USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 5
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Henry Decker, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Herman) Decker, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, April 11, 1833, and the following year was brought to this country by his parents. In early life he located on a farm in Clinton township, which he cultivated to a high state of perfection, and in addition to this occupation was a noted builder, being the owner of a number of dwelling houses which he sold on easy terms, the tenants paying for the same by monthly installments. Mr. Decker took an active part in political affairs, serving in the capacity of school director, supervisor and assessor, and he frequently served as delegate to county conventions. His affiliations were with the Democratic party. On May 3, 1855, he was married to Mary Herr, and the following named children were born to them: Henry, Rosanna, Catherine, Alexander, William, George, Mary, John, Frank, Edward, Albert and Isaac.
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George Decker, fourth son of Henry and Mary (Herr) Decker, was born in Clinton township, July 9, 1863. After completing a com- mon school education, he worked on the homestead farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He then went to Montgomery to superintend the building operations conducted by his father there, was employed in that way for several years, and in 1897 established a general store, which he has since conducted, in addition to carrying on an extensive contract- ing and building business. He has achieved success in his undertakings, and is recognized throughout the community as a man of honor and probity. In 1893 Mr. Decker married Elizabeth Hess, who was born October 18, 1867, a daughter of Jeremiah and Julia (Steck) Hess, whose marriage occurred in 1859, and whose children were as follows: Fred- erick, William, Mary, Elizabeth, Fannie, Ralph, Carrie and Harry Hess. Jeremiah Hess was born in Mifflinville, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1832. Four children were the issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Decker, namely: Geneva, born July 16, 1894; Julia, born October 3, 1895 ; Hess, born July 13, 1898; and Frederick, born July 8, 1901.
WILLIAM ADAMS, M. D.
Among the many professions in which men engage, none is of more importance than that of medicine, of which William Adams has been for many years a leading representative. He was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1828, a son of Peter and Susan ( Beidel- man) Adams. After acquiring a liberal literary education he matricu- lated at the Philadelphia Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated with the degree of doctor of medicine in the year 1859. He began the practice of his profession at Salona, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, continuing the same for twelve years, after which he changed his place
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of residence to Clinton township, where he now ( 1904) resides. He has always enjoyed a good practice, was a close and earnest student, and thus kept abreast with the progress in medical science.
In 1860 Dr. Adams married Elvina Best, daughter of John and Catherine (Schaeffer) Best, and the issue of this union was the follow- ing named children: Catharine, born December 24, 1861 ; John H., born November 28, 1862: Peter B., born April 22, 1864, died January 30, 1866; Lewis, born November 28, 1865, married Matilda Lilley, and they are the parents of one child, William Adams ; they reside on a farn in Clinton township; Sarah H., born November 11, 1867, died March 23, 1903 ; Charles, born November 3, 1869, married Ida Bartholomew, resides at Freeport, Illinois, and is a machinist by trade; Altha, born April 24, 1873; Matilda, born December 24, 1874; and Arthur, born March 1I, 1880. The mother of these children died March 5, 1885. Dr. Adams married for his second wife, in 1891, Catharine App, daugh- ter of Matthias and Crusella (Lemon) App. who resided all their lives one mile above Muncy station. Matthias App was born July 18, 1816.
ROBERT BROWNLEE.
Robert Brownlee, of Ralston, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, is an excellent example of that class of practical coal miners who had their training in some of the oldest and most famous collieries of Great Britain, after the very thorough manner observed in that country, and whose knowledge and experience were utilized in early coal mining in Pennsylvania, to the vast advantage of that great industry. His ances- tral history is also honorable and of unusual interest.
He comes of Scotch forbears, who in the paternal line were origi- nally of French extraction. The family name first appears in the form
2
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of Braunleur, meaning " Brown Lion," and his ancestors were Hugue- nots who, to escape persecution visited upon them because of their re- ligion, took refuge in Scotland. There the head of the family became the Earl of Torfoot. The coat-of-arms of the Brownlees (to which form the original name of Braunleur was changed) is a peacock with tail outspread, upon a shield supported by two lions rampant. These facts are derived from Archie Graham Brownlee, a civil engineer located in Chicago, Illinois, who obtained them from Dr. J. C. Neal, of Still- water, Oklahoma, whose mother was a Brownlee. Dr. Neal spent more than twenty years tracing the history of the family, visiting Scotland three times for that purpose, and dying (in 1900) just on the eve of completing for the press a volume entitled " The Brownlees in America." His laborious work was accomplished while he was in charge of the United States Agricultural College at Stillwater, a position to which he was called on account of his high scientific attainments.
Robert Brownlee was born March 24, 1844, in Carranbrae, Lanark- shire, Scotland, son of James and Agnes (Tennent) Baird. The pater- nal grandfather, also named James, was a grocer in Glasgow. James Brownlee, his father, married Agnes Baird, daughter of Robert and Isabella (Tennent) Baird. Robert Baird, son of John and Agnes ( Bry- son) Baird, a widower with a large family, married Isabella Tennent. She was a daughter of David Tennent and Agnes Horn, whose people were flour and meal millers near Bowling, Renfrewshire, Scotland. David Tennent was one of three orphan lads who came from England to Scotland in search of work; one took employment in a chemical works, another in a brewery, and David (whose daughter Isabella was grandmother of Robert Brownlee) worked a windlass at a coal pit. The other two Tennents were reported to be the heads of the secret chemical works at St. Rollox, and of Wellshot brewery, respectively.
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Robert and Isabella (Tennent) Baird's children were: Agnes and David, twins, the former dying when about five years old, and the latter when about eighteen years of age; William, married Isabella Lighton; Dougald, married Jean Meikle; Andrew, married Margaret Cummings; Agnes, married James Brownlee; Isabella, married George Beveridge. All the sons in this family, except Andrew, who was a school teacher for more than fifty years, were mine managers. All are now deceased, having left sons and daughters.
James and Agnes (Baird) Brownlee were the parents of four chil- dren: The first died in infancy; 2, Robert is to be written of herein- after; 3, James came to the United States with his brother Robert, and is now coal inspector for the Red Run Coal Company at Ralston, Pennsylvania; in 1870 he married Charlotte Jenkins, of Fallbrook, Penn- sylvania ; no children; 4, Isabella married William Logan in Scotland; they came to Antrim, Tioga county, from where they moved to Horatio, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania; William Logan was killed by a fall of coal; his widow, who bore him a large family, resides in Delmar town- ship, Tioga county, Pennsylvania.
Robert Brownlee, second child of James and Agnes ( Baird) Brown- lee, was left an orphan in early childhood, his father and mother both dying from Asiatic cholera, and being buried together the same day, January 13, 1849. He was taken into the home of his uncle Andrew, with whom he remained until he was twelve years of age, meantime receiving thorough instruction in the rudimental English branches. At that early age he came under the charge of another uncle who was a mine superintendent, and who trained him to an intimate practical knowl- edge of mine work and management, conducting him through its various stages and departments, until he was amply equipped to enter upon an independent career, in which he was to occupy nearly every position
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from the lowest to the highest. On attaining his majority he was made fire boss in one of the largest mines in Scotland, from which he was advanced to the position of mine foreman, and in which he served with credit to himself, and entire acceptability to his employers until he re- signed in order to engage himself more independently. He entered upon business as a mining contractor, and achieved a high degree of success, yet not sufficient to satisfy his enterprising spirit.
In 1868, when twenty-four years old, he emigrated to the United States, locating in Fallbrook, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he performed his first coal mining in America. After a short time he removed to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he obtained a prac- tical experience in anthracite coal mining which served him to excellent purpose at no late day. During the great strike of 1873 he laid aside all connection with mining, and engaged in farming, but this soon proved uncongenial, and he spent some time, and quite successfully, prospecting for coal between Wilson and Stony Fork creeks, in Morris township, Tioga county, and in Pine township, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania. He erected the first plant for making glass sand from the native rock at a point which became the site of the village of Brownlee, and was named in his honor. He was subsequently called to the super- intendency of the mines of the Red Run Coal Company at Redburn, in the last named county, and opened and successfully operated the same for a period of six years. In 1897 he resigned in order to accept appoint- ment by the governor as chief of the Bureau of Mines, a department under the state government which was organized under an act of the legislature passed in the previous year, and he being the first incum- bent of the office of chief under its provisions. His term of office cov- ered a period of two years, and was crowded with duties and responsi- bilities of the gravest character. Upon him came the burden of organ-
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ization of his department, in order to make it effective, and to this was added the labor of overseeing the operations of a mass of law, prescrib- ing the duties and obligations of both operators and laborers in the coal mines, and collating and tabulating everything with reference to this great industry which was required for the information of the executive and legislative departments of the state government, and when he came to retire from his position, his bureau was in such ad- mirable condition that the task of his successor was comparatively light. During his incumbency of the office he was, out of regard for his official position, and because of his masterly knowledge of mining in its every department, appointed by Governor Hastings delegate-at-large to repre- sent the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the international mining congress held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June, 1898.
On retiring from the head of the Bureau of Mines, Mr. Brownlee (in June, 1899), accompanied by his wife, made a visit to Scotland after an absence of thirty-two years. An interesting incident of his stay in his native land was his investigation of his maternal ancestry, with the result as appears in the opening paragraphs of this narrative. On his return home, Mr. Brownlee made endeavor to develop coal lands near Ralston, but was unsuccessful. Since that time he has lived re- tired from the pursuits which engaged his effort during so large a por- tion of his life, and in which he had contributed in no small degree to bringing the coal interests of Pennsylvania to their present magnitude and commercial importance. He has at the same time, through the favor of his neighbors, who hold him in high esteem and confidence, been called to various positions in which he has found congenial and useful occupation. In February, 1901, he was elected treasurer of McIntyre township, and served in that capacity for one year. In February, 1903, he was elected tax collector for a term of three years, and in
.
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1900 was elected justice of the peace for a period of five years and in 1905 re-elected to serve five more years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his political affiliations are with the Repub- lican party, of whose principles and policies he is an earnest and in- fluential exponent. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fra- ternity, affiliated with Canton Lodge, and the Scottish Rite bodies of Williamsport, and is also a Noble of Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine. In October, 1868, he became a mem- ber of Arbor Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Blossburg, Pennsylvania, from which he and others later withdrew in order to found Lodge No. 564, at Stony Fork, in which he still holds membership, and in which he has passed all the chairs. In all these various bodies, as well as in the community at large, he is held in deservedly high esteem for his excellence of character, usefulness as a citizen, and admirable per- sonal traits.
Mr. Brownlee married, in Scotland, Miss Mary Lewis, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Auld) Lewis, of Irvin, Ayrshire, near the home of Auld Scottish poet, Robert Burns, loved by lovers of home and na- ture the wide world over. Of this marriage were born seven children. The five now living are occupying useful stations in life. They are :
I. James L., born in 1865. He was educated at Oberlin (Ohio) College, and is an electrician in Heilwood, Indiana county, Pennsyl- vania. He married Susan, daughter of William and Sarah (Stull) Malay, and they are the parents of three children, Sarah, Robert and Donald, respectively, aged eleven years, eight years, and seven months.
2. Janet, died in infancy.
3. Janet M., died at the age of two years.
4. Robert B., born in 1870, who is weighmaster for the Red Run Coal Company.
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he also took instruction at intervals in the Normal School. October 8, 1880, he married Miss Hannah M. Heilman, a daughter of Joseph Heil- man, a farmer and old resident in the Blackhole Valley, whose parents had come to the region when it was in primeval wildness. After his marriage Mr. Shollenberger taught school for one or two terms, and then took up the study of the trade of a machinist in the machine shop of Levi Houston. In 1882 he took a course of instruction in the Williams- port Commercial College, and then entered the office of Mr. Houston in the capacity of bookkeeper, from which he was advanced in turn to that of corresponding secretary and confidential clerk in charge of the office. For some time prior to the death of Mr. Houston (July 27, 1892) Mr. Shollenberger had, practically, charge of all that gentleman's large in- terests, comprising a planing-mill, machine shops, general store and farming interests, and he was continued in charge of them as manager, after Mr. Houston's death, by the executor of the estate. In 1897 the planing mill was disposed of, and Mr. Shollenberger organized the Key- stone Door and Sash Company, in which he took a considerable share of the stock and became secretary and treasurer. The machinery busi- ness and planing-mill plant were ultimately acquired by the American Wood Working Machinery Company, in which Mr. Shollenberger be- came a stockholder, and was continued in charge of his original enter- prise, which is now operated as the Levi Houston Branch of the great absorbing corporation previously named.
Besides giving his attention closely to the business above referred to, and which development was due in large degree to his effort, Mr. Shollenberger has in other ways accomplished much for the advancement of the commercial and financial interests of his region. He was instru- mental in organizing the Montgomery Electric Light and Power Com- pany, and is a member of its board of directors, and the secretary and
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treasurer of that body. He is a member of the directorate of the First
National Bank, and is interested in the Montgomery Door and Sash 1 Company. He is deeply interested in educational affairs, and has long rendered efficient service as a member of the school board. With his family, he holds membership in the church of his forefathers, the Lu- theran, and is now, and has been for the past five years, statistical secre- tary of the Luther League of Pennsylvania. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, of whose principles and policies, particularly with reference to finance, commerce and manufacturing, he is an earnest and intelligent advocate. He is a member of Muncy Lodge No. 399, F. and A. M.
To Mr. and Mrs. Shollenberger were born three children. Their son, Edmund Kennard, is draftsman and designer in the machine works under the charge of his father. The eldest daughter, Martha, is a stu- dent in the Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, and the youngest daughter, Alma, in the high school in Montgomery. The firstborn child of Mr. and Mrs. Shollenberger died in childhood.
ALEXANDER DECKER.
Alexander Decker, an active and prosperous business man of Mont- gomery, Pennsylvania, whose integrity and reliable methods have been the chief factors in the success which has attended his well-directed efforts, was born in Clinton township, Lycoming county, May 27, 1860.
Alexander Decker, grandfather of Alexander Decker, was a native of Germany, and in 1834, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth ( Herman) Decker, and family, emigrated to the United States, locating in what is now known as Mosquito valley, Armstrong township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, being one of the first settlers of that section. They were
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members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Decker died in March, 1878, and his wife in 1874.
Henry Decker, father of Alexander Decker, was born in Witten- berg, Germany, April 1I, 1833. His active career had been devoted to farming and building, conducting the former on an extensive and pro- ductive tract of land, and the latter in Clinton township and the borough of Montgomery. He erected a number of dwelling houses, which he leased at a nominal rent in order to enable the occupants to purchase the same on easy terms. He was the incumbent of a number of political offices, and served as delegate to county conventions. He was a member and deacon in the Lutheran church in Brady township, and a Democrat in politics. Mr. Decker married, May 3, 1855, Mary Herr, and twelve children were born to them, namely: Henry, Rosanna, Catherine, Alex- ander, William, George, Mary, John, Frank, Edward, Albert and Isaac.
Alexander Decker acquired a practical education in the common schools of Lycoming county, completing his studies at the age of sixteen, and his first experience was gained in the grocery business in Williams- port, where he was a member of the firm of Decker and Stull for a period of two years. He then turned his attention to farming and the opera- tion of a creamery, conducted the same successfully for ten years, and at the expiration of that period of time engaged in the lumbering and butchering business, in which he is engaged at the present time ( 1905). Mr. Decker was united in marriage to Rosa Hartranft, who was born October 31, 1863, a daughter of George and Katherine (Fausel) Hart- ranft, who were the parents of eight other children, namely: Lizzie, Philip, Hannah, Rosa, Edward, Ettie, George and Elmer Hartranft. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Decker are as follows: Raymond, born April 25, 1885; Mina F., born October 3, 1887; Rachel, born February 22, 1890; Paul, born July 7, 1892; and Harold, born May 6, 1895.
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DAVID JARRET.
Among the practical and progressive agriculturists of Montgomery, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, may be mentioned the name of David Jarret, who was born December 30, 1854, a son of Solomon and Chris- tine (Roller) Jarret, and a descendant of an English and German an- cestry. David Jarret attended the common schools of his neighborhood until he was eighteen years of age, in the meantime assisting with the labors of the homestead, and thereby gaining a practical knowledge of the work whereby he intended to gain his livelihood. The entire ap- pearance of his property, which is one of the best in that vicinity, de- notes the supervision of a master hand, and his products, being of the best quality, find a ready market in the nearby towns.
In 1878 Mr. Jarret was married to Sarah Hulsizer, they taking up their residence in the house in which he was born, and here they reared the following named children: Erskine, born January 30, 1879: Ray- mond, born April 29, 1882: William, born January 12, 1884: Ross, born May 9, 1885; Blanche, born February 18, 1888, and Erlhen, born No- vember 3, 1892. The parents of Mrs. Jarret are William and Catherine (Glass) Hulsizer, the former nanied born September 28, 1828, and the latter December 5, 1832, and their family consisted of six children, as follows: Charles, Anna, Sarah, Mary, John and Joseph Hulsizer.
JOHN JOHNSON.
John Johnson, a venerable and representative citizen of Clinton township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, where he has resided since 1864, a period of forty years, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, August 5, 1833, a son of John and Catherine (Gibons) Johnson,
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the former named having been brought to this country from England in 1800, when six months old, by his parents, who settled in Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, where they resided until their deaths.
John Johnson, our subject, received a good common school educa- tion, completing his studies at the age of seventeen, and he began to earn his own living by working at boating, which occupation he followed for thirteen years. He then engaged in railroading, continuing the same for forty-two years, during which time he was employed as track fore- man on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and at the same time he conducted agricultural pursuits. As a citizen he is public-spirited and progressive, and has done much for the upbuilding and development of the best inter- ests of the community. In 1860 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Emeline Boyer, who was born in 1839, a daughter of Frederick and Ellen Boyer. The first four years of their married life were spent in Northumberland county, after which they removed to Clinton township, Montgomery. Their children were: Wellington B., born January 26, 1861; Harvey W., born September 12, 1862; Anna Elmira, born De- cember 14, 1864; and Emma Gertrude, born September 29, 1870; and Freddy, born January 18, 1874, and died July 23, 1874. The mother of these children died May 5, 1874. In 1876 Mr. Johnson married Sarah Bruner, who bore him two children: Howard G., born January 12, 1878, and Abel, born April 21, 1880.
In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Johnson took a trip to Michigan in order to pay a visit to his brother, William Johnson, and her half-brother, James McGinnes, remaining five weeks, and then returned in safety to their home in Montgomery, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and all are Methodists.
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DANIEL GROSS.
Daniel Gross, of Montgomery, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, who, during his residence here, has firmly established himself in the confidence of his fellow-citizens, was born June 14, 1843, in Blooms- burg, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, a son of Daniel and Susan (App) Gross. Daniel Gross attended the common schools adjacent to his home until eighteen years of age, and then went to learn the trade of coach painting. After serving about six months the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted his services in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he remained two years and nine months, during which period he displayed the utmost courage and bravery, participating in all the battles and engagements. Upon his return to civil life he located in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, from whence he subsequently moved to Montgomery, Lycoming county. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
He was united in marriage to Lydia Wagner, of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, who bore him the following named children: Edwin, ยท born July 17, 1867, is now employed as railroad weighmaster ; he mar- ried Susan Rank, of Muncy, but now resides in Lockhaven. Minnie, born December 28, 1870, became the wife of Harry App, and they and their child-Edwin-reside at Picture Rocks. William W., born Octo- ber 22, 1873, married Carrie Hess, who bore him three children-Don- ald, Catherine and Elmer ; they reside at Hanover, Pennsylvania. Luther W., born March 18, 1876, is a Lutheran minister, married Myrtle Moon and they reside at Hampstead, Maryland. Annie, born March 24, 1877, became the wife of Clayton Heilman, issue, Paul A., and they reside in the valley. Susan A., born February 1, 1880, unmarried. Daniel O., born September 7, 1882, resides at home, and is employed in the office
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