History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 129

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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PETER S. BERGSTRESSER, county surveyor and teacher, was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1836, son of Lot and Jemima (Snyder) Bergstresser. In 1848 his parents moved to Berrysburg, Dauphin county. Here he attended the Berrysburg Seminary; at the age of seventeen he commenced teaching at Reed's Station in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, and subsequently became a student and teacher at the West Chester Academy, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained two years, obtained a preparatory course, and fitted himself for Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, which institution he entered in 1858. In 1862 he was commissioned first lieutenant of Com- pany I, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, a nine months' regiment. After the expiration of his term of service, he taught one year, when he raised Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and had command until the close of the war. In 1865 he re-entered Lafayette College and graduated in 1867. In 1868 he was elected to the legislature from Dauphin county, and in 1874 was ap- pointed principal of the Lykens high school, where he remained seven years. In 1883 he received the appointment of principal of the Trevorton high school and superintendent of the township schools. In 1889 he was elected county surveyor, which position he now (1890) fills. Mr. Bergstresser is a member of Lincoln Post, G. A. R., of Shamokin, Trevorton Lodge, No. 528, I. O. O. F., and of Susquehanna Lodge, No. 364, F. & A. M., of Millers- burg, Pennsylvania. He was married, November 3, 1868, to S. Jane, daughter of John D. Snyder, and by this union they are the parents of five living children: Una M .; Bertha S .; Alice O .; John L., and Roscoe K.

ADAM SCHLEIG immigrated to this country from Germany, served through the Revolutionary war, and subsequently settled upon the land now owned

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by Isaac May, Sr., in Cameron township. His son Adam is the progenitor of the present Schleig family of Cameron township. He was born about 1774, and inherited the homestead, where he lived his entire life. He taught German in the neighboring schools; his death occurred in this township. He married Catharine Derck, and they were the parents of six children: Daniel; Michael; Martin; Elizabeth; Sarah, Mrs. John Derr, and Catharine, Mrs. Philip Kerstetter, all deceased but Elizabeth, who resides in Cameron township.

DANIEL SCHLEIG, the oldest son, was born at the old homestead, August 8, 1812. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed in connection with farming. He served in the minor township offices, and was a member of the Reformed church, of which he was an elder and deacon. He was a prominent Democrat in politics. His death occurred in 1872; his wife survives him and resides in Cameron township. Their family consisted of seven children, five of whom are living: Peter; Joseph; Michael; Hannah, wife of Daniel Knarr, and Salome, wife of Henry Sortman.

PETER W. SCHLEIG, merchant, was born in Cameron township, Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1845, son of Daniel and Catharine (Weary) Schleig. He was reared upon the old homestead inherited by his father, and educated in the township schools. At the age of thirteen he began working in the mines, filling various positions for sixteen years. In 1874 he established his present business. He has always been a warm friend to the cause of education, and served many years as a member of the school board; he has also filled the offices of township treasurer, auditor, assessor for five years, and in 1876 was elected justice of the peace, and is now filling his third consecutive term. Mr. Schleig has been a life-long Democrat, of which party he is a leading spirit in his township. He is a member of Gowen City Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M., and Gowen City Camp, P. O. S. of A. In faith he is a member of the Reformed church, of which he was a deacon six years. He married Annetta, daughter of Ben- jamin Haupt, and of this union they have one son, Andrew. The latter was born, March 28, 1864. He was educated in the public schools and entered the employ of his father at an early age, in whose employ he has since con- tinued. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster for Gowen City, which posi- tion he now fills. He has served in the office of township auditor, and is the present tax collector. He is a member of Gowen City Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the encampment. He married Mary, daughter of Nathan Henninger, of Cameron township, and by this union they have two children: Charles and Goldie. Mr. and Mrs. Schleig are members of the Lutheran church; in his political affiliations he is a Democrat.

THOMAS HENNINGER, deceased, was born in Tulpehocken township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1801, son of George Henninger. His early life was spent at farm work upon the homestead; at a suitable age he was put

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out to learn the weaver trade, and subsequently removed to Schuylkill county, where he engaged in his business among the farmers. While a resident of Schuylkill county he married May, daughter of Peter Karl, who bore him eleven children: Peter, deceased; Joseph, superintendent of public works, Sha- mokin; Elizabeth, Mrs. Daniel Derk, deceased; William, deceased; Charles, de- ceased; Isaac, deceased; Jared, of Cameron township; Maria, Mrs. Henry Long, deceased; Nathan; Aaron, of Shamokin, and Kittie, Mrs. Benjamin Haupt, deceased. About the year 1838 Mr. Henninger removed to Cameron township and purchased a farm of one hundred nine acres, upon which he lived until his death in 1843; his wife survived him and died in 1876 at the age of seventy- one years. Mr. Henninger was a man of strong religious belief, and was a prominent member of the Lutheran church. In politics he was a Democrat until the two last years of his life.

NATHAN HENNINGER, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Cameron town- ship, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1839, son of Thomas and Catharine (Karl) Henninger. He was reared in his native township, and educated in the German schools. His early life was spent upon the farm, after which he commenced working in the mines, which occupation he fol- lowed until 1859, when he settled upon his present place. Mr. Henninger has one of the finest farms of some four hundred acres in the township, and is extensively engaged in the breeding of Jersey cattle. He was married to Eliza Billman, and by this union they have five children: Emmaline, Mrs. John Schleig; Mary J., Mrs. Andrew Schleig; Sarah, Mrs. Francis Kerstet- ter; Lewis, and West. In politics Mr. Henninger is a Republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church. He is one of the representative farmers of Northumberland county, and commands the respect of the citizens of the community.

HENRY HAUPT, deceased, was a son of Conrad Haupt, a native of Wür- temberg, Germany, who settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania. Henry was one of five brothers: Conrad, who settled in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county; Daniel, who settled in Bellfonte, Centre county, Pennsylvania; Samuel, who settled in Schuylkill county, and John who settled in the western part of the State. The subject of this sketch settled in Coal township, now Cameron. He was born toward the close of the last century, and came to Northumberland county when a young man. He came into possession of about four hundred acres of land in the valley of Mahanoy creek. He was the father of ten children: Jacob; Benjamin; John; George; Susanna, Mrs. George Kreamer; Annie, Mrs. Samuel Deer; Mary, Mrs. Henry Kluck; Mrs. Daniel Kreamer, of Schuylkill county; Sarah, Mrs. George Derk, and Hetty, Mrs. Gideon Derk. Mr. Haupt was a member of the Lutheran church, and a Democrat in politics, serving in a number of the minor offices of the township. His death occurred about 1847.

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JOHN HAUPT, the third son of Henry Haupt, was born upon the home- stead, April 26, 1808. He learned the stone mason trade, which business he followed in connection with farming. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat, and served in different township offices. He married Catharine Maurer, and they were the parents of eight children: Benjamin, a butcher of Shamokin; John, William and Philip, all residents of Cameron town- ship; Kate, of Philadelphia; Sallie, Mrs. William Yoder; Mary, Mrs. John Bonner, and Annie, Mrs. Jared Hoverter. He died in November, 1873; his widow survives him, and resides with her son John. Mr. Haupt was a Christian man, and was much respected for his honesty and consistency of character. He was a life-long member of the Lutheran church, of which he was an elder and a leading supporter.

JOHN BOYER was a native of Berks county, who settled in Coal township, now Cameron, and subsequently removed to Columbia county, where he died. He was the father of seven children, and the owner of about four hundred acres of land in what is now Cameron township, and here his children were reared. His son John purchased the farm and cultivated it. The latter married Elizabeth Bixler, and was the father of eleven children; those living are: S. B. Boyer, attorney of Sunbury; Susan, Mrs. J. K. Maurer; Lydia, Mrs. Solomon Zegenfuse; Charles B .; John; Annie, Mrs. Peter Wool; Hettie, Mrs. Samuel Wikel; Angelina, Mrs. Gilbert Reitz, of Mt. Carmel, and Gabriel, of Schuylkill county. He was born in 1803, and died in 1876. He served as supervisor and auditor of the township, and was one of the original members of the Lutheran church, of which he was an elder. He was originally a Democrat, but the last twenty years of his life was a Republican.

CHARLES B. BOYER, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, was born, April 27, 1836, son of John and Elizabeth (Bixler) Boyer, was reared upon the homestead farm, and received about five months' schooling in German. He followed farming as an occupation until 1860, when he opened the Union Hotel, where he now resides, and conducted it as a hotel sixteen years, when he discontinued the business and turned his attention to the sale of agricultural implements and farming. He also operated a saw mill on Mahanoy creek from 1868 to 1885, when the dam was torn away by high water. He was postmaster from 1877 to 1885, and filled the offices of supervisor, school director, and auditor. He married in 1858 Lucy, daughter of Benjamin Haupt, who died in 1862, leaving two children: Aaron and Albert. He again married in 1865 Rosanna M. Startzel, who died in 1874, leaving two children: Charles E., and Mary E., the latter deceased. In 1882 he married Ametia Maurer, of Upper Mahanoy township, by whom he has two children: Martha and Elvorda. Mr. Boyer is a member of the Lutheran church, has been connected with Eureka Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Upper Mahanoy town- ship, for thirty-two years, and in politics he is a Republican.

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CONRAD RAKER was a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and married Barbara Dunkelberger, of Northumberland county. After marriage he settled in Rockefeller township, where he remained two years; he then removed to Little Mahanoy township, where he resided until his death. He served as county commissioner, and was prominent in church work, assisting to build Emanuel's Lutheran church in Little Mahanoy township and the "Stone church " at Augustaville. He was the father of ten children: John; Kate; Frederick; Jacob; William; Enoch; Isaac; Maria; Esther, and Mary, all deceased except Isaac, who resides at Shamokin.

FREDERICK RAKER, son of Conrad Raker, was born in Rockefeller town- ship, Northumberland county, December 21, 1804. He learned the black- smith's trade, and in 1825 married Elizabeth Hoffman, who was born in Berks county in 1806. Her parents, John and Susanna (Dranchaller) Hoff- man, settled in Washington township, this county, in 1813. After their marriage Frederick Raker and wife removed to Lycoming county and re- mained there four years, when they returned to Little Mahanoy township, where he died, August 4, 1844. He was a Democrat in politics, served as justice of the peace, and was also a prominent member of the Lutheran church. His widow still survives him. They reared seven children, three of whom are living: Conrad H .; Catharine, wife of Samuel Frederick, of Ralpho township, and Harriet, widow of Samuel Dornsife.

CONRAD H. RAKER, farmer, son of Frederick Raker, was born in Lyco- ming county, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1828. He received his education at the township schools, after which he learned the trade of gunsmith, which has been his principal occupation. With the exception of four years spent in the western States, he has always lived in Little Mahanoy township. April 27, 1856, he married Susan, daughter of Daniel Dornsife, and they are the parents of nine children: John Henry; Albert; Conrad; Edward; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Alvin Raker, of Shamokin; Lydia, wife of John Schleger, of Shamokin; Frederick D., physician, of Shamokin; Ida, wife of John Hilbish, and Hattie, wife of Samuel Moyer, of Shamokin. Mr. Raker is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he is a trustee, and politic- ally is a Democrat. He was the first postmaster of Raker, and held the office seven years. Raker station and postoffice were named in his honor.

SAMUEL C. LONG, farmer, was born in Rockefeller township in December, 1828, son of John Long, who was born in the same township in 1805. George Long, the father of John, was a native of England, and immigrated to this county prior to the war of 1812, in which he was a soldier. He set- tled on the farm now occupied by Andrew Gonser, where he died. His son, John, died in 1888, and was the father of Elizabeth; Samuel C .; Catharine; Henry; Julia; Benjamin, and Lucinda. Our subject learned the trade of miller and followed that occupation for about fifteen years. He was mar- ried in 1854 to Lydia Dunkelberger, by whom he has four children: Peter;

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Elizabeth; Phebe, and David. He is a Democrat in politics, and a mem- ber of the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM DUNKELBERGER, farmer, was born upon his present farm in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1842. His paternal grandfather, Christopher Dunkelberger, was a native of Berks county, Penn- sylvania, and an early settler in Little Mahanoy township. His father, Jo- seph Dunkelberger, was born in 1806 upon the farm adjoining that of our subject. He married Mary, daughter of David Malick, of Lower Augusta township. He was a carpenter by trade, but was principally engaged in farming, became one of the prominent and wealthy farmers of the township, and served in various local political offices. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. She died in 1879, and he in 1883. They reared a family of seven children, four of whom are living: David, of Montana; Na- than, of Washington; William, and Harriet, wife of Frank Klock, of Lower Augusta township. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the home- stead farm and received a limited education, attending the Freyburg Acad- emy one term. He was married, November 22, 1874, to Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Seiler) Zartman, of Jackson township, this county, and by this union they have one child, Daisy. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served as constable and in other offices of the township. He is an elder in the Lutheran church; his wife is a member of the German Reformed church. Mr. Dunkelberger has one of the finest farms of Little Mahanoy township; he is extensively engaged in raising blooded stock and makes a specialty of Berkshire hogs.

ANTHONY S. SPEECE, manufacturer of blasting powder, was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1844, son of Walter and Sarah Jane (Snyder) Speece. He was reared on the homestead farm, and received his education at the schools of the township. Early in life he learned the milling trade, and followed the same many years, working in Wilkesbarre for the Hilliard brothers and O. M. Martin, also for Beckle and Kantz on Middle creek. After working as a journeyman some years, he rented the mill of W. W. Dewitt, of Lower Augusta township (where he had first learned his trade), which he operated until April 1, 1869. At this time he formed a co-partnership with John Campbell, of Lower Augusta township, and purchased the grist mill at his present location; they operated it two years, when he purchased the interest of his partner and con- ducted the business individually until 1889. At the time he purchased his present property there was an old powder mill upon it, and on the 1st of August, 1869, he rented the same to William, John, Joseph, and Christian Beury, who improved the mill and engaged in manufacturing powder. April 1, 1876, Mr. Speece engaged in the manufacture of powder, and after being in business thirty days had an explosion, with the loss of fifteen hundred dol- lars and the death of one of his employees, Richard Foulds. About two years

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later he rented his mill to Rathermal & Mowry, and they sold their lease to the Laflin & Rand Powder Company. At the expiration of this lease Mr. Speece relet the mill to this firm for twelve hundred dollars per year, and they operated it seven years. He then remodeled the mill, put in steam power instead of water, greatly enlarged the capacity, and soon expects to be able to manufacture two hundred fifty kegs per day. He uses his grist mill for pulverizing purposes, and gives employment to twenty-five men. Mr. Speece is also engaged in farming and the buying and selling of real estate. November 15, 1866, he married Ann, daughter of Abraham Ship- man, of this county, and they are the parents of sixteen children, twelve of whom are living: Effie, Mrs. A. S. Dewitt; Tomson, Mrs. Delmar F. Camp- bell; Orphie; Laura; Ella; Walter; Lloyd; Howard; Anthony Scott; James Muir; Newton Withington, and Don Apsley. Four are deceased: Bertie M .; Chloe; Hudson, and William H. In politics Mr. Speece is a Republican, and has served as school director and auditor of his township. During the late war he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Captain Wolverton, and served six weeks. He is a member of the Hollowing Run Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder.

D. M. ZARTMAN, merchant, was born, October 18, 1849, in Jackson town- ship, this county, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Michaels) Zartman, natives of the same place, and the parents of nine children: Wilhelmina; D. M .; Hannah; William; Samuel M .; Mary; Joseph; Alice, and Elizabeth. Our subject established his present business at Dornsife in 1877. He married Lena Peifer in 1868 and has two children: William and Cossie. He was appointed postmaster at Dornsife in 1879, the first incumbent of the office at that place.

GRANT BOLIG, station agent at Dornsife station, was born near Selinsgrove, Penn township, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1865, son of B. F. and Harriet (Ulrich) Bolig, farmers of that township. He received his edu- cation at the schools of Freeburg and Selinsgrove, after which he was en- gaged in teaching school in Snyder county four terms. He then learned telegraphy, and operated for the Western Union Telegraph Company at Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, about one year. He was then en- gaged with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company as dispatcher, and was located at Muncy, Sunbury, Tamaqua, Allenwood, and Sunbury. In February, 1888, he took charge of Dornsife station, and has since held that position. July 8, 1888, he married Agnes M., daughter of Alexander Deppen, of Dornsife, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Harry Deppen Bolig. Mr. Bolig is a member of the Lutheran church, and politically is a Republican.

JOSEPH HAAS, physician, was born in Upper Augusta township, Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1830, son of Frederick and Sarah (Zimmerman) Haas. His early education was obtained at the common schools; at the age of nineteen he commenced the study of medicine with

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Dr. J. W. Peal, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and was graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Medicine in 1852. In the same year he located in Jackson township, where he has since resided and practiced his profession. The Doctor is also engaged in farming, cultivating some two hundred acres of land. He was married, October 23, 1855, to Mary F., daughter of Dr. J. W. Peal, and by this marriage they are the parents of four living children: Richard P., physician, of Williamstown, Pennsylvania; John P .; Edward L., and William H. Politically the Doctor is a pronounced Democrat; he was instrumental in establishing the public school system in Jackson township, and served upon the first school board. He is a member of the Sunbury Lodge, F. & A. M.

REV. A. R. HOTTENSTEIN was born near Reading, Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, March 18, 1835, son of Jacob and Esther (Rahn) Hottenstein. He received his early education at the Milton and Landisburg academies, and was graduated from the Reformed Theological Seminary of Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. In 1862 he was ordained, and his first pas- torate was at Selinsgrove, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, where he remained three years. His second was at Berwick, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he remained ten years. He was then elected to the Mahanoy charge of Northumberland county, consisting of six congregations, which he served until 1885, when it was reduced to four and one supply. Mr. Hottenstein was married in 1874 to Ella E. Walp, and by this union they have two sons: David F., of Shamokin, and Daniel E., who resides upon his father's farm in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Politically he is an independent voter, be- lieving that the office should seek the man, and that none but competent, honest men should be selected for public office. Mr. Hottenstein is one of the best known ministers of the Reformed church in this section of the State, and is very popular with the members of his denomination. He is an enter- prising, public spirited citizen, and is doing much good among his people.

REV. DANIEL M. STETLER was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1843, son of Isaac and Sarah (Johnson) Stetler. His early edu- cation was obtained at the public schools, Frederick Institute, and a classical school on Chestnut street, Philadelphia. In 1871 he entered the Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1874. He was ordained at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in June of the same year, and was elected to a mission in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, where he remained thirteen years, residing at Beavertown. In 1877 he was elected to the Ma- hanoy charge of Northumberland county. Mr. Stetler was married, Decem- ber 1, 1866, to Barbara Shetler, of Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of twelve children: William T .; Isaac H .; Eugene S .; Ada E .; Sarah E. and Mary Amanda, twins; Daniel L .; Anna C., deceased; Johnson V .; Harry A .; Emma S., and Jacob N. He preaches in both English and German, has charge of six congregations, is

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very popular in the community, and highly spoken of by his parishioners. Two of his sons are preparing for the ministry in the Lutheran church, at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

GEORGE DEPPEN, grain and leather dealer and justice of the peace, was born in 1836 at Locust Gap, Mt. Carmel township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, son of Abraham and Mary (Snyder) Deppen. He was reared in Jackson township, to which place his parents removed during his early youth. His education was obtained in the subscription schools, and his early life was spent in farming. In 1863 he embarked in the mercantile business in Snyder county, and later followed the same business at Herndon, Northumberland county. In 1868 he established his present business, the buying and shipping of grain and dealing in hides for sole leather, etc., and has built up quite a successful trade. Mr. Deppen was married in 1868 to Mary Mertz, of Freeburg, Snyder county, who has borne him the following children: Lizzie J .; Laura; George E .; Henry C .; Charles P .; Carrie; John E .; Susan, and Ray. Mr. Deppen is a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics is a Democrat. He is now filling his third term as justice of the peace of Jackson township, and is recognized as a progressive citizen.

C. W. DEWITT, miller, was born at Boyle's Run, Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1850, son of Jacob and Mary (Clark) Dewitt. He was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of miller, which he has followed as an occupation, and in 1882 pur- chased his present mill at Mahanoy, since which time be has been engaged operating for himself. He married in 1870 Malinda, daughter of William W. Dewitt, of Lower Augusta township, and by this union they are the parents of six children: Flavie; Sallie; Reapard; Daniel; Henry, and Rosie. Politically Mr. Dewitt is an ardent Democrat, and is a member of the P. O. S. of A.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 129

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