USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 96
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ADAM J. GOTSHALL, president and manager of the Shamokin Lumber Company, was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1855, son of Philip and Sarah (Yeager) Gotshall. He was reared in Columbia and Schuylkill counties, and learned the car- penter trade at Ashland, Pennsylvania. In 1872 he came to Shamokin and engaged with the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company, in whose employ he remained until 1880, when he began contracting for himself, building for the Union Coal Company new breakers at the following collieries: Hickory Swamp, Luke Fidler, Cameron, and Hickory Ridge; also new breakers for William H. Douty at the Garfield colliery, and the new coal crusher at the Mt. Pleasant colliery for the Pennsylvania Crush Coal Company in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and several hundred private buildings in Shamokin. In 1889 he organized and obtained the charter for the Shamokin Lumber Company for the purpose of manufacturing lumber, and they have two mills in operation in Centre county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gotshall was married in 1877 to Matilda F. Fritz, and by this union they have six chil- dren: Mary; Edward; Holden; Ida; Jennie, and Mabel. In politics Mr. Gotshall is a Republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church.
H. FLOYD, plumber and steam fitter, was born in Hayle, Cornwall, Eng- land, September 23, 1844, son of William and Elizabeth (Hendrew) Floyd. His early life was spent in his native town, where he learned the trade of machinist. In 1864 he, in company with his cousin, emigrated to this coun- try, locating at Locust Gap, where he obtained employment in the mines under Superintendent Benjamin Chellew, who was his uncle, where he remained six months. He then obtained employment sharpening tools for the workmen at that time excavating the deep cut on the Reading railroad at Locust Gap, after which he went to Centralia, where he worked on inside
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repairs in the Morris Ridge colliery. He next obtained work sharpening tools for the workmen driving the tunnel at Bell Tunnel mines under the late Richard Curnow, who soon promoted him to running the saw mill. The next position filled by Mr. Floyd was breaker engineer for John Gable of the Reliance colliery, which he filled one year, when he obtained a situation in the new foundry and machine shops at Mt. Carmel. On account of dull- ness in the business he sought employment at Catasauqua, and was given work at blacksmithing in the Frederick Car Works. In a short time he was sent for to return and take charge of the engine at the Reliance colliery, which position he held until he was given the breaker engine at the Lan- caster colliery. At this period he located at Shamokin, where he has since resided, some nineteen years. He was offered a position in the machine shops of the late John Shipp, and was placed in charge of the machine work of the Helfenstein breaker. After completing the work he was outside fore- man, and afterwards superintendent of the colliery, remaining here a year. He was then employed by Fisher & Medlar, who had purchased the Shipp works, and afterward worked at Mullen & Hufman's Shamokin Iron Works, the Northern Central railway round-house shop, and the railroad shops at Marysville and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Returning to Shamokin he did gas-fitting for the Shamokin Gas Company, and subsequently was appointed superintendent. Mr. Floyd then opened a small shop for himself, and by the assistance of C. P. Helfenstein and William Douty, the foundation of a large and lucrative business was laid. He is the inventor of a steam boiler for heating purposes, and of many other inventions and improvements. He was married in 1867 to Amanda, daughter of Abram Keiper, of Shamokin, and by this union they have had ten children, five of whom are living: Will- iam A .; Christiana; Edward; Loretta, and Caulder M. Mr. Floyd has been a member of the school board, in which he has filled the office of president. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, and Prince of Peace Commandery, of Ashland, Pennsylvania. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Floyd has succeeded in building up the largest business of its kind in the county, the entire capital at the start being energy and a determination to succeed.
C. J. LESSIG, paper hanger and decorator, was born in Pottstown, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1849, son of Michael and Har- riet (Smith) Lessig. He received a common school education, learned the trade of painter and paper hanger in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, removed to Pottsville in 1871, and was occupied at his trade until 1881, when he located at Shamokin, established the firm of Lessig & Larer, and engaged in the bus- iness of paper hanging and decorating. In 1884 he purchased his partner's interest, and has since continued the business alone. Mr. Lessig was the second to open a store of this kind in Shamokin, and by close attention to business has succeeded in establishing a lucrative trade. He was married,
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July 17, 1875, to Clara, daughter of Isaac Hummel, of Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania, and by this union they have had four children: Maud, Claude, and Emma, all deceased, and Clara. Mr. Lessig is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., and Shamokin Chapter, No. 264; he is also a member of the P. O. S. of A., Camp No. 149. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith a member of St. John's Reformed church.
WILLIAM HEMINGRAY, son of John and Ann (Ellis) Hemingray, was born in the village of Heage, Derbyshire, England, in the year 1827. He was brought up as a miner, the occupation pursued by his father, and at the early age of eight years commenced work at the Morley Park colliery, carrying candles for the miners at the wages of six pence per day. From this he was promoted to the position of driver and finally became a miner, having passed through all the intermediate positions. In 1846 he immigrated to the United States and settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, working at various collieries. In 1850 he married Rebecca Chaundy, of Schuylkill county, and to this union were born two children: William, a colliery engineer, and Eliz- abeth, deceased. Our subject soon became a foreman of the mines, which position he filled until 1873, when he was appointed mine inspector for the Third district, embracing the collieries of Northumberland, Columbia, and Dauphin counties, and a portion of Schuylkill county, and located in Sha- mokin, where he has since resided. This position he filled successfully for a term of five years. His excellent judgment and familiarity with the mines specially fitted him for this service. Upon his retirement from inspector of the mines, he was employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company to assume charge of their iron ore mines on the Hudson river. He was afterwards engaged for several years developing and opening coal mines in Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Mr. Hemingray is a well-read and intelligent man, and has a warm regard for his adopted country. He is a member of the borough school board from the Fifth ward, and, though not favored in his early days with more than six months' schooling, is an earnest friend of the school system.
WILLIAM BOOTH was born in Yorkshire, England, February 18, 1839, son of James and Mary A. Booth. In 1848 his parents immigrated to this country and located at Llewellyn, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and in 1855 removed to Shamokin, where the father obtained the position of breaker engineer at the Lambert colliery. He was a painter and stonemason by trade, but after coming to this country, and while a resident of Schuylkill county, was engaged in farming, and was employed upon the construction of the railroad bridges of the Minersville and Westwood railroad in 1839. He died in 1858; his widow survived him until 1878. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Sarah . A., wife of Henry Van Gasken; Aquilla; Mary; Hannah, wife of T. J. Jones; James, of Virginia; Joseph, deceased, and William. The subject of this
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educated at the old Ringgold school, at Moyamensing, Philadelphia. At t age of fourteen he entered the employ of Brown, Potter & Company, dry goo merchants of that city, in whose employ he remained eighteen months, wh he accepted a position with the firm of Rowley, Ashburner & Company, comm: sion merchants, with whom he remained two years. He then apprentic himself to learn the trade of gold and silver spectacle frame making, which he served four years, and at the expiration of that time followed it an occupation four years, after which he was engaged on government wo of various kinds. In 1864 he accepted a position with J. C. Thompson's cc commission house, where he remained one year. He then took charge of t. paper department of the American Bank Note Company under his fath‹ who was superintendent of the printing department, which position he fill two years. At the expiration of that time Mr. Richardson accepted the po: tion of superintendent and paymaster of the Luke Fidler colliery, and to up his residence in Shamokin. In the spring of 1871 he was offered al accepted a position with the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphi where he remained six months, and then returned to Shamokin to accept tl assistant paymastership with the Mineral Railroad and Mining Compan organized the previous spring, which he filled three years, when he w advanced to his present position. Mr. Richardson's early political affiliation were with the Republican party, but for the last eighteen years he has ber a Democrat, and while he has never aspired to public office he has give much valuable assistance to the furtherance of his party's interests, and is zealous exponent of the principles of the Democracy. He is president of tl Building and Loan Association of Shamokin, and past master of Shamok Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M. In his religious belief he is an Episcopalia and a member of Trinity church of Shamokin, of which he is junior warde Mr. Richardson has been thrice married; his first wife was Sallie E., daug] ter of Jacob Weaver, of Philadelphia, to whom he was married in 1861; sl died in 1874. By this marriage five children were born, all of whom a deceased. His second wife was Lena Abel, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, whom he was married in 1876; she died in January, 1877. To this marriag was born one child, deceased. He subsequently married Ella J., daughter the late R. B. Douty, who has borne him three children: Holden C .; Charle E., and Florence E.
VERY REV. JOHN JOSEPH KOCH, vicar-general of this diocese, and pastor ( St. Edward's Catholic church of Shamokin, was born in the Province of Lo raine, France, February 5, 1840, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Fra) cois) Koch, natives of the same Province. He was educated at the College Pont-a-Mousson, on the river Moselle, near Nancy, Lorraine, where he gra uated, August 1, 1857. He afterwards made his course of philosophy an theology at the Seminary of Nancy. In May, 1862, he came to Philadelphi. Pennsylvania, and entered the Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo. On th
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28th of February, 1863, he was ordained priest by Bishop Wood of that dio- cese, and appointed assistant of St. Patrick's church of Philadelphia, and subsequently assistant chaplain of the government hospital in the same city.
In November, 1863, Father Koch became pastor of St. Joseph's church at Milton, Pennsylvania, and had charge of five churches and fifteen stations. Under his pastorate the debts of St. Joseph's were paid, the building repaired, and other substantial improvements carried out. While at Milton he had charge of St. Hubert's congregation of Danville, Montour county, and erected its present church. He also built a church at Cascade, Lycoming county, attended the Sunbury and Trevorton congregations, and completed the church and paid off the debt at the latter place. His mission extended from Ralston, Lycoming county, to Georgetown, Northumberland county, and embraced four counties.
In August, 1866, Shamokin was organized into a parish, with Trevorton, Locust Gap, and subsequently Mt. Carmel, as missions. Bishop Wood ap- pointed Father Koch its first pastor, and he assumed control the second Sun- day in September, 1866. With characteristic energy he applied himself towards building up the spiritual and material interests of his parish. An old place of worship was soon after torn down and erected on Shamokin street, on a corner lot purchased at a cost of three thousand four hundred dollars. In 1869 additional land was bought, and the present parochial resi- dence, costing eight thousand five hundred dollars, was erected thereon.
In the meantime the congregation had grown to such proportions that a new church became an imperative necessity. On the 14th of September, 1872, Father Koch laid the first stone in the foundation of the present impos- ing stone edifice, and May 23, 1873, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop O'Hara, of Scranton. Under Father Koch's personal supervision the work was pushed forward as rapidly as circumstances would justify, and on Christ- mas morning, 1873, he celebrated Mass in the basement of the new church. Through his persevering and vigorous management the building was brought to a successful completion, was dedicated, June 6, 1880, and stands as a monument to his zeal and devotion in the cause of his divine Master. In September, 1874, St. Edward's parochial school was opened in the old church, which served the purpose until the completion of the present substantial brick school house in the autumn of 1884.
St. Joseph's congregation at Locust Gap worshiped in the school build- ing until 1870, when Father Koch erected a church costing seven thousand eight hundred dollars, which was finished and dedicated, August 27, 1871. In 1872 he purchased four acres of land adjoining the village of Springfield for a cemetery, which was consecrated, and has since been used by the Catholics of this portion of the county.
Few men, either as priest or citizen, are better known or more universally respected throughout this section of the State than the pastor of St. Edward's.
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Possessing unbounded enterprise and commendable public spirit, his aid has always been extended to every worthy object. As a faithful servant of Christ his voice has always been raised against wrong-doing, and its tones have never borne an uncertain ring. By kind words and charitable acts he has impressed himself upon the history of the coal region in a manner never to be forgotten, and from the little child to the gray-haired sire all mention his name with love and reverence.
REV. FLORIAN KLONOWSKI, pastor of St. Stanislaus Catholic church, was born in West Prussia, August 25, 1845, son of John and Mary Klonowski. He was educated at Kawernik, West Prussia, and at Neustadt, near Danzig, and was ordained by Archbishop Ledochowski, now cardinal at Rome. He emigrated to this country, September 7, 1875, and located in New York City, where he remained a few months. December 20, 1875, he was admitted to the Harrisburg diocese. His first appointment was as assistant of the Lykens Catholic church, where he remained from January 10, 1876, until July 13, 1876, when he took charge of the Shamokin Polish parish, which then included his present church and that at Mt. Carmel. His brother now has charge of the latter. Under Father Klonowski's pastorate many improve- ments have been made, and the church is in a flourishing condition. Since coming to Shamokin he has labored faithfully for the spiritual and mate- rial welfare of his people and his efforts have borne rich fruit.
REV. JAMES W. GILLAND, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was born in An- trim township, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1853, son of Thomas and Susan (Conrod) Gilland. He attended the common schools of his native township, and in 1871 entered Ursinus College, Collegeville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he remained one year and a half, taking a pre- paratory course for his entry into Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, which took place in 1873, and from which he graduated in 1877. He imme- diately entered Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and graduated in May, 1880. He was ordained and licensed by the Presbytery of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, called to Duncannon, Perry county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1881, and installed in June of the same year. He received a call to his present charge, February 20, 1884, and was installed pastor, May 29, 1884. Mr. Gilland married Mary, daughter of Edwin and Mary A. (Davis) Clark, and by this union has six children: Thomas O .; James M .; Edwin C .; William D .; Mary F., and Susan O. During the seven years that Mr. Gil- land has been pastor of the Shamokin church, gratifying prosperity has blessed his labors. He is an indefatigable student, a careful, conscientious, and popular pastor, and a fluent, logical, and impressive speaker. His wise and kindly advice has been strongly felt in the various channels of church work, while his denunciation of wrong-doing has been always outspoken and fearless, as becomes a faithful minister of the Gospel.
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REV. THOMAS J. HACKER, late pastor of St. John's Reformed church, was born at Lincoln, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1854, son of Levi and Harriet (Yagle) Hacker. He attended the public schools, and afterward took a course at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Penn- sylvania. In 1876 he entered the Theological Seminary of the Reformed church at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and graduated, May 10, 1879. He was licensed by the Lancaster Classis, June 5, 1879, ordained by the East Sus- quehanna Classis, June 17, 1879, and assumed charge of his present pastor- ate at that time. He was married in 1875 to Susan, daughter of William Meckley, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and by this union they have one child, Oswald W. Mr. Hacker is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., of Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, and Prince of Peace Command- ery, of Ashland, Pennsylvania, and is also a member of the P. O. S. of A., Camp No. 30. Mr. Hacker is a popular divine of Shamokin, and labored here with good results until October, 1890, when he resigned and removed to Allentown, Pennsylvania. When he took charge of his pastorate in Shamokin, the congregation numbered one hundred seventy-six; under his ministration it increased to seven hundred members.
WILLIAM F. HARPEL, superintendent of public schools, was born near Freemansburg, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, son of the Reverend Mark and Martha A. (Morgan) Harpel, natives of Philadelphia and Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania. His early education was obtained at the public schools of Lancaster county and Reading, Pennsylvania, and subsequently at the State Normal School at Millersville. In 1874 Mr. Harpel commenced teaching in Elizabeth township, Lancaster county, where he remained one year. He then received the appointment of principal of the second grammar school of Shamokin; in 1877 he was appointed principal of the first grammar school, and September 2, 1880, he was elected superintendent of schools, which position he has since filled. Mr. Harpel is a member of the Lutheran church, and politically is a Republican.
JOHN B. SAVIDGE was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1840, son of John and Mary (Bloom) Savidge, natives of Chester and Northumberland counties. He was reared and educated in the common schools of the township, and completed his edu- cation at Doctor Huff's school in Sunbury, after which he was engaged in teaching in the schools of his native township and the county seat. He studied law with Simon P. Wolverton, of Sunbury, and was admitted to the bar in 1864. He located in Shamokin, and practiced his profession a few years, when he again commenced teaching in the public schools of Shamokin, and taught sixteen years. Since he has been a resident of Shamokin he has served in the offices of assessor and auditor. Mr. Savidge was married, October 13, 1864, to Isabella, daughter of Adam and Rachel (McCurtin) Row, of Lower Augusta township, who died, February 1, 1884. He again
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married, January 14, 1886, Harriet, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Marsh) Telford, of Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Savidge is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. &. A. M., and Shamo- kin Chapter, No. 264. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and polit- ically a Democrat.
SIMON CAMERON WAGENSELLER, postmaster of Shamokin and a member of the firm of Wagenseller & Haas, merchants, was born in Tamaqua, Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1852, son of John N. and Sarah (Mc- Veagh) Wagenseller, natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania, both of whom are dead. Simon C. received a common school education, and spent three years at Holbrook's Military High School, Sing Sing, New York. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Sunbury, where he remained until the fall of 1877. He then came to Shamokin, and continued in the company's employ until August, 1882, when he embarked in the mercantile business, and has since built up and carried on a successful trade. Mr. Wagenseller was married, April 19, 1878, to Laura M., daughter of Stephen Bittenbender, one of the leading pioneers of Shamokin. Four children have been born of this union: Walter B., deceased; Harriet S .; Sarah McVeagh, and Mary E. The family are connected with Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Wagenseller is a Republican, and has filled the office of assistant burgess of Shamokin one term. On the 13th of August, 1890, he was appointed by President Harri- son postmaster of this borough; since taking charge of the office he has fitted it up in a first-class manner, and it now compares favorably with any office in this section of the State. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is a stockholder in the Shamokin Street Railway Company, the Shamokin Industrial Company, and the Home Building and Loan Association.
DAVID L. SOLLENBERGER, editor and publisher of the Shamokin Weekly Times and the Daily Dispatch, was born in Silver Spring township, Cumber- land county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1853, son of Samuel S. and Mary A. (Lehn) Sollenberger. He is a descendant of a long-lived ancestry. His great- grandfather, John Sollenberger, was born in Lancaster couuty, Pennsylvania, in 1771, and died in Cumberland county in 1855, the subject of this sketch at- tending his funeral in his mother's arms. His grandfather, whose name also was John, was born in Lancaster county in 1793. Later in life he removed to the farm where his father died, and resided there until his death in 1878. The father of David L. was born in Cumberland county in 1830. He en- listed in the army and contracted consumption, from which he died in 1873, aged only forty-three years. Our subject, who was the only child of Samuel S. Sollenberger, spent his early life upon the homestead farm, and received such advantages as could be obtained in the common schools of the town- ship. In 1869 he was apprenticed to learn the printing business in the office of the Star of the Valley, published by J. B. Morrow at Newville,
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Pennsylvania, where he remained three years. His first situation after his apprenticeship was completed was upon the New York Tribune, where he remained only one night. He then found employment upon the Philadelphia Age until the spring of 1873, when he removed to Rock Island, Illinois, but remained there only four weeks. He returned to the Philadelphia Age, where he was employed until June, 1873, and then accepted the position to set the advertising matter of the Pittsburgh Post, which place he held nearly four years. In 1877 Mr. Sollenberger settled at Watsontown, purchased the Record from J. J. Auten, and was its owner and publisher ten months, after which he purchased a half-interest in the Northumberland County Democrat, on which he was engaged until June, 1879. In September of the same year he bought the Lewistown True Democrat, which he conducted but a short time. In November, 1879, he purchased a half-interest in the Shamokin Times, and in October, 1883, established the Daily Times, which he conducted eleven months, when its publication was suspended. In November, 1886, he founded the Dispatch, which he has since edited in an able and satisfactory manner. Mr. Sollenberger married Annie A., daughter of John Brown, of Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of four children: Erie G .; H. Pearl; Mary G., and Vida C. Politically Mr. Sollen- berger is a Democrat; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and one of the most popular citizens of Northumberland county.
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