History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 100

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424

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JOHN H. ADAMS, wholesale liquor dealer, was born in Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1834. He received a liberal English and German education in the public schools of his native township, and in the borough of Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. From 1857 to 1863 he was engaged in the mercantile and hotel business in Upper Mahanoy township. In 1863 he removed his family to Freeburg, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, to embrace the superior advantages which this town then afforded in an educational view. There he was engaged with John S. Lentz, wholesale liquor dealer, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as travel- ing salesman, remaining in his employ for a period of five years. In 1871 he located in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, where he embarked in the mercantile business, which he conducted two years. He then became the head of the firm of Adams, Haldeman & Company, wholesale liquor dealers, of Philadel- phia, in which business he remained for a period of five years. In 1878 he again embarked in the mercantile business at Shamokin, with T. F. Foltz; the latter sold his interest to Mr. Adams, who formed a partnership with Levi Shoop, and engaged in the same business under the firm name of Adams & Shoop. Purchasing Mr. Shoop's interest he conducted the business alone for a few years, when he sold his entire interest to Miller, Weaver & Company, intending to retire into private life, but being a man of active busi- ness habits his entire lifetime he found such an existence unbearable and connected himself with the firm of Charles F. Stadiger & Company, whole- sale liquor dealers of Philadelphia, with whom he remained until March, 1889. He then established his present business on Market street, Shamokin. Politically Mr. Adams is a stanch Republican, and, having been elected just- ice of the peace on said ticket, was commissioned by Governor Packer, April 4, 1860, and by the same Governor commissioned major in the State Militia, June 6, 1859. He is a member of Sunbury Lodge, No. 22, F. & A. M., Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, and Prince of Peace Commandery, of Ashland, Pennsylvania. He was married in 1856 to Ellehna H., daughter of Peter Beisel, of Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, and by this union they have three children, all living: John Q., attorney at law; Emma

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R., widow of Thomas F. Foltz, and Martha J., wife of Francis A. Miller. He entered the political arena of Northumberland county, and became the Re- publican nominee for sheriff in 1877, and ran for treasurer in 1881, but was defeated both times by small majorities.

WILLIAM H. LEWIS, dealer in books, stationery, and music, was born at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1857, son of William B. and Elizabeth (Douty) Lewis. His father was a native of Schuylkill county, and at his death the family removed to Shamokin, where the subject of our sketch was reared and educated. He and F. Hoover engaged in the dry goods and grocery business in 1877, with whom he was associated eight years, when they dissolved partnership and he then established his present business. Mr. Lewis was married, March 24, 1881, to Helen, daughter of Adam Brown, of Schuylkill county, and they are the parents of three children: William; Agnes, and Helen. Mr. Lewis is a member of the P. O. S. of A.,' in his religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and has been secretary of the board of trustees of the Shamokin church for the last four years. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

W. H. UNGER & COMPANY, dealers in stoves, tinware, hardware, and plumbing supplies, was organized in 1886. The members of the firm are William H., George C., and Warren Unger, sons of Daniel and Huldah (Raker) Unger, natives of Shamokin and Lower Augusta townships, North- umberland county, respectively.

WILLIAM H. UNGER, attorney at law, was born in the borough of Shamo- kin, June 24, 1864. His early education was received at the common schools, and at the age of fifteen he engaged in the droving business, which he fol- lowed ten years. Being desirous of obtaining a better education he entered Elysburg Academy, and later Central Pennsylvania College, at New Berlin, Union county, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1887. He read law with W. H. M. Oram, of Shamokin, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1890, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Unger was married, April 16, 1890, to Ella, daughter of Emanuel and Hannah Malick, of Shamokin. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and since attaining bis majority up to 1889 he served on the county committee of his party. In the spring of 1890, though a resident of the borough only six months, he was elected a member of the borough council. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A.

GEORGE C. UNGER was born in Shamokin township, October 13, 1865. He received his education at the public schools, and was employed some years with his brother, William H. In 1883 he entered the employ of A. Raker and learned the tinsmith trade, and now has the general supervision of the business of W. H. Unger & Company. He was married in 1887 to Clara E. Smink, of Shamokin, and by this union they have had three chil- dren, two of whom are living: Edith L., and Clarence. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and S. of V. In politics he is a Republican.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

WARREN UNGER was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1868. He received his education at the common schools and Central Penn- sylvania College, and learned the trade of tinsmith. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and a Republican in politics.

F. P. WILLIAMSON, furniture dealer, was born in Liverpool, Perry county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1849, son of J. W. and Maria (Shell) Williamson. He was reared and educated in his native town. He learned the tinner trade, which business he followed a number of years. In 1880 he located at Shamokin and entered the employ of J. G. Farrow, furniture dealer, where he remained four years, after which he was employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. In 1886 he purchased the upholstery bus- iness of J. G. Farrow, which he conducted until 1888, when he embarked in his present business. Politically, Mr. Williamson is a Democrat, and is a member of the Baptist church. He was married in 1878 to Ellen M. Cook, of Liverpool, Pennsylvania, and by this union they have one child, Emma D.

DAVID JOHNSTON, retired, was born, November 13, 1809, near the site of Kirkwood, Broome county, New York, on the North Branch of the Susque- hanna river. He is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Snedaker) Johnston, and was the fourth son of a family of seven children, six sons and one daugh- ter: James, Garrett, Ursula, and Kenneth A., all of whom are deceased; David; John B., who resides at Great Bend, Pennsylvania, and Andrew, a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania. The father of our subject died when David was only three years old and he was reared upon the homestead farm and received a common school education. He followed farming until his majority, when, in connection with his brothers, Kenneth and John, he located one mile and a half below Great Bend, Susquehanna county, and leased the Mckinney mills and farm, which they operated six years. He subsequently farmed about three years and then removed to Clearfield county. where, in partnership with B. C. Bowman, he purchased a tract of three hun- dred fifty acres of timber land and engaged in the lumber business nine years. He then sold his interest and removed to Phillipsburg, Centre county, em- barked in the mercantile business, and afterward in the hotel business. In 1857 he located in Curwensville, where he carried on a hotel until 1860, and then leased the Mansion House in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, which he con- ducted ten years. In 1870 he removed to Pittsburgh and leased the Mer- chants' Hotel, but at the expiration of ten months he sold his lease, and, returning to Clearfield, leased the Leonard House. Six months afterwards he purchased a hotel at Luthersburg, where he remained only a few months, removing to Bellefonte, Centre county, where he leased and operated the Brockerhoff House five years, and then retired from active business life. Mr. Johnston was married, August 17, 1846, to Charlotte, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Owen) Hancock, of Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania. Four children are the fruits of this union: James E., of Shamokin; John K., a merchant of Clearfield;

N.S. Queken

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Clarence A., proprietor of the Hotel Vanderbilt, Shamokin, and Thomas O., of Wilkesbarre. Politically he is a Republican, and while a resident of Phillips- burg served as justice of the peace. In May, 1885, he came to Shamokin, where he and wife reside with their son, Clarence A., and are in the enjoy- ment of the blessings of a well-preserved and ripe old age, and in the posses- sion of all their mental faculties.

AARON BARRELL, proprietor of the City Hotel, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1829, son of John and Anna (Kroskopp) Barrell. He learned the milling trade, and was located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, four years previous to settling in Northumberland county. In 1851 he came to this county to accept a position in Jacob Leisenring's mill, at Bear Gap, which he filled four years. In 1856 he purchased a farm near Paxinos on which he resided seven years, and then engaged in merchandising at Paxi- nos, where he remained one year. He was subsequently engaged in mer- cantile business at Elysburg, Mt. Carmel, and Turbutville, successively, for about seven years, when he retired from that business and located upon his farm on the Centre turnpike near Paxinos, which he had purchased in 1868. He commenced purchasing and selling all grades of horses and mules, and conducted that business at his farm until increasing trade necessitated a more central location, and in November, 1888, he removed to Shamokin. In December, 1889, he leased the City Hotel and has since conducted that house in connection with his previous business. Mr. Barrell is also extensively engaged in farming, owning some three hundred fifty acres of land. He has been twice married; his first wife was Juliann, daughter of William Krig- baum. She died, February 8, 1885, leaving four children: William; Francis F .; Annie, and Alice, wife of Fred Zeizer. He was again married, August 29, 1885, to Mrs. Jane Snyder, a daughter of Nicholas Campbell, of Elys- burg. Mr. Barrell is a Democrat, and filled the office of overseer in Ralpho township three terms, also serving as school director for the same length of time. He was once the Democratic candidate for county commissioner. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., and of St. Peter's Lutheran church, of Ralpho township.

JOHN SCHABO, proprietor of the Shamokin Hotel and county treasurer, was born in Germany, March 26, 1841, son of John and Annie (Karis) Schabo. The family immigrated to this country in 1853 and located in Car- bon county, Pennsylvania, where the parents died. At the age of twelve years our subject commenced work on the Lehigh canal, which business he followed in its various branches until he was thirty years old. In 1871 he located at Weissport, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the hotel business, in which he continued until 1875. In April of the same year he removed to Shamokin and established the Shamokin Hotel, which he has since conducted. In 1883 he was elected chief of the fire department, which position he filled up to the close of 1889. In 1884 he was elected a member of the council, 54

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

and served one term. He is a director of the First National Bank, the Shamokin Building and Loan Association, and the Shamokin Street Rail- road Company, and is treasurer of the Shamokin Driving Park Association. He was married, February 12, 1862, to Eva Schweibenz, a native of Germany, and they are the parents of two children: John W., who is engaged in the boot and shoe business in Shamokin, and Annie. Politically Mr. Schabo is a stanch Democrat, and in November, 1890, he was elected treasurer of Northumberland county by a majority of three hundred twenty-nine votes, after one of the hardest and most exciting political campaigns in the local history of this region. Mr. Schabo and family are members of St. Edward's Catholic church, and he is one of the popular, well known citizens of Shamokin.

GEORGE S. FISHER, proprietor of the Park Hotel, was born, August 29, 1839, in Owego, New York, son of George L. and Angeline (Leach) Fisher. He is of German and English extraction, and traces his ancestry on the paternal side to the landing of the Mayflower. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town, and his youth was spent upon his father's farm. He learned the trade of railroad engineer on the New York and Erie, now the New York, Lake Erie and Western railroad, where he remained seven years. In 1868 he located at Scranton, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the hotel business. In 1870 he kept the Tunkhannock Hotel, at Tunkhan- nock, Pennsylvania. In 1871 he removed to Shamokin and took charge of the restaurant business at the Douty House, and subsequently opened the Delmonico restaurant in the same town. In 1873 he built the City Hotel, which was partially burned in 1887. He rebuilt it and was landlord there- . of until December, 1889, when he leased it to Aaron Barrell. In the spring of 1890 he leased the Park Hotel, the property of the Shamokin Driving Park Association, which he has since conducted successfully. Mr. Fisher was married in 1870 to Kassie A. Shaw. Politically he is an independent voter, and is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M. He is a director of the Shamokin Driving Park Association, and was one of its cor- porators and its first president.

B. E. ADAMS, proprietor of the Anthracite Hotel, was born in Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, son of Gideon and Sarah Adams. His early life was spent upon a farm, and at the age of fourteen he went to live with Jacob Maurer as a hired boy. At the end of nine months he left his place, came to Shamokin, and was employed in building bridges on the Northern Central railway between Mt. Carmel and Sunbury. From Shamokin he moved to Stone Valley, where he worked in a lime quarry, and was subsequently employed by Gabriel Herb until he went into the huckster business. He kept at this business until his marriage, February 22, 1858, to Anna, daughter of Henry and Anna Arnold, a native of Snyder county. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are living:

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Henry F .; Arthur R .; Percival A .; J. Elmer; W. Clyde; Charles O .; Bernard E .; Sylvia L .; Warren E .; Anna J., and Mabel F. Percival A. died, Sep- tember 11, 1890, at the age of twenty-six, and two of his brothers in early childhood. During the war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy- second Pennsylvania Militia, and served nine months. In 1863 he went to Locust Gap and worked at the stone mason trade, which he has followed up to the present. Mr. Adams resided in Freeburg from 1867 till 1870, and during this time he erected the school house in that town and was engaged in much other mason work. He returned to Shamokin in 1870 and con- tinued to work at his trade for several years, and also carried on a liquor store in connection with it. He subsequently engaged in the hotel business which he still carries on. He operates the largest marble works in Sha- mokin. Mr. Adams has been a life-long Republican, in which party he is a quiet but efficient worker. He is a member of Lincoln Post, G. A. R., and of Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., also of the Conclave, and belongs to the Tag- neghdorn Tribe, No. 225. His father, who is eighty-three years old, resides with him, and the family are adherents of St. John's Reformed church.

GEORGE F. CRONE, restaurant proprietor, was born in Westphalia, Prus- sia, in 1832, son of Gotlilf C. and J. W. L. (Stollen) Crone, whose sketch appears in the biographical department under the head of Zerbe township. He came to this country in 1849 with his parents, and was engaged in the slate and coal mines. In 1865 he was appointed superintendent of the mines at Trevorton, and subsequently filled the same position at Mahanoy Valley and Shamokin until 1885, when he opened his present place of busi- ness. Mr. Crone is associated with his brother, H. T. Crone, in the mauu- facture of powder, their works being located at Trevorton. While a resi- dent of Trevorton he filled the offices of election judge and constable. He was married, in 1857, to Charlotte Creamer, and by this union they have had eight children; those living are: Lena, wife of Isaac P. Treon; Christian; Herman T., and Sarah A. In 1862 Mr. Crone enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., of Lincoln Post, G. A. R., and the Lutheran church, and politically is a Democrat.

STANISLAUS WEYNA, proprietor of the Central Hotel, was born in Prussian Poland, August 16, 1843, son of Frank and Eva Weyna. He was reared and educated in Poland, and in 1863 immigrated to this country and settled in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He was employed in the mines at this place and in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, nineteen years. In 1882 he en- gaged in the hotel business, and established the Central Hotel. In 1890 he built his new hotel, situated upon Shamokin street, containing twenty-two rooms. Its appointments are first-class, and altogether it is one of the desirable hotels of Shamokin. In 1888 Mr. Weyna established a gents' fur- nishing and clothing store, and has since conducted it in connection with his

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

hotel. He was married, October 18, 1865, to Margaret Garski, and by this union they have eight children: Tekla, wife of Albert Krantz; Mary, wife of Peter Mayeski; Stanislaus; Joseph; John; Anthony; Agnes, and Eva. Mr. Weyna is a member of the fire department, and also a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic church, and St. Stanislaus Society, and major in the Kos- ciusko Society.

JOHN CLIFFORD (Klofeta), merchant, was born, February 20, 1843, in Wierzchucin, State of Posen, Poland, Prussia, son of Joseph and Victoria (Klofeta) Clifford. The first eleven years of his life he spent in his native town. In 1854, in company with his mother and stepfather, John Stanka, he emigrated to Quebec, Canada, and in the same year removed to Shamokin, where he found employment in the coal mines of Shamokin and Trevorton, and upon the construction of the Northern Central railway and in the roll- ing mill at Danville. In 1867 he embarked in the hotel business at Shamo- kin, and was proprietor of the Pulaski House twelve years. In 1879 he erected his present place of business, and engaged in keeping a general store, which business he still continues. He was a member of the borough council for the years 1886-87. He was married, December 27, 1864, to Barbara, daughter of Anthony Harris, of Shamokin, and they are the parents of eleven children: Cecilia; John; Joseph; Frank; Charles; Kate; Alfred; Gertrude; Genevieve; Leo, and Marcella. Mr. Clifford is one of Shamokin's enterprising and progressive business men. In 1863, at the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-sixth Pennsyl- vania Emergency Militia. Politically he is a Democrat, and a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic church.

C. E. HUGHES, livery and sale stable proprietor, was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1847, son of Charles and Mary (Roth) Hughes, natives of Philadelphia and Columbia county, respectively. He was educated in the public schools of Bloomsburg and at the age of six- teen commenced life as a clerk in a drug store, where he remained three years. He then served an apprenticeship at the painting business and worked as a journeyman until 1869, when he located in Shamokin and con- tinued at the business two years. He then entered the employ of Stephen Bittenbender as a clerk at his coal mines, after which he again engaged in the painting business, which he carried on for several years. In 1882 he went into the livery business and in 1884 sold out, and two years later resumed the business. He was married in 1871 to Alice, daughter of the late Stephen Bittenbender, and by this union they have had six children, two of whom are living: Harry B. and Stephen B. Politically Mr. Hughes is a Republican.

E. H. MARTZ, liveryman, was born, January 3, 1867, in Paxinos, North- umberland county. His father, Franklin Martz, was a native of this county, a farmer and carpenter by occupation, and died in July, 1887, a consistent member of the German Reformed church. His mother, Margaret (Fisher)

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Martz, is a native of Northumberland county, and survives her husband. She is a member of the German Reformed church. Of her ten children five survive: Kate A .; E. H .; William; Clarence C., and Bertha M. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools, and began his business life in the mines. After working three years in the mines he purchased, in 1889, a half-interest in the livery and feed stable of C. M. Adams, which he has since conducted. He married Miss Hannah Brocius. Mr. Martz is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the P. O. S. of A., and in politics is a Republican.

BENJAMIN HAUPT, butcher, was born in Cameron township, Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1841, son of John and Catharine, (Maurer) Haupt, natives of Cameron township, and grandson of Henry Haupt, one of the early settlers of that township. He was reared upon the farm settled by his grandfather until 1862, when he was drafted and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-second Pennsylvania Militia, serving nine months. He then engaged in mining, which he followed seventeen years. In 1880 he located on Market street and engaged in business, and after- wards removed to his present stand. He was married in 1863 to Catharine, daughter of Thomas Henninger, who died in 1880, leaving four sons and four daughters. Those living are Joseph; Augustus; Elizabeth, wife of George E. Long; James; William T., and Harry. Mr. Haupt was again married in 1883 to Elizabeth, daughter of Elias Daniel, of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and by this union they have one son, Charles. Mr. Haupt is a Republican in politics, and has served as a member of the borough council. He is a member of the Evangelical church, and one of the trustees of the Shamokin congregation.

I. S. REITZ, butcher and grocer, was born in Jackson township, April 12, 1849, son of Joseph and Catharine (Siders) Reitz, natives of Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania. He was reared upon the farm in Little Mahanoy township, and received his education at the common schools. His father was a farmer, and carried on butchering and a general store in con- nection with his farm. He subsequently located at Trevorton and engaged in the mercantile business, which he conducted until his death in 1870. His wife survives him and resides in Shamokin. Their family consisted of eight children: Susan, wife of H. L. Rodgers, of Shamokin; Nathaniel, merchant of Kansas City, Missouri; Joseph S., of Shamokin; I. S .; Sedick S., lumberman, of Juniata county; William, of Shamokin; Sallie, wife of William Zaring, of Shamokin, and Wilson, merchant and cattle dealer of Wyandotte, Kansas. April 3, 1866, the subject of this sketch in connection with H. L. Rodgers engaged in the butcher business in Shamokin, which they conducted two years. Mr. Reitz then engaged in the business individu- ally one year, when he engaged in selling patent rights, which business he continued two years, when he again engaged in butchering and dealing in cattle and horses, and for a number of years gave his whole attention to his

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meat market. In the spring of 1890 he moved to his new store, situated on East Sunbury street, and has one of the most convenient and handsomely fitted-up meat markets in the county. He was married in 1871 to Lydia S., daughter of Daniel Reed, of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania; by this marriage they are the parents of three children: Lizzie; Emma Rebecca, and Samuel W. Mr. Reitz is a life-long Republican, but never sought public office, and in religion is a member of the Evangelical church.

LEVI SHOOP, plasterer, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1830, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Kneer) Shoop. His early life was spent upon the farm, receiving such education as could be obtained at the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he learned the trade of plasterer, at which he was occupied in an adjoining county until 1866. He then located at Shamokin and established himself in business, in which he was engaged until 1880, when he embarked in the mercantile business, which he conducted a short time; he then resumed the plastering business, at which he has since continued. Mr. Shoop has been a member of the council, and has served in the office of assistant burgess. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., and has been for many years a member of the I. O. O. F. He is an attendant of the Evangelical church, to which he is a liberal contributor. In politics he is a Republican. He was married in 1854 to Lydia Hepler, of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and by this union they have had ten children, six of whom are living; Rev. James M., of Dauphin county; George O .; Sarah F., wife of David Zaring; Charles O., who married Mary Seifert, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania; William E., who married Laura Mayer, of Shamokin, and Robert C., of Shamokin.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 100

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829- Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424