History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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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treasurer for a number of years, filled the office of school director for six years and president of the board five, and was also president of the Ashland Gas Light Company in its early career.

Mr. Buck is a large stockholder in the Citizens' National Bank of Ash- land, and also a director; he is interested largely in the First National Bank, and the Shamokin Banking Company, both of Shamokin, and is the largest individual stockholder in these three first-class institutions. He also owns a nice block of stock of the First National Bank of Mt. Carmel, and has recently been induced to accept a directorship in the new Merchants' National Bank of Shenandoah City, in which institution he is a leading stockholder. He has been a Mason since 1863, a Knight Templar since 1870, and became a member of Philadelphia Consistory, Scottish Rite Masonry, 32º, in 1890. Mr. Buck was married, May 8, 1860, to Anna Elizabeth Sterling, of Potts- ville, who has borne him seven children: Carrie J .; Frank L .; William G .; Harry J .; Anna E .; Walter E., and H. Gertrude, the two last named deceased.

C. C. LEADER, merchant, was born in Alsace township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 13, 1843, son of Edward and Catharine (Snyder) Leader. His early life was spent upon the homestead farm, receiving such education as the neighboring schools afforded. In 1860 he entered the employ of A. J. Medlar, of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1865, when he engaged in business for himself, opening a general store in Schuylkill Haven, which he conducted successfully ten years. In 1875 he located at Shamokin and engaged in general merchandise business, under the firm name of Leader, Muir & Company, on the corner of Liberty and Independence streets, where, after three years, the firm was dissolved by mutual consent. In 1878 Mr. Leader located on the corner of Shamokin and Sunbury streets, and engaged in the dry goods business, where he remained two years. In 1880 he removed to Independence street, and the following year formed a partnership with R. G. Eisenhart, under the firm name of Leader & Eisenhart, and added to the business a clothing department. This partnership continued three years. Mr. Leader then purchased Mr. Eisenhart's interest and became associated with his brother, E. M. Leader, under the firm name of Leader & Brother. In 1889 Mr. Leader built his present store building, and a division of the business then took place. It would be proper to mention here that Mr. Leader's present store room is one of the handsomest and most commodious to be found out- side of the larger cities. The principal salesroom is upon the ground floor, and is forty-eight feet wide by one hundred twenty-four feet deep, and devoted to the sale of dry goods, notions, and ladies' and children's cloaks; upon the second floor are the carpet and dressmaking departments. Mr. Leader while in the development of his business has also been interested in other enterprises. He is a director of the Edison Electric Light Company

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of Shamokin, and of the Shamokin Banking Company, and is also a director and secretary of the Shamokin Arc Light Company and the Shamokin Manufacturing Company. Mr. Leader's early political affiliations were with the Democratic party, but of late years he has been an inde- pendent voter, with strong Prohibition proclivities. He is a member of St. John's Reformed church, of which he has been an elder and a leading supporter for many years and since 1880 has been superintendent of the Sunday school. He was married in 1867 to Amanda, daughter of Benjamin Ketner, of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of five children: Emma M .; Charles F .; William C .; Harry K., and Edward R. Mr. Leader has exhibited during his business career rigid application, vigor, and fidelity, which have resulted in founding the large establishment of which he is the head. He enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow- citizens, and is recognized as a business man of commendable enterprise and public spirit.

EDWARD M. LEADER, manufacturer and dealer in clothing, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1859, son of Edward and Hattie (War- ner) Leader. He was reared in Berks and Schuylkill counties, and received a common school education. In 1868 he entered the employ of his brother, C. C. Leader, who at that time was engaged in the dry goods business in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. In 1875 he came to Shamokin with his brother, and remained in his employ until 1885, when he purchased an inter- est, and the business was conducted under the firm name of C. C. Leader & Brother. In 1889 there was a division of the business, Mr. Leader retain- ing the clothing department and remaining at the old stand on Independence street. The retail department is a large and commodions room thirty-eight by one hundred fifteen feet, devoted entirely to the sale of clothing and gents' furnishing goods. The ladies' department for the sale of cloaks is situated in the rear of the main salesroom and is handsomely appointed. The custom department is upon the second floor, and is a room thirty-eight by fifty and finely adapted for that purpose; the manufacturing department is upon the third floor, where twenty to thirty hands find employment making the clothing for the retail department. Altogether this enterprise is the most complete of its kind in this section of the country, and Mr. Leader can feel proud of what he has accomplished in his short business career. In politics he has been a strong Democrat, but not active as a politician. He is an earnest exponent of the principles of the P. O. S. of A., of which order he has been a member thirteen years. In his religious connections he is a member of the Presbyterian church, serving in the board of trustees, of which he is treasurer. Mr. Leader was married, October 10, 1888, to Carrie, daughter of George Hamilton, of Pottsville.

JAMES M. SHUMAN, merchant, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylva- nia, March 8, 1844, son of J. L. and Rebecca (Miller) Shuman. He is the

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

senior member of the firm of J. M. Shuman & Company, and was reared and received a common school education in his native county. He began clerking at an early age, which business he followed a number of years at various places. In 1869 he accepted a situation with C. F. Ryer & Brothers of Shamokin, subsequently entering the employ of Ludes & Graeber, gen- eral merchants. In 1875, in connection with M. L. Gable and Edward Shu- man, they established their present business, which continued until 1876, when D. E. Shuster purchased the interest of Edward Shuman and subse- quently he and Mr. Shuster purchased Mr. Gable's interest. Mr. Shuman was married in 1885 to Maggie Miller, of Catawissa, Columbia county, Penn- sylvania. In politics he is a Republican, and is also a member of Shamokin Lodge, F. & A. M. In his religious preferences he is a Lutheran, of which. church he and family are attendants. Starting in life with but few advan- tages, Mr. Shuman, by rare shrewdness and sagacity and close attention to the details of his business, has succeeded in placing his business house among the leading mercantile establishments of Shamokin.

DAVID E. SHUSTER, merchant, was born in Hummelstown, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1845, a son of Dr. John A. and Mary A. (Bre- fore) Shuster, natives of Germany and France, respectively. When seven years old, his parents removed to Shippensburg, Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was reared and secured such education as the schools of the village afforded. Contrary to the wishes of his parents, who desired to edu- cate him for the medical profession, he apprenticed himself to his uncle, John Preston, to learn the trade of shoemaker, and completed his trade with H. F. Snyder at Newville, Pennsylvania. In 1863 he went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, entered the employ of George M. Groff, and found employ- ment at his trade until 1869; in the latter year he entered the employ of the Northern Central railway, filling the position of passenger brakeman between Harrisburg and Sunbury. He was shortly transferred to the Shamokin Val- ley and Pottsville division, and promoted to baggage and express agent, which position he filled until 1871, when he was promoted to passenger con- ductor upon the same division. This position he filled with credit to himself, making hosts of friends among the traveling people, who, as a mark of their appreciation for his courtesy and attention while filling this position, pre- sented him, November 27, 1875, with an elegant gold watch as a testimonial of their regard. Mr. Shuster became a resident of Northumberland county in 1869, locating at Mt. Carmel. In 1876 he resigned his position with the Northern Central railway, removed to Shamokin, and purchased an interest in the mercantile business of J. M. Shuman & Company, in which business he is now engaged. He has been a warm friend to the cause of education, which he has aided by his influence and means. He has been a member of the school board five years, was president of the same in 1888, and served as councilman of Shamokin borough in the year 1881. In his religious prefer-

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ences he is a Presbyterian, of which church he and family are attendants. Mr. Shuster organized the choir and has been the chorister a number of years, and is also connected with the P. O. S. of A. He is interested in the Hamilton Car and Wheel Manufacturing Company of Catawissa, Pennsyl- vania, and one of the directors of the same. In politics he is a prominent Republican. He was married in 1876 to Kate, daughter of W. M. Weaver, of Shamokin, and by this union they are the parents of two children: Will- iam W. and Lulu B.

J. K. HAAS, wholesale merchant, was born in Upper Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1842, son of Nathan and Eliza (Knorr) Haas. He was reared upon the farm and received his primary education in the common schools. In 1860 he entered Freeburg Academy, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and the following year commenced teaching in the public schools of Schuylkill county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served six months, when he was discharged for physical disability. Returning home impaired in health he remained on the homestead until 1863, when he en- tered Allentown Seminary and remained until fall, when he resumed teach- ing in the schools of Lehigh county until the spring of 1864. He then located at Kutztown, and attended the high school five months, and subse- quently entered Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His health again failing he was forced to return home. From 1865 to 1868 he taught at intervals in the schools of Shamokin, Schuylkill county, and Herndon. In the spring of 1869 he accepted a situation as slate picker boss with Isaac May, Sr., and in the fall commenced teaching in Shamokin, and continued teaching and working on the public roads of the borough at inter- vals. In 1871, in partnership with E. G. Seiler, he started a small confec- tionery and grocery store, and this was the beginning of what are now the two wholesale houses of Seiler, Zimmerman & Company, and Haas, Snyder & Sowers. The business of Haas & Seiler continued until 1876, and in the meantime they had established a general store in connection with their con- fectionery business. In 1876 a division of the business took place, Mr. Haas forming a partnership with W. K. Erdman, and under the name of Haas & Erdman conducted a general store, Mr. Seiler retaining the confec- tionery business. The partnership existing between our subject and Mr. Erdman ceased in 1879, when D. G. Seiler purchased Erdman's interest and became associated with Mr. Haas, under the firm name of Haas & Seiler, which lasted until 1881. Mr. Haas carried on the business until 1883, when he sold out and purchased the wholesale and retail notion busi- ness of William F. Kleinsmith, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and formed a partnership with D. G. Snyder under the name of J. K. Haas & Com- pany. In 1888 they sold the retail department of their business, and in 1889 removed to Shamokin, took into partnership C. L. Sowers, and estab-

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

lished the present firm of Haas, Snyder & Sowers. In 1872 Mr. Haas was a member of the council of Shamokin, and has filled the office of assessor in the Second ward three times. Politically he is a Democrat, and a mem- ber of St. John's Reformed church, of which he has been deacon and elder for many years. He was married, March 28, 1868, to Mary M., daughter of Daniel Seiler, and by this marriage they have four daughters: Rose M .; Flora E .; Sadie E., and Mary A.

DANIEL K. HAAS, merchant, was born in Upper Mahanoy township, North- umberland county, December 1, 1851, a son of Nathan and Eliza (Knorr) Haas. He was reared and educated in his native township, and in 1869 be- gan working in the mines, at which he continued until 1875. He subse- quently learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed until 1876, when he resumed work in the mines until 1879, and then opened a green grocery store. In 1883 he formed a partnership with C. L. Sowers for the purpose of conducting a general store. In 1885 he sold his interest to Mr. Sowers, purchased a new property on the corner of Spruce and Market streets, and engaged in general mercantile business. In 1887 he disposed of his busi- ness to J. A. Wort, purchased a farm of one hundred eighty acres in Snyder county, and engaged in farming and distilling. In 1888 he returned to Shamokin, and again associated himself with Mr. Sowers, and they opened his present store, which they conducted until April 25, 1889, when he pur- chased Mr. Sowers's interest. Mr. Haas is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat, and takes an active in- terest in the welfare and success of the party. He is a member of St. John's church. Mr. Haas married Mary E., daughter of W. W. Wary, of Shamo- kin, and by this union they have five children: William D .; Charles W .; Carrie E .; Daniel R., and Clarence L.

E. G. SEILER, merchant, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1847, son of Daniel and Sarah (Geist) Seiler. He was educated in the public schools, and lived upon the homestead farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed five or six years. In 1868 he removed to Shamokin, and in connection with J. K. Haas engaged in the dry goods, grocery, and confectionery business. He sold his interest in the dry goods business to Mr. Haas, and conducted the grocery and confectionery business a number of years. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Henry S. Zimmerman, as E. G. Seiler & Company, which continued until 1886, when he sold the retail business to Zimmerman, Haas & Company, and engaged in the wholesale fancy groceries and confectionery business under the name of Seiler, Zimmerman & Company. He was mar- ried in 1869 to Caroline, daughter of Michael Bower, of Lower Mahanoy township, and to this union two children have been born: Cora and Lula. Mr. Seiler has been a member of the borough council, and is treasurer of the West Ward Building and Loan Associatian. He is a member of St. John's Reformed church, and politically he is a Republican.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY S. ZIMMERMAN, merchant, was born in Schuylkill county, Penn- sylvania, January 22, 1852. Although prominent in the pursuits of peace, the wholesale house of Seiler, Zimmerman & Company, of which he is a member, being among the more prominent institutions of Shamokin, he springs from a war-like ancestry, his great-great-grandfather having achieved fame as a general under the king of Holland. His great-grandfather, Abra- ham Zimmerman, immigrated to Pennsylvania in the colonial days, settled in Maxatawny township, Berks county, and when the patriots engaged the mother country in a war for independence, Mr. Zimmerman was one of the first to enroll himself under the banners of the struggling Republic as a soldier in Washington's army. General Washington was a frequent visitor at the Maxatawny homestead, and on two or three occasions established his headquarters there. It was there that Sebastian Zimmerman, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born, May 7, 1796. Arriving at man's estate, he moved to Schuylkill county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was one of the four men detailed to bury the dead in the disas- ters about Washington that resulted in the burning of the national capital by the British. He died in the ninetieth year of his age, July 15, 1885. He had two sons in the war of the Rebellion, one of whom was killed at Peters- burg.

The surviving son, Sebastian Zimmerman, Jr., father of Henry S. Zim- merman, married to Miss Elizabeth Slobig, had sundered the tender ties of home and family circle to go forth to battle for the Union, leaving his chil- dren without a father's guiding hand to mould their character. Young Zimmerman, however, came up to the threshold of man's estate, a model citizen. He received his education at the public schools in Lower Augusta township, and in 1874 entered the employ of Haas & Seiler as a clerk. Five years later found him a member of the firm of E. G. Seiler & Company, which was remodeled in 1886 as Seiler, Zimmerman & Company, for the purpose of conducting a wholesale business in fancy groceries and confec- tioneries. In 1875 Mr. Zimmerman was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Zartman, and by this union they have four children: Laura; Walter; Emma, and Annie. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., and of Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, also of Camp No. 30, P. O. S. of A. He is a consistent Christian and a member of Trinity Lutheran church, of which he has been a trustee for a series of terms.

JOSEPH WOLF, clothier, was born at Gratz, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1844, son of Solomon and Amelia Wolf. He was educated in the common schools, and was employed by his father, who was engaged in farming and the bottling business, until eighteen years of age. He then found employment with Newsbaum & Company, dry goods merchants of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as a clerk, where he remained one year, after which he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, William Wolf, with

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whom he remained one year. In 1865, in connection with Mr. Wolf, they opened a store for the sale of clothing to the returning soldiers. In the fall of this year ho accepted a position with Hecht & Lochman, clothing mer- chants of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he remained until the fall of 1866, when he took charge of the general store of Samuel Smith, Phillipsburg, Centre county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until the spring of 1867; he then came to Shamokin, located upon Sunbury street and opened a store for the sale of ready-made clothing, which he conducted two years, when he removed to Shamokin street and located where the New York shoe store now is. In 1873 he located at his present stand in the May block on Shamokin street. His main salesroom is sixty-four feet deep and twenty wide, in which he carries a large and fine stock of clothing and gent's and boys' furnishing goods. Upon the second floor is situated his custom department, a room fifty feet deep and twenty wide. Mr. Wolf by close attention to business and with a studied desire to please, has built up one of the finest trades in Shamokin. He has always taken a deep interest in the enterprises connected with the city, and is a member of the Board of Trade, and is interested in the two electric lightcompanies, also the Shamokin Manufactur- ing Company and water company as a stockholder, and is a director of the Driving Park Association. He is connected with the F. & A. M., and politic- ally is a Republican. Mr. Wolf was married in June, 1876, to Johanna, daughter of William James, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania; by this union they are the parents of three children: Marlin; Solomon, and William.

WILLIAM H. R. SMINK, druggist, was born in Shamokin township, North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1852, son of Daniel C. and Eva (Kaseman) Smink, now residents of Shamokin. At the age of eight years he found employment picking slate in the breaker of the Cameron colliery, where he remained three years .. He then entered the office of the Shamokin Herald and remained there two years, when the enlistment in the army of O. M. Fowler, editor and publisher of the paper, necessitated his obtaining other employment, on account of the office being closed. He was engaged at different places clerking, and subsequently found employment with Ryer Brothers & Company, where he remained five years, the last two of which he filled the position of book-keeper. In 1871 he opened a confectionery store on Market street, in Shamokin, which he conducted for some time. In 1872, in connection with his father, he erected the first planing mill in Shamokin, which was destroyed by fire one year after it was built, and in which was in- vested their entire capital. He was compelled again to seek employment, which he obtained with C. C. Leader, where he remained two years. In 1877 he went to Seisholtzville, Berks county, Pennsylvania, and took charge of the store of his father-in-law, Henry Guiterman, at whose death he was appointed superintendent of the iron mines of the estate, for the executors, which position he filled three years. In 1883 he returned to Shamokin and

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

established his present business, and by close attention has built up one of the largest retail drug trades in the county. Mr. Smink is a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association. Politically he is a Republican; he is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, Mount Moriah Council. No. 10, R. S. Ex. and S. M., and Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S. 32°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and since 1869 has been a member of Camp No. 30, P. O. S. of A. Mr. Smink was married in 1872 to Annie L., daughter of Henry Guiterman, of Schuylkill county, who died, September 8, 1879, leaving three children: Henry G .; Eva K., and Annie L. He was again married, December 24, 1880, to Ella, daughter of Charles Knappen- berger, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who has borne him two children: Ella R. and Marion L.

M. G. REAGER, merchant, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1856, son of George and Elizabeth (Grimm) Reager. His early life was spent in Dauphin and Northumberland counties; at his father's death his mother settled in Uniontown, and engaged in the millinery business, where she still resides and carries on that business. His education was ob- tained in the schools of those counties, and at the age of fifteen he commenced his business career, entering the employ of Noah Cluck, of Jordan township, Northumberland county, as a clerk for two years. At the expiration of this time, being desirous of a better education, he again entered school. His next position was manager of Gabriel Adams's general store in Jordan town- ship. At the expiration of one year the business passed into the hands of J. Yeager & Son, for whom he was manager two years. In 1879 he accepted a position with D. & R. G. Eisenhart, of Shamokin, and at the end of two years became a member of the firm. In 1883 he severed his connection with this firm, rented a store on Market street, and engaged in the notion busi- ness; in six months he added dry goods, which business he carried on about three years, when he erected a building adjoining his store, combining the two, and added carpets and ladies' and gentlemen's clothing, and has since done an extensive business. Mr. Reager was married in 1884 to Ida, daughter of R. S. Aucker, of Shamokin, and they are the parents of one child, Goldie M. He is a member of St. John's Reformed church, and a teacher in the Sunday school. Politically Mr. Reager is an ardent Demo- crat, and is one of the enterprising merchants of Shamokin.

N. C. WOLVERTON, merchant, was born in New Jersey, September 4, 1861, son of Isaac and Mary J. (Creamer) Wolverton. At the age of ten years he removed with his parents to Shamokin, and was educated in the public schools. In 1872 he entered the employ of James Sible, merchant, where he remained one year, after which he was engaged with Thomas & Blosser, grocers, as a clerk, in whose employ he remained two years. He then clerked for C. C. Thomas, John Shipp, and Isaac May, Sr. In 1879 he was employed by G.

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H. Holshue, where he remained four years, after which he clerked for Edward Stewart, and later for D. Eisenhart & Company, and Haas & Sowers. He then engaged in business under the name of Zimmerman & Wolverton, and at the expiration of one year sold his interest to D. K. Haas. In 1889, in connection with Mr. Wirt, the firm of Wirt & Wolverton was formed, and they are engaged in the general merchandise business, conducting one of the largest stores in the city. Mr. Wolverton was married in 1886 to Amelia, daughter of D. Eisenhart, of Shamokin, and by this marriage they have one child, Sadie. He has served as assessor for the Fourth ward four years, and is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and of the fire department. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and one of Shamokin's enterprising merchants.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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