History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 131

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

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AARON B. ARTMAN was born in what is now Lewis township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1817, and is now in his seventy-fifth year. His boyhood days were spent on the homestead farm, and he was nine years old before he began attending the old log school house of pioneer days, presided over by a pedagogue of "severe and forbidding countenance with a big rod." He attended school during the winter sessions of three months each until the age of nineteen; the balance of the time was spent on the farm and in the weave shop. At the age of nineteen he taught two terms of school at Hughesville, then taught at Turbut- ville and Warrior Run, and next at McEwensville for seven years in succession. He continued teaching until 1852, when he accepted the agency for several insur- ance companies, as traveling agent, and successfully continued in that business for ten years, after which he was engaged in farming and teaching school until his hearing became so impaired that he was compelled to bid a regretful good-bye to the school room. In 1878 he came to Lycoming county, and in 1889 he accepted the position of bookkeeper and salesman at the woolen mills of his brother, Capt. Daniel Artman, on Larry's creek, which he continued to fill until the mills were burned. Mr. Artman has been prominent in local politics since early manhood, when he was elected and commissioned a captain in the State militia." For fifteen years in succession he was either judge, inspector, or clerk of election, and was also assessor, and a justice of the peace ten years in Northumberland county. He is now serving his second term as justice of the peace in Lycoming county, and has been tax collector of Piatt township for six years in succession. He is toll keeper for the Larry's Creek Plank Road Company, and is one of the best known and most popular citizens in his township.

J. B. STEWART, son of William H. and Amanda (Cox) Stewart, was born Feb- ruary 21, 1855, and reared on the homestead in Woodward township, Lycoming county. He attended the public schools of his native township, and was reared a farmer. He resided upon the homestead until January 16, 1885, when he settled upon his present farm of seventy acres, and has since been engaged in general farming.

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He was married June 5, 1886, to Belle, daughter of James Mahaffey, and has a family of three children: Charles E .; Amanda E., and Mary W. Mr. Stewart is a stanch Democrat, and takes an active interest in educational matters, being now a member of the school board of his district.

DAVID JUNOD came to the United States in 1806. He settled in Jersey Shore, where he engaged in the blacksmith business. He died at the age of eighty years in 1863. He was married in France to Mary J. Uranie and to them were born twelve children: Ullalie; Charlotte; Zemmie; Elizabeth; Juliann; Malinda; Phenilla; Sarah J .; Andrew; Samuel H .; John, and Thomas. Mr. Junod was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty years.

SAMUEL H. JUNOD, second son of David Junod, was born in Jersey Shore in 1822. He was educated in the common schools and learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed for eleven years. He was next engaged in the butcher business for nine years and subsequently followed farming at Level Corner for some time. He then purchased his present farm of 174 acres in Piatt township. Mr. Junod married Mary J. Martin, who died in 1855, leaving five children: Robert Mc .; Erie; Albert; Emma, and Vinely. His second wife was Nancy Hughes, who died in February, 1890; by this union there were three children: Samuel, born in 1861, who married Margery T. English, and has two children: Harry and Lincoln; Harry, deceased, and J. W., who was born July 7, 1868, and married Charlotte Hager.

SAMUEL SHEASLY, miller, was born August 18, 1850, in Buffalo, New York, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sherry) Sheasly.) Jacob Sheasly was born in Buffalo, New York, and his wife was a native of West Buffalo, the same State. They resided the greater portion of their lives in West Buffalo, and are buried in Mackville cemetery, Clinton county, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of seven children: Phisiala; Henry; Mary A., who married George A. Shaw, of Illinois; Daniel, who resides in Green township, Clinton county; Charles, who lives at Antes Fort; Samuel, and George, who lives in Centre county. Samuel received a common school education, and in 1865 enlisted in a reserve company, and lay at Alexandria for two years, when he was mustered out and finally discharged at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; he also served five years in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, but previous to join- ing the National Guard, and after his discharge from the Reserves, he spent six months in learning bookkeeping, and afterwards learned the milling business in the Eagle Mills, Bald Eagle township, Clinton county, and has followed this occupation ever since. He was married July 12, 1874, to Elsie, daughter of Hamilton and Elizabeth More, of Flemington, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born five children, all of whom are living: Clara G .; Edgar C .; Heary M. ; George P., and Arthur W. Mr. Sheasly and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is identified with the Republican party.

JOHN WURSTER, owner and proprietor of a saw mill at Millville, Piatt township, was born in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1849, son of Christopher and Rose Wurster, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1848. They located on Wallis run, Lycoming county, where they resided until their death, which occurred in 1885, and 1887, respectively. John Wurster received a common school education and attended the normal school at Montoursville for a few terms. He has followed the saw mill business the greater portion of his life. He was married

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in 1883, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Metzler, of Anthony township, and to this union have been born three children: Nora and Cora, twins, born December 19, 1884, and Maud, born June 8, 1886. « Mr. Wurster is a Democrat in politics, and belongs to the Evangelical church; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHAPTER LIII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. .

BOROUGH OF MONTGOMERY, AND CLINTON, BRADY, ARMSTRONG (INCLUDING DUBOISTOWN), WASHINGTON, NIPPENOSE, LIMESTONE, BASTRESS, AND SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIPS.

LEVI HOUSTON, capitalist and manufacturer, was born in Enfield, New Hamp- shire, August 21, 1835, son of John and Judith (Cox) Houston, both natives of New Hampshire. He left his native town when he was twelve years old, moving with his parents to Manchester, New Hampshire. He received a common school education in the schools of Enfield and Manchester, after which he learned the machinist trade in the Amoskeag machine shops at 'the latter city. After having charge as foreman in a department of a machine shop in Lawrence, Massachussetts, for four years, he returned to Manchester and was in partnership with his father in a black - smith shop for one year. He was then employed as superintendent of a department of the H. B. Smith's Wood Working Machine Works at Lowell, Massachusetts, for seven years, after which he was transferred to Shrevesville, afterwards known as- Smithsville, Burlington county, New Jersey, where he worked for this party another seven years. In 1873 he came to Montgomery, Lycoming county, and started a foundry in a building 45x60 feet, and also a shop 45x100 feet. From that begin- ning his enterprise has grown to its present capacity; it is the largest individual plant of the kind in the United States, employing 250 men, and the products are shipped to all civilized countries on the globe. In 1888 he added a planing mill, 75x150 feet, two stories high, together with two drying kilns, 20x80 feet. The pres- ent borough of Montgomery owes its growth and prosperity to Mr. Houston, as he started his business in that place when there was scarcely any town at all. In 1890 he erected a new hotel at Montgomery, which is one of the finest in the county. He also established a mercantile house in that place in 1881, and has since done the leading business of the community, under the firm name of Houston & Company. Mr. Houston is a Republican in politics, but in late years he has taken no active interest in political matters. He was first married in 1858, to Miss Celia Fredericks, a native of Massachussetts, who died in 1866. To this union was born one son, Harry Houston, who was drowned at Montgomery in 1873, when he was seven years old. He was again married, in 1867, to Miss Louisa Mirick, a native of New Hampshire, and to this union have been born two children: Celia Mirick, and Paul- ine Mirick. Mr. Houston has a residence in Williamsport and also in Montgomery,

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living alternately at these places, winter and summer. He is what may be termed a self-made man, beginning his business life with $2,500, which he had earned by diligent application at his trade; this amount has been judiciously invested and has grown to large proportions. He is the owner of much real estate, and is well known as one of the most philanthropic and liberal men in Lycoming county .- Since the foregoing was written, Mr. Houston has died, his death occurring on Wednesday morning, July 27, 1892.

D. W. SHOLLENBERGER, head clerk in the late Levi Houston's offices at Mont- gomery, was born July 26, 1857, in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, son of Will- oughby and Sophia (Wiekley) Shollenberger. His parents came to Lycoming county in 1872. They settled in Limestone township in 1872, where they remained until 1877, when they removed to Montgomery. The father is a miller and is employed by L. C. Kinsey in his mill. Willoughby and Sophia Shollenberger are members of the Lutheran church and the parents of six children: D. W .; William L .; Valeria, who married E. W. Reed; Laura, who married William Davis; Lizzie, and Daniel A. When D. W. Shollenberger was large enough to work, he secured employment on the farm of William L. Walcott, and by this means secured money to defray his expenses at school. In the spring of 1877 he entered the normal school at Mon- toursville, and later attended the normal school at Muncy, subsequently teaching one term of school in Woodward, and four terms in Clinton township. In the spring of 1882 he went to Professor Wood's Business College, Williamsport, from which he was graduated the same year. He was then employed by Levi Houston as bookkeeper, and was later on promoted to his present position. In 1880 he was married to Hannah M., daughter of Joseph Heilman, and to this union have been born four children: Clara M., deceased; Edmund K .; Martha, and Alma. Mr. Shollenberger is a mem- ber of the Masonic order; has been connected with the school board as its secretary since the organization of the borough of Montgomery; is a director and treasurer of the Fairview Cemetery Association; is a member and treasurer of the building com- mittee of the Lutheran church and deserves much credit for the good he has done for that organization, of which both he and wife are consistent members. Mr. Shollen- berger is an active Republican, and a director and member of the executive commit- tee of the Board of Trade of Montgomery. He has been a resident of Montgomery since 1874 and is a gentleman trustworthy in every respect and merits the respect of the community in which he resides.

ALEXANDER DECKER immigrated with his wife and family from Germany to America in 1834, and located in what is known as Mosquito valley, Armstrong township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, being one of the first settlers of that section. He married Elizabeth Herman, and to them were born eight children: Two deceased in infancy; Catherine, who married John Lehman; Elizabeth B., who is the widow of a Mr. Ritter of Vandalia, Illinois; Henrietta, deceased wife of Jacob Sweely, also deceased; Gottleib F., who married Miss Mary Fousel, and resides on the old home- stead in Armstrong township; Henry, and John C., who married Julia Fousel. Alexander Decker died in March, 1878, and his wife in 1874. They were members of the Lutheran church.

HENRY DECKER, farmer, was born in Wittemberg, Germany, April 11, 1833, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Herman) Decker. He was educated in the common

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schools, and has devoted the greater part of his life to farming. May 3, 1855, he was married to Miss Mary Herr, and to this union have been born twelve children: Henry; Rosanna, deceased; Catherine; Alexander; William; George; Mary; John; Frank; Edward; Albert, and Isaac. Mr. Decker and wife are members of the Lutheran church. When Henry Decker had grown to manhood he settled on a farm in Clin- ton township; and although he has lived there since 1856, he is very largely identi- fied with the business interests of Montgomery. He is noted as a builder, and has invested more in local improvements than any other mau, except Levi Houston. He owns more dwelling houses than any other person in the town, and leases them at a nominal rent in order to enable the occupants to acquire a home by purchase on easy terms. His farm in Clinton township is large and well kept. Mr. Decker is a Democrat and has served as school director, supervisor, and assessor, and as a dele- gate to county conventions. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church in Brady township, in which he has been deacon.

WILLIAM DECKER, treasurer of the Montgomery Table Works, Limited, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, son of Henry and Mary (Herr) Decker. This establishment was chartered in January, 1889, by William Decker, H. M. Weller, and C. W. Fair, with a capital stock of $10,000. Messrs. Decker and Weller subsequently purchased the interest of C. W. Fair, and are now sole proprietors of this valuable enterprise, doing a business of $50,000 a year.

A. P. HULL, physician and surgeon, was born at Washingtonville, Montour county, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1849, son of Thomas R. and Elizabeth (Mc- Cormick) Hull. His father was boru near Milton, Pennsylvania, and received his education at the old Milton Academy. About 1832 he entered Lafayette College, and subsequently read medicine under Doctors James S. Dougal and William Mc- Cleery, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1838. He practiced medicine in Washingtonville until 1861, when he removed to Milton and continued the active duties of his profession until his death, May 25, 1886. He was a skill- ful. careful, and conscientious physician, and enjoyed a large and lucrative prac- tice. He was a member of the electoral college which elected Lincoln to the pres- idency in 1860. He was also chief burgess of Milton two terms, and always took a deep interest in the public schools. When Dr. A. P. Hull was twelve years old his parents moved to Milton, where he attended the Milton Academy until 1864, when, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and saw service until the fall of 1865. In the spring of 1866 he entered the Tuscarora Academy in Juniata county, where he remained two and one half years. During the summer of 1868 he went to Yale College, where he prosecuted his studies until 1870. From 1870 to 1871 he was private tutor for the family of Mrs. Harriet Marr, who lived near Milton. He also read medicine during this year under his father. In the fall of 1871 he became a student at Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in March, 1873. He com- menced the practice of his profession at the borough of Montgomery, Lycoming county, during the same year in which he was graduated. He has devoted his whole time to his profession, and like all who love their occupation, has been very successful. Dr. Hull is a member of the Lycoming County Medical Society and served as its vice-president; he is also a member of the State Medical Society, and

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the American Medical Association. He is surgeon for the Pennsylvania railroad, having been appointed in 1879. He was the first burgess of Montgomery and has always taken a deep interest in the municipal affairs of the town. He is pres- ident of the Board of Trade of Montgomery, and is president of the Montgomery branch of the Hagerstown Building and Loan Association. He is a director of the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and is a member of the planing mill firm of Henderson, Hull & Company, which he was instrumental in starting after it had been burned. In his political proclivities Dr. Hull is an active Republican, and served as a member of the county committee for many years.

WILLIAM MENGES, of the firm of Henderson, Hull & Company, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, son of Solomon and Catherine (Barnhart) Menges. Solomon Menges was born in Northumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, and was a cooper by trade, but followed farming the greater part of his life. He was twice commissioned as captain of the Pennsylvania militia. He married Catherine Barnhart, and to them were born seven children: Elizabeth; John, deceased; Samuel B .; Solomon, deceased; Susan; Daniel, and William. Solomon Menges was a member of the Lutheran church, helped to build many of the churches in his neighborhood, and died in 1841, followed by his widow in 1864. William Menges was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of a plasterer, which he followed for a short time in connection with lumbering and rafting. In 1883 he, in company with Henderson & Hull, erected their present planing mill at Montgomery, where he has since remained. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, was a non-commissioned officer, and was discharged in May, 1863. The following June he enlisted in Company B, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Militia, and was commis- sioned as first lieutenant. His brother, Samuel B., also served his country in time of need, and was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg. Mr. Menges was married in 1872 to Susan Mosteller, of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and to them has been born one child, Minnie. He is a member of D. L. Mont- gomery Post, No. 264, G. A. R.

THOMAS E. GRADY, editor of the Montgomery Mirror, was born, June 7, 1862, in England, son of Patrick and Catharine (Cain) Grady, also natives of that country. His father emigrated to America in 1864, and was followed by his wife and son, Thomas E., in 1868. The family located in Williamsport, where the father died and the mother is living. Their living children are: Thomas E .; Michael; Mary A .; John, and Kate. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Clinton town- ship, and at the Muncy Normal. He learned telegraphy at Montoursville, and took the position of operator for the Philadelphia and Erie railroad at Mont- gomery in 1885, which position he has since filled. He became interested in the Montgomery Mirror in 1890. Mr. Grady married Margaret Berrigan of Williams- port, and to this union have been born four children: John; Thomas L .; Frank, and Paul. Mr. Grady is a Democrat and has served as treasurer and councilman of Montgomery, two terms in each office. He and wife belong to the Catholic church at Williamsport.

J. G. MCCUTCHEON, one of the proprietors of the Montgomery Mirror, was born, November 24, 1866, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, son of James and Elizabeth

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(Logan) Mccutcheon. He was educated in the Milton public schools. At the age of eighteen years he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Miltonian, and subsequently became foreman of that journal. He held that position until March, 1892, when he purchased a half-interest in the Mirror and has given his time to the interests of that paper ever since. He married Maggie P. Swartz and to them have been born three sons: John L .; James H., and Harold. Mr. Mccutcheon belongs to the Sons of Veterans and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and is a member of the Milton Military Band. He is a Republican in politics.

REV. SAMUEL M. MOUNTZ was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 8, 1858, son of Philip and Caroline (Snyder) Mountz. He was educated in the common schools and the Cumberland County Institute, at Mechanicsburg, his native county. After teaching school for two years, he took a theological course at New Berlin, Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-one years, he accepted a charge at Leesburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for three years. Following this was a service of one year at Millheim, Centre county, Pennsylvania, and four years at Thompsontown, Juniata county, Pennsylvania. He then came to Lairdsdville, in Franklin township, Lycoming county, where by earnest efforts he succeeded in completing a beautiful church edifice, and also built a Lutheran church at Gor- den's Grove. The Lairdsville charge comprises the Lairdsville church, the More- land Lutheran church; the Lutheran church of Muncy Hill, and Gorden's Grove Lutheran church-all constituting a membership of about 200. At the dedication of the Gorden's Grove church, December 14, 1890, it was not necessary to resort to the usual custom of raising money, as all bills were paid when the edifice was completed. Having been unanimously elected and urgently called to the pastor- ate of the Lutheran church at Montgomery, Pennsylvania, he accepted and moved there about February 15, 1892. Rev. Mountz was married, April 24, 1885, to Miss Abbie Strohm, of Leesburg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.

JOHN KINSEY is descended from a Mr. Kinsey who come to America with William Penn, his mother being of Scotch-Irish parentage. He removed from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to Lycoming county, in 1836, and embarked in the mercan- tile business at Clinton Mills, about one mile from the present site of the borough of Montgomery. In 1841 he returned to Luzerne county, where he remained three years, and then came back to this county, resuming his mercantile business and con- tinuing the same until he died. 'He was treasurer of Lycoming county for one term. He married Mary B. Campbell and to them were born nine children: James and Milton, both of whom died in infancy; Panthea; Carolan John, deceased; Snsan M .; Mary E., deceased; Emma H., deceased; Leonidas C., and Harriet A. John Kinsey died, August 15, 1879, and his widow, December 25, 1880.

L. C. KINSEY was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1844, son of John and Mary B. (Campbell) Kinsey. He was educated in the common schools and learned telegraphy, which he followed for eleven years; was train despatcher for three years, and was employed by the Treasury Department in Washington for one year. He then went to Wilkesbarre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he- studied law under the tuition of Judge D. L. Rhone and John Lynch, was admitted to the bar in 1876, and practiced law until 1882. Early in 1880 he formed a part-

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nership with H. L. Rhoads of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and under a contract with the American Bell Telephone Company of Boston, Massachusetts, introduced into the county of Luzerne the Bell telephone, connecting all the outlying towns of the county with Wilksbarre, besides erecting an extensive local exchange in the latter place. The whole system embraced a large number of telephone stations con- nected by many hundred miles of wire. The plant was in 1882 absorbed by the North Pennsylvania Telephone Company, a corporation doing business in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. In 1882 he removed to Montgomery Station, the home of his childhood, where he has since fesided engaging in farming and other pursuits. In 1887 he laid out "Kinsey's addition to the borough of Montgomery " and made some radical improvements therein, establishing streets, building houses, etc. This portion of the borough is enjoying a steady and permanent growth and is destined to be a fine portion of the town. In 1890, on the occasion of the burning of the flouring mill of Frank Porter in the village of Clinton Mills, adjacent to the borough, he pur- chased the mill site and erected thereon the present model milling plant which he continues to run.

SIMON J. BARDO, justice of the peace, was born in Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1838, son of John L. and Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Bardo. He was educated in the common schools, learned the carpenter's trade, and followed the same in connection with the planing mill business for twenty- five years. In June, 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Forty-seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and was mustered out of service in August of the same year. He is now serving his second term as a justice of the peace. In 1861 he was married to Mary A. Fowler, and to them were born six children: Annie; Olive, deceased; Lou M .; Cora, deceased; Bertha, and Thomas F. Mrs. Bardo died in 1880 of cancer and he was again married, to Maggie A. Shaffer in 1882. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 131

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