History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 128

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

one daughter, Hannah Eleanor, who married H. H. Mercer, an attorney of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Lutheran church.

SAMUEL H. BARDO, farmer, is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Auld) Bardo, natives of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who became residents of Lycoming county about the year 1835, where they died, the former in 1850, and the latter in 1887. Our subject received his education in the public schools and was brought up at farm labor. When he was about twenty-five years old he went to Nippenose township, where he followed farming for twenty years, afterwards returning to Porter township, where he has remained ever since, and has served as overseer of the poor of his township. He was married in 1854 to Henrietta, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Aughanbaugh of Lycoming county, and to this union have been born the following children: Jacob; Harry; George; Girard; Wilber; Alvin; Ira, and Robert. Mr. Bardo is a Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

DAVID K. Orr, farmer, is a son of Nicholas and Margaret (Kergseeker) Ott, and was born January 20, 1817, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His father was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and died when David K. was but thirteen years old ; his mother was a native of Cumberland county, and died when he was six years old. In early life he had but little chance to obtain an education, being apprenticed to learn the carriage and wagonmaker's trade, at which he worked for fourteen years, after- wards working in Philadelphia, Camden, New Jersey, Delaware, Chester, and Mont- gomery counties, Pennsylvania, and one winter in Cumberland county. At the time of the Mexican war he came to Harrisburg and helped to build a steam saw mill for Leander Nichols and Jacob Dock, after which he went to Pittsburg, and in company with Columbus Wers and Robert Clarke, carried on the carriage making business for about one year. Leaving Pittsburg he went to Camden, New Jersey, where he acted as overseer of a mill yard for his brother and nephew for three years, coming, in 1852, to Cummings township, Lycoming county, where he superintended a saw mill for his brother George. He afterwards, in company with George Nice, pur- chased the mill and carried on the business until the flood of 1865, the mill being destroyed by fire in that year. He then went to lumbering and continued at it until 1871, removing at that time to the farm owned by James Gamble, on Pine creek, thence to Porter township, where he has remained ever since. He was married in 1857 to Mary Cecelia, daughter of Nathaniel W. and Elizabeth (Earl) Denniston, and to this union have been born four children: Leander Nicholas, who is married and lives in Clinton county, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, who married Albert Wers, a miller at Pine Creek, Clinton county; Eliza, who married Jacob Wolf of Porter township, and Margaret J. Mr. Ott is a Republican, and the family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

ROBERT W. FERGUSON, farmer and tobacco grower, was born March 25, 1858, in Porter township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, son of James G. and Eleanor (McGuire) Ferguson. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and removed to Porter township, Lycoming county, from Clinton county, about the year 1843, where they resided until their death. His father died March 29, 1886, and his mother March 13, 1888. Their living children are as follows: Andrew, of Porter township; Margaret A., who married Thomas G. Caldwell, of Watsontown, Penn- sylvania; Robert W., and J. Woods, both residents of Porter township. The

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

subject of this sketch attended school in his native township and at Jersey Shore until he was twenty years old, when he took a special course at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. He then went to Philadelphia and learned the machinist's trade, whence he returned home and assumed charge of the homestead farm in the spring of 1889, upon which he has since resided.

J. WOODS FERGUSON, farmer, is the youngest of the four surviving children of James G. and Eleanor (McGuire) Ferguson. He was educated in the township schools until he was eighteen years old, when he went to New Jersey and attended a preparatory school for one year, and afterwards Bryant and Stratton's Com- mercial College. On his return home from the latter institution, he began farming, which he has followed ever since with excellent success. He was married Decem- ber 6, 1879, to Lillie, daughter of John and Caroline Borden, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, aud to this union have been born four children, all of whom are living: 'James Graham; Nellie; Robert B., and Lillie. Mr. Ferguson is a Republican in politics, is a member of Jersey Shore Lodge, No. 101, I. O. O. F., and is one of the most successful and enterprising farmers of Porter township.

J. G. FISHER was born March 27, 1838, in Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Charles and Nancy (Gaylor) Fisher; when he was sixteen years of age his parents moved to Lycoming county, settling in Porter township, where our subject now resides. Mr. Fisher received a common school education and lived upon the homestead farm until 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, Thirteenth Penn- sylvania Cavalry. He served until the close of the war, and participated in the following engagements: Fisher's Hill, Hatcher's Run, Ream's Station, Winchester, Charles City Cross Roads, Deep Bottom, Boylan Plank Road, Traverton Station, and Charlottesville. At the close of the rebellion he returned to Lycoming county, and in 1871 engaged in the business of burning lime, which he has continued until the present time. Mr. Fisher was married in 1862 to Hester Shadle, of Nippenose valley; to this union have been born nine children, six of whom are living: Mar- garet, wife of Loren English; Sherman; Mary A .; Frank; Jeannette, and Martin. Politically he is a Republican, and is a member of the German Lutheran church of Clinton county. He is also a member of Major Keenan Post, G. A. R.

ABRAHAM H. SHEESLEY, farmer, was born April 21, 1829. His parents, Henry and Eunice (Harris) Sheesley, are residents of Lycoming county, and the parents of six children: Abraham H .; Andrew I .; Margaret Ann; Sarah Jane, who married Jacob Weber; Emma, and Fannie Elizabeth, who married Thomas Stephenson. Mr. Sheesley received a common school education, and has followed farming and lum- bering as an occupation. His parents lived upon his grandfather's farm, which was situated near Jersey Mills, for a few years after his birth, removing thence to the islaud, and from there to Porter township, where he has resided for about forty- seven years. His father was the first settler on the old furnace tract of 2,100 acres.

GEORGE W. BUFFINGTON, farmer and dairyman, son of S. S. and Catherine Buffington, was born July 29, 1847, iu Limestone township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and received a common school education. He was reared on a farm and has followed farming as a business all his life. He removed to his present homestead in 1881. He was married May 15, 1876, to Laura J., daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Ilgen) Burrell, and to this union have been born three children:

John Typearson

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Mabel Catherine, born September 11, 1878; Volula L., August 6, 1881, and Fred- erick B., July 18, 1885. Mr. Buffington is a Democrat in politics, and with his family belongs to the Lutheran church.

E. WENTZ, miller, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1839, son of John and Susannah (Kredler) Wentz. He received a common school education, and was reared on a farm. At the age of twenty-two years he embarked in the mer- cantile business at Hanover, Pennsylvania and continued there for two years. He afterwards followed the same business in Adams county for three years. He then settled in DuBoistown, Lycoming county, where he carried on a store for some time, and subsequently removed to Clinton county, and leased a grist mill, which he operated for two and a half years. He then purchased his present mill, which he has since conducted quite successfully. Mr. Wentz was married in 1862 to Eliza Matthias, of Maryland, and to this union have been born seven children, four of whom are living: Albert F., who married Elizabeth Ott; Emma, who married C. T. Cable; Elmer, and Minnie. Mr. Wentz is a Republican in politics, and has filled the office of school director. He is one of the successful business men of the com- munity in which he resides. His grist mill is just over the line in Clinton county, and is well adapted for doing custom and general work.

JACOB TOMB, a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and of German extrac- tion, settled in Northumberland county about the year 1786. Six months later he was driven out by the Indians and went to Cumberland county, where he remained two or three years. In November, 1791, he came to Pine creek, to what is now Slate Run. The trip was made up the Susquehanna river on a keel-boat, thence up Pine creek to Slate Run in canoes. He immediately commenced the erection of a saw and grist mill, which was finished in March, 1792, and operated for a number of years. Subsequently he removed to what is now known as Tomb's Run, and erected a distillery, which he operated until his death, about 1818. He was buried in the old graveyard on the farm where Jacob Gamble now resides. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Tomb was married twice. The name of his first wife is not known. Her children were as follows: Jacob; John, and Philip. The children by his second wife were: George; Benjamin; Henry; Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Gamble, and Catherine, who married James Gamble, all of whom are dead.

HENRY TOMB, third son of Jacob Tomb, by his second wife, was born in 1797, at Slate Run, where he was reared and educated. He was engaged with his father in the distilling business until the death of the latter. He then engaged in the lumber business, and also farmed, owning about 1,100 acres. He was an old-line Whig, and filled many of the township offices. He was a tide-water pilot for many years. Mr. Tomb died in 1882, a member of the Jersey Shore Presbyterian church, in which he filled the office of deacon. He married Ann Blackwell, a native of England, and to them were born the following children: George; Mary; Hannah; Matilda; Jane; Sarah; Philip; Enoch B .; Rachel; Harriet, and Henry. Mrs. Tomb died in 1864, and Mr. Tomb was again married, to Mrs. Lydia Flock, who survives him.

ENOCH B. TOMB, son of Henry Tomb, was born August 8, 1834. He was edu- cated in the common schools and reared on the farm. He is now engaged in farm-

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

ing about 100 acres of land, and also in lumbering. He was elected county commissioner in 1882, and has served as school director for many years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Tomb was married to Melvina, daughter of Alexander Forsyth, of Maryland, and to them have been born four chil- dren: Luellen; Harry; William, and Laura.

HENRY RORABAUGH was born November 7, 1800, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, son of Simon Rorabaugh, who emigrated from Germany to Berks county at an early date. The latter married Mary, daughter of Hugh Pugh of England, and to this union eight children were born, of whom Henry, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. Subsequently he removed to Steuben county, New York. Henry was reared in his native county and learned the molding trade. About 1821 he, settled in what is now Watson township, Lycoming county, where he was employed in the old Safe Harbor Forge, and also in other furnaces in that vicinity. In 1827 he married Harriet Cook, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Cook, who were natives of New Jersey, and of English parentage, and at that time residents of Steuben county, New York. In 1833 he removed to Waterville and in partnership with Joseph Kelton operated a saw mill, which was finally destroyed by a flood with a total loss of stock and lum- ber. He then went to farming, purchased 100 acres of land, and later 600 acres of timber land, cleared up a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits in connection with lumbering. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as class-leader and Sunday school superintendent for many years, and his house was a home for the weary itinerant preacher; he was highly respected by all, and especially kind to the poor. In politics he was a Democrat, and was school director for many years. To Henry and Harriet Rorabaugh were born six children: Samuel, deceased; Mary J., widow of Allen H. Thomas; Francis C .; Joseph H .; Sarah T., and Emily N. Mrs. Rorabaugh died May 6, 1855; her husband sur- vived her until August 26, 1884.

JOSEPH H. RORABAUGH was born December 11, 1842, and was educated in the common schools, and brought up at farming. At the death of his father he pur- chased the homestead, where he still resides. In 1878 he was married to Jennie M., daughter of John R. Hays, and to them have been born two children: Clyde and Guy. Mr. Rorabaugh is a Democrat and has filled the offices of mercantile appraiser, assessor, clerk, and school director, and secretary of the board for many years.

JOHN L. BROWN, farmer, was born in the house where he now resides, in Watson township, Lycoming county, November 4, 1831. His parents, Thomas and Pris- cilla (Fergusou) Brown, died in 1874, and February 25, 1834, respectively. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living: John L. ; Barbara; Pris- cilla, who married William Crawford, and Emma, who married Graffis Stewart. John L. received a common school education, and was brought up at agricultural pursuits, which he has since continued to follow. He was married March 13, 1861, to Angeline, daughter of William and Elizabeth Wilhelm, of Muncy township, and to this union have been born two children: Olive, a graduate of the Maryland Insti- tute Schools of Art and Design, Baltimore, Maryland, and Thomas Allison, a graduate of Sadler's Bryant and Stratton's Business College, of the same city. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and he and family are connected with the Baptist church.

JACOB HARER, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, emigrated to this country about

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. .

1825. He first located at Block House, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he pur- chased 100 acres of land and lived until 1841. During this year he bought 100 acres in Mifflin township, Lycoming county, where Mrs. Catharine Harer now lives. This he cleared and improved, and afterward purchased another tract of ninety-five acres, upon which he built a saw mill. He conducted the business of manufacturing lumber and farming for a number of years. He died in 1890. He donated a large portion of the lumber used in the erection of Frieden Evangelical church, to which he belonged, and was a class-leader in the same for many years. During his early life he was a Whig, but afterwards became a Democrat. Mr. Harer mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Zinck, of Block House, Pennsylvania, and to them were born the following children: Jacob; Mary, wife of Lewis Humm; George; Leonard; Elizabeth, wife of William Ulmer, and Phoebe, wife of Adam Fisher. Mrs. Harer died in 1879.

GEORGE HARER, the second son of Jacob Harer, was born March 26, 1832, at Block House, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He was reared in Mifflin township, and edu- cated in the common schools. He remained upon the homestead farm until he was twenty-seven, when he engaged in farming and operating a saw mill. After leasing the homestead for three years, he, in 1852, purchased his present farm of 105 acres, which he has cleared and improved. Mr. Harer was married to Lovina, daughter of Rev. John Young. She died in 1862, leaving one daughter, Lovina, wife of Will- iam Bardo. He was again married to Hannah Boger, and to this union were born ten children: Reuben; Daniel; Aaron; Susan; David; Hiram; Myron; Jacob; Mary E., and Sarah S. Mr Harer has filled the offices of supervisor, auditor, and school director for fifteen years, also tax collector. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member and trustee of Mount Pleasant Evangelical church.

ANDREW SIEGEL was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to the United "States in July, 1854. He settled in Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith, for six months. He then removed to Burlington county, New Jersey, where he farmed for two years, after which he located in Mifflin township, Lycoming county, where he purchased sixteen acres of land, built a shop, and engaged in the blacksmith business. There he resided until his death in June, 1887. Mr. Siegel was a Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran church. He married Christiana Leibold, of Wurtemberg, and to them were born the following children: John; Christian; William; Catherine; Frederick; Conrad; Solomon, and Abraham.

SOLOMON SIEGEL, the sixth son of Andrew Siegel, was born December 22, 1846, in Wurtemberg, Germany. He was principally reared in Mifflin township, and edu- cated in the common schools. September 1, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and saw service until the close of the war, partici- pating in the battles of Fort Fisher, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Raleigh, the same. State. At the close of the war he returned to Mifflin township, and in 1871 he purchased his present farm which he has since cleared and improved, and is engaged in general farming and lumbering. He is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of school director. Mr. Siegel was married in 1868 to Rachel, daughter of Joseph Losch, and to this union have been born eight children: Olive: Maggie; Chrissy; Kate; John; Charles; May, and Rachel, deceased. He is a mem- ber of Tomb's Run Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is class-leader.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

J. L. GULDIN, miller, was born May 31, 1825, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, son of Samuel and Catherine (Ludwick) Guldin, of French and English extraction. He- had the advantage of a common school education, which he paid for out of his own earnings, and until the age of twenty-one years he worked on a farm. At this time he began learning the milling business, which he has continued ever since, at the present time having the management of a grist mill owned by Simon Wallace. He was married in 1846, to Catherine, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Cleaver, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born six children, five of whom are living: Jonathan; Samuel; Elizabeth, who married Philip Myers; Melinda, who married Newton Carpenter, and Yorder, who married Margy Clark, a daughter of William Clark. " Mr. Guldin was a Republican for a number of years, but is now a. Prohibitionist. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JAMES H. LENTZ, farmer, was born July 19, 1854, in Nippenose valley, Lycoming county, and is a son of John and Catherine Lentz, who were the parents of thirteen children, as follows: Margaret, who married Henry Shadel; William; Mary, who married Hugh Purcell; Elizabeth, who married Vernon Mitchell; Julia, who married Jacob Everett; George; Rebecca, who married Paul Hayes; Emma, deceased wife of William Lininger; John Pierce; James H .; Robert; Alfred, and Miles. Mrs. Lentz died in 1874, and Mr. Lentz in 1882. The subject of this sketch received a common school education. He was brought up on a farm and has always followed that occupation. He was married in March, 1883, to Sarah, daughter of Jackson and Abbie Dongherty, of Pine creek, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born four children: Olive; Pearl; Frank, and Onieta. Mr. and Mrs. Lentz are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

JOSEPH HARTRANFT, farmer, is a son of Andrew and Mary M. (Frankenberger). Hartranft. Andrew Hartranft, who was of German extraction, died in October, 1833,. in Delaware township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. He married Mary M. Frankenberger, who died in the same house January 24, 1856. They were the parents of ten children: Henry, born June 14, 1810; Conrad, born in 1812; Mary,. who married John Moyer, born in 1814; John, born November 21, 1816; William, born March 15, 1819; Samuel, born April 3, 1821; Elizabeth, born November 5, 1823; Joseph, born March 19, 1826; Andrew Jackson, born Angust 12, 1828, and died July 13, 1890, and George, born July 16, 1832. Joseph received his education at the common schools of his native township, and was brought up on a farm. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed for thirty years, principally in Lycoming county. He is now engaged in farming. He volunteered in the war, in 1864, and was assigned to the Two Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Regiment, under command of Colonel Moore, and was in the engagement at Fort Fisher. He was mustered out at Raleigh, North Carolina, and arrived home in July of that year. He was married January 9, 1851, to Jane E., daughter of Henry and Ann (Blackwell) Tomb, and to this union have been born eleven children: Harriett T., born September 27, 1851, died July 23, 1852; Andrew Judson, born December 7, 1852; Ann Mary, born August 13, 1853, died April 14, 1855; Emma H., born July 21, 1856, died August 25, 1865; Enoch B., born December 24, 1857, died March 14, 1858; William Henry, born February 23, 1859; Joseph Arthur, born April 7, 1861;

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Daniel Moyer, born March 27, 1863, died August 19, 1865; Charles Bertram, born April 22, 1865, died September 29, 1869; Anna May, born March 23, 1867, and Eden T., born April 29, 1871. Mr. Hartranft is a Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Baptist church.

JOHN THOMAS was born in England, July 25, 1770, and came to the United States in boyhood and settled in Philadelphia. He learned the cutler's trade, and after he had completed his apprenticeship, he came to Piatt township, Lycoming county, in company with his brothers, George, Jesse, Thomas, Samuel, and William. They purchased the old iron furnace on Larry's creek about 1798, which they operated for some years, and then sold to Tomb & Slonaker. He afterwards farmed for Slonaker & Kreps for several years, and then purchased 180 acres of land, where Samuel Thomas now lives. He cleared and improved his farm until his death, which occurred February 20, 1843, by being thrown from a sleigh. Mr. Thomas married December 24, 1797, Mary, daughter of John Murphy of Larry's creek, a soldier of the Revolution, in which he served seven years. She was born July 25, 1781, and was the mother of fourteen children, as follows: George W .; Rebecca; Samuel; Elizabeth, who married Charles Baird; Charles; Maria, who married Anthony Pepperman; Margaret, who married Robert Baker; John; Sarah, who married Harvey Hetherlin; Juliann; Ellen, who married Thomas Cooley; Gid- eon D .; Jane K., who married Jacob Fessler, and Martha, who was twice married, first to David Bussler, and after his death to Jacob Hart. All of these are dead except Mrs. Fessler and Gideon D. Mr. Thomas was a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN THOMAS, JR., son of John and Mary (Murphy) Thomas, was born at the Forge on Larry's creek, June 11, 1811. He received a limited education, and lived with his parents until he was eighteen years old, and then began working in Man- ning Stevenson's saw mill in Loyalsock township, where he remained five years, and assisted in paying for the homestead farm, where Samuel Thomas now lives. He then returned home and took possession of a part of the farm, and followed farm- ing and lumbering on Larry's creek. He subsequently embarked in the mercantile business at Salladasburg, where he continued for over thirty years, and died Febru- ary 18, 1891. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Isaac Coudrick, who survives him and resides in Newberry. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years, and was a steward, class-leader, and superintendent of the Sunday school, and a trustee of the same for a period of twenty-five years. He was a Democrat all his life. Mr. Thomas was the father of eleven children, eight of whom are living: Samuel. P .; William W .; Manning S .; Charles A. ; Sylvester . .C .; Mary E., who married W. K. McCormick; Sarah E., who married R. W. McClaren, and Ida C., who married A. S. Williamson. Those deceased are: H. Amanda, who married H. J. Clinger; Martha Jane, who married W. K. McCor- mick, and John Franklin.

SAMUEL P. THOMAS was born in Fairfield township, January 16, 1837, and is the eldest son of John and Mary A. Thomas. He was reared in Mifflin township, received a common school education, and has always lived upon the old homestead. He was married in 1857, to Kate E. T., daughter of Henry Pepperman, who died in 1870, and left two children: Manning E., and Cora E., wife of H. W. Losch.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 128

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