History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: Schalck, Adolf W.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: State Historical Association
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 14

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Donahoe, Michael T., a resident of Ashland for more than half a century and connected with its business interests thirty-three years as a dealer in wall paper, pictures, books and fancy goods, was born at Broad Mountain, in the parish of Pottsville, this county, in the year 1854. a son of Thomas and Margaret (Mc- Cormic) Donahoe, both of whom were born in the parish of Boyle. County Roscommon, Ireland. He is a grandson of Michael and Mary Donahoe, of the same parish, who immigrated to the United States in 1846 and settled near Pottsville, where the father of the subject of this sketch was engaged in mining until 1855. when he removed to Ashland, where he followed the same vocation until his death in June 1864, at which time he was forty-six years of age. He was survived by six children. John, the eldest, began working about the mines at an early age and finally became a musician and music teacher of distinctive ability, being specially endowed as a vocalist. He finally engaged in business and in course of time admitted his brother Michael, subject of this review,

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to partnership. They were associated in the conducting of the Ashland book store for many years., Mary, the eldest of the sis- ters, is the wife of Anthony Murphy, of Salem, Ohio; Margaret is the wife of Terrence O'Brien, of Decatur, Ill .; Hubert is a resident of Salem, Ohio, and Bridget maintains her home in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Michael T. Donahoe was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Ashland and initiated his in- dependent career as slate-picker around the mines. In 1872 he engaged in business with his brother and he also did most effective work as teacher and director of Catholic choirs in Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Plane, Heckscherville and Ashland, a vocation which he followed for many years. In 1878 lic was elected to the office of justice of the peace for the second ward of Ashland, and he served three terms as chief burgess of the borough of Ashland, administering the affairs of the office with marked discrimination and to the satisfaction of the people of the borough. He was president of the Ashland Choral Union one year and has ever retained a deep interest in the "divine art" of music; is a member of the American Hose Company, an organization of the local fire department established many years ago; is a past deputy grand knight and grand knight of Father Sheridan Council, Knights of Columbus ; and a member and musical director of the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph's church, of Ashland, of which Catho- lic parish he and his family are communicants. As a young man Mr. Donahoe was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Wingert, daughter of Frank B. Wingert, whose father was the first cashier of the First National bank of Ashland. Mr. and Mrs. Donahoe are the parents of three children-Frances E., the wife of Charles E. Pett, of New York city; and Wilfred J. and Ger- trude K., who remain at the parental home.

Doyle, Edward V., a promising young attorney of Pottsville, was born at Cumbola, Schuylkill county, March 9, 1878. His parents, Edward and Julia (Whalen) Doyle, were natives of Ire- land, the former of County Wicklow and the latter of County Kilkenny. The grandfather, John Doyle, died in Ireland, and his widow, whose maiden name was Julia Hayden, came with her children to America in 1848. Those children were Julia, now the wife of Thomas Burns; Mary, now Mrs. Burke; William, Ed- ward and John. When Edward Doyle, the father of the subject of this sketch, was about eighteen years of age, he settled near Five Points in East Norwegian township, where for some time he was occupied in mining. He then engaged in boating on the Schuylkill canal, then embarked in the saloon business in Potts- ville, and later became a dealer in general merchandise at Cum- bola, where he was the first postmaster, holding the office until his death, which occurred in 1894. His daughter succeeded him and served as postmistress until 1906, when she resigned on ac- count of her health. Edward and Julia Doyle were the parents of twelve children, of whom the following are now living: Julia, wife of Michael Kenna; John J., now in Colorado; Mary A .;

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY

Patrick W., of Goldfield. Net .: Rose And, wife of R. J. Lolo- han, proprietor of the Union House at Port Carbon, Schuylkill county : Lizzie, wife of Edward Flannagan, of West Virginia ; and Filwand V. Edward V. Doyle was educated in the schools of Cumbola and Palo Alto and in 1896 became a teacher. The following year he entered Villanova college, near Philadelphia, in which institution he spent five years, graduating in 1902 with the degree of Master of Arts. He then studied law with W. 11. Shep- herd, of Pottsville, and on the first Monday in October, 1905, was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state. Since that time he has been engaged in practice in the office with his precep- tor. In the spring of 1906 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace for Blythe township, with office at Cumbola, being the first attorney in the history of the county to be elected to this office. Mr. Doyle is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and takes a commendable interest in all questions of public policy. lle is a member of the Holy Family Catholic church, of New Philadelphia, and belongs to Lodge No. 297. Foresters of America. On Aug. 3. 1004. he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. daughter of John F. Gallagher, formerly of Schuylkill county, now of Reading. To this marriage was horn one daughter, Julia. Mrs. Doyle died on Jan. 11, 1907.

Dreisbach, Rev. Alfred F., Ph. D., a minister of the gospel of the Reformed faith and pastor of the First church of that denomi- nation in Pottsville, was born near Windgap, Northampton county, l'a .. Sept. 8. 1851. He is one of eight children born to his father and mother, Jacob and Matilda (Gormanton) Dreis- bach, and the seventh in order of birth. The first member of the family to come to the United States from Germany was George Yost Dreisbach, a great-grandfather of the doctor, who immi- grated about 1740. The grandfather. George Peter Dreisbach, was a miller and farmer of Northampton county, and his son, Jacob. operated the mill and did carpenter work until the time of his death, which occurred in the fall of 1891. some thirty years after his wife's death. On the maternal side Dr. Dreisbach is of French stock, his great-grandparents. Frederick and Elizabeth ( Frantz) Gormanton, having come to this country from France about 1740. The children of Jacob and Matilda Dreisbach in or- der of birth are George. now living in Easton ; Elizabeth S., de- ceased ; Emma S., wife of T. F. Burley, of Easton; Jacob C .. deceased : Joel F., of Easton : Clarissa L., deccased : Alfred F., the subject of this memoir ; and Reuben E., deceased. All of the de- ceased members died in infancy with the exception of Jacob, who lived to the age of twenty-seven years. Dr. Dreisbach grew to maturity in his native county, being educated in its public schools and at a parochial institution, and when he was sixteen years of age accepted a position as teacher in one of the public schools. He remained at that labor but one year, however, and then en- tered the collegiate institute at Easton, Pa., doing some teaching at the same time and taking special instruction in Greek and Latin

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of Rev. Dr. Reinecke. When he was fully prepared he went to the Franklin and Marshall college at Lancaster and in 1877 com- pleted a four years' course with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Subsequently, in 1880, he completed the three years' course in the Eastern Theological seminary at Lancaster and on May 25 of that year was licensed to preach the gospel by the East Penn- sylvania classis of the Reformed church, his examination being made by Drs. E. W. Reinecke, T. C. Porter and D. Y. Heisler. The committee which ordained him was of the Potomac synod of the classis of Zion and consisted of Dr. J. O. Miller, D. D .; S. F. Launy and W. F. Xanders, the ceremony occurring at Shrewsbury, which church became his first charge. There he remained for fourteen and a half years, in charge of four regular appointments, and in 1895, when the number was increased to six, he resigned because of his physical inability to do the work. He then accepted a call to St. Mary's Reformed church of Silver Run, Md., and remained in the position for a period of four years and as many months. His next charge was the Steelton First Reformed church near Harrisburg, which pastorate he took on Aug. 1, 1899. Just four years later he preached his first sermon as pastor of the First Reformed church of Pottsville. This church has a membership roll of 330 and a Sunday school of some 200 pupils. Besides this he is pastor of St. John's Reformed church of St. Clair, which has a membership of 125 and an average Sun- day school attendance of 100. He is thus called upon to preach three sermons each Sabbath. Each church has its Christian En- deavor and Ladies' Aid societies and numerous other organizations. Since Dr. Dreishach's graduation his Alma Mater has conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, and the Illinois Wesleyan university has honored him with the degree of Doctor of Philoso- phy. On June 29, 1880, was solemnized Dr. Dreisbach's marriage to Miss Mary E. Hoffmeier, born in Lancaster, and a daughter of William M. and Lydia (Resh) Hoffmeier. The founder of the Hoffmeier family in America was Rev. John Henry Hoffmeier, who was the organizer of the Reformed church at Lancaster. In the fatherland his vocation was considered plebeian, so that it be- came necessary for him to elope with the lady of his choice, Miss Gertrude von Asen, whose family were people of the German court. The marriage occurred on May 8, 1793, and they sailed for America the following day. Their family consisted of three daughters and as many sons, two of whom, William and Charles, were ministers of the Reformed faith. For more than 100 years the family has been closely identified with the Reformed church, Mrs. Dreisbach's grandfather, Jacob L. Hoffmeier, having been a Sabbath school missionary who organized many schools in Lancas- ter and vicinity. Her father. William M., is a retired salesman liv- ing in Lancaster, and her mother, who is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, is also living. Mrs. Dreisbach, who is the eldest of the five chil- dren in the family, was born on Nov. II, 1860, and was educated in Lancaster. The eldest son, Samuel Richard, is foreman of the

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Hamilton watch factory at Lancaster; his wife was formerly Miss Lottie togles. Mabel Gertrude is the wife of Frank Zecher, a dealer in electrical supplies in Lancaster: Carrie Sue married Peter Mecomony, an electrician of Lancaster; and Daisy E., the youngest, is a teacher in the public schools of Lancaster. To Dr. and Mrs. Dretsbach have been born two sons. The elder. Paul William, was born May 23. 1886. in Shrewsbury, York county. lle is a graduate of the Pottsville high school in the class of 1905. and a year later completed a post-graduate course in the same institution. In the fall of soon he matriculated at Franklin and Marshall college in Lancaster. He is a proficient musician and has served as pipe organist in his father's church. The other son is Alfred Gerry, also born in Shrewsbury, May 27, 18go, was grad- uated at the Pottsville high school in the class of 1900, and is now engaged in the study of music, in which he is naturally most proficient.

Dreisigacker, John F., furniture dealer and undertaker at Tower City, was born at Landentown, Schuylkill county, Jan. 1, 1861. His parents, Robert and Auguste ( Brown) Dreisigacker, were both natives of Germany, he of Schleusingen and she of Oberhof. The father was a cabinet-maker by trade. He came to America in 1852 and the mother came over two years later. In 1862 they located at Minersville, but after a short residence there went to Ashland. In the fall of 1865 they went to Berlin, Canada, where they lived for two years, then went to Philadelphia and remained there until IS6, when they returned to Schuylkill county and settled at Tamaqua. In April. 1872, they came to Tower City, where the father died on Jan. 31. 1892, and where the mother is still living. They had two children-Louisa, who married George W. Keilman and died in 1894. and John F., the subject of this sketch. John F. Dreisigacker was educated in the Lutheran schools of Philadelphia and attended school for awhile after his family located in Tower City. He learned the cabinet-makers' trade with his father, with whom he was associated for eighteen years. In 1892 he started his present place of business, which is one of the oldest and best equipped furniture stores in this section of the county. le pre- pared himself for embalming and gives special attention to that line of work. Mr. Dreisigacker is a member of Tremont Lodge. No. 276. Free and Accepted Masons : Camp No. 52. Patriotic Order of the Sons of America at Tower City : and Reiner City Lodge, No. 446. Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in his political views, and though he never sought office he served two terms on the school board. On Oct. 22. 1882, he married Miss Maggie Green, of Schuylkill county, and to this union have been born the following children: Charles Robert, who is with his father in business, and who married Miss Lulu Schamper ; Mary Augusta. a teacher in Porter township: and Leo J., Nellie. Maude. Dewey and Steward, at home with the parents. Mr. Dreisigacker is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife is a Catholic.

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Dreshman, John, the subject of this article, is an carly settler of Ashland, and accompanied his parental family to that place when a child. He was born in New York city, Feb. 25, 1852, and is a son of John and Eva B. (Hill) Dreshman, natives of Weiders- chausen, Germany. They came to America about 1848 and after a few years residence in New York and elsewhere located in Ash- land, where their lives were ended. They are both buried in the beautiful cemetery overlooking the town. The father was a carpenter by occupation, and was among the pioneer contractors and builders of Ashland. Many of the substantial homes of that town are monuments to his mechanical skill and industry. The subject of this sketch is the eldest living of eleven children born to these parents, five of whom lived to years of maturity. Christian, the eldest of the five, and Charles, the youngest son, are now de- ceased. The latter was killed in the mines at the age of 21 years. The names of those now living are John, Henry and Barbara. The sister is the wife of Abram Lenker. After completing his education in the public schools of Ashland, Mr. Dreshman and his brother Christian learned the trade of their father, and formed a partnership in contracting and building. This continued until the death of Christian, in 1903. But for ten years previously, Mr. Dreshman had been interested in mining operations, and since the death of his brother, has given his entire attention to that business. John Dreshman was married on June 14, 1878, to Miss Anna Martha Smith, of Ashland. She is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Gantz) Smith, natives of Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dreshman. These were named Christian H., Minnie, John, Anna Martha. Charles and Naomi. Minnie, John and Charles are deceased. The eldest son, Christian, was married June 18, 1907, to Miss Gertrude T. Kaercher, daughter of Edward Kaercher of Pottsville, and resides in Pittsburg, where he is assistant secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Dreshman is a charter member of the organization of Junior Order United American Mechanics in Ashland. He and his family are members of the German Reformed church. In political affiliations Mr. Dreshman is a Democrat, and takes an active part in the deliberations of his party, but has never sought nor held public office. The only departure from this rule has been in his acceptance of some of the thankless and unrequited offices of the borough and school district.

Drobel, Fred J., senior member of the firm of Drobel & Hoff- man, merchant tailors and clothiers, at Pottsville, is a native of Schuylkill county, having been born at Mechanicsville, June 18, 1878, and his entire life has been spent within the confines of the district to the history of which these volumes are dedicated. His parents are John and Catherine (Dimmerling) Drobel, the former of whom is a native of Budweis, Austria-Hungary, and the latter was born in Yorkville, this county. The father came with his parents to America in 1852 and with them took up his residence

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in Pottsville, There his youth was spent, and he was just entering upon the period of early manhood, when, in 1861, at the age of seventeen years, he entered the U'nion army as a private in the 48th regiment Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, with which he served during four years of warfare. While engaged in front of Peters- burg, during the desperate final charge of April 2. 1865, he received a wound which incapacitated him for the time being, but the victory was almost won and a week later saw the capitulation of the Army of Northern Virginia and the collapse of the Southern Confederacy. Returning home from the army, he began work as a molder and has ever since been engaged in core-making with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company at Pottsville. The mother of the subject of this review is a daughter of Jacob and Anna Dimmerling, natives of Germany, who migrated to America and became highly respected citizens of Yorkville. To Mr. and Mrs. John Drobel there were born ten children, five of whom survive: Jacob, Edward, Fred J., William, now a priest of the Roman Catholic church, and Dora. Fred J. Drobel, to whom this review is more particularly devoted, was reared in Pottsville and received his education in St. John's parochial school. He began his independent career as an errand boy in a clothing store, and his efficiency is well proven by the fact that he remained with one firm during a period of sixteen years, twelve of which he served in the capacity of a cloth- ing salesman. On Jan. 1. 1907, he entered into a partnership with Frank J. Hoffman, and, under the firm name of Drobel & Hoffman. they established an up-to-date clothing and merchant-tailoring business in Pottsville. Success has crowned their efforts from the very beginning and they are fast becoming leaders in that line of endeavor, a distinction which they richly deserve. Mr. Drobel was married on Oct. 21, 1903, to Margaret, daughter of William and Mary (Wertensohn) Hoffman, of Pottsville, who are given further mention in the sketch of their son, Frank J. Hoffman, on another page of this work. The subject of this review is a member of St. John's Roman Catholic church at Pottsville, and in his political views he gives allegiance to the Republican party.

Drumheller, Jesse, deceased, late a prominent citizen of Potts- ville, was born at Mahanoy, Northumberland county. Pa., April 15. 1826, a son of .Abraham and Sarah (Seitz) Drumheller. Ilis father was a native of Montgomery county, Pa., but ended his days on a farm near Sunbury, where he died in 1839. Jesse Drumheller was the youngest of a family of six children. He was educated in the common schools of his day, and was a life-long student, be- coming very well informed in current literature. He was married on Oct. 16, 1849, to Miss Amelia Catherine, daughter of William and Catherine M. (Kerschner) Matz, a prominent and carly estab- lished family in West Brunswick township in this county. Seven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Drumheller, the eldest and youngest of whom died in childhood, and but three of the family are now living. viz: Henry Harrison, George Washing- ton and Mary Elizabeth. The names in order of birth were Amelia

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C., William Carle, Charles Irwin, Henry Harrison, George Wash- ington, Mary Elizabeth and Daniel Franklin. William and Charles are dead besides the two previously mentioned. Mary Elizabeth is now the wife of Edward Ratigan, and lives in Pottsville. They have five children. Mr. Drumheller learned the tailor's trade, and followed that business in his early manhood for some ten or twelve years. He came to Pottsville in 1845, and in, 1857 he and his brother-in-law William J. Matz engaged in the hotel business, sub- sequently purchasing the property at the death of the father, Will- iam Matz. This property was then known as the "White Horse tavern," subsequently changed to "The Merchants' hotel," as at present designated. William Matz, the father of Mrs. Drumheller, purchased this property about the year 1848, and conducted the "White Horse" until it was leased, as previously intimated. He was born in West Brunswick township, Nov. 11, 1801, and died in Pottsville in July, 1865. He was prosperous in business, his prop- erty coming into the hands of his heirs at his death, and the son, and son-in-law, Mr. Drumheller, came into possession of the Mer- chants' hotel. After Mr. Drumheller came into full ownership of the hotel property he continued to conduct the house until 1881, when he retired from active business and built a handsome home on Mahantongo street, where he lived in comfort until his death, in 1901, and where his widow lives at present. Jesse Drumheller was a quiet, unassuming man who was devoted to his family, and his greatest enjoyment seemed to be in the retirement of his happy domestic life, surrounded by his devoted wife and children. He was never an office seeker but was a conscientious Republican, and always took great interest in the supremacy of the doctrines of that party. He held the office of jury commissioner for four years, and served seven years as a member of the borough council. He was reared in the religious faith of the German Lutherans, but in later life he and his wife were members of the First Presbyterian church. Mr. Drumheller was prominently identified with the Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternities, and attained high rank in the last named organization. Reference has been made to William Matz, the father of Mrs. Drumheller, but it is proper that this dis- tinguished family should receive more than a passing notice. The Matz family has been identified with this section of Pennsylvania for a hundred and fifty years, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Drumheller being a native of Germany, born many years before the organization of Schuylkill county. He was a farmer and spent the greater part of his life in Schuylkill county. He had a family of nine children whose posterity are a numerous race, worthily representing the long ancestral line. He was sheriff of Schuylkill county from 1855 to 1858, and a leading member of local Democ- racy during his active years. He and his wife, Catherine M. Kerschner, were the parents of eleven children, one of whom died · in infancy. The names are as follows: George W., Thomas H., Daniel, Jemima, Amelia, Mary E., Susan. Louisa. Emma V .. and William J. The members of this family have nearly all passed to

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the other shore, and the survivors have long since past the meridian of life. William J. Matz, the last named, served as prothonotary of Schuylkill county from 180 to 1872, and was elected sheriff of the county in 1877. He has been prominent in political, social and business affairs in Schuylkill county.

Duffy. Daniel, of Pottsville, l'a., in which city he has by his own efforts risen to the front ranks, was born at Crow Hollow. Schuylkill county, July 25. 1853. He is a son of Martin and Margaret ( Lacey) Duffy, hoth of whom were born in the Emeraldl Isle. Martin Duffy came to America in 1838 and located in Rut- land, At., where he remained two years, removing with his only sister, Mary, wife of John Igo, to Schuylkill county in 1840. They located in St. Clair, where he followed the occupation of mining. remaining connected with this industry until Dec. 16. 1876, when he met with an accident at John's colliery at St. Clair, which re- sulted in his death on that date, at the age of sixty-eight years. Hle was a substantial citizen and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He took an active and praiseworthy interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare, was especially interested in educational affairs, served as a school director of East Nor- wegian township for several years, and was also a school director and tax collector in St. Clair borough. In 1843, at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church of Pottsville. Martin Duffy married Margaret Lacey, who had come to America in 1840 with her parents Daniel and Judith Lacey, two brothers and one sister. The family located in Port Clinton, Schuylkill county, but later removed to East Mines, where subsequently the parents, both brothers and the sister died. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Duffy they lived in St. Clair until 1846, when they removed to Crow Hollow, a mining village situated near St. Clair, where they lived until March 27. 1808, when they again returned to St. Clair, where the husband and father passed the remaining years of his life, his death oc- curring in 1876 as before stated. His widow survived him by many years, passing to her eternal reward on Oct. 7, 1902, aged seventy-nine years. They were both buried in the cemetery at St. Clair. Record concerning their children is as follows: Mary, wife of Edward Miles, now resident of Shenandoah this county : Julia. wife of James Sullivan of St. Clair : Kate, wife of Michael Bierne, both of whom are deceased : Daniel, the immediate subject of this review ; Bridget, wife of John Monaghan of St. Clair : John J. and Martin both of St. Clair, and Maggie who is deceased. Daniel Duffy received his elementary education in the village school located between Mt. Hope and Crow Hollow, and before attaining the age of ten began to work about the mines as a slate picker, filling the various positions until the occupation of miner was reached. He was appointed to a clerkship in the county commissioners' office of Schuylkill county in June. 1881, and re- mained in that position until January, 1882. Subsequently he per- formed the same service in 1885, 1886 and 1887. In the last named year he was elected clerk of Schuylkill county courts and filled that

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History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: Schalck, Adolf W. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: State Historical Association Number of Pages: 700

Author: Schalck, Adolf W.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: State Historical Association
Number of Pages: 700