USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 75
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
Henry W. Conrad, the subject of this sketch, was a
man of strong intellect and striking traits of character. He possessed a wide range of information and had ex- traordinary powers of conversation. He could interest and adapt himself to all classes of persons, from the most illiterate to the most highly cultured. His social address and his personal magnetism were so marked that all who made his acquaintance soon felt that they were in the presence of a natural leader among men.
VICTOR I .. CONRAD, PH. D.,
was born at Pine Grove, on the 7th of October, 1824. During his early youth he attended the school of the vil- lage, and subsequently studied at an academy in Waynes- boro, Pa., during several winters. In 1841 he was ap- pointed collector of tolls on the Union Canal and Railroad, at Pine Grove, having succeeded Dr. F. W. Conrad, his brother, in that office. He entered Pennsylvania College in 1844, and graduated there in 1848. He subsequently pursued a theological course in the seminary at Gettys- burg, and was licensed to preach in 1851 by the Synod of East Pennsylvania.
In 1853 he removed to Springfield, Ohio, to assume the editorship of The Evangelical Lutheran, a new church paper just started there. In 1854 he was married to Miss H. D. Bartlett, daughter of the late Jonathan Bartlett, of Maine. In consequence of inadequate patronage the new paper was discontinued, and in 1856 Prof. Conrad removed to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he had been chosen principal of the ninth ward public school. In the fol- lowing year he removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he took charge of Cooper Seminary for young ladies, which he conducted until the war of the Rebellion broke out, in 1861. In 1862 he removed to New York city, and was engaged in business there until 1867, when he was elected professor of natural sciences in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, and removed to that place. In 1870 he re- signed his professorship and removed to Philadelphia, where he has been engaged as associate editor of the Lutheran Observer until the present time.
F. W. CONRAD, D. D.,
was born at Pine Grove, January 3d, 1816. After a com- mon school education, he entered Mount Airy College, Germantown, in 1828, and prosecuted his studies there for three years. In 1834, at the age of 18, he was ap. pointed collector of tolls on the Union Canal and Rail- road at Pine Grove, and continued in this official position until 1841. He attended a course of catechetical in- struction by Rev. Marcus Harpel in 1836, which resulted in his conversion and union with the Lutheran church in that year. This wrought an entire change in his charac- ter and plans for life, and he resolved to devote himself to the ministry. In the fall of 1837 he entered the the- ological seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., and prosecuted the theological course of that institution for two years, and was admitted to the ministry and licensed to preach by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania at Allentown in 1839. In the meantime he had been preaching in English and German at Pine Grove and vicinity for several years,
49
322
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
through which many persons were converted and the moral and religious character of the entire community was changed. In 1841 he was married to Miss Rebecca Filbert, daughter of Peter Filbert, of Pine Grove, and accepted a call to the pastorate of the Lutheran churches at Waynesboro, Franklin county, Pa., and vicinity; and served that charge for three years, during which exten- sive revivals of religion took place under his ministra- tions. In 1844 he was called to the pastorate of the Lu- theran church at Hagerstown, Md., where he continued over six years, when he was elected professor of modern languages in Wittenberg College, and of homiletics in the theological department of that institution, at Spring- field, Ohio, and removed there in 1850. Here he re- mained five years, and in 1855 he became pastor of the First Lutheran church at Dayton, Ohio, to which he min- istered for nearly seven years, during which time the present large and handsome church edifice of that con- gregation was erected. In 1862 he accepted the pastor- ate of old Trinity church at Lancaster, Pa., and in 1864 was called to the Lutheran church at Chambersburg. While pastor of this church the town was burned by the rebel troops, under General McCausland, and his house, though not burned, was pillaged by the invaders.
While at Lancaster he became joint owner and editor of the Lutheran Observer, and on the removal of that paper from Baltimore to Philadelphia he resigned his church at Chambersburg, removed to Philadelphia in 1866, and became editor-in-chief of the Observer, in which position he has continued to the present time. For about six years after his removal to Philadelphia he served as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, during which time its present edifice at the corner of Sixteenth and Jeffer- son streets was partly built.
Dr. Conrad has led a most active life, and been prom- inent in all the general enterprises and work of the Lutheran Church in this country, in connection with the General Synod. During his early ministry extensive revivals of religion occurred under his ministrations at different places; and his efforts to promote the establish- ment and endowment of literary and theological institu- tions have been highly successful. For many years his services have been in great demand at the dedication of new Lutheran churches in various parts of the country, and he has thus officiated in hundreds of instances, with marked success in securing large contributions from the people to free their churches from debt. He has also delivered many educational and patriotic addresses on special occasions in various places, and he is still active- ly engaged in promoting the general work of the church in all its departments.
DR. JOHN KITZMILLER.
This highly esteemed citizen of Pine Grove was born near Myerstown, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th day of March, 1815. He was the son of Emanuel and Catharine Kitzmiller. In his youth he received a repectable education, and in his early manhood he en- tered upon the study of medicine in the office of his uncle,
Dr. Augustine Holmes, at Myerstown. About the year 1835 he removed with his preceptor to Pine Grove, and began the practice of medicine there. In a few years after, however, he relinquished his profession, and en- gaged in the mercantile and coal business, with Mr. Reu- ben H. Stees as partner, under the firm of Kitzmiller & Stees. This firm continued for about twenty years, when Mr. Levi Miller became a partner, and a few years later the firm was consolidated with that of Graeff & Nutting, under the name of Kitzmiller, Graeff & Co., in which he continued as senior partner up to the time of his sudden death, in 1864.
In February, 1839, he was married to Miss Leah Fil- bert, eldest daughter of Peter Filbert, Esq., a lady of most lovely Christian character, who died in June, 1862. Their only daughter, Miss Mary Ida Kitzmiller, in 1872 became the wife of Professor Edward S. Breidenbaugh, of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, where she now resides.
The manner of Dr. Kitzmiller's death was peculiarly painful and distressing. He was accustomed to visit the collieries of the firm almost every day. In August, 1864, he drove in a buggy as usual to their mine at Rausch Creek, where he left his horse and walked from there over to the Lorberry colliery. On his return he found his horse had become greatly excited and alarmed by the noise of the coal breakers. He therefore led him for some distance before he ventured to enter the buggy and drive him. Soon after he had mounted, however, the horse became unmanageable and ran rapidly along the road. The buggy struck a rock and he was thrown out upon a front wheel, where his foot was caught between the wheel and the shaft, and, thus fastened, he was drag- ged under the vehicle at full speed for a mile and a half. When the horse was finally stopped his mangled body was extricated, but life was extinct.
Dr. Kitzmiller was so universally esteemed and beloved by all classes of people that his sudden and tragic death spread a gloom of profound sorrow over the community, and multitudes from all over the entire region came to mourn at his obsequies. All felt that in him they had lost a true personal friend and brother.
As a citizen Dr. Kitzmiller was deeply interested and active in many movements to improve the town, to de- velop the resources of the region, and to advance the educational and religious interests of the community. During the late war he contributed largely of his means to equip our volunteer soldiers and to support their families. He was a special friend of the poor and reliev- ed the wants of many, and none who needed assistance ever applied to him in vain. He was a member and officer of St. John's Lutheran Church, and one of its original founders. He was a devoted Christian, and all the graces of the highest Christian character were strik- ingly illustrated in his life and conduct. Indeed, his en- tire character was so eminently marked by strict integrity in all business transactions and relations, and by such uniform kindness, benevolence and charity that his memory is cherished by all who knew him as that of one of the noblest and best of men.
323
THE LIFE OF PETER FILBERT.
PETER FILBERT.
This prominent citizen of Pine Grove was born at Bernville, Berks county, Pa., in 1794. His ancestors were Germans, and originally came from Wittemberg, in Saxony. His father, Samuel Filbert, died when Peter was an infant six months old, and at an early age he became the ward of Francis Umbenhauer. When a boy he had only the advantage of three months' instruction in an English school, and was employed by his uncle Philip Filbert in a store and hotel in Bernville. In 1810 he bound himself to Jacob Filbert as an apprentice to learn the carpenter's trade, and served in this capacity for three years and a half. In 1814 he enlisted among the troops called out for the defence of Baltimore against the British army, and marched under Captain Smith to Springfield camp, near that city, and after the retreat of the British troops was honorably discharged from service.
Afterwards he worked at his trade for several years, and in 1818 was married to Elizabeth Stoudt, of Berks county, who still (1881) survives him, at the age of 84 years. In 1820 he removed to Pine Grove and took charge of the " Pine Grove forge," which was then the only improvement about the place, excepting a few scattered houses. In 1829 the Union canal was located near the forge, which was then abandoned, and from 1829 to 1831 he was engaged in erecting buildings and making other improvements in the village. Among the houses then built by him are the Hilbert homestead- " Hazel Hall "-the Pine Grove Hotel and the late resi- dence of the Graeff family, of which he was the architect and owner. For a number of years he kept the Pine Grove Hotel, which he had built, and took an active part in the improvement of the town. He was a member of the first town council, and aided largely in opening and improving the streets. He took a deep interest in public schools, and was treasurer of the school board for many years.
In 1836 he engaged in partnership with Benjamin Hale, of Harrisburg, in running a line of coaches between Har- risburg and Pottsville. In 1840 he rented his hotel, re- moved to his family residence, and engaged in farming and in the manufacture of brick and lumber. He was a man of superior judgment and great prudence and forethought, and, although he became one of the largest individual land owners of the county, he sustained himself amid all the financial reverses of the times.
He took an active part in political affairs, and was an influential member of the Whig party. In the Presidential election of 1840 he was chosen a member of the electoral college of Pennsylvania and cast his vote in favor of the successful candidates, General William Henry Harrison for President, and John Tyler for Vice-President of the United States. After the dissolution of the Whig party he united with the Republican party, and at the breaking out of the Rebellion of the South he gave freely of his means and influence for its suppression and the main- tenance of the Union. His two youngest sons-Major Peter H. Hilbert and William H. Hilbert-responded to the first call of President Lincoln for troops, and served in the Union army during the war
Mr. Filbert was the father of ten children, six of whom still survive. His daughters Leah and Rebecca were educated in the Moravian school at Litiz, Pa., and the former became the wife of Dr. John Kitzmiller, and the latter of Rev. Dr. F. W. Conrad, of Philadelphia, editor of the Lutheran Observer. Four of his sons- Samuel P., Edward T., Peter H. and William H. Filbert -reside at Pine Grove, and John A. Filbert, another son, resides near Schuylkill Haven at the present time.
In early life, at Bernville, Mr. Filbert was confirmed by Rev. Mr. Riemensnyder as a member of the Lutheran Church, and from his removal to Pine Grove in 1820 he was a member and officer of St. Peter's German Re- formed and Lutheran Church at that place until 1845. He then withdrew and united with others in the organ- ization of St. John's Lutheran Church in the village, and it was largely through his influence and means that the present church edifice of that congregation was erected upon one of his lots. He was chairman of the building committee, a member of the church council and a regular communicant until the date of his death, which occurred on the 14th of February, 1864, at the age of 69 years and eight months.
Personally Mr. Filbert was a man of highly social dis- position, and he enjoyed the esteem and attachment of many warm personal friends. He had a genial spirit and pleasant humor which rendered him exceedingly companionable to his intimate friends, who often enjoyed his droll remarks, spiced as they were with genuine pleasantry and wit. He was at the same time a man of sound judgment and remarkable sagacity, a sincere friend and wise counsellor, and always gave his influence in favor of the right in all public and private affairs.
PORTER TOWNSHIP.
T HIS township, named after Governor David Porter, is situated in the extreme western portion of Schuylkill county. It was taken from Lower Mahantongo township in 1840. A portion was set off to form part of Frailey seven years later. The population in 1850 was 305; 1860, 360; 1870, 1, 167; 1880, 2,628.
Williams Valley, one of the most picturesque in Penn- sylvania, famed for the beauty of its scenery, derives its name from two men, father and son, Daniel and Ennier Williams, who as early as 1774 took up two tracts of land in their own names, and a number of others in the names of Cline, Scull, Mifflin, Cox and Lengel. It is reported that Ennier Williams, the son, lived a few years in the valley during the Revolution, but the tradition cannot be positively verified. He was, on his mother's side, of Indian blood, she having been a daughter of Kushwa, chief of the Kushwa tribe, a branch of the Delawares.
Daniel Williams, the father, was noted for his stature, standing, as is related, six feet four inches in height, with broad shoulders and a deep chest, and having re- markably long arms and large hands. Traditions of this man are numerous and all of them agree that physically and mentally he was extraordinary.
Peters Mountain, a singular formation, divides the township into two valleys, Williams and another known as Clark's, starting just opposite the old Seeley house, and extending to the Susquehanna. This in olden times was a great deer hunting ground, and sportsmen came from long distances annually to hunt there.
A large portion of the lands in this township not taken up by the Williamses was the property of James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. Wilson never occupied these lands, and about 1796 all his land was sold, and one John Lewis Barde, an iron monger of Birdsboro, Berks county, became the owner. Barde was subsequently sold out by the sheriff of Berks county (Schuylkill county being then a part of Berks county), under judgment, and all the coal and timber lands which were originally Wilson's became vested in Samuel A. Munson and Helen E. M. Williams, of Utica, N. Y., who in February, 1872, conveyed them to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, which now owns and operates them.
Stony Garden is a stretch of considerable length of small stones, conglomerate, which seem to have been washed down from the mountain. It is a very singular freak of nature and must be seen to be appreciated.
In 1803 one Daniel Green, of Reading, Pa., wandering into this boundless expanse of timber located on the top of Broad mountain, and built the first house, a log one, which afterward became known as the "Keffer tavern stand." In 1805, becoming disgusted with his venture, Green sold out to one Christian Bartsche, who the next year sold to Joseph Keffer. Keffer continued in possession until about 1830, when he removed to Mil- ton, Pa.
The Keffer tavern, being situated on the road running from Tulpehocken, in Berks county, to Sunbury, in Northumberland county, became a landmark " known of all men." It was the rendezvous of teamsters, cattle drovers, and country produce dealers generally. During the war of 1812, or rather what was then called the Bal- timore war, it was the hiding place of drafted men. The saw-mill at the back of the tavern was their retreat.
The Keffer tavern, after Joseph Keffer left it, was oc- cupied continuously as a tavern until 1880, when it was destroyed by fire. Among those who resided there were Daniel Harvey, Francis Sporetzer, Nicholas Bretzius, William Hall, Jacob Ernst, Charles Feather, Samuel Kimmel, Jacob Kenemel, John Brown, Edward F. Wiest, William Hechler and Emanuel Jenkin, who resided there at the time of the fire.
The saw-mill still stands, but is in a dilapidated con- dition.
Where Jonathan Mactimer now resides, in Tower City, one Jonathan Neidlinger built a house, afterward used for church purposes, and cleared a small piece of land. South and a little west or the Seeley log house there was erected a saw-mill, about the year 1837, now totally de- stroyed; and directly west, on the same (Wiconisco) creek, a large stone grist-mill was erected, which stands to-day, known as "Thompson's;" it is operated by David Under- koffer, and owned by Mrs. Jesse Grim.
On the site of the residence of Henry Row, about 1842, there was erected a house and barn of considerable di- mensions, and the first post-office and store were located there, and known until 1869 as Bearmont post-office and store, when the office was abandoned as such, and Joliet, on top of the mountain, Johnstown post-office, and Tower City post office took its place. Diniel and Elias Schucker were the owners of this property and also of a large farm of about 360 acres lying farther up the val- ley. They sold out to George Reiner, Jacob Kohler, and Henry and M. C. Row.
After the formation of the township, and subsequently to the triennial assessment of 1841, the following named persons were the ruling characters of the township, and
325
EARLY HISTORY OF PORTER TOWNSHIP.
held prominent positions: George Reiner, John Hand, jr., John Houtz, Paul Kessler, Jonathan Neidlinger, Valen- tine Achternacht, Levi Fehler, Alexander Thompson, and Jacob and Peter Miller.
In 1829 George Werner took up a tract of land of 340 acres, or thereabouts, near the northern boundary line of Porter, and lived there for several years. He had a brother Christopher, or " Stoffle," as he was called, who died about 1869 in Fox's valley, a short distance west of uncle Abraham Ernst's. "Stoffle " Werner was a character in his way-jovial, hardy, ready for hard work or play, fond of children and a "hale fellow well met " generally, he roamed through the country roundabouts. Williams valley was his especial delight, and he related to the writer on one occasion an incident which he thought much of. While hunting on Peters mountain, in 1843, in company with John I. Seeley, they came to the "big deer lick." It was very cold, and Stoffle suggest- ed to Seeley the propriety of building a fire at which to warm while they were watching the lick; Seeley, after taking a pull at the bottle, started in search of wood. He had hardly gone fifty yards when a large buck came down the path evidently chased by other hunters or worried by dogs. Stoffle on the spur of the moment grasped his rifle, aimed at the buck, shot him through the neck, and lodged the bullet in Seeley's thigh. Seeley was lame from that time till his death, and the deer that was shot through the neck never put in an appearance.
Shortly after the Seeleys came into Williams valley, there was a man living on Stony mountain called the " Pirate." The Pirate was a man of huge dimensions, and with a beard which would vie with that of Rip Van Winkle. He claimed to have been sent by Thomas O'Brien of Reading, to take possession in the name of Chamberlin, O'Brien & Co., and built a little hut on the house on the bank of Wiconisco creek, now immediately side of the mountain, which afterwards was occupied by Isaac Sponsaler.
The first brick building in the township was a dwell- ing erected in 1870 by John B. Mattis, an enterprising tanner, who also built a steam tannery, which is the only one in the township and is at present in operation (1881).
The merchants of Porter are as follows: A. B. Evans (2 stores), William Elliott, C. W. Sherman & Co. (2 stores), Esaias Brown, Isaac M. Evans, Miller & Son, all doing a general country merchant business; Mrs. M. F. Graves, millinery; Samuel S. Shultz, hardware; Peter Grakelow, confectionery.
The following public houses are kept by the persons named: Tower City House, H. K. Updegrave; Union House, Daniel E. Kaufman; the Joliet House, E. Jen- kin; Henry Tallman's, Benjamin Charlesworth's, Henry Cosgrove's, N. C. Nelson's, Henry Maus's and Samuel Knight's.
Up to 1870 there was no regular physician in the held high position as a father of the valley. John Hand township. Practitioners since then have been Drs. E. F. Phillips, S. DeVeny, A. M. Miller, R. B. Wilson, A. O. Miller and J. K. Haak.
J. Wallace McCool is a practicing attorney.
last twenty years. But one of them-the Methodist- has a regularly located pastor. Rev. William Powick.
The others are the Evangelical, Lutheran and United Brethren in Christ, supplied from time to time by differ- ent neighboring preachers.
There are two brick and five framed school-houses, now under the charge of six young men and two ladies, viz: F. P. Henry, J. B. Weidler, J. B. Moyer, Isaac Kimble, J. Nelson Stuck, Philip Updegrave and Misses Sophy Brodt and Emily Lehman.
The oldest school-house was a log building, which was destroyed by boys. The school directors for 1881 are: H. K. Updegrave, W. M. Porter, Adam Hand, Henry Follman, William A. Grakelow and John Stoup. The school district is out of debt and the present buildings are good and substantial.
EARLY COAL HISTORV.
Between the years 1820 and 1830 the coal fever, so called, broke out in the anthracite region, and its influ- ence was strongly felt in the Porter district. Dr. Benja- min Becker and Joseph W. Cake, two well-known citizens of Pennsylvania, embarked in the enterprise. Coal lands were booming, and as high as $too per acre was paid for land (on paper), which was supposed to be a bonanza in coal. The sequel made manifest the fact that all that glitters is neither gold nor coal.
During the coal excitement Oramel Barrett, editor of the Patriot, of Harrisburg, Ovid F. Johnston, John Sneveling, Charles N. Snyder and a number of others be- came interested in the lands in Porter now owned by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
Ebenezer Seeley and his son John T., of New York, took up their residence in the valley and built the log opposite the Tower City house, and for a long time occu- pied by Levi Fehler. The Seeleys came with the avowed intention of opening up the coal region. With indomitable courage, but a slim purse, they started what is now known as the "Red Shale tunnel." The project was one which, if carried out, would have been a success, but "the plans of men and mice gang aft aglee." To-day Seeley's tunnel bank stands as a monu- ment of an inglorious attempt.
With the rush of early settlers came a man who, amongst all, was one to behold. Wendall Houtz, the elder, on horseback visited this region and upon view determined to settle. He was noted as the strong man of the mountain, and many interesting anecdotes of his prowess could be related. His descendents, John Wendall, and Jonathan, John's son, have held prominent positions in the township.
John Hand, the father of the later men of the name, was a man of very little education; but, with good strong common sense, he fully appreciated the fact that educa- tion was the greatest desideratum of all. To enhance this idea he gave for the benefit of the township about
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.