History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 151

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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PETER KASCHENBACH, furniture dealer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Prussia in 1824, and is a son of W. and Eva (Zensen) Kaschenbach. Being left an orphan at an early age, he was thrown on his own resources; he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed for nineteen years in his native land. In 1852 he came to America, locating at Honesdale, Pa., where he worked as a journeyman two years, and afterward five years at Binghamton, N. Y. In 1859 he located in Wilkes- Barre, and in 1861, embarked in the furniture business, in which he still continues. In 1849 Mr. Kaschenbach married Gertrude, daughter of Hubert and Anna M. (Losen) Ackerman, of Germany, and has five children: Gertrude, Henry, John,

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Mary and Lizzie (Mrs. George Keller). Mr. Kaschenbach is one of the leading business men of Wilkes-Barre; he is a member of the Catholic Church, and in poli- tics is a Democrat.

JOSEPH W. KASPER was born in Pittston, December 23, 1865, a son of John Kasper, and was educated in the public schools of his native city. At the age of fourteen he entered the office of the Evening Press, of Pittston, where he set type about two years; then he engaged in a meat market with his father on Exeter street, where he has since continued. He has been a member of the Eagle Hose Company three years, and secretary of the same, one term; is a member of the M. E. Church of West Pittston; of the P. O. S. of A., of which he has served one term as vice-president, and the K. G. E .; politically he is a Republican. Mr. Kasper married October 19, 1876, Minnie Dodd, of Pittston, and has the following children: Helen, May and Harold.

G. A. CHARLES KASTRUP, senior member of the firm of Kastrup & Keck, bakers and confectioners, Ashley, was born in Westphalia, Germany, March 24, 1855, and is the only child of Charles W. and Henrietta (Strunk) Kastrup. The father, who had served seven years in the German army, was a contractor, and before the birth of our subject was killed by a falling timber while building a glass factory. After his death the mother married Peter Creamer. Mr. Kastrup was educated in Ger- many, and worked at manufacturing lime and brick and at stone-cutting until October 1871, when he came to America, locating in Fort Lee, N. J., where he remained eighteen months and learned the baker's trade. After this he worked at his trade five years in New York, and then returned to Fort Lee where he engaged in the butcher business for one year. At the end of that time he . devoted his time to his regular trade in and about New York for a period of eleven years. In 1882 he removed to Wilkes-Barre where he had charge of Craft's bakery for eighteen months, and in 1883 he came to Ashley and commenced business. February 18, 1882, Mr. Kastrup married Miss Veronika, daughter of Henry and Theresa (Ricketer) Keck. They have one child, Annie Theresa. Mr. and Mrs. Kastrup are members of the German Lutheran and Catholic Churches, respectively; in political views he is a Democrat.

JOHN C. KAUFER, alderman, Tenth Ward, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wilkes- Barre June 2, 1857, and is a son of George and Dorothea (Easterlee) Kaufer, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America about 1851, and the following year located in Wilkes-Barre, where the father, who was a brewer by trade, worked at that occu- pation until his death in 1862. His children were nine in number, five of whom are now living: George (superintendent Florence Coal Co.), John C., Barbara P. (Mrs. Alexander Schmallbach), Jacob R. and Martin. Our subject was reared in Wilkes- Barre, educated in the public schools, and served an apprenticeship of three and one-half years in a printing office, after which he worked as a journeyman printer twelve years. In February, 1885, he was elected alderman of the Tenth Ward of the City of Wilkes-Barre, and re-elected in February, 1890, for a second term. In March, 1882, he married Catherine C., daughter of Henry and Catherine Rocker, of Wilkes-Barre, who died January 7, 1887. Our subject and wife had three chil- dren: Dorothea H., Caroline C. and George R. Mr. Kaufer is a popular official, and a well-known citizen of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of Zion's German Reformed Church, of the I. O. O. F., and in politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN KAUFMAN, M. D., Hazleton, is a promising and prosperous young physician. He was born at Hazleton March 28, 1864, and is the third in a family of ten chil- dren of John and Mary A. (Sonn) Kaufman, also natives of Hazleton. He was reared and educated in his native city, and after graduating at the Hazleton high school he entered, in the fall of 1885, the Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, graduat- ing therefrom in the spring of 1888. He then came directly to Hazleton where he began the practice of his profession, and is now building up a good practice. Dr. Kaufman is unmarried, and lives with his parents at No. 122 N. Wyoming street. He is a member of the State Homoeopathic Society, of the English Lutheran Church, belongs to the Knights of Malta, and in politics votes the Democratic ticket.

WILLIAM KAUFFMAN, farmer and dairyman, P. O. Conyngham, was born in Prussia, 59

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

June 9, 1832, a son of Henry and Mary (Daute) Kauffman, who came to America in 1854, settling in Hazleton, this county, where the father was employed in the breaker, and where he resided until his death. His children were William, Tobias, John, Catherine, Dorothea and Lizzie. Our subject was reared in Germany, and came to America in 1851; he worked in the mines at Hazleton two years, and then learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed up to 1865, since which time he has been engaged in farming in Sugarloaf township; since 1884 he has also been in the dairy business. He married Hannah, only daughter of Justus and Hannah (Stunntz) Rim- bach, and has nine children: Catherine, Mary E., Amanda, Anna D., William H., Harry G., Otilla H., Lizzie C. and George E. Mr. Kauffman and family are mem- bers of the Reformed Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

SAMUEL KAY, farmer, P. O. Dupont, was born in England, October 29, 1833, a son of Edmund and Ann (Miles) Kay, both of whom were natives of England, where they died. The father had been a soldier in the British army. Our subject was twenty years of age when he emigrated to this country in 1853. He located in Otis- ville, Orange Co., N. Y., where he was employed in copper mining, and remained there till 1865 when he removed to Pittston, this county, and engaged in coal mining. In 1867 he came to his present home on a lot of one hundred acres of unimproved laud, which by patient and incessant toil he has cultivated and beautified beyond competition. His house is built out of stone quarried on his own farm. He is a practical man, and understands agricultural pursuits to perfection. In 1853 Mr. Kay married Mrs. Rebecca Eaton, daughter of George Kuler, and by her he had one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Thomas Huett, an engineer. Mr. Kay is a consistent member of the M. E. Church, and a man of deep piety.

PATRICK J. KEARNS, insurance agent, Pittston. This gentleman is filling his position of trust and responsibility by virtue of his worth as a business man, and high character for integrity and energy. He was born at Pittston, Pa., August 30, 1866, and is a son of Dominick and Mary (Moran) Kearns, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, who came to America in 1865, settling at Pittston, Pa., where they reared seven children, namely: Patrick J. (our subject), Mary E., Bezzie, John (deceased), Katie, Joseph and Dominick. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Pittston, and at the age of fourteen commenced life as a messenger boy at the mines, in which capacity he was employed five years. Then more than ever feeling the need of an education, he returned to school, where he remained three years. He then accepted a position as hoisting engineer at the Butler Shaft, where he worked for two years, at the end of which time he took a position as freight con- ductor on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, remaining there until 1890, when he accepted the agency of the AEtna Insurance Company. He has since followed that line of business, and has built up an extensive connection in his locality, which speake well of his ability as an insurance man. Mr. Kearns has made vocal music an exten- sive study, and for many years he was chorister in St. John's Church at Pittston. He was united in marriage October 23, 1889, with Miss Katie, daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Quinn) Corcoran, natives of Ireland, to which union have been born two children: John (deceased) and Frank. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

JAMES KEATING, saloon keeper, Pittston, was born in County Queen's, Ireland, in 1841, a son of John and Betsy (Murphy) Keating, both also natives of Ireland. The former died in his native land, the latter emigrated to the United States in May, 1856, locating in Pittston township, this county. Her family consisted of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity and are now living. Our subject was fif- teen years of age when he came to this country, and received his education in Pitts- ton. He was a miner by occupation, at which he worked for twenty-eight years, and has resided in Pittston since he first located there. He has been a successful saloon keeper for eleven years, owning his residence and the saloon adjoining. He is a man of influence in his party, a Democrat, and has served his township for seven years as supervisor, giving entire satisfaction to all. At the age of twenty-one, in

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

June, 1861, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Edward and Mary Tool, and by her he had six children, four of whom are living: Edward, John, William and Jennie. For his second wife he married Miss Mary Keefe, by whom he had four children: Michael, Charles, Lucy and Tillie, all living. The two elder members of the first family are married. Mr. Keating is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

MRS. MARY KEATING ( widow of Thomas Keating), hotel keeper, Larksville, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1840. She is a daughter of Timothy and Mary (Maloney) Russell, both of whom were born in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1849, stopping for a short season in St. Johns, N. B., previous to their arrival in the United States. They first located in Wellsburg, N. Y., where they remained a few years, and in 1855 removed to this county, settling in Plymouth township, where the husband was employed by the railroad company, in its construction through that country. He is now living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, having been born in 1805, and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Keating. Mrs. Mary Russell died in 1886. Their family consisted of eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity, three now living: Michael C., Mary and Sarah. Mrs. Keating, the second in the family, was reared and educated in Akron, N. Y. In 1860 she mar- ried Thomas Keating, and of this union were born seven children, five of whom are living: Mary E., Thomas R., Ellen, Anna and Patrick L. Of these, Mary E. mar- ried John F. Connole, hotel keeper; Ellen married Andrew J. Lynch, hotel keeper. Mrs. Keating has lived in Larksville since 1859, keeping hotel since 1867, and own- ing both her hotel aud an adjoining block. She is a shrewd business woman, of excellent character, and has been a widow for twenty-two years, her husband having died February 14, 1870.

HENRY F. KECK, of the firm of Kastrup & Keck, Ashley, was born in Westphalia, Germany, August 5, 1855, a son of Henry and Thressa (Rickert) Keck. The father managed a hotel, a farm and a brick yard. He reared a family of eleven children, six of whom are living: Augustus, who succeeded his father in business, and added the manufacture of clay pipes; Anthony, professor in a college at Brian, Germany; Rebecca, wife of G. A. C. Kastrup; Henry F .; John, a professor in a college in Germany; and Helena, wife of Henry Dempawolf, locksmith and general merchant, Germany. Our subject came to America in 1875, locating in New York City where he tended bar for Smith & McNeil ten years. He was next employed in the " Wyo- ming Valley Hotel," Wilkes-Barre, for six months; and in 1884 engaged in his present business. December 1, 1884, Mr. Keck married Miss Annie, daughter of Anthony and Thressa (Sakie) Hager, natives of Westphalia, Germany, and by her had one child, Harry. Our subject and his family are members of the Catholic Church. In his political views he is independent.

MORRISON J. KECK, slate operator, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Hazleton, Luzerne Co., Pa., August 12, 1848, a son of David B. and Catherine (Dietrick) Keck. His paternal grandfather, Solomon Keck, was a native of Allentown, Pa., whose father, a native of Germany, was a pioneer merchant of Lehigh county, this State. Solo- mon Keck was an early settler of Luzerne county (lower end), a merchant and farmer, and died in Conyngham Valley. David B. Keck was a native of Luzerne county, was a farmer and mechanic, most of his life being passed in Hazleton where he was employed by A. Pardee & Co. His children were Elizabeth M. (Mrs. Will- iam R. Megarry), Gilbert H., Solomon, Jacob S., Morrison J., Francis M., David A., Philip, Delphena (Mrs. Baxter Hutchinson). Our subject was reared in Hazle- ton where he received a public-school education, and at the age of fifteen years he commenced the molder's trade. Serving afterward an apprenticeship at the drug business, he located March 1, 1869, at Ashley where he took charge of a drug-store. and in 1873 he became a partner in the store under the firm name of Diefenderfer & Keck, in which he continued three years. He then (1876) returned to Hazleton and purchased the store where he had served his apprenticeship; in 1882 he sold out, removed to Bangor, Northampton Co., Pa., and embarked in the slate business

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in which he has since continued, with residence at Wilkes-Barre since 1879. He is a stockholder and superintendent of the Yule Creek Marble & Mining Company, Crystal River, Colo., and is president of the Elk Mountain Railroad Company of Colorado. On May 8, 1873, Mr. Keck married Medora, daughter of Ephraim P. and Emeline (Smith) Lutz, of Columbia county, Pa., and has five children: Bessie T., Morris M., Marion R., Medora J. and Donald W. In 1863 Mr. Keck was a drummer boy during the "emergency;" in 1871 he enlisted in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and was elected captain from the ranks same year, but was com- pelled to resign same year on account of being assistant postmaster at Ashley. On July 6, 1877, he again enlisted, in a company formed at Hazleton; was elected first lieutenant, and before being commissioned was elected captain, July 21, 1877, the day the riots broke out in Wilkes-Barre; in that capacity he served during the riots in the old Ninth Regiment, then called the Third Division. In 1878 when the reorganiza- tion of the National Guards of Pennsylvania took place, the old Ninth Regiment was disbanded with the exception of Company H, which Capt. Keck commanded, and this company was transferred to the Twelfth Regiment with headquarters at Williamsport. On May 26, 1879, Capt. Keck was appointed paymaster of the Twelfth; October 30, 1879, was elected lieutenant-colonel of the new Ninth Regi- ment; re-elected October 30, 1884; June 10, 1885, was elected colonel, and re-elected June 10, 1890; took part in the Homestead riots of 1892, and during that time was commander of the Third Brigade in the absence of Gen. Gobin. He was the prime mover, and to his efforts are due the building of the Ninth Regiment armory, the finest edifice of its kind in the State. In connection with a number of citizens and ladies they held a fair from May 19 to May 29, 1886, resulting in a profit of thirty- one thousand odd dollars, and with the assistance of ex-Col. Reynolds, Major. Price and Charles Parrish, raised by subscription $12,000 additional. Socially Col. Keck is a Knight Templar; in politics he is a Republican.

FREDERICK P. KEELY, farmer, P. O. Sybertsville, was born in Berks county, Pa., July 21, 1841, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Prutman) Keely. His paternal grandfather was Amos Keely, a farmer of Berks county, Pa. Our subject was reared in Pennsylvania and educated in the common schools. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith's trade, commenced business for his own account when but nineteen years of age, and has followed it sixteen years, fourteen years of the time in Luzerne county-three years when he was located in Hobbie, and eleven years in Sybertsville, where he located in 1869. Since 1880 he has been engaged in farming. His wife was Eliza A., daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Flickinger) Spade, of Sugar Loaf township, and by her he had five children: Elvira (Mrs. Joseph Kline), Esther (Mrs. Elwood Walk), Frank (deceased), C. Norris, and Frank D. Mr. Keely is a prominent and well-known citizen of Sugar Loaf township; is a member of the Lutheran Church, in politics is a Democrat, and served as school director of Sugar Loaf township three years.

EVAN H. KEEN, agent and dealer in agricultural implements, P. O. Nescopeck, was born in Nescopeck township April 30, 1832, a son of Peter and Hannah (Hughes) Keen. His paternal grandfather, George Keen, a native of New Jersey, was a pio- neer of Nescopeck, where he owned a large tract of land and kept a hotel, passing the remainder of his life there. In 1811 he gave the land for the Lutheran Church, and built the principal part of the old log structure. He was twice married, and reared a large family. The father of our subject was born in Nescopeck township in 1805; he was a carpenter and also followed farming. He married a daughter of

Evan Hughes, of Hughesville, Lycoming county, Pa., and their children were six in number, viz .: Evan H., Edmund W., George Alex, Rebecca (Mrs. Joseph Faust), Martha V. (Mrs. Aaron Harter), and Ellen (Mrs. G. A. R. Smith). Evan H. Keen was reared in Nescopeck and educated in the common schools. He learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed eighteen years, later engaging in farming, and for the past twenty years he has been handling farm machinery. His wife, was Eliza- beth M., daughter of George and Louisa (Bertram) Everhard, of Hollenback town-

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ship. They have four children: Clara (Mrs. John A. Mowrey), Writer M., Hannah L. (Mrs. J. W. Naugle) and Charles E. Mr. Keen is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. of M .; in politics he is a Republican.

CHRISTIAN KEIL, blacksmith for the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company, at the Mill Creek Mine, Hudson, was born in Germany, November 3, 1825. He is the son of John and Margaret (Guchim) Keil; the former of whom was a blacksmith by trade. They reared a family of ten children, of whom.four sons are living, viz. : Louis, a farmer in Ohio; Christian; and Charles (a teacher) and Henry (a blacksmith), both in their native country. Our subject came to America in 1868, and after laboring at the Baltimore No. 2 Shaft for eighteen months, engaged with his present employers, for whom he has since worked at his trade. In 1888 he built his present comfortable residence. Mr. Keil was married in 1864 to Miss Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Lent) Guchim, and they had four children, viz .: Charles, a farmer in Illinois; Louisa (Mrs. Peter Straub); Caroline (Mrs. August Becker), who died in Germany at the age of thirty-three, and Otto. Mrs. Keil died May 22, 1862, and Mr. Keil was married in November, 1867, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Apple) Stark, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Kirchner) Apple, of Germany, and widow of Henry Stark, by whom she had three children, viz. : John, who died at the age of thirty-eight years; Cather- ine (Mrs. James Martin); and Henry J. Mr. Keil and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church in Wilkes-Barre; in his political views, he is a stanch Democrat. Since his immigration, Mr. Keil has made five trips to his native country and various parts of Europe.

OTTO KEIL, blacksmith, Miners Mills, was born in Darmstadt, Germany, October 29, 1856, and is a son of Christian Keil, of Plains township, this county. Our sub- ject came to America in 1872, and located at Mill Creek, where he worked at his trade with his father, and later, at the same place, for the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company for thirteen years. He then opened a shop, which he had built, and has since been carrying on a prosperous trade; he also erected his residence adjoining the shop. Mr. Keil was married, January 21, 1887, to Miss Mary S. Riechers, who was born January 11, 1854, a daughter of Frederick Riechers, of Miners Mills, and they have five children, viz. : Henry M., Catharine E., Louisa K. A., Charles F. and George J. Mr. and Mrs. Keil are members of the German Lutheran Church; he is a member of the I. O. R. M., and in politics is a Republican.

G. W. KEISER, farmer, P. O. Wanamie, was born in Hamilton township, North- ampton county, January 12, 1830, son of Charles and Sarah Keiser, both of whom were born in the same place. They removed to this county about 1838, locating in Hanover township, where they lived for a number of years, as good, loyal citizens, who enjoyed the full confidence of their fellow men. They reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living. G. W. is the eldest in the family. He was reared and educated in Hanover township, and learned the occupation of sawyer, which business he followed for ten years. In 1854 he married Miss Anna, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Fink) Rosencrans. She bore him nine children, seven of whom are living (1892): Orlando C., John W., Sarah E., James M., Martha J., J. C. and Rose M. Mrs. Anna (Rosencrans) Keiser was born in Slocum township. She is the granddaughter of John Rosencrans, a native of New Jersey, who in a very early day removed to this county. He was a pioneer school-teacher. He owned 200 acres of land, reared a family of seven children, and died in 1850, aged seventy years. His son, Jesse Rosencrans, father of Mrs. Keiser, owned 300 acres, 100 of which he cleared during his lifetime. He reared a family of nine children, and died in 1872, aged sixty-five years. Mr. Keiser owns thirty acres of good land in Slo- cum township. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.

THOMAS J. KEISER, Ashley, locomotive engineer on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, was born in Ashley, October 23, 1857, and is the youngest child of Thomas and Emily (Downing) Keiser. The father was born July 28, 1813, died February 21, 1872. The mother, born January 25, 1817, died September 15, 1889. Our subject's grandfather, Christian Keiser, was among the early settlers in Ashley, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

afterward removed to Lisbon, Wis. The family consisted of nine children, Mary E. (Mrs. John W. Colborn), born December 10, 1836, died December 27, 1889; Charles F., carpenter for Maffet & Co., born March 31, 1839, and died July 14, 1872; Isaiah, born October 16, 1840, and who was wounded near Spottsylvania May 6, 1864, dying the next day, being at the time a member of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry; Emma M. (Mrs. Joseph Pool), born June 18, 1843, died October 3, 1875 (after her death her husband, a locomotive engineer, moved to Tyler, Texas, where he was killed); Jesse, born June 26, 1846, a carpenter contractor, Ashley; William T., born December 22, 1848, died October 13, 1850; Ella E., born January 25, 1854, wife of Ervine Bellows, boiler-maker foreman, Wilkes-Barre; Crissie, born August 23, 1855, wife of David Philips, stationary engineer, Ashley; and Thomas, the youngest. The subject of our sketch was educated in the public schools of his

native town. He and his brother Jesse were in the lumber business at Plymouth for a time. After that he was for two years brakeman on the road he is now with, and after six years was promoted to his present position in 1888. He is a Knight Templar, a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a Republican in his political views.

SAMUEL C. KELCHNER, farmer, P. O. Conyngham, was born in Columbia county, Pa., December 31, 1837, and is a son of Jacob and Matilda (Colman) Kelchner, early settlers of Columbia county. He was reared in his native county, educated in the common schools, and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed thirteen years. He then engaged in farming, in which he still continues and has been a resident of Sugar Loaf township since 1876. Mr. Kelchner was united in marriage with Phoebe, daughter of Anthony and Lydia (Hess) Walp, of Berwick, Pa., and by her he has five children: Lloyd, Sarah A. (Mrs. Harvey Fenstermacher), Fannie (Mrs. Christopher Bummer), Lizzie (Mrs. Samuel Drasher), and Melville. Mr. Kelchner is a representative farmer and citizen; he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

C. KELLER, jeweler, Luzerne, was born in Columbia county, Pa., September 23, 1866, a son of Adam and Mary (Herring) Keller, natives of Pennsylvania. There were four children in the family, our subject being the eldest. Mr. Keller received his education in Columbia county, and soon after engaged in milling, an occupation which he followed until October, 1889, when he opened a jewelry store at Luzerne, and is building up a good trade. Mr. Keller is a follower of the Democratic party, is a member of the M. E. Church, and belongs to the I. O. O. F.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 151

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532