History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 112

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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JOSEPH P. WHALEN, outside foreman of the Monitor colliery, was born at Tuscarora, Schuylkill township, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, son of Michael and Bridget (Gormley) Whalen, natives of Ireland and pioneers of Schuylkill county. They were the parents of six children:

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Patrick, deceased; Thomas; Joseph; Michael, deceased; John F., and Mary, Mrs. Thomas Campbell. The father was a miner and died in Schuylkill county. The paternal grandfather was Patrick Whalen, an early resident of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Joseph P. Whalen began his business life picking slate in a coal breaker at the early age of eleven years. He then learned engineering and followed this vocation twenty-five years. In 1885 he was appointed outside foreman at the Bast colliery in Ashland, Pennsyl- vania. In 1889 he was transferred to the Monitor colliery at Locust Gap, with which he is still connected. In 1873 he married Theresa, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Tracy) Langton, of Ashland, and to this union were born four children: Mary E .; Laura; William, and Theresa. Mrs. Whalen died, October 14, 1890, a practical member of the Catholic church. Mr. Whalen is independent in politics, and is a member of the Catholic church.

JOSEPH WATKINS, inside foreman of Monitor colliery, Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, was born in South Wales, May 13, 1854, son of John and Jane Watkins. He was educated in his native country, where he began life in the mines at nine years of age. After following that vocation in Wales fifteen years he came to America in 1880, and located at St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Here he was employed in the mines fifteen months, and two years at Raven Run, same county. He was then engaged at the Hammond colliery, Girardsville, where he remained six- teen months, and was then employed at another colliery as inside foreman three years, when he was transferred to Gilberton colliery, where he was em- ployed ten months. In the spring of 1889 he located at Locust Gap, since which time he has filled his present position. In 1876 he married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Anna (Morgan) Morgan, of South Wales, and they are the parents of four children: William; Edward; Albert, and May. He is a member of the Welsh Congregational church, the I. O. O. F., and K. of G. E., and politically he is a Republican.

JOHN W. MORRISON, outside foreman, Alaska shaft, was born, September 13, 1854, at St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Martha (Hoffman) Morrison. His paternal grandfather, William Morrison, was a native of England and one of the earliest settlers of Schuylkill county. His maternal grandfather, Henry Hoffman, was among the early settlers of Berks county, Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch spent his childhood days in Schuylkill county, where he began life as a slate picker on the breaker at the age of nine years. In December, 1889, he removed to Mt. Carmel to accept his present position. In 1876 he married Emily, daughter of Henry and Hannah Heim, of St. Clair, and to them were born six children: Delia; Clara; Hannah; Beulah; Harry, and Robert. Mr. Morrison is con- nected with the P. O. S. of A., and is a Republican in politics.

ALFRED AYERS, inside foreman at Alaska shaft, was born at York Tunnel, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1841, son of Abram and Anna

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(Russell) Ayers, natives of England. His maternal grandfather, James Russell, was a pioneer miner of Schuylkill county, and lived and died there. Abram Ayers, father of our subject, was a miner in Schuylkill and North- umberland counties, and at one time a mine foreman, also operating a mine on his own account. He located in Mt. Carmel in 1853, where he resided until his death in 1883. His children were as follows: Mary A., who mar- ried Frank Pershing; Alfred; Caroline; Ettie, who married John Bell; Clara, wife of John Shaw, and Sarah, wife of Frank Shoener. Mr. Ayers has been a resident of Mt. Carmel since 1853, and is therefore one of its oldest citi- zens. He began in the mines, worked on a breaker, afterwards worked as loader, and finally engaged as a miner. He was promoted to fire boss, then to assistant boss, and became inside foreman in December, 1888, which posi- tion he has since filled in the Alaska shaft. He was married, October 18, 1860, to Caroline E., daughter of James Adams, of Mt. Carmel, and has ten living children: Eliza E., wife of Robert Taylor; Matthew H .; Bessie, wife of Charles Hertzog; S. Matilda; Carrie; James; Alfred; Claude; Howard, and Irvin. Mr. Ayers served nine months in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged at the close of his term of service. Politically he is a Republican.

NICHOLAS METZINGER, inside foreman, Locust Spring colliery, was born in Bayarn, Germany, March 22, 1835, son of Jacob and Gertrude (Schraier) Metzinger. His parents came to America in April, 1852, and located at St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where they remained until their death. They were the parents of six children: Peter; Jacob; Nicholas; Eva, Mrs. Jacob Yohan; Joseph, and Kate, Mrs. Matthew Drobile. The subject of our sketch began life as a miner, which occupation he followed until 1870. In 1874, he located at Locust Gap and was appointed to his present position in 1885. He married, April 30, 1859, Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Catharine Diehl, of St. Clair. They are the parents of seven children: Augustus; Lewis; Eva; Catharine; Gertrude; Carrie, and Lottie. Mr. Metzinger is a member of the Catholic church, and is independent in politics.

JAMES M. DERBY, clerk at Pennsylvania colliery and postmaster, was born at Dunmore, near Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1850, son of Chauncey and Esther (Carey) Derby. He received his education at Scranton and began life by learning the trade of tinsmith, which he followed until 1875, when he located at Shamokin. Here he clerked in a general store several years, when he embarked in business on his own account four years. Later he was in business at Mt. Carmel, and in 1887 he removed to Green Ridge, where he accepted the position he has since occupied. Mr. Derby is a member of the F. & A. M., K. T., and I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Re- publican, and is justice of the peace of Mt. Carmel township. Through his efforts a postoffice named Strong was established in July, 1886, of which he is postmaster.

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CHAPTER XLVI.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WATSONTOWN.

SILAS RAMBACH was born in Newport township, Luzerne county, Pennsyl- vania, February 15, 1813, son of John and Elizabeth Rambach. His father died, October 17, 1836, and his mother, August 13, 1846. He engaged in teaching in the common schools of his neighborhood, and afterward entered the general store of his uncle, Jacob Rambach, first as clerk, and subse- quently becoming the owner of the store. He later formed a co-partnership with Michael Hess, and opened a store at Newport Centre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1847. During the administration of President Polk, a post- office was established at this point, and Mr. Rambach was appointed post- master. He soon afterward sold his interest in the mercantile business, and directed his attention to the management of his farm, which was situated in the immediate vicinity. In 1854 he decided to enter politics, and presented his name to the Luzerne county Democratic convention for nomination to the office of county commissioner. His friends did not indorse him for that office, but the convention voluntarily nominated him for the office of county treas- urer. He was elected by a large majority, and made for himself an enviable reputation as a business man and financier. In the spring of 1859 he re- moved with his family from Luzerne county to Delaware township, North- umberland county, having purchased the Frederick Fox farm, which now forms the northern boundary line of the borough of Watsontown. Here he resided until the village of Watsontown commenced to assume the propor- tions of a modern town, when he erected for himself a commodious brick mansion, where he resided until his death. At the erection of the first church edifice in Watsontown, St. Bartholomew's Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed, he was the chairman of the building committee, and the treasurer. He declined to serve longer as an elder, but served as trustee and treasurer until his decease. He was one of the corporators and managers, as well as the secretary and treasurer, of the Watsontown Cemetery Association, a member of the Watsontown town council, and borough treasurer a number of years. He took an active part in the organization and placing upon a good business basis of many things pertaining to the town. At the organiza- tion of the Watsontown Bank, he at once became identified with its interests, solicited for stock, became a member of the board of directors, and was the

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vice-president, and he succeeded Ario Pardee in the presidency after the in- stitution was made a national bank. He was also for many years a director and treasurer of the Watsontown Building Association. July 14, 1834, he married Sarah Fenstermacher, of Salem township, Luzerne county, and to this union were born three children: Emily, who married George W. Hess, of Watsontown, and died June 19, 1878; George W., cashier of the Watson- town National Bank, and John W., of Milton. He was a man of sterling in- tegrity, and of most excellent business qualifications, and maintained the respect and confidence of the entire community. He died, September 8, 1881. His wife was a consistent member of Trinity Reformed church of Watsontown, and contributed very generously to the erection of the new church edifice built several years ago. She also presented the bell hanging in the tower, which is engraved with the name of the congregation, the date of the presentation, and the name of the donor. She died, May 16, 1887, aged seventy-seven years and ten months. The portrait of Mr. Rambach which appears in this work, was inserted by his son John W., of Milton, as a filial tribute to the memory of his father.

GEORGE W. ROMBACH, (originally Rambach) cashier of the Watsontown National Bank, is a son of the late Silas Rambach, and was born in Newport township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of February, 1840. He was educated in the public schools and at Wyoming Seminary, Kings- ton, Pennsylvania, and soon after the completion of his education, his parents left Luzerne county and located on a farm in Delaware township, Northum- berland county, adjoining the borough of Watsontown. Mr. Rombach followed farming until the year 1873, when he accepted a position, first as a clerk, and subsequently as teller in the Watsontown Bank. In the fall of 1876, he was chosen cashier, which position he has filled up to the present. He is a member and one of the trustees of the First Lutheran church of Watsontown, was the chairman of the building committee of the substantial new edifice erected by that church, and was one of the many contributors to the building fund. He is also a member of Watsontown Lodge, No. 401, F. & A. M., has been a member of the town council, and is at this time treasurer of the White Deer Bridge Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Watsontown Cemetery Association. On the 27th of September, 1864, he was married to S. Kate Lantz, only daughter of Simon and Harriet Lantz of Watsontown. To this union have been born three children: Hat- tie N .; De La. G., and Howard W.

PHILIP SHAY was born in Pittston, Kennebec county, Maine, in 1813. His parents were Michael and Anna Shay, who both died in the year 1821, after which the subject of this sketch went to reside with a married sister, Mary, the wife of Abiathar Field, at Brookline, near Boston. Soon thereafter Mr. Field removed to Baltimore, where as a young man, Mr. Shay assisted his brother-in-law in the establishment and management of one of the pioneer

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

oyster packing houses of the Monumental City. It was in the interest of this business that Mr. Shay located in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, where he opened a depot for the distribution of this, then, comparatively unknown bivalve to the citizens of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna. While a resident of Northumberland he became connected with the packet company, and by reason of it was known by his many friends along the route as Captain Shay. In 1854 he left Northumberland and located in Muncy, Lycoming county, where he engaged extensively in the mercantile and lumber business; soon after this time, but for one year, however, he resided in Hughesville, in the same county, at the end of the term returning to Muncy, where he continued his mercantile and lumber operations, and in the great flood of 1865, he was one of the heavy losers. During the civil war, Mr. Shay was one of the directors of the old Northumberland Bank, of which Joseph Priestley was the cashier, and John Taggart and John B. Packer were in turn the president. General Simon Cameron, Samuel T. Brown of Milton, and other leading citizens of this part of the State were his associates as members of the board. In 1868 he removed from Muncy to Watsontown, and at once became one of the leading merchants and citi- zens of the new borough, and was identified in many interests pertaining to the early growth and establishment of the town. In 1871 he was elected chief burgess and for a number of years he served as a member of the school board. He was one of the corporators and a charter member of the Watsontown Bank (now the Watsontown National Bank) and soon after its establishment he was appointed to the office of notary public by Governor Geary, and at the expiration of his term, he was reappointed by Governor Hartranft. He was also one of the corporators and influential members of the First Presbyterian church of Watsontown, and served many years as one of the trustees. In 1868 he was appointed postmaster of Watsontown, and commissioned by Alexander W. Randall, postmaster general. He held the office under this commission only a short time, but eleven years afterwards he was again appointed, and held the office during several administrations to the date of his death, his last commission being under the hand of Presi- dent Arthur.

Mr. Shay was married three times; first, in 1851 at Northumberland to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Samuel H. Wallis, (son of the pioneer Samuel Wallis); Mrs. Shay died in 1853, and left to survive her an only son, William Field Shay. Mr. Shay was next married on the 22d of November, 1855, at Muncy to Priscilla Minerva Llewellyn. By this union there were four children: Charles P .; Edward E .; Mary V., and Priscilla L. The wife and mother died at Muncy, April 19, 1862. Mr. Shay was again married, March 9, 1865, to Emma J., daughter of the late Leonard Stoughton, of Milton. Their children are Frank S. and Emma E. Shay. Philip Shay took part as a good citizen in many of the affairs of life. He was a patriot,

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loved his country, and in all proper ways sought to advance her interests. In his younger days he was an old line Whig, and a great admirer of Web- ster and Clay, having heard them both speak during his boyhood. He was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the great Bunker Hill monument by General Lafayette in June, 1825, when Daniel Webster pronounced the oration to an immense concourse of people, and he was also present at the dedication of the monument, eighteen years afterwards, when Webster was again the orator. Mr. Shay was temperate in all things, and opposed exces- ses of every kind. He was a moral and religious man and his neighbors respected him. He loved his family and his home, and he was a kind and affectionate husband and father. His death occurred on the 2d of February, 1885, and his remains repose in the beautiful cemetery at Watsontown. His wife and children survive him.

WILLIAM FIELD SHAY was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. He is a son of the late Philip Shay and Mary Elizabeth Shay, nee Wallis, who was a daughter of Dr. Samuel H. Wallis and Elizabeth Wallis, nee Cowden, and a granddaughter of Samuel Wallis, the noted pioneer. His paternal grandparents were Michael and Anna Shay, of Pittston, Kennebec county, Maine. Some years prior to his majority, the subject of this sketch entered the law office of Oscar Foust, at Watsontown, who was a leading member of the Northumberland county bar and an able preceptor. After three years of hard study and close application he was admitted to the bar, after a very creditable and satisfactory examination, and soon thereafter he engaged in practice in Watsontown, where he is still pursuing his profession. He has been admitted to all the courts of the neighboring counties, as well as to the Supreme court of Pennsylvania, and to the district and circuit courts of the United States. He has given considerable attention to local historical mat- ters, and a number of leading articles in print are from his pen. He has been closely identified with leading projects in Watsontown, prominently the building of the water works, and the securing to the town the terminus of the Wilkesbarre and Western railway. He has been the solicitor of the road since its inception, as well as for the Watsontown National Bank and the borough of Watsontown for many years. In addition to his legal business, he has for years managed a large and profitable insurance agency. Masonic matters have received considerable attention at his hands. He has served both as secretary and worshipful master of Watsontown Lodge, No. 401, and as secretary and most excellent high priest of Warrior Run Royal Arch Chapter, No. 246, at Watsontown. He is also a member of the coun- cil, the commandery, and of the A. & A. Rite, thirty-second degree. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter, and in the years 1885-86 he was the grand high priest's deputy for the counties of Lycoming, Clinton, Elk, Snyder, Union, and a portion of Northumberland. Mr. Shay is married to M. Alice, the only

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

daughter of Charles Hower, the leading member of the Snyder county bar.

KILYAN DUNKEL was born in September, 1805, and was the third son of Peter Dunkel, who removed from Northampton to Union county, Pennsylvania, at an early date. Peter Dunkel's family consisted of six sons and five daughters, Kilyan being the third son. When the latter was about thirty years of age his father removed with his family to Northumberland county. In March, 1836, Kilyan Dunkel married Mary, youngest daughter of James Slote, of this county. She was born, August 9, 1815, and became the mother of one son, Hiram, now cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of Watson- town. Her father lived near the Warrior Run church, his farm being the site of Fort Freeland, until his removal to Michigan with his family about 1837. His family consisted of seven sons and three daughters. About one year afterward he returned on a visit to this county, and was taken sick and died. His interment took place in the Warrior Run graveyard. Mr. Slote was active in the rebuilding of the old Warrior Run church, and served on the building committee. Kilyan Dunkel was a farmer all his life, and for thirty-three years owned and cultivated a farm near Muddy run, in Turbut township. He was industrious and energetic, a man of strict integrity and unimpeachable character. The last two years of his life he resided with his only son, Hiram, in Delaware township, and died, March 2, 1878. He was buried in the cemetery at Paradise church. His widow still survives, and is spending her declining years with her son and married grandchildren.

HIRAM DUNKEL, cashier of the Farmer's National Bank of Watsontown, was born in Turbut township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1837, and is the only child of Kilyan and Mary (Slote) Dunkel. Up to the age of thirteen he attended the public schools in winter and assisted his parents on the farm in summer. He subsequently prosecuted his studies at the McEwensville Academy until sixteen years of age, when he began clerk- ing in a store at Milton. After spending eight months as a clerk, he com- menced teaching a school in his native township, and he continued to teach during the winter sessions and assisted his father on the farm until January 14, 1858, when he married Christiann, eldest daughter of Isaac and Julia (Wolf) Frederick. After his marriage he devoted his whole time to the cul- tivation of the homestead farm until the spring of 1872, when he purchased and removed to what was known as the old Kirk farm, near the Warrior Run church, and continued to cultivate this farm for several years. In March, 1886, the Farmer's National Bank at Watsontown was organized, and Mr. Dunkel became identified with the enterprise, and was chosen as cashier. Although he had no previous experience in the banking business, he has filled the position up to the present in a very creditable and satisfactory man- ner. In early life he was a member of the German Reformed denomination, but after removing to Warrior Run he united with the Presbyterian church there, in which he served as trustee and elder. Since locating in Watson-

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town he has been a member of the Presbyterian church in that place, and is now filling the offices of elder and trustee. Mr. Dunkel has always been a conservative Democrat, and has never taken an active interest in politics. He is the father of one son and six daughters: E. K., of Easton, Pennsylvania; Mary J., wife of E. P. Dateman; Ada L., wife of Ambrose Fairchild; Sarah S .; Annie L .; Bessie, and Kate G.

SAMUEL BELL MORGAN, general manager and treasurer of the Pardee Car and Machine Works, of Watsontown, was born at Northumberland, Pennsyl- vania, February 15, 1845, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Housel) Morgan, who were born in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, in 1803 and 1811, respectively. His grandfather, John Morgan, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, whither the great-grandfather of our subject removed from Wales while a single man, and where he married a Miss Bell. John Morgan was a son of that marriage, and on arriving at maturity he married Mary Burns, of County Tyrone, and about 1795 immigrated with his wife and three children to Pennsylvania, first settling at McVeytown, Juniata county. Some two years later he removed to Chillisquaque township, North- umberland county, where the father of our subject was born and reared. In 1828 Henry Morgan and wife removed to the town of Northumberland, where both resided until their death, in 1869 and 1890, respectively. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Thaddeus G .; Martin Luther; William H .; Celinda J., wife of John Volp, and Samuel Bell. The deceased are: Hamlet H .; Mary E., and John Calvin. The last mentioned died in March, 1865, at Annapolis, Maryland, from sickness contracted in Southern prisons. Four of the sons served in the Union army in the late Rebellion: Martin Luther; William H .; Samuel Bell, and John Calvin.

The subject of this sketch was named after the late Samuel Bell, of Read- ing, Pennsylvania, whose father was a brother of his great-grandmother Bell. He received a common school education in the public schools of Northumber- land, attending only the winter terms from 1859 to 1862. From January, 1862, until July, 1864, he clerked in the postoffice of his native town. On the latter date he enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, for the one hundred days' service, and at the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in the Seventy-fourth regiment, and served until August, 1865, when he was mustered out. In October, 1865, he entered Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and on the 23d of December following he graduated with the highest honors in a class of twenty- three. On the 1st of March, 1866, he accepted the position of book-keeper and clerk in the general store of W. T. Forsyth, of Northumberland, Penn- sylvania, and in August, 1868, he was admitted to a partnership in the busi- ness. In 1874 he sold his interest to his partner and embarked in the plan- ing mill business, from which he retired, April 1, 1876, by reason of unsatis- factory results. Mr. Morgan then entered the employ of Cook & Pardee

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(later A. Pardee & Son) at Watsontown, May 1, 1876, and the following June he was appointed manager of the firm's saw mill and match-stick factory business, which position he filled until the sale of the plant, May 6, 1890. In March, 1882, he was appointed by Ario Pardee, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, as agent in charge of his personal and real estate in Watsontown and vicinity, and in August, 1883, he was appointed assistant manager of the Pardee Car and Machine Works. Upon the death of H. F. Snyder, general manager, in November, 1883, Mr. Morgan was elected by the firm general manager and treasurer, and at the expiration of the limited partnership, June 1, 1890, when Ario Pardee became sole owner of the works, he was appointed by that gentleman general manager and treasurer, which position he still holds. Mr. Morgan was married, September 18, 1871, to Maggie H., daughter of William and Catherine (Weimar) Leighow, of Northumberland, Pennsylvania. Three children are the fruits of this union: Walter W., deceased; Ione M., and Mae; the last two reside with their parents. Politically Mr. Morgan is a Democrat, and has served as a school director in Northumberland, and in the borough council of Watsontown.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 112

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