USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 12
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BIOGRAPHICAL
as assistant foreman in the foundry of T. B. C. Burbee, on North Ninth street. His employment with the railroad company dates from 1882, when he was made one of the car inspectors. In the fall of 1886 he was transferred to Pottsville with a promotion to the assistant foremanship of car inspectors; later he was made a full foreman and in 1890 he was appointed foreman of the shops. This last named position he has been most efficiently filling since that time, and he not only has the confidence of his employers but also the good will and the respect of the men working under him. On Dec. 20, 1887, was solemnized Mr. Currier's marriage to Miss Lizzie L. Wiley. They have no children. Mrs. Currier's parents were Henry and Rebecca (Louderbachi) Wiley, and the names of their other children 'are: William, Howard, Annie, Reuben, Mary and Maria; all are living with the exception of William. Mr. Currier and his wife are communicants of the English Lutheran church of Pottsville. He is not greatly concerned with political matters and aside from casting his vote independently he takes no interest in the campaigns. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 232 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Philadelphia, and is a past grand in the same.
Curry, John James, is a member of the well known firm of Curry Brothers, jewelers and opticians, at Pottsville, and is recognized as a worthy citizen in every sense of the term. He is a native of Schuylkill county, having been born in Palo Alto, Sept. 2, 1879. He is a son of James and Mary (McKenna) Curry, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and the father was among the early settlers of Palo Alto. He was an engineer by profession and worked for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway, between Pottsville and Philadelphia, for a number of years. Later he engaged in the shoe business at Palo Alto, and still later served as watchman for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway at that place, being thus employed in 1886, when he died, at the age of sixty-one years. He was twice married, first to Ellen Cavanaugh, to which union there were born four children: Ella; Rebecca, deceased, wife of Joseph Davidson ; Katie, deceased ; and James. The second mar- riage was to Mary McKenna, and to that union were born five children, four of whom grew to maturity: Mary ; Essie, deceased ; John J .; and Andrew F., the latter two being twins. John J. Curry was reared in Palo Alto and was educated in St. Stephen's parochial school at Port Carbon. After leaving school, and while still young in years, he began an apprenticeship at the jewelry business with W. H. Mortimer, and after a thorough preparation, in August, 1894, he embarked in business for himself. Associ- ated with him is his brother, James B., the firm name being Curry Brothers, and together they have built up a successful business and are recognized as being among the leading jewelry houses of Pottsville. Being practical opticians and carrying as they do a fine line of optical goods, that feature constitutes an important part of their trade. The subject of this review is a member of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic church at Port Carbon, and frater-
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
nally he has membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the independent Order of Foresters.
Daddow, Samuel Harries, deceased, was a native of St. Agnes. Cornwall, England, born on March 14, 1827. When but four years oldl he was brought to the United States by his parents. Jonathan and Katherine (Harries) Daddow, who located at East Delaware, Schuylkill county, Pa. His father engaged in mining in a small way for several years, being successful. Samuel Har- ries Daddow enjoyed but few educational advantages, his attend- ance at school being limited to the curriculum of the public schools in this county. But he was a close student all his life, and by means of private study, under adverse circumstances, became very well informed. In fact, he was a recognized authority upon geology, mme engineering and kindred subjects, and wrote many valuable articles for publication. He began his literary career, however, as a contributor to the local and metropolitan papers. He commenced work in and around the coal mines about the year 18440, and his first advance from the position of an ordinary laborer was in his appointment to the charge of a colliery store at Oak Hill. He was connected with the "Miners' Journal" in Pottsville for some years, prior to 1855, engaged in gathering statistics on coal and mining. In 1855 he took up his residence in Richmond. Va., and was employed in locating and managing coal and iron mines, salt works, furnaces, etc. He was also interested jointly with his uncle and brother in the ownership and operation of a coal mine at Farmville, Va. While a resident of Richmond, he contributed a number of articles to the "Richmond Inquirer" on the "Mineral Resources of Virginia and the South." In 1864 he returned to Pennsylvania and again engaged in gathering statis- tics in connection with the "Miners' Journal." for a work entitled "Coal, Iron and Off," which was published in 1866 by Daddow and Bannan, and was received as a standard authority in the United States. Mr. Daddow had spent practically all his lifetime in gather- ing material for this work. He contributed many articles to Lippin- cott's Magazine and other periodical publications, and was the author of the article on "Coal and Colleries" appearing in Appic- ton's American Cyclopedia. In 1872 Mr. Daddow became gen- eral manager of the colleries owned by the Erie Railway Company in Pennsylvania and established his headquarters at Scranton. During his management large purchases of undeveloped coal lands were made by the company, and untold millions of profits have resulted from his wise counsel. The explosion of blasts in the mines had always been fraught with danger, and Mr. Daddow began investigations and experiments looking to a scientific in- vention which should correct this evil. The result was that the miners' safety squib came into existence in 1870, as the invention of Mr. Daddow and his brother-in-law. Jesse Beadle. A small building was erected for its manufacture, and thus originated the Miners' Supply Company, now the principal industry in the borough of Saint Clair, the products of which find a market in all
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BIOGRAPHICAL
portions of the world where coal is mined. In 1874 Mr. Daddow resigned his position with the railroad company and gave his entire attention to the development of his manufacturing interests in Saint Clair. But he did not live to see the full fruition of his hopes, as he died on March 23, 1875. The business has since been continued by his widow, Mrs. E. A. Daddow, his son, Harries, and Jesse Beadle. Few men have accomplished more in the develop- ment of the anthracite coal field than Samuel Harries Daddow. His busy life was spent in earnest labor and research. Much of his labor and literary work was entirely unrequited, and his cul- tured mind gave to the world almost prophetic knowledge re- garding scientific researches in advance of his generation.
Daley, Joseph, occupies a prominent position among those iden- tified with educational work in the county, being the popular and able principal of the public schools of the borough of Coaldale. He is worthy of further consideration in this work from the fact that he is a native of the borough in which he now maintains his home, having been born there on Aug. 29, 1876, a son of Daniel and Isabel (Sheerin) Daley, the former of whom was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., and the latter in County Donegal, Ireland. Daniel Daley located in Coaldale in 1846 and engaged in work in the mines. He and his wife still reside there, and he is now living practically retired, after having been identified with the mining industry during the greater part of his business career. Of the four children the subject of this review is the eldest and the others are Mary, Isabel, and Catherine. The early educa- tional discipline of Joseph Daley was secured in the public schools of Coaldale, and after completing a course in the high school he entered the state normal school at Lock Haven, in which insti- tution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1898. From that year to the present he has been continuously identified with pedagogic work in the public schools of his native county, and his success in his chosen vocation has been of unequivocal order. Since 1902 he has held the position of principal of the public schools of Coaldale. He is secretary and treasurer of the com- pany which publishes the Toilers' Defense, an able and popular paper published in Coaldale. In politics he maintains an inde- pendent attitude, and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, his membership being in St. Mary's parish of his native town.
Dando, Isaac, chief clerk to the weighmaster of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company at Cressona, was born at Shenandoah, Schuylkill county, May 29, 1874, a son of Isaac and Margaret A. (Fisher) Dando. After completing the courses afforded by the graded and high schools of his native borough he began his serv- ice with the Philadelphia & Reading railroad in 1891. By strict attention to the work in hand and earnest and persistent labor he was from time to time promoted until he reached the position which he now holds. On June 26, 1897, Mr. Dando married Miss Mary J. Krommes, a daughter of Lawrence G. Krommes, of
NAUYLAILL COUNTY
I ress la Two children, a son and a daughter, have blessed this 111114 )11 Their names are Lawrence 5. and Blanche V. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Cressona, of which Mr. Dando is secretary of the board of trustees. In poli- ties he is a Republican, but has never become a candidate for office of public trust. Fraternally he is identified with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Old Fellows and the Independent Americans, and is an enthusiastic member of Cres- soma Fire Company No. 1. Mr. Dando is a young man of high standing in the community and is a recognized leader in social and commercial circles.
Davis, Henry R., who is engaged in the retail drug business in Coaldale, is one of the representative citizens of his native county and a member of one of its honored pioneer families. He was born at Pottsville, the present judicial center of Schuylkill county, June 1. 1846, and is a son of William R. and Ann (Pugh) Davis, both of whom were born and reared in Wales. William R. Davis came to America in the early 40's and took up his residence in this county, where he identified himself with mining operations, with which he had previously been connected in his native land, and for several years had charge of a furnace in the iron works of Benjamin Haywood, of Pottsville. He died at Minersville. Schuyl- kill county, in 1851, and his wife on Feb. 22, 1901. She was a daughter of Henry and Ann Pugh, who came to this county from Wales in an early day. Of the children of William R. and Ann Davis two attained to years of maturity-Henry R., the immediate subject of this sketch, and William, who died in March, 1886, and is buried at Minersville. Henry R. Davis attended the common schools of Minersville during the winter months until he had at- tained to the age of ten years, when he began working in the mines, as did the average boy of his age in this locality. While at work he continued his studies, attending a night school at Minersville. He later took a short term in the English branches at Bucknell academy, Lewisburg, Pa., and when about twenty years of age took a course in bookkeeping at the Pierce business college in Philadelphia. He continued to be identified with min- ing operations until 1889, when he located in Coaldale and estab- lished himself in the drug business, in which he has since suc- cessfully continued, having a well equipped establishment and a representative patronage. He is a stanch advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party and is affiliated with the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows. On Feb. 16, 1868, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Davis, daughter of Edward Davis, of Minersville, and of the children of this union seven attained to years of maturity, viz: Edward, Anna. William. Hor- ace. David, Sarah, and Dora. All are living except Horace, who met his death in a railroad accident, May 30, 1900. Reverting to the mother of Mr. Davis, it may be noted that after the death of her first husband she married William Davis, to whom she bore one son, Dr. David R. Davis, of Lansford, who is now de-
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109
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the Citizens' bank in Saint Clair, of which he was on incorporators and principal stockho ders. He is also prest the Brighton Coal Company, of Gilberton, these being principal business corporations engaging his attention. Mr. vis is president of the board of trustees of the Methodist I 1 lacopal church in Saint Clair. He is a public-spirited and usefe citizen, and no man in the community stands higher in the estima- tion of the people, while few have wider or rvore favorable busi- ness connections. Mr. Davis has been married three times, his first wife being Miss Mary E. Davis, daughter of Rev. Daniel T. Davis, of Scranton, who died one year after marriage. His second wife was Mary E. Bamboy, daughter of Percival and Sa- "th Bamboy, of New Castle township. Two children were born o this union, William B. and Edith B. The former died at the je of twenty-six years, and the latter in infancy. Mrs. Davis And in 1898, and Mr. Davis matric & M's Ta a daughter of ( C. ensberger, of Zion Grove. Schuylkill courts. A matter named
w has come to bless this union 51 : months old. subject of this article is promir n el with the Ma-
fraternity, having attained t? www. degree in time-honored society. He is a in his political
devoted to party principles . .. ss'es, but inde- 1 it on local affairs. He has the. oficial honors, but rye his part in bearing the f local offices in the
Day, Frank E., a contracting p rj decorator of Potts- a son of Frederick and ( .. rwig) Day, both na- f Orwigsburg and members of the pioneer families Thill county. Frederick ) à soldier in the Civil wibsequently settled in t'. where he was for twelve
police force. He is ngaged in business a- a and grocer for som? oth parents still live ma neir children a c y ml of George Suver E., John, Harry, ! Charles. Frank E
1 . 1870, u lot : Fare he grew to mali
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BIOGRAPHIICAL
ceased. After the demise of her second husband she became the wife of William Beddow, now deceased, and they had five chil- dren-George, Louisa, Ann, Lemuel, and Elizabeth-the last named being the wife of Philip Hauser.
Davis, John H., a prominent and well-known resident of Saint Clair, is a son of the late John R. and Hannah (Rowe) Davis. He was educated in the'public schools of Minersville and at Crit- tenden's commercial college. Mr. Davis has spent his life in the coal business, operating in connection with his father until the death of the latter, in 1900, and since that date he has conducted the business alone. The operations of the firm in earlier years were large and varied, and the present interests are very exten- sive, while the subject of this sketch is interested in the promotion of many other business enterprises in addition to his operations in the coal industry. The most prominent of these is the presi- dency of the Citizens' bank in Saint Clair, of which he was one of the incorporators and principal stockholders. He is also presi- dent of the Brighton Coal Company, of Gilberton, these being the principal business corporations engaging his attention. Mr. Davis is president of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church in Saint Clair. He is a public-spirited and useful citizen, and no man in the community stands higher in the estima- tion of the people, while few have wider or more favorable busi- ness connections. Mr. Davis has been married three times, his first wife being Miss Mary E. Davis, daughter of Rev. Daniel T. Davis, of Scranton, who died one year after marriage. His second wife was Mary E. Bamboy, daughter of Percival and Sa- rah Bamboy, of New Castle township. Two children were born to this union, William B. and Edith B. The former died at the age of twenty-six years, and the latter in infancy. Mrs. Davis died in 1898, and Mr. Davis married Miss Ida, a daughter of C. C. Honsberger, of Zion Grove, Schuylkill county. A daughter named June has come to bless this union, a little fairy five months old. The subject of this article is prominently identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity, having attained to the thirty-second degree in that time-honored society. He is a Republican in his political views, devoted to party principles on national issues, but inde- pendent on local affairs. He has never sought official honors, but has borne his part in bearing the burdens of local offices in the borough.
Day, Frank E., a contracting painter and decorator of Potts- ville, is a son of Frederick and Carolina (Orwig) Day, both na- tives of Orwigsburg and members of some of the pioneer families of Schuylkill county. Frederick Day was a soldier in the Civil war and subsequently settled in Pottsville, where he was for twelve years on the police force. He was also engaged in business as a coal dealer and grocer for some time. Both parents still live in Pottsville. Their children are Lizzie, widow of George Snyder; Walter, Frank E., John, Harry, Guy and Charles. Frank E. Day was born Feb. 6, 1870, in Pottsville, where he grew to manhood,
110
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
receiving his education in the public schools. He then served an apprenticeship of five years at painting and paper-hanging, at which he worked as a journeyman until 1895, when he embarked in business for himself as a contractor. By his punctuality and the high quality of his workmanship he has built up a remunera- tive business, enjoying the confidence and patronage of the best people in Pottsville and vicinity. Mr. Day was married in 18ot to Miss Clara, daughter of Jacob Snyder, of Philadelphia, and they have five children: Lizzie, Edmund, Gertrude, Ruth and Pearl. Mr. Day is a Republican in his political affiliations, but is not an active party worker, preferring the certain returns of a well- conducted business to the precarious emoluments of a political career.
Dechert, Daniel, M. D., one of the most prominent physicians of Schuylkill county and a leading citizen of Schuylkill Haven, was born at Myerstown, Lebanon county, Pa., Feb. 7. 1846. Hc is a son of Elijah and Mary ( Kochenberger) Dechert, the former of whom was one of a family of seven children and was born near Reading. Berks county, in 1826. Elijah Dechert died on April 10. 180)3. leaving fourteen children. John Dechert, the paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Reading and lived on a farm there all his active life. He died in 1865. at the age of eighty-seven years. The grandmother was born near Reading and died at the age of ninety-three years. The doctor received his earliest education in the Myerstown public schools. As a boy he was employed on the towpath of the Union canal. When he com- pleted a course in the Myerstown academy he entered the office of Drs. Jacob and J. S. Tryon, of Rehrersburg. Pa .. to study medicine, going thence to Philadelphia to enter the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylvania. He began his pro- fessional practice immediately upon graduation and has continued it ever since in this county. In 1871 he located at Cressona, but subsequently removed to Schuylkill Haven. He can lay claim withont dispute to having the largest general practice of any physi- cian in the county, and no member of the profession is more widely or favorably known. He was elected by the county medical so- ciety as delegate to the convention of the American medical association at Chicago in 1893. In political matters he is a stanch believer in the tenets of the Republican party and has several times been honored with offices of public trust. In 1870 he was made a census enumerator of the largest district of Berks county ; was for a term the county treasurer ; for fifteen years a member of the school board of Cressona ; and was deputy coroner under Drs. G. H. Halberstadt and D. S. Marshall, and two terms under Dr. Gillars. His ability was recognized even by his political opponents, and in 1879 and 1884 he was appointed county alms- house physician under Democratic administrations, serving three years under the first appointment and one year under the second. The doctor was one of the founders of the Union Safe Deposit bank of Pottsville. and has served as one of the directors ever
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BIOGRAPHICAL
since. In 1904 he was appointed county medical inspector by Dr. Benjamin Lee, head of the state board, and is now holding his second year under Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, state commissioner of health. In 1863, when General Lee and his Confederate army were invading the state, Dr. Dechert joined the state troops that were being enlisted for three months' service to aid in repelling the enemy. When this term had expired and Lee had been turned back the doctor became a private in Company H, 186th Pennsyl- vania infantry, and served until September, 1865. For four years following his discharge and just prior to entering upon his medical studies he was engaged in pedagogic work. Dr. Dechert has been twice married. His first marriage was on Jan. 16, 1868, to Miss Virginia Kline, daughter of Benjamin and Katherine Kline, of Rchrersburg, Berks county. Mrs. Dechert died May 31, 1884, leaving besides the widowed husband a daughter, Eva M. On Oct. 15, 1885, Dr. Dechert led to the altar Miss Ada Beck, daugh- ter of William and Matilda Beck, of Beckville. By the second marriage he is the father of three children-Clare B., Daniel, Jr., and Mary M. The family are all communicants of St. John's Reformed church of Schuylkill Haven.
Dechert, Harry W., M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Orwigsburg, was born in Myerstown, Oct. 4, 1872, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Garoh) Dechert. Both parents were born in Pennsylvania, and the father is still living in Lebanon. The mother died in 1899. Dr. Dechert received his preliminary edu- cational training in the Pottsville and Myerstown schools, going direct from the Pottsville high school to the department of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania. On June 13, 1895, he was granted the degree of Doctor of Medicine by the regents of that institution, and immediately after graduation he organized an association and opened a hospital at Pottsville, becoming the first house physician. After six months he resigned this position to accept one as medical examiner for the Philadelphia & Reading railroad relief association, with headquarters at Shamokin. There he remained until Nov. 10, 1900, when he came to Orwigsburg and began the general practice of his profession, in which he has since been most successfully engaged. He is medical examiner for the Equitable, Aetna and John Hancock life insurance companies, and is a prominent member of the county medical society. On June 8. 1898. Dr. Dechert married Miss Eva Lewis, of Mahanoy City, a daughter of the late O. C. and Eleanor C. Lewis. Mrs. Lewis died in 1895, and on Christmas day, 1905, the father passed away. To Dr. and Mrs. Dechert have been born four children-Eleanor, Elizabeth, Oliver and Eva. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Reformed church, of which he is a deacon. He is fraternally identified with the Sons of America. Dr. Dechert is recognized as a prominent member of his profession and his many friends predict for him a most successful future.
Deebel, William Cyrus, dealer in musical instruments and sew- ing machines, and instructor in music at Ringtown, was born on
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
July 27. 1870. His paternal grandparents. John F. and Rebecca (Z.chner) Dechel, were natives of Germany, and his mother's parents were Joshua and Elizabeth (Johnson) Lorah, both na- lives of Schuylkill county. He is one of seven children of John and Hannah (oral) Deebel, the others being Cerilla Catherine, John F., Joshua F., Rebecca E .. Harry E. and Samuel H. William (. Deebel attended school until he was nineteen years of age and then his father's death compelled him to relinquish his scholastic work and assume the management of the home farm. During his spare moments he devoted his time to the study of music and at the age of twenty- four he turned over the management of the farm to his brothers, took a course in music, and studied in a business college. When he had completed his course he started teaching music. working at that and agricultural labors alternately in the winter and summer. Early in 1901 be established himself in the piano, organ and sewing machine business in Ringtown and. together with his musical instruction, has been most eminently successful. On Jan. 15. 1001, Mr. Dechel married Miss Elizabeth Catherine Landig, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Stauffer) Landig. The father and mother are both natives of Schuylkill county and have tive children besides Mrs. Deebel-Joseph, Benjamin, George. Charles and Helen R. Mr. and Mrs. Deebel have two children. Marin Elmer and Wallace Henry, The family are members of the Lutheran church. In his political belief Mr. Deebel is allied with no party and has neither held nor aspired to public office. He is identified with Ringtown Lodge. No. 287, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a talented musician with an inherent love for the beautiful in music. His paternal grandfather had the unique distinction of owning the first pipe-organ ever built in the United States.
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