History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 103

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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B. K. HAAG, merchant, was born, January 9, 1817, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Mary C. (Knauss) Haag. His edu- cation was received in the subscription and common schools. At the age of twenty-one years he left his father's farm to begin a business life for him- self, his first employment being in the general mercantile store of Geddes, Green & Walls at McEwensville, this county, where he remained four years. Following this were four years' service as a clerk in a general store in Lewis- burg, Pennsylvania. In 1847 he came to Milton and formed a partnership with T. S. Mackey & Son, under the firm name of Mackey & Haag, dry goods and hardware. At the expiration of two years Mr. Haag withdrew from this connection and joined Montgomery Sweney, and for one year did a general dry goods and grocery business, under the firm title of Sweney & Haag. After one year's association with the concern of Haag & Caldwell, the stock was divided and Mr. Haag kept a store for a period on the present site of the Milton National Bank. In 1853 he established his present hard- ware and book store, which was conducted under the firm cognomen of Haag & Brown until the panic of 1857, which compelled Mr. Haag to assume all responsibility of the business, and since when he has been alone until joined by his son-in-law, John Buoy. In 1863 he purchased a lot south of his present hardware room, of Elizabeth Miller, and in 1865 erected buildings on the same. In 1875 his business block was burned, rebuilt, and again burned in 1880, and soon after rebuilt the second time. Besides this hand- some brick block, he has constructed many dwellings in the town of Milton, including the Hotel Haag, which magnificent structure was erected in 1890 at a cost of over seventy-five thousand dollars, and opened up for business on April 1, 1890. Mr. Haag was married, February 20, 1852, to Sarah Schuck, daughter of Philip and Catharine (Diebert) Schuck. She was born, July 19, 1821, in Union county, Pennsylvania, and to her union with Mr. Haag have been born six children: William A., deceased; Mary E., the wife of John Buoy; Charles H., deceased; Sallie, deceased; Thomas J .; and Hettie, the wife of C. A. Chapin. Mr. Haag was postmaster while at McEwensville and also trustee of school funds at the same place. He was appointed one of the distributing committee of the relief funds after the great fire of 1880. He was a director of the National Bank of Milton from 1865 to 1875.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

WILLIAM C. LAWSON, president of the Milton National Bank, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1817, son of Joseph and Ann Clingan) Lawson, natives of Lycoming and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania, respectively. Roger Lawson, the original ancestor of the family in America, came from the North of Ireland in 1720, and settled at Bohemia Manor, Mary- land, whence John Lawson, grandfather of our subject, removed in 1785 to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. Joseph Lawson was born and reared in that county, and subsequently went to Union county, where he married Ann Clingan, whose parents moved from Lancaster to Union county in 1801. He was a prominent farmer, and both he and wife died in that county. Though originally a Democrat he became a Whig during Jackson's administration, and ever afterward voted that ticket.

The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, and in 1830 commenced attending an academy at Milton, then under the charge of Rev. David Kirkpatrick, where he spent two years and a half. In 1835 he entered Delaware College, at Newark, Delaware, from whence he was graduated in 1838. After leaving college he began the study of the law in the office of James F. Linn, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and completed his studies under Judge Reed of Carlisle. He was admitted to the bar of Cumberland county in 1840, and the same year opened an office in Greenville, Mercer county, where he practiced his profession until the fall of 1843, when he located in Milton and was admitted to the bar of Northumberland county, April 1, 1844. Mr. Lawson continued in active and successful practice at this bar for about forty years, but the fire of 1880 having destroyed his home, office, and library, he concluded to abandon the active duties of his profession, and he gradually gave up the practice of the law and has since devoted his attention to his private affairs. He was one of the organizers of the Milton Savings Bank in 1858, and since July, 1860, he has been presi- dent of that institution and its successor, the Milton National Bank, continu- ously, up to the present. He also has been president of the Milton Bridge Company for many years.

Mr. Lawson has been twice married. His first wife was Hannah P., daughter of James P. Sanderson, of Milton, to whom he was wedded, Oc- tober 19, 1843. She died in 1854, leaving two children: James Lawson, cash- ier of the Williamsport National Bank, and Mrs. William B. Chamberlin, of Milton. His second marriage occurred in April, 1858, to Mrs. Ann D. Shannon, daughter of James Strawbridge, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. She died, December 11, 1885. In religious faith the Lawsons have been Presby- terians since the coming of Roger Lawson to America in 1720, and our sub- ject has been a member of that church since early manhood. He has always taken a very deep interest in the progress and prosperity of the Milton church, in which body he has filled the office of elder since 1859. In politics he was originally a Whig, and since the birth of the Republican party he has been an active supporter of that organization.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SAMUEL WILSON MURRAY was born at Lewisburg, Union county, Penn- sylvania, October 16, 1829. He was educated at the old Lewisburg Academy under Hugh Pollock and his successor in that venerable institution, John Robinson. When he was about seventeen years of age he went to Lancaster, where his father then resided. Two years later he went to Portland, Maine, and entered the Portland Locomotive Works for a term of three years for the purpose of learning the trade of a machinist. At the expiration of his time at the Portland Works he spent a year and a half at Vernon, Indiana, and in Rhode Island, after which he returned to Lancaster and was employed for the three succeeding years as draughtsman in the Lancaster Locomotive Works.

In September, 1856, he went to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and in con- nection with William Vanderbilt and Charles Bowman engaged in the machine business under the firm name of Vanderbilt, Murray & Bowman. About the middle of the following January their works were entirely destroyed by fire. They immediately purchased another establishment then owned and operated by John B. Hall, but during the following summer came the great commercial crash of 1857, and this, together with their losses by fire, crippled the firm to such an extent that they deemed it expedient to resell the works to Mr. Hall and retire from business. Mr. Murray then returned to Lancaster, and shortly afterward went to Pittsburgh, where he was employed a year in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The succeeding year he spent in the Baldwin Locomotive Works at Philadelphia.

In the fall of 1860 he returned to Lewisburg, and became interested in the firm of Slifer, Walls, Shriner & Company, which was about to engage in the manufacture of agricultural implements. In February, 1864, he came to Milton, and in connection with several other gentlemen, founded the Milton Car Works, with which enterprise he is still identified.

Mr. Murray was married, December 17, 1866, to Sarah Matilda Meckly, a daughter of Dr. John Meckly, of Milton, and two children, a son, John Heber, and a daughter, Helen Beatrice, are the result of this union. .

While a resident of Portland, Maine, Mr. Murray cast his first vote at the municipal election at which Neal Dow was elected mayor of the city and which resulted in the enactment of the famous "Maine Law." He became at that time a convert to the theory that prohibition was the only practical remedy for the evils of intemperance and he has remained a life-long adher- ent to the cause. In early life he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, to which creed his parents and sister also adhered, and he has been a prominent leader in church work for many years. He has been a liberal contributor to religious and benevolent purposes and his business career furnishes evidence that a competence can be secured without the sacrifice of religious principles or honor.

CHARLES HEBER DICKERMAN, manufacturer of railroad equipment, was

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

born in Harford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1843. His father, Clark Dickerman, was a native of Guilford, Chenango county, New York, born June 12, 1803, and a son of John and Thankful Dickerman. The family traces its paternal ancestry back to 1635, when Thomas Dickerman came from England and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts. At his death he left two sons: Isaac and Abram. The latter married Mary Cooper, and died at New Haven, Connecticut, leaving a family of eight children; the fifth child and oldest son was also named Abram. He married Elizabeth Glover, who bore him four sons, the third being John Dickerman, who removed to Brattleboro, Vermont, and married Esther Sperry. Nine children were born of this union, the fifth, also named John, being the founder of the Guilford branch of the Dickerman family. He married, in 1789, Thankful Smith, a native of Granby, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Seth and Thankful Smith, the former having served with the rank of colonel in the Revolution- ary war. John Dickerman was born in Vermont, March 17, 1764, and served in the Revolution nine months, being employed as a scout during the latter part of his service. He learned the blacksmith trade in New Haven, Con- necticut, and about the year 1800 moved with his family from Vermont to Guilford, Chenango county, New York, where he followed blacksmithing and farming. Both he and wife died in Otsego county, New York, November 6, 1848, and October 7, 1856, respectively. They were the parents of eleven children, Clark, the father of our subject, being the seventh in the family. He was twice married, first in November, 1829, to Eliza Knapp, who died, November 9, 1830. He was again married, October 14, 1833, at Gibson, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, to Sarah Adelia Chandler, born June 30, 1815, who bore him the following children: James Bedell, and Eugene Durand, both deceased; Eliza Knapp, wife of Ralph H. Eaton; Charles Heber; Payson Kingsbury, and Mary Louisa, wife of Clement R. Woodin. Clark Dickerman was a physician, and died at Harford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1853. His widow is still living at Hazelton, Lu- zerne county, aged seventy-six years.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools and at Har- vard University, and for several years was a teacher in the public schools of Susquehanna and Luzerne counties. In 1862 he was registered as a law student in the office of Daniel S. Dickinson, Binghamton, New York, but in 1863 he abandoned the law and accepted a position with Carter & Son, coal operators, at Beaver Meadow, Carbon county, Pennsylvania. In 1868 he removed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the coal commission business. In 1869 he became interested in the Chapman Slate Company, Chapman Quarries, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, miners and manu- facturers of roofing slate and other slate products, and was elected secretary of that company, and in 1870 was chosen general manager. In 1880 he be- came associated with S. W. Murray in the manufacture of freight cars, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

removed to Milton, where he has since resided. Mr. Dickerman is secretary and treasurer of Murray, Dougal & Company, Limited, and is a director of the First National Bank of Milton. During the past eleven years he has taken a prominent part in the social and material development of his adopted home, and is to-day one of the best and most favorably known citizens of Northumberland county. He has always been an unswerving, uncompromis- ing Democrat, and a fearless, outspoken advocate of Democratic principles. Three years ago he was elected chairman of the county committee, and has been twice re-elected to the same position. Under his wise and vigorous management the party has been twice successful in carrying the county, and filling the offices with stanch Democrats.

Mr. Dickerman was married, March 10, 1869, at Beaver Meadow, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, to Joy I., daughter of William and Margaret Carter, natives of Cornwall, England, where Mrs. Dickerman was born. Four chil- dren are the fruits of this union: Adelia Margaret; William Carter; Grace Beatrice, and Joy Chandler. The family are attendants of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Dickerman is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

SAMUEL JOHNSTON SHIMER, senior member of the firm of S. J. Shimer & Sons, was born in Bethlehem township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1837, son of Abraham B. and Margaretta (Johnston) Shimer, natives of the same county and of German and Scotch descent, respectively. Mr. Shimer was reared upon the old homestead in Bethlehem township, and during his youth he followed the daily routine of farm life. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and finished his education at an academy in the borough of Bethlehem. Throughout his early manhood Mr. Shimer was engaged in farming, but in October, 1871, he came to Milton for the purpose of joining his brother George in the lumber business, whither the latter had preceded him in the spring of 1869 and commenced operations under the firm name of Applegate, Shimer & Company. Their first purchase consisted of a tract of eighteen hundred acres of heavily timbered land in Union county, from which they cut the timber, and, converting it into lum- ber, hauled it to Milton, their nearest shipping point. Subsequent purchases increased these operations until the product of about three thousand acres of fine timber lands had been cut and marketed.

During this period, in 1873, an event occurred that has proven an incal- culable benefit to the firm-the invention of a matcher-head by George and Samuel J. Shimer, which is recognized as one of the most valuable inven- tions of the century. In 1872 the firm established a saw and planing mill in Milton, with a small machine shop attached, which was operated up to its destruction by the fire of May, 1880. They then rebuilt the plant as a machine shop for the manufacture of cutter heads and other specialties, and from that time forward devoted their whole attention and energies to the prosecution of the new business. In 1884 George Shimer retired from the

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

firm, and our subject became sole proprietor. He afterwards took into part- nership his sons Elmer S. and George S., and the firm then became S. J. Shimer & Sons. In the fall of 1888 they assumed control of the Milton Manufacturing Company's plant, which they have since operated success- fully. In the spring of 1889 Mr. Shimer invented and patented a valuable machine for cutting washers, to the manufacture of which the latter plant is principally devoted.

Mr. Shimer was married, September 27, 1860, to Catharine A., daughter of Isaac and Catharine (Clemens) Stout, the former a native of Northamp- ton county and the latter of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and both of Ger- man origin. Mrs. Shimer was born in Northampton county, and is the mother of three children: Elmer S .; Mary C., wife of William A. Heinen, and George S. The whole family are members of the Presbyterian church, and are ardent supporters of the principles and measures of the Republican party. Mr. Shimer is one of the corporators of the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and a director and vice-president of that institution. He is widely known and recognized as a gentleman of commendable enterprise and public spirit, as well as one of the most successful manufacturers of the West Branch valley.

P. C. JOHNSON, secretary and assistant treasurer of the Milton Iron Com- pany, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1828. His grand- father, Christopher Johnson, was a native of New Jersey, settled in Union county in 1787, and died there in 1837. He served as captain in the Revo- lutionary war seven years. Jonathan C. Johnson, father of our subject, was a native of Union county, and married Elizabeth Coldren of Northumberland county. They were farmers by occupation, and removed from Union to Cen- tre county in 1832, where the father died in 1874 and the mother in 188S. They reared nine children, eight of whom are living: Josiah, of Centre county; William E., of Illinois; J. C., of Lock Haven; Maria, Mrs. Levi Dixson, of Centre county; P. C., of Milton; Joel H., of Centre county; Dan- iel J., of Centre county, and Emily Elizabeth, Mrs. McMully, of Centre county. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Centre county, where he removed when four years old, and remained on the farm until he was twenty years of age. In 1857 he entered the employ of the Hecker Furnace as book-keeper, and has since been engaged in the iron bus- iness. He came to Milton in 1872, and was one of the organizers of the Mil- ton Iron Company. In 1861 he married Margaret A., daughter of Samuel Lowrie, of Montour county, and they are the parents of three children: Newell Lowrie; William Howard, and James Curtis. Mr. Johnson is a member of Bellefonte Lodge, F. & A. M., a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church.

JOHNSON B. GODCHARLES, of the firm of C. A. Godcharles & Company, manufacturers of nails, was born in Crescent, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

October 1, 1851, son of Henry and Esther (Price) Godcharles. He was reared in his native town, and received his education at the township schools and Bloomfield Academy, after which he learned the nailer trade, and has since followed that occupation. In 1870 he went to Towanda, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and was a member of a co-operative manufacturing company two years, and from there went to Lycoming county, and was engaged in business until 1875; he then removed to Milton and worked at his trade until 1888, and then became a member of the present firm. Mr. Godcharles is a director in the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company. In 1877 he married Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of George Baker, of Milton. They have one daughter, Sarah Baker. Politically he is a Republican, and is connected with the F. & A. M .; both he and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.

CHARLES E. Coup, shipping clerk of J. B. Godcharles's nail works, was born in Tuscarora, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1848, son of A. Nelson and Elizabeth (Rank) Coup, of Union county, Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The family removed to Chillisquaque township, this county, in 1851 where the father followed carpentering. After completing his school days the subject of this sketch traveled through the western States; in 1869 he enlisted in the Eighth Cavalry Regiment of the United States Regular Army and was stationed in Arizona and New Mexico in serv- ice for five years. He was married in June, 1876, to Sarah M., daughter of David S. Carbaugh, of Milton, and to this union have been born eight chil- dren: James H., deceased; Clara M., deceased; Annie E., deceased; David A .; Martha D .; Charles E .; Samuel L., and Isaac I. Mr. Coup has been with his present employers since 1877, and has held the position of shipping clerk since January, 1889. He is a Republican in politics and his wife belongs to the Evangelical church.

E. F. COLVIN, proprietor of machine shop and foundry, was born in Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1855, son of Israel and Eliza (Smith) Colvin, natives of Massachusetts. His father was a carpenter and millwright by trade. He died in 1876; his widow still survives him. They reared six children: James W., of Wilkesbarre; C. W., of Plymouth; Jess W., of Scranton; H. P., of Tunkhannock; Louisa M., of Dalton, Lackawanna county, and E. F. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county and educated at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, after which he learned the machinist trade at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. In 1880 he removed to Milton and worked at his trade until 1885, when he pur- chased his present business. In 1876 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Abram Fairchild, of Chillisquaque township, and to this union have been born three children: Abbie E .; Dora M., and Dix. Mr. Colvin is a stock- holder in the Milton Knitting Company, the Milton Creamery, the Milton Driving Park and Fair Association, and Montandon Paint Works.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

FREDERICK MALCOLM KELLY was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, July 1, 1856. He was educated at the university in Lewisburg, (now Bucknell University) from which he was graduated in 1875, being the first grandchild of that institution. In 1879 he came to Milton where he became connected with the Milton Iron Company, of which he was made secretary in 1882. He held this position six years, and in September, 1888, was made general traveling agent, which he resigned to accept his present posi- tion with the Milton tannery. Mr. Kelly possesses great business ability, and is recognized as one of Milton's prominent business men. His is a stockholder in the Milton Iron Company, one of the directors and ex-secre- tary of the Milton Driving Park Association, a stockholder in the Milton Water Company, and a member of the Milton Board of Trade. Politically he is a Republican.

JACOB FETTER, lumber dealer and proprietor of a planing mill, was born in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1836, son of Samuel and Mary (Wise) Fetter, natives of Cumberland county, this State. His father was a carpenter by trade and moved to Sunbury in 1832. He was captain of a militia company and was familiarly known as Captain Fetter. His wife, Mary Wise, was born, September 23, 1802, and died in 1879, while he was born, February 18, 1798, and died in 1887. They reared a family of six children, four of whom are living: Henry G., a retired photographer of Peru, Indiana; Rebecca, wife of Gideon Conrad, of Purdytown; Jacob, and James H., who resides in Peru, Indiana. Our subject was reared in Sunbury and received a common school education. He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed from 1854 to 1880, when he removed to Milton and in 1881 established his present business. In 1860 he was married to Jane Ann Gossler, daughter of Samuel Gossler, of Sunbury. To this union were born two children: William G., who married, October 20, 1887, Margaret B. Kremer, a daughter of Daniel Kremer, of Philadelphia, and James Her- bert; both of these sons are engaged in business with their father. In 1865 he went out as a corporal of the Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He is a member of Sunbury Lodge, No. 22, F. & A. M., is a Republican, served nine years as school director of Sunbury, and with his family belongs to the Lutheran church of Milton.

D. CLINGER, lumber manufacturer, was born in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, November 18, 1837, son of Henry and Susanna (Wagner) Clinger, natives of Chester and Berks counties, respectively, who removed to Lime- stone township, Lycoming county, in 1828. The father purchased a large farm, and erected thereon a grist mill and saw mill, and also purchased a mill site and built thereon a tannery. He became one of the representative men of the county. He was a prominent Democrat, colonel of a military company in the early days, was justice of the peace many years, was county commissioner, and a general land surveyor and conveyancer. He served as

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elder in the Reformed church for some years. He died in 1854. Eight of his children grew to maturity, six of whom are living: John, of Winchester, Virginia; Abraham, of Williamsport; Daniel, of Milton; Mary, wife of Michael Sypher, of Antes Fort, Lycoming county; Catharine, wife of Adam Baker, of Winchester, Virginia, and Susan, wife of John Knouf, of Milton. The subject of this sketch was reared in Lycoming county, and was edu- cated at the township schools. In June, 1867, he came to Milton, and became a member of the firm of Balliet, Dreisbach & Clinger, lumber manufacturers. He has since purchased the interests of the other members, and for fourteen years he has conducted the business alone. Mr. Clinger is a stockholder and director in the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and also one of the executive board. He has stock in the Milton Knitting Company, the Milton Water Company, and is the president of the Milton Driving Park and Fair Association, and director in the Milton Creamery Company and the Milton Record Publishing Company. He is an active Democrat, and is a school director of Milton and treasurer of the school and building fund. In 1860 he married Sarah Amanda, daughter of Israel and Leah (Moore) Gann, of Lycoming county, and by this union they have six children: Harry R .; Edgar M .; Frank W .; George W .; Joseph A., and Daniel J. Mr. Clinger has served as elder in the Reformed church for many years. He is a director in the Young Men's Christian Association, and a member of Milton Lodge, F. & A. M.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 103

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