USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 55
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The name, moreover, of John Harris, Sr., has passed into history, as that of the one who emancipated the first slave on the American Continent. . This was done as a ceward to the negro who was instrumental in rescuing him from being burned by the Indians. This occurred at Harrisburg, in 1720, and the name of the slave was Hercules.
Dr. P. II. Awl's privileges in the educational line were simply those of the early-day comoion school. He read inedicine under the instruction of Dr. John W. Peal, of Sun- bury, and attended lectures in the Pennsylvania Medical College, in Philadelphia, from which mustitution he graduated in the Spring of 1842. He began practice in Gratztown, Dauphin County, Pa., spending some two years there, and about the same time in Halifax.
He then removed to Ohio, and located in Columlms, but was soon appointed assistant physician in the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, in that city, which position he occupied for nearly three years.
In the Spring of 1849, he returned to Sunbury, which has since been his residence. Fa the years 1864 and 1865, he served the people of Northumberland, in the capacity of County Treasurer.
The Doctor has enjoyed a long and successful practice, and is the oldest physician in the borough. For a number of years post his more active practice has been interrupted by feeble health, very greatly to the regret of his numerous patrons.
Dr. Awl is a gentleman of pleasing address, fine social qualities and strong convic- tions, and occupies a prominent place among the substantial und much respected citizens of Sunbury.
Dr. Awl's oldest brother, Dr. Willinm M. Aw), has been for many years a very prominent physician in Ohio. He was the founder, and, for nearly twenty years, the Superintendent of the State Lunatic Asylum, at Columbns. He was also the first Presi- dent of the United States Medical Society for the Treatment of the Insane. He is now in his seventy-eighth year, and has retired from professional service. To him, also, Is due the credit of initinting the movement for the erections of asylumy for the Idiotic in the United States. In his whole life work, the Doctor has been a genuine Philanthropist.
Dr. Awl is also the author of a "Chronological Chart," with tables, showing the genealogy of the race, and the ages of the prominent Bible churoeters from Adam to Moses. It is the result of u muunber of years of patient research, and is designed for the use of Sunday-schools and Bible students. It is accompanied by an explanatory key, and is a very valuable contribution to celigious literature.
EMANUEL WILVERT.
The present editor and proprietor of the Sunbury American was born in Dauphin County, Pensylvania, March 24th, 1830. His boyhood up to the age of fifteen was passed upon a farm. In the Spring of 1844, the family came to Sunbury, and on August 15th, 1845, he entered, as an apprentice, the office of the American, then conducted hy Messrs. HI. B. Masser and Joseph Eiseley, where he served for a period of five years and six months.
After a year or more spent in the book office of Messrs. King & Baird, of Philadel- phin, in 1801 he become foceman in the office of the Pottsville Emporium, conducted by Hon. S. N. Palmer, where he cemained till the Fall of 1852. He subsequently cotered a corps of civil engineers on the Northern Central Railway under Hon. Kimber Cleaver, and remained with them till the road was completed, and was then employed for a year- unil-a-half as brakesman on a coal train. He soon afterwards was appointed foreman in the office of the Sunbury American.
On the 24th of September, 1864, he became a partner with Mr. Masser in the estab- lishment, and upon the retirement of Mr. Masser on January 1st, 1869, Mr. Wilvert became sole proprietor and ronductor. Mr. Wilvert has since greatly enlarged the estab- lishment by the addition of steam and power-presses, and other important materials.
Since Mr. Wilvert assumed charge of the . Imerionn, he has been an cornest, active, Republican politician. For nine successive years he held the position of Chairman of the Republican County Convention. He is a gentleman of genial and obliging spirit, but a bold and ont-spoken writer, and has ever pursued a fearless and independent course. Not even the oft-repeated threats of assassination at the hands of the " Mollie Maguires" could deter hum from waging a long and relentless war upen that infomens organization. The influence of the American in this direction was materially felt throughout this County, and, by the copying of its articles into other papers, in many of the adjoining counties.
As a political journal it has had not a little to do in the reduction, from time to time, of the Democratie majorities in Northumberland County, as may be instanced in the cam- paign of 1871, when Judge Rockefeller was elected on the Republican ticket hy upwards of fifteen hundred majority.
As an illustration of Mr. Wilvert's gennine Republican grit, it may be mentioned that, in the summer of 1863, he discharged the only compositor in his office for refusing lo place the name of Lincoln at the head of the rolumuns of the Amerikaner, of which Mr. Wilvert was at the time the foremun. This determined stand won him great favor from all loyal citizens.
Mr. Wilvert's public spirit and enterprise have placed him in prominent connection with all the public improvements of Sunbury since he entered upon active life.
J. E. EICHHOLTZ.
The subject of this notice is the editor and proprietor of the Northumberland County Democrat, Ile was born in Lebanon, Pa., November 11th, 1836, and was edu- coted nt Lancaster. From 1854 to 1858, he served an apprenticeship to the printer's trade, in Miffliatown and Lewisburg, and was employed as foreman in the printing offices in Lancaster city, from the latter date to the year 1865, when he took charge of the Leie- isburg (Pa.) .Irguz, changing its name to " Journal." After a brief editorship there, he was enlled to the editorial chair of the Pottsville Standard, which was under the proprie- torship of Messrs. Barclay Brothers. About a year later, Mr. T. II. Purdy, the proprie- tor of the Northumberland County Democrat, wrote to Mr. Eichholtz, (the latter having served Mr. Purdy for some time, while he was editing the Lewisburg _Irgus, aforesaid,) nad offered him the Democrat. Mr. Eichholtz accepted, purchased the Democrat, and has since presided over its columns. He has had several partners tinring his residence in Sunbury, but is now the sole proprietor of the establishment. He hns had various "upe and downs," financially and otherwise, but his untiring energy and perseverance have carried him victoriously through all difficulties, and to-day he is a permanent institution in Sunbury. He has made the Democrat a power in the County, and edits it with a sharp and vigorous pen. He is also the proprietor of the Sunbury Daily, the only dnily paper in the County.
Mr. Eichholtz is a gentleman of fine social qualities, very positive in his roavic- tions, and ranks among the leading editors in northern Pennsylvania.
THOMAS M. PURSEL, EsQ.
The subject of this notice is a descendant of Peter Pursel, n native of New Jersey and who, at a very early dny, came to Pennsylvania, and settled in Columbin County, and in 1824, removed to Northumberland County, and settled on Bird's Island, ut the junction of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River. There was but one
154
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
house on the island, and this Mr. Pursel ocenpied for a time, Int subsequently settled on what was then known us the Maclay Mill property, east of the borongh of Sunbury, now owned by John S. Inas,
The old gentleman was well and favorably known throughont the County, and renred a family of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth son and eleventh child.
Thomas M. Purrel was born on Bird's Island, September 11th, 1825.
When an infant of between three wund four years of age, he was initiated into publie service in this wise: llis father had a contract for the construction of a section of the North Branch Canal, above Northumberland, which ran through what was known as the old Nurse Farm, and young Pursel -- then ut the age just named -was employed as ",Jigger Bors," the duty of which position was to eurry the whisky to the men engaged upon the work.
"Then whisky made by Annen men, W'ns drunk by men npright,"
In the discharge of this business, Thomas was os faithful ns nny employee in the enterprise, and even at that tender age, developed those elements of thoughtfulness and promptness which have characterized him as a business man. When a young man he was enenged, for a number of years, as Captain of a bout on the Pennsylvania Canal.
On July 24th, 1856, he married Miss Emily M., daughter of George Zimmerman, of Sunbury, by whom he had a son and two daughters, the son now deceased.
In 1868, he was appointed, and served for about a year, under the administration of President Johnson, ns Weigh-master in the United States Custom House, in Philadelphia.
In 1871, he was elected Justice of the Peace, in Smhury, for a period of five years, and in the alischarge of the duties of this responsible position, he has been prompt nul impartiul.
Squire Parsel is one of those plain-spoken, solid men, who form the valued portion of a community.
Other members of this family have also been prominently connected with the affair, of the County. John P. Pur-el, brother of the subject of this notice, was " Register and Recorder anıl Clerk of the Orphans' Court," for a period of six years, und was succeeded by another brother, C. Boyil Pursel, who served three years. The Intter died at the ex- piration of his teri.
JOSEPII G. DURILAMI.
This gentleman is a descendant from ancestors who were participants in the hardships and inugers of the Revolutionary war. His paternal grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Durham, had a hair-breadth escape from death in this wise: Sometime in the Autumn of 1778, Mra, Durham and a Mrs. MeKnight, with small children in their armis, and mounted on horschuck, with o number of men on foot, started from Freeland's Fort to go to North- umberland. One mile below the mouth of Warriur Bon, they were surprised and tired upon hy a party of Indians. Mrs. MeKnight's hore suddenly wheelel aod galloped hack. She come very neur losing her child, but caught it by the foot, und hehl it firmly, dangling by her side, till the frightened animal brought her to the forl. Mrs. Durham's infant was shot in her nrur, and she fell from her horse, and was taken prisoner and bealped by the Indians, and left for dead. She was found, unul taken by her brother down the river in a canne to Fort Angusta. Her wounds were dreved by Dr. Phuket, and as she had receivul no other injury than the loss of n portion of her scalp, she recovered. Her Imsband was taken prisoner by the Indians, aml carried to Canadn, where he remained several years, but at the close of the war was exchanged and returned home, to the great joy of his wife, both of whom, in the meantime, had supposed each other to be ilcail.
After this re-union, Mrs. Durham became the mother of five children, and lived to a good old age. One of her sons, James Durhum, born in this County, in 1784, became the father of the subject of this sketch.
This last-named gentleman was born in Northumberland County, Pn., November 201h, 1813. The first twenty years of his life were spent upon a form. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years. After this, he settled upon a farm in Delaware township, where he remained till the Summer of 1876, when he removed to Watsontown, his present residence.
On June 9th, 1840, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Jumes Lowry, of this County.
Out of a family of four sons and two daughters, one daughter died in infancy, and the eldest son, James L. Durham, enlisted in company B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at the first battle before Fredericksburg, December 12th, 1862, and died in the Georgetown College Ibspitul, on the 31st of the
slune month, in the nineteenth year of his nge, Ile wus a young man of promise, and was contemplating a collegiate course, with a view to enter the ministry. It may be said of him, as of thousands of others, " He fought and died for his country."
In 1872, Mr. Durham was elected Commissioner of Northumberland County, which, considering the fact that he was a Republican, and the County strongly Democratic, was n high compliment to a meritorions man. In 1875, he was re-elected to the same responsible office. He is a gentleman of modest manners, geninl nature, and solid worth.
For considerably upwards of a quarter of a century, both he and his companion have been connected with the Presbyterinn Church, in which he now holds the office of Elder.
HIARRISON HENRIE.
This gentleman is one of the present Commissioners of Northumberland County. Ile was born in Shamokin township, January 29th, 1832. When he was only five years of age, his mother was left a widow with a family of six children to care for. Just before his death, her husband had purchased n little form, upon which, at the time of his de- cense, rested a considerable debt. At that time the law was less merciful in its protec- tion of the widow than now, and Mrs. Henrie was compelled to part with all her property, amil was left destitute. The family were scattered, and the children found homes among strangers. The educational advantages of the subject of this sketch were, conse- quently, very meagre. No one will care for an orphan boy, ns will his father.
From the tender age of six years, up in his manhoud, young Henrie was kept nt work almost without intermission. Whatever, therefore, he may be to-day, has been the result of his own determined elfort, and in this hre is un imitable example of a self-made man.
When about fourteen years old, he repairedl to Schuylkill County, and entered ajinn . an apprenticeship to the bricklaying trade, which he followed for some twenty-five years. In 1853, lie located in Shamokin, where he hins since resided.
On January 20th, 1857, he married Miss Mary Jane Bird, daughter of Ziba Bird, of Montour County, Pa, and has had a family of five sons and four daughters, two of the former. anul one of the latter, deceased,
For a time, Mr. Henrie was engaged in the grocery business, in Shamokin, but dlis- continued it, ns the confinement in the store interfered with his health.
Among the jursitions of public trust which Mr. Henrie has been called ngon to fill in the coonmunity, may be mentioned that of Assessor and Collector of Shamokin borough.
In the Autumn of 1874, he was elected to fill a vacancy in the Board of County Con- missioners, canseil by a change in the Sinte Constitution, and in 1875, was re-elected for a period of three years.
Mr. Henrie is # man of practical common sense, clear in his judgment, conservative in his viens, and popular in his County, us may be inferred from the fuet that in both of his elections for Commissioner, he receiverl a larger vote than any other candidate licfore the people.
In politics, Mr. Henrie is a Democrat; in religious viens, n Methodist.
D. S. REITZ.
Mr. Reitz was born in Northumberland County, Pu., October 18th, 1840. He is the youngest son of Jonathan Reitz, also a native of this County, who is now in the seventy- third year of his nge.
At the age of eighteen, young Reitz learned the shoemaker's trade, and worked at this business for some eleven years, in the vicinity of the home of his childhood.
On March 19th, 1865, he married Miss Sarah Peifer, daughter of George Peifer, of this County, and has had a family of four sons and two daughters, one of the former having died in infancy.
For a number of years he was engaged in the mercantile business, ut Dornsife Station, at which place he was also post-muster for some seven years. After leaving the store he purchased a grist-mill, which he ran for some five years, when he took in his brother, Henry Reitz, as a partner, who subsequently became sole owner of the establish- ment.
In the Autumn of 1873, Mr. Reitz wus elected a Commissioner of Northumberland County, und, serving two years, was re-elected in the Fall of 1875, for a term of three year, This position is one of the most responsible of the County officers, and subjects the occupant to his full share of censure, and entitles him to a corresponding degree of credit for duties faithfully discharged.
MIr. Reitz is a man who thinks for himself, and will favor only those measures which, in his judgment, the welfare of the people demands.
155
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
In April, 1876, he removed to Shamokin, and has erected a fine business hunse. which is a credit to the place. He is highly esteemed as a sober and industrions citizen.
On the 10th of May, 1876, Mr. Reitz was called to mourn the loss of his wife by denth, under peculiarly trying circumstances. The day previous to this sad event, Mrs. Reitz hud heen visiting her parents, in Little Mabanoy, and returned to Shamokin ir. the evening, und retired at her accustomed hour in apparently good health. On the fol- lowing morning she was found dead in her bed, with her youngest child still sleeping in her arms. She had evidently died without a struggle. An inquest was held by Coroner Taylor, the jury rendering a verdict of death from heart disease. "The attending physician was Dr. Wenver.
At the time of her death, Bir. Reitz was in Sunbury, attending to the duties of his official position; when a telegram announced to him the startling intelligenco, the stricken Imsband lastened home to pay the last sad tribute of devotion to all that death had left of her who was the solace of his sorrows and the comfort of his home
Her remains were taken to Raker's Station, on Tuesday evening, and the funeral took place on the following Thursday, from the residence of her father.
J. K. DAVIS, JR.
The subject of this brief notice, is a rising young lawyer of Sunbury. Ile is the eldest son of of James K. Davis, a retired business man, and much isteemed citizen of Seliusgrave, l'a. The old gentleman has also been, for some years, a Director of the First National Bank, of that pilnee, and also of Sunbury.
Yung Davis was born in Selinsgrove, October 14th, 1842, At the age of righteco, he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa., from which institution he graduated in 1865. Ile then came to Sunbury, and read law under the instruction of the IIun. John B. Preker, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1867. In January, following, he was also whinitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, in Philadelphia. In 1869, he was honored by his ".Alma Mater" with the degree of " Muster of Arts." From 1867 to 1873, Mr. Davis was entrusted with the management of the legal business of his preceptor, the Hon. John B. Packer, while the latter was a Representative in Congress. In this position, Mr. Davis nequitted himself with creditable efficiency.
In 1873, he visited South and Central America, with the expelition to make exami- nations und surveys for the proposed route fur the Inter-ocennie Canal, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
In 1874, he returned liome, making a tour of various Southern States, al iu Angust, 1875, beemne Managing Clerk in the law-office of S. P. Wolverton, Esq, which position he is now filling.
Mr. Davis pirsesses legal abilities of a high order, coupled with grent energy and buiness taet. He is a man of positive views, plain and outspoken, lint conibine- all the elements of n thorungh gentleman.
JACOB MOWRY.
The five original citizens of Shamokin were, Ziba Bird, Joseph Suyder, Dr. Robert Philips, Jantes Porter, and Jacob Mowry. Mr. Mowry, the last survivor of this number, was born near Danville, about 1802, and died at his residence, in Shamokin, April 9th, 1875, aged 73 years. In the Spring of 1838, Mr. Mowry, who had for some time pre- viously been engaged on the Girard Bond, in various rapacities, emme to Shamokin. The above-nanuyl parties were his only neighbours, with the exception of John Thomson, who lived at Springfield, and Peter Wary, who lived in what is now West Shamokin. Mr. Mowry's first place of residence was a small house, now covered up by the refuse from the Cameron Colliery. In the Spring of 1837, he removed to another log lionse near the spot where the brick house of B. F. Lake now stands,
Mr. Mowry was a man of wonderful energy and his sheress in driving work on the Girard Rund attrueted the attention of Burd Patterson mid John C. Boyd, who induced him to locate here when the town started, feeling certain he would be a valuable man in developing the resources of our regions which were then only partially knonrn. For several years he was busily engaged by the land proprietors in opening mines. Hle opened the first drifts at Buck Ridge, now Big Mountain, and also thine for the Shamo- kin Coul aus Irun Company, opposite the old furnace. He likewise umde some openings for Mr. Dewnrt at what is now the Cruneron Colliery. Mr. Mowry muy justly be regarded us the pioneer "bo's miner" of the region.
In the Spring of 1838, he built the house he lived in at the time off his tlenth. Some years Inter he purchased some land on Gass Hill, and made the substantinl improvements there that are now known as the "Poor House Property." Upon disposing of this prop- erty, he took charge of the United States Hotel, of which he was proprietor, and kept it about two years. Mr. Mowry was possessed of excellent judgment and wa- reguriled as un excellent citizen. He was phin and simple in his hubits, and deprecated all osteu- tation. He was the last link of those who might be termed the pioneers.
JOIIN B. DOUTY,
Mr. Donty, one of the oldest und most substantial citizens of Shamokin, was born near Lambertville, New Jersey, May 5th, 1812, und died November 15th, 1873, aged sixty-one years.
About 1822, the Donty family moved to Rush township, Northumberland County, but in 1826, moved to Pottsville, when it was just emerging from a wilderness. Mr. Donty's father commenced boating on the Schuylkill Canal this year, being the owner of five boats. Mr. Douty, who was then only n boy, had charge of one of them. He was one of the earliest boatmen of the Selmylkill Navigation. He continued in this business for some years with considerable success
In 1842, he qnitted the canal, and entered the coal business at the East Delaware Mines, mining coal by contract for some years, when he went to the West Delaware Mines, and continued there until nhout 1851, when the company failed. By this failure, Mr. Donty lost all be had Required by years of toil. But with an undaunted will and valuable experience, he enme to Shintokin, in 1852, and commenced in a small way at the "Gup," where the Cameron Colliery is now located, as one of the hrm of Kase, Donty & Beed. At this enrly day in the conl trade of the Shamokin region, when all the coal was hauled to Sunbury by horse-power, but little was done or made.
in October, 1856, Sheaf & Bluck having failed, Mr. Donty, as one of the firm of . Bird, Donty & Julin, took charge of the Big Mountain Colliery, and under his care and labor it became une of the principal collieries of the region. In 1857, Mr. J. J. Jolin, retired from the firm, und in 1839, Mr. Douty withdrew to start another colliery-the Henry Clay-the cual of which muler his supervision has justly acquired a celebrity wherever anthracite is used. Mr. Duuty, by energy, tact, and the favorable times, ae- quired a handsome competence here, Some years afterward, he started the Brady Col- liery, and worked it fur several years.
In 1879, he became connecter with the Benjamin Franklin Colliery, under the firm of Donty & Baumgardner.
For over twenty years, Mr. Douty has been largely connected with the coal trade of this region, as one of the most enterprising and successful coal operators.
Ile made good use of his wealth in putting up substantial buillings that are an or- nament to the town. He was a publie spirited mun, who was closely identified with every movement that looked towards the welfare and improvement of his adopted town. For religions and charitulile objeets he contributed largely.
Mr. Donty was n munn of positive cupvictions-of strung likes and dislikes, and per- haps of eccentricities, but pressed a kind heart and an honest purpose. Ile was de- setvedly well esteemed by the working class, at his name and many good aets will long be remembered by them.
KIMBER CLEAVER.
The subject of this sketch was born at Roaring Creek, in Columbia County, on the 17th day of October, in the year 1814. He was the son of Joseph Cleaver, an industrious and respectable farmer of that region, a member of the Society of Friends.
During his minority he enjoyed but a few of the facilities for improving his mind that are enjoyed by the youth of the present time. Resred in a township that even at this day is not noted for its intelligence, and before the great cominon school system was established, he had but little opportunity to enlture a mind which Nature had so pro- fusely gifted with the choicest of talents, Ilis education consisted of a few months of imperfect instruction during the Winter season, at an ordinary country school, where he was taught to read, to write, and to cipher in the elementary rules. His insatin- nble thirst for knowledge was bat poorly sluked by his teacher, who was only able to afford lam shallow and curhid ifranghts from the Pierian spring. But he had an in- structor in misfortune. llis early trials and struggles, his hope, disappointments and affections constituted an ordent through which he passed triumphantly, and finally de- veloped the mind of the man, whose character we now so much esteem. Mr. Cleaver in his conversation mul letters, frequently alluded to these, which he pleasantly designated his meet uses of adversity. Afflicted sluring his youthful days with that painful affee- tion, known as white-swelling, and not prosessed of a robust constitution, his boyhood hours were somewhat exemples from the cars and labors of farmiog, which he indus- triously applied to stusly, The invalid student, nuder the most unfavorable circum- stances, begun the Hereulean task of self-improvement. Having access to but few books, which he carefully gleaned of all their treasures, his mind though depressed by acute bodily suffering, was ever active, and naturally turned on its favorite bent of study- Mechanics. One of the first efforts of his genius, whilst yet a boy, and confined to a bed of sickness, was the construction of a clock, which served his father's family as a time-piece for many years. This he executed by means of a jack-knife alone.
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