USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 31
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plose of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad company, and has been with that corporation continuously since. For the past thirty two years he has been a passenger conductor between Potts- ville and Williamsport. For a more complete family history, ser personal sketch of Martin kelley. John J. Kelley, the subject of this article, was born in Tamaqua, Feb. 25. 1875. He enjoyed ex- cellent educational opportunities, and after graduating from the l'amaqua high school, in 1892, he entered Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., from which renowned institution he was grad- nated with the class of 1807. He then took up the study of law. and while thus engaged he accepted a clerkship in the offices of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company. He was admitted to the bar of Schuylkill county in 1900, and at once established his offices in his native borough, where he has been successful as an attorney and counsellor at law. Mr. Kelley is a prominent and well-known young man who sustains the highest social standing in the community. He is a Democrat in political views, and the family are Roman Catholics in religious affiliations.
Kelley, Martin, the oldest conductor in point of service on the Shamokin division of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, was born in Philadelphia. Dec. 21. 1845. His father, Martin Kelley, died in 1850, while still a young man, in the employ of the Phila- delphia & Reading, and the mother died soon afterward. Of the children but two now survive-Lewis, a bachelor, who is a retired business man, and Martin. The subject of this review received his education at Port Richmond and when he had completed his scho- lastic training he went into the service of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Railroad as a brakeman. This was in 1804. and his employ- ment with the company has been continuous since that year. After his first year as brakeman he was made freight conductor and a year later was made baggage-master on a passenger train be- tween Pottsville and Tamaqua. His promotion to the position of passenger conductor came in 1873 and since that year he has had the same run. He is deservedly proud of the star and bar which he wears on his sleeve, the star denoting a quarter of a century of service as conductor and the bar five years more. In all his years of service he has never had an accident of any kind, and no passen- ger on his train has ever been injured in any way. May 18. 1869. Mr. Kelley was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth C. Reilly, a native of Tamaqua and a daughter of John and Rose Reilly, pioneer settlers, both deceased. Six children blessed the marriage. The eldest. Rose M., is at home with her parents ; Mary A. is a milliner in Tamaqua : John J. is an attorney-at-law in Tamaqua : Harry L. is in the employ of the railroad as clerk : Martin died in infancy. and Gertrude J. is a teacher of music in Tamaqua. The family are all devout communicants of the Catholic church.
Kenna, Michael J., a retired citizen of Cumbola. was born in the town where he now resides, on Apr. 15. 1860, his parents being Michael and Mary (Dowling) Kenna. both natives of Queens county. Ireland. They came to this country in 1848 and settled in
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Blythe township, Schuylkill county, where the father followed his trade of shoemaker until his death, in May, 1875, at the age of forty-eight years. The mother died in 1889 at the age of sixty- five. They reared to maturity a family of five children, three of whom are living. Catherine is the widow of William Batersby and lives at Elizabethport, N. J .; Michael J. is the subject of this sketch; and Mary is the wife of Hugh McLoughlin. Ann married Lawsena Whalen, and Bridget married Thomas Devlin. Both are now deceased. Michael J. Kenna attended the schools of Blythe township, where he acquired a practical working education. He learned the shoemaker's trade with his father and followed that occupation from 1875 to 1892, when he practically retired from active business, having by judicious investments in real estate ac- cumulated about $20,000 worth of property. Mr. Kenna is a Dem- ocrat and takes a commendable interest in advancing the interests of his party's principles. He has served as tax collector for three years and was for six years a member of the school board. April 23, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia, daughter of Ed- ward and Julia (Whalen) Doyle, of Cumbola. For her ancestral history see the sketch of Edward V. Doyle. Mr. and Mrs. Kenna have six children living-Mary, Edward, Genevieve, Katie, Eliza- beth and Rose. The family are members of the Holy Family Catholic church of New Philadelphia, and Mr. Kenna belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Keogh, Bernard J., proprietor of the bottling works at Shenan- doah, was born in that city, Jan. 27, 1874. His parents, John and Ellen (Dolan) Keogh, were both born in Ireland, but were mar- ried in Pottsville, lived for a number of years in St. Clair, and came to Shenandoah in 1873. In early years the father was a miner, but in his later life he was engaged in the liquor business. He died in 1890, in Shenandoah, where his widow is still living. Of their twelve children seven survive, viz .: Mrs. E. J. McGinnis, Edward, John, Michael, Katie, Patrick and Bernard J. John and Bernard are married and Katie is a teacher. Bernard J. Keogh attended the schools of his native city in his boyhood, and at eight years of age found employment as a slate-picker in the mines. He followed mining until he was about sixteen years old, when he took a position in the bottling works of Cleary Bros. After some time with this concern he engaged in the retail meat business, but in 1897 he sold his meat market and started a bottling works of his own, in which line he still continues. He employs two men besides himself and requires two teams to distribute the products of his plant. He puts up all kinds of "soft" or temperance drinks and the quality of his goods, as well as his promptness in filling orders, has been the means of building up for him a satisfying patronage. Mr. Keogh is a Democrat in his political affiliations and was for three years a member of the board of school directors. He is a member of the Annunciation Roman Catholic church and belongs to all the social and beneficial societies connected with that faith, notably the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the 17-Vol. II
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Knights of Annunciation, and he is also a member of the Phoenix fire company. He is a member of the fraternal Order of Eagles and the Foresters. In loco Mr. Keogh was united in marriage to Miss Bridget, daughter of Patrick and Julia Dolphin, both na- tives of Ireland, though Mrs. Keogh was born in Shenandoah.
Kessler, John M., one of the oldest residents of Begins town- ship, was born in that township, Nov. 13. 1822. His grandfather. Michael Kessler, was a native of Berks county, but came to Schuylkill county in the year 1800. Here he bought a tract of wild land, cleared a farm and built a mill. He gave the site for the first school house and church in the town-lup. He married Polly Grim and they both died on the farm he thus established. His son Michael, the father of John M., came with him to this county, and married a Miss Arnold, by whom he had eight children, viz .: Abraham, Michael, John M. Christian, Philip. Catherine Harriet and Magdalena. Abraham was a farmer. He married Kate Rickel and moved to Lykens Valley. They had one son, Reuben. who became a distiller. Michael died, unmarried, at the age of seventy five years. Ile was a miller at Hegins. Christiana is the widow of John Lucas and Ines in Barry township. Philip, now dead, was a farmer and mason. Catherine died, single, at the age of sixty-five years. Harriet is the widow of Joseph Staub and lives at Lancaster. Magdalena is the widow of Gabriel Barth and lives in Hably township. The mother of these children died and Michael Kessler married Catherine Boyer, who had been twice married before, and had two sons: Franklin Haupt, now of Mount Carmel, and Charles Overfield, deceased. To this second marriage of Mr. Kessler's father were born five children: William B .. a farmer of Hegins township: Caroline, widow of Daniel Die- bert : Levi, who married Rebecca Hoch and is now dead: Joel, who married Sarah Hoch and is now a farmer in Hegins town- ship : and Elias, who married Elizabeth Stutzman and lived on the old homestead until his death, in 1887. John M. Kessler received a limited education and learned the trade of miller, which he fol- lowed until 1851, when he gave it up on account of his health and bought from William Hoch seventy-nine acres of land, upon which he began farming. He still lives on the farm, the house in which he resides having been built by him in 1861. He is a member of the Church of God and is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. In 1845 he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Snyder) Wolfgang. of Schuylkill county, and to this marriage were born eight children. Cornelius was a carpenter. married Luzanna Geist and died at Mount Carmel at the age of fifty-seven years. Joseph is a contractor and builder at Shamokin, and is also treasurer of the Shamokin Lumber and Manufacturing Company. He married Polly Engle. Sarah mar- ried E. E. Greider, of Lancaster. John W. married Amelia Kim- mel, and was a farmer and proprietor of the Marion hotel at Shamo- kin at the time of his death, in 1894. Michael W .. the fifth child, is mentioned more fully below. Lydia is the wife of John Gahnes,
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of Eldred township. Elizabeth is Mrs. James M. Boyer, of Ash- land. William died at the age of six years. Michael W. Kessler was born on April 22, 1858. He grew to manhood on the farm and was educated in the local schools. He married Mary, daugh- ter of George and Harrict (Klinger) Kimmel, of Barry township, and they have two daughters, Alverda E. and Jennie B., both at home with their parents. Alverda attended the Freeburg musical college, and Jennie attended the state normal school at Millers- ville ; she has taught for six years in the Schuylkill county schools. Mr. Kessler has a well improved farm and a fine orchard of over 400 trees of all varieties, as well as a fine assortment of small fruits, his products finding a ready market at Minersville and other adjacent towns. He is a Republican and was for twenty- two years a school director. He belongs to Camp No. 85, Patri- otic Order of the Sons of America, at Weishample, and to the Church of God, at the same place. He was for eight years super- intendent of the Sunday school and takes a lively interest in church work.
Ketner, George W., of Orwigsburg, a farmer and a manufacturer of paper boxes, was born in Schuylkill county, March 25, 1857, a son of Samuel and Catherine (Maurer) Ketner. The father was a stationary engineer and had the unique distinction of being the first man to hoist coal from the mines of Schuylkill county. A physical deformity prevented his participation in the Civil war, but he was an ardent upholder of the Union cause and was strong in his denunciation of slavery and rebellion. He was exceedingly well read and a man of fine intellect. His death, in 1869, resulted from injuries received while blasting rock, the concussion causing a pile of lumber to fall on him. He married Mrs. Catherine (Maurer) Hartline, the widow of John Hartline, and by her first marriage she had three sons and a daughter. The subject of this sketch was the only child of her second union. Her death oc- curred in 1905, at the age of ninety years. George W. Ketner re- ceived his education in the common schools of Berks county and in Northumberland, upon the completion of which he found em- ployment in the shops of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad at Reading. Then for a time he was a brakeman and subsequently became a locomotive engincer. He left railroad life to operate a stationary engine in a rope factory and from that business got into the paper-box industry. He continued in this line with the Webekind Paper Box Company until 1891, when, upon the death of Mr. Augustus Webekind (his father-in-law), he disposed of his interest in the firm and removed to Orwigsburg and embarked in the business in his own name. He employs some eighteen help- ers, and the average daily output is 10,000 boxes-an amount which required 100 hands to turn out daily before the invention of modern machinery. His trade territory is not very extensive, only the immediate neighborhood being supplied. but his patron- age is exclusive and unchanging. In politics he is an ardent Re- publican and before his removal from Reading he was chairman
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of the Twelfth waid Repubhean club. He was also at the time of hus change of residence a member of the Reading school board. Feb 2, 1888, Mr. Keiner married Mrs. Amcha Kucip, a widow with one son, Chear. Her parents were Augustus and Joanna Webekind, native Germans, and at the time of their demise resi dents of Reading. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ketner are communicants of the Lutheran church and in a fraternal way he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. By hard work and the maintaining of the most exacting code of honesty he has won for himself an enviable place in the social and commercial life of Orwigsburg.
Ketner, William B., was born in West Brunswick township, near Molino, Schuylkill county. Sept. 7. 1800. a son of Frank and Re- becca (Hoy) Ketner. He is the third son of a family of three som and three daughters, viz. : George W., Mary, Emma R., Allen F ... William B. and Bella. George, Mary, Bella and Allen are de- ceased. Allen married Sallie Faust, daughter of Jacob Faust, and they had two children, Olie and Herman. Allen died in 1896. Emma is the wife of John M. Hardinger, of Pinedale. The father of William B. Ketner was engaged as a farmer during the active portion of his life, but is now living retired. His wife died July 29. 1906, at the age of seventy-one years. William B. Ketner was graduated from the township schools, after which he took a course at the normal school at Kutztown, Pa .. and later one in the North- western normal school of Valparaiso. Ind. He adopted the pro- fession of the teacher and taught school in Brunswick township for fourteen years. In 1901 he concluded to change his occupation and went into a general mercantile business at Pinedale, with which business he is at present occupied. He has a finely equipped store, and uses up-to-date methods in his management of his es- tablishment. Mr. Ketner was married June 1, 1894, to Miss Anna Fahl. They have four children, one son and three daughters, Helen E., Leon V., Ada M .. and Grace M., all of whom are living. Mr. Ketner is a member of Symmetry Lodge. No. 103, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of Hamburg, and is past grand in this lodge. His political affiliations are Democratic, and he is at pres- ent a justice of the peace. an office which he has held for two terms, and is now a candidate for a third term. The family are of the Lutheran faith, and are members of Zion's red church of Pine- dale. Mr. Ketner is a deacon of the church and president of the joint church council, and was president of the committee in charge of the anniversary celebration which was held in 1905 and which was known as the sesqui-centennial.
Kleindienst, Charles F., proprietor of a cafe and quick-mcal lunch room at Shenandoah, was born at Middleport. Schuylkill county. Sept. 19. 1865. his parents being John and Mary (Stein) Klein- dienst, both natives of Germany. During the Civil war the father served as a soldier in the 48th Pennsylvania infantry, was wounded at Gettysburg, and died at Mahanoy City in 1882. The mother is still living there. Of their children those living are: Charles F ..
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the subject of this sketch; Joseph B., who for the past ten years has been a member of the coal and iron police and lives at Mahanoy City ; Frederick, a barber in Philadelphia; Frank, a fireman at Gi- rard college, in Philadelphia; and Caroline, wife of Charles Mc- Clearen, of Mahanoy City. Charles F. Kleindienst graduated in the high school at Mahanoy City and began his life's career as a slate-picker in a breaker at New Philadelphia. He was employed in the mines until he was about twenty-two years old, when he was elected constable, being the only Republican ever elected to office in the First ward of Mahanoy City. At the close of his first term he was re-elected and was then appointed on the coal and iron police, where he served until he engaged in his present busi- ness, which he opened Nov. 29, 1904, though he had been a resi- dent of Shenandoah for ten years prior to that date. During his service as a member of the police, which covered all the important strikes in that period, he was several times seriously injured by lawless persons. On one occasion he was stabbed in the face; on another his head was almost crushed with a "billy," and on others bullets penetrated his clothing. These things did not deter him from doing his whole duty. He was a terror to law-breakers and made a number of important arrests, for which he was highly com- mended. Mr. Kleindienst is prominently identified with the work of secret orders, being a member of Shenandoah Lodge, No. 511, Free and Accepted Masons, and Gen. Grant Lodge, No. 575, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mahanoy City. While in Mahanoy City he was a member of the Citizens' steam fire company and for seven years was assistant chief. He also belonged for a number of years to the Rescue hook and ladder company of Shen- andoah. In politics he is an unswerving Republican and is always ready to do his part in winning a victory for his party. He has served as committeeman in the Second ward, has been a mem- ber and president of the city school board, and is recognized as one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of the town. His place of business is well appointed and enjoys a large patron- age, due in a great measure to the personal popularity of the pro- prietor. On July 14, 1887, Mr. Kleindienst and Miss Mary, daugh- ter of Nicholas Hess, of Mahanoy City, were united in marriage. This union was blessed with five children, of whom Maimie is the only one living. She is a graduate of the Shenandoah high school and lives with her parents. The family belong to the Trinity Re- formed church.
Kline, Albert H., a prominent and well known citizen of Schuyl- kill Haven, was born at Landingville, Schuylkill county, Pa., on Apr. 1, 1863. His parents, William D. and Elizabeth (Hoy) Kline, were both natives of this county, the father having been born at Schuylkill Haven, and the mother at Orwigsburg. Albert Kline re- ceived his education in the public schools of his native borough, completing the course in the high school at that place. His youth was employed in various avocations, but his early manhood years were devoted to general merchandising. Becoming interested in
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manufacturing, he abandoned his mercantile pursuits and opened a factory for the manufacture of knit goods and underwear. This has proved a profitable business venture, and has grown with the passing years until the annual business is large and profitable. Mr. Kline was married Sept. 25, 1889, to Miss Emma R., daughter of Benjamin F. and Angeline ( Butz) Lessig, of Schuylkill Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Khine are members of the Reformed church. Their only child is named William Albert, born Dec. 10, 1800, Mr. Kine is a Republican in political views. He has neither sought nor held public office. The only social fraternity with which he is now affiliated is the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. Mr. Kline is a director of the First National bank of Schuylkill Haven and was one of its organizers.
Kline. William H., proprietor of the popular resort known as Kline's cafe, in Pottsville, was born at Lititz, Lancaster county, Pa .. Jan. 14. 1854. He is the eldest of six children born to Hiram and Barbara (Beck) Kline, natives of Lancaster county, Pa. His father, who was a prosperous farmer, spent his life in his native county. He died in Lancaster, Dec. 26, 1885. His wife is living. The children of this family are as follows: William 11. is the sub- ject of this sketch : Emma, born Jan. 1. 1858, is the wife of Samuel Miller, a farmer in Lancaster county ; Ezra, who was born Oct. 10. 1860, is a farmer on the old homestead in Warwick township, Lancaster county ; Hiram, born Nov. 3. 1862, is also a farmer in Warwick township; Kate. born Jan. 21, 1865, married florace Sturgis and lives in the town of Lititz. William H. Kline was educated in the public schools of his native county and in the town schools of the same locality. He began his independent career as a farmer, a vocation which engaged his attention for the first three years after his marriage. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time, and later was in the hotel business in Farmers- ville and Lancaster for six years. His next business venture was
at the Tumbling Run hotel, near Pottsville, which he conducted successfully for seven years. From there he went to Reading and conducted the State cafe, at 503 Penn street, and was successful beyond expectations. In 1902 Mr. Kline came to Pottsville and opened the popular cafe which bears his name. During his sojourn of seven years at Tumbling Run he had demonstrated the wisdom of such a venture in Pottsville, and this was the culmination of a long cherished desire in this direction. Kline's cafe is unquestion- ably the most popular resort of its character in the borough, and the proprietor and his able assistants are ever vigilant in keeping it so. The cuisine is such as to satisfy the most epicurean appe- tite. while the bar is stocked with the choicest goods to be pro- cured in the markets. The fixtures and appliances are first-class in all respects, and strictly up-to-date. Mr. Kline was married Oct. 14. 1879. to Miss Maggie Bowman, of Ephrata, Lancaster county. Pa. She is a daughter of George L. and Fannic (Stein- inets) Bowman. Her father is dead but her mother is living. Three children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kline,
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the eldest of whom is George Edgar, born Oct. 29, 1880. He was graduated from the Pottsville high school at the age of sixteen years, and is a young man exceptionally bright and intellectual. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Young Men's Christian Association, Baxter club, Turtle club, and Pottsville Game and Fish Protect- ive association. He is employed in his father's business. The second born is Miss Elsie L., a young lady at home. She also is a graduate of the high school, and is accomplished in those characteristics peculiar to her sex. William Mckinley, whose name is an index to the family politics, was born two days after the first inauguration of the martyred president. He is a student in school. Mr. Kline is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife sustains religious relations with the Reformed church. Mr. Kline holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Dramatic Order of Knights of Khor- assan, Pottsville gun club and the Liederkranz, the last being a musical society.
Klock, Henry Albright, M. D., a prominent physician of Maha- noy City, is a descendant of one of the old families of Pennsyl- vania, five generations of which have been represented in the population of Schuylkill county. In 1750 a German family con- sisting of the parents and three sons left their native province of Wurtemberg in the Fatherland, and came to America. One of these sons afterward settled in the state of New York, one located in Canada, and the third, whose name was John Peter Klock, re- mained with his parents where they first settled, near Womels- dorf, Berks county, Pa. John Peter Klock was the great-great- grandfather of Doctor Klock. He was born Jan. I, 1743, and was therefore but seven years of age when his parents came to this country. In 1793 he removed to what is now Eldred township, Schuylkill county, where he bought 342 acres of land in what was known as the "Beauty Tract," and there engaged in agricultural pursuits. Part of this old homestead still remains in the posses- sion of some of his descendants. He built the first saw mill in the Mahantongo valley and was a typical pioneer. His death oc- curred Dec. 19, 1818, and he was buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Line Mountain, in Northumberland county. Peter R. Klock, the grandfather of the doctor, inherited the old homestead and followed farming until 1866, when he retired. He was the father of seven children, three sons and four daughters. He was a prom- inent member of the Lutheran church and was one of the founders of the old Union church in Eldred township, where he and his wife lie buried. This church was erected by the Lutheran church and the Evangelical association in 1860. One of his sons was Joseph, who learned the miller's trade, but after following that occupation for several years he abandoned it to become a farmer. In 1858 he removed to Pitman, where he was interested in farming operations, mercantile pursuits and in buying and selling grain and live stock until his death, which occurred May 26, 1865. He
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