History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 124

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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OBADIAH S. CAMPBELL, oldest son of Obadiah, Jr., was born, November 25, 1816. He was reared upon the homestead and educated in the township schools. He followed the occupation of a millwright, and was engaged in the building of grist and saw mills throughout Lycoming, Columbia, Mon- tour, Northumberland, and Schuylkill counties thirty-five years. A part of this time Mr. Campbell was a resident of Columbia county. In 1856 he re- tired from active business life and settled upon his farm in Ralpho township,

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purchased in connection with his brother-in-law, James Fox, in 1852, and was engaged in farming until the spring of 1889, when he retired from all business, and is now living in Elysburg. In politics Mr. Campbell is a Democrat, and in 1865 was elected justice of the peace, in which office he served ten years. He has been a member of the school board and has served in the various township offices. In his religious faith he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a class leader ten years. He is connected with the I. O. O. F. Mr. Campbell was married, January 9, 1840, to Eliza, daughter of John Teats, and they are the parents of six children: Almira, wife of. Samuel Swank; Oliver, of Michigan; John; Clemens M .; Edgar B., of Sunbury, and Iva, wife of Oliver Brady. Mr. Campbell is one of the township's oldest and most respected citizens, and is always ready to assist any enterprise that will tend to the public good, a warm friend of the cause of education, and a liberal contributor to religious and charitable purposes.

JACOB PENSYL (Bentzel), a native of Germany, was one of the pioneers of Northumberland county. His first settlement was on the site of what is now the borough of Shamokin, where he took up fifty acres of land, located where the Eagle Hotel now stands. He subsequently abandoned this tract and took up a two-hundred-acre tract, where David R. Pensyl now resides in Ralpho township. He had one son, John, who was nine years of age when his father settled in what is now Shamokin, and from him the Pensyls of Northumberland county have descended. John married Barbara Hinkle, by whom he had five children: Kate, who married Frederick Lebic; Leah, who married John Fisher; John; George, and Leonard, all deceased. He died upon the homestead in Ralpho township in April, 1849. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and was one of the organizers and original members of the old Blue church of Ralpho township. He donated one acre of ground for church purposes, upon which the church edifice stands to-day.

LEONARD PENSYL, deceased, the youngest son of John and Barbara (Hin- kle) Pensyl, and grandson of Jacob Pensyl, was born upon the homestead in Ralpho township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1804. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick William Kaseman, of Ralpho township, and by this union they were the parents of two sons and one daughter: Daniel, deceased; David R., of Ralpho township, and Sarah A., wife of D. H. Adams, of Ralpho town- ship. Mr. Pensyl's death occurred, October 31, 1884; his wife survived him. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and served as deacon and elder twenty-one years; in politics he was a Democrat.

DAVID R. PENSYL, farmer, is a son of Leonard and Elizabeth (Kaseman) Pensyl, and a great-grandson of Jacob Pensyl. He was born in 1835 upon the old Pensyl homestead, and to him has descended the patrimonial estate,

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upon which his progenitor, Jacob, settled over one hundred years ago, where he now resides. Mr. Pensyl was reared a farmer, having over two hundred acres of land, and is still engaged in that pursuit. He received a common school education, and in 1857 engaged in the mercantile business, which he conducted two years. He married in 1859 Carolina, daughter of Joseph Fry, and they are the parents of ten living children: Joseph; Lenora, wife of E. D. Smink; Laura, wife of J. B. Hill; Leonard; David; Lizzie; Han- nah; Cora; Oscar W., and Carrie F. Politically Mr. Pensyl is a pronounced Democrat, and while he manifests great interest in the success of his party, he has never sought public office. He is a member of the old Blue church founded by his great-grandfather, is connected with Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Conclave.

GEORGE PENSYL, deceased, was born in Ralpho township, Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1799, son of John and Barbara (Hin- kle) Pensyl, and grandson of Jacob Pensyl. In his early life he was engaged upon the Centre turnpike, between Northumberland and Reading. He sub- sequently purchased a small tract of land situated in Ralpho township where Benjamin Adams now resides. He afterwards purchased the Jacob Keller farm, where he lived until the death of his wife, when he took up his resi- dence with his daughter, who married Benjamin Adams; there he died, June 11, 1885. He was a member of the German Reformed church, of which he was an elder, and politically a Democrat. He married Mary, daughter of Jacob Keller, and their children were: Mary, wife of Benjamin Adams; Leon- ard, deceased; George, deceased; Hannah, deceased, who married David Fry; Leah, wife of Lewis Hoffman; Solomon, of Rush township; Jacob, of Rush township; Jeremiah, of Rush township; Daniel, of Columbia county; John, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; Henry, of Shamokin township; Susanna, deceased, who married Peter Adams, and Elizabeth, who married Cyrus Burk- hart.

HENRY PENSYL, farmer and insurance agent, is the youngest son of George and Mary (Keller) Pensyl, and great-grandson of Jacob Pensyl. He was born in Ralpho township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1844. He was educated in the common schools, and was engaged in farming upon the homestead and other places until 1873, when he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, situated one half-mile south of Snydertown. He is also the general agent for Shamokin township for the Shamokin Township Insur- ance Company. He has filled the office of constable for his township for the years 1883-85, and was elected as supervisor in 1887, 1888, and 1890. He was married in 1868 to Matilda, daughter of Samuel Mutchler, of Montour county, and they are the parents of four living children: Everett C .; Kate M .; Lottie M., and Mellie. In politics Mr. Pensyl is a Democrat, and he is a treasurer and one of the board of trustees of the Stonington Methodist Episcopal church.

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WILLIAM PENSYL, tanner and farmer, was born in Rush township, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1835, son of John and Mary (Arter) Pensyl. He was reared upon the homestead farm and learned the trade of tanner with Charles Hull, for whom he worked several years. In 1857 he formed a partnership with William Hull in the tannery business situated in Ralpho township, which he subsequently purchased and enlarged, and which now has a capacity of one hundred hides per week. In connec- tion with the tannery he has a farm of two hundred acres. Mr. Pensyl was married, June 28, 1860, to Harriet, daughter of Isaac Hull, of Ralpho town- ship, who died, August 10, 1889, leaving five daughters: M. Laura; Estella V .; Anna M .; Viola, and Carrie B. In politics Mr. Pensyl is a Republican; he has filled many township offices and has served upon the school board of his township. In religious faith he is a member of the Baptist church, and one of the trustees. He is also a member of Elysburg Lodge, F. &. A. M.

THE MILLER FAMILY .- George Miller, who is commonly called "Hunter George," immigrated from Germany some time in 1700. He settled near Hamburg, Berks county, Pennsylvania. He had several children, but noth- ing is known of them by his descendants, with the exception of John Miller, who settled in Shamokin township prior to 1785. He owned about thirteen hundred acres of land situated upon the Centre pike. He built his log house on the south side of the road opposite where George W. Miller now resides. He married, in 1785, Catherine Raber, who was born, September 26, 1769, by whom he had two sons and two danghters: George and David, both deceased; Elizabeth, who was twice married, first to a Mr. Rockefeller, and second to a Mr. Wilhour, and Sarah, who married a Mr. Miller. Before his death John Miller divided his property between his sons, David taking the land on the south side of the valley and George that on the north side. George, the eldest son, was born, June 13, 1794, upon the homestead. He married, De- cember 28, 1820, Mary M., daughter of George and Elizabeth Stezler, and by this marriage they had twelve children: Elizabeth, who married Daniel Smith; Catherine, who married Silas Farrow; Dr. John J., deceased; Rosetta, who married Samuel Lewis; Amandus, of Shamokin township; Russia, de- ceased, who married Dr. Aaron Savidge; Juliann, who married Ephraim Baker; Allison R., deceased; William J .; Clara L., deceased wife of Dr. Isaac Huff; Emma, who married John Epler, and one who died in infancy. Pre- vious to the construction of the Centre turnpike this locality was not de- veloped to any extent. Mr. Miller obtained a contract for constructing two miles of the pike; he then built the buildings where George Miller now re- sides, and opened a hotel, which he conducted, in connection with his farm, until the railroad was built. George Miller was one of the enterprising men of his day, and filled many township offices. Politically he was a Democrat. He died, July 24, 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, his wife fol- lowing three weeks later.

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AMANDUS MILLER, second son of George Miller, was born, September 13, 1828, upon the homestead. He received a common school education and early in life commenced teaching in the public schools, and through life has been a warm friend to the cause of education, having filled the office of treas- urer of the school board for years. Mr. Miller is extensively engaged in farming, cultivating some four hundred acres. He married Hannah J., daughter of John Wolverton, of Shamokin township, and by this marriage they have had ten children: Florence V., deceased; Mary I., wife of J. M. Kline; George W .; Silas W .; Laura E .; Julia F., wife of Ellworth Dyer, of Elysburg, Pennsylvania; John A., deceased; Charles A .; Cordelia, and Lulu V. Politically Mr. Miller is a Democrat, and while he has never sought pub- lic office, he is a man of influence in his vicinity; in religious faith he is a Lutheran.

GEORGE W. MILLER, eldest son of Amandus and Hannah J. (Wolverton) Miller, was born, April 21, 1857, upon the homestead. He attended the pub- lic schools and Lewisburg Academy. After completing his education, he leased his grandfather's farm and cultivated it four years, and taught in the public schools eight winters. In 1885 he and his brother, Silas W., pur- chased their grandfather's farm, containing one hundred thirty-five acres, and divided the land, George W. retaining the homestead. Mr. Miller was mar- ried, September 30, 1880, to Rosanna, daughter of Thomas P. Vastine, of Montour county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of four children: Gussie M .; Florence V .; David O., and Ruth A. Mr. Miller is one of the leading Democrats of the township, and is now filling the office of overseer of the poor. In religious belief he is a Lutheran, and one of the prominent citizens of the township.

THE JOHN FAMILY of Northumberland county are a branch of a Welsh family that settled in Chester county in the early colonial days of our State. Their ancestor, Griffith John, Sr., was born in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in 1683. With many others of his locality, he immigrated to Pennsylvania, taking passage in a slow sailing vessel that was several months in making the voyage. He landed in Philadelphia, February 11, 1709, and went to one of the Welsh townships which was a part of a district then known as the Welsh Barony. This section was principally settled by his countrymen, at that time called "ye ancient Britons." On the 23d of July, 1714, he was married to Ann Williams, daughter of Robert Williams, surnamed "the king of Goshen." About 1715, under the auspices of David Lloyd, the keeper of the Great Seal, Uwchlan township was settled, and among the first purchas- ers of farms were Griffith John, Sr., Noble Butler, Robert Benson, Cadwal- lader Evans, and others. The fruits of his marriage were twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom reached mature years except one son that died in childhood. Most of his children settled in other parts of the State, but his son Griffith John, Jr., remained on the Uwchlan farm and took

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care of his parents in their declining years. Griffith John, Sr., united with the Society of Friends soon after his arrival in the colony and became a prominent minister of that sect. He stood well in his church, and after his death a testimony relating to him was published by his monthly meeting. He lived in great simplicity and plainness and was a lover of peace and labored to promote good feeling among his neighbors. At the advanced age of ninety years he was a constant attendant at his church and was a minister of the same for over seventy years. He died, May 29, 1778, aged ninety-five years.

GRIFFITH JOHN, JR., the seventh child of Griffith John, the emigrant, was born in Uwchlan township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1729. He inherited his father's farm and was a farmer by occupation. On the 13th of March, 1752, he married Sarah Lloyd, daughter of Humphrey Lloyd, and reared a family of eight children, consisting of one son and seven daughters, one son having died in infancy. During the Revolutionary war, while both armies were for some time within a few miles of his home, he seems to have been fortunate in not suffering any losses thereby. His children, when grown up and married, all migrated to what was then Northumberland county about 1795, and settled at various points. Upon the death of his wife he sold his farm, and a few years afterwards moved to Shamokin township, and lived with his only son, Abia John. He died, August 21, 1811, aged eighty-two years, and was buried at Roaring Creek burying ground.

ABIA JOHN, the only son who grew to maturity of Griffith John, the farmer, and grandson of Griffith John, the emigrant, was born on the old homestead in Uwchlan township, Chester county, November 26, 1761. He was reared on the farm, but acquired a good business education. On the 8th of March, 1788, he married Martha, daughter of his uncle, Reuben John. In 1795 he moved to Northumberland county and reached Shamokin town- ship on May 5th of the same year. He rented rooms from one of the first settlers and went right in the woods and took up a tract of land. He put up a small log house and commenced clearing off his farm. The country was infested with wild animals, and for some years the nights were made hideous by their screams and howls. The scanty products of his place that he had to spare were hauled over miserable mountain roads to Reading, where they were sold and exchanged for articles of food and clothing. But he was a man of determination and succeeded in life. He was a practical surveyor and conveyancer, and soon acquired a very extensive business. In 1809 Governor Snyder appointed him a justice of the peace, which office he held until 1830, and did a very large business. He was a man of integrity and excellent judgment, and his counsel was regarded as safe to be followed. He was held in high esteem by the court and attorneys at the county seat. He became an extensive land holder, and retired from business in his old days in comfortable circumstances. In religious faith both he and his wife

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were Quakers. His wife was a woman of more than common ability and under favorable surroundings would have been noted for her intelligence. He left thirteen children, all of whom reached their majority. They were as follows: Asa T .; Hiram; Emily, who married Levi Hughes, and after his death Abisha Thomas; Griffith; Reuben; Lydia, who married John Wolver- ton, and after his death Amos Yarnall; Sarah; Jesse J .; Elida; Samuel; Jehu; Eliza, and Perry, all of whom are dead excepting the last mentioned. Abia John died, April 27, 1838, and was buried at Catawissa. His wife died, November 10, 1840, and was buried at the same place.

ASA TOWNSEND JOHN, the oldest child of Abia John, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1788, and came with his father to Northumberland county in 1795. He was reared on a farm, and secured a fair education for those pioneer days. In 1810 he married Mary Thomas, who bore him the following children; Abia; Enoch, who died at an early age; Townsend, who died at the age of twenty; Joseph T .; Jesse G., de- ceased, a late resident of Mt. Carmel, and at one time chief burgess of that town; Ann, who married John Kester, now a resident of Philadelphia, and Amos Y. All of these children are dead. Abia John is noted as the first person who taught school in the town of Shamokin. Joseph T. lived on the old homestead, and his widow is still residing there. Asa T. John was a. farmer by occupation, and also a tanner, having started a small tannery on his farm about 1825. The sole leather from this tannery was noted for its enduring qualities, and was in great demand among the pioneers.of that vicinity. He was one of the original members of the Society of Friends established in Ralpho township, and died, February 2, 1868, aged eighty years.

JESSE JONES JOHN, the fifth son of Abia John, was born in Shamokin (now Ralpho) township, Northumberland county, March 9, 1803. He acquired a good practical education and excelled in mathematical studies. He was a teacher for several years, and subsequently became engaged in surveying and engineering. About 1828 he assisted in making the first experimental survey for a railroad from Pottsville to Danville. At this period he surveyed a number of coal land tracts in and about Shamokin, and acquired an inter- est in the old forge near Paxinos. In October, 1828, he married Eliza V. Hicks, only daughter of Dr. Gilbert E. Hicks, of Catawissa, a noted prac- titioner of those times. By this marriage one, son was born, Dr. J. J. John, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch died, September 2, 1829, aged twenty-six years, and was interred at Catawissa in the Friends' burying ground. His widow married, in 1839, John Walter, of Chester county, and resided on the old homestead near Bear Gap until her death, February 15, 1889.

ELIDA JOHN, the ninth child of Abia John, was born upon the old home- stead in Shamokin (now Ralpho) township, Northumberland county, August.

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29, 1805. He acquired a fair business education, and taught school during the winter seasons for several years. He served as justice of the peace, was a surveyor, and was much occupied in settling up various estates. While quite a young man he married Sarah Hughes, of the same township, and reared a family of ten children: Palemon, founder of the Bloomsburg Re- publican; Edwin; Martha; Abia C .; Ruth A .; Hugh; Chalkley; Sallie; George D., and Emma. When the school system was adopted in Shamokin township, Elida John was one of the first directors, and all through life took an active interest in educational matters. About 1840 he commenced taking an active part in the anti-slavery movement, and speakers who advocated those doctrines and were mobbed for so doing were protected by him. On several occasions his home furnished refuge for escaped slaves, and his house was recognized as a station on the Underground railroad. He was always an active temperance worker, was a leading member of the Society of Friends, and frequently represented his society in yearly meetings at Phila- delphia. Mr. John was one of the first directors of the Shamokin Bank, and was well and favorably known throughout the county. In 1868 he removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he purchased considerable land, and died there in 1883. Nearly all of his children are residents of that State.

PERRY JOHN, farmer, was born in what is now Ralpho township, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, the youngest son of Abia and Martha John. He was reared upon the farm, and learned the wheelwright trade with Ezra Hayhurst, of Catawissa, and subsequently purchased the business, which he conducted some years, when he established his business near Paxinos, which he conducted thirty years. Mr. John, like his father, has always been a member of the Society of Friends, and in 1843 in connec- tion with his brothers organized the Friends' society of Ralpho township, and about 1844 erected the meeting house. Mr. John is a minister of the society, has preached in different localities for a number of years, and is the only living representative of the original congregation organized nearly fifty years ago. He was married in 1837 to Annie, daughter of Ezra Eves, of Millville, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, who died in 1859, leaving one child, who is deceased. In 1842 he married Rebecca, daughter of Z. Under- wood, of Centre county, Pennsylvania, who died in 1877; by this union there were two children: Griffith and William. Mr. John is one of the oldest living residents of what is now Ralpho township. In the community in which he has spent his life he is much respected for his consistency of char- acter, and beloved for his kindly nature. In early life he was a Whig, and since the formation of the Republican party he has been a member of that organization, but has never sought or accepted public office of any kind.

Griffith, the eldest son, was born in Ralpho township in 1843. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of eighteen years commenced teaching in the public and private schools in various parts of the State,

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which was his occupation for more than twenty years. He is also a member of the Society of Friends, and in his political affiliations a Republican.

William was born upon the homestead and received his education at the public schools, and has followed teaching and farming. He was married in 1875 to Ruth Roberts, who died in 1879, leaving four children: Mary; Re- becca; Rachel, and Ruth. He, like his father and brother, is a member of the Society of Friends, and in his political affiliations a Republican.

MRS. ELIZA V. WALTER was born at Catawissa, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1802, and died at her residence, on Runnymede farm, three miles east of Elysburg, February 15, 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, one month, and seventeen days. She was descended from a branch of an old English family that came to America with the Pilgrims. On the 11th day of June, 1621, the ship Fortune arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, direct from London, bringing over the balance of the Pilgrim colony that the Mayflower was unable to carry the year previous. Among the colonists on board of the Fortune was Robert Hicks, the ancestor of the Hicks family in America. His settlement in the new world was only fourteen years later than the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. He was a lineal descendant of Ellis Hicks, who was knighted on the battle field of Poitiers in France by the Black Prince in 1356. Mrs. Walter was the only daughter of Dr. Gilbert E. Hicks, a prominent physician some sixty years ago. She received an excellent education from such teachers as Mrs. Paxson and Ellis Hughes, both noted as instructors. She was not only well versed in the English classics and standard authors of that period, but kept herself posted on the passing events of the times by closely reading the newspapers. She was an occasional contributor to the Shamokin Herald during the time it was published by O. M. Fowler. Mrs. Walter was a life- long member of the Society of Friends, and on several occasions represented her society at the Philadelphia yearly meeting. She was liberal and con- servative in her religious opinions and was firmly settled in her convictions. She was twice married; first to Jesse Jones John, having one son, Dr. J. J. John, of Shamokin; and afterwards to John Walter, of Chester county. By the second marriage she had three children: W. E. Walter, of Ralpho town- ship, now deceased; Mary Emma Walter, of Catawissa, and Anna M. Orms- by, of Philadelphia. She continued quite active and enjoyed good health until a few days before her death. She was buried at the ancient burial ground of the Friends at Catawissa, where a large number of her kindred are at rest.

THE MUENCH FAMILY .- Charles E. Muench was a descendant of a French family of nobility by the name of Beauvoir. He probably crossed the French line into Germany prior to the French Revolution, and took the name of his patrimonial estate "Munchhofen." He was born at Mellenheim, on the Rhine, January 7, 1769, and was educated at Heidelburg, where he

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 124

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