USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 45
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
political preferences At the request of the school directors of Ma- hanes township the county superintendent was empowered, as per resolutions of the school board, to select a competent teacher as dis- triet superintendent for the schools of the said township. Is there were several teachers in the township closely connected to the ma- jority of the directors it was deemed prudent to have the district superintendent selected from the teachers outside of the township of Mahanos, Jesse Newlin, who was the county superintendent of the schools of Schuylkill county, recommended Mr. Purcell as competent and well qualified to fill the position of district superintendent of the schools of Mahaney township, and Mr. Purcell was accordingly con- firmed by the board of directors. The school district of the town- ship at the close of the term for several years prior to the appoint- ment of a district superintendent was in debt, but at the close of the first and subsequent years of Mr. Purcell's supervision there was each year a nice balance in the school district treasury. The schools throughout the township made steady and rapid progress, so much so that the good work was highly commended by the county superin- tendent, Jesse Newlin. The "Molly Maguires" were in active opera- tion during this time, and in traveling over his district Mr. Purcell frequently came in contact with some of the band. In fact, on one or two occasions he was in closer relations with them than he thought conducive to bodily safety of peace of mind. He also witnessed some of the depredations of this lawless band while he was a resident of Shenandoah, engaged in teaching there and at Gilberton, where he was employed for seven years after leaving the office of district superintendent. Mr. Purcell has always been an advocate of higher qualifications in teachers, and correspondingly higher emoluments for services rendered. During the summer vacation- for two or three years after retiring from the superintendency be conducted normal schools at Frackville and Gilberton, thus affording teachers at those points the advantages of necessary professional training at their own homes. Mr. Purcell was borough superintendent of schools at Shen- andoah for three years, and was employed as principal of the schools of tiilberton in the spring of 1881, at which time he decided to accept the nomination on the Democratic ticket for the office of register of wills and clerk of the orphans court, a position to which he was elected at the general election of 1881. After serving three years in this position he was appointed by Judge Pershing to do some special work in several of the county offices, and about three years passed ere this work was entirely completed. He served one term as a member of the Shenandoah school board during the period of his teaching at Gilberton, these being the only offices to which he has since aspired. In the year 1801 he was offered a position as teacher of the Boys' Catholic high school of Philadelphia, by the superintendent of schools, Rev. Dr. Fisher, on the recommendation of Rev. John J. Hickey, at one time a pupil of his. This position he was compelled to decline because of circumstances beyond his control. The subject of this article has been twice married, first on Feb. 22. 1873. to Miss Sarah
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Mohan, daughter of Charles and Aresta (Reed) Mohan. Four sons were born to this union, of. whom two died in infancy and two are living, Charles A., at home, and Joseph V. The last named is a sales- man by occupation. He is a young man of liberal education and fine business qualifications. He is a graduate of the Pottsville high school, attended Georgetown (D. C.) college, and was three years a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Purcell died March 1, 1882. Nov. 23, 1893, Mr. Purcell was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. McConnell, of Pottsville. Five sons have been born to this union : Alphonsus Carpenter, James A., George Vincent, William Stratton, and Francis Clare. The family are members of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church. Mr. Purcell has been engaged in the life insurance business since 1890. At present he is the representative of the Man- hattan Life, and the Fidelity Casualty Company. He has been suc- cessful as a business man, and is entitled to great credit for his achievements in life, particularly on account of the pluck and deter- mination displayed in his efforts for self-education under adverse cir- cumstances. His record in this respect is a worthy object-lesson to the struggling youth under like conditions.
Radziewicz, Charles, proprietor of the Eagle hotel at Shenan- doah, was born in Russian Poland, July 25, 1852. In 1871 he came to America and for three years he was employed in the iron works at Pittsburg, puddling and rolling. He then removed to Mahanoy City, where he worked in the mines until 1885, when he established a general store on South Main street, Shenandoah. Subsequently he removed to East Center street, where his store was burned June I, 1895, and in the fire he lost everything, even to the clothing of him- self and family. The fire occurred on Saturday and by the following Tuesday his creditors sent him, without his order or solicitation, a large stock of goods and the business was immediately reopened. In August, 1895, he bought the Eagle hotel property and before the close of the year he retired from the mercantile business entirely. The hotel is a three-story brick building, with twenty rooms, is well equipped with modern appliances, and is doing a good business. In connection he has a fine bar, which also enjoys a liberal patronage. Mr. Radziewicz is a member of the societies of St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, and the Guards of St. Casimir the Prince, in the last named of which he holds the office of major, and with his family he belongs to St. George's Lithuanian Roman Catholic church. He is a Re- publican in his party affiliations, but can hardly be termed an active politician. On Oct. 18, 1879, he was married to Miss Dora Karczi- ewski, a native of Poland, who came with her parents to Mahanoy Plane in her childhood. There were eleven children: Annie, Joseph, Mary, Edward, Regina, Pauline, Julia and Lercadia are living, and Casimir, Amelia and Johnnie are dead. The eldest son is employed in the department of mines at the state capital. The other children live at home with their parents.
Ramonat, Simon A., is one of the influential and honored citizens of Lithuanian birth residing in the borough of Shenandoah, where he
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is now incumbent of the office of justice of the pace. In the deter- imitation of questions of public policy, municipalities as well as nations occasionally undergo revolutions in politics. In the election which brought Mr. Ramonat to his present office the borough of Shenandoah passed through a political context of a magnitude assuming the pro- portions of a hoth contested national campaign, so far as local inter- est was concerned Mr. Ramonat was made the standard-bearer of the Citizens ticket for the office of justice of the peace. The contest was between the "in-" and the "outs" for the control of the borough offices, and the battle of ballots was fought strictly along this line. Charges and counter-charges were made with prodigal liberality, and the contending forces were arrayed, "polled" and fitted for the fras weeks before the final test. On election day every available rig in the town was called into service at fabulous prices. But the oppos- ing forces, though intensely active and alert, were generally orderly and law-abiding. The "outs" won the day and captured municipal control of the borough. It is not within the province of this work to decide the questions in controversy, or to do more than simply to mention the matter as an occurrence in which the subject of this sketch was one of the principal actors. That Mr. Ramonat was nom- inated and elected in recognition of his special fitness and eligibility for the place is abundantly shown by the newspaper comments upon his high character as a citizen and successful business man. But his election also gives recognition to a large class of foreign-born citi- zens who readily adapt themselves to conditions existing in America and promptly conform to the customs of well ordered citizenship. Their industry, frugality and intelligence soon place them in posi- tions of independence and definite prosperity. Mr. Ramonat was born in Lithuania, Russia, Sept. 30, 1860), and is a son of Adam and Mar- tha Ramonat, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Lithuania. The paternal grandfather was of German birth and was a Lutheran in his religious faith. Adam Ramonat died when the subject of this sketch was but three years of age, and his widow still resides in Lithuania. Of the seven children the only one in America is he whose name initiates this article. the others having remained in their native land. Mr. Ramonat attended the schools of Lithuania until he had attained the age of fifteen years, when he severed the home ties and valiantly set forth, alone and without finan- cial reinforcement, to seek home and fortune in the United States. He came at once to Schuylkill county. Pa., and took up his residence in Shenandoah, where he has since maintained his home and where he has won substantial success and made for himself an enviable reputation. For the first two years he was employed about the mines and in the meanwhile he put forth every effort to familiarize himself with the English language. He then showed his ambition and ap- preciation by entering the Shenandoah business college, in which he completed a thorough course and was graduated in 1895. After leav- ing school he was employed as driver of a delivery wagon for a grocery for one year, and was then promoted to a clerkship in the
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store. In 1897 he entered the, employ of the great meat-packing house of Armour & Co., of Chicago, and he has been a salesman for this company in this section of Pennsylvania since that year. In 1904 he was the candidate of the Democratic party of the county for rep- resentative in the state legislature. Hle polled the full vote of his party but met overthrow in the avalanche of votes which gave Roose- velt about half a million majority in the state. Mr. Ramonat still retains his position with Armour & Co., but is giving a most careful and able administration of the office of justice of the peace. He has been notary of the public since 1905, and also has the agency for a number of standard fire and life insurance companies. It may be inferred that he is a busy man, but he is well fortified in capacity for details and in marked energy and administrative ability, so that noth- ing is neglected that demands his attention. He has been a close and appreciative student and reader all his mature life and has surrounded himself with the best of standard literature. He is master of six languages, in each of which he is able to read, write and converse. He serves as a medium of communication between the local Lithu- anian people and their relatives and friends in the mother country, and his countrymen place inviolate confidence in him, coming to him for advice and instruction. He is a stanch advocate of the prin- ciples and policies of the Democratic party and he and his family are communicants of the Lithuanian Catholic church in Shenandoah. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Society of St. John the Baptist, and the Phoenix Fire Company. In 1895 Mr. Ramonat was united in marriage to Miss Margaret McCuskey, who was born and reared in Shenandoah, and they have two children-Harold and Evelyn.
Ramsay, William Potts .- This well known attorney at Mahanoy City was born at Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pa., Dec. 24, 1852. He is a son of John Ramsay, a native of Coatesville, Chester county, and Mary A. (Downing) Ramsay, who was born in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county. Mr. Ramsay received a liberal education and chose the legal profession as his life work. He was admitted to practice in the Schuylkill county courts in October, 1881, and has been in continuous practice here since. He has been successful as a lawyer and sustains a high standing among his colleagues at the Schuylkill county bar. Mr. Ramsay has always affiliated with the Republican party and has taken an active interest in the supremacy of his party's principles. He has never aspired to public office, but has devoted his time and talents to his professional work. He has been twice mar- ried, first to Miss Bess Day Ramsay, daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth (Day) Ramsay, of Chester county, Pa. She died in 1887, leav- ing two children, Kenneth and Malcolm. The elder son died in Jan- uary, 1907. He was a bright and promising young man, and his untimely death was greatly deplored. The other son born to this union is a student in civil engineering, and, incidentally, is assisting his father in the details of office work. The second marriage of Mr. Ramsay occurred in 1889, when Mrs. Jessie E. Haas became his wife.
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She is a daughter of James L. and Harriet G. ( Hansell) Rowley. The only child born to this union is Miss Jessic. The family are Presbyterians in religious views. Mr. Ramsay is a member of Mah- anos City Lodge, No. 095, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Kaush, James, deceased, was a son of Abraham and Mary (Long) Raush, and was born in Maiden Creek township, Berks county, Pa .. Sept. 12. 1837. His paternal grandfather, who was born in Hesse, Germany, came to the United States about the year 1790, and located in what is now known as Maiden Creek township, Berks county. He was a farmer after he came to this country, and was a very influen- tial man in the vicinity where he lived. His son Abraham was born in the old homestead, in Berks county, in 1811, and died in the same township, in 1848. He also was a farmer by occupation. He had eight children, four sons and four daughters. After his death his wife and children removed to Auburn, Schuylkill county, where Mrs. Raush died in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years. James Raush, the subject of this sketch, was twelve years old when his mother and the family moved to Auburn. He attended the public schools and passed his boyhood in Auburn. In 1862 he became a brakeman on the Schuylkill & Susquehanna railroad, now the Philadelphia & Reading. He was later promoted to the position of engineer and continued as such until 1877. when he became owner and proprietor of the St. Elmo hotel in Auburn, which he conducted until 1888. In connection with the hotel he kept a feed store, coal yard and grocery store. He continued in the latter business after selling the hotel. He was mar- ried in 1860, and had twelve children. Those living are Peter, Mun- roc, Caroline, Katherine, David. Laura, Lillie. Enoch, and Annie. James Raush died Jan. 13, 1904. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster, which position he held until his death. Enoch, his youngest son, is now acting postmaster and has charge of all his father's former busi- ness. He was educated in the Auburn schools and at the age of eighteen became associated with his father in the feed and coal busi- ness. He married Elizabeth Long, daughter of Jeremiah and Amanda (Boyer) Long, of Auburn, on Feb. 23, 1902. To this union one daughter, Katherine, has been born. Enoch Raush has been borough auditor, and was elected to the position by the Republican party, with which he is affiliated. He has also served as judge of elections at different times. The family belongs to the Reformed church.
Reber. Henry Albert, is one of the prominent business men of the younger generation in his native borough of Schuylkill Haven, where he was born Nov. 27. 1874. and where he is one of the stockholders of Meck & Company, manufacturers of underwear. He is one of the executive officers of the concern and gives the major part of his at- tention to its affairs. Mr. Reber is a son of George Washington and Anetta (Achabach) Reber, both of whom were likewise born in Schuylkill county-the former in South Manheim township, in 1834, and the latter in Wayne township, in 1836. The father served as a member of a Pennsylvania regiment in the Civil war, taking part in many engagements and living up to the full tension of the great con-
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flict through which the Union was perpetuated. He was wounded while in the service but continued with his regiment until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge. He and his wife are now deceased. His principal vocation in life was that of boat-builder. Henry Albert Reber, the immediate subject of this re- view, was educated in the public schools of his native town and has here maintained his home from the time of his birth. Here also he has risen to success and prestige as an enterprising business man and loyal and patriotic citizen. He is a stanch supporter of the benefi- cent principles and policies of the Prohibition party and has been an active worker in its cause. He served one term as chairman of the county board of executive officers, held the office of county treasurer for four terms, and in 1904 he was a presidential elector on the Pro- hibition ticket of the state. At the inception of the Spanish-American war Mr. Reber showed his patriotism and loyalty by enlisting as a private in Company F. 4th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, on April 28, 1898, and he received his honorable discharge at the close of the war. His command was held in reserve and was not called into action in the field. Mr. Reber is identified with the Young Men's Christian Association, the Sons of Temperance, and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and in 1905-6 he was president of the Schuylkill county Christian Endeavor union. Both he and his wife are devoted and zealous members of the Reformed church. July 12, 1900, Mr. Reber was united in marriage to Miss Emma Irene Fry, daughter of Valentine and Amelia (Liebensberger) Fry, of Schuylkill Haven, and the children of the union are John William, Paul Valentine, and June Sarah.
Reed, Elmer P., son of Henry R. and Sarah (Heffner) Reed, was born at Reedsville, Wayne township, on Jan. 6, 1874. He attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age, after which he went to work in the Lawrence & Brown colliery, at Frackville, this county, being thus employed for two years. He then returned to the farm of his grandfather, for whom he worked until the death of his grandfather, a year later. Henry R. Reed, the father of the subject of this sketch, then purchased the farm from the estate and Elmer continued to be associated with his father in its operation until 1899, when he moved to Auburn, Pa. At this place he was employed in firing the boilers for the Delaware Seamless Tube Company for three years. In 1902 he returned to Wayne township, where he first rented and then, in 1906, bought the old family homestead of the Reed family, where he now resides. The estate is the one on which the family first located and has been in the family for many years. Mr. Reed was married, Aug. 26, 1893, to Miss Carrie Reed, daughter of Franklin T. Reed, of Wayne township. To this union have been born three children: Guy S .. Edna A. (deceased), and Marion L. Mr. Reed is a member of the local organization of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America at Friedensburg ; of the Masonic fraternity. at Cressona, and is also a Granger. In politics he is a Republican, and he has been inspector of elections several times. The family be-
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longs to the United Evangelical church of Reedsville, Wayne town- ship. Mr. Reed has three sisters living-Katie, wife of Nathan Fall, of Reading ; Ellen A., wife of Jeremiah Mengle, of Rock, Schuylkill county, and lda, wife of Oliver Mover, of Western Port, Md.
Reed, Irvin A., prosecuting attorney of Schuylkill county, was born on a farm in Wayne township, this county and was educated in the public schools and at Kutztown normal school. He was gradu- ated from the last named institution in the class of 1804. He engaged in teaching in his native townshup for three years and was principal of the Ellwood (now Outwood) schools for a like period. He studied law in the office of the late Nicholas Heblich, Esq. and was admitted to the bar in January, 1800. He was a delegate to the Democratic state convention at Erie, in 1002. Mr. Reed was elected to the state legislature in 1002, and he was the unanimous choice of his party convention as the nominee for the office of district attorney in 1005. In November of the same year he was elected, and is now serving the second year of his term.
Reed, Jacob D., who is successfully engaged in the knitting busi- ness in Schuylkill Haven, was born in Wayne township. this county. on May o. 1857, a son of Elias and Christiana (Deitert ) Reed. His education was a limited one, his opportunities being limited to some of the courses afforded by the common schools of the county. For the first nineteen years of his life he lived under the parental roof. working on his father's farm. About 1876 he came to Schuylkill Haven and entered the employ of William Becker to learn the shoe- makers' trade. He continued in this vocation for eighteen years and then. in 1805. he formed a partnership with John A. Bowen in the knitting business. In 1000 a third partner. Moses Leininger, was taken into the firm, and later in the same year Mr. Bowen retired, disposing of his interest to Messrs. Leininger and Reed, who have since been at the head of the concern, which has been paying good dividends and has become one of the leading industries of the borough. Jan. 8, 1885. Mr. Reed was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Wommer, a daughter of Jacob Wommer, of Wayne township. To this union two sons, Ivan W. and Willis E .. have been born. The Reeds are all workers in the United Evangelical church, of which they are most devout members. In politics Mr. Reed is a Republican. Some idea of the high regard in which he is held by his fellow-citizens and neighbors may be judged from the fact that he is now serving his fifteenth successive year in the office of assessor.
Reed, John H., of Roedersville, Washington township. Schuylkill county, is a son of Elias and Christiana ( Deitert ) Reed, and was born Dec. 2. 1855. His father was born in Wayne township, and followed farming all his life: he died in 1880 at the age of fifty-four years. The mother is still living on the old homestead in Wayne township. John. the subject of this sketch, is the second son of a family of four son- and six daughters. Wallace, the oldest son, died at the age of four years, and Emma, the oldest daughter, died when she was about six years old. Those who attained maturity are John H., Jacob D.,
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Annie R., Mary E., Elizabethi A., George C., Sallie G., and Susan P. Annie is the wife of A. D. Super, of Wayne township; Mary married Louis Stahler, and died June 3, 1895; Elizabeth is the widow of Francis M. Luckenbill, of Wayne township; Sallie is married to Howard S. Mengle, of Wayne township; Susan is the wife of Howard D. Becker, also of Wayne township, formerly of Brunswick town- ship, this county. John H. was educated in the Wayne township schools. At the age of fifteen years he left school to help his father on the farm, and he again attended school for a short time when he was twenty years of age. May 24, 1877, when he was twenty-two, he was married to Miss Alice Berger, daughter of Henry Berger, of Schuylkill Haven, and he continued working for wages on his father's farm for two years thereafter. He then rented a farm from his uncle for two years, after which he rented one in Cressona for four years. At the expiration of his lease he bought the farm on which he now resides. This was in 1888, and the farm has been his home ever since, with the exception of one year which he spent in Schuylkill Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had five children, four of whom are living. Charles, the oldest son, died in infancy. Those liv- ing are : Irene M., wife of Charles E. Brown, of Washington township ; Della L., wife of Irvin Strouthour, of Pine Grove, formerly of Wash- ington township; and Anna C. and George E., both living at home. Mr. Reed is a charter member of Camp No. 264, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. In politics he is a Republican, and although repeatedly urged to run for office he has always declined. The family are members of the United Evangelical church and attend the church at Friedensburg. Mr. Reed has been superintendent of the Sunday school for six years, and was also steward of the church for some time. Mr. Reed is an enthusiastic farmer, finding great pleasure in the tilling of the soil, and believing that both he and his farm be- long to God. He is a conscientious and God-fearing man, and lives his life according to the Golden Rule, doing good to others and living for service and believing that the talents that God has given him are to be used for the upbuilding of righteousness. His life has been one of varied experiences, with its seasons of loss and of prosperity, but through all he has maintained the even tenor of his way, believing that steady devotion to one line of business is more likely to result in advancement than if a man's energy is dissipated in half a dozen different enterprises.
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