USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 40
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lic schools he is indebted for his early educational discipline. In 1885 he entered the employ of the Wilkes Barre & Western Rail road Company and became concerned in the erection of bridges. depois, etc. At the expiration of about eighteen months he re- tired from this line of work, after which he was employed at his trade in various parts of the state until 1892, when he located in Pottsville, where he has since maintained his home and where he has been established in successful business as a contractor and builder since 1804. He has created many high-grade buildings in this locality, and among the more noteworthy may be men- tioned the Polish Catholic church at New Philadelphia, the Fishbach public school building in Pottsville and the new annex to the Jallapa public school in this city He also had the con- tract for the rebuilding of the Mountain City building, owned by J. Michle & Son, Pottsville. He has built many of the finest pri- vate houses in his home borough, and his reputation as a reliable and able business man is unassailable. He is also a member of the firm of Messersmith Brothers, dealers in furniture at Lans- ford. Mr. Messersmith is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. is a Democrat in his political adherency, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Mes- sersmith has been twice married. His deceased wife's maiden name was Margaret Evans, and she was born in Wales, a daughter of George and Fanny Evans. She is survived by two children -- Leroy and Leah. Mr. Messersmith's second marriage was to Miss Caroline Miller, daughter of Levi and Rebecca Miller, of Pottsville.
Meyers, Charles, proprietor of the Evening Chronicle, Potts- ville, was born in Minersville. Schuylkill county, Pa., Nov. 25. 1855. He is descended from German ancestors, his parents. Jacob and Susanna ( Laudeman) Meyers, being natives of Bavaria. They immigrated to America in 1852, and were married in Minersville. in which borough they passed the closing years of their lives. The father died in March, 1894, at the age of sixty-seven, and the mother died three months later, at the age of seventy-two. Charles Meyers has been entirely self-dependent from early youth. His parents were not financially able to afford him the advantages of an education, and he left school at the age of ten years to join the army of slate-pickers at the mines. Ile was employed in this capacity and that of a "loader" until he was eighteen years of age. Thereafter he was employed in various lines of work for a num- ber of years, until after his marriage, in 1880, when he returned to the mines as a foreman, being thus employed for several years. at different places. In 1894 he became the superintendent of the Brookwood Coal Company's washery at Mahanoy Plane, both he and his brother Harry having an interest in the $50.000 plant there erected. In 1896 Mr. Meyers resigned his position and was nominated as Republican candidate for the office of county commissioner, a position to which he was elected by a handsome
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majority. After completing his term of office Mr. Meyers again returned to the mines, having retained his interest in the property previously mentioned, and soon thereafter considerable change was made in the proprietorship, other property was purchased, and the business of the firm expanded. It now became known as the G. B. Newton & Company Consolidation, and Mr. Meyers owned a one-third interest, being superintendent of the business. Leases were secured on additional property, in different parts of the county, the business being devoted principally to washing culm banks, which proved profitable. In Aug., 1903, Mr. Meyers sold his interest in the extensive business here briefly described, and in May, 1905, he purchased the Chronicle, which is one of the prin- cipal daily papers in Pottsville, as it is also, under various changes of name and proprietorship, one of the oldest. The plant is large and valuable, fully equipped for all kinds of book and job work, in connection with publishing a daily and a weekly newspaper. Charles Meyers was married Feb. 8, 1880, to Miss Caroline Semmet, of Cressona, Schuylkill county. Her parents, Frederick and Eliza- beth (Leonard) Semmet, were natives of Bavaria and located at Cressona in an early day. Her father was killed in a railroad accident, in 1875, and her mother died at Cressona in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers have two daughters, Misses Marion and Helen. Both are attending school in Pottsville. The only son, whose name was Frank, is deceased.
Michel, George H., son of Christ and Frances (Walters) Michel, was born in Tremont, Schuylkill county, Pa., Oct. 8, 1865, and is one of a family of eight children-five sons and three daughters. His brothers are Joseph, Charles, John and William, and his sis- ters, Carrie, Frances and Emma. He attended the public schools in Tremont until he was ten years of age, then going to work in the Brookside colliery. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice in the bakery and confectionary business and served three and a half years, learning the trade of J. B. Christ, of Tre- mont. At the age of nineteen he left Tremont and went to Phil- adelphia, where he worked at his trade until 1888. He then came to Schuylkill Haven and started in business for himself on a small scale, gradually increasing facilities until his had grown to be a very large and complete establishment. He manufactured a full line of bakery goods and was also a wholesale jobber of confectionary. He continued in this business until Apr. 1, 1906, when he retired and sold his interest to his two brothers, Joseph M. and Charles H. Michel, who now conduct the business under the name of Michel Brothers. Mr. Michel was married in May, 1889, to Alice A. Berger, daughter of Samuel and Christine (Buehler) Berger, of Schuylkill Haven. They had one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Michel is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Royal Arcanum. He is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to public office.
Michetti, Rev. Peter, pastor of St. Joseph's Italian Roman Catholic church at Pottsville, was born in Italy, on May 19, 1878, a son
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of Domme and theruling Muletti The father is living in the od country with another son The preliminary education of the subject of this sketch was received in a summary new his hatte village, and in Sept . 1002, he went to Kunne, where, on May 25 of the following year, be read his first mass His arrival in the tinted States dates from Vos 21, 8005, when he Lindel in New York, direct from Rome In Jan, top, he came to Pottsville and assumed the change which he now holds His pastorale includes Ital in congregations in many different towns, and most of the services are held in the German Catholic churches The class at Mmers ville comprises thirty-tive families, Nesquehoning, fifty five fam thes. Mahaney City, thirty families, Schuylkill Haven. Meld families; St. Clair. five families. New Philadelphia, five families. and Blackwood, fifteen families. Beside these there are many am- gle men and the church at Pottsville has a membership roll of seventy five families. The congregation recently purchased from the St. John the Baptist congregation the German Catholic church edifice and there each Sunday Father Michetti holds services. Although he has been a resident of Pottsville but a short time he has won the respect and esteem of the community by his able and intelligent efforts in the behalf of his countrymen.
Miller, Preston, land surveyor for the Philadelphia & Reaching Coal & Iron Company, is a native of Liking Valley. Dauphin county, Pa., where he was born on Feb. 6, 1838. He is a som of John and Leah ( Bower) Miller, of German antecedents. I father, who was a tanner and farmer by occupation, was born in 1800, and died in 1870. He was a native of Lancaster county. Pa. The mother, whose maiden name was Leah Bower, was born in Berks county in 1815, and died in 1891. The subject of this article received a liberal education in the schools of his youth- ful days, dividing his time between attendance at the district school and working on his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he began teaching, and he continued this work during the winter seasons for five or six years. In the meantime his aspirations for higher education were gratified, principally by his own efforts. and he enrolled as a student in Berrysburg seminary ; Jater he took a course in U'nion seminary at New Berlin, Pa. His professional education was acquired in the Polytechnical college at Philadel- phia. He came to Schuylkill county in 1868 as a surveyor for the same corporation with which he is now connected, and has been employed in this capacity for thirty-four years. His long con- tinuance at the head of this important branch of the company's varied industries is the best recognition of superior merit. Mr. Miller has been twice married-first on Dec. 21. 1865, when he wedded Miss Sarah Louisa Schwab. This union was blessed by the birth of three sons: John Harvey, a practicing physician in Harrisburg: Charles Logan, engaged in the coal business in Philadelphia ; and Arthur Clayton, who died at the age of three years. Dr. John H. Miller, the eldest of the sons, is a graduate of Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, and also completed a
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course in pharmacy prior to taking up his medical studies. Mrs. Miller died Sept. 12, 1876, and on Dec. 31, 1879, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Miller to Miss Elizabeth Robinson. Three daughters were born to this union: . Anna Robinson, Helen Eliza- beth and one who died in infancy, unnamed. Miss Anna was educated at Elmira college, New York, and her sister, Miss Helen, completed her education at Swarthmore college, in Delaware county, Pa. Both young ladies are at home. Preston Miller was the only son born to his parents, his sisters being Anna Maria, deceased wife of Samuel Snyder, and Miss Elizabeth. In political affiliations Mr. Miller is a Democrat, but has never been controlled by party lines. He is proud of the fact that he supported Lincoln and Grant, and sustained the efforts of the national government in the suppression of treason and disunion. In the selection of po- litical candidates he supports men rather than measures, and is al- ways found on the side of right as he understands the right. Ile has never aspired to public office. The paternal grandfather of Preston Miller was Jacob Miller, who wife was Mary Ruhl. Their home was in Lancaster county. The maternal grandfather, John Bower, was a merchant, farmer and tanner in Oley township, Berks county. His wife's maiden name was Anna Kehler. Pres - ton Miller is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and also holds membership in the Pennsylvania Forestry society, the Schuylkill County Historical society, and the German-American society.
Monaghan, Joseph P., a prominent young attorney of the Schuylkill county bar whose office is in Shenandoah, is a native of Girardville, this county, where he was born on Jan. 6, 1876. He is a son of Patrick and Bridget ( (Derrick) Monaghan, both of whom were born in County Mayo, Ireland, whence they came to this country with their respective parents while still young children. Both families located in Minersville and there the parental marriage was celebrated. The father has been engaged in pedagogic work all his active life with the exception of the four years that he served in the Union army during the Civil war, as a private in the 48ch Pennsylvania infantry. For the past thirty years he has been principal of the Girardville schools. Of the seven children born to the parents, six are living. William J. is a practicing physician at Girardville; Mary Z., a graduate of the Keystone state normal school, at Kutztown, is a teacher : Margaret is the wife of T. J. Slattery, station agent of the Phila- delphia & Reading Railroad at Girardville; Vincent D. is a drug- gist at Girardville ; and Helen, at home, is a graduate of the pub- lic schools. In 1890 the subject of this sketch completed the courses offered in the public schools of Girardville and he pre- pared for college at Kutztown normal school, where he grad- uated two years later. In the fall of 1892 he entered Georgetown University, at Washington, D. C., and he was graduated at that institution in 1896, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then began the study of law in the office of the Hon. James B. Reilly,
SCHL YLKILL. COUNTY
of Pottsville, and on July 22. But, after successfully passing the examination of the state board, he was admitted to the practice of Its profession He immediately removed to Shenandoah and has since been prominent as an attorney in many of the most inter esting causes which have been tried in this county. Politically lie is a Democrat, and although he takes an active and intuential part in the campaigns, he has never been a candidate for office His religions affiliations are with the Roman Cathohe church I raternally he is identified with Council No. 618 of the Knights of Columbus, being the present meambient of the office of clan cellor, and is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Monaghan, Patrick F., is the competent president and general manager of the John B. Monaghan's Sons wholesale honor house of Shenandoah, the firm being I. F & M. V. Monaghan. The business was established by their father, John B. Monaghan. at Ashland, in 1858, and for eleven years he most successfully operated it at that place. Then he removed to Shenandoah and engaged in the same line, conducting in connection with it a grocery bus ness. For a period of thirty years the business was conducted as first established and then the growing interests of the liquor trade demanded more space, whereupon the grocery department of the business was closed out and the additional space thus gained was used in the development of the liquor industry. Even with this added room the business outgrew its quarters, and within the past few years a three-story cement-block building, equipped with all modern appliances for the ready handling of the heavy goods com- prising the stock in trade, has been erected. It is occupied chiefly as a storage room and rectifying plant. Under the former manage- ment, as now, the house has always been one of the leading com- mercial institutions of Schuylkill county and it has built up and maintained an excellent permanent trade. The institution has weathered the storms of financial panic and labor troubles of the past few years-ordeals which sent many houses of good stand- ing to the wall. It is probable, however, that no business man of the community suffered more severely than did the elder Mon- aghan, but he always came up smiling and with renewed vigor set to work to recover lost ground. Patrick F. Monaghan, the sul- ject of this sketch. was born in Ashland. on Oct 2, 1866. 1lis parents came to Shenandoah when he was a mere child and his educational advantages were received in the schools of that bor- ough. When he started out to earn his own living it was as an employe of his father, and he continued with him until the par- ent's death, in 1903. Then he assumed the full responsibility of the ownership and management of the concern. He was familiar with every detail of the business and no loss of prestige was oc- casioned the firm when he took hold. It has the same universal esteem of patrons and others which marked its hold upon the com- munity under the old regime. In 1897 Mr. Monaghan married Miss Eleanor J. Rossiter, a native of Philadelphia, and to this union have been born three children-James, Mary and Eleanor.
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The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church of the Annunciation. Mr. Monaghan never takes an active part in politics. His other business interests include a directorate in the Merchants' National Bank of Shenandoah. M. V. Monaghan was born July 14, 1880, in Shenandoah, where he received a public-school education. He has been identified with the firm since the father's death. He takes an active interest in politics being prominent in the councils of the Democratic party. He is one of the directors of the Miners', Mechanics' and Laborers' Building and Loan As- sociation and the Citizens' Electric Light Company. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church.
Monahan, Thomas A., M. D., a physician and surgeon of Shen- andoah, was born at Tremont, Schuylkill county, Jan. 9, 1880, and is a son of John J. and Margaret (Carroll) Monahan, the former a native of England and the latter of Schuylkill county. The father has been identified with the mining industry all his life. For some time he was mine foreman and he is now district sup- erintendent of mines, his jurisdiction extending to five collieries about Shenandoah. The children of the family are: Mayme, at home with her parents; Dr. Thomas A .; Margaret, a teacher in the public schools of Washington, D. C .; Anna, a music teacher in Shenandoah; John, a student in Mount St. Mary's college, at Baltimore, Md .; and James and Philomena, attending the Shenan- doah public schools. Dr. Monahan was educated in the public schools and at Westchester state normal school, after which he entered the Jefferson medical college of Philadelphia, in 1901, and was graduated with the class of 1905. For fourteen months he was resident physician in the Mercy hospital at Wilkes Barre, and he then began general practice at Shenandoah. Although one of the youngest physicians in the city he has demonstrated his ability in the treatment of diseases and is rapidly building up a successful practice. He is a member of the Shenandoah medical society and the alumni society of Jefferson medical college; is ex- amining physician for the ladies' auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Prudential Life Insurance Company, and belongs to the Foresters of America. On all questions touching national politics Dr. Monahan is inclined to the Democratic party, though in local matters he exercises his suffrage to suit himself. He is unmarried and lives at home with his parents.
Mootz, John, a prominent merchant residing in Pottsville, was born in Luxemburg, Germany. March 15, 1856, and received his education in his native country. He came alone to America in 1872 and located at once in Pottsville, where he secured employ- ment on the railroad. He remained in the service of the Phila- delphia & Reading for seven years, the last five of which he was a freight-train conductor. Upon leaving the road he engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business at Palo Alto, where he continued the enterprise for a period of fifteen years. At the end of that time he disposed of his stock of dry-goods and removed his stock of groceries to the building at 218-220 South Center street: Potts-
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ville, where he has been engaged in business over Hill Monts's wife was formerly Miss Barbara Hummel, a las ni rehine ment and culture and a daughter of the late George If Hummel of Pottsville i children have blessed this union Fille. George 1. Emma. Marv, John F and Barbara All the children are grad utes of St John's parochial school in Pottsville The two sons are engaged in business with their father, and the daughters arc at home The family are all communicants of the Roman Cath phe church, and are regular attendants and workers in the same In politics Mr Mots is a Democrat, but never was in sympathy with the free-silver propaganda of his parts The other Ininess interests include the presidency of the Rettig Brewing Company, in which he is heavily interested as a stockholder, and he is als director and stockholder in the Schuylkill Toast Company, a director in the Pottsville Mutual Fire Insurance Company and a director and treasurer of the new City Building and Loan Associa tion He is highly respected for his business ability, his thrift and his honesty
Mortimer. George Wesley, a well known business man of Potts- ville, and a representative of an old and honored family, was born Sept. 6, 1851. He is a son of William and Susan J. (Simp som) Mortimer, and in the paternal line the family was represented in this country prior to the Revolution. They are of English or traction and the original American progenitors came to this conn- try as subjects of King George, but soon allied themselves with the cause of the colonists William Mortimer, the father of the subject of this article, was a son of William Mortimer, who was an early pioneeer of this county, to which he came from Valley Forge, in 1826. He was one of the early state senators from Schuylkill county, and was otherwise prominently identified with the county's early history. He purchased a hotel property on the Site of the present Mountain City building, and conducted that. in connection with a mercantile business, for many years He was an ardent Democrat, and a leader of his party in local politics. William Mortimer. Jr., father of the subject of this sketch. was a dry-goods merchant. and was prominent in the business circles of Pottsville. He became the father of fourteen children, and nearly all of his sons are identified with mercantile hie in Pottsville. The oldest of this family was Mary Frances. who died at about the age of sixty years. She was the wife of William H. Robinson. Sarah is the widow of John Engle : Emma I. is the wife of James Muir, and Susan I. is the widow of Dr. Charles T. Palmer: Charles W. conduct- a hat store and men's furnishing business in Pottsville: George Wesley, of this sketch, is the next in order of birth : Franklin Pierce is a dry-goods mer- chant in Pottsville; and William Horace is a jeweler in the same town : Minnie Allen married John J. Garbin, and resides in Potts- ville : Joseph Gilmore, the youngest of the living, is a jeweler in his native town. Walter. William John. Ellen and James died in infancy or early childhood. George Wesley Mortimer was edu-
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cated in the public schools of Pottsville, at the Paschal Institute of Technology, and at Millersville state normal school. His carlv aspiration was to become a lawyer, and with this object in view, he entered the law office of A. W. Schalck, Esq., and began the preliminary study. But the confinement was detrimental to his health, and after one year spent in this preparatory work he de- cided to accept a position which was tendered him, and became the bookkeeper for the Diamond Coal Company, continuing with that firm until November, 1873, when he engaged in his present busi- ness-real estate and insurance. He is the representative of many of the leading insurance companies of the United States, and transacts a large business, both in real estate and insurance. Mr. Mortimer was married Sept. 6, 1876, to Miss Anna M., daughter of Jeremiah and Amanda (Morgan) Seitzinger. They have no children. The subject of this article is prominently identified with several business interests besides those mentioned. He is one of the managers of the Pottsville hospital, is a director in the Pottsville Water Company, and a director in the Schuylkill Trust Company (bank). He holds membership in the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The religious affiliations of the family are with the First Presby- terian church, Mr. Mortimer being one of the church. trustces. The maternal branch of this family, as represented by Susan J. Simpson, was also of English extraction, but the history has not been well preserved. It is known that the maternal grandfather of Mr. Mortimer was a man of education, and that he was a pro- fessor in a private seminary for young ladies; but even tradi- tional history does not establish the date of the family's introduc- tion into the New World.
Moser, Joseph R., proprietor of a general store in Locustdale, was born in that borough on Nov. 12, 1865. He is one of seven children of George H. and Catherine (Davis) Moser, the others being Charles, Fred B., Alec, Harriet, Clara and Lizzie. The father was born in Germany, but came to this country while still a youth, receiving his education in the Pottsville schools. He went into the grocery business when he had completed his educa- tion and in 1858 came to Locustdale, where he managed a grocery store for one of the colliery firms until that firm was purchased by a Reading concern. Then, in partnership with Alexander S. Morehead, he purchased the company store and for six years they continued in the management of it. At that time Mr. Morehead left the active business end and his wife took his interest. This part- nership continued for three years more and then Mr. Moser purchased the partner's interest, after which he continued to conduct the enter- prise under his own name until 1899.
Moyer, Edward J., son of William and Susan (Snyder) Moyer. was born in Wayne township, this county, Nov. 12, 1878. He has one brother, Harry, and two sisters-Clara. wife of Daniel Phillips, of Schuylkill Haven, and Gertrude, wife of Clinton Confehr, of the same place. Edward J. attended the township public schools until
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