History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 104

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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H. G. COHILL was born at Williamsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1858, son of Andrew A. and Mary Jane (Mapes) Cohill, of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and New York State, respectively. His father removed to Williamsport and accepted the position of general super- intendent of the Pennsylvania canal. During the Rebellion he was em- ployed by the government as a civil engineer. He died in Williamsport, December 4, 1887. His first wife died, June 20, 1861; by her he had two children: Edmond P., of Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, and H. G. His second wife was Annie E. Egan, by whom he had five children, three of whom are living: Andrew A., a civil engineer; Ella Maud, and Thomas W. The subject of our sketch was reared in Williamsport and educated in the public schools, after which he engaged in railroad contract- ing and building. He built four miles of the Shamokin, Sunbury and Lewisburg railroad, also the Wilkesbarre and Western from Watsontown to Millville, and was connected with the Reading railroad, building the annex from West Milton to Milton. In 1888 he organized the Milton Knitting Company, erected the building, and became one of the heaviest stockholders, and held the position of secretary and treasurer up to a recent date. He is a director of the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, a stockholder in the Milton Driving Park and Fair Association, and one of the auditors of the same. February 22, 1883, he married Annie L., daughter of Maurice

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Van Buskirk, of Milton, by whom he has two children: Thomas Haskins and Maurice Blanchard. Mr. Cohill is a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically is a Democrat.

ISAAC F. RITTER, proprietor of the Ritter Granite Works, was born in Chillisquaque township, June 9, 1865, son of Solomon H. and Annie E. (Miller) Ritter, natives of Northampton county, who settled in Chillisqua- que township in 1842 and still reside there. The subject of this sketch was educated in the township schools, and Pottsgrove Academy, and remained at home until 1885, when he came to Milton, and engaged in his present occupation as an apprentice. In 1887 he engaged in business on his own account at Lewisburg, and in 1888 purchased his present business. Mr. Ritter is a stockholder in the Milton Knitting Company. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and politically is a Democrat.

CHARLES NEWHARD was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1823, son of John and Eva (Reber) Newhard, natives of that county. In 1837 they removed to Montour county and engaged in farming. The father served in the war of 1812, and was a prominent and consistent member of the German Reformed church. He died in 1858; his widow still survives him with her son, Charles. Their family consisted of eight children, three of whom are living: Charles; Isabella, Mrs. Peter Carr, of Montour county, and Cyrus, of Sunbury. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead farm, and received his education at the public schools. He remained with his parents until 1847, when he engaged in the lumber busi- ness on Muddy run, two miles from Milton. He later built two saw mills in Milton and was engaged in manufacturing lumber twenty-one years. The mills were both destroyed by fire; the first mill burned in 1864, the second in 1877, and since then he has retired from active business. He was reared a Democrat, and voted with that party until 1860; since then he has been an active member of the Republican party. In 1887 he was elected county commissioner, and served three years in that office. In 1850 he married Anna M., daughter of David Eckert, of Turbut township. Five children were born to this union, one of whom is living: William G., in the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company at Sunbury. Mr. and Mrs. Newhard are mem- bers of the German Reformed church of Milton, and for twenty-eight consecu- tive years he has served as deacon and elder in that organization.

ROBERT WILSON, deceased, was born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1810, and subsequently became a resident of the State of New York until about the year 1844, when he returned to his native county and followed the saddler's trade in Williamsport. In 1850 he removed to Milton, where he continued his trade. In 1856 he devised what is known as the " Wilson fly net" for horses, had it patented in 1858, and with the machinery invented by him, he engaged largely aud profitably in the manufacture of that article. In 1863, at the age of fifty-five years, he volunteered and served three

Henry Koerber

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

months in the defense of his country. He married Luccetta, daughter of Dr. Henry Heinen; she died in 1853, leaving three sons: William E .; Henry H., and Reuben F., the last named being the only survivor. He was again mar- ried in 1860 to Mrs. Rebecca Overpeck, and died in 1870.

MICHAEL FARLEY was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1829, son of Abraham and Rebecca (Wolf) Farley, natives of Union county, and of German ancestry. They reared six children; those living are: Abraham, residing upon the homestead in Union county; Jacob, of White Deer town- ship, Union county, and Michael. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the farm, and received but three months' schooling. In October, 1849, he removed to this county, and first settled in Turbut township, and in 1859 located on the site of his present homestead in South Milton. He was engaged in manufacturing brick twenty-four years, in the butchering busi- ness twelve years, and since 1855 has followed the dairy business and farm- ing, being the proprietor of the South Milton dairy. During the war of the Rebellion he furnished two substitutes for the Union army. In March, 1857, he married Hannah, daughter of John Hoy, of Turbut township, and three children were born to this union: John; William E., deceased, and Harry M. Mr. Farley is a Democrat in politics, and has served as assessor of Turbut township. Though a contributor to several churches he is not connected with any denomination, but his wife is a member of the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM RIDDELL, farmer, was born in Turbut township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1830. His grandfather, Charles Riddell, emigrated from Ireland, and was among the very early settlers of Delaware township, where he remained until his death. He reared a family of eight sons and two daughters. Charles Riddell, the father of our subject, was reared in Delaware township, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Catharine, daughter of William Stadden, of Turbut township. In politics he was a Whig, and served as township supervisor eight years. He was one of the charter members of the Presbyterian church of McEwensville, and for many years served as deacon of the same. He died, January 6, 1860; his wife died, February 21, 1865. They were the parents of three children: William; Mary, Mrs. Samuel Eckert, of Milton, and Margaret, Mrs. Oscar Hartranft, of Michigan. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Turbut township. December 11, 1856, he married Annie, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Crissman) Eckert, natives of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and by this union they have one child, Mary Ellen, Mrs. C. F. Balliet, of Milton. Mr. Riddell followed the occupation of a farmer until his retirement from active life, and has since resided in Milton. He is a stockholder in the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Milton creamery. He and family are members of the Lutheran church, and he has served in the office of deacon.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

GEORGE W. STRINE was born in Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1818, son of Matthias and Catharine (Welshans) Strine, natives of York county, Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Union county. His grand- father emigrated from Germany and served in the Revolutionary war. The father of our subject removed to Milton, April 1, 1818, where he worked at his trade and boat building. Prior to this he was engaged in saddletree making at Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania. He was an elder in the Lutheran church many years. He died in 1861; bis wife died in 1858. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are living: Henry; George W .; Daniel, and Matthias. The subject of this sketch was reared and edu- cated in Milton, and learned the trade of boat builder, which he has followed about thirty years, twenty of which he was a contractor, and built boats for the Pennsylvania Canal Company. He was also engaged in farming about ten years. In 1841 he married Mary, daughter of Frederick Burnman, who died in 1883 leaving three children: Melancthon; Mary, wife of John Peeler, of Milton, and Alice, wife of Lewis Small, of York county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Strine has been an active member of the Democratic party. He was postmaster at Milton under James Buchanan's administration, was elected sheriff of Northumberland county in 1875, and served one term, and has also served several terms as councilman and member of the school board of Mil- ton. He is a stockholder in the Milton Knitting Company and the Milton Bridge Company. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has served as elder.

WILLIAM A. DEAN, retired farmer, was born in Montour county, Penn- sylvania, October 27, 1827. His father, Joseph Dean, was born in that part of Columbia county which is now attached to Montour county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and was captain of a company in the war of 1812. He served as treasurer of Montour county, also as associate judge ten years, and was a Democrat in politics. He was an elder of the Presbyterian church for many years, and became a wealthy and influential citizen of the community in which he resided. He married Adeline Cole, of Fishing Creek, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, by whom he had eight children. William A., the oldest, was reared and educated in his native county, and has followed the occupation of farming and surveying. In 1872 he purchased a farm in Lewis township, this county, where he resided until 1884, when he retired to Milton. October 3, 1853, he was married to Susan, daughter of John and Mary Gauger, of Montour county, Pennsylvania. She died, March 3, 1881, leaving two children: Mary Ada, wife of John Z. McFarland, of Watsontown, and Jessie, wife of George F. Richmond, of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was again married, January 8, 1884, to Louisa McCurdy, daughter of Jacob McCurdy, of Union county, Pennsylvania. He has always been an active Democrat, and for twenty years was a justice of the peace for Montour and this county. From 1886 to 1888 he represented Northumberland county

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in the State legislature. He is a stockholder of the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and one of the examining board of the same. He is a member of Danville Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M., and with his family belongs to the Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM P. WENDLE was born at Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsyl- vania, August 16, 1840, son of Peter and Sarah (Buck) Wendle, natives of that county. His father was a wagon maker by trade, and prominent in Dem- ocratic politics, served as county commissioner, and in various other offices, and was a member of the Evangelical church. He died in 1868; his wife died in 1848. They reared a family of eight children, six of whom are living: D. B., merchant, T. P., carriage maker, P. E., cabinet maker, and Ellen, Mrs. Joseph Gibson, all of Philadelphia; Jane, Mrs. Phelix Axtel, of Iowa, and Will- iam P. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Muncy, went to Indiana in 1856, where he learned the trade of cabinet maker, and in 1861 enlisted in Company H, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner in North Carolina, was honorably discharged because of physicial disability, and returned to Muncy, where he engaged in business. In 1863 he married Ellen J., daughter of Daniel Blue. In 1871 they re- moved to Indiana, and in 1874 came to Milton, where he engaged in cabinet making until 1879, when he was elected justice of the peace and has since held that office. They have three children: Carrie Ida, wife of Reverdy J. Bramble, of Winchester, Virginia; Nellie T., and Elizabeth M. Mr. Wendle is a member of Henry Wilson Post, G. A. R., the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and K. of P. He and family attend the Lutheran church, and politically he is a Republican.

SPENCER L. FINNEY, merchant, was born in Buffalo valley, Union county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1834, son of James and Elizabeth (Johnson) Finney, farmers by occupation. His father was a Republican in politics, and filled various township offices in Union county. About 1864 he removed to Milton, where he died in 1876; his wife died in 1872. They reared seven children: Elizabeth, wife of John S. Lawson, of Milton; Mary H .; Spencer L .; Margaret S., widow of J. H. Haines, of Genesee county, New York; Eleanor, wife of B. Young, of Mifflinburg, Union county, and James R., of Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Finney was reared on the homestead farm and received his education at the township schools, and at the old academy on Broadway hill, Milton, Pennsylvania. At the age of eighteen years he came to Milton and entered the store of William Heinen & Brother as clerk, and has since been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He established his present business in May, 1856, starting in a small way, and had become one of the prosper- ,ous merchants of Milton when the fire of 1880 burned him out, with a loss of twenty thousand dollars above all insurance. He immediately rebuilt his present store room, where he conducts one of the leading mercantile estab- lishments in Milton. He is a stockholder in the Milton Knitting Company

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and the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, of which he is one of the examining committee. Politically he is a Republican, and has served as chief burgess of Milton two terms and as member of the town council fif- teen years. In September, 1856, he married Sarah W., daughter of Elias Wertman, of Columbia county. Mr. and Mrs. Finney are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as trustee and librarian many years, and has been a ruling elder for about twenty years. He is a mem- ber of Henry Wilson Post, G. A. R., of Milton. In 1862 he served as cor- poral in Captain Thaddeus Bogle's company of Emergency Men that went out to assist in repelling the rebel invasion of that year, but saw no further active service.

W. A. SCHREYER, merchant, was born, June 9, 1833, in Milton, Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, a son of Jesse and Maria (Heinen) Schreyer. He received his education in the common schools and at an academy at Lew- isburg. In 1848 he was employed as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of William Heiner at Milton, where he remained until 1852, when he was transferred to his father's general store at Lewisburg. Upon reaching his majority he was taken into partnership by his father and continued to do a mercantile business in Lewisburg until 1861, at which time he became the company part of the general mercantile establishment of Heinen, Etzler, Roush & Company, located at Milton, and has ever since been connected with this house. He and W. C. Lawson laid out what is known as Lawson and Schreyer's addition to Milton. He is a director in the First National Bank of Milton, and is president of the Milton Iron Company. He was first married in 1861 to Mary E. Young, and has four living children: Maria, who married W. R. Kremer; Rebecca Y .; John Y., and Henry H. Mrs. Schreyer died in 1876 and he was subsequently married to Octava L. Kelch- ner, and to this union two children have been born: Kate W. and Sarah L. Mr. Schreyer is a Republican and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the community in which he resides. He and family are adherents of the Presbyterian church of Milton.

HENRY KOERBER, merchant, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1834, and is a son of Jacob Koerber, also a native of that county. He was educated in the common schools and learned the cedar cooper's trade which he followed for several years. In 1865 he came to Milton, where he worked at his trade until 1870, when he established his present grocery busi- ness. In 1864 he enlisted in Company H, Two Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He was married in 1856 to Sarah Agnes Wasser, daughter of John Wasser, of York county, Pennsyl- vania. He is a stockholder in the Milton Knitting Company, the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and the Evangelical Publishing Company, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He belongs to Henry Wilson Post, No. 129, G. A. R., and Mutual Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., is a Republican in poli-

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tics, and one of the progressive business men of Milton. His wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.

C. F. FOLLMER, insurance agent, was born in Turbut township, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1838, son of Daniel and Sarah (Lance) Follmer. Daniel Follmer was a son of Henry and a grandson of John Follmer, the first of the family to settle on Limestone run in Turbut township. The subject of this sketch was educated at the township schools and the McEwensville Academy. He engaged in farming until about 1864, when he established his present business, representing many of the best com- panies of America and England. Mr. Follmer is interested in the Buffalo Milling Company of Lewisburg, and the old homestead in Turbut township. He is secretary and treasurer of the Milton Gas Company, and one of the directors of the First National Bank. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Abby, daughter of William F. Thomas, of Moorestown, New Jersey, and by this union they have two children: Henrietta and Annie G. Mr. Follmer and family are members of the Presbyterian church, and politically he is a Democrat.

J. R. SMITH, proprietor of a furniture and music store, was born in Cen- tre county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1838, son of William and Isabella (Reighard) Smith, natives of Union and Centre counties, respectively. They removed to Union county, where the father died, and where the mother still resides. The subject of this sketch was reared in Union county from the age of four years, and received his education at the Mifflinburg Academy, after which he engaged in teaching. He subsequently removed to Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in the mercantile and boat building business three years, and then went to Mooresburg and one year later to Pottsgrove, this county, where he conducted a mercantile business until 1884. In November, 1879, he established his present business in Milton, and was burned out in May, 1880, but immediately started again under a tent, and continued his business until the completion of his present mammoth store room, which is erected upon the former site of the Academy of Music. He now has the largest wholesale and retail establishment of the kind in the county, and one of the largest in the State. Mr. Smith is a stockholder in the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company. He is a member of Milton Lodge, F. & A. M., the Watsontown chapter, and the consistory of Blooms- burg. In December, 1869, he married Sarah C., daughter of William Reed, of Pottsgrove, by whom he has two children: William R. and John R. G. Mr. Smith is a Presbyterian, while his wife is a member of the Lutheran church; in politics he is a Democrat.

J. J. FAUSNAUGHT was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, August 3, 1839, son of George and Mary (Swartz) Fausnaught. His grandfather, John Fausnaught, was a native of Germany, and located in Milton between 1800 and 1805. His children were: George; Catharine;

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Henry, and Joseph. George Fausnaught, father of our subject, was born in 1806, and was a millwright and distiller by trade. He died in 1842. His widow married J. M. Huff, of Milton, and died in 1878. The children of George Fausnaught were: David, who died in infancy; Catharine, deceased; George, and J. J. His widow had six children by Captain Huff, four of whom are living: Martha, wife of J. C. Balliet; Laura M .; Harry E., and William A. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools and began life by working in a planing mill and sash and blind factory, which he followed six years. His step-father was proprietor of the Huff House, and after his death he conducted the same from 1874 to 1879. Pre- vious to this, however, he had been engaged in the mercantile business, was burned out in 1880, and started again in 1881. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Adelaide Cherry, of Steuben county, New York, by whom he has two children: Mary Matilda, and James Cherry, of Boston, Massachu- setts. He is connected with the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., has been a member of the German Reformed church thirty-three years, and has served as elder and as superintendent of the Sabbath school for several years. Politically Mr. Fausnaught is a Republican, and has served as chief burgess of Milton one term.

JOHN Y. BUOY, member of the firm of B. K. Haag & Company, was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1851, son of James and Eliza (Yearick) Buoy. His father was a cabinet maker by trade, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and served as steward and treasurer of the same many years. Politically he was a Democrat, and was candidate for sheriff at one time. His wife died in 1854, and he was again married, to Eliza Cronmiller, of Union county. He died in 1861, and his widow in 1885. Seven children were born to the first union, five of whom are living: Sarah, of Olean, New York; Charles W., pastor of Trinity Meth- odist Episcopal church, Philadelphia; Clara, Mrs. P. L. Hackenberg; James, grocery merchant, and John Y. By the second marriage there was one child: Thomas, of Penfield, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was reared in Milton, and received his education at the public schools and the Williamsport Commercial College. In 1869 he went to Williams- port, entered the office of the general superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad as train dispatcher, and held that position until 1887, when he re- moved to Milton and became a member of the present firm. In 1882 he mar- ried Mary, daughter of B. K. Haag, by whom he has three children: Robert; Charles, and John. He is a member of the Williamsport Lodge, F. & A. M., and politically is a Republican with Prohibition proclivities; he is the present treasurer of the borough of Milton. Mr. Buoy and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is steward.

G. W. IMBODY, merchant, was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1852, son of George and Julia (Heintzelman)

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Imbody, natives of Berks and Northumberland counties, respectively. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and came to Milton about 1844. He en- listed in 1862 and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the German Reformed church. He was killed by accident in 1866; his wife still survives him. They reared seven chil- dren, five of whom are living: William, undertaker, of Milton; John H .; George W .; Henry J., and Cyrus B., a druggist of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The subject of our sketch was reared and educated in Milton and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1870, when he engaged in the mercantile business as clerk, and in 1883 established his present grocery business. In 1877 he married Clara, daughter of Samuel Shuman, of Cata- wissa, by whom he has one child: Bertha Irene. Mr. Imbody is a stock- holder in the Milton Knitting Company. Politically he is a Republican, and he and wife attend Christ Evangelical Lutheran church.

JOHN T. FISHER, merchant, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 21, 1854. His father, Thomas T. Fisher, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and was a blacksmith by trade. He married Annie Addis of the same county, and April 1, 1849, they removed to Union county, where they still reside. Their children are: Addis, of Union county; Emma J., deceased; Kate E., wife of Philip Davis, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Margaret A., wife of Robert Hartzel, of Williamsport; Hannah B .; Edna J., of Williamsport; Victor B., of Newberry; Bennette, and Dollie, of Williams- port. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Union county, and learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until May 27, 1885, when he was appointed clerk in the railway mail service and ran from New York to Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania railroad. He was promotedto chief clerk, November 1, 1888, having his office at Harrisburg, and held the same until April 4, 1889. He then came to Milton and became a member of the firm of Stahl & Fisher. He was married, February 8, 1882, to Martha Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Riddell, of Milton, and they have three children: Charles Merrill; Frank Monteville, and Ralph Stewart. Mr. Fisher is connected with the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. He is a stockholder in the Milton Record, and politically is a Democrat.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 104

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