleanor, Margaret, James, William, and John. Mr. McMichael was a Presbyterian in religion, and a Republican in politics. He and his wife died at their home in Columbia county, and their remains are interred there.
William MacMichael, or McMichael as he spelled it ( father), was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1797. He was reared on a farm and therefore was familiar with all the details of farm- ing, which line of work he followed in Columbia county for about twenty years. In 1847 he removed to Lycoming county, and in 1850 came to Muncy and purchased a farm, which he cultivated and improved, and
49
LYCOMING COUNTY
whereon he resided for the remainder of his days. He was an energetic, capable man, faithful and conscientious in the performance of all the duties of life, held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a staunch advocate of the principles of the Whig and Republican parties. He married Sarah Richart, who was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Mr. Richart, a school teacher, and a repre- sentative of a family of Irish extraction. Their children were as follows : Emily, who became the wife of Aaron MacMichael, and died in 1904. Malinda, who became the wife of John MacDiarmid, and died in 1903. Elizabeth J., wife of Robert Robb, of Muncy. George H., died in 1898, was a life-long resident of Muncy. Robert Russel, mentioned herein- after. Margaret E., died in 1854, aged fourteen years. The deaths of Mr. and Mrs. McMichael occurred November 11, 1867, and September 9, 1873, respectively.
Robert Russel McMichael was born in Greenwood township, Co- lumbia county, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1837. When two years of age his parents removed to a farm near Berwick, where he resided until eight years of age, the following year was spent in Greenwood town- ship, from whence they removed to a farm in Blackhole Valley in 1847, and after a residence of three years there they purchased a farm in Muncy, where Robert R. has made his home ever since. He attended the district schools in Columbia county, and the Guide school house, in Muncy, thus obtaining a practical education. He then turned his atten- tion to farming, and in connection with this pursuit, in which he has been remarkably successful, he has erected and sold twenty houses, and has partitioned off into building lots about fourteen acres of land in Muncy, which he also disposed of at an advantageous figure. By fol- lowing the carpenter trade, which he never learned, but which he "picked up," he not only realized a goodly profit for himself, but also gave em-
50
LYCOMING COUNTY
ployment to many hands, thus being of benefit to a number of people. He is a progressive, energetic and respected citizen, and justly merits the confidence and respect of his fellow men, which he enjoys to an un- usual degree. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in politics, and has aided by his vote every Republican nom- inee since the election of Abraham Lincoln, including that great and grand man.
Mr. McMichael married, December 26, 1866, Ella Robbins, daugh- ter of Abram B. and Abigail (Vail) Robbins. No children have been born of this union.
AMBROSE HENDERSON.
Among the leading business men of Montgomery, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, who have contributed in a large measure to its growth and development, may be mentioned the name of Ambrose Henderson, son of Samuel and Nancy ( Barber) Henderson, who was born in White Deer township, Lycoming county, March sixteenth, 1831. His educa- tional advantages were acquired in the common schools in the neighbor- hood of his home, and when his age and strength permitted, devoted his time to farming, following this occupation with a degree of success for a number of years. Several years subsequent to his marriage, Mr. Hen- derson went to the oil country, believing that he there would better his financial condition, but on the contrary he lost all that he possessed, and after a residence of one year there returned to Montgomery. He engaged in the distilling business, which he followed for three years, before he went to the oil field, after which he turned his distillery into a planing mill, and then began the manufacture of doors, sashes and blinds, oper- ating the same up to the present time (1905). During his many years'
51
LYCOMING COUNTY
connection with this line of work, he has suffered severe losses by two fires and one explosion, but notwithstanding this he has been enabled to provide comfortably for his family, and accumulate a competence for his declining years.
On March 2. 1859, Mr. Henderson married Cornelia Burrows. The first six years of their married life were spent in Union county, near White Deer Mills, and then lived four years at White Deer Mills, after which they removed to their present residence, in Montgomery, Lycom- ing county. The following named children were born to them: Eliza- beth B., born February 22, 1860, resides at home. Samuel B., born April 27, 1862, married Jennie Wells, of Bloomsburg, and they and their family of four children-Harold B., Joseph W., Laurence A. and Blanche E .- reside in Montgomery. May D., born November 5. 1864, who became the wife of the Rev. George L. Van Alen, and they and their three children-Oakley H., Ambrose H., and Cornelia B .- reside at Haddonfield, New Jersey. Gertrude, born November 1I, 1867, resides at home. Blanche, born September 28, 1869, resides at home. Charles B., born September 28, 1873, resides at home. Adeline S., born June 26, 1879, died March 3, 1881.
JOHN HESS.
John Hess, a retired agriculturist and esteemed citizen of Mont- gomery, Pennsylvania, where he has resided since 1890, is a native of Lycoming county, born August 12, 1830, a son of Jacob and Hannali (Knorr) Hess, who were the parents of six sons and three daughters, as follows : Abbie, Reuben. Peter, Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Susan, Frederick and John. Jacob Hess ( father) was a wagon-maker by trade, and carried on that business in connection with farming. During the
52
LYCOMING COUNTY
early years of his life he was a resident of Berks county, from whence he removed to Columbia, and in 1817 to Lycoming. He died May 5. 1843, and his widow passed away in 1848.
John Hess attended the common schools in the vicinity of his home, and after laying aside his books served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, at which he worked for five years. He then turned his attention to farming, which proved both pleasant and remunerative, his operations being conducted on a tract of arable land, and this line of work he followed for twenty-six years. In 1890 he settled in Mont- gomery, and for twelve consecutive years has served in the capacity of tax collector, performing the duties to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned. He casts his vote with the Democratic party, to which organ- ization he gave his allegiance upon attaining his majority.
On May 13, 1852, Mr. Hess married Settena Gross, who was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1833, and their children are as follows: Charles L., born May 6, 1853, married Laura Delany, and their children are: Alice S., born January 13, 1880, and John B., born June 2, 1887; they reside in Williamsport and he follows the trade of machinist. Jennie E., born February 4, 1862, became the wife of John WV. Erlenmeyer, of Freeburg, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and their children are: Edna L., born February 19, 1886; Dean Hess, born April 23, 1888 ; and John A., born September 10, 1889. Harry R., born Octo- ber 25, 1866, married Lulu Baird, of Milton, and their children are: Mava S., born December 5, 1897, and J. Myron, a twin of Mava S .; the family reside in Philadelphia, where Mr. Hess is engaged as druggist. Herbert M., born November 21, 1871, married La Riene Cotner, and their children are : Allan H. and J. Delwin ; they reside at Williamsport, and Mr. Hess is filling the office of bookkeeper for the American Wood Working and Machine Company.
53
LYCOMING COUNTY
Mr. Hess has been a member of the Odd Fellow fraternity for more than fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Hess are members of the Lutheran church; at first he belonged to the Reformed church.
LUKE EGER.
Luke Eger, who was a highly respected citizen of Montgomery, Pennsylvania, was born October 16, 1824, in Brickaflinholezollen, a son of Philip and Frances Eger. He was reared and educated in his native country, remaining there until 1850, when he set sail for the new world, and after a long and tedious voyage arrived in New York city, shortly afterward settling in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. During his eight years' residence in that section of the state, he was employed by the Penn- sylvania Railroad, his duties being discharged in a faithful and consci- entious manner. In 1858 he took up his residence in Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until his death, which occurred November 14, 1890, gaining for himself a reputation for integ- rity and trustworthiness.
In 1859 Mr. Eger married Hannah Porter, who was born in Lycom- ing county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1834, and from that time to the present (1905), a period of forty-six years, has resided in the same house. Their children are: Rachel, born January 8, 1860, is unmar- ried and resides at home. Kathryn, born May 23, 1861. Nancy J., born March 27, 1863, became the wife of Dr. A. W. Smith, and they are the parents of one child, Elmer Smith; the family reside .at Scranton. Robert P., born February 27, 1865, resides with his parents and farms on the old homestead. Charlotte, born July 12, 1867, became the wife of John Elliott, and their children are: Robert E. and John S. Elliott ; they reside at Baltimore, Maryland, and Mr. Elliott is supervisor of the
54
LYCOMING COUNTY
Pennsylvania Division. Edward F., born April 7, 1869, died November 10, 1890. Frances, born September 7. 1871, became the wife of William Thomas, no issue; they reside in Belington, West Virginia, and Mr. Thomas is employed as station agent at the West Virginia Central. Mr. Eger was a Democrat and with his family attended the Methodist church.
GEORGE DECKER.
The Decker family, worthily represented in the present generation by George Decker, a contractor and builder, also proprietor of a general store in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, was founded in this country by Alexander Decker, who emigrated with his wife, Elizabeth (Herman) Decker, and children from Germany in 1834, locating in what is now known as Mosquito valley, Armstrong township, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania. Alexander Decker died in March, 1878, having survived his wife several years, her death occurring in 1874. They were members of the Lutheran church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.