History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 108

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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passed through the chairs. Mr. Kiess was married in 1889 to Annie M., daughter of Levi Bender, of Williamsport. Mrs. Kiess is a member of Mulberry Street Meth- odist Episcopal church, and our subject attends the Baptist church.

JOSEPH WHITEFIELD MILNOR, deputy sheriff of Lycoming county, was born in Eldred township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1861, son of Joseph W. aud Mary Jane (Taylor) Milnor. He was reared in Warrensville, Eldred town- ship, until he was ten years of age, when his parents removed to a farm upon which he lived until 1879. He received a public school education. In the spring of 1878 , he entered the Montoursville Normal School, and in the following year attended the Muncy Normal School. He taught school in Plunkett's Creek township in the winter of 1879-80, and in the fall of the latter year he again attended the Muncy Normal School, and taught in Anthony township in the winter of 1880-S1. In the spring of 1881 he entered the Lock Haven Normal School, where he graduated in July, 1882. During the two following winters he taught school in Hepburn town- ship, and also acted as agent for the Sun and Banner. In the spring of 1884 he entered the Williamsport Commercial College, and completed his course in June of

that year. In the winter of 1884-85 he taught in the Warrensville schools, and in the fall of the latter year he organized a normal school in that village, and in the winter of 1885-86 he taught in Hepburn township. From that time to January 1, 1SSS, he was permanently employed on the Sun and Banner as reporter, collector, and solicitor. In 1888 and 1889 he was employed in the county treasurer's office under Jerome B. Lundy, and January 1, 1890, Sheriff Michael appointed him deputy sheriff of Lycoming county, which position he still holds. Mr. Milnor was administrator of the N. B. Kimble estate, and is trustee and guardian for Miss Jessie E. Kimble, one of the legatees. Mr. Milnor was married in October, 1888, to Jennie, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Fague of Wolf township, Lycoming county, and has two children: J. Willard, and Marguerite. The family became residents of Williamsport in 1889 and are adherents of the Lutheran church. Mr. Milnor is a stockholder in the Merchants' National Bank and the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company. He is a stanch Democrat, and is a member of the I. O. O. F.

DANIEL KEELER, clerk of the board of county commissioners, was born in Washington township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1854, and is a son of Jacob and Lydia (Boyson) Keeler, the former a native of Berks county, and the latter of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. His paternal grandparents were natives of Berks county, and removed to Mifflinburg, Union county, where they died. His father was a shoemaker, and first located in Washington township, Lycoming county, and afterwards removed to Delaware township, Northumberland county, where he engaged in farming. His mother died in 1SS6, and her husband subse- quently removed to Iowa, where he now resides. The family were Lutherans in religious faith, and Democrats in politics. They reared a family of seven children, six of whom are now living: Reuben and William, of Kansas: Sarah Jane, wife of John Bear, of Iowa; Mary Ellen, wife of Joseph Walters, of the same State; Mar- garet A., wife of John M. Boyle, of Delaware township, Northumberland county, and Daniel, of Williamsport. The subject of this sketch received a public school education, and also attended a select school in Turbutville. He subsequently

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taught school in the winter season, and thus earned money to pay for his tuition at the Montoursville Normal School, and with Prof. F. E. Wood, of the Williamsport Commercial College. In 1872 he commenced teaching in Fairfield township, and afterwards taught in Hepburn township, and for one term in Montour county. He came to Williamsport in 1880, and was junior principal of the Everett building for two terms. He then resigned and engaged with S. Q. Mingle, as salesman of mus- ical instruments and sewing machines. He resigned at the end of a year and took charge of the business of the Singer Sewing Machine Company at Lock Haven. He was next appointed principal of the Ross building, Williamsport, which position he filled two terms, and was afterwards principal of the junior department, Wash- ington building, for three years and a half. On the 5th of January, 1891, he was appointed to his present position. Mr. Keeler was marriedin 1879 to Clara Amelia, daughter of Christian Edler of Montoursville, and has four children: Mabel Char- lotte; Walter Artley; Charles Metzger, and Florence Mildred. Mr. Keeler is a Democrat, and an ardent supporter of the principles of his party. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., is treasurer of the A. L. of H., and is a member of Company D, Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. The family are adherents of the Lutheran church.

STAUGHTON GEORGE, controller of Williamsport, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1841, son of Nathan Pynn and Jeanette (Rawlings) George, both natives of Philadelphia. His paternal grandfather and great-grandfather were both Revolutionary soldiers, the latter dying from wounds received at the battle of Long Island. His father was a minister in the Methodist Protestant church, and was an itinerant of that denomination for many years. As early as 1840 he traveled through northern and western Pennsylvania, preaching and organizing church socie- ties and Sunday schools, and was prominently known in the city of Philadelphia. He served on the school board in the Second ward of that city. He died in 1863; his widow survived him until 1881. They reared a family of nine children, five of whom are now living, Staughton being the youngest. Our subject received a good education in the public schools of Philadelphia, and in 1854 he entered a commission house, where he remained until the breaking out of the rebellion. On the first call for troops, he enlisted in Company K, Second Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers, and served under Gen. William McCandless up to the battle of South Mountain, where he received a gun-shot wound in the left hip, which has made him a cripple for life. At the time of being wounded he was serving as first sergeant, and was in command of his company, and on this and previous occasions he was recommended for pro- motion for "gallantry in the field." His wounds incapacitated him for further duty in the field, and after a lapse of two years he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Veteran Reserve Corps. He served as military assistant at Beverly Hospital, Beverly, New Jersey, and while there he was presented with a valuable gold watch, for his kindness to the men. Lieutenant George was subsequently ordered to Camp Cadwallader, Philadelphia, and was appointed quartermaster. He had charge of the final distribution of the stores and camp. equipage, and was the last officer in command of that historic camp. He was next stationed at the Philadelphia arsenal, where he remained until the muster out of his corps, in 1866. Mr. George came to Williamsport in August of that year, and was afterwards appointed by General

Ling by I G. Kenan, N.Y .

Respectfully.

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McCandless to a clerkship in the office of the secretary of internal affairs at Harris- burg. He filled that position four years, and then engaged in the lumber business at Williamsport, under the firm name of S. George & Company. In February, 1SSS, Mr. George was elected to the office of city controller, by a majority of 447 votes, and was re-elected, in 1890, by a majority of 1,00S. He has always been an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and is one of the influential Democrats of Lycoming county. He has been president of Hancock Veteran Club, and has served as sergeant major, chaplain, adjutant, and commander of Second Reno Post, G. A. R., of Williamsport. Mr. George was married in Philadelphia, in IS70, to Margaret A. Streeton, of that city. He and wife are members of the Baptist church.

JOHN J. GALBRAITH, city clerk, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 22, 1847, and is a sou of Joseph and Jane (Earley) Galbraith. His father was born and reared in Butler county, and there married Jane Earley, a native of Ireland, and about 1860 moved to Pittsburg. His wife died there, and he afterwards removed to the South, where he spent the balance of his days. Joseph Galbraith was a great student of the Bible, and both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native county, and labored on the farm until 1862, when he enlisted in Company M, Second Penn- sylvania Cavalry, and served three years. For the last sixteen months of his serv- ice, he was on detached duty at brigade headquarters, doing duty as a non-com- missioned officer. He was seriously injured by accident in 1863, on the march to Gettysburg, and with three exceptions was in every battle fought by the Army of the Potomac from Cedar Mountain to Appomattox. In 1867 he came to Will- iamsport and entered the office of the Gazette and Bulletin and remained on this paper until 1872. In partnership with W. R. Bierly he then established the Regis- ter, and published it for two years, and was also a proprietor of the Breakfast Table for a few months. In May, 1876, he became city editor of the Gazette and Bulletin, retaining that position until the fall of 1SS2. In 1SS6 he was elected city clerk, and is now serving his seventh consecutive term in that office, to which he was re-elected six times. Mr. Galbraith is a Republican, and has served as a delegate to the city, county, and State Republican conventions. He was once tendered the nomination for mayor of Williamsport, but declined to accept. He has served as alderman of the Fourth ward for two terms, and was a member of the school board one term. While chairman of the supply committee he voted in favor of erecting the present high school building, and strongly advocated the modification of the course of studies. He was one of the active agents in establishing Reno Post, G. A. R., in which he has filled various offices. Mr. Galbraith was married in 1870 to Sarah J., daughter of Benjamin Smith, of Clinton township, Lycoming county. She died in 1890, leaving five children, as follows: O. H., of the Gazette and Bulletin; Bessie; Annie; Mary, and Frederick Earley. Mr. Galbraith and family are connected with St. Paul's Lutheran church.

GEORGE HOUSEL, city treasurer, was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, May 7, 1831, and received his education in the common schools of his native county. His father, Wilson Housel, was a native of Hunterdon county, and was a prominent merchant and lumberman for over forty years. His grandfather, Thomas Lowry,

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was a colonel in the Continental Army. Wilson Housel married Abagail Lowry, of Mercer county, New Jersey, and reared eight children, our subject being the young- est. At the age of twenty George succeeded to his father's lumber business, and continued in that line of trade np to 1861, when he came to Williamsport, formed a partnership with Nelson Runkle, under the firm name of Runkle & Housel, and engaged in the manufacture of sawed shingles. This firm was the pioneer in that industry in Williamsport, and shipped the first car load of sawed shingles sent from this city. In 1867 they became associated with Henry Beard, and the firm of Runkle, Housel & Beard was organized. They erected the Diamond Planing Mills, and operated them up to 1873. Mr. Housel then sold his interest and engaged in the mercantile business at Jersey Shore, where he remained only nine months. He next became connected with James and Thomas U. Thompson, under the firm name of Thompson, Housel & Company, manufacturers of lumber, which existed up to 1879. He afterwards spent a year at Easton, Pennsylvania, where he formed a company and engaged in the manufacture of a patent elevated tramway. In 1880 he returned to Williamsport, took charge of the manufacturing business of Lutcher & Moore, and served as general manager for that firm until they closed out their business in 1890. Mr. Housel was then elected to the office of city treasurer for a term of three years, which position he now occupies. He was married in 1851 to Fannie, daughter of Charles Vorhis, of Milford, New Jersey, and has two children: Robert Lowry, a farmer of Fairfield township, Lycoming county, and Lizzie, wife of Horace R. Hanks, manager for S. Q. Mingle & Company of Williamsport. Mr. Housel is a Republican in politics, and both he and wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church.

CAPT. EVAN RUSSELL, chief of police of Williamsport, was born in Piatt township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1840, and is the only living son of Edward H. Russell. He was reared in this county, and received his education in the West Branch High School, Jersey Shore, and at Dickinson Seminary, taking a full course in mathematics and civil engineering. He was engaged in surveying for a number of years. and after his removal from Piatt to Nippenose township he oper- ated a grist mill for several years. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifth Pennsylvania Reserve, and for meritorious service was promoted to the rank of sergeant. In September, 1862, he was transferred to the Signal Corps, United States Army, with the rank and pay of a sergeant of engineers. During his service of three years he participated in nearly every battle fought by the Army of the Potomac, and had many hair-breadth escapes. He had a horse killed at the battle of Antietam, and another wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg. For a time he served as signal officer on board of a gunboat, and in one engagement on the Rappa- hannock the boat on which he was serving had five solid shots sent through her hull. After his term of service had ended he was mustered out and returned to Lycoming county. In ISOS he was the Republican nominee for prothonotary, and was defeated by only 202 majority. He ran for county surveyor in 1SS3, but was again defeated by a very small majority. When Daniel Steck was elected prothonotary he appointed Captain Russell his deputy, which office he filled until April 1, 1889, when he was appointed chief of police by Mayor Keller. In July, 1SS5. he was commissioned by Governor Pattison captain of Company G, Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of

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Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Union Veteran Legion and Reno Post, G. A. R., and may be justly proud of his standing among the veterans of the rebellion. Captain Russell was married in 1866 to Sarah, daughter of James Williamson, of Jersey Shore, and has two children: Hubert H., assistant city engineer, and Margaret, a graduate of Dickinson Seminary. He and family are members of Grace Street Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee. Captain Russell is one of the founders and directors of the West Branch Building Association, and is a stockholder in the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company.

SEYMOUR J. NOBLE was born near Olean, New York, March 31, 1821, and died at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1890. His early life was spent on a farm, and he subsequently engaged in lumbering. In 1871 he came to Williams- port, and in connection with H. C. Miller and Ezra Canfield bought the City Flour Mill. On the death of Mr. Miller he and son, Edward F., purchased the inter- ests of the other partners, and established the firm of Noble & Son, which existed up to his death. The mill retained its old name until 1886, when the plant was entirely rebuilt and the name changed to the Noble Mills. In business Mr. Noble was aggressive, energetic, and enterprising, and a man of the strictest integrity. He was a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Williamsport, was an ardent Prohibitionist, and his interest in religious and temperance work greatly aided these causes in the community. Mr. Noble married Maria C. Mills, a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, and his widow and two children survive him.

EDWARD F. NOBLE, proprietor of the Noble Mills, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, December 8, 1852, and is the son of Seymour J. Noble. He was edu- cated at Batavia, New York, and learned the milling business with his father. He became associated with the latter in the management of the business, to which he succeeded at his father's death. The mill was entirely rebuilt in 1886, and in 1892 it was remodeled and its capacity largely increased. It was the first mill in Will- iamsport to put in the roller system, and its product enjoys a high reputation. Mr. Noble is a Prohibitionist, and is an active member of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was married, November 4, 1886, to Emma, daughter of Hiram Mudge of Williamsport. He and wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder.

HUDSON R. FLEMMING, miller, was born in Mill Hall, Clinton county, Pennsyl- vania, January 17, 1852, son of Isaac and Margaret Ann (Stradley) Flemming. He was principally reared in Lycoming county, received a common school education, learned the trade of wood-worker and carriage-builder, and has followed the same up to 1889. In 1878 he embarked in the manufacture of carriages, and in March, 1891, became a member of the present firm of Flemming & Shollenberger, merchant millers, Hepburnville, Pennsylvania. After the flood of 1889 he was purchasing agent for the Market Street Relief Committee, and was appointed secretary and member of the Flood Relief Committee. Mr. Flemming has been a member of the Valley Forge Memorial Association since its reorganization in 1886, and also a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the same. He is an active Republican, and in 1885 was elected a member of the school board from the Fourth ward, has held that posi- tion ever since, and was its secretary for five years. He was married in 1877 to Miss Sallie, daughter of Alfred Deal, and to this union have been born three children:

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Walter D .: Cora May, and Earle R. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and with his wife belongs to the Pine Street Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been one of the librarians of the Sunday school for the past ten years.

EDWARD J. FISHER, of The Fisher & Hinkle Company, manufacturers of biscuit and confectionery, was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1864, and is the eldest son of John S. and M. Elizabeth Fisher. He was educated in the public schools of Williamsport, and subsequently was bookkeeper for three years for F. J. Funston & Company. In 1887 he was one of the organizers of the firm of Fisher, Hinkle & Company, which was in the latter part of 1891 changed into the present cor- poration, and is now the secretary and treasurer of the same. He is a stockholder and vice-president of the Athletic Park Association, of which he was one of the organizers. Mr. Fisher was married in 1SSS to Mary A., daughter of George W. Crandell, of Williamsport, and has two daughters, Emily May and Elizabeth Jamison. He and wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church of this city.

MATTHEW E. DUxx, plumber and gas fitter, was born in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1856, son of Patrick and Mary Ann (Russell) Dunn. His father was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States in boyhood and located in Piermont, New York, where he grew to maturity. He was married in Orange county, New York, to Mary Ann Russell, who bore him a family of six children. He became a railroad contractor, and about 1852 he settled on Lycoming creek in Lycom- ing county, and was employed in building the Northern Central railroad as foreman in charge of a gang of men. In 1855 he moved to Williamsport, where he resided for many years, and then removed to Caledonia, Elk county, Pennsylvania, where he died. His widow survives, and resides in Elmira, New York. Mr. Dunn was fore- man of the Northern Central railroad shops for many years, and was an energetic, industrious man. He was a Democrat, and served as a member of the common coun- cil of Williamsport. He was an adherent of the Catholic church all his life, and died in that faith. To Patrick and Mary Ann Dunn were born the following children: Mary, wife of Henry F. Wheeland, of Elmira, New York; Matthew E., of Williams- port; and James, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Annie, all of whom are residents of Elmira, New York. The subject of this sketch was reared in Williamsport, and received a public school education. He afterwards learned the plumber and gas fitter's trade, and in 1881 established his present business, in which he has been quite successful .. He is one of the leading plumbers of the city, and has built up a large trade. Mr. Dunn was married in 1881 to Esther, daughter of John Parks, of Snyder county. His wife is a member of St. John's German Reformed church.

GEORGE G. WYLAND, machinist, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 28, 1843, son of Jacob and Nancy (Jacobs) Wyland, natives of the same county, where the father died in 1886. His mother is still living, and her children are named as follows: Samuel B .; Lewis H., deceased; George G., and Laura, who mar- ried Frank Allen. Our subject received his education in the common schools of Bellefonte, and was principally reared by Hon. Judge Linn. He learned the machinist trade at Milesburg, and came to Williamsport in 1866, where for fifteen years he was foreman of the shop owned by Mr. E. Andrews. In 1883 he estab- lished his present business, where he repairs all kinds of machinery. In 1861 he

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enlisted in Company H, Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after serving three months, he re-enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and saw service for nine months, being on detached service as gunner with Battery K, First New York Artillery. He participated in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville and others. Mr. Wyland constructed the first steam canal boat that was ever manufactured in Williamsport, and ran the same from that city to Philadelphia and Baltimore. He was married in 1865 to Isabella, daughter of Robert Armstrong, who died in 1869, leaving one child, Lewis H., now engaged in the railroad business in Virginia. He was again married, to Caroline Barclow, of Union county, who at her death left one child, Minnie. He was married a third time, to Alice Chambers, of Mifflinburg, Union county, by whom he has one child, .George C. Mr. Wyland belongs to the G. A. R .; is a Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Second Presbyterian church.

JOSEPH R. CARPENTER, of the firm of Carpenter Brothers, manufacturers of emery and corundum wheels, was born in Anthony township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, April 4, 1849. He is a son of Jesse B. and Phoebe (Carpenter) Carpenter of Piatt township, Lycoming county, and grandson of John Carpenter, a native of this county, and great-grandson of William Carpenter, who came from England during the Revolutionary war as a soldier in the army of Cornwallis, and subsequently settled in Lycoming county. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Anthony township, where his father and grandfather lived, and subsequently took a course at the Montoursville Normal School. He followed agriculture until 1884, and then engaged in the manufacture of emery wheels at Linden, under the firm name of Stone & Carpenter. At the end of two years Mr. Stone retired, and the present firm of Carpenter Brothers was organized. They moved their plant to Will- iamsport in 1891, and it is the only firm of the kind in this part of the State. Mr. Carpenter was married in 1873 to Emma E., daughter of John Mclaughlin of Piatt township, and has three children: Jessie V .; Mack B., and J. Craig. He is a Democrat, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

ASHER M. CARPENTER, of the firm of Carpenter Brothers, was born in Anthony township, September 16, 1857, and is a son of Jesse B. Carpenter, now a resident of Piatt township. He received a public school education in the district schools, and afterwards attended school at Montoursville and Jersey Shore. He was married in March, 1SSS, to Augusta C., daughter of Henry Jones of Porter township, and has one son, Henry Jones. He became a member of the present firm in 1886, and has been engaged in the manufacture of emery wheels for the past six years. He has been an active Democrat since attaining his majority, and served as auditor of Piatt township, clerk of election, etc. His wife is a member of the Lutheran church.

CONRAD VILLINGER married Louisa Wochner, and emigrated with her from Ger- many, their native country, to America in 1853, first locating in Pottsville. He was a brewer, and worked at that occupation in Pottsville for one year, coming thence to Williamsport, in 1854, where he worked at the brewery owned by Mr. Buehler, and afterwards (1864-66) leasing a brewery on Franklin street, which is now known as the Flock brewery, and conducting the same for three years. In 1859-61 he and Mr. Bousch operated a brewery in Danville, after which he was proprietor of the United States Hotel at the corner of Fourth and William streets, this city, for

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 108

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650