History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 115

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

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CHARLES H. SPROUT, of the firm of Waldron & Sprout, manufacturers of mill machinery and hay tools, was born, April 22, 1860, and is a son of Lewis B. Sprout.

Chester @, Albrightla.o.

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January 1, 1882, he entered the firm of Sprout & Lichtenthaler, manufacturers of screen doors and window blinds, and the following September he bought his partner's interest and the firm of Waldron & Sprout was formed, which has existed until the present time. They employ about forty men, and keep the establishment running the entire year. He was married December 31, 1880, to Tranie E. Shipman.

CHARLES M. FAGUE, coal dealer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1837, son of Jacob and Catherine (Frontz) Fague, and grandson of George Fague, who immigrated from Germany at an early date and settled in what is now Wolf township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. To Jacob and Catherine Fague were born the following children: George; Elizabeth, deceased wife of John House- knecht; Charles M. Ellis; Sarah Ann, deceased; Frank F .; Maria, deceased wife of Appleton Johnson, and three who died in childhood. Jacob Fague was a farmer and lumber dealer, and died, December 31, 1886. His widow is still a resident of the county. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and was employed on the farm with his father until about 1865, when he engaged in the grocery business at Muncy, which he continued for about ten years. He then began the coal business, which he has continued to the present time. February 28, 1872, he was married to Henrietta, daughter of Jacob Dimm, and to this union have been born four children: Harry P., deceased; Edward M .; Mabel, and Jacob D. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and has served as director of the Muncy public schools. He is a member of the Masonic order, and takes a deep interest in the prosperity of that fraternity.

GEORGE D. KELLER, retired farmer, was born in Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Dennis) Keller, who immigrated from Germany to the United States at an early date. His grandfather and mother were captured by the Indians when the son was but six years old, and they were kept iu captivity for six years. Jacob Keller, the father of George D. Keller, removed from Northampton county, Pennsylvania, to Columbia county, the same State, where he reared a family of seven children, four of whom are living. Our subject, George D. Keller, removed from Columbia to Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, remain- .ing there two years and coming thence to Lycoming county in 1837. He located on a farm, where he remained until 1880; he then moved to Muncy borough, where he has lived a retired life ever since. He was married, April 4, 1844, to Mary Masters, and to this union were born eight children: Elizabeth; Parvin; David, who is a veterinary surgeon of Williamsport; Margaret, deceased; Jacob, who lives in Illinois; George, who resides in Iowa; Hattie, and Andrew G. Mrs. Keller died in May, 1882, and he was again married to Lizzie Wendle.

HENRY WHITMIRE, deceased, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, David, immigrated from Germany to Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he reared his family. His son, George, who was the father of Henry Whit- mire, was a farmer, and lived and died in Columbia county. Our subject was a shoemaker by trade, and first began business at Dushore, Sullivan county, Penn- sylvania. In 1866 he removed to Light Street, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Muncy, Lycoming county, in 1868, where he worked at his trade and carried on a general shoe business until he died, January 2, 1890. He was married, August 20, 1850, to Rebecca Zeaner, of Sullivan county, and to them were

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born nine children: Three deceased when young; Hannah; Levi; Ella; Charles; Melissa, and Morris E. Mr. Whitmire was one of the respected citizens of the community in which he resided.

SAMUEL S. BUFFINGTON was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation about thirty years, but devoted the latter part of his life to farming. He married Catherine Lutz, and to them were born nine children: Henry, deceased; Mary C., deceased; Charles K., deceased; Benjamin H., deceased; S. J .; D. W .; Sarah R .; George W., and Arabella F. The grandfather of Samuel S. Buffington, with his two brothers, immigrated from England to America in the same ship with William Penn, and their descendants have all been natives of Pennsylvania.

S. J. BUFFINGTON, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 28, 1849, son of Samuel S. and Catherine (Lutz) Buffington. He received a common school education, and remained on his father's farm until 1880, then moved to Moreland township, Lycoming county, and lived there until 1887, and then moved to the borough of Muncy. He was married January 15, 1878, to Martha, a daughter of Thomas Opp, and to this union have been born three children: Mary E .; Samuel S., and George W.

DANIEL W. YOTHERS, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel at Muncy, was born, July 1, 1832, in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Reiter) Yothers. He was educated in the common schools and was employed on a farm and in lumbering until 1866. During the year 1865 he was in partnership with Dr. Potter in the lumber business in Clearfield county, and in the great flood of that year he lost all of his accumulations. He then went to Venango county, Pennsylvania, and followed teaming and boating for four years. For some time he was engaged in the production of oil, also buying and selling that product. At the time that oil was discovered in Butler county he had in stock a large amount, which had cost him $5 per barrel, and which he was compelled to sell at $1 per barrel, thus again reducing his finances to almost nothing. From here he went to Clarion county, where he invested in an oil well which proved to be a failure, and which left him penniless and out of work. We next find him in Butler county, working at the carpenter trade for two years, after which he accepted a position as clerk in a hotel for four years. In 1884 he moved to Muncy, Pennsylvania, and leasing the Muncy Valley House, kept it for five years. He then bought the Com- mercial Hotel, a neat little building with forty rooms, and has conducted it with good success ever since. In 1886 he was elected a member of the council of Muncy borough, and it was principally through his efforts that the waterworks were built at that place. In 1870 he was a member of the Oil City council, at the time when the waterworks were built at that place. He is a Republican. Mr. Yothers was married in 1831 to Helen Thomas of Williamsport.

JOHN F. MANVILLE was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1807, son of Murray and Hannah Jane (Wigton) Manville. The Manville family emigrated from Holland to Hoboken, New Jersey, at an early date, but subsequently settled along the Mohawk river in the State of New York, when the Indians were very numerous. His father, Murray Manville, came to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, about 1800, and in 1810 to Columbia county, the same State. He married Hannah Jane Wigton, aud to them were born ten children. Four of Mrs. Manville's

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uncles, named Gaylor, were killed at the Wyoming massacre; two other uncles escaped. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of six- teen years he began to learn the trade of blacksmith. which occupation he followed for twenty-five years. When he was a boy all grain was cut with the sickel. He recalls a harvest scene in which he saw a line of twenty-four men and women sicklers in one field. He moved to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and in 1850 he began boating on the Pennsylvania canal and continued the same for fourteen years; in 1853 he transported on his boat the first rolling stock (consisting of loco- motive, passenger, and box car), used on the Northern Central railroad from Will- iamsport to Elmira, New York, and also the first locomotive for the Catawissa railroad. In 1865, after the great flood, he rebuilt the first bridge across the Susquehanna river at Muncy, and in 1867 he removed to Missouri, where he remained for seven- teen years, returning thence to Muncy, where he has lived a retired life ever since. He was married in June, 1830, to Rachel Dye, and to this union were born ten children, six of whom are living: Catherine; David; Martha; Elizabeth; John, and Augustus. Mrs. Manville died January 10, 1857, and in 1859 he was again mar- ried, to Amelia Waldron, and to them were born four children: Two who died in infancy; and William and Harriet, still living. Mr. Manville has always been iden- tified with the Whig and Republican parties, and is a member of the Baptist church.

D. D. MANVILLE, dealer in agricultural implements, was born in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1833, son of John F. and Rachel (Dye) Manville. He was educated in the common schools, and prior to 1862 he was engaged in boating, but at this time he built a blacksmith shop at Muncy and followed that business until 1883, since when he has devoted his whole time to the sale of agricultural implements, fertilizers, and machinery. June 29, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was married, Feb- ruary 13, 1862, to Massie Jane Hall Dunbar, of Lycoming county, and to this union have been born three children: Eda; Annie W .; and Robert F. Mr. Manville has been a member of the town council of Muncy borough for three years, and overseer of the poor for two years. He is a member of the Baptist church, and has served as clerk of the same for some time and as secretary of the Sunday school for fifteen years.

CHRISTOPHER DIMM was the pioneer of the Dimm family of Lycoming county. He was a son of John Dimm, and was born on the Atlantic during the voyage from Wurtemberg, Germany, to Philadelphia, whither his parents immigrated about 1750. He had one sister, who married a man named Dimner, and that name is still found among descendants of the family. His father, John Dimm, was a carpenter, and followed his trade after coming to Philadelphia, where he died and left his family in humble circumstances. His widow afterwards removed to Berks county, and Christopher was bound out to learn the shoemaker's trade, at Hamburg. Here he grew to manhood and married Margaret Sidtler, the daughter of a German Lu- theran family, and to this union were born eight children who grew to maturity. At the breaking out of the Revolution, he was called out with the Pennsylvania militia, and served his country during the war, being principally kept on guard duty. In 1796 Christopher Dimm, with his family consisting of wife and eight children, removed from Hamburg to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and located on a tract of land supposed to belong to the government, situated near the present site of

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Hughesville. After he had built a house upon this land, he learned that another person held the title, and he consequently withdrew and settled on a tract two and one half miles south of Muncy borough. A portion of this land is still in the possession of his descendants. He accumulated some wealth, and assisted in the development of the county, by aiding in the erection of schools and of Immanuel Lutheran church. He died in 1831, aged seventy-eight years. The names of his children were as follows: Dietrick; Henry; Philip; Jacob; Simon; John; Mary, and Elizabeth.

DIETRICK DIMM learned the blacksmith trade and followed it the greater portion of his life. He married Catherine Beeber, and to them were born six children: Rebecca, who married Thomas McConnell; Mary, who married Jacob Gortner; Sarah, who married a Mr. Goodall; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Gortner; Jacob, and John B. Mrs. Dimm died, May 18, 1848, and her husband, July 18, 1855; both were members of Immanuel Lutheran church. Mr. Dimm was a justice of the peace for several years.

HENRY DIMM removed to Greenwood township, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800. He married Susan Welt, and to them were born seven chil- dren, three of whom died when young. His eldest son, John Dimm, was associate judge of Juniata county; Jacob married Eva Stineling, by whom he had seven chil- dren; Samuel died in Kansas in 1886, and Mary married Henry Stroup, by whom she had two children, and died in 1846. Mr. Dimm died, October 10, 1846, aged. seventy years.

PHILIP DIMM settled on a part of his father's homestead. He married Annie Bow- man, and to them were born eleven children, five of whom died, in early childhood, and six grew to maturity. One of the sons, George, became a local Methodist preacher, and another, Thomas, became a Free- Will Baptist preacher. Philip Dimm died in 1850.

JACOB DIMM remained on the old homestead. He married Barbara Dubts, and to them were born three children: Henry, who married Elizabeth Hoffman; John, and Mary D., who married Jacob Wallis and lives in Missouri. Jacob Dimm died, March 1, 1812, at the age of thirty-one. His son, John, became the owner of the old homestead farm, and it still belongs to his children. Johu Dimm was a black- smith, and subsequently a farmer. He married Sarah Hoffman, and reared a family of five children: George W., a merchant of Muncy; Jacob H. ; John D .; Mary C., wife of Clarence B. Bieber, and Emma J. Mr. Dimm died, October 28, 1885, and his wife, February 17, 1889.

SIMON DIMM was born in August, 1783, and married Elizabeth Menges, and to them were born eight children, two sons who died in childhood, and six daughters. Mrs. Dimm died and he was again married, to Rebecca Rose, and to this union were born two sons and one daughter. Jonathan, the eldest son by his second wife, was graduated from Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg in 1857, and subsequently had the degree of D. D. conferred upon him by his alma mater, and at present is prin- cipal of the Classical Department of the Missionary Institute at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Simon Dimm died, August 9, 1872.

JOHN DIMM was born, October 2, 1786, and married Sarah Richard, and to them were born six children; Philip, one of the sons, was drowned by a steamboat disaster on Lake Erie. John Dimm died, May 1, 1829.

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MARY DIMM was born in 1789, and married Jacob Beeber, and to them were born six children: Margaret; Julia; Teter D .; John; Charles, and Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH DIMM was born in 1793, and upon the death of her sister, Mary, she assumed the charge of Col. Jacob Beeber's children, and subsequently married him, and to this union were born three children: Jacob Dimner; Mary, and Susan. Of these, Jacob Dimner died unmarried; Mary married Otis McCarty, and became the mother of four children, and Susan married George Artley, and to them were born twelve children. Elizabeth (Dimm) Beeber died April 15, 1880, in her eighty- seventh year.

JACOB DIMM, retired farmer, was born near his present home in Muncy Creek township, September S, 1813, and is a son of Dietrick and Mary (Beeber) Dimm, and a grandson of Christopher Dimm. Mr. Dimm has always been a farmer. He was married, January 18, 1843, to Emily Mackey, and to this union were born the fol- lowing children: Sarah E., deceased; Henrietta, who married Charles M. Fague; John Y .; Clara E .; George F., and Harvey J. The last named was married, Feb- ruary 27, 1884, to Mary C. Stolz, and to this union have been born two children: Lulu D., and Ernest S.

JOHN PHILIP OPP, farmer, son of John and Sarah M. (Fiester) Opp, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1822. He received a common school education, and has always followed farming and lumbering. He was married in 1846 to Abigail Andrews, and to this union have been born eight children: J. Reed; Coleman; Charles; John P .; J. Artley, deceased, and three who died in infancy. Mr. Opp is one of the corporators of the Citizens' National Bank of Muncy, and has been a director of that institution since its organization. He is one of the well known and representative citizens of Muncy valley, and is recognized as a solid, sub- stantial business man. Mr. Opp is a Republican, and has filled several of the local offices in his township.

PETER FRANTZ was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1841, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Good) Frantz, a grandson of Peter Frantz, and a great-grandson of William Frantz, who came from Switzerland to America before the Revolutionary war, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and subse- quently in Monroe county, whence Peter, the grandfather of our subject, removed to Lycoming county. The Frantz family can thus trace their lineage back to a period antedating the birth of American Independence. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and was reared on the homestead farm. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is recognized as one of the representative farmers of Muncy valley. In January, 1870, he married Alice J., daughter of Charles and Priscilla Wolverton, a native of Montour county, Pennsyl- vania, whence she removed with her parents to Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, in girlhood. Mrs. Frantz was born December 16, 1842, and died November 19, 1891, in the faith of the Baptist church, to which denomination Mr. Frantz belongs. He is one of the corporators of the First National Bank of Hughesville, and is a director in that institution. In politics he is a Democrat, has always taken a deep interest in the schools of his township, and is a member of the P. of H. and the Farmers' Alliance.

HENRY BUCK came from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, to Lycoming county at an

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early day. He was a tailor by trade, and married Catherine Rhodimel, and to this union were born nine children: Daniel; John; Jacob; Peter; Henry; Elizabeth; Susan; Hannah, and Catherine. Henry Buck died in May, 1791, and was the first person buried in what is known as the Immanuel Lutheran church graveyard, located in Muncy Creek township.

JACOB BUCK, son of Henry Buck, was a farmer by occupation, and married Mary Craft, by whom he had nine children: Charles, deceased; Henry, deceased; Jesse; Samuel, deceased; Daniel; Sarah, deceased; Elizabeth; Susan, deceased, and Han- nah, deceased. Jacob Buck died, September 5, 1861, and his widow, August 28, 1867.

HENRY BUCK, son of Jacob Buck, was educated in the common schools, and after teaching school for about ten years he engaged in the mercantile business at Clarkestown (formerly known as - Buckstown), and bis was the first store at this place. He was elected county commissioner in 1867, and served the full term with credit to himself. He then formed a partnership with P. W. Opp, and manu- factured woolen goods until his death. He married Amelia Pellman, and to this union were born eleven children: Thomas; Charles, deceased; Mary; Walter, who is a merchant at Clarkestown; Ambrose, deceased; Amanda; Jennie; Sallie; Pell- man; Annie, and Harry. Mr. Buck died, November 19, 1884, and his widow August 19, 1888.

PETER MICHAEL was born near Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Peter Michael, who came to Lycoming county when a young man. His father possessed a good education, and taught school in this county for a number of years, but finally located in Northumberland county, whence he returned to Lycoming county, where he died. The subject of this sketch was a cabinet maker and undertaker, but finally engaged in farming in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, where he died in 1880. He married Esther Shoemaker, and reared a family of eight children: Rebecca, wife of Hiram T. McCarty, of Muncy Creek township; Joseph F., of the same township; Mary, wife of John Houseknecht, of Moreland township; O. P., of Muncy Creek; Sarah A., wife of Jacob Shade, of Turbutville, Pennsylvania; Henri- etta, wife of Henry S. Opp, of Muncy Creek; Edward W., sheriff of Lycoming county, and Alfred, of Muncy Creek township. Mrs. Michael died in 1869, a con- sistent member of the Lutheran church, to which denomination her husband belonged. Mr. Michael was a Democrat in politics. During his early manhood he carried mail on the route from Muncy to Hillsgrove, Pennsylvania.

WILSON OPP, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1826, son of Jacob and Susan (Fiester) Opp. He received a common school education, and was married in February, 1864, to Sallie Willits, and to this union were born three children: . Mary E., deceased; William W., and Margaret L. Mrs. Opp died, October 16, 1874, and he was again married, to Cora N. Shafer, of Philadelphia, and to this union have been born six children: Jacob A .; George W .; Oscar N .; Sallie W .; Caroline M., and Verus S.

JACOB GRAY came from Berks county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1794, and settled in Lycoming county. He was a weaver by trade, which occupation he fol- lowed until the latter part of his life, which was devoted to farming. He was the father of the following children: Lydia, deceased; Mary; Valentine, deceased; John;

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David, deceased; Peter; Jacob; Christian, deceased; Charles, deceased, and Eliza. Jacob Gray died. August 9, 1841, and his widow, October 6, 1866. It is a strange fact in the history of this family, that three of the children lost the sight of their left eyes, and one the right eye, by accident; Valentine, by an explosion of a gun- cap; Eliza, by the bursting of a fruit jar; Peter, by a stick striking his eye when he was splitting wood, in March, 1859; and the wife of John, by the accidental dis- charge of a gun.

PETER GRAY, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1820, son of Jacob and Christiana (Barto) Gray. He received a common school education, has devoted his life to rural pursuits, and has filled the various township offices with the exception of assessor; he has been a justice of the peace five years. He was married, February 9, 1843, to Mary Buck, by whom he had two children: Emily, born June 1, 1850, who married Jacob Dimm, of Muncy, and Lydia C., who married Clinton Guyer of Muncy. Mr. Gray located on the farm where he now resides in 1849, and has added by purchase until he now owns a farm of over 200 acres of valuable land. He is one of the most respected and enterpris- ing citizens of the community in which he resides. He and wife have been con- sistent members of the Lutheran church for fifty years.

ISAAC MCCARTY, son of Benjamin McCarty, was a stone-mason by trade. Benja- min McCarty laid out the first building lots for the town of Muncy, aud reared a large family. Isaac married Sarah Dunkelberger, by whom he had nine children: Peter, deceased; George, deceased; Agnes; Catherine; Isaac B .; Jane, deceased; William; Jesse, deceased, and Mary.

ISAAC D. MCCARTY, farmer, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Dunkelberger) McCarty, was born in 1830, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He received a common school education, and has followed his trade, that of a stone-mason, for twenty-five years in connection with farming. He has served his township as assessor and school- director. He was married in 1854 to Martha Moyer, and to this union were born nine children: Daniel; John; George, who married Cora Pollock; Mary E., deceased; Mary I. ; Edward; Anna; Benjamin, and J. Fannie.

PHILIP OPP was one of the pioneers of the West Branch valley, and was a son of Philip Opp, a native of Germany, who immigrated with his wife and five children to America at an early date. The names of these children and their births are as follows: Catherine Gower, born in 1754; John, who was born in 1755, and died at Danville, Pennsylvania, when a young man; Philip, born in 1759; Eve, born in 1760, and Mary Bogart, born in 1764. Our subject married Hannah Wilson, who was born in 1762. They came to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, soon after their marriage, settling in the woods and clearing a farm in what is now Moreland town- ship, but were forced by the Indians to return to Danville, whence they came. They subsequently returned to Lycoming county, where he died in 1837, and his widow in 1850; their children were as follows: John; Philip; Jacob; Mary, who married Christopher Derr, and Thomas.

JOHN OPP, eldest son of Philip Opp, Jr., was a farmer and woolen manufacturer. He was appointed captain of a Pennsylvania militia company by the Governor. He married Sarah M. Fiester, by whom he had the following children: Hannah, deceased; Mary, deceased; Sarah; Thomas J .; Phoebe J .; Philip; Susan, deceased;

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Simon; Priscilla; Benjamin, deceased: Elizabeth, and Charlotte. The mother died in 1856, and the father in August, 1864.

PHILIP OPP, youngest son of Philip Opp, Jr., married Hannah Smith, by whom he had seven children: Thomas; Mary; George; Hiram; Anastasia, who married Philip Smith; Selectia, who married Francis Beeber, and Milton, who was colonel of the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 115

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