History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 132

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

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NATHAN D. FOWLER, son of James Fowler, was graduated from the University at Lewisburg, and first entered his business life in a bank at Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. He afterwards owned and conducted a store at Tresckow, Carbon county, Pennsyl- vania, and in 1879 retired from business, removing to his farm near the borough of Montgomery, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He moved to Montgomery from the farm in 1880, where he died in 1883. He was married to Mary E. Wilson, and to them were born three children: W. H .; T. Pierce, and Minnie E. Mr. Fowler's father was born in what is known as Black Hole valley, March 29, 1809, was a farmer by occupation, and the father of seven children: Nathan D., deceased; John; James P .; Rankin; Robert; Yoder, deceased, and Mary.

W. H. FOWLER, merchant, was born in Beaver Meadows, Carbon county, Penn- sylvania, in 1858, son of Nathan D. and Mary E. (Wilson) Fowler. He was educated at an academy and at the University of Lewisburg. He began his business career as a clerk in a store at Weatherly, Carbon county, where he remained one year, coming thence to Montgomery, where he has been manager of Levi Houston's store since 1880. He was married in 1884 to Miss Whylie Waltman, and to this union have been born three children, all of whom are deceased. Mr. Fowler is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the P. O. S. of A., and with his wife belongs to the Presby- terian church.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

C. BENJAMIN FRONTZ, dentist, was born in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1869, son of George and S. Emma (Kistner) Frontz. His father was born in Hughesville, aud is a brother of William Frontz, whose sketch appears in this work. George Frontz enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and after serving nine months returned and engaged in the mercautile business with his brother William in Hughesville, which he continued until his death, in July, 1880; his widow died in July, 1883, leaving five sons: Harry, who is studying dentistry under Dr. Reedy of Hughesville; C. Benjamin; Howard, who is a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania; Chalmers, who is a student at Missionary Institute, Selinsgrove, and Arthur. C. Benjamin Frontz was educated in the public schools of Hughesville and began the study of his profession under the tuition of Dr. W. T. Reedy, of Hughesville, and was graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia, February 28, 1890. He began the practice of his profession at Montgomery, Pennsylvania, where he has built up a lucrative business. He was married, March 24, 1892, to R. Myra, daughter of Dr. J. C. Rutter, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

PHILIP F. HARTRANFT, insurance and real estate agent, was born in Armstrong township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1858, son of George W. and Catherine (Fousel) Hartranft, who were the parents of eight children. Our subject was educated in the common schools and the Muncy Normal. After teach- ing three years in the public schools he purchased an interest in the Chillisquaque Flouring Mills, and operated the same for oue and one-half years. He then worked at his trade, that of a machinist, until he went into the insurance business, in 1889. He is also engaged in the lumber business, in partnership with Frank Porter. He married Miss Susan L. Metzger, and to this union have been born two children: James, deceased, and George L. Mr. Hartranft is a member of White Deer Lodge, No. 399, I. O. O. F., and takes an active interest in the Democratic party.

W. H. HARTZELL, proprietor of Hotel Houston, was born, April 15, 1847, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Hartzell. The family migrated to Lycoming county in 1850, and settled in Washington township. In 1855 they removed to Montgomery, where Samuel engaged in the mercantile business until 1887. He was appointed postmaster in 1861 and has held the posi- tion ever since. He is the father of six children: W. H .; Mary; Emma; Robert; George, and John. The parents are Presbyterians. W. H. Hartzell was educated in the country schools. He acted as agent for the Philadelphia and Erie railroad at Montgomery for fifteen years. He afterwards kept the Montgomery House two years, and the Globe Hotel at Jersey Shore for six years. In 1890 he took charge of the Hotel Houston. Mr. Hartzell married Annie E. Ranels of Hagerstown, Mary- land, and has one child, Claud. He is a member of White Deer Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Republican in politics.

JOHN JACOB METZGER, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, emigrated to America about the year 1777. He was a farmer, and about 1810 located in Clinton township, Lycoming county, purchasing a farm of fifty acres on which he resided until his death in 1842. Of his eight children, George, Jacob, John, and Thomas grew to manhood, the other four, one son and three daughters, dying before reaching maturity. He was a Democrat, and with his wife belonged to the Lutheran church.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE METZGER, son of John Jacob Metzger, was born in what is now Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and came to Lycoming county with his parents. He married Susan, a daughter of Frederick Dietrick, and to this union were born twelve children: Catharine, who married Ezekiel Smith; Susan, who married Daniel Keller; Frederick; Elizabeth, who married Samuel Stahl; Margaret, who married William Strieby; Hannah, who married Edwin Derr; Abbie, who married Samuel Philips; Levina, who married Peter Follmer; Savilla, deceased; John J .; George W., and Elias, who lives on the old homestead. George Metzger died in 1879, followed by his widow in 1884. He was a Democrat, and with his wife belonged to the Lutheran church.

ISAAC BEAR married Christiana Hune, and removed from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Buffalo valley, Union county, about 1780. He was a son of Ephraim Bear who was the father of eight children: John; Benjamin; Henry; Ephraim; Jacob; Isaac; Anna, and Elizabeth. In 1789 he and wife removed to what is known as Black Hole valley, Clinton township, Lycoming county. They used a river boat for transportation and were accompanied by their two oldest chil- dren, Benjamin and Samuel. The following children were born to them in Lycom- ing county: Francis; Anna; Elizabeth; Esther; Jacob; Isaac, and Christiana, all of whom are dead. Benjamin Bear, the eldest son, was reared in Clinton township from the time he was two and a half years old. He married Sarah Worman, daughter of Hon. Ludwig Worman of Berks county, and to them were born seven children: Anna; Emma; John J .; Regina; Mary, deceased; Benjamin, and Rebecca, deceased. John J. Bear, the eldest son of Benjamin Bear, was born in 1830 on the farm where he now resides in Clinton township, Lycoming county. He was married in 1857 to Emily J., daughter of Dr. James Rankin of Muncy; to this union have been born five children: Mary H., deceased; Benjamin, deceased; James K. ; Anna B., and Rebecca. Benjamin Bear died in 1862 and his widow died in 1888.

GEORGE PORTER immigrated from northern Ireland to America in 1793, and settled where is now located Jersey Shore where his wife, who was Catharine Riddell, died. To them were born two children: Rachel, who married Charles Allen, and Robert. In 1796 Mr. Porter removed to Armstrong township, where he died in 1842.

ROBERT PORTER, son of George Porter, married Miss Nancy Porter; though of the same name, these parties were previous to their marriage not related to each other. He remained with his father till his death, when he came to Clinton town- ship and engaged in farming, which he continued until his death in 1880, aged ninety years. Mrs. Porter died in 1859, aged nearly sixty years. To them were born six children. George W., born in 1827, died from the results of a railroad acci- dent in 1862. James, born in 1829, died of typhoid fever in 1858. Catharine, born in 1831, died in 1880, having married M. Sechler in 1859. Hannah, born in 1834, married Luke Eger, now deceased, in 1859. Franklin, born in 1836, married Charlotte Piatt, now deceased, in 1862. Rachel, born in 1839, died in 1872.

MICHAEL SECHLER was one of George Washington's body-guards during the Revolutionary war. His father immigrated from Germany to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he reared a family, two of whom, Jacob and Michael, located

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1798. Michael Sechler married Rebecca Lowe, and in 1802 they settled on a farm where the borough of Montgomery is now located. During the "Big Runaway " Rebecca Lowe was among those who escaped by canoes from their homes along the Susquehanna river, and found protection at Fort Augusta. Michael and Rebecca (Lowe) Sechler were the parents of eight children who grew up: William; Abraham; Antis; Rebecca; Mary; John; Catherine, and Olivia. Mr. Sechler was a potter by trade and manu- factured crockery on his farm. He also served as a justice of the peace for many years. His second son, Abraham Sechler, was a farmer by occupation, and was a justice of the peace for Lycoming county several years. He married Sarah Bower, and to them were born twelve children: William; John, deceased; Michael; Eliza- beth, deceased; Antis; Joseph, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Mary; James; Abra- ham, deceased; Dallis, deceased, and Sarah. In 1854 Abraham Sechler removed with his family, excepting Michael, to White Rock, Illinois, where Abraham and his wife died in the Baptist faith.

MICHAEL SECHLER, farmer, was born near his present residence in Clinton town- ship, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1827, son of Abraham and Sarah (Bower) Sechler. He was educated in the common schools, and after teaching for three years he began clerking in a store, which he continued until 1852, when he engaged in the mercantile business at New Columbia. Three years later he sold his business at this place and again opened up a store near where he now resides, which he conducted for two years. In 1857 he was elected register and recorder for Lycoming county, which position he filled creditably for one term. He then engaged in farming until 1865, when he moved to Williamsport and built the foundry and machine shop now in possession of William P. Riley. Three years later he purchased the farm where he now lives. April 9, 1857, he married Kate Porter, and to this union have been born five children: Annie; Robert; Sallie; Nellie, deceased, and Lottie, deceased. Mrs. Sechler died, August 22, 1880. Mr. Sechler has always taken an active interest in the principles of the Democratic party, and has served as a justice of the peace for many years.

JOHN HEILMAN, son of Michael Heilman, was one of the early residents of Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. His father, Michael Heilman, immi- grated from Germany to America, and located in what is known as Frosty valley, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he reared a family of eight children: Jacob; Joseph; Daniel; Eli; John; Susan; Elizabeth, and Hannah. John Heilman was a mechanical genius, and made knives and forks with which to supply his poor neighbors when he was traveling in their community, threshing their wheat with a flail, the first occupation for himself. While he was thus engaged, his wife and three children arrived from Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in a two-horse wagon. This was in 1811, and the morning following their arrival he employed a number of men, who cut timber and built a house into which they moved the next day. He was the father of eleven children: Jacob, deceased; Philip, deceased; Samuel; Elizabeth, deceased; Daniel, deceased; Abraham; John; Joseph; Peter; Sarah, deceased, and Charles. Mr. Heilman died in 1866 aged eighty-three years, followed by his widow several years later, also aged eighty-three. He was of a modest disposition, moral in every sense, was never known to have uttered an

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

oath, was an enterprising man, and a great worker in the Reformed church, having been known to have frequently forded the river on horseback, in order to attend religious services.

ABRAHAM HEILMAN, farmer, was born in Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1819, son of John and Hannah (Rentz) Heilman. He was educated in the subscription schools of his neighborhood, having the benefit of only two years of free school. He was married, October 23, 1844, to Miss Sarah Buck, and to them were born three children: John W., who married Caroline App, by whom he had six children, only one of whom is living; Philip A., a Lutheran minister, who resides at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and is married to Jane Bennett, by whom he has two living children, and one deceased; and Clara A., who married John W. Bailey. Mr. Heilman was one of the originators of the first Sunday school in the Lutheran church, of which he and wife are members.

JOSEPH HEILMAN, retired farmer, was born in Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1823, son of John and Hannah (Rentz) Heilman. He was educated in the common schools, and devoted his life to farming until 1885, since which time he has lived a retired life. In March, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary A. Dietrich, and to them were born seven children, three of whom died in infancy; those now living are: John E., who married Emma Berger, by whom he has four children: Le Roy; Joseph; Marion, and Ruth; Hannah M., who married D. W. Shollenberger; Ida M., who married W. L. Shollenberger, and Clara E., who married John Riale, a grocer of South Williamsport. Mrs. Heilman died in 1883, and Mr. Heilman was again married, to Kate Hart, daughter of Adam Hart. He takes an active interest in Democratic politics, and with his wife belongs to the Lutheran church, of which he has been deacon and elder.

JACOB HESS removed from Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Columbia county, the same State, where he was married, and in 1817 came to Lycoming county. He was a wagonmaker by trade, and carried on that business in connection with farming. He was the father of six sons and three daughters: Abbie, deceased; Reuben, deceased; Peter; Samuel, deceased; Joseph, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Susan, deceased; Frederick, and John. Jacob Hess died, May 5, 1843, followed by his widow in 1848.

PETER HESS, farmer, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, son of Jacob and Hannah (Knorr) Hess. He received his education in the common schools and learned the trade of a miller, which he has followed in connection with farming all his life. In 1840 he was married to Ellen Endy, and to them have been born five children: Three who died when young; Mary, and Hannah. Mrs. Hess died, September 25, 1851, and he was again married, in 1857, to Matilda Berger, and to them have been born seven children: Emily; Laura, deceased; Wilson, deceased; Ella; Carrie; Clinton, and Cora. Mr. Hess and wife are members of the Reformed church.

J. THEODORE HESS, farmer, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1843, son of Reuben and Jane S. (Hart) Hess. Reuben Hess married Jane S. Hart, daughter of Adam Hart, and to them were born eight children: Three who died in infancy; J. Theodore; Thomas, a carpenter, who married Maggie Mckinney, of Williamsport, and resides there; Samuel, who is a railroad engineer, and married

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Gertrude Hasbrouck, of Kingston, New York, and is now living at New Durham, New Jersey; Lemuel B., who is a druggist and lives in Shamokin, and married Louisa Russell, of Muncy, Pennsylvania; and Anna E., who married John Rentz, and is living in Clinton township. Reuben Hess died, January 12, 1881, and his wife died in 1858. J. Theodore was educated in the common schools, at Missionary Institute, and at Dickinson Seminary. After teaching school for 101 months, he kept books for Levi Houston, at Montgomery, for seven years. He enlisted in Com- pany H, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, for nine months. and then re-enlisted in Company B, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three months. He has three times been elected justice of the peace, and has served as township auditor for nine years. He has always taken an active part in the Democratic party. He was married to Sarah E. Harmon, and to them have been born five children: Two deceased in infancy; Emma J .; Bertha A., and Flora M. He is a member of David Montgomery Post, G. A. R., and is one of the well-to-do farmers of Clinton township. The first school house of Clinton township was located on the present site of Mr. Hess's dwelling, and the first school was taught by the "Yankee School Teacher."

DANIEL GROSS was born in what is now Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and educated at New Berlin. He married Susan App and soon after removed to Blooms- burg, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a store in a hotel building. In 1845 he came to the farm where his son, Daniel Gross, now resides in Clinton township, Lycoming county, and followed farming and surveying the remainder of his life. He was the father of nine children: Zebulon, deceased; Mary A., deceased; Cath- erine, deceased; Jackson; Elizabeth, deceased; Soupharous; Satina; Sarah, and Daniel. Mr. Gross died in 1859, and his widow in March, 1886.

DANIEL GROSS, farmer, was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1843, son of Daniel and Snsan (App) Gross. He was educated in the common schools, and in 1862 enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volun- teers, from Snyder county, and served two years and nine months. He was mar- ried, December 25, 1866, to Lydia Wagner, and to them have been born eight chil- dren: Charles E .; Minnie V .; William H .; Luther W .; Anna; Lettena; Susan A., and D. Otto. Mr. Gross and family are members of the Lutheran church, and he also belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry.

JACOB B. HERBST was born, May 1, 1808, and came to Lycoming county in 1838. His father immigrated from Germany to America in the latter part of the last cent- ury, and settled on a farm in Buffalo valley, Union county, Pennsylvania, where be reared four sons and three daughters. March 2, 1837, Jacob B. Herbst was mar- ried to Abigail Hess, who died August 17, 1856. He was again married, June 17, 1858, to Mary Smith, and to them were born two children: Saloma, who died young, and Aaron B. Mr. Herbst served as a justice of the peace for eleven years, was an active and enthusiastic Republican, and died September 17, 1887, followed by his wife September 2, 1882.

AARON B. HERBST, farmer, was born in Clinton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1860, son of Jacob B. and Mary (Smith) Herbst. He was educated in the common schools and the Muncy Normal. He was married, September 28, 1882, to Ada E. Mensch, daughter of Harvey Mensch, and to this union have been

Deter Helt.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

born three children: Willie E .; Ralph A., deceased, and Harvey M. Mr. Herbst is an active and enthusiastic Republican.

CHARLES THOMAS was a farmer and lumberman, and was a son of John Thomas, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. He married Elizabeth Tackenberry, and to them were born ten children: Allen, deceased; William; Charles W. ; John M., deceased; Francis, deceased; George W .; Mary A .; Jane; Maggie, deceased, and Alice, deceased. Charles Thomas died in 187S, and his wife in 1875.

WILLIAM THOMAS, farmer, was born in Mifflin township, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, March 5, 1829, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Tackenberry) Thomas. He was educated in the common schools and when at the age of twenty-three years he went to California, where he remained three years. Returning to his native county he engaged in the mill business at Millville, buying the mill property at that village, operating it for nine years, then selling it and purchasing the Montgomery Mills, which he conducted until 1885, when he sold them to his two sons: Charles H., and Allen E. In January, 1856, Mr. Thomas was married to Margaret J. Williamson, and to this union were born eight children: James E .; Allen E., who married Miss Elizabeth Koons, by whom he had four children: Royal, Mary, Miles, and Mar- garet; Charles H., who married Miss Sadie Rentz, by whom he had two children: Charles H., and Edith; Clinton L .; Harry H .; William W .; Maude, and Nellie.

J. A. COPPES was born in Susquehanna township, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1857, son of John and Rachel (Bonnell) Coppes. He was educated in the common schools, and is a farmer and dairyman, residing in Clinton township. He was married, October 17, 1882, to Rachel Corson, and to this union have been born four children: Nellie; Reta; Mattie, deceased, and Storres.

ANDREW SHAFFER R came to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1785 from near Philadelphia. He purchased a farm of 400 acres. His brother, George Shaffer, came to this county a few years later and purchased Andrew's property, and from him have descended the Shaffers of Lycoming county. George Shaffer died about 1837, and was the father of ten children: Samuel; George; Adam; Andrew; John; Martin; Christian; Jacob; Sallie, and Elizabeth; of these children, Samuel, George, and John were soldiers in the war of 1812; and John and C. A. Shaffer, sons of Jacob Shaffer, saw service in the late war, the former dying in camp and the latter being a member of Company K, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry; he is serving at present as constable for Williamsport.

SAMUEL SHAFFER, a son of George Shaffer, was a farmer and took an active part in securing the free school system; he was a Whig in politics, and married Elizabeth Eason, and to them were born four sons and three daughters: John; Robert; Samuel P .; William H., who enlisted as a private in Company K, Fifth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, in 1861, was promoted and filled the office of captain, was taken pris- oner at Wilson's Cross Roads, June 28, 1863, and was exchanged in March, 1864, and served until the close of the war; Jane; Susannah, and Nancy E.

SAMUEL P. SHAFFER, farmer, the third son of Samuel Shaffer, was born March 18, 1834. He was educated in the common schools and has always been engaged in farming as an occupation. In 1866 he was married to Margaret Scott, and to them were born two children: Harvey and Jennie. Mrs. Shaffer died, November 14, 1890. Mr. Shaffer enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Penn-

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

sylvania Volunteers, in October, 1862, was sergeant, and served nine months. In 1864 he re-enlisted in Company K, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of D. S. Montgomery Post, No. 264, G. A. R .; has served in several offices of trust, has been school director twenty-one years, and township committeeman ever since the war. In politics he is a Republican, always taking an active interest in that organization.

CHARLES ALLEN was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, September 24, 1791, son of Isaac Allen, who came to Lycoming county in 1800 and located at the "Long Reach." He subsequently became the owner of the Galloway tract, em- bracing the site of South Williamsport, and resided thereon until his death in 1844. Charles Allen was reared to manhood in this county, and after a brief term of serv- ice in the war of 1812 he located on the Galloway farm in 1816. He was an agri- culturist all his life, and his farm was one of the best in the county. The old home- stead on the South Side is one of the landmarks of the county, and many pleasant memories of early days cluster around it. Mr. Allen married Rachel, daughter of George Porter, and they were the parents of four children: George P., deceased; Sarah, who married John P. Beard, of McEwensville; Rachel, who became the wife of J. Walker Hays, of Williamsport, and Robert P., deceased. Mr. Allen died on the 1st of May, 1882; his wife, born February 26, 1793, died August 28, 1865.

JOHN DUBOIS was one of the pioneer lumbermen of Lycoming county, and during the early development of that great industry he laid the foundation of a large fortune. He was a native of Tioga county, New York, and in 1838 came to this county and located on Lycoming creek, between Field's Station and Bodines. He purchased, with his brother Matthias, large tracts of pine and hemlock timber lands in Lewis and Cascade townships, erected a mill, and was engaged in the man- ufacture of lumber at that point some twelve years, under the firm name of J. Du Bois & Brother. About 1850 they took into partnership E. S. Lowe, then a prom- inent merchant of Williamsport, and the firm was changed to DuBois & Lowe. In the meantime Mr. Du Bois had become interested in building a boom in the Sus- quehanna river at Williamsport, and when the Susquehanna Boom Company was organized, he was elected its first president, and was the largest stockholder in that institution. He also made large purchases of timber lands in Clearfield county, which in future years proved a veritable bonanza. His brother Matthias having died, DuBois & Lowe bought several hundred acres of land on the river, including the site of DuBoistown, where they built a large saw mill with an annual capacity of from 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 feet of lumber. £ In the spring of 1860 the flood carried away the boom, and many million feet of logs went down the river, some as far as Chesapeake bay. DuBois & Lowe bought the greater portion of the logs, built a saw mill at Havre-de-Grace, Maryland, to cut them into lumber, and estab- lished an extensive wholesale lumber-yard at the same place. In 1863 Mr. DuBois bought the interest of his partner, and thenceforth conducted the business alone. In December, 1870, he sold his mill at DuBoistown to John G. Reading, William P. Emery, and others, and then built a large stone saw mill a short distance from the old one, which embraced a planing mill and sash and door factory. He continued to operate these mills until the celebrated "sawdust war " occurred, which so dis- gusted him that he abandoned his enterprises in this county and turned his sole atten-

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 132

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