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 58
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In 1871, he became the representative of Hall Brothers & Company, sole sale-agents of the Mineml Ballrond and Mining Company, and also of the Lykens' Valley Coal Company, which position he still occupies.
On October 13th, 1869, he was married to Miss Haas, daughter of Henry Haas, Esq-, proprietor of the Central Hotel, in Sunbury. This public house is one of the best con- dueted and popular hotels in the State, and its proprietor is one of Sunbury's most worthy und highly esteemed citizens. Mr. Davis has u family of two daughters.
In 1876, he was n delegate to the Democratic State Convention, at Lancaster, and in the Autumn of the same year was nominated by the Democratic party of Northumberland County for the State Senate. He possesses fine natural abilities, and has already taken a prominent position among the sterling business men of the place. Hle is also a polished gentleman.
J. J. JOHN.
Born at Catuwissa, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, October 13th, 1829. Ilis father died a short time before his birth, hence he was born an orphan. His parents and rela- tives for generations back were connected with the Society of Friends. His mother is a Hicks, and closely connected with Elias and Edwurd Hicks, eminent members and preachers in this Society, and regarded as the founder of the branch known as "Hick- site." His ancestors came from Bucks and Clrester counties, The Johns emigrated from Pembrokeshire, Wales, a short time after the first arrival of William Penn, and set- tled in Chester County.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, and completed his education at the academies of Coatesville, Chester County, and McErrensville, North- umberland County. During this period, the Summer months were occupied in working on a firm. He rend medicine with Dr. Joseph C. Robins, and gradnated at the Penn- sylvania Medical College in 1853. After praetising some months with his preceptor, he married Miss Elizabeth Krick, of Shamokin township, and moved to Shamokin. Here he hecame ennneeted with the engineer corps under Khaber Cleaver, and remained until the Northern Central Railway was completed. He then became connected with Dr. G. S. Robins in the practice of medicine, and continued in this pursuit about a year. But the pursuit of medicine not being congenial to his nature, he abaruloned it, and, with Joseph Bird, started a drug and variety store, under the firm of Bird & John. In 1856, he became interested in the coal business, under the name of Bird, Douty & John, They leased the Big Mountain Colliery, und commenced mining and shipping on a large scale
161
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
for that day. During the panic of 1857, Mr. John retired from the drug and coal busi- ness. He had been a School Director for several years. He resigned this position to take one of the schools. Here as n teacher, he Inbored for some five years, most unceasingly, and acquired quite a reputation as an educator. All the text-books of the day were con- suited, eminent teachers were interviewed, institutes were atteorled and no opportunity was lost that would improve him for the voention that was as deur to him as his life. Whatever detraction may have assailed him, his zeal, capacity and fitness as n teacher have never been doubted. ITis health failing, he resigned his school in 1863, and took charge of the books of the Shamokin Furnace, a position that for some years had been filled by Franklin B. Gowen, now President of the Philadelphia and Reading Ruilroad. He remained here about two years, when he took elnrge of the books of Back Ridge Colliery, and remained here about ten years. In 1874, he was nominated by the Bepub- lican party for the Legislature, and was elected by a majority of twenty-three in a county that gives from five hundred to seven hundred Democratie majority. His election was inade by his home vote, his townsmen voting for him without regard to party. .
Mr. John has recently opened a coal and insurance office, to which he intends de- voting his attention. He has been a School Director for thirteen years, and from the organization of the horongh to June 1st, 1876, has acted as District Superintendent. During his term great changes have been effected. The school term has been increased, schools have been graded, text-books made uniform, and school buildings erected that
are a credit to the State. In all these movements he took an active part. His devotion to the public schools continued unabated, and if he has made a record on no other point, he has here, of which he justly feels prond. He is a strong advocate of compulsory education, and loses no opportunity to advocate its claims.
Through the request of Superintendent Wickersham, he was placed on the Com- mittee of Education, a position for which he was exceedingly well fitted. Here he labored most faithfully. Last Winter he prepared a bill on compulsory education, and read it in place, Notwithstanding the majority of the House was opposed to the measure, he had it carried through his committee, reported to the House, passed first reading, and partly pnt through second reading, when its consideration was postponed on account of thie lateness of the session. Ile is sanguine of final snecess, and purposes to renew the effort this Winter as a citizen.
Mr. John has been connected with the Shamokin Herald, since 1868, as coal editor, und has given the subject of coal statisties considerable attention, His tables are now regarded ns authority at the State Department.
Mr. John is a plain, unassuming gentleman, who does not conrt notoriety. He is decided in his convictions, and would rather sacrifico his popularity than do violence to his sense of duty. He desires to do right, and, when convinced of his course, no threats or indneements will cause him to change. He is a mon of strong likes and dislikes- true to his friends, but not unjust to his enemies.
ERRATUM.
GEORGE HILL .*
The gentleman whose name we have placed at the head of this biographical sketch, has been, for quite a number of years, a prominent member of the Sunbury bar. He is the youngest son of Daniel Hill, a higlily-respectable farmer, who, a half-century since, died in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
In this County, the subject of this notice was born on the 3d of Angust, 1821. Ile was left fatherless at the age of six, nul two years later, started ont to earn his own living, his mother having no menns with which to provide for her family of two sons and a danghter. His enrly history is that of a futherless boy, struggling to make something of himself amid the manifolddi ffieulties that gather around childhood and poverty. For a number of years he was employed at such farm labor as he could perform, attending school in the Winter months, during which time he worked for his board.
As further illustrative of the pecuniary straits through which he was compelled to pass, it may be mentioned that, when about twenty-one years of age, having just com- pleted a three years' apprenticeship at couch-making in MeEwensville, he started on foot for New Berlin, to secure n position as journeyman in his trade. The Susquehanna was reached, nnul young Hill, with a bundle of clothes thrown over his back, presented him- self before the toll-collector of the bridge, ut Milton, for passage. "Two cents" toll was de- manded-but not even so much as one cent could be fuund either in bundle or pockets of this young pedestrian. After some little parleying, and a "promise to pay as soon as he contd carn the money," the gate-keeper, seeing that the youth hnd an honest fuee, per- mitted him to pass. In due time the "two cents" toll was paid, and the bridge company suffered no loss on necount of the leniency of their toll-collector.
After working two years in New Berlin, Mr. Hill umight school for a couple of Winters in Union County, and attended a select school in MeEwrensville during the Summer seasons, taught by Rev. Samuel S. Shedden. In 1845, he began the study of laws under Governor James Pollock, of Milton, and finishedl in the office of A. Swineford, of New
* The Biographical Sketch of George III, part of which will be found on page 146, has been mispineed through mistake. We append the following complete.'
Berlin, Union County. During this time he was also engaged in teaching school, to obtain the means of prosecuting his studies, In May, 1848 he wns ndmitted to the bar in New Berlin, and, spending a year more in teaching, located in Selinsgrove in the follow- ing Spring, where he practiced his profession for nine years.
During his residence here, Mr. Hill took a lively interest in the schools of the place, being for the greater part of the time a member of the Board of Education. In 1850, he was elected District Attorney in what was then Union, now Snyder County, and served three yente. This was the first election for this office in the State, the position having heen previously filled by appointment. In the Spring of 1858, he came to Sunlmary, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession.
Mr. Ilill belongs to the elnss of self-mande men, among whom his faithful application to business entitle him to a front rank. One trait in his character, which stands out in prominent relief, is the cantion with which he forms his opinions, and his firmness in the same. He will follow his convictions of right, regardless of all criticism. He possesses also the happy faculty of being very stern or very kind, just as occasion demands-a combination too rarely found, 1
To n clear head, sommal judgment, strict integrity, and an indomitable perseverance, he superadds all the elements of n thorough gentleman. These qualities have long rendered him a safe counselor and an able attorney.
In politics, Mr. Hill was formerly a Wbig, but is now a Democrat. He is, however, highly conservative in his views. He has made his profusion his specialty, and has taken comparatively but little netive interest in political affairs. Ile holds his religions connection with the Reformed Church, in which he has been for many years a leading member and un elder.
Mr. Hill has been twice married-first in Selinsgrove, on December 25th, 1848, to Miss Martha Bieblar, daughter of Samuel Biehlar, of Catawissa. Mrs. Hill became the mother of seven sans and two daughters, two of the former, and one of the latter, deceased. She died June 2d, 1870. Mr. Ilill's present companion was Miss Sue E. Kirlin, daughter of A J. Kirlin, of Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, und the marriage oc- eurreil on June 6th, 1871.
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