History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 118

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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EDWARD J. STAMM, farmer, was born in Lewis township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1839, son of Jacob and Mary (Deifen-

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bacher) Stamm. The father was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, removed to this county with his father, Frederick Stamm, in 1816, and settled on a farm in Turbut township. Frederick Stamm afterwards moved to Centre county, but in a few years returned and died upon the old home- stead. He was a prominent member of the Reformed church, and served as deacon and elder for many years.

Jacob Stamm, the father of Edward J. Stamm, was brought up on the homestead farm which in later years he purchased. In 1834 he married Mary Deifenbacher, daughter of Philip Deifenbacher, of Montour county, this State. He learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for many years. He was an influential Democrat, and served as overseer of the poor over eighteen years; he also filled various other township offices, and was a member of the Paradise Reformed church, of which he was deacon and elder for many years. He died on the 28th of October, 1881, and his widow sur- vives with her son, Edward J. Stamm. Her children are named as follows: William B .; Edward J .; Daniel D .; Franklin H .; Levi F., and P. L. Our subject received his education at Limestoneville, Turbutville, and Milton, after which he was employed as a teacher sixteen years. He settled upon his present farm in 1871. He was married in 1866 to Amelia A. Berger, daughter of Jacob Berger, of Montour county, Pennsylvania. By this union six children have been born: Alovesta M. E., wife of Franklin Lahr, of Tur- but township; Hurley W .; Grace C .; Lloyd W .; Charles E., and Ralph Jacob. Mr. Stamm is a Democrat; he has served as overseer of the poor and in other township offices. He is one of the stockholders and directors of The Record Publishing Company, and a stockholder of the Milton Creamery Company. He is a member of the Reformed church, while his wife belongs to the Lutheran church.

J. U. KURTZ, farmer, was born in New Jersey, October 9, 1840, son of Andrew and Sarah E. (Diehl) Kurtz, who came to Northumberland county in 1842, engaged in farming in Chillisquaque township, and also engaged extensively in lime-burning. The father was a Democrat in politics, and served in various township offices. He and his wife were prominent members of the Lutheran church of Milton. He died in March, 1885; his wife died in April, 1882. They reared nine children, three of whom are living: J. U .; Amandus, of Turbut township, and Sarah, wife of Abraham Clemens, of Chillisquaque township. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Turbut township, and remained upon the homestead farm until 1859. In 1861 he enlisted in the three months' service under Colonel Stewart, re-en- listed in the three years' service in Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserve, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of twenty-three months on account of disability. After the close of the war he went to Williamsport, where he engaged in the lumber business five years. In 1868 he settled upon his present farm in Turbut township. In 1863 he was united in mar-

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riage with Sarah E. Bartoe, of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, by whom he has twelve children: George Mcclellan, who married Ida Ammons, and re- sides in Turbut township; William Andrew; Edward E., who married Lizzie Royer, of Lewisburg; Elizabeth, wife of John Bender, of Turbut township; Margaret; Ida; Hattie; Charles E .; Ella; Annie; Jennie, and Bessie. In politics Mr. Kurtz is a Democrat; he is a member of Henry Wilson Post, G. A. R., and one of the trustees and treasurer of Turbut Grange, P. of H .; he and his family are members of the Follmer Lutheran church.

JOHN DUNKEL, farmer, was born in Turbut township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1842, and is a son of John and Margaret (Kissinger) Dunkel. He received his education in the public schools and has followed farming during his active life. He was married in 1871 to Mary E. Kauffman, daughter of Solomon Kauffman, of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and has one child, John. He is a Democrat in politics, has served as school director, and is a member of Paradise Reformed church. His father, John Dunkel, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and after marriage located in Turbut township in 1836. He was a member of the Paradise Reformed church, and died in 1881. His wife died in 1871, and was the mother of seven children: Fanny M .; A. K .; Peter; John; Mar- garet; D. K., and Emma.

W. A. DEETER was born in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1846, son of Jacob and Eliza Ann (Barr) Deeter, natives of Montour and Lycoming counties, Pennsylvania, respect- ively. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was deacon and elder. The father died in 1850 and his widow married David Karchner, who died in 1889; she survives him and resides in Milton. Her first marriage gave her two children: W. A. and George; and her second marriage four children: Russell K., of Williams- port; Martha, Ann, and Nora, all of Milton. Our subject has resided upon his present farm since the age of four years. In 1871 he married Margaret Gauger, daughter of John B. Gauger, of Montour county, this State, and by her has two children: Harry and May. He is an active Democrat, and was the candidate of that party for commissioner in 1888. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and with his family belongs to the Lutheran church, of which he has served as deacon fifteen years.

H. W. WOLFE, school teacher and farmer, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1847, son of Daniel and Caroline (Farley) Wolfe, natives of Union county, who settled upon the present farm of our subject in 1853. They became one of the prominent families of the town- ship, and removed to Missouri in 1881, where they now reside. Their family consisted of three children: H. W .; Sarah, wife of Lewis Rissell, of Mis- souri, and Mary C., wife of Daniel Masteller, of Turbut township. The subject of our sketch came to Turbut township when six years of age. He

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was educated in the public schools and Milton Academy, and learned the carpenter trade, which he has followed since 1872; he has also been engaged in teaching school during the last eighteen years. In 1870 he married Maggie A., daughter of John Dunkel, of Turbut township, by whom he has one child, Frank D. Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Prohibition party, and, of St. John's Reformed church of Milton, in which he has served as deacon. Since 1880 he has been employed in the Milton Car Works.

JOHN C. KROCK, farmer, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1848, son of John and Mary (Smith) Krock, natives of that county, who removed to Northumberland county about 1853 and settled in Delaware township, where the father still resides. His family consisted of John C .; Mary, wife of E. Diefenbacher, of Delaware township, and Annie. He is a member of the German Reformed church, and politically is a Republican. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Dela- ware township, and learned the trade of shoemaking, which he followed eight years, since which he has been engaged in farming. In 1867 he married Emma, daughter of Frederick Whitman, of Watsontown, by whom he has five children: Ida; Flora Elizabeth; Minnie; John Frederick, and Maud. Mr. Krock and wife are members of the German Reformed church of Milton, and politically he is a Republican.

J. W. HOUSE, blacksmith, was born in Chillisquaque township, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1848, son of Andrew and Caroline (Bitzner) House, natives of Germany, who immigrated to this county, where they were married. Our subject was reared and educated in his native township and learned the blacksmith trade at Milton; he has since followed this occupation, locating in Turbut township in 1871. In 1876 he was married to Sarah Steiner, daughter of John Steiner, of Lewis township, by whom he has two children: John and Mary. He is a member of the Turbut Grange, P. of H., and of the Lutheran church, and is a Democrat in politics. His father's family consisted of six children: Emanuel, of Turbut township; Jacob, of Chillisquaque township; Andrew, of Milton; Henry, of Chillis- quaque township; Caroline, and J. W. The two last named are twins.

HENRY J. SYPHER, farmer, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1848, son of Abraham and Annie (Follmer) Sypher, farmers by occupa- tion, and now residents of Union county. Their family consists of two children: Henry J., and Leah Ann, wife of John Bricker, of Union county. The subject of this sketch received his education at the public schools of his native county. In 1869 he married Julia Ann, daughter of George and Mercy (Sternart) Berkheimer, of Chillisquaque township, and former resi- dents of Union county, where the father still lives, her mother having died in 1887. The subject of this sketch settled upon his present farm near Follmer's church in 1870; he has five children: Annie M., wife of Harvey Sones, of Hughesville, Lycoming county; William Henry; George Abra-

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ham; Veronica Idilla, and Bessie Leah. Mr. Sypher is independent in politics, and has filled the office of school director of Turbut township. He has been a prominent member of Turbut Grange, P. of H., since its organi- zation. His wife and family are members of the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM KLICK, farmer, was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 15, 1850, son of Peter and Lavina (Wenrich) Klick, natives of Schuyl- kill and Berks counties, respectively. Mr. Klick was reared and educated in Lebanon county, and has always followed farming. He migrated from Leb- anon to Union county, and April 3, 1879, removed to Turbut township, where he is now engaged in farming and huckstering. In 1872 he married Mary, daughter of Christian Page, of Union county. She died in 1874 leaving no chil- dren. He was again married, in 1876, to Carrie, daughter of Daniel Pick, of Union county, by whom he has five children: Mary Alice; William Arthur; Peter Harrison; Sallie Estella, and Charles Dougle. Mr. Klick is a member of Turbut Grange, P. of H., in which he has filled several offices. He and his wife are members of the Follmer Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon, and is now church treasurer; in politics he is a Democrat.

THE MURRAYS OF CHILLISQUAQUE .- About the year 1770 three brothers, James, William, and John Murray, settled on lands lying along the Chillis- quaque creek in Northumberland county in the vicinity of the present vil- lage of Pottsgrove, for which they obtained patents from the Commonwealth.

To this original colony were afterwards added several members of a fam- ily of the name of Murray who had come from Scotland and settled on the Swatara (now in Dauphin county) in 1732. It is known that kinship was claimed between these two families but the relationship was probably remote and can not now be determined. There appear to have been others also of the same name who settled in the same locality at about the same period, but it is not known that any blood relationship existed between the latter and the two families first mentioned.

The Murrays were stanch Presbyterians and active members of the Chil- lisquaque church. The several families of the same name became at one time so numerous as to constitute a large proportion of the local community, but subsequently many of the members removed to different parts of the West and comparatively few of their descendants now remain in this State.

Among the members of the Swatara family who settled on the Chillis- quaque, was John Murray who represented this district in the House of Rep- resentatives from 1807 to 1810, and served as a member of Congress from 1817 to 1820. He was born in 1768 and was married to Margaret Murray, a daughter of Colonel John Murray of Dauphin county. They had several children, one of whom was the late John Murray (merchant) of Milton.

James, one of the three brothers first mentioned and known as Colonel James Murray, took an active part in the war of the Revolution as colonel of a regiment of militia which had probably been raised in the upper end of the

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county. At the organization of the Northumberland county militia in Janu- ary and February, 1776, James Murray was captain of the Seventh company of the Second battalion (Colonel James Potter's) and William Murray was captain of the Fifth company of the Third battalion (Colonel William Plun- ket's), in which the lieutenant colonel was James Murray. Subsequently James Murray became colonel (succeeding Colonel Plunket probably, as the latter was not in entire sympathy with the American cause after the declara- tion of independence); he was first called into active service in the winter of 1776-77, and on the 11th of November, 1777, marched with the Northum- berland county militia to Philadelphia. His regiment was attached to Gen- eral James Potter's brigade and participated in the movements in Pennsyl- vania and New Jersey in 1776-78.

A paper dated May 1, 1778, is on record in the office of the Secretary. of the Commonwealth, giving the names of the captains and number of men in the rank and file of the Second battalion of the Northumberland county militia commanded by Colonel James Murray, a copy of which will be found in Chapter III. p. 119. James McMahan, one of the captains of this regi- ment and subsequently known as Major McMahan, was married to a sister of Colonel Murray. There are but few of Colonel Murray's descendants now living in the county.

John Murray, one of the three brothers first mentioned, had one son,. Thomas, and three daughters: Jane, married to John McMahan; Ann, married to John Reznor, and Mary, unmarried. The son was known as Thomas Mur- ray, Jr., to distinguish him from another of the same name a few years his senior. Thomas Murray, Jr. was a member of the House of Representatives in 1813, and in 1814 was elected to the Senate. In 1820 he was elected a member of the XVIIth Congress and served during the years 1821 and 1822, being the immediate successor of John Murray previously mentioned. On account of increasing ill health he declined a renomination, and died on the 25th of August, 1823. He was married to Charity Arbour, who in her early life had some thrilling experiences with the Indians and had frequently been obliged to fly to Fort Augusta for protection. Their children were Mary; John F .; William; Hannah; Joseph Arbour; Nancy; James; Thomas, and Margaret. Thomas was born, January 22, 1809, was educated at the Milton Academy under Dr. David Kirkpatrick, studied medicine under Dr. James S. Dougal, of Milton, and Dr. Thomas Van Valzah, of Lewisburg, was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1833, and subsequently practiced in West- moreland and Indiana counties. He retired from the practice of medicine a few years ago and has since lived at Beaver, Pennsylvania.

William Murray was born, August 26, 1796; he was married to Nancy Gray Wilson, of Lewisburg, resided for a time at Washingtonville, Montour county, removed from there to Lewisburg and subsequently to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he died, June 13, 1886. William and Nancy G. Mur-

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ray had three children: Eliza N., who was married to James Black, of Lan- caster; Thomas, who died in early life, and Samuel Wilson, who is at present a resident of Milton.

THE McMAHAN FAMILY of Northumberland county are descended from John and Margaret McMahan, natives of the North of Ireland, who immi- grated to Pennsylvania about 1744 and settled in Sherman's valley, Cumber- land county. They had one son, James, born to them in Ireland, and two sons and six daughters were born after coming to their new home in the wilds of Pennsylvania. Their names were: John; Benjamin; Rachel; Sarah; Eliz- abeth; Agnes; Margaret, and Mary. The father followed farming in Cum- berland county until his death in 1767. Two years later, in 1769, James McMahan, in company with James, William, and John Murray, Johnson Cheney, Thomas Hewitt, and William Fisher paid a visit to the West Branch valley for the purpose of seeing the country and inspecting the lands which had been thrown open for settlement the previous year. They were so well pleased with the country that all decided to make it their future home, which purpose they afterwards carried into effect. James McMahan selected and purchased three hundred acres of land on Chillisquaque creek, and in 1771 located permanently upon his purchase. His wife, Mary, was a sister of Colonel James Murray, and became the mother of seven sons and one daughter: John; Jane; James; William; Thomas; Robert; Benjamin, and Samuel. Soon after he had effected a settlement, his brothers, John and Benjamin, and also his mother, followed him to this valley. John bought land about one mile east of James, a part of which farm is still the home of one of his grandsons. Benjamin subsequently moved to Huntingdon county, where many of his descendants now live. John McMahan married Jane, daughter of John Murray, and sister of Thomas Murray, Jr., who bore him nine children: James; Peggy; John; Hannah; Benjamin; Thomas; Polly; William, and Samuel. Mrs. Margaret McMahan also took up her abode on Chillisquaque creek, and a few years after coming she was drowned while crossing that stream in a wagon.

Whether the McMahans were soldiers from choice or from necessity we know not, but one thing is certain, as soldiers they did their duty and did it well. Major James McMahan, as he was familiarly known, got his first taste of war when a lad of eighteen, being fired upon by a band of Indians on the bank of the Juniata river and wounded in the left shoulder. He afterwards served as first sergeant in the Second batallion of Pennsylvania troops in the French and Indian war. He held a captain's commission in the Revolution- ary war, and at the close of the Revolution he was promoted to major. At one time he had command of a small stockade fort, built on his own farm on the bank of Chillisquaque creek for the protection of the settlement against rov- ing bands of Indians. During this period, while in the woods hunting stock, Major McMahan was taken prisoner by an Indian and a white man painted.

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But being left alone with the Indian he brained the savage with the butt of his gun, made his escape, and returned to the fort in safety. He went with Captain Boone's company to the relief of Fort Freeland, but it had surren- dered before their arrival. In short, both James and John McMahan did admirable service in defense of Northumberland county, as well as elsewhere, throughout the struggle for American liberty, and at its close they retired to their farms, upon which the remaining years of their lives were spent. They were among the founders of Chillisquaque Presbyterian church, and were worthy men and good citizens. John McMahan, eldest son of Major McMahan, was a colonel in the war of 1812, while James, the second son, was a major in the same war, both serving with credit along the Niagara river. Colonel McMahan was complimented by General Scott as one of the bravest and most efficient officers in his command.

JAMES MONTGOMERY immigrated from Scotland to this country, and pro- cured a tract of land in Montour county, where he lived and died. He was one of the founders of the Chillisquaque Presbyterian church.

H. R. MONTGOMERY was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, a son of James Montgomery. He married Sarah Mull, a native of Berks county, and afterwards located where his son D. M. now resides. He served as justice of the peace twenty-five or thirty years in Montour county, also served as overseer of the poor of Chillisquaque township. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and politically a Democrat. He died in 1881; his wife still survives him. They reared nine children: James, a phy- sician of Buckhorn, Columbia county, Pennsylvania; John S .; Mary, Mrs. C. H. Marsh; Sarah A., Mrs. William Eckman, of Sunbury; D. M .; William, a farmer of Chillisquaque township; H. B .; Clara B., and Alice Jane.

JOHN S. MONTGOMERY was born in Chillisquaque township, August 21, 1859. He received his education at the Pottsgrove Academy, learned tel- egraphy, and was in the employ of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company five years at Danville. In 1888 he established his present mer- cantile business. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically a Democrat.

D. M. MONTGOMERY, of the firm of J. S. Montgomery & Company, mer- chants, was born in Chillisquaque township, September 27, 1865, son of H. R. and Sarah (Mull) Montgomery. He was educated at the Pottsgrove Acad- emy, and afterward learned telegraphy, which occupation he followed several years. In 1889 he became a member of the present firm. He is a member of Corona Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Conemaugh, and Brownfield Lodge, R. of P., a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically a Democrat.

JACOB S. RISHEL was born in that part of Northumberland county which is now Montour, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1806, son of Jacob and Mary (Sanders) Rishel. His grandfather, Michael Rishel, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and one of the early settlers of Northumberland coun-

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ty. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, and died in Montour county in 1836. He reared twelve children, two of whom are liv- ing: Jacob S., and Regina, wife of Jacob Wireman, of Montour county. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead farm and attended the district schools, after which he learned the tanner's trade, which he soon relinquished to become a farmer, which has been his principal occu- pation. In 1850 he removed to Northumberland county and settled in this township. In 1829 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Diehl, of Montour county. She died in 1870. Ten of their children grew to matur- ity; those living are: Mary, Mrs. William Rayer; Michael, of the firm of J. R. Smith & Company, of Milton; Susan, widow of John C. McWilliams; Hannah, Mrs. Thomas Kutz, of Williamsport; Thomas H., of Missouri; Jacob Henry, of Milton, and William James, of Kansas. Mr. Rishel has always been an active Democrat, and has filled offices of trust in Montour and Northumberland counties. He has been identified with the Lutheran church many years, and is serving as elder of the same.

HUGH MARTIN was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1810. His father was born in White Deer township, Union county, Pennsylvania, and married Mary Ambrose, also a native of that county. Our subject was reared in Lewisburg, and attended the public schools. Before he was eighteen years of age he had earned sufficient money by working on the canal to buy a house and lot in Lewisburg. After this he learned the trade of plasterer, which he followed nearly twenty-five years. In 1848 he removed to Chillisquaque township, and for eleven years engaged in farming, after which he removed to Montandon, where he has since resided. In 1831 he married Hannah, daughter of John Waurer, of Berks county, Pennsylvania. She died in 1884, leaving a family of two sons and two daughters: Alexander, a farmer of this township; Elizabeth, Mrs. James Bannen, who has two sons in the Lutheran ministry; Robert, who was killed at Milton, and Fannie, Mrs. Elias Bieber. Mr. Martin is a member of the Democratic party, and in 1864 was elected county commissioner, serving three years. He has also served as overseer of the poor seven years and in other township offices. He is a charter member of the Lewisburg I. O. O. F., and a stockholder in the Lewisburg Bank, the First National Bank of Milton, the Lewisburg Nail Company, and the Lewisburg Bridge Company. He is a liberal supporter of all churches, but not identified with any particular denomination.

WILLIAM REED, farmer, was born at Pottsgrove, February 15, 1820, son of James and Mary (Perry) Reed, natives of Berks county, who settled at Pottsgrove, where he secured a tract of land, which he cleared and improved; he also erected the first hotel in the town, and conducted the same several years. He served as postmaster twenty-eight years. He reared five children: Washington, deceased; Eliza; Margaret; William, and Joseph, who was a member of Company D, One Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers,

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and was killed at Petersburg, Virginia. The subject of our sketch married in 1843, Lydia, daughter of Emanuel Beck, of Montour county, by whom he had three children: E. B .; Charles, deceased, and Sarah, Mrs. J. R. Smith, of Milton. Mr. Reed is a Republican, and has filled the various township offices. He is a member of the Lutheran church.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 118

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