USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
301
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
store in famaqua This was im ISS, and since then he has con- tinned most successfully engaged in this line of enterprise. Mr. Peter is unmarried. He is a member of the Reformed church and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Filks. Among his friends he is recognized as a gemal, hearty fellow, a thorough gentleman, and a man of unusual business sagacity.
Philips, Edwin F., M. D., who for more than thirty five years has been engaged in the practice of makeme at Tower City, is a native of Schuylkill county, having been born at Minersville, Jan. 31. 1840. a son of Solomon and Leah ( Hornberger ) Phihps, the former born in Lancaster county, Pa., March 5. 1823, and the latter a native of Northumberland county. Solomon Philips was a thinth and sheet-iron worker. In his early hie he was employed for some years at Canton, Ohio, but in 1847 be located at Minersville, where he has been engaged in business for fifty-five years. He is a Republican and has served for twenty-five years as president of the school board. llis wife died in December. 1004. Their children are: Dr. Edwin 1. : Calvin B., postmaster at Frackville; Willie, who died at the age of three years : John, station agent for the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Minersville : Charles, station agent for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad at the same place : Cora A., married and living in California : Clement M .. a photographer at Minersville ; and Harry, despatcher for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad at Palo Alto, Pa. Dr. Edwin F. Philips attended the home schools and spent one year in Professor William F. Wyers' military academy at West Chester. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. Oscar M. Robbins, of Miners- ville, and in 1868, after due preparation, entered Jefferson medical college at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1871. Upon com- pleting his course be located in Tower City, where he has since lived and where he has built up a successful practice, standing high with his brother physicians and the general public. Dr. Philips is a mem- her of the state medical association and is examiner for all the leading life-insurance companies doing business in Tower City. He is a Republican in his political affiliations, was a member of the first city council, in which he served for three years, and was for many Years on the school board. He was one of the organizers of the Williams Valley Railroad Company, of which he has been treasurer since 189t. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Swatara Lodge. No. 267. the Royal Arch Chapter, at Minersville, and Pottsville Commandery. No. 41. Knights Templars. He also belongs to Washington Camp, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. May 28, 18;2, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Philips and Miss Emma, daughter of Thomas and Abigail ( Hoffman ) Acker, of Port Clinton. where her father was a well-known contractor and builder. To this union have been born five children, three of whom survive. Lulu A. was educated in the state normal school at West Chester and has been a teacher for six years, being now engaged in that profession at Wrightstown; Maude A. also was educated in the same school. taught one year at Harrington, five years at Toms River. N. J., and
361
BIOGRAPHICAL
for the last two years has been in the schools of Tower City ; Ray A. attended the state university, for four years, and is now an electrical engineer.
Phillips, John W., cashier of the First National Bank, Mahanoy City, is a native of the borough in which he now lives, and was born on Sept. 30, 1864. His parents, Richard and Mary ( Evans ) Phillips, were natives of Wales, whence they immigrated to this county during the carly history of the regions "beyond the mountain."
Pilgram, Arthur J., a representative lawyer and borough solicitor of Pottsville, is a native of Texas, where he was born Feb. 18, 1851. His parents were John and Elise Pilgram, natives of Cologne, Germany. John Pilgram was educated in his native country, at the University in Bonn, and was an architect by profession. Arthur J. Pilgram was educated at Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., and was graduated with the class of 1872. He was admitted to the bar of Schuylkill county Ang. 23, 1875, and has been in active practice in Pottsville for twenty-six years. He was chosen to the office of bor- ough solicitor in 1899, and has been continued in the same to the present time. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for judge of the court of common pleas of Schuylkill county in 1907. He is a Republican in political views and is a member of the First Pres- byterian church of Pottsville. Mr. Pilgram was married Ang. 7, 1877, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Daniel and Harriet S. Schertel, of Pottsville.
Ploppert, Arsenius R., one of the representative business men of Shenandoah, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Jan. 10, 1853, and is a son of Gregory and Mary Catherine Ploppert, who passed their entire lives in Germany, where the father followed the trade of blacksmith, which also became the vocation of his three sons. The subject of this sketch was afforded the advantages of the excellent schools of his native land and as a youth learned the trade of black- smith, under the direction of his father. In 1871 he immigrated to America. He made his home with relatives in St. Clair, Schuylkill county, until he established a home of his own. He was without financial resources when he came to the United States, and for several years he followed various occupations, bending his energies to the work in hand and showing the energy and good judgment which are so typical of the race from which he sprang. He assisted in building the dam on Broad mountain which supplies water to the city of Potts- ville. In 1873 he found employment at Atkins' colliery on Turkey Run, and later he worked at his trade at Wiggins' colliery, where he remained for seven years. When the property changed hands the new company transferred him to Boston Run colliery, and there he followed the blacksmith trade about seven years, at the expiration of which he was placed in charge of the machinery at the Indian Ridge colliery. After being thus employed about seven years he en- gaged in business for himself, as a huckster, beginning operations with one horse and wagon. He finally opened a small store in Shen- andoah and the same was placed in charge of his wife, while he
362
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
personally continued to make sales from his wagon He finally found it possible to open a general grocery and provision store, and he pur- chased the building which he then made his business headquarters and which he has since remodeled and enlarged, making the same serve both as store and residence. He has built up a large and sub- stantil enterprise and is known as one of the reliable and honorable merchants of Shenandoah. He has been a member of Rescue hook and ladder company since 1870, and has proven a most able member of the fire department. In politics he maintains an independent atti- tude, and he and hus family are communicants of the C'atholic church, being identified with the Holy Family parish. Mr. Ploppert's two brothers, Leonard and Wilham, served in the German army during the Franco-Prussian war. Leonard is now operating his father's old blacksmith shop in Germany, and William died in Pottsville, Pa .. July 17, 1001: he was born March 31. 1848, and was a hotel-keeper in Pottsville for a number of years prior to his death. The only sister of Mr. Ploppert is a member of the Catholic sisterhood of St. Francis. Her religious name is Sister Wilhelmina, and she is now teaching in the parochial school of Holy Trinity church at Co- lumbia, Lancaster county. Within the first year after coming to America Mr. Ploppert saved enough money to pay the passage of his brother and sister to the United States, and for some time the three lived together in Shenandoah. Aug. 21, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Floppert to Miss Annie Weweler, who was born at .Ashland, Schuylkill county, a daughter of Joseph and Annic C. ( Falbrick) Weweler, both of whom were born and reared in Ger- many. Mr. and Mrs. Ploppert became the parents of seven children- Catherine. Joseph, Caroline, John, William, Arsenius, and Len. Caro- line and John died in childhood. The other children all remain at the parental home, and Joseph, William and Arsenius are employed in connection with their father's business.
Portz, Frederick, Sr., who has rendered efficient service as a member of the board of county poor directors of Schuylkill county, is a well-known business man of Pottsville. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, Dec. 13, 1841. He immigrated to America, and located in Pottsville. Pa .. March 12. 1867. His parents and family remained in their native country, where his mother died in 1878, and his father in 1005. at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. A brother. whose name was Valentine, died in Bavaria the same year of the father's death. A sister, named Henrietta, is living at the old family home. Mr. Portz was married in Pottsville. in 1871. to Miss Lucinda Clare. who was born in this town in 1858. They became the parents of seven children: Frederick, the eldest, has been a salesman and fore- man in Bright's hardware store in Pottsville for seventeen years; George is employed in his father's business: Valentine and Eddie died within the same week; Katherine became the wife of Howard Menweiler, who was killed in a railroad accident in 1905. and they had two children. Carl and Catherine: another daughter, Mrs. Fred- erick Bernet, resides in Mahanoy City, where her husband is a mer-
363
BIOGRAPHICAL
chant; Harry C. is a student in civil engineering, with the Philadel- phia & Reading company, for the last four years. Frederick Portz, Sr., was employed as foreman of the fermenting department of Yuengling's brewery for fourteen years. He engaged in the liquor business in 1881, and has continued at the same stand, No. 122 North Center street, until the present. In 1902 he was the Democratic candidate for the office of director of the poor and was elected to fill a vacancy for one year. He was re-elected in 1903 for a three years' term. During the autumn of 1906 he accepted a nomination for the same office at the hands of the "Lincoln party," but was defeated at the polls, as were all the party's candidates in the county. Mr. Portz is a member of Hayden Lodge, No. 44, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand. He is also a member of the Humane fire company. He and his family are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church.
Powers, Rev. James F., D. D .- This distinguished divine has been a resident of Pottsville for more than twenty-two years, and so closely have his life and character been linked with the history of Trinity Episcopal church that neither is complete without mention of the other. Dr. Powers came to Pottsville in 1885, from the Church of the Advent, Philadelphia, which he had served as rector during the preceding twelve years. He was then in the full vigor of mature manhood, and entered at once heartily upon the arduous work to which he had been called. Trinity church, with its attendant missions and large congregation, required unremitting labor upon the part of its rector, and Dr. Powers was ambitious beyond his strength. After a successful rectorate of eighteen years, disabled by rheumatism, which so crippled him as to render it impossible for him to discharge the full duties of his office, he resigned as rector, and was made rector emeritus, in charge of the pulpit, which position he has held for more than five years, preaching every Sunday though unable to get in and out of the pulpit without help. Dr. Powers was born in Springfield, Vt., Nov. 28, 1836. He comes of an old New England family whose founder, Walter Powers, came to this country in 1654. His grandfather, Asahel Powers, served three years as a soldier in the army which fought for American independence. His father saw service in the war of 1812. Dr. Powers is a son of William B. and Sally Eveleth (Belknap) Powers. His mother dying before he was three years old, he found a home among relatives and friends until, at the age of thirteen, he was thrown upon his own resources. His earliest ambition was to gain a college education. This ambition, by hard work, many privations and the kindly help of friends, he was able to realize. Pursuing his preparatory studies at Phillips Exeter academy and the Lewiston Falls academy, he graduated from Tufts college in 1861 : from this institution, in addition to the degrees in course, he received the honorary degree of Sacra Theologia Doctor. The Pennsylvania military academy conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was ordained to the ministry of the Uni- versalist church in 1863, and became pastor of a church in Cambridge,
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Mass Later he had charge of the old First Parish church, Malden. In both places he met with marked success. Finding himself not m perfect harmony with his ecclesiastical surroundings, he entered the Episcopal church, was made deacon In Bishop Clark im 1872, and ordamed priest in 1823. This first charge was St. James, Woonsocket, R. I. From here he was called to the Church of the Advent. I'lla- delphi, of which he was rector nearly twelve years. From Advent he came to Trants. For seven years Dr Powers was archdeacon of Reading, when he dechned a re-election; for fifteen years he repre- sented the diocese of Central Pennsylvania as deputy to the general convention of the church. He has been twice married. His first wife, who was Miss Annie S. Greene, of Boston, died in 1874. after a married hie of twelve years, leaving no children. In 188, he was married to Miss Ethel Wolfe, of Philadelphia. This union was blessed with three children-Frank Ethelwulf, James Eveleth, and Eleanor Louise. Notwithstanding his badly crippled condition, which makes it impossible for him to get about without help. Dr. Powers claims that his general health was never better ; his mental vigor is mimpaired, and his pulpit ministrations-though he must sit in preaching-have lost nothing in effectiveness. Dr. Powers has the respect, the confidence, the sympathy and the best wishes of not only his own congregation, but also of the entire community. "He is a logical and forceful speaker, of dignified bearing, yet affable and agreeable in his manner; he possesses those qualities of head and heart which draw to him a large circle of warm friends, and is pos- served of an energetic and sympathetic nature which makes for God and righteousness."
Prevost, John, deceased, for many years a resident of Schuylkill county, was born near Phoenixville, Pa., about the year 1788. His parents came from France. settling in Canada, but later removed to Pennsylvania. locating near Phoenixville. Chester county, where he was born. As a young man he learned the trade of saddler, and about 1828 he removed to Minersville, where he passed the remainder of his life, most of the time engaged in the hotel business. For many years he held the office of city treasurer, and he was also postmaster for a considerable period. His death occurred in 1803, at the age of seventy-five years. Some of the old settlers of Minersville still remember him as a man of influence in local affairs, and of great force of character. While living at Phoenixville he married Miss Mary Jones, and to this union were born eight children, two of whom-Etta and Susanna-died at the ages of twenty and five years, respectively. The other children were: Louis W .. a prominent physician for many years at Tremont, died at Minersville, in 1900 : Charles C. who was employed in various stores at Minersville, died at the age of thirty-one years : Hiram W., a druggist at Minersville, died at the age of sixty-eight years; Amelia J., who was born on Oct. 1. 1831. married William Spencer, on Nov. 3, 1853 (see sketch of William Spencer ) : Elizabeth, who married Dr. L. J. Hale, lived in Minersville for some time after her marriage and then removed
C
1
LOHN PRE VOST
365
BIOGRAPHICAL
to the vicinity of Jenkintown, where she still resides; Mary P. is now Mrs. Jacob Serrill, of Philadelphia, where her husband is a coal operator.
Pribula, Michael, dealer in general merchandise at Shenandoah, is a native of the Austro-Hungarian empire, having been born in the city of Kashau, Sept. 22, 1863. In 1881 he came to America, located at Shenandoah and found employment as a slate-picker, at a salary of five dollars a week. From this position he passed to outside work about the mines, where he continued until March, 1887, when he opened a ,saloon, which was the beginning of his present successful establishment. From that time his progress has been steadily upward. Beginning on a small scale, he has increased his stock year by year until he now carries a complete line of groceries, provisions, clothing for working men, dry goods, notions, etc. He owns the building in which his store is located, and which also contains dwelling rooms and a saloon. In addition to this building and his stock of goods, he owns some valuable property at Berwick, Pa., all of which has been accumulated by his industry, sound business judgment and skillful management. He is connected with a number of financial institutions of the county, being a stockholder in the Merchants' National bank and the Shenandoah Trust Company, of Shenandoah. He is also a stockholder in the Shenandoah Electric Light, Heat and Power Com- pany, the People's Electric Heat and Power Company of Mahanoy City, and a bondholder in the Schuylkill Railway Company and the Home Brewing Company, of Shenandoah; he has also invested in other railway bonds. Mr. Pribula is a Democrat in his political con- victions and takes an active interest in promoting the cause of his party. He and his family are members of St. Stephen's Catholic church, which is attached to the First Catholic Slavonian union, with a membership of 45,000 people. In connection with his church work Mr. Pribula is identified with several beneficial societies, notably St. Stephen's, St. John the Baptist, and St. Demeter, a Greek society. Of the first two societies he is president, and he is likewise trustee and treasurer of St. Stephen's church. In 1884 he married Miss Lizzie Kmetz, a native of the same locality as himself, and they have three sons and three daughters living and four children deceased. Those living are: Michael, who married Miss Mary Sabol. of Sha- mokin, Pa., a native of Austria, and who is employed in his father's store: Mary, wife of Szilard Hosza; and Elizabeth, William, Frank and Susie, all living at home and attending school.
Price, David John, M. D., a prominent Homeopathic physician and surgeon at Shenandoah, was born at Ashland, this county, Jan. 17, 1874. His parents were John J. and Ann (Reese) Price, the former of whom was a native of Wales, where he was born in May, 1850. He came to America in young manhood, locating first at Lans- ford and then in Ashland. When he came to Shenandoah it was to operate for John B. Price a branch store, which he subsequently purchased and conducted under his own name for thirty years. The doctor is the only child born to his father's first marriage, and after
36t
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
the mother's death the father married Miss Sarah AAnn Parry, who bore to lum four children, of whom there is but one survivor. The subject of this sketch received his preparatory education in the schools of Ashland and Shenandoah, graduating at the high school in the latter place in the class of 1803. In the fall of the same year he matriculated at the Hahnemann medical college of Philadelphia, having previously read for some time under the tuition of Dr. J. S. Kistler. In May, 187, he was granted the degree of Doctor of Medicine by that institution and in the fall of the year returned to Shenandoah to engage in the practice of his profession. He has built up a large and lucrative practice and has established an excellent reputation for himself among the members of his profession. Dr. Price is a member of the Hahnemann college alumni association and of the county and state medical associations. In his religions ad- hereney he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a stanch Republican in his political views, although he has never aspired to office. Aug. 22, 1900, he married Harriet Wasley Jones, daughter of John R. and Martha Jones, of Shenandoah. Her father was born in Wales and her mother in Schuylkill county, Pa .. In a fraternal way he is prominent in the Royal Arcanum, being examiner and state deputy grand regent, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being the past noble grand, also one of the trustees of John W. Stokes Lodge, No. 515. of Shenandoah. The doctor is also a member of the county board of United States pension examiners, the office being located in Pottsville.
Price, William J., is a popular and well known business man of Shenandoah, where he conducts a well appointed hotel, at the corner of Coal and Main streets. He was born in Ringtown, this county, Aug. 28, 1864. and is a son of William J. and Lydia Price. His father was likewise born in Pennsylvania and was of Welsh descent. He loyally tendered his services in defense of the Union when the Civil war was inaugurated. becoming a member of the 48th Penn- sylvania volunteer infantry. He was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3. 1864. Of his two children the subject of this sketch is the younger, having been born three months after the death of the father. The widowed mother later became the wife of Amos Hauser, of Ringtown. Of the second marriage one son was born, Oliver Hauser, who is now a resident of Ringtown. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hauser continued to reside in Ringtown until their death. Mr. Price's sister is the wife of William H. Reinbold, of Allentown, Pa. The subject of this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Ring- town. He remained at home until he had attained the age of twenty years, and it may consistently be said that he reveres the memory of his step-father, who was as solicitous and indulgent as could have been an own father. Mr. Price followed various occupations prior to engaging in the hotel business, in which he has met with gratify- ing success. Price's hotel has accommodations for twenty-five board- ers, and at the time of this writing the house is being enlarged and
367
BIOGRAPHICAL
otherwise improved (June, 1907). In politics Mr. Price is independ- ent and is affiliated with the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America and with the local camp of Sons of Veterans. He and his family hold the faith of the Lutheran church. Dec. 23, 1883, Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss Sydney E. Singley, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Benninger) Singley, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was engaged in the work of the blacksmith trade as a young man and for twenty-eight years he conducted a hotel at Slab- town, this county. He is now living retired at Nuremberg, this county, his wife having died in 1900. They became the parents of one son and eight daughters-Sarah (deceased), Catherine, Miranda, Emma, Lucy, Sydney Elizabeth, Alice, Minerva, and Christian. Mr. and Mrs. Price have two children. Daisy May is now the wife of James Davis, who conducts the livery business in connection with the Price hotel, and they have one daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth. Harvey Alexander, the younger of the children, is a student in the state normal school at Kutztown.
Purcell, James C., a native of Cass township, Schuylkill county, Pa., was born Dec. 30, 1844. He is the eldest son of Patrick and Mary Purcell, early settlers of the county, who established a home in the Heckscherville valley as early as 1840. They were natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The father was a miner by occupation. He died in July, 1873, at the age of sixty years. The mother died at the age of seventy-six. Of a family of eleven children born to these parents, but four are now living. The others are Martin E., who is a mine foreman for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Company at Bear Valley colliery, near Shamokin; Mrs. Joanna Lynch, who resides with her husband and family at Elmira, N. Y .; and Mrs. Margaret Brennan, who lives at Scranton, Pa. The sub- ject of this article has spent the greater portion of his life in educa- tional work. His early opportunities were not the best, but by close application and hard study he acquired a good common school educa- tion, which was supplemented by attendance at a night school for several years and finally by a course at the state normal school at Kutztown. He began teaching in 1864, and filled the position of principal of the East Ward schools in Mahanoy City for six years, earning and justly meriting the reputation of a first-class educator and disciplinarian. At this time the schools "north of the mountain" were not under close supervision by the county superintendent, owing to the difficulty of reaching them, and because of a multiplicity of other work in connection with the office. Teachers in the country and mining districts were often as tardy in attendance as some of their pupils, and it appears that time was sometimes charged when school was not in session. To obviate this, and other irregularities, the county superintendent, by virtue of law, selected a superintendent for the district then embraced within Mahanoy township, including the present boroughs of Gilberton and Frackville. The school board of Mahanoy township, who had the appointing power, was composed of three Democrats and three Republicans, hence it was barred from
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.