USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 43
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gan, and for the following three years was the chief imfluence in its management When it was incorporated under the laws of Wis- consin he became president, but withdrew from active participation as a member of the instruction corps. The presidency he afterwards resigned and then came Last, where he spent a schend your as principal of the commerend department of the Seranten business col- lege. Professor thens' residence in Pottsville dates from 105, when be assumed charge of the business college as general manager and principal instructor. After spending a year with the business college he concluded that there was a demand here for an institution that would offer higher training in commercial subjects, and with his characteristic energy and despatch he went to work and founded the Ulvens school. The curriculum of this school melades courses in English, mathematics and all commercial branches, beatles shorthand and typewriting, and a night school is conducted for those who are un- able to attend during the day. The average attendance at the school thus far is forty, and two regular teachers put in their whole time instruct- ing, while a third is employed temporarily. The site is a convenient one, at No. 1 South Centre street, in the Mountain City buikhing. The graduates are in demand all over the county and many are also placed in remunerative positions in Reading, Philadelphia and other cities, June 3. 1003. Professor Ovens married, at Shelmygan. Wis .. Miss Ada E. Verney, a native of finelph, Cit., and to this union have been born two children-Wilfred and Mildred. The professor is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his wife is a Baptist in her religious affiliations. He is also a member of various professional organizations, including the National Business Teachers association and the National Bookkeepers' and Accountants' association. . MI- though his residence in Schuylkill county has not been of great length it has been of much influence, and he has become one of the most highly respected of its citizens.
Owens, William L., who is principal of the Bunker Hill school of Pottsville and who is a pioneer educator of this city, was born in Beaufort, South Wales, on May 31, 1846. He is one of the eight children of Evan Owens and the other four survivors are George L .. of Reading, Pa .; and John E .. of Harrisburg: Jane, the wife of Samuel Stephens, of Reading ; and Elizabeth, at home. The maternal grandfather of Professor Owens was a soldier in the English army under the Duke of Wellington and participated in the battle of Water- 100. The father succumbed to miner's asthma, in his fifty-first year. and the mother died at the age of seventy-four. When the professor was but a child his parents immigrated in the United States, the passage taking some six weeks, in a sailing vessel, and the profes- sor's sixth birthday anniversary was passed on the water. His boy- hood was spent in the mines at Mount Laffee, where he worked until he was fifteen years of age. . An explosion of gas, in which six others were also badly injured, so crippled Mr. Owens as to effectually prevent his further active participation in mannal labor. He then determined to become an educator, and at once turned his attention
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to that line of work. In June, 1867, he was graduated at the Potts- ville high school and in the fall of that year he began teaching in that city. For forty years he has been engaged in pedagogic work in Pottsville, and for thirty years of that time has been identified with the same school, having been principal of its higher department all of that time. Many of the professional men of the city who have risen to positions of public trust and esteem, frankly acknowledge that their success is in large measure due to the high ideals inspired by Professor Owens while they were pupils in his school-room. On Feb. 18, 1874, occurred Professor Owens' marriage to Miss Martha Lee, a native of Pottsville and a daughter of William and Elizabeth Lee, both deceased. Mr. Lee was a mine foreman and at his death left the following named children: George, Ann, Grace, Thomas, William, Martha ( Mrs. Owens), Libbie, Samuel, and Amy. Amy is a teacher in the Pottsville schools and Samuel is a teacher of music in St. Clair. All the others are married. The children born to Profes- sor and Mrs. Owens are four in number. Thomas L., the eldest, is married and is engaged as a professional baseball player in Toledo, Ohio: Bessie G. is employed in a piano store in Pottsville; Amy M. is a teacher in the Pottsville schools; and William Lee is a student in the high school, of which all the others are graduates. The family are all members of the First Baptist church of Pottsville and the professor is a member of Miners' Lodge, No. 20, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand. He is a stalwart Repub- lican and is a member of the Central Republican club.
Palsgrove, Charles B., the well known cigar manufacturer of Schuylkill Haven, was born in that borough on Sept. 6. 1846, a son of Nathan and Anna M. (Bowen) Palsgrove. An ancestor, George Palsgrove, came to Philadelphia from Rotterdam in 1732. John J. Palsgrove, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. was born in what is now Montgomery county, Pa., in 1777, and was an American soldier in the war of 1812. Nathan Palsgrove was born in Berks county in 1818, came to Schuylkill county in 1842, and in that year established the cigar manufacturing business, which is now conducted by his grandsons. Charles B. Palsgrove attended the public schools of Schuylkill Haven until he was fifteen years old. He then entered his father's establishment and learned the cigar manufacturing busi- ness. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. I, 39th regiment of Pennsylvania volunteer militia, and after 30 days' service was honorably discharged with the regiment. In 1866 he attended the Quaker City business college, graduating in 1867. In the fall of 1868 he entered the office of Charles D. Hipple, then district attorney, and served therein until the spring of 1870, when he took an extended trip to the west. He attended the Keystone state normal school, at Kutztown. for a year and a half. His father died in 1877. whereupon he took charge of the business, which he conducted until 1904, when he sold it to his two sons, Nathan C. and Palgrave E. Oct. 9. 1871, was cele- brated his marriage to Miss Eugenia Deitrich, and to this union were born nine children, all of whom. with the exception of the
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youngest, Arthur, are still living. Nice E. is the wife of John D. Berger, in the knitting business at Schuylkill Haven; Sarah E. is the wife of Wills J. Lawrence, of Minersville, who is engaged with his father in the dry-goods business; Nathan C. married Miss Hola M. Miller, of Frackville : two sons, Palgrave E. and Henry B., and two daughters, Mary E. and Ada E., are at home ; and John W. is a stu- dent in business college. The family are all members of the Re- formed church of Schuylkill Haven. When the Schuylkill county district of the Knights of Labor was organized Mr. Palgrove was one of the moving spirits and was the delegate from the district to the national convention held in Minneapolis, Mihn., in Oct., 1887. Fraternally he is associated with the fore Helms Post, No. 20, Grand Army of the Republic, at Schuylkill Haven, and he was commander of the same for ten consecutive years. He is a member of l'age Lodge, No. 170. Free and Accepted Masons, at Schuylkill Haven, and is a past master of the same. He at one time belonged to the Odd Fellows-both the subordinate lodge and the encampment-the Knights of Pythias, and the Good Templars, and became a part offi- cer in all of them. He also belonged to Sons of America and was secretary of Camp 47 for one year. Politically Mr. Palgrove is independent, but in 1878 he was elected, as a Democrat, to represent the fourth district of Schuylkill county in the first biennial session of the legislature under the new constitution. Ile is a man of excel- lent judgment in business affairs, kindly, genial in manner, and withal a model citizen.
Parker, Hiram, Jr .- The business firm best known under the title of Sparks & Parker represents one of the pioneer industries in Pottsville which has survived the ravages of time. It was estab- lished by Jabez Sparks in 1855, for the manufacture of steam boilers, stacks, ventilating fans, the repairing of machinery, etc., and this is the business now owned and conducted by Hiram Parker. Jr. In 1876 William G. Sparks and Hiram Parker became the constituent members of the firm, and they continued as such until the death of Mr. Sparks. in 1808. For a few years following this event. the estate of William G. Sparks was unsettled, and the business was continued under the title of Sparks & Parker. Mr. Parker then came into the sole ownership. This industry during the half century of its existence has afforded profitable employment to hun- dreds of men, and is one of the few ancient landmarks of Pottsville. The buildings, solid and substantial in their day, show the effects of the passing years. But the interesting life history of Hiram Par- ker. Jr., is not confined alone to the workshops with which his family has been so long connected. He spent more than twelve years in the United States navy, covering the entire period of the Civil war. His duties led him to nearly every port of the civilized world, and thus he rounded out an experience enjoyed by comparatively few men. He enlisted in 1861 as assistant engineer. and was assigned to duty on the gunboat Kanawha, in the Gulf Squadron, under com- mand of Admirals Farragut and Porter. After a year of active serv-
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ice in this capacity he was detailed to take a prize vessel from Mo- bile bay to New York, and while in the city on this mission, he was examined and promoted, and was then assigned to duty on the gunboat Louisiana, in the North Atlantic Squadron, with headquar- ters at New Bernc, N. C. Just prior to the battle of Fort Fisher Mr. Parker was detailed to the gunboat Tacony, on board of which vessel he completed his Civil war service. He participated in a number of naval battles, notably the bombardment of Fort Fisher, and the second battle at that point, which resulted in the capture of that Confederate stronghold. He was with the blockading squadron off Mobile, and in the historic manœuvers of the Gulf and the lower Mississippi. After the close of the Civil war he was with the South Pacific Squadron for three years, and spent a like period with the South Atlantic Squadron, principally on South American coasts, being first assistant engineer on board the Lancaster. He was acting chief engineer on the Powhattan during the Cuban filibustering troubles following the close of the Civil war. One year was spent on shore duty, thus rounding out a continuous service of twelve ycars. Hiram Parker, Jr., was born in Pottsville, Oct. 4, 1841. He is a son of Hiram and Sarah P. (Craft) Parker, natives of Massa- chusetts. His father was born in 1805, and in 1831 he came to Potts- ville, where he conducted a merchant tailoring business during the remaineder of his active life. He was a Presbyterian, and was a ruling elder in the church for many years. He died in his eighty-third year. His wife was born in 1803, and died at the age of seventy-six years. They became the parents of three sons and two daughters, of whom but two sons are living. The sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Harriet Jane, dicd in youth, and Charles died in 1905. The living brother of the subject of this sketch is Samuel, who was born in 1838. He is a farmer living at Maryville, Nodaway county, Mo. Mr. Parker was educated in the public schools of Pottsville. He was employed as a clerk in a store for a year or two after leaving school, and then he became an apprentice to the machinist's trade, at the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad shops. His subsequent business career has already been briefly outlined in this article. He has been twice married. In 187I he wedded Miss Mary E. Sparks, a daughter of his business partner. Three children were born to this union-Dr. Jabez S., a practicing physician in Philadelphia, and Misses Emily Y. and Jessie C., young ladies at home. Mrs. Parker died in 1877, and in Septem- ber, 1884, her sister, Miss Julia F. Sparks, became the wife of Mr. Parker, and the mother of her sister's children. The family are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Parker is a ruling elder. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, and a Republican in political affiliations. He has served a number of years as a member of the Pottsville school board, but never sought or held other political offices.
Patterson, B. F., deceased, the late superintendent of the Potts- ville schools, was born in Orangeville, Columbia county, Pa., March 12, 1835. He graduated from Lafayette college in the class of 1860,
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and then entered Princeton theological seminary, from which he graduated in the class of 1803. He preached for one year in Atsion, N. J. and then came to Pottsville, in 1865, as principal of the high school, a position which he held for two years. April 1, 1807. he was chosen superintendent of the schools, and he held that position continuously until the day of his death, July o. 1000. The following brief tribute to his memory, appearing in the report of the com- mittee on necrology, as adopted at the close of the Teachers' Insti- tute of to, shows the appreciation in which he was held by his fellow laborers in the cause of education : "B. F. Patterson, for nearly forty years the able superintendent of the Pottsville schools, was a man known to every teacher in Schuylkill county, but best under- stoel and best appreciated by those who knew him best He was a loyal friend, a kind and helpful neighbor, an upright, law-abiding. peace-loving citizen; he loved his home, his friends, his school chil- dren, his teachers, his town and his state: with many of the falls and frills which characterized the times he had little sympathy: in the defense of what he believed to be right and just, he would stand as firm as a rock and fall in the thick of the fight, rather than yickt a single point. He died in early summer, loved, and revered by his teachers, honored and respected by all who knew him, and now sleeps in the Presbyterian cemetery on the hillside near the laurels. overlooking the town he loved so well. Resolved. That we revere the memory of these, our fallen comrades, cherish their virtues, and emulate their examples for good .- S. A. Thurlow. I. D. Reed, J. W. Cooper, Maude Butts, Committee." Superintendent Patterson was a man of broad views and great intellectual force. He was a thorough organizer, an excellent disciplinarian, and an educator of state-wide reputation. His long continuance at the head of the Pottsville schools placed him in close touch with the educational careers of two genera- tions of young people who have gone out into the world of lines, while other generations have succeeded them, in the ever-changing evolutions of time. Professor Patterson was a man of charitable nature and sympathetic heart. For many years he was a member of the board of directors of the Children's Home and the Pottsville benevolent association. He was also a member of the state board of education. He was elected to the office of superintendent of the Pottsville schools without opposition and without competition from outside aspirants, during the many years of his term of service, the place seeming to go to him as by distinctive right and consistency. Mr. Patterson left a wife, two sons and a daughter to mourn the death of a loving. indulgent and honored husband and father. The sons are Frank, of Washington, and Robert. of Mexico. The daugh- ter. Miss Jennie, is with her mother at their temporary home at Easton. Pa.
Paul, Harry E .. a marble-cutter, engaged in business at Port Carbon, was born near Landingville. this county, in 1854. a son of Tobias and Susan (Lindemuth) Paul. Until he was thirteen years of age he attended the public schools, and then for a number of years
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he worked at anything that offered. When he had passed his eighteenth birthday he determined to become a marble-cutter, and accordingly started in to learn the trade. After he had become a journeyman he worked at the vocation until 1885, and in that year embarked in the business for himself. That he has been successful is evident from his continuance in this line of enterprise, and from the eminent satisfaction of all for whom he has done work. In politics Mr. Paul has been allied with no party or faction, and has cast his vote for the man he has considered best fitted for the office. He himself has been a school director for a good many years, and has been chief burgess. In 1881 was celebrated his marriage to Miss Mary Hoffman, daughter of William and Margaret Hoffman. A son, Harry E., Jr., is the only child of the union. The family are attendants and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church of Port Carbon. Mr. Paul is well known in fraternal circles, being a member of Camp No. 34, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, of Port Carbon ; Lodge No. 27, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the lodge of the Independent Order of Americans. He has a brother, Horace, and two sisters, Emma and Hannah, living. Through- out the county he is known as a skilled workman and a man of enterprise and integrity.
Payer, Stephen F., proprietor of the largest and most modern general store in McAdoo, was born on July 26, 1867, in Austro- Hungary. He is one of the four children of Joseph and Elizabeth (Krautkremmer) Payer, the others being Annie, now Mrs. Joseph Paumer, a resident of Century, Fla .; Joseph, Jr., living in McAdoo, and Wendele, formerly a member of the Hungarian army, who holds a position in the service of the government of his native land. The subject of this sketch attended the government schools of the county of Saros, Austro-Hungary, until he was fifteen years of age, and then came to the United States, locating first in McAdoo, in 1882. His first employment was as a slate-picker in the No. 4 breaker of the Lehigh & Wilkes Barre Coal Company, and while there he learned to speak the English language. When he had mastered it sufficiently he accepted a position as clerk in the store of Joseph Matej, of Hazle- ton, with whom he remained nine months, leaving to accept a similar position in the employ of Michael McGarrity, also of Hazleton. This kept him employed for two years, after which he went to Bayonne, N. J., and for the following five months he worked in a lumber-yard and for the Standard Oil Company. On his return to Hazleton, in 1887, he again found employment with Mr. McGarrity, but after nine months left him to go to Passaic, N. J., to learn the trade of weaver in the woolen mills of that place. This, however, he was compelled to abandon because of poor health, and he started to learn the carpenters' trade. This was in 1888; in which year he returned to Hazleton to become an employe of Williams & Fertig. Upon leaving this firm he entered the employ of Mr. McGarrity for the third time. July 1, 1889, he came to McAdoo and opened a branch store for Martin & Newreth. He had charge of the store for two
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years, and then, in September, 1891. he engaged in business in his own name, as a dealer in boots and shoes and men's furnishings. In February, too, he added a grocery department, so that to-day his store is one of the most complete as well as one of the largest gen- cral merchandise stores in Schuylkill county. Besides his mercantile business, he holds the agency for several foreign steamship lines and for foreign money orders, and is the Me Adoo representative of the Springfield ( Mass. ) Fire & Marine Insurance Company. He also holds a commission as notary public, and in 1903 was made justice of the peace, which office he still retains. In politics he is a talwart behever in the principles and tenets of the Democratic party, and when Mc. Adoo first became a borough he was for four years one of its councilmen. Oct. 7. 1888, Mr. Payer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Fuchs, the ceremony occurring at Hazleton. The children of this union are nine in number-Oscar, Felix, Adolph, Olga, Stephen, Jr., Cornell, Gizella, Alfred and Ida-all of whom are living except Cornell, who died at sea. Mrs. Payer's father and mother were Stephen and Elizabeth ( Kurtz) Fuchs, who came to this country from Hungary, although the family is of German origin. The Payers are communicants of the Slavish Roman Catholic church, Mr. Payer is a member of the National Slavonian society, the First Slavonian Catholic union, and the Knights of Columbus. He is an excellent type of the progressive, enterprising foreign-born citizen, and is one of the most public-spirited and respected men of the community.
Pepper. Frank J., member of the firm of Thomas Pepper's Sons, wholesale liquor dealers, of Ashland, was born at Mine Hill Gap, Schuylkill county. Jan. 6. 1865. his parents being Thomas and Eliza- beth ( McDonald) Pepper. (See sketch of Thomas Pepper. ) He was reared to manhood in Ashland, and after attending the public schools of that city took a course in the Bryant & Stratton business college of Philadelphia, thus equipping himself for a business career. Upon attaining his majority he became associated with his father in business, and when the latter retired, in 1807, he, with his brothers, Thomas R. and John W., succeeded to the business, which is now conducted under the title above designated. Mr. Pepper is one of the public-spirited men of AAshland, always takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the city's moral and material interests, and is liberal in his support of measures to secure those ends. He is aligned with the Democratic party in his political views, and in religious matters is a member of the St. Joseph's Ro- man Catholic church. He is also a member of the Holy Name so- ciety, the Knights of St. Joseph. and Ashland Lodge, No. 384, Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks. Nov. 25. 1890. Mr. Pepper and Miss Loretta Sweeney were united in marriage. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Murphy) Sweeney, of Ashland. To this marriage have been born five children. viz : Mary. Elizabeth. Francis, Thomas and Howard. The last named is deceased.
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Pepper, Thomas, retired, for many years a prosperous and in- fluential merchant of Ashland, was born at Mine Hill Gap, South Cass township, this county, in March, 1842. His parents, Patrick and Marcella (Reilly) Pepper, were natives of County Longford, Ireland, and were married in New York city, about 1836. For a number of years the father was employed in a foundry in New York city, but about 1839 or 1840 he came to the coal regions of Schuylkill county, where he earned his livelihood about the mines for a good many years. The latter part of his life was spent in Ash- land, where he died in the fall of 1888, at the age of seventy-five. He was the father of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch being the third in order of birth. Of the ten who grew to maturity Francis and Charles are deceased; Will- iam and James died in infancy. The others are Ann, now the wife of James Bradley; Michael; Jolin; Mary, now Mrs. Hugh Tye; William; Angelo; and Lizzie. Thomas Pepper was reared at Mine Hill Gap and received his education in the common schools there. At an early age he began work in the mines as a slate-picker, subse- quently becoming a driver and later a miner. When he left the mining occupation it was to engage in the bottling of non-intoxi- cating beverages at Ashland, and in 1872 he embarked in the whole- sale liquor business. This he continued to conduct personally until 1899, when he disposed of his interests to his sons, who have since been operating it under the firm name of Thomas Pepper's Sons. In 1863 Mr. Pepper was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mc- Donald, a daughter of Peter and Hannah (Patton) McDonald. Mrs. Pepper's parents were natives of Ireland and England, respectively. Eight of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pepper grew to maturity- Frank, Hannah (Mrs. Patrick Laughlin), Thomas R., Mary (now deceased), John, George, Charles V., and Joseph. The family are all communicants of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church. Mr. Pep- per is a Democrat in his political beliefs, and he was county treasurer from 1891 to 1894 and a member of the borough council for two terms. His varied business interests include a directorship in the Citizens' National bank, of Ashland.
Peters, W. A., of the firm of W. A. Peters & Co., of Tamaqua, dealers in dry goods, was born in Lehigh county. Pa., Jan. 28, 1875, a son of W. K. and Katie (Moser) Peters. The mother died in 1895 at the age of fifty-five, but the father is still living, an honored resident of Slatington, Pa., where for many years he was a slate operator. He is president of the Farmers' Union Mutual fire insur- ance company of Pennsylvania, with office at Breinigsville, Pa., and is an earnest worker in the Heidelberg church. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Peters, of whom one, Edward, resides in Schuylkill county with the subject of this sketch. W. A. Peters acquired his education in the public schools, and after com- pleting his studies there took a special commercial course. He then went into the mercantile business as a clerk and bookkeeper, and after becoming thoroughly acquainted with every detail he opened a
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