USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 2
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Sept. 30, 1001. The present very efficient and popular pastor found the church, and all its interests, in excellent condition ; but with that commendable ambition which permeates the Catholic clergy everywhere, he has not been willing to stand still. He has liquid- ated a considerable debt incurred by his predecessors in rebuilding the church, and the congregation is now entirely free from debt. Not only this, but he has also added a fine pipe organ, at a cost of $1,000, adorned the church with handsome stained glass windows, thoroughly renovated the interior of the building, besides making minor improvements.
Atkins, Charles M .- In this age of colossal enterprise and marked intellectual energy, the prominent and successful men are those whose abilities, persistence and courage lead them into large under- takings and to assume the responsibilities and labors of leaders. To the subject of this memoir came the attainment of a dis- tinguished position in connection with the great material industries of the nation, and his efforts were so discerningly directed along well defined lines that he seems at any one designated point to have there realized the full measure of his great possibilities for accomplishment. His was a truly successful life, as men measure success, and, over and above this, it was a life guided and governed by the highest principles of integrity and honor. A man of distinct and forceful individuality, he left his impress upon the industrial world. and it can be said without fear of contradiction that he was the foremost citizen of Pottsville, to whose upbuilding he contrib- uted in magnificent degree, both by fostering enterprises which afforded the necessary base for advancement and by exemplifying those broad humanitarian and social attributes which cause the individual influence to permeate and vivify the civic life. Mr. Atkins reached an advanced age and his final illness was of short duration, terminating in his death Sept. 3. 1889, at his home in Pottsville. He was born in Chester county, Pa., March 17. 1827, and was a representative of one of the old and honored families of the state. He passed his boyhood and early manhood in Col- umbia and his carly educational advantages were those afforded to the average youth of the locality and period. A concise record of his business career appeared in a local newspaper at the time of his death and a reproduction of the same in this work is consistent : "He acquired his business education at the same desk at which sat the late Thomas A. Scott, who was afterward known as the father of the Pennsylvania railroad system, and these two when mere boys learned together those principles of usefulness that brought them both to the front rank of the business men of Pennsylvania. Mr. Atkins' first business venture was in the line of freighting on the old Pennsylvania state road, and in the few years he was thus engaged he became one of the leading freighters on that line and one of the largest owners of rolling stock and barges. He came to Pottsville in 1853, about which time what are now the Fishback rolling mills were sold at sheriff's sale. the owners, Messrs. Yardley & Co., having become deeply involved. Mr. Atkins became the
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BIOGRAPHICAL
purchaser and in connection with his brother, Hanson Atkins, at once commenced the enlargement of the works. Soon afterward the Pioneer furnaces were purchased and both plants were operated together. A large iron-ore bank in Cumberland county was made tributary to the furnaces which in themselves supplied the rolling mill. A colliery at Gilberton was opened to furnish coal for the works. When to these four extensive plants had been added a complete equipment of rolling stock, the freighting business was gradually discontinued and the docks were closed up. Their ex- istence has now become but a memory with even our older people. At the time they were as extensive as any in the state. The furnaces were enlarged and rebuilt and added to from time to time, their capacity being doubled five times in the history of Mr. Atkins' ownership. The rolling mills expanded under the same general supervision and within late years a steel plant has been added. At one time there were over 5,000 names on Mr. Atkins' pay roll. Some years ago the works were capitalized and a company, under the name of the Pottsville Iron and Steel .Company, was formed. Mr. Atkins was its president and held nine-tenths of the stock, the remainder being divided between his son, son-in-law and confidential clerks. His life was thoroughly devoted to business, but there were incidents in it that were noteworthy on other accounts. He not only assisted in the furnishing of regiments to go to the front during the war of the rebellion but also went himself to enlist, when his friend, General Cameron, who had also been his father's friend and who was then secretary of war under Abraham Lincoln, heard of his intention. He sent for Mr. Atkins and stated to him that as a great deal of iron would be needed by the government incidental to the prosecution of the war, he could serve his country best by going home and making the iron." Mr. Atkins was a typical American citizen, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the republic. making the most of his opportunities and working his way upward to success and to all that is desirable and ennobling in life. He was a man of warm sympathies and one who fully appreciated the well-springs of human thought and motive, so that tolerance in judgment was his in all the relations of life. His character was well rounded and it is significant of the nobility of the man when it is stated that those who knew him best were those who most greatly admired and respected him. Lasting incentive is to be gained from the study of such a career, and the name of Charles M. Atkins will not soon be forgotten in the city, county and state which he honored and dignified by his worthy life and splendid services.
Auman, William, the subject of this article, is a representative of one of the prominent and well-known families in Schuylkill county. His ancestors, for many years, have been identified with the growth and progress of this section of the State of Pennsyl- vania, and notably so with Schuylkill county during the last sixty years. William Auman is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Irish) Auman, natives, respectively of Berks and Carbon counties. Samuel
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Amman was born in Amity township, Berks county, Nov. 14. 1824, and was reared and educated in his native locality. Ilis ither, Henry Amman, was also a native of Amity township. where the founder of the family in America located at the close of the Revolutionary war. This ancestor was a native of Han- over, Germany, came to America as a British soldier, and was among the Hessians surprised and captured by General Wash- ington just prior to the memorable battle of Trenton. His name was Henry Anman, a man who received a liberal education in his native land, and ended a life of usefulness and prominence as a teacher and choir-master in Amity township, Berks county, Pa., in the year 1830. He was then eighty-three years of age. Ilis wife's maiden name was Catherine Beitam, of Carlisle, Pa. They had a family of five children: Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, George. and Henry. Numerous representatives of these early pioneers are living in the anthracite coal regions. Henry Anman, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Berks county, l'a., in 1705, and removed to Union county in 1842, thence to Pottsville, Schuylkill county, in 1848. He married Miss Catherine Breyman, by whom he had a family of eleven children. The living members of this family are : William, James and Samuel. William Auman, mentioned above, has spent his life principally in the United States army, in which sphere he has achieved prominence. He was one of the "First Defenders," who leit Pottsville in April, 1861, and was a member of the Washington artillerists, who reached the national capital with four other com- panies, in advance of all the grand army which later responded to President Lincoln's first call for troops to defend the capital. He served out his term as a three months' volunteer, then promptly re- enlisted, with his brother James, as a member of the historic 48th regiment, and participated with that organization in many of the memorable battles of the war. William was wounded in the battle of Antietam, but recovered and returned to the front, where the brothers participated in the grandest military achievement of the time in tunneling under one of the enemy's strongest forts on the defenses of Petersburg. The "Battle of the Crater" will live in history as one of the many laurels won by Colonel Pleasants and his gallant boys of the 48th Pennsylvania, when other events of the great Civil war are forgotten. William Auman was discharged at the close of the war as captain of his company. After spending a time as a student at Wyoming seminary, he accepted a com- mission in the United States army, and remained in service until retired by reason of age. He commanded his regiment (the 13th T. S. infantry ), at the battle of Santiago, and led it in the charge, being then a major. Ile was placed on the retired list in 1903, with the rank of brigadier-general. His home is now at Buffalo, N. Y. James Auman, the other soldier uncle of Mr. Auman, of this sketch, has spent his life in mercantile pursuits, and is now a resident of Philadelphia. Samuel Auman, father of the subject of this article, located in Pottsville with his parental family in 1848.
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He has been a continuous resident of the place since, and, perhaps more than any other man, has been identified with the material growth and prosperity of Pottsville. He spent his early years as a journeyman bricklayer, but in 1849 he took up the work of con- tracting and building, and followed that vocation during the re- maining years of his active business career. To his artistic skill and mechanical genius is due the architectural excellence and sta- bility of many of the best buildings in Pottsville. The principal edifices. of the place are lasting testimonials to his handiwork, among which may be mentioned school buildings, banks, stores, residences, churches, the county prison, the old court house, etc. One of his last contracts was the building of some twenty blocks of houses for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. Samuel Auman was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Umbenhauer, of Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, whom he wedded on April 6, 1849. Four daughters were born to this union: Sallie E., deceased ; Emma L., now her father's companion and housekeeper; Ellen E., wife of W. S. Robinson, a merchant at Wilkes Barre; and Minnie, who is the wife of Thomas H. Hooper, a mining contractor at Wilkes Barre. Mrs. Auman died on Feb. 13, 1860, at the age of twenty-nine years. On Aug. 6, 1861, Mr. Auman was again mar- ried, choosing for his companion Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Eben Hollenbeck, of Memphis, Tenn. She was a daughter of Jedediah Irish, a civil engineer and surveyor, and a man of prominence and success in his chosen calling. He died in Luzerne county, Pa., in 187I. Elizabeth Irish was born Nov. 17, 1825, and married Eben Hollenbeck, June 23, 1852. He died Nov. 12, 1858, leaving two children, Jedediah F. Hollenbeck, who died in Pottsville at the age of forty-two years, and Gay, who died in infancy. By the union of Mrs. Hollenbeck and Samuel Auman two sons were born, the sub- ject of this sketch, William Auman, being the only survivor. His brother died in early infancy and the mother died in Pottsville in March, 1906. Mr. Auman was born in Pottsville, and there ac- quired a thorough education and preparation for his life-work. But much of his practical education was received in the broader and more thorough school of experience. When quite a young man he decided upon combining pleasure with profit and made a trip to the then far west, where he was employed for a time in building the Northern Pacific railroad through Montana territory. Returning to the east, he was engaged as a mining engineer at Wilkes Barre for some six years. For ten years following this, he in company with David G. Aikman, operated a private engineer- ing office in Wilkes Barre, conducting the business successfully until the death of Mr. Aikman, soon after which event Mr. Auman accepted a position at Nanticoke, as division engineer for the Susquehanna Coke Company, continuing with them for two and a half years. On Oct. '15, 1903, Mr. Auman accepted his present position, with the same corporation as his last engagement, and came to William Penn as superintendent of the company's large and varied interests here. The mines are located on a portion of
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the Girard estate, leased for a term of years to the operators. The annual output from the mine of which Mr. Auman has charge aggregates the enormous product of 250,000 tons, Seven hundred miners are employed, most of whom live in company's houses pro- vHled for them. Mr. Auman was united in marriage April 20, 1892. when he chose for his life companion, Miss Ona Flack, a daughter of William and Catherine ( Pott) Flack of Watsontown, Pa. Her mother is a lineal descendant of the well-known Pott family who-e history is so closely interwoven with the pioneer development of Pottsville, and in whose honor the town was named. (See history of Pottsville.) The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Auman is Miss Catherine, the joy and hope of loving parents, and a young lady just budding into promising womanhood. The family have a beautiful home at William Penn (P. O. name Shaft), and sustain the highest social relations among the prominent people of the county. The large and handsome residence is situated near the base of a mountain, though commanding a delightful view of the valley below. The large grounds are laid out in terraces, plante 1 to fruit trees, flowers, and ornamental shrubbery, and present a picturesque appearance, notably so because of the absence of like adornments elsewhere in the locality.
Aurand, Aquilla B., dealer in books, stationery, wall paper, fancy goods, etc., was born in Tamaqua on Jan. 4, 1858. The Aurand family trace their ancestry back to Henry Aurand, a Huguenot of note, who was compelled to flee from France by Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. His destination was Holland, whence he removed to Heidelberg, Germany. His wife was .Anna Christina Hoff, who on Sept. 15. 1725. bore him a son, John, at Dillenberg. Germany. In 1753 John came to Pennsyl- vania, arriving at Maiden creek on Oct. 2. Later he removel to Tulpchocken, near Reading, where there was quite a colony of Huguenot refugees. John Aurand was twice married, his first wife having been Mary Elizabeth Pontius, a daughter of John and Catherine (Sellaire) Pontius, exiles from France. By this mar- riage he was the father of seven children, of whom three-Henry. Daniel and Jacob-were born in Germany, and Peter. Deitrick. George and Elizabeth were born in America. His second wife wa- Mrs. Catherine Emerick, who bore him three children, Abraham. John Yost and Mary (Mrs. John Wolf). In tracing the American family of Nurand the ten children of John Aurand are denoted a- the ten branches of the American tree. Peter Aurand, the great- great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the head of the fourth branch. He lived practically all his life in Reading, where he was a saddler by occupation. He had four sons and as many daughters. viz .: John, Peter, Frank, Henry. Elizabeth. Mary, Re- becca and Sarah. Peter, the son, lived in Tamaqua and made a livelihood in the stationery and book business. He was a very prominent citizen of the community in his day, and was a par- ticipant in the War of 1812. During the Pierce and Buchanan administrations he was po-tmaster of Tamaqua. His cklest son.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
also named Peter, emigrated to California during the rush to the gold fields of that state and fell a victim to an Indian attack. The other children in the family were Henry K., Mrs. Christiana Bolton, Mrs. Mary Heilner, Mrs. Catherine Whitenight, Mrs. Caroline Carter and Mrs. Madaline Leavil. Henry K. Aurand was born in Sunbury in July, 1833, and came to Tamaqua in 1848, after a short residence in Port Carbon. He was well known in the borough, having been its treasurer for two years, and for twenty-five years was superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday school. His wife was Miss J. A. Flenner and they had six children, two of whom died in infancy. The subject of this sketch is the eldest ; Lewis F. is a clerk in the Philadelphia & Reading railroad offices ; Peter is a conductor on a passenger train of the same line; and William Frederick is a clerk in a plumbing establishment. Aquilla B. Aurand was engaged in the book and stationery business in Lansford when ill health compelled his father to relinquish the active management of his store in Tamaqua and the son returned to Tamaqua and assumed charge of it. Since that time he has made the industry his means of livelihood. On Oct. 12, 1881, Mr. Aurand was united in marriage to Miss Annie F. Bowden, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Simons) Bowden of Tamaqua. There are two children of this union-Edward A., a student, and George Norman. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Aurand is local preacher, chorister and class leader. Mrs. Aurand is an excellent musician and is organist of the church. The Patriotic Order of Sons of America and the Young Men's Christian Association are the only fraternal organ- izations to which Mr. Aurand belongs.
Aurand, Lewis F., accountant for the Philadelphia & Reading railroad and a taxidermist, was born in Tamaqua on Oct. 7, 1861. He is a son of Henry K. and Julia (Flenner) Aurand. An outline of the Aurand family history appears in the sketch of the Rev. A. B. Aurand elsewhere in this volume. After a due preliminary training in the public schools of Tamaqua, Lewis F. Aurand went into the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad as a clerk in the storeroom. After three years of service there he was made division timekeeper and held that position for seventeen successive years. His next promotion was to accountant, which came to him about 1903, since when he has been filling the office most capably. Through outside reading he picked up a knowledge of taxidermy and has devoted his spare moments to it, more as a recreation than as a means of earning money. He has done work for New York. Philadelphia and Chicago people and many of his specimens have been awarded prizes in the sportsmen's exhibits in the large cities. In Oct., 1882, Mr. Aurand married Miss Eudora Breisch, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Henry and Teresa Breisch. Mr. Breisch is deceased but his widow is still an honored resident of Tamaqua. Mr. and Mrs. Aurand have two children. The elder, Evelyn P., is a clerk in the accountant's office of the Philadelphia & Reading railway at Tamaqua, and the other daughter, Elizabeth
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F., is at home. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Aurand is identified with the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and Tamaqua Lodge, No. 529. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is a charter member and was for three years its secretary. He is a thorough, conscientious business man, whose standing among his fellow citi- zens is of the highest.
Bachman, Allen H., dealer in boots and shoes at Tower City, was born in Lebanon county, Pa .. March 27. 1840, a son of Cornelius and Charlotte Bachman, the former a native of Lancaster county, l'a., and the latter of Germany. Cornelius Bachman grew to man- hood in his native county, where he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until after his marriage, when he removed to Lebanon county and there followed farming until his death in 1877. He taught school for fourteen terms, was a Republican in his political views and belonged to the old Moravian church. His widow is still living in Lancaster county at the age of eighty-eight years. Six of their eleven children are still living: F. M. lives in Allentown; A. E. lives in Lancaster county ; Oscar is a farmer in lowa: Allen H. is the subject of this sketch : Maria is the wife of W. Bender, a veterinary surgeon of Lititz, Pa. ; and Ella is the widow of Mark Lacy, living at Lititz. Allen H. Bachman re- ceived his education in the public schools, learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, followed that occupation until 1872, and then put in a stock of boots and shoes. He has a well appointed store and keeps his stock up to the demands of his customers, con- sequently he enjoys a large and constantly growing patronage. During the years 1887-88 he was interested in farming operations in Lebanon county, but the rest of his time he has devoted to his boot and shoe business. He is a member of the city council, in which he has served for four years ; is treasurer of the Williams Valley savings fund and building association ; is a Republican in his political affiliations, and belongs to the German Lutheran church, in which he held the office of treasurer for a number of years. In 1868 he married Miss Rebecca, daughter of Godfrey and Caroline ( Woods) Rehrer. Her father was a teacher and also a boatman on the canal. Her parents lived for a time at Williams- town, where the mother died, and the father died at Tower City. Six of their children grew to maturity: Delilah, Eliza, Rebecca, Sarah. James and Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Bachman removed to Tower City soon after their marriage. Of their six children four are now living. viz: William C., a shoemaker who has always worked with his father, and who married Emma Owens on Oct. 11. 1900: Annie M., wife of Luther Gilbus, of Bechtelsville, Pa .; Robert F., who married Mabel Stein and is now messenger of the United States subtreasury in Philadelphia : Earl O., who married Eliza Van Houghton and is a miner at Tower City.
Bader. Frederick G., a thrifty citizen of Pottsville, whose busi- ness is the manufacture of cigars, was born in the city where he now resides. on Nov. 24. 1867. He is a son of John George and
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Caroline (Wertwine) Bader, both born in Germany. The father, who is now retired from active life and is living at 503 West Arch Street, entered the employ of the Yuengling Brewing Company in 1859 and remained in their service for a period of forty-three years, during which time he was away from work less than six months in all. The mother died on June 21, 1905. Of the twelve children born to the parents eight are living. Caroline, the eldest, is the wife of William Naber of Pottsville; Mary is the widow of John Shittler of Pottsville; John George, Jr., lives in the same city ; Tillie is the wife of James Heffner, a contractor; Harry E. and Charles are both barbers now working in Pottsville; and Annie, unmarried, is housekeeper for her father. The others died in infancy. All the children, with the exception of the eldest two, were born in the house now owned and occupied by the father. The subject of this sketch received somewhat limited educational opportunities in the Pottsville schools, and then started to learn the cigarmakers' trade with Theodore Heilner of his native city. He was employed by Mr. Heilner for a time after he had mastered the trade and in April, 1888, he started in business for himself near Rettig's brewery. In November, 1894, the business had grown to such dimensions that it was necessary to seek new quarters and the concern removed to the rooms now occupied. Mr. Bader em- ploys four men and is the maker of many of the favorite brands of cigars, among them the "Hiker," the "Pennsylvania Gentleman" and the "Little Giant." Beside his manufacturing business he has a large trade in tobacco and smokers' supplies of all kinds. In 1888 Mr. Bader was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kramel, a native of Pottsville, and a daughter of John and Emma (Deitrich) Kramel. One child has blessed the union, a daughter, Lillian Claire, now a student in the high school. Mr. Bader is a member of the German Lutheran church and his wife is a communicant of the Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Bader is prominent, having been one of the charter members of the Knights of Malta of the Pottsville commandery ; is a member of Seneca tribe, Improved Order of Red Men ; the Fraternal Order of Eagles ; Hayden Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the West End Fire com- pany.
Baily, Elmer D., the leading photographer of Tamaqua, was born in that city on Dec. 16, 1863, a son of David and Lydia (Schmidt) Baily. The parents were both natives of Berks county, where for several years the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits. About 1850 he came to Schuylkill county and after working for a period as a carpenter he embarked in the photographic business. This was in 1861 and he continued in it until 1892 when he retired. His death occurred on Sept. 23, 1902. Both he and his wife were members of the Evangelical church and he was one of the officers of the congregation. He was widely known through his political relations, having served as councilman for a number of years. The children of the family were six in number. Kate, the eldest, is Mrs. F. T. Garret of Philadelphia ; William is a photographer of 3-Vol. II
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