History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 122

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

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SAMUEL WEAVER, deceased, was born July 2, 1824, and received his education in the common schools. He began his business life on a farm and by running a boat, first for a Mr. Walton, of Muucy, and afterwards one of his own. He subsequently became interested in the lumber business. on Loyalsock creek, and established the firm of S. Weaver & Company, which did an extensive business for many years. He was a leader among the Republicans of his township and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died, September 9, 1890. His marriage occurred in 1844, with Miss Sarah Dawson, who died, July 4, 1885. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the mother of six children, two of whom are living: Albert, and Ella E., who married Charles E. Bennett.

ALBERT WEAVER, son of Samuel Weaver, was born in Montoursville, December

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11, 1844. He received his education in the public schools and Dickinson Seminary. After following the boating business for fifteen years, he assisted his father in the lumber business, becoming a member of the firm in 1883. The firm of S. Weaver & Company did business under that name until 1886, when Charles E. Bennett pur- chased an interest, and after the death of the senior Mr. Weaver the firm changed to the name of Weaver & Bennett. He was a member of the firm of Creswell, Weaver & Company, coal operators, in 1881, and is now a stockholder in the Standard Candy Company of Williamsport. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Montoursville, of the Patriotic Sons of America, and the I. O. G. T .; he is a Republican, has served as a member of the borough council and the school board, and was one of the "Emergency Men " in the time of the rebellion. He was married in 1866 to Mary E. Bubb, by whom he has four children: Cora V .; Samuel A .; Thomas B., and Clara A. Mr. Weaver and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is steward and trustee.

CHARLES L. LYON, physician and surgeon, was born near Hughesville, Pennsyl- vania, August 24, 1821, son of Edward G. and Sarah (Huckel) Lyon. He received his education at the Hughesville and Muncy schools, at a boarding school in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and at Dickinson College. He studied medicine under the tuition of his brother, Dr. Thomas Lyon, of Williamsport, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1842. He immediately began the prac- tice of his profession with his brother, under whom he read medicine, and in 1849 he moved to his present location in Fairfield township, where he has done a lucra- tive business for over fifty years. He was one of the organizers of the Lycoming Medical Society, and has served as president of the same, and is a member of the State Medical Society. He has followed farming and lumbering in connection with his practice, is a stockholder in the Merchants' National Bank, and a director in the Savings Institution at Williamsport. In politics he is a stanch Republican, was once the nominee of his party for the State legislature, and was defeated by only 200 votes. He was one of the organizers of the Lycoming Agricultural Society, was its president for a number of years, and was also one of the organizers and president of the Montoursville Manufacturing Company, Limited. During the war he held the commission of enrolling officer for Lycoming county. In 1847 he was married to Miss Mary B., daughter of Hon. Joseph B. Anthony, who died in 1868, and he was again married in 1870 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Henry Shoe- maker, of Muncy; she died in 1871, leaving one child, Elizabeth, and he was again married the third time, in 1878, to Emily, daughter of Dr. C. S. Boarman, of Missouri, by whom he has one child, Adelaide. Mrs. Lyon belongs to the Catholic church.

AMOS SCOTT, son of Henry and Mary Scott, was born, April 30, 1779, and died April 4, 1843. His father was a pioneer of the Loyalsock valley and- settled there before the Indian troubles of the Revolution. During the distractions of that period he was obliged to flee with his family and find refuge in the interior of the State. After the close of the war he returned; some of his property had been buried for safe keeping and this was found in a good state of preservation, but his improve- ments had been burned and it was necessary to replace them. On the 19th of Feb- ruary, 1803, Amos Scott married Rachel Blakeney, who was born January 25, 1783,

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and died June 18, 1841. They were the parents of eight children: Charles; Henry; Sarah; Rachel; George; Mary; Amos, and Martha. Henry settled in White Deer valley and died there; George was drowned in the mill race on his father's farm; Amos, the only surviving member of the family, is a physician at Seward, Illinois; Rachel married Daniel T. Thomas. Charles, Sarah, Mary, and Martha never mar- ried, but lived together upon the homestead farm, now in the possession of John Ball. In politics the family were Republicans, and in religious connection they were Methodists. Although no longer represented, this family was once one of con- parative local prominence. They owned a fine farm, a merchant mill, and a black- smith shop, and frequently built arks for the transportation of the products of the valley to points down the river.

ISAIAH HAYES was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1796, and in 1800 came with his father and family to Lycoming county. His father died when he was quite young, leaving him to the care of his mother and brothers. When a young man he engaged in the lumber business in partnership with his brother and John Reed. In 1819 he was married to Mary Ann Miller, and in the spring of 1820, he started with his partner for Baltimore with an ark loaded with poplar boards; at the Indian Steps, above McCall's Ferry, between Columbia and Tidewater, Maryland, they ran into the ice, destroying the ark and sustaining a loss of $800. Soon after this Mr. Hayes built a log house on the homestead and com- menced to clear the farm. For some time he was employed as a laborer in the con- struction of a canal, and afterward took contracts to build a straight road over Laurel Hill, and in other places. He also engaged in the manufacture of arks for the grain dealers of Milton, Lewisburg, and elsewhere; observing while thus employed the need of grist mills, and being encouraged by his father-in-law, he built a substantial mill in 1831, which he operated until 1837. It was destroyed at that time by fire, causing a total loss, as he carried no insurance. His neighbors kindly came to his assistance, making up the loss of the grain, and he erected a new mill. In 1847 he started a subscription, heading it with $50, to raise money to build a bridge across Lycoming creek at Perryville. He succeeded in securing $450 of the amount nec- essary, and the balance was furnished by the county commissioners. The contractor failing to complete the bridge, Mr. Hayes finished it himself. About 1839 he pur- chased land in Cogan House township, hauled logs from the same to a saw mill at Perryville, and in 1845 he built a saw mill in Cogan valley; from time to time he purchased tracts of pine timber, and in that way accumulated thousands of acres. A few years later he built a mill ou Larry's creek in partnership with Martin Meyer, erecting a steam mill near Bnekhorn cabin, and still later constructing another water- power mill on Larry's creek, making in all four saw mills and two grist mills. He sold the grist mill at Perrysville in 1863, and in 1868, in partnership with John Miller, bought a farm of 500 acres on the Rappahannock river, in Virginia; when it was subsequently divided, he retained one-fourth, the remainder going to his sous, Ambrose and William. He died, November 18, 1888, and his wife died, June 24, 1SS3. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was interested in building the new stone church at Hepburnville. He was the father of ten children: William; Ambrose; Rachel R., who married M. W. Meyer; Benjamin; Sidney; Lawrence M. : Isaiah; Mary Elizabeth; Joanna, and Josiah.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

WILLIAM HAYES, miller, was born in Lycoming township, September 20, 1820, son of Isaiah and Mary Ann (Miller) Hayes. He received his education in the township schools of that period. He learned the milling business with his father, took charge of the latter's mill at Perrysville in 1844, and did a prosperous business for fourteen years, when he bought a mill in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and operated the same for five years. In 1862, in partnership with William Follmer, he built and took charge of the Loyalsock Mills, this partnership continuing for one year, when Mr. Hayes became the sole proprietor. In 1884 he purchased the Montoursville rolling mills, in company with Clarence Wheeland and his son, John Hayes. Mr. Wheeland sold his interest to Mr. Meyer in April, 1887, and two years later Mr. Meyer sold his interest to Mr. Pidcoe, and they have since conducted the business under the firm name of Hayes, Pidcoe & Company. Mr. Hayes is also engaged in farming in Loyalsock township and in Virginia. Mr. Hayes was president and a large stockholder of the Wayne Ferry Company while living in Clinton county. About the year 1873 he engaged in the lumber business on Little Bear creek with Warner Woolever, continuing as a firm for five years, and for twelve years longer on his own responsibility. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as super- visor of Upper Fairfield township. He was married in 1848 to Miss Margaret Foll- mer, and to this union have been born six children: Amelia Clementine, deceased, who married George Ebner; Follmer A .; May Catharine, who married William Koons; John M. ; Margaret Emma, and Frank W. Mr. Hayes and family attend the Presbyterian church.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS was born near Morristown, New Jersey, in October, 1770. His father was a native of New Jersey and an officer in the Revolutionary war under George Washington. He removed from Morris county, New Jersey, and settled near Danville, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his death. Joseph Williams was a surveyor and learned his profession from William Ellis, of Muncy, Pennsyl- vania. He came to Lycoming county when a young man, and in 1790 was married to Letitia Sutton, daughter of Amariah Sutton, who was born, August 20, 1774. Letitia and her parents were driven from their homes during the "Great Runaway." They took refuge at Forts Freeland and Augusta, and while at the latter, a captive Indian was brought before them and his hair was severely pulled by a woman whose relatives his savage tribe had doubtless wronged. Amariah Sutton took out a land warrant which is now embraced in the Walker and Rose farm, near Williamsport, which he cleared of the timber and gave a part of it to his brother-in-law and daugliter, Letitia. Joseph Williams followed surveying in connection with farming. He helped to lay out the borough of Williamsport, and did much surveying in the surrounding counties. He was a member of the Masonic order, belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a Whig in politics. He died April 8, 1841, followed by his widow, June 4, 1862. They were the parents of ten children: Rachel; Amariah S .; Joseph S .; John Norris; Mary; Martin; Samuel Coleman; Rebecca Smith; Sarah Rose; Annie, and Alexander S.

ALEXANDER S. WILLIAMS, retired, was born in Loyalsock township, Lycoming county, August 16, 1819, son of Joseph and Letitia (Sutton) Williams. He received his education in the subscription schools and remained on the farm until he was nineteen years old. After working for some time on the Williamsport and Ralston

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railroad, he became a clerk in mercantile stores in Williamsport, for the firms of J. L. Abrams & Company, Lindsey Mahaffey, and others. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Montoursville for a number of years; in 1850 he commenced lumbering on Loyalsock creek, and continued for over thirty years. He has also been engaged extensively in farming. He was married in 1850 to Miss Catherine, daughter of Michael Kramer, who was proprietor of the Eagle Hotel of Williamsport. To this union have been born six children, four of whom are living: Sarah, who married Huston Jackson; Emma R., who married John A. Bennett; Samuel L., and Mary Margaret. Mr. Williams cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, and was identified with the Democratic party until 1856, when he voted for John C. Fremont, and in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since sup- ported the Republican party. He served as postmaster at Montoursville during Franklin Pierce's administration; he has been a member of the school board, and was a justice of the peace for several years.

JACOB WEAVER was born in York, Pennsylvania, in February, 1790, of German parentage. He was reared in that county, and for many years conducted the freight route by team from York to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Pittsburg. He married Catherine Smith, who was born in the same county in 1790, and in 1823 they removed to Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, where he worked at day's labor and distilling. Later they settled at McEwensville, Northumberland county, thence coming to Lycoming county, where they bought a small farm in Fairfield township. He was a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church, and died in 1880. His first wife died in 1846, and he was again married to a Mrs. Mull. He was the father of eleven children by his first wife: William; Susie, deceased; John, deceased; Henry, deceased; George; Margaret, who married Cornelius Wagner; Samuel, deceased; Jacob; Ellen, who married William Edler; Elmira, deceased, and Lewis M.

WILLIAM WEAVER, of the lumber firm of William Weaver & Company, pro- prietors of the Union Mills, was born in York, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1811, son of Jacob and Catherine (Smith) . Weaver. He received a common school education, and came to Lycoming county when he was eighteen years old, locating in Loyal- sock township, and engaged in operating a grist mill and distillery for several years. He followed the mercantile business in Montoursville for forty years; in 1851 he established the lumber firm of William Weaver & Company, and has since been at the head of their business. Mr. Weaver was a stockholder and director in the City National Bank of Williamsport, and is now a stockholder and director in the Keystone Bank of Philadelphia. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Williams- port, and has an interest in the J. E. Dayton Company, and is one of the large real estate owners in Montoursville. He was married in 1835 to Annie, daughter of Samuel Wheeland; she died in July, 1890, and was the mother of eight children, three of whom are living: Susan, who married Thomas Ramsey; Margaret E., who married Peter T. Marsh, and Mary E., who married W. P. Wheeland. Mr. Weaver was once a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Encampment. He is a Republican, has served as school director of Montoursville, is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a trustee of the same, and has served as steward and treasurer for twenty-two years.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

JOHN WEAVER was born near Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1815, and married Catherine, daughter of Cornelius Shaffer. He located in Montours- ville, where he engaged in boating on the canal, and was also proprietor of the Central Hotel. He was a Republican in politics, filled the various borough offices, and died April 27, 1888. His wife survives him. They reared a family of thir- teen children, nine of whom are living: Jane; Belle, who married Charles Bubb, of Williamsport; Lindsay, postmaster of Montoursville; George, of Montoursville; Oscar B., of the Williamsport Candy Company; Byron A .; Maize, who married Dr. Ritter, of Milton, Pennsylvania; Clara, who married John E. Callahan, of Montoursville, and Harry, proprietor of the Montour House, Montoursville.

BYRON A. WEAVER, of the firm of Weaver & Callahan, dealers in coal and agri- cultural implements, was born in Montoursville, December 25, 1856, son of John and Catherine (Shaffer) Weaver. He was educated in the public schools, and engaged in boating for a number of years, and in 1886 he and Mr. Callahan engaged in their present business. He was married in 1879 to Miss Alice Berry, and to them have been born four children: Raymond; Chester; Howard, and Bertha Estelle. Mr. Weaver is a Republican, and has served as councilman and treasurer of Montoursville; he is a member of Eureka Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with his wife belongs to the Lutheran church.

JACOB WEAVER, brick manufacturer, was born in Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, March 2, 1830, son of Jacob and Catherine (Smith) Weaver. He received his education in the common schools, learned the distilling business with his father, and followed that occupation for about nine years. He came to Lycoming county about the year 1834, and for fifteen years was engaged in boating on the canal. In 1865 he purchased the Robbins House at Montoursville, changed the name to Cen- tral Hotel, and conducted it until April, 1890, with the exception of six years, when he was proprietor of another hotel in the same borough; withdrawing from the hotel in 1890, he began the manufacture of brick, which he has continued ever since. He was a member of the Montoursville Furniture Manufacturing Company. He was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Jacob Swartz, and to this union were born eight children: Lewis Emanuel; Mary Elizabeth, who married F. R. Konkle; Agnes Kessler, who married A. G. Yoder; William Swartz; Lily May; Frank Ebner; Walter Scott, and Alice Edith. Mr. Weaver furnished a substitute in defense of his country in the late Rebellion. He is an active Democrat, and is a member of the borough council and has served as school director. His wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN S. KONKLE was born in Fairfield township in 1811, and was a son of Adam Konkle. He received a limited education, and after learning the carpenter's trade he became a contractor. He settled on Lycoming creek, and built the first bridge across that stream for the Northern Central railroad. He also erected the Eagle Hotel and woolen mills in Williamsport, and was engaged in the lumber and mer- cantile business. After the flood of June, 1865, he built the Lycoming Creek and Muncy aqueducts. From 1838 until his death he resided at Montoursville, where he died in 1874. He was a Whig and Republican in politics, and united with the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of eighteen years, remaining a consistent member until his death. He married, February 21, 1838, Miss Susan Lundy, who

Samuel Theaver

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survives him and is the mother of three children: Julia Ann, who married Lewis Biehl; Ellis W., and Frank R.

FRANK R. KONKLE, merchant, was born in Montoursville, Lycoming county, August 2S, 1844, son of John S. and Susan (Lundy) Konkle. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, learned the carpenter's trade, followed the same for many years, was on an engineering gang on the Philadelphia and Reading railroad for several years, and is now inspector of ties for this company. In June, 1890, he established his present mercantile business at Montoursville. He was married, April 12, 1883, to Elizabeth. daughter of Jacob Weaver, and has one child, Howard Leon. He is a Republican, has been burgess of Montoursville, a member of the borough council, and filled other offices. He is a member of Eureka Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and Lycoming Chapter; he was one of the organizers of the Montoursville Manufacturing Company, and is a director of the same, and is interested in the lumber business, being a member of the firm of Konkle, Criswell & Konkle. Mrs. Konkle is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM B. KONKLE, retired farmer, was born in Fairfield township, Lycoming county, September 26, 1818, son of Adam and Martha (Seibring) Konkle. His grandfather was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was one of the pioneers of Fairfield township, and an early member of the Montoursville Methodist Episco- pal church. His father, Adam Konkle, was drafted in the war of 1812, but was not called into service. He was born, January 19, 1786, and died, January 10, 1853, and his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Seibring, was born, April 26, 1791, and died, December 30, 1871. They were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he held the office of elder and class-leader for many years. They were the parents of ten children: John S .; Rachel W., who married Henry C. Reeder; Charles; William B .; George W .; Mary Ann, who married Abraham Stadden; Elizabeth, who married Henry Else; Pearson L .: Martha, who married Jacob Sheffer, and Ann Elisa. William B. Konkle was educated in the schools of his native township and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years old. He followed lumbering on Wallis run and Loyalsock creek for several years, and also did the same business on Mill creek for ten years. He and his brother afterwards engaged in contracting and built several of the county bridges. In 1851 he engaged in the mercantile business at Montoursville, continuing for two years, and also manufactured brick for several years. Since 1560 he has devoted his time exclusively to farming, and is the owner of two farms in and surrounding the borough of Montoursville. He was married in 1847 to Miss Amelia Bastian, and to this union have been born three children: Martha Amelia; Rachel Ann, and William B. Mr. Konkle was a Democrat until 1862, when he became a Republican. He has been burgess of Montoursville, has been supervisor, a member of the borough council, and of the school board. He was one of the organizers of the Grange lodge at Montoursville, was a member of the Lutheran church for twenty years, and afterwards he and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Montours- ville. in which he has held the offices of trustee, steward, class-leader, and superin- tendent of the Sunday school.

WILLIAM B. KONKLE, physician and surgeon, was born in Montoursville, March

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

1, 1858, son of William B. and Amelia (Bastian) Konkle. He received his educa- tion in the schools of Montoursville, and was graduated from Dickinson Seminary in 1878. He at once entered the university at Syracuse, New York, from which he was graduated in 1881. He began the study of medicine under Dr. H. G. Mc- Cormick, of Williamsport, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1884. He began practice at Montoursville, where he has given his entire time to his profession, and has built up a lucrative business. He is a member of Lycoming County Medical Society, Eureka Lodge, No. 335, A. Y. M., and Fairfield Lodge, 236, I. O. O. F .; also a member of Bald Eagle Encampment, and of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was married in 1884 to Miss Joan Saylor, daughter of William J. Saylor, of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, and they have no children. He is independent in politics and is a steward and trustee in the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM WALTZ was born near Warrensville, Eldred township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1804. His father, George Waltz, was a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, and one of the pioneers of Eldred township. William was reared in that township. After reaching maturity he moved to Fairfield township, where he engaged in farming, erected a saw mill on Mill creek, and was extensively engaged in the lumber business for many years. He married Mary, a daughter of Jacob Hurr, of Fairfield township, and reared a family of eleven children: George, of Washington township; Catherine, wife of Christian Bidelspacher, of Hepburn township; Dorothy, wife of Jacob Entz, of Fairfield township; Mary, wife of John Entz, of the same township; Barbara, wife of Samuel Ulmer, of Anthony township; Gottlieb, of Williamsport; Caroline, wife of Frederick Foltz, of Nebraska; Abraham, of Fairfield township; Martha, wife of Daniel Bruchlacher, of Hepburn township, and William H. and Andrew H. of Williamsport. Mr. Waltz was a member of the Baptist church for many years, and was one of the organizers of Fairfield Baptist church, and a trustee in that body. He was a life-long Democrat, but cast his last vote for the Republican ticket. His wife died in March, 1876; he survived her until 1885.

GEORGE BENNET was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1813, and was a grandson of Thomas Bennet, and a son of Andrew Bennet, who figured so conspicuously in the Wyoming massacre, and whose names are held in veneration by the present inhabitants of that beautiful valley. He moved to this valley in 1840, purchased and cleared a farm, and remained there until his death. February 1, 1844, he married Martha Strebeigh, who was born June 26, 1822, in Williamsport, and died on the 17th of April, 1891, at the old home in Fairfield township where she had lived forty-seven years. She and her husband had lived together forty-three years, he having died four years previously. Mrs. Bennet united with the Meth- odist Episcopal church in early life and was a faithful member of the same until .she was called to the fellowship of the church triumphant. A son, Daniel S. Bennet, died suddenly in September, 1884, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where he had married and won much distinction. The father never fully recovered from the shock of this unexpected bereavement, and died on the 11th of March, 1887. It was said of him by those who knew him best that he was a great admirer of the Bible and made it almost his exclusive study during the last years of his life. Four

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 122

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