USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 30
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general mercantile business, This has been his vocation over since that time and his store has become a landmark in the hor- ough ar Kautman has been twice married. His first wife was Miss lazzie Kline, daughter of Benjamin Kline, who was a rest- dent of Schuylkill Haven and who operated a boat hine on the canal. Four children blessed this first union, the only son of which, Charles, is deceased : Lizzie, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Henry Hubler and the mother of two children, Gregory and Theodore : Amy married Charles Kleber and has one child, Helen : and Addie is the wife of Harry Duncan, by whom she has had seven children-Charles, Alice, Amy. Bird, Grace, Claude, and Ruth, the last of whom is deceased. After death had annulled Mr. Kaufman's first marriage he led to the altar, on Jan. 1. 1871. Miss Rosina Faust, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Rarig) Faust of Gordon. By this union he was the father of five sons and a daughter, of whom but two survive- Austin, who married Miss Annie Frank, daughter of Prof. N. M. Frank, head of the Gordon schools; and Luther B., who married Miss Annic Stauf- ienberg, daughter of Charles and Eliza (Krapi) Stauffenberg, on Ang. 23. 1808, and who is the father of two children, Virginia and Roy. The deceased children of the second union are George. Gardner, Alice and Albert. In political matters Mr. Kaufman uses his influence in behalf of the candidates of the Republican party, but aside from a term of service as school director he has never held, or aspired to. positions of public trust. He and his family are communicants of the Lutheran church and he has been identified with several fraternal organizations. Among these are the Free and Accepted Masons, the Junior Order of U'nited Amer- ican Mechanics, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. Of late years he has not been actively associated with any secret society.
Kazunas. Luke Mark, proprietor of the City Drug Store at Shen- andoah, and also of a drug store at Mahanoy City, was born May 1. 18-2, in Russian Lithuania, and is the youngest of five sons born to Luke Peter and Mary Kazunas. The mother is deceased and the father still lives at Birzy, in the province of Kovno, where he was born, and where he has passed his entire life as a farmer and miller. Of the other sons, Matthew lives in the province of Kur- land : Peter. John and Michael, and a step-brother, Joseph, all live in the province of Kovno. They are all engaged in similar busi- ness to that of the father, as they inherited a large estate. con- sisting of valuable farming land and mill property. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Kovno and the gym- nasium at Mitau, the capital of Kurland. In this institution he spent six years, and was also under the care and instruction of private tutors for some time, accepting this educational training in lien of a share in the estate above mentioned. In 1893 he came to America, stopping for a short time in Germany on his way over. and first located in Baltimore, Md., where he spent a year as a student in the Baltimore medical college. He then came to
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Pennsylvania and for a short time was at Mount Carmel. Toward the close of 1894 he came to Shenandoah. For about a year he was interested in the publication of a Lithuanian newspaper, but in 1895 he disposed of this interest and entered a drug store at Mahanoy City, where he remained until 1898, when he returned to Shenandoah and entered the employ of the Gruhler Bros., drug- gists. A few months later he and P. W. Bierstein bought a drug store, which they conducted for about three years under the firm name of P. W. Bierstein & Co. In 1900 Mr. Kazunas became the sole proprietor of the establishment, which he has ever since con- ducted, giving his personal attention to the business in all its de- tails. While a student in the gymnasium at Mitau he was thor- oughly instructed in the elements of physiology, chemistry and hygiene, and this training, supplemented by his year's work in the Baltimore medical college, has given him a preparation for his calling that few druggists enjoy. He manufactures a number of remedies which have been introduced to the trade throughout a large section of the United States. In addition to his drug store at Shenandoah he conducts another store at Mahanoy City. This branch store was established in 1906 and is in charge of a regis- tered pharmacist, with one apprentice. The Shenandoah store employs two clerks, both of whom are capable and competent men. Mr. Kazunas is a Socialist in his political views, though he has never been an aspirant for political honors. He is a member of Gen. Harrison Lodge, No. 251, Knights of Pythias; the Lithua- nian Alliance of America, and a beneficial organization known as the Sons of Lithuania. On Aug. 6, 1901, Mr. Kazunas was united in marriage to Miss Regina Anna Boczkowski, whose father is the editor of the Lithuanian paper at Mahanoy City called "The Saule" (The Sun.) To this union has been born one son, Mark Leo, born May 20, 1904.
Keeny, Peter M., head of the grammar school of Pine Grove, and a farmer, was born in Schuylkill county, March 27, 1861. He is a son of Elias N. and Isabella (Moyer) Keeny, both natives of Pennsylvania, the father of this county and the mother of Berks county. Elias Keeny was a farmer and had no other vocation during his life time. The farm which he worked is now in the hands of a third generation of Keenys. He was a school director for many years and an earnest member of and worker in the Lutheran church, in the doctrines and tenets of which faith his family was reared. He died Dec. 6, 1896. His widow is still liv- ing and is a resident of North Pine Grove. Prof. Keeny is the eldest of the children in the family. John H. is a blacksmith, working at his trade in Myerstown, Lebanon county ; Charles N., formerly a teacher, is now a rural mail carrier; Kate died at the age of nine ; and Elmer N. is a teacher. The subject of this sketch received his preparatory intellectual training in the county and borough schools and in 1887 was graduated at the Keystone state normal school and given a teacher's certificate. Four years prior to his graduation he had begun teaching, and he has continued it
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just wait nineteen have been in his present pration. That he is calments bitte for the work & rosenced by the length of sers- ter in the Time Gove chool
muayen Verbally Lich, a native of Lemon county and a daug ht m lohn R. ami Lydia ikdler) Groh Het peutente are
The dalafen et Prot, and Mis Kem ate twein number Minnie Ialla, a graduate of the l'une Greve those in the class of upp. and Harry I Both father and son are members of the l'atrots Urtof the Sons of America.
Kchler, Albert B., of Locus Dale, is a prosperous dealer in home- dirsed beef He was born in Eldred township, Schuylkill county. Apr. 22. 1813. an Ito a son of Joel and Catherine ( Bonsinger) heh- ler, The father, who was a farmer, merchant and butcher, spent the larger part of his active hte in the county. Si of the children born to the parents are living, of whom Mbert B. is the fourth m order of birth The others are Catherine, wite of k. s. kchler ; William, Lafayette, Elmira, the wife of Frank Knapp, and Jennie, the wife of Charles Moser, "The subject of this sketch w. - reared in Eldred township, in the common schools of which he received his education. When he had completed Is showing he learned the butcher's trade and in ISog embarked in business for himself at Locust Dele. His excellent stock, his finely equipped store and his ability to please soon brought him a patronage which has in- creased from year to year until now he does an annual business to the amount of $6,000. His carnings of the past few years have en. bled him to creet a handsome, modern residence. In 18 , was semnizell Mr. Kchler's marriage to Miss Alice Schwalm, a daughter of Emanuel Schwalm, of Begins township, Mr. and Mrs. Keller have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter. Larvetta. The family are ar lent and conscientious mem- bers of and workers in the United Evangelical church of Locust Dale. Politically Mr. Kebler is a Republican, but is interested in politics only so far as they give him opportunity to exercise his judgment in the selection of office-holders. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He is wealthy and influential and personally is a man of fine physique. excellent carriage, and hearty, genial manner.
Kehler, Andrew Jackson, a prosperous retail dealer in meats, whose place of business is Locust Dale, was born in Eldred town- ship, this county. Sept. 16, 1802. He is a son of John and Chris- tiana (Bensinger) Kchler, both of whom were born in Eldred township. The two grandfathers, John Kehler and Jacob Ben- singer, were prominent agriculturists in the early days of Schuyl- kill county. The father, John Kohler, was for many years a far- mer of Eldredl township, leaving that occupation to engage in the mercantile trade in Ashland. From Ashland he came to make his home in Locust Dale, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was the father of six children-three of whom survive-To-
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bias, Andrew J., and Sheridan. The subject of this sketch spent his early life in Schuylkill county, attending the common schools of Hegins township. On attaining his majority he learned the trade of butcher and as a journeyman in that trade was employed for eight years by an uncle, F. J. Kehler. In 1893 he embarked in business for himself as a retailer and has met with a success far exceeding his most sanguine expectations. In Nov., 1885, Mr. Kehler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Monroe, a daughter of John Monroc, of Locust Dalc. This union has been blessed with three children-Frank, John and Edgar. The family are all communicants of the United Evangelical church of Locust Dale. In politics Mr. Kehler is a Republican, and as the, candidate of that party he was elected township treasurer, a position which he filled with dignity and ability for a full term. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He is en- terprising and public-spirited and withal is a most valued member of the community.
Kehler, Felix F., a prosperous farmer in Eldred township, was born at his present home, March 21, 1854. His father, Peter Keh- ler, was born on the same farm, which his father, John Kehler, located in the pioneer days of Schuylkill county. He secured a large body of wild land which succeeding generations of his fam- ily have cleared up and rendered productive. Originally it was covered with heavy hardwood timber, and almost endless labor was required to subdue the forest and establish a comfortable home. John Kehler was the first of the family name to locate in Schuylkill county, where he has a numerous posterity. There are now many prosperous farmers in Eldred township who trace their ancestry, near or remote, to John Kehler. He was obliged to clear a spot on which to locate his pioneer cabin, and ended his days in an almost fruitless effort to prepare a portion of his land for cultivation. But succeeding generations have benefited by his labors, as do all successors of the early pioneers. Peter Kehler, father of the subject of this sketch, took up the work of his father and occupied the parental home and farm when he reached the years of maturity, as his son, Felix, is now doing in the continu- ance of the family heritage. This was the "home" of the pioneer preachers as they made their rounds among the people, and the log barn erected by grandfather John Kehler, was one of the early preaching points. In later years he assisted in building the first church in the community, as his son, Peter, still later, assisted in rebuilding and modernizing it. The mother of Felix Kehler was, in maidenhood, Miss Elizabeth Fetterholf, also a native of this county, and a daughter of Samuel Fetterholf. Peter Kehler died in 1886, and his widow survived him until 1894. Following is a record concerning their children : Emanuel, lives at Mount Carmel ; Mary, who married William M. Snyder, is now deceased ; Samuel died at the age of forty-one; Sarah is the wife of Elias K. Hepler and lives in Tamaqua ; Fritta became the wife of William K. Sny- der, and both are now dead; Felix F. was the sixth in order of
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birth, lizzie married Samuel Baum, but is now deceased. Amelia is the wife of Lewis Stahr and is living in Eldred township; Emma married John Zimmerman and lives at Pitman, and Peter is a resident of Lebanon. Pa. Mr. Kchler received a Common school education and continued to live at home, tilling the farm, for fourteen years after leaving school. He then bought the old home place, consisting of 125 acres of improved land and twenty- one acres of timber land. He is engaged in general farming. stock raising and market gardening, and gives considerable attention to fruit growing. Hle markets his products principally at Mount Carmel and Ashland. Mr. Kechler was married in 1874 to Miss Paulina Manrer, daughter of Peter and Rachel Maurer, of Ekdired township. Eight children have been born to this union, the first two born, Maude and Oscar, being deceased; Henry is at home engaged in operating the parental farm. He married Minnie Gehres, and has two children. Frank and John. Lizzie is the wife of Felix Herb, of Eldred township, and they have one child. Prelha. Peter, Emma and Robbie are still under the parental roof, and Frank is dead. Mr. Kchler has always been a hard- working man and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. lle served nine years as a member of the Eldred township school board. Hle casts his vote for the nominees of the Republican party. The family are members of Zion Evangelical church, The only social or fraternal organization with which Mr. Keller is connected is the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and he holds membership in Camp No. 184. at Pitman. He is a well known and highly esteemed citizen, and his family has high social standing in the community. The Kchler home and farm arc among the best in the township.
Kehler, Irvin M., is the proprietor of a prosperous whole- sale cattle buying business and a stock yards at Locust Dale. He is a son of Franklin and Lydia (Snyder) Keller, and was born March 16, 1865. in Eldred town- ship. His paternal grandfather. John Kehler, a native Penn- sylvanian, of German ancestry. was a prominent farmer of Eldred township for many years and his father, who was also engaged in agricultural pursuits, was a live-stock dealer for more than forty years, driving cattle in the early days from Buffalo to Ashland. The father died in 1904, leaving a family of six children, of whom the subject of this memoir is the youngest. The others are Franklin J., Henry C., Robert C., Pruella, wife of H. H. Geist, and Johanna, the wife of Dr. J. D. Kiefer. Irvin M. Kehler was reared in the township in which he was born and attended the public schools there. His scholastic training was rounded out with a course in the Gratz academy. of Dauphin county, and when he had completed his studies he entered the employ of his father. For twenty-one years he has been engaged in the business and has undoubtedly the best equipped abattoir in the county. His busi- ness amounts to $3.000 weekly, and is exclusively in western-fed cattle, all of which are slaughtered and dressed at Locust Dale.
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In 1893 Mr. Keller married Miss Clara Moser, a daughter of George and Catherine Moser, of Columbia county. By this union he is the father of five children, Blanche Marguerite, Ethel P., Miriam M., Irvin Ralph and Henry Franklin. The family are members of and workers in the United Evangelical church of Locust Dale, and for nearly fifteen years Mr. Kehler has been superintendent of the Sabbath school of the same. In politics he is a Republican, but is not an office-seeker. He is known through- out the county as an enterprising and progressive citizen and as specially skilled in his line.
Kehler, Joseph J., a farmer and real-estate dealer of Frackville, Pa., was born in Eldred township, Schuylkill county, Jan. 19, 1849, a son of George H. and Sarah (Fetterholf) Kehler, both of whom were natives of Schuylkill county. John Kehler, grand- father of Joseph J., was a native of Schuylkill county and was a prominent farmer of Eldred township. He married Elizabeth Hepler. Samuel Fetterholf, the maternal grandfather of our sub- ject, also was a farmer of Eldred township, but died in Dauphin county. The maiden name of his wife was Maurer. George H. Keller, the father of Joseph J., was for many years a farmer of Eldred township and was a large land-holder, but in later life he removed to Mahanoy City, where he died. His family consisted of two sons and one daughter, of whom Joseph J. was the only one who grew to years of maturity. Joseph J. Kehler was reared on the old homestead in Eldred township, where he attended the public schools of the day, later attending schools in Philadelphia and at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in which latter city he was a student in the famous Eastman business college. At the age of fifteen years he initiated his independent career by becoming a clerk in a general store at Ashland, Pa., where he remained one year, after which he was in charge of a general store in Eldred township for five years. He then, in 1872. became engaged in farming and operating a mill in Eldred township. He followed this vocation until 1881, when he removed to Frackville. Later he removed to Ashland, where he was engaged in conducting a general store until 1905, when he sold the business to his son, Webster, and returned to Frackville. He has since been a resident of that city, devoting his attention to farming and real estate. He is also a stockholder in and director of the First National bank of Frackville, of which he was one of the original organizers. He is a Republican in his political proclivities, having served in the borough council, and is a member of Camp No. 66, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. Religiously Mr. Kehler is a zealous member of the United Evan- gelical church and always maintains an active interest in the work of that denomination. For many years he has been superintend- ent of the Sunday school and is one of the leaders in the weekly society meetings. In I87I was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kehler to Mary J. Hepler, a daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Fisher) Hepler, of Eldred township, and they are the parents of four children-T. Webster; Elizabeth A., wife of G. W. Hop-
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per . Jenun 1 wife of John 1. Dyer, and Joseph J . Jr., principal of the high school at Pottsville, l'a.
Kechler, Lewis F., i- numbered among the representative agri- culturists of his native townslup of Eldred and is a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of Schuylkill county. He was born in the township noted and the date of his nativity was Feb. 25. 1850. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (betterholi) hehler, the former likewise born in khired township and the latter m Bauplan county, this state. l'eter Keller, who was a son of John Keller, was reared in Eldred township and his educational privi- leges in his youth were hunted to a somewhat irregular attend- ance in the primitive subscription schools of the day. His entire he was devoted to agricultural pursuits and both he and his wife continued to reside in Eldred township until their death. Both were zealous members of the Evangelical church and in politics he was a stanch Republican. He served as treasurer of his church and was a man who commanded unqualified esteem. He died in 1885. at the age of sixty-five years, and his devoted wife passed away in 18H, at the same age. They became the parents of twelve children, one of whom died in infancy. Emanuel, who was a solcher in the civil war, resides at Mount Carmel, l'a, and is a farmer and butcher by vocation; Mary, who became the wife of William Snyder, died in 1901 : Samuel, who was a farmer in Eldred township, died in 1880; Sarah is the wife of Flas Hepler, of Tam- aqua. this county; Fritta became the wife of William K. Snyder and both are now deceased; Felix resides on the old homestead iarm; Lewis F., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth : Lizzie became the wife of Samuel Baum and is now deceased ; Amelia is the wife of Lewis I. Stahr. of Eldred township; Emma is the wife of John Zimmerman, of Pitman, this county ; Peter is a resident of Lebanon. l'a. ; and the one who died in childhood was named Lottie. Lewis F. Kehler was reared under the sturdy dis- cipline of the home farm and was afforded the advantages of the local schools. At the age of eighteen year- he left the parental home and learned the blacksmith trade, to which he devoted his attention for some time. He then became identified with the nurs- ery business, with J. J. Keller, looking after the stock and also acting as salesman. He continued to be thus engaged for a period vi eight years, making a specialty of small fruits and becoming an adept in their cultivation. In 1886 he purchased the Henry Keh- ler farm, which is now his home. The place comprises seventy- -ix acres, of which sixty-one are under cultivation. The farm was badly run down when he assumed possession and he has devel- oped it into one of the model places of Eldred township, having erected substantial buildings, including his attractive and com- modiou- residence. On the place he has 300 apple and pear trees. and he also raises choice varieties of small fruits of all kinds. He makes a specialty of selling fruits and vegetables and commands a large trade in various towns in the vicinity. Hi- career has been marked by industry and good management and through his own
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efforts he has achieved a worthy and gratifying success. Though never a seeker of public office, Mr. Kehler takes a loyal interest in local affairs and is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Rc- publican party. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical church, in which he has served as trustee, steward and assistant class leader. In 1874 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kehler to Miss Lena Hering, daughter of Henry Hering, of Eldred town- ship, and of this union were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy ; Jane is the wife of George W. Zimmerman, who assists in the work and management of Mr. Kehler's farm, and the children of this union are Beulah, Pearl, Iva, Samuel and Lewis ; Curtis Calvin died at the age of nine years; Lillie is the wife of Arthur W. Kessel, a successful teacher in the schools of Eldred township, and they have four children-Cora, Florence, Maude and Benjamin ; Kate, Maude and Frank, the three younger chil- dren of Mr. Kehler, remain at the parental home.
Keller, Charles, proprietor of an up-to-date clothing and furnish- ing store in Schuylkill Haven, was born below Hamburg, Berks county, Pa., Dec. 25, 1849. He is a son of Reuben and Lucy N. (Seidel) Keller, both natives of Berks county. He took advantage of the courses afforded by the Schuylkill Haven schools, and rounded out his educational training by a course in the Lebanon Valley college. In 1871 he embarked in the flour and feed busi- ness, leaving it subsequently to open a stationery store. His advent in his present business was in 1881 and since that time he has been most successfully conducting it. In politics Mr. Keller is a strong upholder of the cause of the Prohibition party. The only office he has ever held is that of school director. In religious matters he is identified with the United Brethren church, and he has served for more than a quarter of a century as superintendent of the Sunday school. For more than twenty years, also, he has been a member of the board of trustees of the institution. On May 28, 1869, Mr. Keller married Miss Mary Shappell, daughter of Franklin and Rebecca (Reber) Shappell, of Schuylkill Haven. Seven sons and three daughters were born to this union, of whom three sons and the daughters survive. The eldest, Robert, is a tailor, and the others are William. George, Margaret, Carrie and Mary. Fraternally Mr. Keller is associated with but one order, the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. For some thirteen years he was financially interested in the Eureka knitting mills, which were burned to the ground in Sept., 1906, as a result of being struck by lightning. Mr. Keller is distinctively an upright Christian gentleman, one who carries the precepts of the golden rule and the ten commandments into his daily life.
Kelley, John J., attorney at law, Tamaqua, Pa., is a son of Mar- tin and Elizabeth (Reilly) Kelley, natives, respectively, of Phila- delphia and Tamaqua. At the age of seventeen Martin Kelley left the parental home in Philadelphia and came to Pottsville, where he was employed as an apprentice to the machinist's trade in the Palo Alto shops. In 1864 he went on the road as an em-
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