History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 130

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

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JOHN WATTS was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of James and Sophia Watts. His father was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was a sergeant in Captain Taggart's company of Col. James Murray's Battalion in the Revolution. He was killed at Fort Freeland on the 28th of July, 1779, being caught by the Indians just outside the fort, and tomahawked. The subject of this sketch was born in 1793, on Warrior run, and on the breaking out of the war of 1812, he ran away from home and joined the Warrior Run Rifle Company, commanded by Capt. William McGuire of Northumberland county, and served throughout that war. In April, 1829, he settled on Larry's creek, in Mifflin township, Lycoming county, where Jacob Reichard now lives. In 1840 he purchased 100 acres of land, where John S. Williamson lives, which he partly cleared and improved. In 1844 he moved to Indiana, and settled near Elkhart City, where he died. Mr. Watts mar- ried Maria, daughter of. Samuel Chestnutwood of Mifflin county, who bore him twelve children: Samuel, and James, both deceased; Samuel C .; Thomas J .; Maria J., deceased wife of Samuel Mallory; John A .; Marjorie; David J. ; Phoebe T., wife of A. C. Williamson; Hannah E., who was twice married, first to William Yost, and afterwards to David Hollingshead; Eli M., and Jonathan W. Mrs. Watts survived her husband and died in Mifflin township, October 22, 1879. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

THOMAS J. WATTS was born December 3, 1825, in Turbut township, Northum- berland county, son of John and Maria Watts. He received a common school education, and early in life engaged in lumbering. In 1844 he and his brother pur- chased the old homestead from Samuel Humes, and lived there until 1852. He then bought his present farm of ninety- two acres, which he has since cleared and improved. He was married in 1848, to Lydia, daughter of John and Lydia Williamson, and has had four children: Samuel I., who married Susan Knight; Hannah M., wife of David Losch; John F., who married Georgianna Vandenberg, and Mary Ann, who died in her fourth year. Mr. Watts is a Republican, and was elected a justice of the peace in 1884, aud re-elected in 1889. He is a member of the Salladasburg Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been a trustee for fifteen years, and is also a class-leader and Sunday school superintendent in that organization. He is a member of Mifflin Grange, No. 250, P. of H.

GEORGE FISHER was born on the River Rhine, in Germany, in 1810. In 1828, with his brother Adam, he came to the United States and settled in Lewis township,

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Lycoming county, where they took up a tract of 300 acres. Adam died there, and George subsequently purchased a farm in Anthony. township, where George Fisher now lives, and resided there six years. He then purchased the present homestead of his son, J. J. Fisher, containing 130 acres, upon which he resided until his death, in January, 1875. Mr. Fisher married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Metzger, and their children were as follows: Catharine, wife of Frederick Friedel; Jacob J .; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Abram Waltz; Matilda, wife of William Waltz; Adam, of Watson township; Charles, of Iowa; John; Rebecca; wife of Henry Russie; Peter, and Sarah, wife of James Fink. Mrs. Fisher survives her husband, and resides with her son Jacob J. Politically he was a Democrat, and always took an interest in the improvement of his township, and laid out many of the early roads. He was a member of the Evangelical church, and gave liberally towards the erection of the church on Market street, in Williamsport, also to Frieden church, of Mifflin township, and the Warrensville church.

JACOB J. FISHER, son of George and Elizabeth Fisher, was born in Lewis town- ship, Lycoming county, February 29, 1836. He received a common school educa- tion, and has always been engaged in farming. At the age of twenty-four he settled in Mifflin township, and farmed on shares for seven years, and afterwards five years in Hepburn, and two years in Lycoming township. He then returned to the homestead, which he subsequently purchased, and now carries on the dairy business in connection with farming, establishing the former in 1890. Mr. Fisher married in 1858, Mary, daughter of Rev. John Young, and has the following children : Emma, wife of Edward Heyd; Sarah E., wife of H. F. Harer; Avlin D .; Ida, wife of S. O. Harer; George A .; Floyd E., and Mary T. Mr. Fisher is a Republican, and an ardent temperance advocate. He is a member of the Evangelical church, has been a steward for twenty years, and is a trustee in that organization.

GOTTLIEB GINTER was the son of German parents, and was born in the United States in 1806, soon after the coming of his parents to this country. They settled in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where our subject grew to maturity. In 1849 he came to Lycoming county, and purchased seventy-five acres of land in Mifflin township, where John Cline now lives. He cleared and improved this farm, and died thereon in 1859. He was a tailor by trade, and followed that business before coming to this county. He married Mary A. Steiger, who bore him the following children: George; John M .; Caroline, wife of James Patton; Margaret, wife of George Gohl; Jacob; William; Lewis; Henry, and Joseph. Mr. Ginter was a class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. He was a Democrat, but took no active part in political matters. His widow survived him until 1891.

JACOB GINTER, son of Gottlieb and Mary A. Ginter, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1836. He received a common school education, and remained with his parents until he reached manhood. He then worked for different parties at lumbering and farming until 1865, when he purchased his present home- stead of 130 acres, which he has since cleared and improved. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Heyd, of Mifflin township, who has had four children: Anna M., . deceased; Rosa M .; Charles A., and Nellie V. Mr. Ginter is a Republican in politics, and is a steward and trustee in the Methodist Episcopal church.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN G. SIEGEL was born July 8, 1832, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and grew to manhood in his native land. In 1854 he immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and found employment at the shoemaker's trade, which business he had learned in Germany. In 1856 he came to Williamsport, and worked at his trade until 1861. He then enlisted in Company E, Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until 1863, when he was discharged for disability. He participated in the marches and battles in which his regiment was engaged, and took part in the Seven Days' campaign before Richmond, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. Re- turning to Lycoming county he located at Salladasburg, and engaged in merchan- dising in connection with shoemaking, which he followed eleven years at that village. In 1879 he purchased his present farm of sixty acres, on which he estab- lished a distillery, and has since conducted that business quite successfully. Mr. Siegel was married in 1865, to Mary A., daughter of Leonard Kiess, who has borne him a family of eight children: Jennie; Andrew; Fred; John; Margaret; Samuel; Thomas, deceased, and Clare, deceased. Politically Mr. Siegel was originally a Republican, but subsequently joined the Democratic party, and is still connected with that organization. He has filled the offices of jury commissioner, auditor, assessor, constable, and school director, and has been quite active in the public affairs of his township. He is a member of the Lutheran church.

C. B. BASTIAN, M. D., was born in White Deer valley, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, May 18, 1861, and is a son of Dr. J. C. Bastian of Elimsport. He was educated in the common schools, and at Wood's Commercial College, Williamsport, and was bookkeeper for the Standard Nail and Iron Company five years. He read medicine with Dr. W. B. Konkle of Montoursville, and graduated at Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, in the spring of 1889. Dr. Bastian commeuced practice at Salladasburg in April, 1889, where he has since continued in the active duties of his profession. He was married, September 16, 1886, to Emma J., daughter of .Jacob Schuck, and has three children: Jeanette R .; Carrie E., and Harold J. Politically he is a Democrat, and is an adherent of the Lutheran church. He is a member of the Lycoming County and West Branch Medical Societies, and has built up a good practice since locating at Salladasburg.

JAMES CARPENTER was one of the pioneers of Lycoming county. He was a son of Thomas Carpenter, a native of Nottingham, England, who came to America during the Revolution and served in that war for Independence. Soon after the close of that struggle for liberty, James Carpenter came to the West Branch valley and took up 700 acres of land on what is now the line of Anthony and Woodward townships, Lycoming county, upon which he spent the balance of his life. He never obtained his patent for this land, but it was afterwards obtained by his grandsons, Jesse B. and David J. Carpenter. His children were: William, and Samuel, both of whom removed to Indiana; John; James; Polly, who married John Cohick; and Mary, who married George Bennett, all of whom are dead.

JOHN CARPENTER, third son of James Carpenter, was born on the homestead farm in this county in 1788. He grew to manhood and cleared up a portion of the land upon which he afterward resided. He married Mary, daughter of John and Eliz- abeth Campbell, of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 4. 1806. She died August 6, 1847; he survived her until 1865. Their family consisted of the

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

following children: Elizabeth, deceased wife of Andrew Marshall; David, of Jersey Shore, who was twice married, first to Mary Ware, and afterwards to Rachael Mitcheltree; Priscilla, deceased wife of John Pepperman, deceased; Jesse B .; Nancy, who died in infancy; Susan A., deceased wife of Levi Tate, deceased; Sophia, wife of Jonas Newcome; Mary A., deceased wife of J. L. Rank; John J., of Iowa, who married Mary Marshall; William, who died in infancy, and Rebecca, deceased. In early life Mr. Carpenter was a Whig, and subsequently a Republican.

JESSE B. CARPENTER, second son of John and Mary Carpenter, was born October 10, 1813, in Woodward township, Lycoming county. He was reared upon the old homestead, and received such an education as the common schools of that period afforded. After he grew to manhood he and his brother secured the patent for the tract entered by his grandfather, a portion of which is still owned by members of the family. In 1866 he purchased his present home of 125 acres in Piatt township, where he has since resided. Mr. Carpenter was married May 20, 1847, to Phebe Ann, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Carpenter of Eldred township. Four children are the fruits of this union: Joseph R .; William B., deceased; John W., and Asher M. Mr. Carpenter is one of the leading farmers of his township, and is a trustee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church of his neighborhood. Throughout his life-long residence in Lycoming county he has been recognized as an industrious and honorable citizen, a man whose character is above reproach, and whose success has been attained by a conscientious performance of duty. He is a kind and charit- able neighbor, and ever ready to help the needy and afflicted. Politically, he has always been a stanch Democrat, and is also a firm advocate of the temperance cause. Both he and wife are now spending their declining years in the mutual love and respect of home and family, and in the enjoyment of the comforts which their indus- trious and economical habits have won.

WILLIAM RIDDELL was one of the prominent and worthy citizens of this part of Lycoming county. He became a resident of Piatt township in 1817, where he resided the remainder of his life, with the exception of one and one-half years which were spent in Jersey Shore. He married Mary Berryhill, who survived him three years. He was elected county commissioner in 1836, and served one term; was elected sheriff in 1844, and after the close of his term of service in that office, he was foreman on the canal for several years, and was afterwards elected county commissioner for a second term. He died April 8, 1879, and his widow, February 20, 1892. Mr. Riddell was a leading Democrat, and both he and wife were Presby- terians.

C. B. RIDDELL was born September 7, 1840, on his present homestead in Piatt township, Lycoming county, and is a son of William and Mary (Berryhill) Riddell. He received a public school education, and has worked on a farm the greater part of his life. In 1863 he enlisted in an independent company under General Couch, and was mustered out and discharged during that same year at Harrisburg. He was appointed postmaster at Larry's Creek by the Cleveland administration, and still holds that position. He became station agent at Larry's Creek for the Fall Brook railroad, June 12, 1883, was the first station master, and is the only one remaining on the Pine Creek division of the original appointees. He was married April 12, 1876, to Mary, daughter of William and Lydia Marshall, natives of Lycom-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ing county, and residing at the time in Piatt township. To this union have been born six children: William B., born September 7, 1867; John B., born July 9,- 1869; Lydia M., born October 24, 1872; George W., born April 24, 1874; Charles - B., born October 2, 1878, and Ralph B., born July 7, 1881. Politically he is a .. Democrat, belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of the G. A. R.

EDWARD H. RUSSELL was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and4 was a son of Evan, Russell, who commanded a company under Washington in the Revolutionary war. Evan Russell removed from Lancaster county to Centre county. where he died at the Curtin Iron Works in 1838. He was a forge carpenter, and was superintendent in the erection of those works. Edward learned the trade of an iron worker, and about 1824 he came to Lycoming county. He operated a milli on Larry's creek for many years. In early life he was a Whig, and afterwards a Republican. He served one term as county commissioner, and was a justice of the peace for many years. He was also a candidate for the legislature at one time, but was defeated. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and it was largely through his exertions that Mt. Zion church, of Piatt township, was erected in 1845. Mr. Russell married Jane, daughter of John Knox, who came to this county from Maryland. Three sons and four daughters were born to them, as fol- lows: John, who crossed the plains in the expedition against the Mormons in 1857, and started for Pike's Peak in the spring of 1858, and perished in the mountains; Evan, of Williamsport; Edward H., who went west in 1877, and died in Kansas; Lucinda, wife of Thomas Hughes, of Linden, Lycoming county; Elizabeth, widow of Anthony M. King, of Jersey Shore; Margaret, deceased wife of Frank Bowers, and Julia, widow of A. P. Harris, of Jersey Shore. Mr. Russell died in 1866.

ROBERT KING, son of John and Martha (Marshall) King, and grandson of Robert King, was born in July, 1823, on the homestead where he resided up to his recent death. He received a common school education, and grew to manhood under the parental roof. After his father's death, he and his brother, William R., purchased the homestead. In early life he engaged in the lumber business, which he followed in connection with farming. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM R. KING, son of John and Martha (Marshall) King, was born upon the old homestead where he now lives, June 15, 1838. He received a common school education, and subsequently attended the Jersey Shore high school and Dickinson Seminary. He began teaching at the age of twenty-three, and taught during the winter seasons for ten years, and followed agricultural pursuits in connection there- with. On the death of his father he returned to the homestead, which he and his. brother, Robert, purchased, and upon which he has resided since that time. Mr. King was married in 1867, to Mary J., daughter of J. B. Robinson of Salladasburg, who. has borne him a family of nine children, as follows: Jennie M., wife of J. F. Sweeley; Addie B .; John F .; Edward; Franklin; William; Harry; Cynthia, and' Artman. Mr. King has filled the offices of anditor, school director, and judge and inspector of elections in his township, and has been one of the assessors for a num- ber of years. In politics he is a Republican, and is liberal in his religious opinions.

JOHN BICKELL was a native of Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1830. He was a gardener by trade, and spent a short time-

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

in several places before settling at Block House, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased forty acres of land, upon which he resided up to his death. Mr. Bickell was twice married, first to Dorothea Keltz, who bore him the following chil- dren: John; George, and Catharine, all of whom remained in Germany. His second wife was Elizabeth Snyder, who became the mother of eight children, as follows: John; Matthias; Andrew, deceased; Mary, deceased; Hannah, widow of James Moore; Susan, deceased; Rachel, of Ohio, and Sarah, deceased. John Bickell was one of the Great Napoleon's soldiers, and served in the disastrous Russian campaign. His regiment went out 1,200 strong, only six of whom ever returned alive. Mr. Bickell was a Lutheran, and a quiet, respected citizen.

MATTHIAS BICKELL, second son of John and Elizabeth Bickell, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 10, 1824. He came with his parents to Penn- sylvania, and was reared in Tioga county. He learned the carpenter's trade, and followed that business at Blossburg and Block House, Pennsylvania, also in Ohio for many years. In 1885 he purchased a farm of 295 acres, which he improved by the erection of substantial buildings. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Cohick, who has borne him the following children: Lydia, wife of James Davidson; fohn, of Michigan; Montgomery, of Newberry; William, of Porter township; Eliza- heth, deceased wife of E. Hemford; Joseph, of Jersey Shore; Elmer; Mcclellan; S. Ellsworth, a physician of Jersey Shore; Grant, and Gearie. Mr. Bickell is a Republican, is a member of the Christian church, and is connected with the I. O. O. F.

SAMUEL A. BARTO was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1830, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gillman) Barto. His grandfather, John Barto, was one of the pioneers of Union county. His father was a carpenter, which business he followed all his life. He reared seven children: Jonathan, of Illinois; William; Samuel A .; Sarah, wife of Henry Forney; Catharine, deceased wife of David McDaniel; Susan, wife of Samuel Lorman, and Ellen, wife of Frank Kneibler. Samuel, Sr., died in 1884. He was a Democrat in politics, and a Lutheran in relig- ion. The subject of this sketch was reared in Danville, Pennsylvania, and received a public school education. At the age of eighteen he located at Jersey Shore, learned the carpenter's trade, and engaged in that business at Liberty, Tioga county. He remained there seven years, and two years later located on his present farm in Piatt township, where he carried on his trade in connection with farming. Mr. Barto was married in 1852, to Henrietta, daughter of William Dieffenbacher, and has had the following children: William D. and Abner A., both deceased; Frances, wife of Samuel C. Willitts; Elmer, and Sarah E., deceased. Elmer married Mary McLaughlin, and has three children: Weldon F .; William D., and Henrietta. Mr. Barto is a Republican, and has filled several of the local offices of his township. He is a class-leader in the Evangelical church, and is superintendent of the Sunday school in that organization.

ELI STONE was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and came to Lycoming county towards the close of the last century, and settled on the Muncy Hills. He was twice married, first to Grace Kelly, who bore him three children: Ellen, who married Robert Ray; Ann, who became the wife of Thomas McKee, and George F. His second wife was Barbara Dimm, who had one child, Phoebe. He died at the home of his son-in-law, Thomas McKee.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE F. STONE, only son of Eli and Grace Stone, was born April 17, 1816. His mother died when he was an infant of four months, and he was reared by his uncle, Abraham Taylor. He received a common school education, learned the har- ness maker's trade, and carried on that business at Jersey Shore, in connection with Thomas Longen. He subsequently sold his interest to J. B. Gamble, and engaged in the livery and stage business, which he had already established, and ran it for twenty years. From 1863 to 1871 he carried on the Franklin House in Jersey Shore, and in the latter year removed to Mississippi and engaged in farming. He afterwards went to Arkansas, and thence to St. Louis, Missouri, where he followed the mercantile business seven years. He then returned to Lycoming county, retired from active business, and now resides with his son, T. B. Stone, of Piatt township. He was married in 1843, to Sarah A., daughter of the late Judge Solomon Bastress, and has one child, Tucker B. Mr. Stone is a Republican, and has filled several offices in Jersey Shore.

TUCKER B. STONE, only child of George F. and Sarah A. Stone, was born August 19, 1844. He received a public school education in Jersey Shore, and afterwards attended the West Branch High School. He engaged in the hotel business with his father, and was also connected with him in business in the South and West. In 1874 he located in St. Louis, and embarked in the wholesale notion business, under the firm name of J. R. Ern & Company, which he followed three years. He subse- quently engaged in the manufacture of emory wheels for two years. Returning to Lycoming county, he located on his present farm of 100 acres, and has since fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. Mr. Stone was married in 1877 to Anna, daughter of John Mclaughlin, and has two sons, John M. and Fred. He has been a school director for six years, and in politics is a Republican.

FREDERICK HARMAN was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1792, and immigrated with his two brothers, John and George, to the United States in 1808. John set- tled in Mifflin township, Lycoming county, and George in Hepburn township, and both spent their lives in their respective localities. Frederick was a shoemaker by trade, but worked on a farm for a Mr. Lowmiller, who lived near Williamsport, for a number of years. He then settled at Block House, Tioga county, and cleared up a farm of seventy-five acres. About 1852 he purchased seventy-seven acres of land near the head of Tomb's run, in Watson township, Lycoming county, where he lived until 1880, and then made his home with his son Samuel until his death, in 1885. He married Susanna Hartman, who died in 1862. She was a native of Block House, Tioga county, and bore him four children: Margaret, wife of Jacob Hair; Elizabeth, wife of Christ Yetley of Iowa; Samuel of Piatt township, and John of Anthony township. Mr. Harman was a Democrat, and was a member of the Evangelical church.

SAMDEL HARMAN, son of Frederick and Susanna Harman, was born in Mifflin town- ship, Lycoming county, June 24, 1842. He was reared in Mifflin and Watson town- ships, and received a common school education. At the age of twenty-four he engaged in farming the homestead, where he remained until 1880, and then purchased his present place, which contains seventy-two acres. Mr. Harman was married in 1866, to Mary, daughter of Eli Fincher of Woodward township, and has two children, Charles E. and Minnie B. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, Two

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Fort Fisher and Deep Bottom, and also in the Carolina campaign. He is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is a Republican.

GEORGE T. WOLF was born in what is now Porter township, Lycoming county, and is a son of Henry M. and Mary (Gamble) Wolf. He was reared on the home- stead at Jersey Mills, and received a common school education. He worked on the farm in the summer, and followed lumbering during the winter season. In Sep- tember, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served three years. He participated in the seven days' fight before Richmond, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, and other engagements, and was mustered out of service September 6, 1864. He was engaged in lumbering for his brothers, James and Michael, until 1878, and then embarked in farming in partnership with his father. In 1886 he purchased his present homestead of eighty-three acres, upon which he has since resided. Mr. Wolf was married in 1882, to Miss Addie De France, who has borne him two children: Mary E., deceased, and Harry H. He is an ardent Democrat, and is a member of the Baptist church of Jersey Shore.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 130

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