History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

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

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JOSEPH GUDYKUNST moved to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and after clerking for a few years in a store, he started a general store at what is called Muncy Mills, where he remained until his death. He married Eliza Shoemaker, and to them were born two children: Ambrose, who lives in California, and A. H. He was killed by a runaway team, April 15, 1887; his wife died, April 25, 1876.

A. H. GUDYKUNST, hardware merchant, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, and was educated in the common schools and the high school at Muncy. August 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and after a service of nine months was discharged, and re-enlisted in the three months' call in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. Returning from the war he engaged in the mercantile business

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at Muncy Mills, continuing for fourteen years. He then sold out and became a clerk for L. S. Smith of Muncy for four years. In 1889 he purchased the hardware store of R. M. Green & Brother, and has conducted that business ever since. He is an active member of the Johu B. Musser Post, G. A. R., and the Royal Arcanum.

DAVID LLOYD was one of the early settlers of the West Branch valley. He was thrown into prison in Canada because of his expressed loyalty to the United States during the war of 1812, about the close of which he escaped and returned to the United States, locating in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He was a descendant of Thomas Lloyd, who was descended from Edward the First, of England, and was born in 1640. Thomas Lloyd was educated at Oxford, became a member of the Society of Friends, was persecuted on account of his religious belief, and in 1683 he left Wales and emigrated to America with his family, and joined William Penn's colony. He held many offices under the Proprietary government, and was the first deputy governor and president of the Provincial Council, from 1684 to 1693. From him have descended the Lloyds of America. Towards the close of the last century, Thomas, William, and Joseph Lloyd went to Canada and there are now about 600 descendants of these brothers in that country. David Lloyd was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed for several years, and then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. He was a justice of the peace for a number of years, aud died in 1868. He married Mary Quinn, who died in 1856; she was the mother of eight children: Will- iam; Jane; Arthur; Thomas; Mary; Charles S. ; Sarah, and John,

THOMAS LLOYD was born in Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1821, son of David and Mary (Quinn) Lloyd. He was educated in the common schools, and after teaching school and music for a number of years, he engaged in the mercantile business at Muncy, which he has continued ever since. He has also been a surveyor for about forty years. In 1882 he engaged in the manu- facture of lumber, which he still continues. Mr. Lloyd was married in August, 1855, to Amelia Green, of Owego, New York, and to this union have been born four children: Frank; De La, who is interested with his father in the store; Charles, who is a machinist, and La Monte, who is a civil engineer living in Philadelphia. Mr. Lloyd was captain of Company K, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Emergency Men, during the late war, and is a member of John D. Musser Post, G. A. R.

GEORGE STOLZ was born in Germany and emigrated to America in 1817 with his parents, who located for a while on a farm near Philadelphia. George Stolz came to Lycoming county, cleared a farm from the woods, and in 1856 he located in Muncy and was engaged in farming and operating a grist mill. From 1858 until his death he carried on a grocery business in Muncy, built a saw mill in 1859, and was engaged in the lumber business. He was married to Mary Aderhold; they were the parents of six children: Two who died in infancy; David; Catherine; Abraham, deceased while in the army, and George. Mrs. Stolz died in March, 1857, and Mr. Stolz was again married, to Mrs. Eliza Geasey, the widow of Isaac Geasey, and to this union were born four children: Sophia; Rachel; Amanda, and Peter, deceased. Mr. Stolz died, February 26, 1888, and his widow May 10, 1891. George Stolz was a very successful business man, and while not a member, he contributed to the sup- port of the Lutheran church. He was a Democrat until after the election of James Buchanan to the presidency, when he became a Republican. He served in the

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Muncy borough council, and was a director in the First National and Citizens' Banks of Muncy.

DAVID STOLZ, grocer, was born, April 15, 1837, in Lycoming county, son of George and Mary (Aderhold) Stolz. He was educated in the common schools of Hepburn township, and was brought up at farm labor, and learned the trade of a miller. In 1856 he was employed in his father's mill, where he remained one and a half years. In the spring of 1858 he became a clerk in his father's grocery in Muncy, where he has ever since remained, becoming the owner of the same in April, 1888. Mr. Stolz married Emma Stead, and to them have been born eight children: Hattie; Katie; Sallie; Mattie M .; George F .; Bruce; William, and Harry. The family attend the Lutheran church. Mr. Stolz is a Republican, and during the war went out in the Emergency Company K, Fourteenth Reserve, Pennsylvania Volun- teer Militia. He has served in the borough council and as school director, and is one of the executors of his father's estate.

GEORGE S. STOLZ, miller, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in Jan- uary, 1843, son of George and Mary (Aderhold) Stolz. He received a common school education and was married, January 13, 1870, to Mary J. Downing, and to this union have been born four children: Thomas G .; Martha B .; Chester A., and Ralph R. Mr. Stolz is one of the enterprising men of Muncy, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Republican.

THOMAS G. DOWNING, deceased, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, was a tanner by trade, and came to Lycoming county about the year 1835, in company with Enos Holley. He engaged in the tanning business at Lairdsville, this county, remained there a few years, and then purchased a farm in Loyalsock township, where he remained for some time. He was married to Mary Wheland, who died August 11, 1841, and was the mother of four children, two of whom died in infancy, and two grew to maturity: George, and Dennis. As his second wife Mr. Downing married Julia A. Bastian, and to this union were born seveu children: One deceased in infancy; Mary J .; Jobn; William, deceased; Margaret E .; Charles, and Henry. The second Mrs. Downing died, July 11, 1862, and he was again married, to Mary Morris, who survives and is the mother of one child, William. In 1850 Mr. Down- ing went to Venango county, Pennsylvania, remained fifteen years, and returned to Muncy, where he died, November 14, 1890.

ALEXANDER M. SMITH was born in 1800 in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. He was a son of John Smith. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Lewis Schuyler, who was born in Germany in 1748, and came to America in 1751 with his parents; the family settled in Germantown, where the parents died when Lewis was twelve years old. He was bound out until eighteen and served an apprenticeship at shoe- making. He married Keziah Horned in 1781 and lived in New Jersey until 1794 when they removed to Pennsylvania, locating near Jerseytown, Columbia county. Lewis Schuyler died in that county in 1837, aged eighty-nine years. He was the father of eleven children: Adam; William; John; Mary; Samuel; Hannah; Elizabeth; Lewis; Henry; Sarah, and Jacob. Alexander and Elizabeth Smith came to Lycoming county in 1827. Mr. Smith followed farming and tanning until 1836, when he began keeping hotel at Hughesville. At the expiration of six years he again resumed farming. He moved to Muncy in 1849, where he kept hotel until he died in Feb-

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

ruary, 1864, at the age of sixty-four years. He was the father of six children: Elisha B .; Lewis S .; Drusilla, who married J. Walbridge; Effie, who married Schooly Allen; John P., and Elizabeth. Alexander Smith was a Democrat and served as constable. He belonged to the Presbyterian church, while his wife was an Episcopalian.

LEWIS S. SMITH, merchant and lumberman, was born in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, February 9, 1830, son of Alexander M. and Elizabeth (Schuyler) Smith. He was educated in the common schools and began teaching at the age of fifteen years, which he followed for five years. After clerking in a store for Daniel Clapp at Muncy for three years, he, in company with Henry F. Harmon, purchased MIr. Clapp's store. In 185S, by mutual consent, they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Smith joined Mr. Clapp and built his present store-room. They opened up business in 1859 and continued until Mr. Clapp died in 1852, when Mr. Smith bought Mr. Clapp's interest, but subsequently sold an interest to Ralph T. and Roland. C., his sons. He was married, November 26, 1856, to Mary R. Crouse, of Iowa, and to this union were born five children: J. Boyd, of Philadelphia; Ralph T .; Roland C .: L. Clyde, and Herbert B. Mr. Smith has always taken a deep interest in the Episcopal church. Mr. Smith is a Democrat in politics and served one term as auditor of Lycoming county. He was also burgess of Muncy one term and a director of the Citizens' National Bank. He took a deep interest in securing the Reading railroad extension into the borough of Muncy.

ELISHA B. SMITH was born in Wolf township, Lycoming county. March 1, 1828, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Schuyler) Smith. When he was about ten years old he became a mail carrier on the route from Hughesville to Bloomsburg via Muncy, Smith Mills, and Millville, a distance of thirty-six miles, the greater part of which was unsettled, and he was compelled to ford the streams. there being no bridges. He continued this for nearly two years, and afterwards did teaming for his father until reaching his majority. In 1849 he came to Muncy and did general work until able to purchase a team, with which he hauled the first load of stone for the Muncy river bridge in 1853. He also helped to build the plank road between Hughesville and Muncy in the fall of the same year. He owned and ran a canal boat in 1854, after which he drove a foundry wagon for a firm in Milton until the fall of 1857, when he engaged in the livery business. In 1860 he married Annie M. Childs, daughter of James M. Childs of Montour county. In 1861 he hauled the first load of soldiers from Laporte, Sullivan county, to Money. He was in the livery business during this time, and had the mails to carry from Muney to Laporte, ria Lewis's Lake, now called Eglesmere, and also ran a 'bus to Muncy station carrying the mails. He was also engaged in the coal business at the same time. In 1878 he embarked in the furniture business and subsequently added dry goods and groceries, and has since enjoyed an excellent trade.

WILLIAM HAYES, a retired physician and surgeon, was born at Lewisburg. Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, son of William and Mary (Wilson) Hayes. His father was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, was a merchant at Lewis- burg for over fifty years. and died in 1846; he married Mary Wilson, who died in 1827, after assisting in rearing a family of eight children. Dr. Hayes was educated at the Milton Academy, Milton, Pennsylvania, and in 1837 began the study of

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medicine with Dr. Thomas Van Valzah, of Lewisburg, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1839. He began practice at Bellevue, Ohio, where he remained for eighteen months, returning thence to his native town, where he practiced successfully until 1861. At that time he entered the army as brigade surgeon, to which he was appointed by the President, after having been examined by the examining board of the regular army, at Washington City. He was commissioned, November 9, 1861, and his first assignment to duty was with General Rosecrans at Wheeling. He was afterwards ordered to the first provisional brigade, at Fayetteville, West Virginia, in which General Hayes, subse- quently President of the United States, was lieutenant colonel of a regiment. Dr. Hayes was detached in the spring of 1862, and placed in charge of the general hospital, at Wheeling, where he remained two months. When General Fremont took charge of the Mountain department, he was ordered to the field, and was assigned to General Schenck as his staff surgeon. When General Fremont was relieved by General Siegel he was retained as staff surgeon and medical director. After the battle of Slaughter Mountain, he was ordered to establish a hospital at Culpepper Court House, where the wounded, who lay on the battle-field from Saturday till Monday, could be cared for. He went with the same to the Second Battle of Bull Run, thence to Washington City, where he was assigned, for temporary duty, to the medical director at Washington, and took the first train-load of wounded from that city to New York, and another car-load to Annapolis, Maryland. He then reported to the medical director at Baltimore, and was assigned to duty on the eastern shore of Maryland, then under command of General Lockwood, where he remained until ordered to Point Lookont, and from there to join the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg. He was detached at Harper's Ferry, and remained with General Lockwood's command until the latter was relieved by General Sheridan, when he was made medical director and superintendent of the field hospital for the department of West Virginia. At his own reqnest he was relieved from field duty and placed in charge of the hospital at Fort McHenry; he also had charge of the hospitals at Fort Carroll and Federal Hill, near Baltimore. He was brevetted lieutenant colonel and remained at Fort McHenry until mustered out of service August 1, 1865. He returned home completely broken down in health, purchased a property on North river, above the city of New York, resided there about two years, and then came to Muncy, Pennsylvania, where he has since lived a retired life. He married Sarah, a daughter of Andrew D. Hepburn, and a lady well known in literary circles as a newspaper and magazine writer. To this union were born two daughters: Ada H., and Mary H., deceased.

HENRY SHOEMAKER and his wife Barbara emigrated from Germany to Berks county prior to the Revolutionary war. They subsequently brought their family by wagon and canoes from Harrisburg to Lycoming county, landing with the canoes in May, 1783, at what is known as Walton's Ferry, a short distance below the mouth of Mnncy creek. During his lifetime Mr. Shoemaker became the owner of valnable lands aggregating about 2,000 acres. He was among the first men to construct a grist and saw mill in that section of the county. He was a man of strong mental and physical powers, and was honest and upright in every particular. He died in 1799, the father of nine children: Henry, who married Susan Dudder; Benjamin,

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

who married Mary Scudder; Jacob, who married Margaret Robb; George, who mar- ried Isabella Robb: Samuel, who married Rosanna Kidd; Hannah, who married Henry Kirk; Elizabeth, who married Henry Antes; Mary, who married Thomas Youngman, and Susan, who married Edward Gobin.

BENJAMIN AND MARY (SCUDDER) SHOEMAKER were born December 28, 1764, and May 21, 1777, respectively. Mary Scudder was the first white female child born in Lycoming county, and was the daughter of John Scudder, a commissary in the Revolutionary war, who had been twice driven out of the country by the Indians,. captured three times by the British, and was released through Masonic influence, he being a high Mason. . The children of Benjamin and Mary Shoemaker were: John; Henry; William; Benjamin; Susan; Sarah; Hannah; Mercy, and Mary.

HENRY SHOEMAKER, second son of Benjamin and Mary Shoemaker, was born, February 22, 1794. He studied medicine and settled in Newberry. He was an earnest student, and applying himself closely to his business, he obtained a large and lucrative practice. After practicing medicine for thirty years, he retired in 1861 to end his days upon the farm where he was born, and on which he lived the remainder of his life enjoying the society of his friends, both old and young, with a vivacity that appeared to carry the spirit of his youth into the lap of old age. He died June 21, 1871. He married Sophia Shoemaker, and they were the parents of seven children: Rosetta, who married William Bennett; Isaac N .; Elizabeth L., who married Dr. Charles L. Lyon; Sarah; Susan D .; Mary S., and Stephen B. The last named was in the employ of the United States government for ten years as storekeeper and gauger of distilled liquors and is engaged in business in the borough of Muncy. He married Mary E., daughter of Maj. Isaac Bruner; they had one son, Henry Bruner Shoemaker, who died when six years old.

A. D. HOWER, lawyer, was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Peunsylva- nia, February 21, 1845, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Dreisbach) Hower, natives of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Nicholas Hower, a son of Jacob, came to Milton when he was quite young. There he married Elizabeth Dreisbach, who had also migrated with her parents to Milton. They finally located on a farm near Tur- butville, where they died after having reared five children: George W., who prac- ticed law several years in Sunbury, and is now a farmer; A. D .; Aaron A., who taught school many years and is now farming; William H., who is a farmer, and Caroline, who married Charles Windaw. Nicholas Hower was a member of the Lutheran church, and his wife of the Reformed. He was educated at the Millers- ville Normal School, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, having been graduated in the scientific and a part of the classical course in 1871. He began the study of law in August of that year, under the able tuition of W. C. Lawson, of Milton, Penusylva- nia, and was admitted to the bar, August 4, 1874. He began his practice at Tur- butville, Pennsylvania, and soon after was elected principal of the public schools of Muncy, which, in 1875, were converted into a Normal, and he was selected as pro- fessor of mathematics and theory and practice of teaching. In July, 1876, he opened an office in Muncy, where he has prosecuted his profession diligently and earnestly ever since. He was married, July 4, 1872, to Drusilla Schuyler, daughter of Lewis Schuyler, residing then near Turbutville, and to this union have been born two children: Bettie and Lewis. Mr. Hower is a Republican and belongs to the

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Reformed church, while his wife and daughter are members of the Baptist church.

ROBERT K. REEDER, lawyer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1858, son of Peter and Sarah (Ritter) Reeder. He was educated at the public schools of Hughesville and Dickinson Seminary, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In 1881 he began the study of law under the tuition of W. E. Crawford, of Hughes- ville, and was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county in 1883. He practiced law in partnership with his preceptor until 1885, when he was elected to the State legis- lature, being the youngest member who ever served from this county. At the close of his official career at the State capital he located at Muncy, where he has devoted his entire time to his chosen profession.

WILLIAM R. PEOPLES, lawyer, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1862, son of John M. and Hannah (Royer) Peoples. His father followed teaching as a profession until 1882, since when he has been engaged in the banking business. He married Hannah Royer, and to them were born five children: William R .; J. Henry; Ivie M .; Mary S., and Rossiter M. William R. Peoples was educated at the State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in the scientific course in 1882. After teaching two years in that school he began the study of law, under the perceptorship of Linn & Crocker, of Williamsport, and continued for one year, when he was elected assistant principal of the Lycoming County Normal School at Muncy, Pennsylvania. The following year he was chosen its principal, and filled that position for five years. April 17, 1890, he was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county, and began practice in Williams- port, remaining one year, and then locating at Muncy. He was married, June 22, 1887, to Lilian M. Watson, of Allenwood, Union county, Pennsylvania, and to them has been born one child, John Watson.

J. GEORGE BECHT, principal of the Lycoming County Normal School, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1865, son of Jacob and Catherine (Kober) Becht. His father immigrated from Germany to America, and located at Montoursville, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he devoted his time to lum- bering, farming, and the manufacture of lime. He married Catherine Kober. Our subject was educated at the Montoursville public school, the Lycoming County Normal, and Lafayette College, having been graduated from the latter institution in 1890. He began teaching school before he was fifteen years old, and has continued ever since, alternating with attendance at college. He was principal, for a time, of the DuBoistown public schools, and was elected to his present position in March, 1891.

REV. H. C. MUNRO, pastor of the First Baptist church of Muncy, was born iu Nova Scotia, May 21, 1836, son of Alexander and Jeannette (Dick) Munro. His father immigrated from Scotland to Nova Scotia in 1830, and in 1837 migrated to the United States, locating in Clinton county, Pennsylvania. He was a practical geologist, and was engaged for many years in the manufacture of fire brick, having had the first plant for the manufacture of that article in the State of Pennsylvania. He married Jeannette Dick, and to this union were born ten children: Alexander; John; Annie, deceased; Archibald; Henry; Neal; Robert, deceased; James, deceased; Jeannette, deceased, and Euphemia, deceased. Alexander Munro died in April 1872, followed by his wife, November 4, 1878. The subject of this sketch was

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educated in the common schools and at Bucknell University; he graduated from that institution in 1863, and also took a theological course at the same place. His first charge was at Moreland and Turbutville, Pennsylvania, where he preached from 1865 to 1884. He then came to Muncy, where he has since been in charge of the First Baptist church, and also of the church at Picture Rocks. During his min- istry he has built the Turbutville, Moreland, Lairdsville, Picture Rocks, and Mont- gomery churches. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Emer- gency Men, during the late war. He was married in 1866 to Sarah F. Derr, and to this union have been born seven children: Bruce; Effie C .; James, deceased; Francis R .; Jennie; Harry, and Mary. Rev. Munro is chaplain of John B. Musser Post, G. A. R.

CHARLES LOSE, county superintendent of public schools, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1856, son of James and Phoebe (Starr) Lose. His father was reared on a farm in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, came to this county at the age of eighteen years, and learned the shoemaker's trade at Muncy; at the present time he is a boot and shoe merchant at Montoursville, Lycoming county, and is the father of six children: Kate; Charles; Bartley; Sallie; Irvin, and James, deceased. His wife died in 1884. Our subject, Charles Lose, was educated at Lafayette College and Bucknell University. He began teaching at the age of seventeen years, was principal of Montoursville high school for one year, and the Lycoming County Normal School for four years. In 1884 he was appointed county superintendent of public schools by the State superintendent, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of his predecessor, and was elected to the same position in 1887 and 1890. He was married, June 22, 1882, to Rebecca J., eldest daughter of Hon. Henry Johnson, of Williamsport, and to this union have been born four children.

JOHN WALDRON, of the firm of Waldron & Sprout, was born, January 23, 1844, in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and came to the borough of Muncy with his parents when he was nine years old. There he remained until the breaking out of the war, when, in 1862, he eulisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, and was mustered out May 23, 1863. In January, 1864, he re-enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, lost his arm at the battle of Petersburg, in June, 1864, and was mustered out in January, 1865. He at once went to the quartermaster's department at Washington City, where he remained until June, 1865, returning thence to Muncy, where he remained for two years. He then went to Missouri, worked on a farm a short time, and attended school at St. Louis. He learned telegraphy and followed that occupation until 1880, when he began the manufacture of hay tools, continuing three years, and then forming his present partnership with Charles H. Sprout. He was married in 1875 to Maggie, a daughter of L. B. Sprout, and to them have been born four children: Charles M .; W. Harris; John H., and Fred S. Mr. Waldron is a charter member of the Royal Arcanum, and belongs to John D. Mnsser Post, G. A. R.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

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