History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 125

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

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GEORGE GORTNER came to Northumberland county at a very early day. He was killed by the Indians and was the father of a family. Col. John Gortner, son of Jacob Gortner, and a grandson of George Gortner, was a farmer by occupation, and served as colonel in the State militia. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Dietrich, by whom he had three children: Jacob, deceased; Frederick, deceased, and Mandrick, deceased. His wife having died, he was again married, to Miss Christiana Beeber, and to this union were born six children: Elizabeth, deceased; Elias; John; William; Mary, and Charles, deceased. Colonel Gortner died in 1865, and his widow in 1878.

FREDERICK GORTNER, son of John Gortner, a farmer by occupation, was the father of the following children: Elias C. ; William H. ; Mary; Thomas B., deceased; Elizabeth; John H., and one deceased when young. Mr. and Mrs. Gortner were early identified with the Lutheran church. He was accidently killed at a barn- raising, June 18, 1875. William H. Gortner, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, March 14, 1850, son of Frederick and Julia (Beeber) Gortner. He received a common school education and has always been engaged in farming. He was married in December, 1877, to Gemella Sissler, and to this union has been born one child, Frank B.

GEORGE EDKIN emigrated from England to America in order to save his two

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

sons, Francis and George, from service in the English army. He settled on what is now known as Edkin's Hill, near Lewis Lake, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, and was foreman of the Lewis Glass Works for a time. After he was ninety years old he walked the entire distance from Muncy, this county, to New York City, where he died at the age of one hundred and five years.

FRANCIS EDKIN, son of George Edkin, was a miller and cooper by trade, which occupation he followed until his death; he married Joanna Palmer, of New York City, and to them were born thirteen children: Catherine; Jane; Mary; Deborah; William; Susan: Sarah; Joanna; George; Martha; Eliza; one who died in infancy, and Elias; all are now deceased except Jane, Sarah, George, and Elias. Mr. Edkin died in the fall of 1843, followed by his widow one year later.

ELIAS H. EDKIN, farmer, was born in Stroudsburg, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1834, son of Francis and Joanna (Palmer) Edkin. He received a common school education and has followed farming for an occupation. He married Anna, daughter of Robert and Abigail Battin, March 19, 1861, and to this union have been born five children: Eliza S., deceased; Aaron S .; Robert B .; Francis, deceased, and Harry, deceased. Mr. Edkin is a Republican, and he and family are members of the Society of Friends.

ROBERT B. WEBSTER, deceased, was born July 17, 1827, son of Joseph and Eliza- beth Webster. He was a farmer by occupation, and one of the leading citizens of the community in which he resided. He married Miss Salana Tallman, and to this union were born three children: Hannah; Daniel B., and Mary E. Mr. Webster died, August 27, 1875. Daniel Tallman, father of Mrs. Webster, was a son of Jeremiah Tallman, who migrated from New Jersey to Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, toward the close of the last century, settling on Loyalsock creek; his wife went to mill at Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in a canoe, when the Indians were very numerous and troublesome in this section of the country; she was the mother of seven children: John; Daniel; James; Joseph; Nancy; Rebecca, and Deborah. Daniel was a shoemaker by trade, which occupation he alternated with farming. He married Hannah, daughter of Jacob Clayton, and was the father of ten children: Jeremiah; Hannah A .; Matthew; Jacob, deceased; Joseph, deceased; William; Salana; Eliza, deceased; Amos, and Amanda. Daniel Tallman died, December 29, 1864, and his widow, March 20, 1887. The Tallmans were identified with the Whig and Republican parties. Jacob Clayton was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and removed to Jerseytown, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1793. Here he remained until 1805, when he removed to the present site of Hughesville, and there erected a grist mill, it being the first in that portion of the county. Some time after building the mill he traded it for a farm, now occupied by Mrs. Robert Webster, near what is known as Penn's Dale, where he remained as long as he kept house. He was the father of seven children: Isaac; Joshua; Lydia; Hannah; Mary; Ann, and Rachel, all of whom are dead.

JOHN McCONNEL, with his family, consisting of a wife and four sons, removed from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Williamsport, in 1810, traveling in a two- horse wagon. He soon after located in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, where he engaged in the distilling business, which he continued for many years. His sons were: Thomas P .; John; James, and William. Thomas P. McConnel,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

son of John McConnel. learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed for about forty years. He was the father of eight children: Mary; Elizabeth; Agnes; Sarah; Julia; James; Thomas P., and John. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and died in 1864; his wife died in 1838.

JOHN McCONNEL, retired farmer, was born in Muncy Creek township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1824, son of Thomas P. and Rebecca (Dimm) McConnel. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1855, since which he has devoted his time to farming. He was married in 1845 to Hannah Artley, and to them were born four children: John P., who married Abbie Hoyt; Walter E., who married Mary Pollock; Eliza C., who married Casper Laench- ley, and Thomas O., who married Alice Webster. Mrs. John McConnel died, May 23, 1887, aged sixty-two years, in the faith of the Lutheran church; and her husband is a member of Immanuel Lutheran church.

WALTER E. McCONNEL, farmer, was born December 20, 1851, son of John and Hannah (Artley) McConnel. He was educated in the common schools and has devoted his life to farming. December 28, 1876, he was married to Miss Mary A. Pollock, and to this union have been born four children: T. Chester; Eliza E .; John L., and W. Pearl. Mrs. McConnel died, March 20, 1891, in the faith of the Lutheran church, to which organization her husband belongs.

JOHN SWARTZ emigrated from Germany to Lycoming county, about the year 1819, settling upon a farm. He was the father of five children: Mary; Mariah, deceased; Catherine, deceased; George, deceased, and an infant, deceased while crossing the ocean. John Swartz died in 1850, and was one of the upright and honorable citizens of the county. George Swartz, son of John Swartz, devoted his entire life to farming. He was supervisor of his township for four terms, and the father of nine children: Thomas; John; Maria, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Christian; George; William; Mary, and Catherine. He was an active worker in the Democratic party, a member of the Lutheran church, and an honest, upright citizen, and died, August 14, 1890.

THOMAS SWARTZ, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, July 23, 1846, son of George and Sarah (Reichard) Swartz. He was educated in the common schools; he is a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he has followed for twenty-one years. Since 1884 he has been engaged in farming. January 21, 1868, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of the late John Gilmore, and to this union have been born six children: Albert; Herbert, deceased; Minnie M .; an infant, deceased; Mary A., and Sarah A.

JOHN LOCKARD came from New Jersey to Lycoming county at an early day, and settled on a farm. He was the father of six children: Alexander; Thomas; Abraham; Peter; Jane, and John. John Lockard, son of John Lockard, was a farmer by occupation, and married Catherine Fague, by whom he had fourteen children: Two whodied in infancy; William; Abraham; George; Matthias; Samuel; Hannah; Eliza- bteh; Catherine; Ella; Alfred, deceased; John, deceased, and Margaret J., deceased.

SAMUEL LOCKARD, farmer, was born, November 3, 1833, in Lycoming county, son of John and Catherine (Fague) Lockard. He received a common school education and has devoted his whole time to farming. February 3, 1869, he was married to Margaret M. Gortner, and to this union have been born ten children: Walter, of

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Montoursville; Sarah C .; Julian; George; Charles L .; Thomas; Cora; William, deceased; Isaac, deceased, and John, deceased.

THOMAS W. ROBB, farmer, was born in the house where he now lives, in Muncy township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1854, a son of Robert and Eli- zabeth (McConnell) Robb, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work .. He was educated in the common schools, and has given his entire time to rural pursuits. He has served as school director, supervisor, and overseer of the poor. He was married, December 14, 1822, to Miss Anna Follmer, and to this union have been born seven children: Robert, deceased; Mary; Marion; James A .; Raymond; Bertha, and Beatrice.

PETER NARBER, farmer, was born in 1830, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, son of Jacob Narber, who was the father of the following children: Sallie, deceased; Catherine; Mary A., deceased; Elias; John; Leah, deceased; George; Peter; Elizabeth; Susan, deceased, and Hannah. Jacob Narber died October 9, 1846, aged fifty-seven years and eight months; Susanna, his wife, died, November 28, 1855, aged sixty-two years, four months, and twenty-five days. Our subject, Peter Narber, was married in 1853 to Sarah J. Buck, and to this union were born eight children: Emma; Ellen; Cora; Monroe; Anna; Della; Carrie, deceased, and Rachel. Mrs. Narber died, July 4, 1883, and he was again married, to Miss Margaret Cook. Mr. Narber and all of his family are members of the Lutheran church at Hughes- ville.

JOHN M. FAGUE, farmer, was born in Wolf township, Lycoming county, April 10, 1830, son of Jacob and Sarah (Yeagel) Fague, and grandson of William Fague, one of the pioneers of this county. Jacob Fague was born in Lycoming county; after his marriage he settled in Wolf township, and subsequently upon the farm where his son, John M., now resides. There he died in 1838, and his widow died in 1881. They were both members of the Lutheran church, and their children were named as follows: Lovina, deceased; John M .; Mary, deceased; Julia Ann, wife of William Gross, and Rachel, wife of John Gortner. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools of his neighbornood. He has always devoted his business life to farming. In 1854 he married Catherine, daughter of Samuel Artley, of Muncy township, and to this union have been born nine children: Mary, wife of Jefferson Gray; Virginia; Sarah, wife of Ellis Rynear- son; Joseph, who died in 1890; Samuel; John; Charles; Susan, wife of Henry Nunn, and Julia Ann. Mr. Fague is a Democrat in politics and has filled various town- ship offices. He is now serving his third term as justice of the peace, and has been a member of the school board for over thirty years. He furnished a substitute who served in the late war. He and family are members of Trinity Lutheran church of Mill Creek township.

JOHN LIPP, farmer, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1832, son of Michael M. and Jacobina Lipp, natives of Germany. His parents removed from Lancaster county to Lycoming in 1837. They settled first at Blooming Grove and afterwards in that part of Muncy township which is now Mill Creek. His father died about 1840, and the widow married Barney Yost and settled on the farm where our subject now resides. She died in Williamsport in 1SS2, in the faith of the German Reformed church, to which her first husband also belonged. To Michael

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

M. Lipp and wife were born five children: John; Mary; Harriet; Catherine, and Elizabeth. By her second marriage she had three children: Christiana; Margaret, and Hannah. Our subject received but a limited education, and early in life he engaged in the lumber business. He worked on Bear creek for five years and then became a partner with John C. Bryan, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber from 1864 to 1867. During the latter year he settled upon his present farm. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Two Hundred and Seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and served nine months as corporal of his company, and was subsequently promoted to the position of sergeant. He participated in the bat- tles of Fort Stedman and in front of Petersburg. Mr. Lipp was first mar- ried to Sarah, daughter of Joseph Frantz, of Upper Fairfield township. She died in 1859, and he was again married in 1862, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of 'Jacob Klees, of Muncy township, and to this union have been born five children: George M .; Russell N., deceased; Esther Ann, deceased; Charles K., and Harriet S. Mr. Lipp is a Republican, and has filled many of the township offices, being at present overseer of the poor. He and family are members of Trinity Lutheran church, of which he is an elder, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school.

DAVID GORTNER, farmer, was born on his present farm, August 20, 1836, son of Samuel and Julia (Beeber) Gortner, natives of Lycoming valley. His grandfather, Philip Gortner, was a native of Germany, and took up a tract of land in Muncy Creek township. Samuel Gortner, the father of our subject, located in Muncy township after his marriage, and in 1836 he settled upon the farm where his son David now resides. In 1872 the parents retired from farm duties and settled in Muncy, where the father died, February 14, 1892. They were among the organizers of Trinity Lutheran church, of which the father was a deacon for many years. He was a Democrat, and filled various township offices. The mother died in 1878, and her children are as follows: Mary, wife of of Joseph Rynearson; Henry, deceased; John; Barbara, deceased; Susan, deceased; Samuel; David; Margaret, wife of Samuel Lockard; Isaac; Sarah, deceased, and Sylvester, deceased. Our subject received his education in the public schools, and has principally been engaged in farming. He was married in January, 1862, to Minerva, daughter of Isaac Ship- man, and to this union have been born nine children: Mary A., who married Elmer Webster; Adolphus; Susan B., who married Everhart Moyer; Julia F .; Isaac Nor- man, deceased; Emma J .; Joseph Edward; Bertha A., and Clarence. Mr. Gortner is a Democrat in politics and has served as school director and supervisor. He is one of the charter members of Allegheny Alliance, of Mill Creek township, and with his family belongs to Trinity Lutheran church, in which he has filled the office of deacon for many years.

JACOB WINTERS, farmer, was born in Upper Fairfield township, December 7, 1842, son of John and Mary (Zern) Winters, natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to America in 1832 and located in Williamsport. The parents soon after removed to Upper Fairfield township, where they cleared and improved two farms. There the father died in 1852, and the mother in 1879. They were both members of the Evangelical church, and their children were as follows: Barbara, who married Abraham Neff; Christiana, deceased; John, deceased; Mary, deceased; Mantha, who

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

married James Harrington; Martin; Harriet, deceased, who married Jonathan Neff; Jacob; Frederick, deceased, and Abraham. The subject of this sketch was reared in Upper Fairfield township, received a common school education, and has always been engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1877 he married Amanda, daughter of John and Phœbe (Welch) Burrows, and located upon his present farm, where he has since resided. To this union have been born the following children: Mabel, February 13, 1878; Clyde L .. October 10, 1879; Raymond B., December 20, 1881, and Chauncey, September 12, 1890. Mr. Winters was formerly identified with the Republican party but is now a Prohibitionist. He has filled various township offices, and with his family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Huntersville, in which he is a trustee, steward, and superintendent of the Sunday school.

JOHN W. KING, farmer, was born in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. February 16, 1846. His father, George King, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1822, of English parentage. He moved to North- umberland county with his father, John King, and was there married to Sarah Swank. With her he came to Lycoming county in 1847, and located in Muncy township. He learned the milling trade from his father, and for several years fol- lowed that occupation, being employed in the Haines mill and the Bryan mill for eleven years. He was also located at Antes Fort and at Fairfield Centre. He finally settled upon the farm where our subject now resides, where he died, June 30, 1880. Mr. King was a Republican, and filled various township offices. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran church and always took an active interest in church affairs. His widow, who survives him, resides on the homestead, and is the mother of four children, three of whom are living: John W .; Mary, and Sarah. The oldest of these, John W., was reared in Lycoming county, and received his educa- tion in the common schools and the Muncy Normal. He followed teaching school for twenty-four years. In 1865 he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He is a Republican in politics and has filled the offices of assessor, auditor, and school director, being the present incumbent of the two last. He was the main organizer of the Allegheny Alliance of Mill Creek township, and has served as president of the same since its organization.

JOHN HARRIS, blacksmith, was born in Montoursville, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, February 10, 1850, son of Marshall and Catherine (Stryker) Harris, both of Scotch descent. His father was a carpenter by trade and died January 12, 1871. His mother died in 1870. The parents were both members of the Lutheran church and their children were as follows: Mary A., deceased, who married John A. Hunt; Hannah, who married John Rush; Peter, who married Elizabeth Lipp; Jane, who married Edward Bates, and John. The last named was reared in his native village and received his education in the public schools of that place. He learned the black- smith trade and has always followed that occupation, locating in his present place in 1873. He was married in 1875 to Abigail A., daughter of William Gay, and to this union have been born four children: Marshall; William A. ; Dean, and Lulu P. Mr. Harris is a Republican in politics and he and family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Huntersville, in which he has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday school.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHAPTER LII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE, AND PORTER, WATSON, MIFFLIN (INCLUDING SALLADASBURG), AND PIATT TOWNSHIPS.

JOHN A. GAMBLE was born in Centre (now Clinton county), Pennsylvania, March 4, 1799, son of James and Margaret (Armstrong) Gamble. When he was but four years old his parents removed to Lycoming county, and settled upon a farm a short distance from the borough of Jersey Shore. There the father died in 1824, and John A. assumed the full care of the family and discharged his duty with filial love and faithfulness. Through his assistance his younger brothers, James and Matthew, secured their education, and both attained honorable promi- nence. Mr. Gamble carried on the mercantile business in Jersey Shore for many years. Having learned surveying he became quite proficient in that science, and, as he had a taste for mathematics, he soon excelled in his profession. Not long after the death of his father he was appointed by the Governor assistant surveyor for Lycoming county, which at that time embraced a very large territory.

Through his taste for politics he soon became a man of prominence and influence in the Democratic party. In 1835 he was chosen a member of the legislature, and served acceptably until he was elected a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1837-38. He was appointed one of the canal commis- sioners of Pennsylvania in 1849, and subsequently was engaged in some extensive contracts on public works in various places. When serving as assistant surveyor he began to acquire real estate, and at the time of his death he owned a large amount of land, including many of the most valuable farms in Nippenose bottom. One of the largest operations in which he was ever interested was the sale of the canals to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which took place during his admin- istration as canal commissioner. At this time he organized a company which bought the West Branch and Susquehanna divisions of the canal. Mr. Gamble was chosen president of the company, and after operating them very successfully for some time they sold out to the State. The transaction was a large one and enriched the parties concerned in it.

Mr. Gamble married Eleanor, daughter of Abraham Lawshe, in 1827. His wife survives him and resides in Jersey Shore. He died February 7, 1878, leaving no issue. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of many public men, the late Governor Packer being one with whom he was long identified in politics. The Governor had great regard for Mr. Gamble's judgment, and always consulted him on all important political matters. Mr. Gamble was prominent in church affairs and officiated as deacon in the Jersey Shore Presbyterian church continuously from 1850 to the close of his life. He was quiet aud unostentatious, a pleasant

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

and genial companion, and gave much to the needy, but so quietly that few knew anything of his charities.

MATTHEW A. GAMBLE was born on the homestead farm near Jersey Shore, Octo- ber 8, 1812, son of James and Margaret (Armstrong) Gamble. He was educated in the Jersey Shore Academy, became a civil engineer, and was employed as such for several years on the canals and railroads of Pennsylvania, and was considered very efficient in his profession. He commenced under James Harris of Centre county, who was regarded as one of the most competent engineers of his time in the State. Mr. Harris highly commended Mr. Gamble as one of his best and most trustworthy assistants, and if he had been blessed with good health he would nndoubt- edly have attained high distinction in his profession. For some time he was a member of the banking firm of Gambles, Humes & Whites. Mr. Gamble married Elizabeth, daughter of A. W. Sterling, and a granddaughter of the late William Sanderson, of Milton, and niece of Dr. Samuel Pollock of Williamsport. During the closing years of his life he resided on his farm, which adjoins the eastern limit of the borongh of Jersey Shore. His residence was beautifully situated and sur- rounded by handsome and well-kept grounds. He died September 12, 1887, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His wife survives him. Mr. Gamble was a Demo- crat in politics, and with his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church.

ABRAHAM LAWSHE was born in New Jersey, December 16, 1780, son of John and Eleanor (Chamberlin) Lawshe. His parents died in Derrstown, now known as Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the father, February 7, 1832, and the mother, July 4, 1817. In the spring of 1786 his parents removed to Cumberland (now Perry) county, Pennsylvania, and in 1793 Abraham went to York county, Pennsylvania, where he served five years at the tanner's and carrier's trade. From 1798 to 1800 he was employed as a journeyman in the same tannery. He then went to Canada, where he remained for one year, returning in May, 1801, and locating at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, whither his parents had removed. In April, 1803, he came to Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, and purchased a small tannery of Thomas Edmond, which business he carried on about forty years. He also engaged in farming, and was one of the leading business men of that locality. In November, 1806, he mar- ried Elizabeth Bailey, born August 20, 1786, daughter of John and Hannah Bailey of Jersey Shore. Their children were: Hannah, who died young; Eleanor, widow of John A. Gamble; Lucretia A., deceased wife of George Quiggle; Rebecca B., deceased wife of John Crist; Elizabeth, widow of Isaac Bodine, and Sarah C., deceased wife of Allison White. Mrs. Lawshe died, June 19, 1823, and July 1, 1824, he married Anna H. Hamilton, born Angust 5, 1798, daughter of Robert and Anna H. Hamilton of Pine Creek township, Clinton county, who bore him two sons and three daughters, as follows: Robert H., of Jersey Shore; John, of Williams- port; Anna A., wife of Thomas McCurdy of Jersey Shore; Priscilla H., wife of J. Appleton Wilson of Lock Haven, and M. Elcy, wife of Robert Wilson of Jersey Shore. Mr. Lawshe was a man of good business ability, and accumulated a handsome competence. He was upright and straightforward in all his affairs, and was an elder in the Presbyterian church for many years. Politically he was a Democrat, and at one time filled the office of justice of the peace. He lived in harmony with his neighbors, and died, February 10, 1862, at the ripe old age of over eighty-one years. His wife survived him until October 24, 1884.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 125

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