USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 9
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Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Mary A. Brown, who was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1834, and they
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reared a family of eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, born Febru- ary 13, 1859, became the wife of John Gruver, and four children have been born to them: Ralph, November 3, 1883; Clarence, March I, 1885 : Mary, December 8, 1886; and Elias M., April 1, 1896; they re- side in Clinton township. Emma, born April 18, 1860, became the wife of Henry Gruver, and their family consists of three children : Harry L., born October 31, 1882; Charles M., born March 6, 1885, and Clyde K., born April 25, 1892. They reside in Montgomery. Ada S., born April 19, 1862, became the wife of Harry Reed, of Montgomery, a machinist ; no issue. John A., who was born in 1864, and is deceased. Edwin, born October 6, 1866, deceased. Rebecca R., born November 4, 1869. William M., born October 31, 1872. Harry E., born July II, 1876. The three latter named reside on the farm formerly the property of Harry Rentz, which William purchased in 1902, and which he has cultivated to a high state of perfection.
PETER HESS.
Industry, perseverance and energy were the chief characteristics in the career of Peter Hess, a farmer of Montgomery, Pennsylvania, whose broad acres yielded a plentiful harvest, from the proceeds of which he accumulated a fair competence which he enjoyed during his declining years. He was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1815, a son of Jacob and Hannah (Knorr) Hess, whose family consisted of nine children, namely: Abbie, Reuben, Peter, Samuel, Joseph, Eliza- beth, Susan, Frederick and John. Jacob Hess (father) was a farmer and wagonmaker, and his residence in Lycoming county dated back to the year 1817, when he removed from Columbia county, having pre- viously settled there from Berks county. Jacob Hess died May 5, 1843, and his widow in 1848.
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Peter Hess acquired a good education in the common schools ad- jacent to his home, and for ten years thereafter followed the occupation of milling, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a staunch adherent of the principles of Democracy, and was an earnest advocate of all measures that tend toward the growth and de- velopment of the community in which he resided. He died in Decem- ber, 1900.
In 1840 Mr. Hess married Ellen Endy, whose death occurred De- cember 5, 1851. Their children were: Hannah, born February 15, 1841; Mary, born July 24, 1843; Abner, born March 29, 1846; Lucy, born April 10, 1848; and Abigail, born October 31, 1849. In 1857 Mr. Hess married Matilda Berger, and for six years thereafter they resided in Clinton township, after which he disposed of his property, having been washed out by the flood, the ice being piled up as high as his house. Seven children were the issue of this union, as follows: Emily N., born September 17, 1859, died December 9, 1899; she was the wife of Kinsey Smith, and their children were: Leonidas C., born January 28, 1884; Merton V., born January 6, 1886; Mary H., born May 6, 1888; Thomas H., born January 16, 1890; Barrie C., born July 12, 1892; Harold W., born October 14, 1894; and Gladys M., born April 5, 1896. Laura F., born June 19, 1862, died July 21, 1867. Wilson P., born December 27, 1863, died February 17, 1876. Ella G., born November 10, 1866, unmarried, resides at home with her mother. Carrie M., born April 9, 1869, unmarried, resides at home and is engaged as school teacher. Clinton C., born November 16, 1871, married Emma Yeagle, and they are the parents of seven children ; he is a farmer by occupation. Cora A., born June 10, 1875, became the wife of William Gross, and their family consists of three children; he resides at Hanover, and is engaged in the table works as finisher.
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NATHANIEL C. JOHNSON.
Nathaniel C. Johnson, one of the prominent, influential and highly respected citizens of Montoursville, who was actively identified with several important enterprises, and whose efforts have materially added to the growth and development of that section of Lycoming county, was born November 23, 1814, in Dutchess county, New York, a son of Charles and Hannah (Cronk) Johnson, natives of that county, who passed away when their son Nathaniel C. was only six years of age, the boy then finding a home with his uncle, Moses Johnson, a resident of Tioga county, Pennsylvania, with whom he remained until he at- tained his majority.
Nathaniel C. Johnson was a student in the subscription schools and Wellsboro Academy, and thus acquired an education which prepared him for an active and useful career. In 1835 he came to Lycoming county and was employed by Mr. Gates Wilcox in lumbering on Pine creek, and two years later he removed to Montoursville and continued the same business for his employer on Loyalsock creek. On March 20, 1850, Mr. Johnson built a sawmill on Bear creek in Plunkett's Creek township, and at once engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber, his opera- tions meeting with a large degree of success. By reliable methods and strict integrity in all business transactions he amassed a considerable fortune, a portion of which was expended in the purchase of over one thousand acres of timber lands and a fine farm in Fairfield township. He was one of the original stockholders of the City National Bank of Williamsport, was a charter member of the Montoursville Manufactur- ing Company, and an original stockholder of the Williamsport and Bing- hampton Railroad. Mr. Johnson always firmly upheld the candidates and measures advocated by the Republican party, and was chosen by his
Eng.by J.R. Rice & Sons , Phila.
N. & Johnson.
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fellow citizens to fill a number of township offices, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and with satisfaction to his con- stituents. He was a member of Eureka Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Montoursville, and a charter member.
Mr. Johnson was married in 1857 to Anna Moyer, daughter of Michael Moyer, of Fairfield township, and one child was born to them, Mary Ellen, who became the wife of William H. Belles, and their chil- dren are: Elsie May and Ernest Nathaniel Belles. Mr. Johnson at- tended the Lutheran church, of which his wife is a member.
SAMUEL L. ZELLERS.
Samuel L. Zellers, of Montgomery, Lycoming county, Pennsylva- nia, proprietor of a general store, in which he has achieved a large de- gree of financial success, is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Linn) Zellers, and a descendant of an old and honored German ancestry.
He attended the common schools of the neighborhood until he was fourteen years of age, when he began work with his father at cabinet making, remaining at the same employment for a period of eight years. After his marriage he resided for one year south of Muncy Station, after which he purchased a lot from Abraham and Charles Heilman, upon which he erected a shop, which he conducted until 1870, in the meantime residing in one room, and in the summer of that year he erected a comfortable house, in which he resided for twenty years. At the expiration of this period of time he purchased a lot in Montgomery, erected a house with a store on the first floor, and has resided there ever since. In all of these enterprises he exhibited that wise foresight, great energy and strong common sense which are the leading traits of his business character.
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On December 27, 1867, Mr. Zellers married Emily App, a daughter of Mathias and Crusella (Lemon) App. Their children are: Anna May, born September 2, 1869, became the wife of Elmer Rupert, and their children are: Samuel Cloyd, born February 1, 1891 ; and Emily, born October 11, 1894; they reside in Montgomery, and Mr. Rupert is employed in the table factory. Clinton Mathias, born March 31, 1873, married Ella Williams, and they are the parents of three children : Re- becca B., born July 11, 1899; Merrill, born March 26, 1902; and Rose- mond, born February 1, 1904; they reside at Montgomery, and Mr. Zeller is the proprietor of a store wherein are sold furniture, sewing machines and pianos. Elmer B., born January 17, 1875, married Georgi- anna Gortner, and their children are: Elizabeth Anita, born October 31, 1899; Lawrence Raymond, born June 11, 1901 ; and Catherine, born May 22, 1904; they reside at Montgomery, where Mr. Zeller is success- fully engaged in the livery business.
CHARLES L. LITTLE.
Charles L. Little, who is prominently and actively identified with the political, agricultural and social interests of Hughesville, Lycoming county, where he was born August 10, 1845, is a man of great strength of character, of pleasing personality, and his reliable methods of busi- ness have brought to him a large degree of prosperity. His parents were James S., who died at the age of seventy-five years, and Elizabeth Little, who passed away at the age of seventy-nine years, eight years subsequent to the decease of her husband. The Little family were resi- dents of New Jersey until 1802, in which year they settled near Eagles Mere, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, where they took up property which they claimed for a home.
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The educational advantages enjoyed by Charles L. Little were ob- tained in the common schools of Lycoming county. The first nineteen years of his life were spent on the Little homestead, which is located near Glen Mawr, and for almost the same period of time he has resided on the farm, which he has cultivated to a high state of perfection and which yields him a goodly return for the labor expended on it. With the competence acquired from his extensive operations, Mr. Little has purchased property in Picture Rocks whereon he is building a home, in which he intends to spend his declining years in the enjoyment of ease and comfort, a fitting sequel for years of toil and activity. The esteem and confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens is evi- denced by the fact that he was chosen to serve in the capacity of auditor of Shrewsbury township, also school director, which office he held for eleven years; assessor in Wolf township, his term extending over a period of three years, and enumerator for census during the years 1880- 1890-1900.
Mr. Little was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. McClintock, who was born in Penn township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and the following named children were the issue: N. M., born 1868; Celina, born 1870, died at her home, 1887; Theodore, born 1872; Lizzie, born 1874; D. Brady, born 1877. a graduate of Juniata College, Hunting- don, Pennsylvania, and for the past year engaged in teaching school at Picture Rocks ; he resides at home with his parents ; Elsie L., born 1885, resides at home. N. M., Theodore and Lizzie are married, and have made homes for themselves.
WILLIAM MARKWOOD MATCHETT.
The Matchett family, of Powls Valley, Dauphin county, Pennsyl- vania, is descended from an early settler in that section of the state, Penna. Matchett, grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
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George Varnes Matchett, William M. Matchett's father, was born in Powls Valley in 1837. He attended school in Waynesville, Penn- sylvania, and after the completion of his studies he served an apprentice- ship at the shoemaker's trade. Locating in Matamoras, this state, he was engaged in the manufacture of high-grade footwear for a period of about forty years, and for the past five years has carried on a farm ' of eighty-one acres in the vicinity of Waynesville, which is owned by his son, William M. Matchett. In politics George V. Matchett is a Republican. His religious affiliations are with the United Brethren. His first wife was Margaret Zimmerman. She died and he married for his second wife Ellen Shammo, daughter of Henry Shammo, of Hali- fax, Pennsylvania. His children, all of whom were born of his first union, are: Alice, Clara, Sherman (deceased), William Markwood, Anna, Margaret and Charles. Alice is the wife of Theodore Wilvert, of Abilene, Kansas, and has four children. Clara is the wife of Robert Mitchell, of New Berry, Pennsylvania, and had one child, who died in infancy. Anna married Edward Remberger and is now residing in Redland, California, having five children. Margaret is the wife of Joseph Miller, of New Berry, and has six children. Charles, who is now chief telegraph operator for the New York Central Railway Com- pany at Corning, New York, married Martha Reinard, and has one son, Robert.
William Markwood Matchett was born in Powls Valley, June 21, 1869. His studies in the public schools of Matamoras were supplemented with a course at Potts College, Williamsport, this state. Having ac- quired a knowledge of mechanical engineering, he was employed as an engineer in the sawmill of Wilmotquinn, Sherman and Company at Sin- namahoning, and later in the same capacity by John D. Shirk, in Wistar, Pennsylvania. In 1890 he went to New Berry Junction, where he
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studied telegraphy under the tutorship of John W. Foster for a period of four months, at the expiration of which he secured a position as car clerk for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company and was shortly afterward promoted to that of assistant station agent at New Berry. He subsequently served as ticket agent and operator at Mon- toursville for two years; station agent at Brandonville for four years; joint station agent at Quakake for the Pennsylvania and other railway lines passing that point for several years; and from the last-named place he went to Haucks, Pennsylvania, as agent, weigh-master and yard- master for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and the Central Rail- road of New Jersey. The latter position he resigned in 1904, and re- linquished the railway service. Returning to Montoursville he pur- chased the business and good will of Messrs. Diehl and Weaver, mer- chant tailors and clothiers, and immediately familiarizing himself with that line of trade is now conducting a profitable and steadily increasing business under the firm name of W. M. Matchett and Company.
During his long period of railway service he managed to save a considerable portion of his earnings, which he has invested judiciously, and in addition to his business enterprise in Montoursville he owns the valuable farm previously referred to. He is a Master Mason, belonging to Cattawisa Lodge No. 349, and also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Protective Order of Sons of America. In politics he acts with the Republican party. He attends the Lutheran church.
On July 31, 1896, Mr. Matchett was joined in marriage with Miss Katie Z. Hall, daughter of J. Collins Hall. Their children are: Vir- ginia, born July 31, 1897; Francis E., born October 5, 1898; and Mary M., born April 7, 1900.
J. Collins Hall, Katie Z. Hall's father, was born in Fairfield Centre,
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Lycoming county, in 1828. He came to Montoursville at the age of eighteen and learned the carpenter's trade, in which town he resided until his death in 1903. He married, in 1864, Mary E. Hall, of Dacota, Illinois, and of this union there are five children : Virginia F., Katie Z., Roscoe C., Laura A. and A. Monroe. J. Collins Hall was a man of sterling character and sound sense. He was a Republican in politics and was connected with the Lutheran church. In his working days he had the contracts for many of Montoursville's fine residences and accumu- lated quite a bit of property of his own, among which is the residence occupied by his widow on the corner of Broad and Montour streets. He was a stanch Republican.
Katie Z. Hall was born in Montoursville August 12, 1873. She attended the public schools of that place until she graduated from the high school in 1890, after which she learned the tailoring trade.
LEONIDAS C. KINSEY.
Leonidas C. Kinsey, a retired business man of Montgomery, Penn- sylvania, traces his ancestry to the English Quakers who emigrated with William Penn, and to Irish Protestants of Scotch blood.
John Kinsey, father of Leonidas C. Kinsey, born August 12, 1804, at Summer Hill, Columbia county, came from Beach Haven, Luzerne county, to Clinton Mills, Lycoming county, a village three-fourths mile north of the borough of Montgomery, in 1836, and engaged in store- keeping there until the year 1841, when he returned to Beach Haven. Three years afterwards he returned to Clinton Mills, resuming his work there, in which he continued until his death, August 15, 1879. He was a Democrat in politics, and was treasurer of Lycoming county for one term. In religion he was a stanch Methodist for the greater part of
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his adult life and did much to promote the cause of that church. In the days of his young manhood he was a major in the state militia, holding two commissions from Governor Ritner.
His wife, Mary Bigart (Campbell) Kinsey, who was born October 18, 1803, died December 25, 1880, was a daughter of James Campbell, who died at Beach Haven in 1864.
Nine children were born to them, viz: Panthea Malvina, born April 6, 1828, deceased; Milton Britton, born January 10, 1830, de- ceased; James Campbell, born January, 1832, deceased; Carolan John, born October 7, 1833, deceased; Susan Margaret, born April 13, 1836, deceased; Mary Ermina, born June 12, 1839, deceased; Emma Hale, born August 28, 1841, deceased; Leonidas Campbell, born June 30, 1844, mentioned at length hereinafter; and Harriet Adela, born August 10, 1847, and who resides with him.
Leonidas Campbell Kinsey was born at Beach Haven, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1844. He was educated in the common schools. Having previously learned telegraphy, he was, at the age of eighteen years, employed by the Northern Central Railway at Troy, Bradford county, and at Elmira, New York, as telegrapher, and at Ralston, Pennsylvania, as station agent. He was soon after employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as telegraphic train despatcher and division operator until 1867. In 1869 he was employed by the Oil Creek and Allegheny River Railway Company in various capacities for several years. In 1872 he entered the civil service of the United States at Washington, D. C., where he remained about fourteen months. In 1873 he removed to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county in 1876, and for four years thereafter practiced his pro- fession.
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During the early part of the year 1880 he formed a partnership with H. R. Rhoads, of Williamsport, and under a contract with the American Bell Telephone Company of Boston, Massachusetts, introduced into the county of Luzerne the Bell telephone, connecting all the outlying towns of the county with Wilkes Barre, besides erecting an exchange of several hundred telephones in the latter place.
In 1882 he retired from this business and moved to Montgomery, where he still resides. He was burgess of the borough in 1891, and served in the borough council for four years. In 1887 he laid out Kinsey street on the westerly side of the borough, which is rapidly growing into a fine thoroughfare. In 1890 he purchased the site of the flouring mill in Clinton Mills, which mill had but recently been burned, and erected thereon a model milling plant, which he operated for ten years.
HARRISON A. SEWARD.
Harrison A. Seward, of Unityville, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, was born May 13, 1851, at Fairmount Springs, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He descended from forefathers among the Puritan emi- grants of Massachusetts, and before the revolutionary war period they settled in Pennsylvania, near Allentown.
Enos Seward (father) was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in August, 1804. He only received a limited education. In his religious belief he was a Universalist. Politically he was an old line Whig, and his public service was confined to township offices. He married Emeline Waltman, of Dutch descent, born March 22, 1822. She had eighteen brothers and sisters. Four of her brothers served three years in the civil war, and another brother served in the same conflict two years, all returning to their homes at the close of the war. Enos Seward and
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his brothers were heavy contractors and builders of a large portion of the Lehigh Valley railroad in 1830-31. He finally settled in Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1854.
Harrison A. Seward was one of six children in his parents' family. He attended the common schools of his native county and was em- ployed at farm labor and at school teaching. He commenced to teach when he was eighteen years of age, following that occupation during the winter months and working on the farm during the summer season until 1882. When twenty-three years of age he was made toll collector of the Susquehanna bridge at Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and served as such for three years. In 1882 he embarked in mercantile pursuits in a small way in Fairmount township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. In 1887 he sold this business, and in the following spring resumed the role of a merchant, locating in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he still operates as a merchant. Politically Mr. Seward is a Republican. In 1890 he was elected a justice of the peace for Jordan township, in which capacity he served three successive terms, declining the fourth nomination. In religious faith he is a Methodist, of which denomina- tion he is a member. He is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Seward married at Berwick, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1884, Lillian Sanders, whose education was obtained in the common schools. Before her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools. Her parents were George and Elizabeth (Douglass) Sanders, of Scotch- Irish descent. The father was killed at Deep Bottom, after the end of three years continual service in the rebellion, while awaiting his final discharge. The mother of Mrs. Seward is still living.
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Mrs. Seward was appointed postmistress at Unityville, Pennsyl- vania, by James A. Gary, postmaster-general, April 22, 1897, and is still serving in that capacity.
MRS. ANNIE J. W. SHEADLE.
Mrs. Annie J. Sheadle (nee Wilson), formerly a successful edu- cator and now the wife of A. Tyson Sheadle, of Jersey Shore, is a lineal descendant on the maternal side of John ( 1) Hays and his wife, Jane (Love) Hays, who emigrated from Ireland in 1730. They set- tled first in Chester county, Pennsylvania, but some time later removed to that part of Bucks county which was afterward set apart as North- ampton county, where John Hays died at the age of eighty-five years, in 1789. John and Jane Hays were the parents of four daughters and five sons. The sons were John (2), Robert, James, Francis and Will- iam, all of whom served in the Continental army during the revolu- tionary war, except William. John (2) Hays, Mrs. Sheadle's great- grandfather, was commissioned captain and rendered distinguished serv- ice in the cause of national independence. He was married in 1771 to Jane Walker, and had a family of six sons and four daughters. The third son, Richard (3) Hays, Mrs. Sheadle's maternal grandfather, was a hatter by trade, and was for a number of years engaged in manu- facturing hats at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, from whence he removed to a farm in Lycoming county. He married Christina, daughter of John Ralston, and of this union there were six sons and four daughters. One of the latter, Mary Anne (4) Hays, became the wife of John H. Wilson, and the only child of this union is Annie J., who is now Mrs. Sheadle. Her father was born in Bath, Northampton county, in 181I. He married in 1844 and later moved to Cogan Station, Lycoming
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county, where he resided for seven years, and in 1864 moved to Jersey Shore, where he resided until his death in 1896. Mrs. Sheadle's mother died in 1885. Both are buried in Jersey Shore cemetery.
Annie J. Wilson was born at Cogan Station February 27, 1853, and her preliminary education was acquired in the schools of that local- ity. She concluded her studies at the State Normal School in Blooms- burg, and, turning her attention to educational pursuits, was for some time an efficient teacher in the public schools. On March 25, 1897, she was united in marriage with A. Tyson Sheadle. Mr. Sheadle was born in Limestone township, Lycoming county, October 14, 1858, son of Jacob and Mary (Treat) Sheadle. His parents, who were natives cf Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, settled in Limestone township in 1856. They had a family of six children, namely: J. Woodward, now of Williamsport; A. Tyson. Adah, Lydia, Belle and Justa. A. Tyson Sheadle began his studies in the schools of Limestone township, and completed his education at the Muncy Normal School. He has made agriculture his principal occupation. Since 1898 Mr. and Mrs. Sheadle have resided in Jersey Shore.
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