History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 106

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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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

county for one year, and then located at Hall's Station, Maryland, on the Baltimore and Potomac railroad, where he engaged in the lumber business, sawing timber for railroads, the United States government, and foreign coun- tries. In 1881 he removed to Milton, and is now engaged in farming. In 1874 he married Clara, daughter of William and Catharine (Wagner) Faux, of Riverside, Pennsylvania, natives of Columbia county, and to this union have been born four children: Sallie E. Howard; William Jesse; Katie Faux, and John W. Mr. Rombach is a director of the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company, the Pleasant Valley Creamery Company, and the Milton Driving Park and Fair Association, and vice-president of the latter. He is a member of the Lutheran church. He is a member of the town council and in politics is a Democrat.

THOMAS A. MURDOCK, station and freight agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Milton, was born in Milton, June 20, 1847, and is a son of Thomas M. Murdock, who was born in Chillisquaque township in 1803, and a grandson of Augustus Murdock, the first white male child born in Fort Augusta. His great-grandfather was of Scotch ancestry and came to America on account of religious troubles. He was with Braddock at the time of his defeat, and was afterwards stationed at Fort Augusta. His son, Augustus Murdock, learned the trade of a cabinet maker and lived and died in Chillisquaque township. He reared seven children, all of whom are dead. Thomas M. Murdock became a carpenter by trade, married Eleanor Wilson, a native of Montour county, Pennsylvania, and located in Milton, where he died in 1872. His widow died in 1874. To their union were born six chil- dren: Sarah M., wife of C. W. Tharp of Milton; R. H., agent for the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company at Corry, Pennsylvania; Jane Mary, widow of William Marsh, of Milton; Nathaniel W., who died in 1860; Thomas A., and Elizabeth Ellen, wife of George Barclay of Milton. Our subject was reared and educated in Milton. He learned telegraphy and worked six years in Sunbury for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1872 he was ap- pointed passenger and freight agent at Milton and has since held that posi- tion. In 1870 he was married to Margaret L. Gray, daughter of P. W. Gray, of Sunbury, by whom he has five children: Edna G .; Helen; Donald; Will- iam, and Fannie. Mr. Murdock is a Republican. Captain William Gray, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Murdock, was a Revolutionary soldier and one of the charter members of the Society Cincinnatus. He married a sister of Captain Samuel Brady and General Hugh Brady, both noted in Indian warfare.

L. O. CLINGER, agent for the Adams Express Company, was born in Ly- coming county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1852, son of J. W. and Rebecca (Meixell) Clinger, natives of Lycoming and Union counties, respectively, and now residing at Winchester, Virginia. His father is a Democrat, and served as justice of the peace many years. The subject of our sketch removed

Abram Fairchild

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to Union county, Pennsylvania, when nine years of age, and was educated in the public schools and the Bloomsburg State Normal School. In 1865 he came to Milton, and, with the exception of four years spent in Virginia, has since resided here. His principal business had been book-keeping until 1883, when he accepted his present position.' In 1871 he married Sarah Jane, daughter of William Nagle, of Milton, and they are the parents of five chil- dren: John Benton; William Bruce; Sarah Nagle; Mary, and Rebecca. Mr. Clinger is a member of the Royal Arcanum of Lewisburg, and politically he is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the German Reformed church.

CHARLES MALADY, liveryman, was born in Chillisquaque township, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1842, son of Lydia and An- thony (Wertz) Malady. His father was a native of Ireland who immigrated to America when eighteen years old. He came to Milton and helped build the Pennsylvania canal, and died in Chillisquaque township in 1860. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead farm, and received his education at the township schools. He was engaged in boating on the canal until 1877, when he established his present livery business. In 1865 he married Emily, daughter of Jonathan Rissell, of Danville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Malady is a stockholder in the Milton Driving Park and Fair Associa- tion, and in politics is a Democrat.

HENRY WILHELM was born in Lancaster county in 1810, a son of Anthony Wilhelm, a native of Prussia, who removed from Lancaster county to Milton in 1811 and engaged in butchering, which he followed some years. He also founded the Broadway House, and was proprietor of the same many years. His children were: Henry; Catharine, deceased; Mary, of Lock Haven; Eliza, deceased wife of Joseph Wolfinger; Angstadt; Sarah, Mrs. James Robbins, of Williamsport; John, deceased, and Frederick, deceased. Henry Wilhelm came to Milton when one year old, and was educated in the public

schools. He learned the butcher trade of his father, and engaged in that business. He married in 1836 Mary A., daughter of William and Catharine Wolfinger, and reared seven children, five of whom are living: Sarah Cath- arine, widow of William H. Wolf, of Lewisburg; Mary Susan, wife of John L. Bennage, of Lock Haven; Charles H .; Ellen Nora, wife of Dr. Wilson P. Ard, of Centre county, and Emma, wife of Horace Evans, of Philadelphia. Henry Wilhelm, as well as his father, was a Democrat in politics, and a mem- ber of the Baptist church. He died in 1874; his widow still survives him.

CHARLES H. WILHELM was born at Milton, April 26, 1846, son of Henry and Mary A. (Wolfinger) Wilhelm. He received his education at the Milton Academy. He engaged in clerking for some time, for seven years was the proprietor of the Danville Hotel, and has since been engaged in the livery business and dealing in horses. In 1868 he married Elizabeth R., daughter of John L. Goodlander, of Milton. She died in 1871, leaving two children:

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

John Henry, born, February 10, 1869, and Linda B., born, May 22, 1871. He married in 1875 Katie J., daughter of William H. Bright, of Ashland, Pennsylvania, who died in 1884 leaving two children: Anna B., who was born on the 15th of July, 1876, and died on the 15th of July, 1890, and William Bright, who was born on the 13th of February, 1878.

FREDERICK WILHELM, son of Anthony Wilhelm, was born in Milton, August 25, 1825, and after growing to maturity succeeded to his father's business as proprietor of the Broadway House for many years. He also formed a co- partnership with his brother Henry in the livery business, which he followed until his death in 1871. He married Mary, daughter of Captain John M. Huff, of Milton, who still survives him. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics. Ten children were born to them, five of whom are living: William B .; James B .; Flora, Mrs. D. J. Bachtel, of Trenton, New Jersey; Elizabeth, Mrs. J. Frank Trogle, and Annie L.

W. B. WILHELM was born in Milton, May 26, 1854, and was reared and educated in his native town. In 1878 he married Sadie, daughter of Peter Leedy, of Danville.

JAMES B. WILHELM was born in Milton, October 19, 1855, and in 1882 married Dora, daughter of John Peeler, of Milton. These gentlemen have been engaged in the livery business a number of years under the firm name of W. B. Wilhelm & Brother. Politically they are both Democrats, and take an active part in local politics. James B. is a member of Milton Lodge, F. & A. M., and Mutual Lodge, I. O. O. F.

JACOB DIETZLER was born in Turbut township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Hannah (Yeager) Dietzler, natives of Ger- many, who immigrated to America in 1818, settled in Turbut township, this county, and engaged in farming. They were members of the Lutheran church, in which he served as deacon and elder many years. They both died in McEwensville. Eight children were born to them, six of whom are living: Jacob; Frederick, of Turbut township; Christina Ann, widow of Frederick Goodman; Mary, widow of Daniel Smith, of Turbut township; Matthias, of Illinois, and Hannah, widow of William Smith, of Turbut township. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the homestead, and attended the public schools, after which he learned the carpenter's trade, which occupation he followed several years. In 1865 he removed to his present farm in the outskirts of Milton, and for the past four years has been engaged in the butchering business. He was married in 1845 to Sarah, daughter of George Overpeck, of Turbut township, by whom he has four children, three of whom are living: Isaiah, who married Susanna Deihl; George M., of Point township, who married Isadore Bitenbinder, and Jacob, who married Annie Sanders, of Northumberland. Mr. Dietzler is a Repub- lican in politics, and sent a substitute to the war of the Rebellion. He and wife are members of Trinity Lutheran church of Milton.

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WILLIAM G. MILLER, nailer, was born in Point township, Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1863, son of Jarrett and Susan (Van Kirk) Miller, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of this county. They settled in Point township in 1861 and engaged in farming. The father died in 1872; the mother is still living. They were members of the Lutheran church. Four children were born to them, three of whom are living: William G .; Daisy, and Albert. The subject of this sketch was reared in Point township, and was educated in the township and Milton schools. He learned the nailer trade, which he has since followed. He is a member of Mutual Lodge, I. O. O. F., Pilgrim Encampment, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle of Milton, and politically is a Republican.

CHAPTER XLV.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MT. CARMEL.

PATRICK DONOHOE was born in County Galway, Ireland, January 1, 1828. He landed in New York, July 19, 1846, and at once boarded the train for the Schuylkill mining region, and secured employment as a miner at Branch- dale. He remained in that vicinity until 1853, when he made Mt. Carmel his home. In July, 1853, he was married to Julia Fahey, of Philadelphia, from which union a large family were born. At the time of Mr. Donohoe's arrival at Mt. Carmel a forest grew on the site of that prosperous town, and the coal trade, to which it owes its development, received but little attention. The Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, following the discoveries of Professor Rogers, geologist, had done some shafting; soon after Mr. Dono- hoe's arrival he was given the contract to drive two hundred yards of gang- way at what is known as the Rough and Ready, and thus became the first miner of any consequence in the Mt. Carmel region. In 1854 he was given the contract to open the mine now operated by S. S. Beckel & Company. Later he opened the Skidmore at the Coal Ridge colliery and subsequently upon the failure of Eckle & Son, the operators, and the abandonment of the Rough and Ready by Beaver, Geddis, Marsh & Company, secured the lease of the entire tract and with George Schall and Richard Curnow operated very extensively until 1866, when their lease expired. Mr. Donohoe was very successful in his coal ventures and shortly after the war erected a fine stone mansion on the outskirts of the town, where at an advanced age he now lives

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

in retirement. He is a consistent member of the Catholic church, has filled various positions of public trust in the town, and enjoys the esteem of the entire public.

ALFRED M. MONTELIUS, deceased, was born at Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, son of John Montelius, a native of Philadelphia and grandson of Charles Montelius, the progenitor of the family in this State. The latter was a Frenchman of noble birth, who was educated for the French legislat- ure, but during the French Revolution the opposing parties kidnapped him and sent him to America, where he was sold as a " redemptioner," serving over seven years for his freedom. He was purchased by a merchant on Market street, Philadelphia, and by his natural business ability eventually became a member of the firm, and finally married the daughter of his former purchaser. During the " Buckshot war " he was a member of the legislat- ure of Pennsylvania. Alfred Montelius was reared and educated in Mifflin- burg, and in his early manhood he was a clerk and teacher, and for several years a merchant at Curwensville, Pennsylvania. He served in the late war eleven months as a member of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania

Volunteers, and after leaving the service came to Mt. Carmel in October, 1862, as superintendent of what is now the Mt. Carmel colliery. He after- ward operated this colliery as a member of the firm of Montelius, Righter & Company, and was also interested in the mercantile business of that firm un- til his death, November 27, 1885. He married Eliza J., daughter of Benja- min Hartshorn, a pioneer distiller of Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, where he settled in 1806. To Alfred M. and Eliza J. Montelius were born eight children: William T .; Ralph W .; Walton H .; Kate, Mrs. Henry Brown; Belle, Mrs. D. M. Hinkle; R. Clark; Howard H., and Frank S.

BERNARD HARVEY, contractor and builder, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, January 1, 1837, son of Jeremiah and Margaret (Harvey) Harvey. His early life was spent in his native land, where he received a common school education and learned the stone mason and bricklayer trade with his father. In 1864 he came to America and located in Mt. Carmel, Northum- berland county, where, with the exception of two years spent in Kansas, he has ever since resided. He has been engaged in contracting and building, and has erected many of the largest public and private buildings in the bor- ough, among them being the Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the new public school building. He also erected the Catholic church at Locust Gap, and has laid the foundations of nearly all the principal buildings of Mt. Carmel and vicinity. Mr. Harvey was married, July 3, 1867, to Fannie, daughter of Frank and Margaret (Boyle) Cull, of Mt. Carmel. They are the parents of six children: Jeremiah; Frank; James; Joseph; Mary, and Kate. The whole family are practical members of the Catholic church, in the growth and prosperity of which denomination Mr. Harvey has always taken an active interest. He was a director for several years of the Mt. Carmel

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Building and Loan Association, was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, and is at present a member of its board of directors. Politic- ally he is independent, and is now serving his second term of three years in the borough council. Mr. Harvey is recognized as one of the enterprising and successful business men of the borough.

RICHARD AND SARAH (GRIPE) CURNOW, natives of England, came to Amer- ica about the year 1847, and settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where the former worked in the mines until 1860, when he removed to Mt. Carmel and engaged in business for himself as a coal operator. He was one of the pioneer operators of the town, and died there in January, 1886, at the age of sixty-three years. He was the father of five children, three of whom survived him: William; Henry, of Philadelphia, and Sarah J., deceased wife of M. K. Watkins, of Mt. Carmel.

WILLIAM CURNOW, station agent of the Philadelphia and Reading rail- road, was born in Llewellyn, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1852, and is the eldest son of Richard and Sarah Curnow. He was reared in Mt. Carmel from the age of eight years, and received a common school education. He began his business life as a slate picker in the breaker, and later worked as a driver. At fifteen years of age he learned telegraphy, spending ten months in the local office of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. One year later he was appointed station and telegraph agent at Mt. Carmel for the Northern Central Railway Company, and held that posi- tion seven years, later held positions as operator at Sunbury in the superin- tendent's office, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Susquehanna for the same company, at North Bend for the Standard Oil Company, and spent two years in Albany, New York, in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company, thence to Norristown, Pennsylvania, a short time, and October 1, 1883, was appointed station agent and telegraph operator for the Philadel- phia and Reading Railroad Company at Mt. Carmel, which position he has since filled to the satisfaction of the company and the public generally. On July 6, 1876, he married Rebecca, daughter of John B. and Catherine (De Frehn) Reed, of Mt. Carmel, who has had five children: Harry E., de- ceased; Albert R .; Glenn N,; William R. C., and Russell Vivian. Mr. Cur- now is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, I. O. O. F., P. O. S. of A., and R. A. Politically he is a Republican.

JOHN YARNALL, retired, was born in Coal township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1828, son of Richard and Mary (King) Yarnall. The father of our subject was a carpenter and millwright by trade; in early manhood he located at Mt. Carmel, where he erected the Mt. Carmel Inn, one of the first dwellings within the limits of that borough. The subject of this sketch, who has been a resident of Mt. Carmel forty years, learned the carpenter trade with his father, and worked at that occupation for some years. In 1859 he married Henrietta, daughter of Henry B. and Elizabeth

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

(Winters) Mussina, of Centre county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of eight children: Mrs. William H. Hinkel; Henry M .; Newton L .; Richard K .; Jerusha M., deceased; John W .; William, and Lizzie.

RICHARD K. YARNALL was born at Mt. Carmel, February 6, 1865. After taking advantage of the education afforded by the public schools of his native town, he learned the trade of painter and paper hanger. After working as a journeyman five years he commenced business at his present location, March 1, 1889, since which time he has met with much success. He is a Repub- lican, and now holds the office of constable of Mt. Carmel.

DAVID J. LEWIS, justice of the peace, was born in Shropshire, England, October, 1824, son of David and Margaret (Naylor) Lewis. He came to America in 1832, with John Jones, an uncle, who located in Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where our subject was reared and received a common school education. In 1853 he settled at Mt. Carmel, and em- barked in the general merchandise business, dealing also in coal, until 1857. September 3, 1861, he enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; he was taken prisoner in the battle of Stone River, and spent two months in Libby prison. He was then paroled and detailed from camp parole to make out a list of drafted men under Provost Marshal Clement, and was soon after exchanged, receiving an honorable discharge from the service, September 30, 1865. Mr. Lewis was first married to Carolina Price, of Minersville, Penn- sylvania, by whom he has one daughter living: Margaret, Mrs. J. Henry Merkle. He married for his second wife Amanda Hill, of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, by whom he has four children: John, a druggist; Kate, Mrs. Albert Norsted; Josephine, Mrs. William Camp, and William H., a physi- cian. Since the war Mr. Lewis has been elected three terms as justice of the peace. He is a member of the K. of M. and G. A. R., and politically is a Republican.

JOHN B. REED, late justice of the peace, was born in what is now Miners- ville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1819, son of Jacob and Rebecca (Bittle) Reed, both natives of Schuylkill county. His father served as justice of the peace in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, fifty-four years, and was a prominent citizen of his locality. He was a son of Thomas Reed, also a native of Schuylkill county, who was a son of Samuel Reed, a native of Scotland, and a pioneer of Schuylkill county. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob Bittle, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and of German descent. John B. was reared and educated in his native county, and began his business life in the mines, with which he was connected forty years as a miner and superintendent of mines. He resided at St. Clair, Schuylkill county, fifteen years, and during that time was justice of the peace ten years. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Penn- sylvania Cavalry, serving as a private four months, when he was promoted to regimental commissary, in which capacity he acted until the company re-

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enlisted in 1864, when he was detailed as chief clerk and superintendent, Third division, Quartermaster General department, under Colonel T. R. Dudley, serving in that position until his discharge in September, 1865. He then located at Mt. Carmel, where he was superintendent of coal works three years, and also held the same position at Locust Gap one and a half years, when he became superintendent of Coal Ridge mines at Mt. Carmel until 1874. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace at Mt. Carmel, and resigned in 1879 and removed to Mahanoy City, residing there three and a half years; he then returned to Mt. Carmel, where he resided until his death, February 22, 1890. Mr. Reed was twice married, his first wife being Cath- erine, daughter of Jacob De Frehn, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, by whom he had eight children: Emma E., Mrs. David Huffman; Sarah J .; Mary A., Mrs. John Stahl; Rebecca, Mrs. William Curnow; Clara, Mrs. William Umpleby, deceased; John E .; Jacob H., and Kate I., Mrs. H. P. Helwig. His second wife was Eleanor F. (Teague) Adams, daughter of William Teague, of England, who survives him. Mr. Reed was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically was a stanch Republican since the organization of the party.

EDWARD C. HERB, deceased, was born in Eldred township, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1849, son of Decatan and Maria (Con- rad) Herb, natives of Schuylkill county and Sunbury, Pennsylvania, respect- ively. His father was a merchant and hotel keeper in Schuylkill county and afterwards in Mt. Carmel, and was a son of Adam Herb, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania. John Conrad, maternal grandfather of our subject, was a pioneer of Sunbury and resided there until his death. Deca- tan Herb and family moved to Mt. Carmel in 1868, where he was engaged in merchandising and subsequently in hotel keeping. Edward C. purchased the hotel from his mother in 1872, and erected the four-story brick, corner of Chestnut and Market streets, now known as the Locust Mountain Hotel, in April, 1886. He was engaged in the hotel and livery business, and also in the purchase and sale of horses, up to his death, December 5, 1889. Mr. Herb was married, April 18, 1870, to Mrs. Maria A. Detrich, daughter of Lemuel and Sarah J. (Malick) Chamberlin, of Northumberland county. Two children are the fruits of this union: Decatan E. and Clarence G. By her first husband, Harry Detrich, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, she had one child, Sarah J., wife of Harry Martz, of Mt. Carmel. Throughout his residence in Mt. Carmel Mr. Herb was recognized as a progressive and enter- prising citizen. He served in the council for several years, was a director of the First National Bank, treasurer of the K. of M., and a member of the Lutheran church. Politically he was a Republican. He was an upright, honest man, and by close attention to his business affairs accumulated through the passing years a valuable estate.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

MICHAEL HORAN, retired, was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1815, son of Thomas and Maria (Grady) Horan. His father was a farmer by occupation, and our subject was reared upon a farm. He came to America in 1835, stopped in Philadelphia for a few months, and then went to Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, where he remained one year. He then removed to Maryland, where he was employed on a tunnel by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company four years, after which he went to Indiana, where he was engaged for some time. He then returned to Ireland, remaining nine months, and in 1838 was married to Maria, a daughter of Bryan McDermott, of County Galway, Ireland, by whom he has three children living: Thomas J .; Hannah, Mrs. William H. Gallagher, and Bernard F. Mr. Horan re- turned to America in 1838 and located in Pottsville, where he worked in the mines for a time, subsequently engaging in the hotel business at Miners- ville, Pennsylvania, eleven years, after which he removed to Ashland, where he built the Union Hotel and conducted it ten years. In 1864 he was elected sheriff of Schuylkill county and filled that office three years. At the end of his term he resumed the hotel business for a period, and then engaged in the coal trade. He located at Mt. Carmel in 1870, where he has since resided. He was engaged for part of the time as a railroad contractor, but since the fall of 1888 has lived a retired life. He is a Democrat in politics, has served in the borough council one term, and is a member of the Catholic church.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 106

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