History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 127

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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WILLIAM H. M. BAILY, farmer and florist, was born near Red Lion, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1843, son of Ezekiel and Margaret (Marshall) Baily, natives of Chester county. His father was a tailor by trade, and for many years was engaged in droving, and afterwards in the mercan- tile business four miles from West Chester; he also conducted a hotel at Centreville, Delaware county. He was twice married; by his first wife he had six children, and by his second marriage ten, five of whom are living: Marshall, of Chester county; Ezra, of Chester county; Agnes, of Camden, New Jersey; Ezekiel, of Chester county, and William H. M. He died in 1856 at Red Lion, Chester county; his wife died in 1851. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in early life followed droving with his brother. In 1867 he removed to Sha- mokin and entered the employ of his uncle, the late William H. Marshall, and in the same year located upon his present farm of one hundred forty-five acres, where he has since resided. In 1887 he erected his hot-houses and is engaged, in connection with farming, in the cultivation of roses and carna- tions for the Philadelphia market. Mr. Baily married in 1863 Sarah, daughter of Elwood and Mary Lamborn, of Chester county, and by this union they are the parents of seven living children: Ella M., wife of Daniel Gerhart; Elwood; Ezekiel: William; John; Er, and Ida. Politically Mr.

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Baily is a Republican. He is a member of Elysburg Lodge, I. O. O. F., Fairmount Castle, K. of G. E. (of which order he is district grand chief), Washington Camp, P. O. S. of A., and Susquehanna Commandery, No. 9, of Sunbury. Mr. Baily is one of Shamokin township's progressive citizens, alive to all matters of public interest, and commands the respect and esteem of his neighbors.

SOLOMON HUMMEL, deceased, was of German ancestry, came to North- umberland county about 1850, and purchased the farm where George Koch now resides. He was a shoemaker by trade, which occupation he followed in connection with farming. He married Hettie, daughter of Frederick Adams, who bore him fourteen children, nine of whom are living. He died in 1882; his wife died the same year.

FRANKLIN HUMMEL, farmer, is the fifth child of Solomon and Hettie (Adams) Hummel. He was born, April 23, 1843, in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. He followed the occupation of farming until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served three years, participating in the following battles: Port Royal, Beaufort, Port Royal Ferry, Acquia, White Sulphur Springs, Centre- ville, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam and the siege of Vicksburg. After the close of his term of enlistment in June, 1864, Mr. Hummel returned home and followed various occupations until 1883, when he pur- chased his present farm of seventy-five acres, and is now engaged in general farming. He was married, November 6, 1870, to Clara, daughter of Henry Hill, of Ralpho township, and they are the parents of seven children: So- phrona Ellen, deceased; Henry; Edward; Curtis Sylvester; Solomon Joseph; Annie F., and Franklin Albert, deceased. Mr. Hummel is a member of the G. A. R., in religious faith a Lutheran, and in politics a Republican.

( WILLIAM KUHNS, farmer, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1837. He is a son of Joseph and Rhoda Kuhns, and spent his early years in Berks and Schuylkill counties. In 1872 he came to Northumberland county and located at Bear Gap, where he found employment as a farmer, which he followed one year and a half. He then removed to Shamokin and engaged in mining and lumbering, in which business he remained until 1881, when he purchased his present farm of one hundred thirty-five acres in Shamokin township. Mr. Kuhns commenced life with very little edu- cational advantages, and nothing to depend upon but his own energy, yet, by hard and honest toil, he has succeeded in acquiring a splendid farm and a comfortable competence. He was married in 1867 to Sarah Hummel, who has borne him seven children: John; William; Mary L .; Edward; George; Charles, and Jacob. Mr. Kuhns is a member of the Catholic church, and an attendant of St. Patrick's church of Trevorton. Politically he is a Repub- lican and one of the enterprising citizens of his township.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

CHARLES PAUL, farmer, was born, October 1, 1845, in Point township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, son of Henry and Euphemia (Huntz- wiger) Paul, natives of Lebanon and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania. The father of our subject settled in Point township about 1828, where he purchased a farm. He was a shoemaker by trade and engaged at his trade in connection with his farm. His family consisted of the following children: Mary E., deceased, who married Josiah Newberry; Jamella, widow of John Hamor; Margaret, wife of I. Johnson, of Point township; Isabella, wife of J. Hamor; Robert; John, and Charles. Henry Paul died in 1887, and his wife in 1885. Mr. Paul filled many of the township offices, was a Republican in poli- tics, and in his religious faith was a Lutheran. The subject of our sketch was reared in Point township, educated in the public schools, and spent his early life on the farm. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Weldon Railroad, Peach Orchard, and Hatcher's Run. After the close of the war he was engaged at various occupations un- til 1874, when he settled upon his present farm. He was married in 1870 to Alice, daughter of John Fisher, who died in 1888, leaving two sons: John W. and Frank L. Mr. Paul was married in 1889 to. Mahala, daughter of George C. Adams. Politically Mr. Paul is a Republican, and has served in the office of school director four years. He is a member of Elysburg Lodge, F. & A. M., and is one of the enterprising citizens of Ralpho township.

GEORGE HUDSON, farmer and lumber dealer, was born in Derbyshire, England, October 14, 1846, son of Benjamin and Ellen (Hodie) Hudson, who immigrated to this country about 1850 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. They were the parents of four daughters and two sons: Emma, widow of William Burrows, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania; Katherine, deceased; Eliza- beth, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; John, who remained in England, and George. Benjamin Hudson was a miner by occupation, and worked in the various mines of Northumberland county. He died in 1882, and his wife in 1884. The subject of this sketch commenced the life of a miner at an early age, finding employment in the mines of Shamokin and Trevorton fifteen years, and subsequently engaged in teaming and furnishing prop timber, which he has followed a number of years. In April, 1889, he purchased his farm of one hundred twenty acres in Shamokin township, where he now re- sides. Mr. Hudson was married in 1884 to Alice Hartzog of Shamokin, and by this union they have three children: Benjamin; Archibald, and Elizabeth. Politically Mr. Hudson is a warm Republican, and one of Shamokin town- ship's representative citizens.

HENRY M. YORDY, merchant and postmaster, was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1856, son of William and Catharine (Raker) Yordy. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1884; he then located at his present place and en-

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gaged in the blacksmith and wheelwright business, which he carried on until 1889, when he sold the blacksmith business to W. F. Wilhour; he still carries on the wheelwright business. In 1886 he established his mercantile business in connection with H. M. Overdorf, whom he bought out in 1889. Mr. Yordy was appointed postmaster for Stonington postoffice in 1877. Politically he is a Democrat, has filled minor township offices, and is one of the present auditors. He married Rosetta Wilhour, and they are the parents of three sons: William; Calvin, and Edward. Mr. Yordy is a member of Snydertown Lodge, I. O. O. F.

ISAAC F. SHIPE, farmer, was born in 1852 in Rockefeller township, North- umberland county, son of Samuel and Lavina (Friling) Shipe. His grandfather, Jacob Shipe, was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and settled in what is now Lower Augusta township, Northumber- land county, about 1818. He purchased a farm of two hundred forty acres, upon which he resided until his death. His family consisted of six sons and one daughter. Samuel, father of Isaac F., was the eldest son. He married Lavina Friling, and his family consisted of six children: John; Reuben, deceased; Isaac F .; Henry; Washington, and Louisa C., deceased. Our subject engaged in farming in early manhood and subsequently went into the huckster business, which he followed several years. In 1887 he purchased his present farm of one hundred acres, and has since devoted his attention to agriculture. He was married in 1876 to Silvania Wilkison, and by this union they have had three sons: Samuel, deceased; Guy E., and Isaac. Politically Mr. Shipe is a Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

JONATHAN VASTINE, deceased, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and came to Northumberland county late in the last century. He settled on Shamokin Hill, upon. the land where Valentine Epler now resides. He took up six hundred acres. He was a member of the Society of Friends. His family consisted of Benjamin L., who married a Miss Vanzant; John, who married Catharine Osborn, by whom he had six children: Thomas; William; John; Amos; Margaret, wife of Charles Hefley, and Sarah Ann, wife of Robert Campbell; Jeremiah, who was the third son and married Elizabeth Robins; Thomas, who never married, and Jonathan, who married Nancy Hughes. His two daughters were: Hannah, wife of . Peter . Vastine, and Mary, wife of a Mr .. Marsh. . Jonathan, Sr., died about 1836 and was buried in the Friends' cemetery at Catawissa, Pennsylvania.

PETER VASTINE, deceased, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and was a nephew of Jonathan Vastine, a pioneer of Rush township. He settled in Rush township about the same time as his uncle, upon the land where Peter V. Johnson now resides. He purchased three hundred acres and remained there until his death. He married Hannah, daughter of Jonathan Vastine, and their family consisted of the following children: Benjamin;

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Thomas; Jeremiah; Peter; Elizabeth, wife of John Colket; Katherine, de- ceased; Lydia, wife of Mr. Housel, and Mary, wife of Henry R. Johnson. For many years he conducted a store and mill. He erected the mill now operated by Valentine Epler, and was also extensively engaged in the saw mill business, and was one of the progressive men of his day. He died in 1838.

AMOS VASTINE was born in Rush township, Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, November 18, 1833, son of William and Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine. He was educated at the common schools and at the Presbyterian Institute, Wyoming, Pennsylvania. He was reared a farmer and subsequently pur- chased the homestead farm, where he lived nine years. In 1863 he settled upon his present place of two hundred eighty acres. Politically he is a Re- publican, and has served in the minor township offices. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has filled the office of trustee fifteen years. He was married in 1855 to Mahala, daughter of Jacob Schultz, of Danville, Pennsylvania, and by this marriage they have had six children, five of whom are living: Lizzie, deceased; William; Mary L., wife of Dr. John Kemerer; John; Ella K., and Amos B. Mr. Vastine is a member of Danville Lodge, F. & A. M., and a gentleman of enterprise and public spirit.

ALEXANDER MOORE, deceased, was a native of Sussex county, New Jersey. In 1790 he settled in Rush township upon the land now in possession of Gideon Rothermell. He subsequently purchased three hundred acres where his son Alexander now resides. He married, February 11, 1790, Margaret Albertson, of Sussex county, New Jersey. Their family were: David; Esther, wife of Valentine Iliff; Michael; Jane, wife of William Clark Gar- rett; Abraham; Margaret, wife of Isaac Eflin; Helen; Alexander; William, and Corinda. He died, November 4, 1859; his wife died in 1856. He was one of the early justices of the peace and filled the office forty years. He was connected for many years with the State militia, and held a commission as major. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian, of which church he was an elder.

ALEXANDER MOORE was born upon his present homestead, November 20, 1810, son of Alexander and Margaret (Albertson) Moore. He learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed thirty years. He then engaged in farming, which has since been his occupation. Mr. Moore was twice mar- ried; his first wife was Mary, daughter of John Campbell, who bore him two children: Marilla, wife of Uriah Swenk, and Eleanor, deceased. His second wife was Lucinda, daughter of John Hile, who died in 1882, leaving two children: Fidelia A., wife of Benjamin Swenk, and Garrett E., of Sun- bury. Mr. Moore has been a life-long Republican. He has filled the office of school director, and is one of the substantial and oldest living residents of Rush township.

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CASPER J. REED, deceased, was born in Shamokin township, Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1809, son of John Reed. He was a mason by trade, and at one time was engaged in the mercantile business at Snufftown, Pennsylvania, in connection with A. C. Barrett. He also con- structed a portion of the old railroad between Sunbury and Shamokin. He subsequently located in Rush township and engaged in farming, purchasing one hundred eighty acres, where he resided until his death in 1885; his wife died in 1889. He was married in 1834 to Alice C., daughter of Nathan Barrett, of Heinsdale, Massachusetts, and by this union they were the parents of thirteen children: Angeline, deceased, who married Doctor Snyder; Gill- man; James; Mary A., wife of Peter V. Johnson; Matilda, wife of R. B. Ammerman; Rebecca, wife of Henry Kimbler; Rosetta, wife of Marshall Davison; Alice, wife of D. Rockefeller; Florence, wife of Joseph Gulick; Lafayette; Howard M .; Elizabeth, deceased, and Esther, deceased.

JAMES REED was born in Rush township, Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1839, son of Casper J. and Alice (Barrett) Reed. He' was reared upon the old homestead, and his early education was obtained at the common schools and Danville Academy, where he also learned civil engineer- ing. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching, and followed that occupation eighteen years. In 1862 he was drafted and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-second Pennsylvania militia, and served nine months, being first sergeant of Company H. He then returned to Rush township and engaged in farming the homestead, and in 1882 purchased the same. In 1878 Mr. Reed was instrumental in procuring the charter and organizing the Rush Township Fire Insurance Company, and has filled the office of secretary since its organization. He has served in various town- ship offices, and was elected justice of the peace in 1882, and served five years. He married Sarah Sober, of Rush township, in 1871. She died in 1878, leaving two children: Jennie M. and Bessie I. His second wife was Sophia Culp. In politics Mr. Reed is a Republican.

SIMON P. REED, farmer, is a son of Jacob and Hannah (Duttinger) Reed. The father of our subject was a son of Jacob Reed, one of the pioneers of Shamokin township. He was born in 1795 in Shamokin township upon the Reed tract at what is now Reed's Station. He was a tanner by trade, also erected one of the early saw mills of Shamokin township, and later in life was a farmer. He filled many minor township offices. He was a Lutheran in faith, of which church he was an elder and deacon many years; in politics he was a Republican, and was one of the sixteen original members of that party in Shamokin township. His family consisted of Daniel, deceased; Maria, wife of George Young; Simon P .; Elizabeth, widow of Jonathan Deibler; Julianne, wife of John Rohrbach; William, and John Jacob. Simon P. was born in 1825 in Shamokin township on the homestead farm. He learned the trade of wool carding, and in 1861 he engaged in the manufactur-

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ing of woolen goods at Reed's Station, which he carried on for twenty years. He then located upon his farm in Rush township, which he had purchased in 1855, and has since been engaged in farming. He was married in 1850 to Jane, daughter of Daniel Campbell, of Shamokin township, and by this union they had six children, four of whom are living: Daniel Jacob; Ambrose Alvernon, who married Harriet A. Berger; Clara E., and Norman C. Polit- ically he is a Republican; he is a member of Jacob's Lutheran church, and is one of the enterprising and leading citizens of Rush township.

JOHN PENSYL, deceased, was the eldest son of John and Barbara (Hinkle) Pensyl, and grandson of Jacob Pensyl. He was born upon the old home- stead in Ralpho township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. When a young man he went to Sunbury and learned the shoemaker trade. He subsequently purchased a farm containing two hundred acres at Union Corners in Rush township, where he lived for a number of years; he after- wards purchased the adjoining farm, where he died in 1873. He was twice married. His first wife was Lydia Kaseman, by whom he had six children: George, deceased; John, of Rush township; Barbara, deceased wife of Henry Hill, of Shamokin township; Hannah, twice married, her first husband being Charles Dimick and the second Frederick Hiney; Catharine, wife of James Matter, who lives at Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Samuel, of Danville. Mr. Pensyl married as his second wife Mary, daughter of John Arter, of Sha- mokin, who died, November 18, 1890, at the home of her son, Adam, of Rush township. By this marriage they had seven children: Jacob, deceased; William, of Ralpho township; Samuel, of Rush township; Margaret, de- ceased; Adam, of Rush township; Henry, deceased, and Francis, of Colum- bia county.

SAMUEL PENSYL, farmer, is the third son of John and Mary Pensyl, and was born, October 13, 1837, upon the homestead in Rush township, North- umberland county. He received a common school education, and spent his early life working upon the farm for his father until he arrived at the age of twenty-eight years. In 1865 he married Julia, daughter of John Vought, and they are the parents of four children: Elwood, who died when four years old; Dora E., a student at Kee-Mar College, Hagerstown, Maryland; John, who died when ten months old, and Dallas G., now a student in the Danville Academy. In 1869 Mr. Pensyl purchased his present farm of one hundred fifty acres. Politically he is a Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran church.

SOLOMON PENSYL was born in Ralpho township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1831, son of George and Mary (Keller) Pensyl. He was reared a farmer and lived upon the homestead until he was twenty years old, when he worked for his uncle, George Keller, six years. He then, in connection with his uncle, purchased a farm in Shamokin township, where he lived eight years, after which he sold his interest and purchased his pres-

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ent place of one hundred forty acres. In politics Mr. Pensyl is a stanch Democrat, and has served in the minor township offices; in religion is a member of the German Reformed church. He married in 1856 Caroline, daughter of Samuel Epler, and by this union they have had four children: . Mary E., deceased wife of B. Vought; Sallie A., wife of George Yocum; Hatty S., and Harry W., deceased.

WILLIAM METTLER, deceased, a native of Hunterdon, New Jersey, settled at Klinesgrove, Rush township, at an early date, upon the land now in pos- session of Elliott Eckman. He purchased about three hundred eighteen acres of land, where he remained until his death in 1848. He married, in New Jersey, Elizabeth Apgar, who died in February, 1876, by whom he had thirteen children: Katherine, deceased, who married Robert Campbell; Han- nah, wife of William Price; William, deceased, who married Jane Kline; Eleanor, deceased, who married Philip Huff; Eliza, wife of J. F. Kline; George, deceased; Isaac, deceased; Lorenzo, deceased; John, deceased; Sarah, who married Charles Gerhart, and after his death Aaron Runyon; Nancy, who was twice married, first to William Carr and subsequently to Daniel Beckley; Susan, wife of Dewitt Kline, and Enoch.

LORENZO METTLER, the fourth son of William and Elizabeth (Apgar) Mettler, was born in 1821, in Rush township, Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, and was educated in the old log school house of that time. He remained upon the homestead farm until twenty-one years old, when he pur- chased the John Deibler farm in Shamokin township, where he lived until 1854, when he purchased the farm where William Mettler, his son, now resides. He was a man who interested himself in public affairs, and served in the different township offices. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious belief a Methodist. He married Permelia, daughter of Charles Wolverton of Augusta, now Rockefeller township, who died in 1860. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom lived to maturity: Charles W., who was a member of Company K, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in Tennessee, in the service; William H., and Margaret L., wife of J. C. Campbell. In 1861 he married Matilda E. Eckman, of Upper Augusta township, by whom three children were born to them, none of whom lived to maturity. Mr. Mettler died in 1889; his widow survives him and resides with her stepson, William H.

WILLIAM H. METTLER, the only surviving son of Lorenzo and Permelia (Wolverton) Mettler, was born in 1848 in Shamokin township. He was reared upon the farm and educated in the common schools. In 1874 he pur- chased a farm in Rush township, where he remained until 1881, when he removed to where he now resides. In 1873 he married Julia, daughter of Daniel Krigbaum, and they are the parents of six children: Lorenzo P .; Elizabeth J .; William K .; Sarah P .; John D., and Rachel R. Mr. Mettler is engaged in the cultivation of a farm of two hundred twenty-eight acres.

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In early life he taught school a number of years, and has filled the office of school director three years. Politically he is a Republican, and is one of the leading citizens of Rush township. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, filling the office of steward, and is also a member of the P. of H. of Rush township.

SAMUEL GILLINGER, deceased, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, set- tled at Paxinos at an early date. He kept hotel there for many years. His family consisted of John; Jeremiah; Samuel; William, and Sarah, wife of James Dunlap. Samuel, Jr., was born in Shamokin township and was a shoe- maker by trade. He settled in Rush township when a young man and fol- lowed his trade for some years. He subsequently purchased the farm where his son Martin W. now resides. He married Katherine Weaver, and by this union they had the following children: Eugene K .; Martha W .; Susan, wife of James Harris; Lucy A., wife of M. Salter; Mary E .; E. Tibley; Martha, wife of S. P. Enterline; Jeremiah; Matilda, wife of William Davison; Sarah, wife of Jacob Tribley, and Katherine, wife of Hugh H. Campbell. Politic- ally Samuel, Jr., was a Republican, and a member of the Baptist church.

EUGENE K. GILLINGER, son of Samuel and Katherine (Weaver) Gillinger, and grandson of Samuel the pioneer, was born, February 26, 1832, in Rush township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and educated in the com- mon schools. He learned the wagon maker trade and has followed it as an occupation. In 1861 he purchased his present farm of sixty-three acres. He was married in 1856 to Elsie Campbell, who died, June 10, 1889, leaving one son, Samuel E. Mr. Gillinger has filled several minor township offices. He is a member of Shamokin Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F., and in religious faith he is a Baptist, of which church he is a member. Politically he is a Republican.

VALENTINE EPLER was born in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, son of Samuel and Mary (Zimmerman) Epler. He was educated in the common schools and followed the life of a farmer until 1861, when he enlisted in Company K., Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and served three years and eleven months. At the battle of Win- chester he was taken prisoner and sent to Belle Isle, where he was kept four months, after which he was exchanged. He then returned to his regiment and was detailed to the quartermaster department, in which he served until the close of the war. In 1866 he settled upon his present farm. In 1889 he purchased the Logan Run mill, which he is operating in connection with his farm. He married Ellen, daughter of Reuben Snyder, of Shamokin township, and by this union they have had ten children, eight of whom are living: Reuben; Harry S .; Mary J .; Sallie E .; Flora L .; John C .; Francis M., and George H. Mr. Epler has filled several township offices. Politic- ally he is a Democrat, and in religious faith a German. Reformed, and is a member of Jacob's church of Ralpho township.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 127

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