USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 37
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Marshall, Arthur J., superintendent of the People's Light, Heat and Power Company of Schuylkill Haven, is a native of Shenan- doah, this county, where he was born Oct. 6. 1878. He is the second in order of birth of the three children of Joel and Amanda (Show-
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(rs) Marshall, the others being Mabel and Margaret Mabel is the wife of John 1 .. Griffiths, a hardware merchant of Grandville, and to the mother of one child, Margaret, who became the wife of E. H. Landes, a train dispatcher of Harrisburg, died, leaving one child. The mother of Amanda (Showers) Marshall was a Grant, having been a cousin of the renowned general and president of that name The paternal grandfather, Henry Marshall, was an early citizen of Shenandoah, and hunted over the land which is occupied by the borough. He was for many years the superintendent of the St. Clair shaft and was a man of wealth and influence. It was he who do- nated to the Trinity Reformed congregation the land upon which the church of that denomination now stand- His death occurred about 18%) and his widow passed away a few years later Joel Mar shall was born at St. Clair, in t&g;, and his wife first saw the light of day at Reading in 1857. Their marriage occurred in Schuylkill county, where the father has spent the greater part of his active life in mining. For the past twenty years he has been engineer at the Keeley Kun colliery. The subject of this sketch received his education in the Shenandoah schools and started earning his own living as a clerk in a grocery store. He was possessed of a deter- mination, however, to see more of the world, and while still young went to New York city and secured a similar position there. Sub- sequently he became stockkeeper in a large mercantile house, where he remained about two years. On leaving New York, at the end of that time, he went to Harrisburg, Pa., and secured a position in the em- ploy of a railroad company. His first work was as a brakeman, but after seven months he became a fireman. After he had been at the business about two years he was injured in a wreck and he decided to enter some other line of business. He returned to Shenandoah and made a systematic study of electrical engineering. When he had thoroughly mastered the trade he accepted a position with the Hamburg Electric Light Company. For a year and a half he re- mained in Hamburg and then returned to Shenandoah again to enter the employ of the People's Light, Heat and Power Company. at a hig increase of salary. In March, 1905. he was promoted to the superintendency of the plant in Shenandoah and later was trans- ferred to Schuylkill Haven, where he is acting in the same capacity for that company, filling the position with proficiency and skill. Dec. 2. 1809. Mr. Marshall married Miss Katie Smith, a native of Shen- andoah. and a daughter of Peter and Catherine Smith. The father, now deceased, was a miner, but the mother is still living, a resident of Harrisburg. Mrs. Marshall is one of a family of ten children, of whom seven are living. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have one child. Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are communicants of the Trinity Reformed church, and Mr. Marshall is identified fraternally with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Martin, Patrick J., a popular and prominent citizen of Pottsville. Pa .. where he is justice of the peace in the Second ward, was born in Palo Alto, Schuylkill county. Pa .. Apr. 11. 1864, and is a son of
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Hubert and Mary A. (Walsh) Martin, the former of whom was a native of County Roscommon, Ireland, and the latter of Heckscher- ville, this county, where she was born, Dec. 24, 1843. The maternal grandparents were Michael and Julia (Moran) Walsh, natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland. They were pioneer residents of Heck- scherville, this county, where they both died, the grandfather hav- ing been a miner by vocation. Julia Moran, with her mother and several of her brothers and sisters, emigrated from Ireland to Can- ada in the spring of 1842. Michael Walsh accompanied them and soon after their arrival in Canada the courtship which dated back to their earlier days in the Emerald Isle resulted in their marriage. In the fall of the following year, the Moran family, including Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, located in Heckscherville, where two of Mrs. Mo- ran's sons, James and Michael, had located several years prior, and where they erected a comfortable home, one of the few which at that date dotted that beautiful valley. This valley is noted for its rich coal deposits, whose veins have up to this time proved valua- ble producers, and will thus continue, as mining experts agree, for many years to come. In those early days the nearest Catholic church to Heckscherville was St. Patrick's, at Pottsville, where the mother of the subject of this sketch was baptized. Later her father, with others, gratuitously gave their services in excavating for the foundations for St. Vincent de Paul's church at Minersville. Mrs. Martin's grandfathers both died in Ireland, and her grand- mothers, Mary (McKinley) Walsh and Mary (Ryan) Moran, both died in Heckscherville, Pa. Her family tree is one of the most extensive in eastern Pennsylvania. Hubert Martin was a son of Patrick and Catherine (O'Brien) Martin, both of whom died in County Roscommon, Ireland, where they owned and tilled a farm. He came to America in 1851, locating at Palo Alto, where he followed railroading for many years, dying in that town Oct. 24, 1900. Ilc and his wife, who survives him, were married at St. Stephen's church, Port Carbon, by Rev. Daniel Magorien, on Sept. 13, 1859, and to them there were born twelve children, four of whom were reared to maturity: Catherine, born June 28, 1860, was married to Charles P. Gillespie, at St. Stephen's church, Port Car- bon, June 8, 1882, by Rev. John O'Rourke, and she died at Palo Alto, July 4, 1892, leaving to survive her three children, Mary, Cath- erine, and Marcella ; Patrick J. is the subject of this review ; Margaret B., residing at Palo Alto, was born Jan. 18, 1869, and was married to Harry O'Neil, at St. Patrick's church, Pottsville, by Rev. F. J. McGovern, on June 18, 1902; and Michael J. C. Martin, now of Pottsville, was born in Palo Alto Dec. 24, 1870. The last mentioned is the manager of the Pottsville store of the Cunningham Piano Company, of Philadelphia. He formerly taught in the public schools of West Penn township and in the borough of Palo Alto. He learned stenography in the meantime, and subsequently taught this branch in Wood's business colleges at Pottsville and Hazleton, Pa., and in Newark, N. J. Following is a brief record concerning the eight chil- dren who died in childhood: James, who was born April 29, 1862.
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died Jan 10, 1805, Julia, born Jan, 6, 805, ched Det 27, 1800, Mary Ann, born Sept. 15, 1867, ched Sept. 12, 1848; mint boy, ched May 9. 18-2. John, born May 30, 1824, died Jan. 30, 1878; Hugh, born March 28, 1878, ched Nov. 7. 1870; Fhzabeth, or Bessie, born March 9. 1883, died Nov. 10, 1887; and Len Francis, born May 10, 18%. chied Dec. 23. 1891. Patrick J. Martin was reared in Palo Alto and was educated in the public schools of that borough. For a short time he also attended the parochial schools of St. John the Baptist church at Pottsville, where he took up the study of German. His first employment was in a cigar-box factory. He then became mes- senger in the office of the Evening Chronicle, in which office he learned the art of printing, which he followed for a short time. He was subsequently employed in the Philadelphia & Reading car shops at Palo Alto and at Atkins' rolling mills, Pottsville. In 1889 he and John J. O'Connor founded the Saturday Night Review, a weekly newspaper published in Pottsville. He disposed of his interest in that publication two years later and became identified with the Evening Chronicle. For eleven years he was the court reporter for that paper, resigning that position Dec. &, Hogy. Sept. 16, 1001, the family moved from Palo Alto 10 330 South Center street. Pottsville. where Mr. Martin established a cigar, tobacco and confectionery store, which he still conducts. He is a member of St. Patrick's Ko- man Catholic church of Pottsville, Pa., and is a member of several fraternal organizations. He was a delegate to the grand court ses- sions of the Foresters of America, held at York, la. in May, 2007. representing Court Pottsville, No. 207, of Pottsville, and was one of the forty -eight delegates elected by the grand court to the sessions of the supreme court to be held in Chicago in August, 1997. Though not a candidate for the office, nor present at the convention, he was tendered the nomination for county auditor on the Democratic ticket in 1887, his enthusiastic friends winning the nomination for him over several other candidates. He was triumphantly elected. was chosen chairman of the board and filled the duties of the office in a manner most satisfactory to his constituents. In almost the same manner, on Feb, 10, 1907. he was elected in the office of jun- tice of the peace in the Second ward of Pottsville. He declined to be a candidate for the office, but his friends were persistent and as his name was not printed on the ballots his friendls wrote it on the space allotted for that purpose and eketed him over two other candidates. His election coming in this way was considered by the subject as a mandate from the people to serve, and he accordingly opened modernly equipped offices at 105 East Norwegian street. He represented the Fourth legislative district at several state con- ventions of the Democratic party-two at Harrisburg and one each at Reading and Allentown. He was one of the delegates in the Democratic convention in Harrisburg in 1905. who nominated William Il. Berry for state treasurer. Mr. Berry. as a reform can- didate. was triumphantly elected by the people. While a resident of Palo Alto Mr. Martin filled several local offices with credit to himself and the approbation of the tax-payer -. the offices he filled for
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two terms or more having been those of town clerk, tax collector and borough treasurer. His father also filled several borough offices, including those of school director and tax-collector, and was secretary of the school board for a number of years.
Masser, Samuel Richard, the leading general merchant of Hegins, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., Jan. 7, 1869, a son of Ja- cob C. and Katherine (Wagner) Masser. He attended the public schools of Upper Mahanoy township until he reached the age of nineteen years, completing all the courses offered. For a year there- after he taught school, but pedagogic work did not appeal to him and he left it to accept a position with the general merchandise firm of D. G. Siler & Co., of Shamokin. For nine years he continued his residence in Shamokin, being employed by different firms for different periods of time. In the spring of 1899 he removed to lieg- ins and engaged in the general merchandise business which since that time he has been most successfully conducting. His store is the most modern and the best equipped of all in the vicinity and his patrons are always assured of courteous treatment and the best of service. In Nov., 1894, Mr. Masser married Miss Elizabeth Geist, a daughter of Jacob Geist, of Hegins, and to this union have been born three children-Mark Millard, Jacob Geist and Paul Leon-all living at home. The family are members of the Reformed church of Hegins. In politics Mr. Masser is an influential upholder of the tenets of the Democratic party, but has never held nor aspired to office. In a fraternal way he is associated with the Hegins Lodge, No. 726, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a past officer of the same. By his integrity, kindliness of manner and business judgment he has won for himself and his family a secure place in the social and commercial life of the community.
Master, Milton H., proprietor of the Shenandoah Steam Marble and Granite Works, was born in Berks county, Pa .. Sept. 21, 1855. His parents, David and Catherine (Hunsberger) Master, were both natives of that county, where the father followed the occupation of shoemaker, and both are now deceased. They were the parents of ten children, viz .: Mary, Henry, Evan, James, John, William, George W., David, Milton H. and Kate. Mary is the wife of Amos Fryer, of Shimerville, Pa .; Henry is a blacksmith at Macungie, Lehigh county ; Evan operates a granite quarry in Berks county ; John is in the same business at Minersville, and James at Mertztown. Pa .; George W. is a blacksmith at Robesonia ; Kate is the wife of John Stichter, of Zionsville, Lehigh county, Pa., and William and David died in youth. Milton H. Master was educated in the com- mon schools and took up the trade of marble cutter. After serving his apprenticeship he established his first business at Minersville, but after about eight years there he removed to Shenandoah, where he opened his present concern in 1881. The skill and good taste in designs that he has displayed have built up for him a successful business, and in the cemeteries of Schuylkill and adjoining counties may be seen many fine specimens of his handiwork. He employs on an average seven or eight skilled cutters and is equipped for turn-
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ing out ofler on short notice and in the best possible mannes l'o litically Mr. Master is a Democrat. He has served as a member and secretary of the city council, and was the candidate of Ins party 111 1895 for the office of county comptroller, but his ticket was de- feated at the polls. He is a member of the Patriotie Order of the Sons of America, and with Ins wife belongs to the Reformed church. On March 21, 1878, Mr. Master and Miss Levina Hanich, of Miners ville, Pa., were united in marriage, and their union has been blessed by three sons and three daughters: Harry, Robert. Grace. Mabel, Thomas J. and Ruth. Robert is deceased ; the oldest son to call ployed in his father's business, Grace is the wife of James Kingler, of Shenandoah, a colliery clerk ; and the others are at home.
Mathias, John I., a prominent resident of Mahanay City, where he has resided since Apr., 1804, is a native of Dowlais, Wales. He was born June 19. 1842, and four years later accompanied the pa- rental family to America. They located in Pottsville in 1846 and have been identified with the history of Schuylkill county since that date. The father. Lewis Mathias, was born in England. Apr. 8. 1805. By reason of an estrangement between himself and his uncle. Sir Henry Mathias, he decided to seek his fortunes in the New World. His wife, who in maidenhood was Mary Isitt, was born in Milford Doch, Wales, Feb. 22, 1810. He died in Mahanoy City, Apr. 16, 1865, and she died at the same place. July 7. 1891. The subject of this sketch has been a resident of Schuylkill county for sixty-one years, and all of his mature life has been spent in Mahanay City. Ile has been prominently identified with the growth and progress of the town, and has borne his share in the development of the beautiful little city. He was one of the original directors at the organization of the Union National bank, and has served contin- uously as a member of the board of directors since. He was a member of the school board for six years and served as president of the same for one term. He was president of the borough council for four years, and served as a member of that body for six years. During the past thirty years Mr. Mathias has been general agent for a school text-book publishing house, and has devoted his ener- gies principally to the work involved in this position. In political views Mr. Mathias is an active Republican, and he has filled some important positions on the state central committee, and was alter- nate delegate to the national conventions at Minneapolis and St. Louis. He was married July 3, 1864, to Miss Annie, daughter of David and Margaret ( Williams) Davis, of Minersville. Four chil- dren have been born to this union, the chlest and the youngest of whom are deceased. The names in order of birth are William I) .. Mary D .. Lewis B. and John W. Mr. Mathias has taken an active interest in Odd Fellowship and has attained high standing in this fraternity of the "triple links." Beginning with the subordinate lodge, he has taken the degrees in the encampment and canton and filled the principal official stations in each. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows' Temple club. of Philadelphia, and the Veteran Odd Fellows' association of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the
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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Of political organiza- tions he holds membership in the Westmoreland club of Wilkes Barre, Central Republican club of Pottsville, and the Young Men's Republican club of Mahanoy City. The religious affiliations of the family are with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Matthews, William J., justice of the peace of the borough of New Philadelphia, was born in County Down, Ireland, on Feb. 116, 1854, a son of John and Mary (Calvert) Matthews. The father worked in the lead mines in his native country and in 1855 he came to Amer- ica with his wife and child. The passage was made on a sailing ves- sel and took seven weeks and three days. He located first at Silver Creek, Pa., where he secured employment in the coal mines, and he continued to be thus engaged until he met his death, on Aug. 10, 1870. The cage in which he and eleven other men and the. subject of this sketch were ascending suddenly dropped, and nine of the thirteen occupants were instantly killed, among them John Matthews. He was the father of eight children, all but the eldest of whom were born in this country. The names of the children are: William J., John, Jr., Mary Ann (Ist), Mary Ann (2d), Elizabeth, Andrew, George and Joseph. Mary Ann (Ist) died in infancy, and George and Joseph also are deceased. The father was in early life a Pres- byterian, but after coming to the United States he joined the Meth- odist Episcopal church and was for many years superintendent of the Sunday school. Politically he was a Republican and he had no little influence in the local party councils. His widow became the wife of John Howells, and they had one child, Martha. William J. Matthews attended the public schools of Silver Creek and New Philadelphia and at the age of twelve years began the life of a miner. His first employment was in picking slate and he worked up through the various grades until he had become a journeyman in the vocation. For thirty-five years this work furnished him a live- lihood and he relinquished it to engage in the retail liquor business in New Philadelphia. Since that time he has been employed in no other way. In a pecuniary way his trade has been very good, and is constantly on the increase. Politically he is a Republican. As the candidate of that party in 1897 he was elected justice of the peace, and at each successive election has been re-elected to the place. July 22, 1874, Mr. Matthews was united in marriage to Mary Agnes Murry, a daughter of John and Mary Jane (Shields) Murry. Mr. Murry was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to Schuylkill county in early life. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are the parents of seven children. William J., Jr., married Blanch Newton, by whom he has one child, Ethel. Mary Jane is the wife of Ben- jamin Tate, of Philadelphia. Barney Murry Matthews lives in Phil- adelphia. The other children, Agnes Elizabeth, Joseph McCool, Andrew Harrison and Louisa Clare, are all at home. Mr. Matthews is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and in a fraternal way is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past master of the lodge.
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Maurer, Ambrose U., farmer and poultry Huset, at Hogans, W. born in the townslup where he now lives on May 20, 180mg, and is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Schuylkill county His grandparents, Tobias and Sarah ( Vean) Maurer, were both botn near Boyertown. Berks county, grew up and married there, and shortly after their marriage came by boat to Minersville, where he worked at his trade of blacksmith and was also a blacksmith for the In t&t; he bought fifty acres of land in Begins township. where he followed farming until his death. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were mem bers of the Reformed church. They had seven children. Elizabeth married William Rees, of Miner-ville ; Mary married Charles Marsh and lives in St. Louis, Mo. : Sarah died single ; Sophia married George Smith and lives in Ohio; John west west and died of choler .. Henry went west and all trace of ham has been lost ; and William is the father of the subject of this sketch. The opportunities of Wil iam Maurer to acquire an education were rather limited, though his father was one of the first advocates of the free-school system in the county. He attended school but a short time and in Jan. 1802, enlisted in Company 1, 48th Pennsylvania volunteer infantis. With his regiment he was in the battles of South Mountain, Anti -- tam, second Bull Run, Fredericksburg and a number of minor en- gagements. After a service of two years and two months he was discharged, but re-enlisted, at Harrisburg, in the same company and regiment. He started on the Wilderness campaign, but was se- verely wounded in the shoulder at Spottsylvania, being sent to Acquia creek, and thence to Philadelphia, where he went to the hi- pital. The minie ball was extracted in the field hospital and it is still in his possession. He was finally discharged, at Philadelphia, on July 5. 1865. After the war he was not able to do much wor'. but he bought the old homestead, where he is now living, engaged in farming. His son, Ambrose, now manages the farm. In 1866 he married Miss Catherine, daughter of Samuel Heater, a farmer of Hegins township, and this union was blessed with the following children : Lizzie, who married William Baur and lives in Ohio: Ambrose: William, a farmer of Hegins township; Catherine, who married Adelbert Smith and died Jan. 13. 1006; Cora, wife of Lewis Champion, of Pleasantville. N. J .; and Sarah. at home with her father. The mother of these children died June 25. 1892. William Maurer is a Republican, a member of the Lutheran church, was for twenty-one years a school director, was auditor for three years. and has served as a director in the Northwestern Fire Insurance Company for six years. Ambrose U. Maurer attended the local schools until he was seventeen years old. He then managed a farm in the Kessler district of Hegins township about eighteen months for John Jones, of Ashland, and was then for about a year in a hotel at Hegins, in the employ of J. F. H. Long. He then went to Janes- ville, Wis., and took a course in the Valentine school of telegraphy. Upon leaving this school he took a position as assistant operator and station agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at
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Table Grove, Ill., where he remained five months, when he was sent to White Hall, JIl., on the same road, and stayed there for nine months. He then took charge of the office at Riggston, Ill., and held that place for four years, when he was promoted and sent to Piasa, where he remained until 1902, when he resigned and returned to Pennsylvania. In Jan., 1902, hie bought eighty-four acres of land -the old Michael Kessler place-and has since that time been en- gaged in farming and raising poultry and in looking after the man- agement of his father's farm. In Nov., 1892, while at Riggston, he was married to Miss Annie, daughter of George and Sallie Ressler, of ITegins township, where she was born. Her parents were both born in Northumberland county, Pa., but were among the pioneers of Ilegins township. Mr. and Mrs. Maurer have four children liv- ing and one deceased. Their names and dates of birth follow : Earl, Sept. 16, 1896; Myrtle A., Aug. 17, 1898; Willis A., Aug. 4, 1900; George L., March 17, 1903; Phyllis, Aug. 12, 1894. The last named died Sept. 12, 1900. Mr. Maurer is a Republican, takes an active interest in all questions pertaining to the public welfare, and has frequently served as judge of the elections and on the school board.
Maurer, Curtin F., proprietor of a prosperous livery business in Ashland, was born in that borough on June 28, 1865, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fry) Maurer. The father was a native of Schuylkill county and the mother of Northumberland. The pa- ternal grandfather, although of German parentage, was born in this county and was all his active life engaged in the work of a stone mason and in agricultural pursuits. The mother's father, William Fry, was a carpenter and farmer and spent all of his active life in Northumberland county. Daniel Maurer was a bricklayer by voca- tion. He died in Ashland, in 1898, in his sixty-sixth year, and his wife departed this life some two years later, in her sixty-third year, leaving two sons, the younger of whom, Harry G., is a carpenter working at his trade in Wilkes Barre. The subject of this review has spent all his life in Ashland. It was in the public schools of the borough that he received his educational advantages and it was within its limits that he grew to manhood. When he had attained his majority he embarked in the livery business, to which he has since devoted his attention. In 1895 he took possession of his pres- ent well equipped and well stocked stables, and his business has been increased year by year until now he has all he can attend to. Jan. 6, 1887, was celebrated Mr. Maurer's marriage to Miss Arabella Mills, a native of Ashland and a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Winters) Mills, of that borough. This union has been blessed with four children, all boys-Leslie, Howard, Raymond and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Maurer are devout and earnest members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican. but has never sought public office. He is a member of the American hose company of Ashland and fraternally is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
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