USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 48
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energy that few men possess. Genial in his disposition, he made friends among all classes of people, and these friends remained loyal to him through all time. He was noted for his public spirit, his benevolence, and his fraternal feeling for his old comrades in arms, having been a member of the Loyal Legion, Gowen Post, No. 23, Grand Army of the Republic, and Encampment No. 19, Union Vet- eran Legion. Although a stanch Republican in his political convic- tions, he was not an office-seeker, but was always willing and ready to do what he could to win a victory for his party. Sept. 23, 1856, Col. Thomas H. Rickert and Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Van Dusen, of Pottsville, were united in marriage. This union was blessed with five children, two of whom are now living. Anna T. is the wife of Dr. T. W. Swalm, of Pottsville, and G. Van Dusen Rick- ert married Miss Allie, daughter of George K. McMurtrie, of Bel- videre, N. J. Col. Thomas H. Rickert passed into the Great Beyond
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
people.
Riland, Albanus S., & a son of Samuel B. and Sarah 1Schoch) Holand. This paternal grandparents were Andrew and Phoebe Barkhearty Kiland, descendants of Lord Riland, of London, Fag- In ! His maternal grandparents were Jacob and Rachel thilleman Schoch. Samuel B. Kland, father of the subject of this sketch, w. born m 1705. in Berks county, and his wife was born in what was then called Robinhood, Philadelphia county, now Philadelphia, also in the latter part of the eighteenth century. She died Sept. 15. 1825. Two children were born to Samuel and Sarah Riland- Ahans, the subject of this review, and Arabella, who became the wife of Charles Krecker, of Friedensburg, both being now deceased. After the death of his first wife, Samuel B. Riland married Elizabeth Mullin. and to this union were born three sons and three daughters. .. Samuel B., Jr. : Peter ; Charles ; Mary, who married Thomas Morgan. of Montgomery county, later of Schuylkill county; Catherine, who married Daniel Kemmerling, of Schuylkill Haven; and Sarah, who married Daniel Snyder, of Schuylkill county. Albanus S. Riland married Anna Nunemaker, daughter of John Nunemaker, of Wayne township, on May to, 1850, and to them were born three sons and one daughter: John N. Daniel S. (deceased), William H. and Mary E. (deceased). Mrs. Riland's paternal grandfather was Jacob Nunemaker, who came from Germany, and her maternal grand- father was Peter Smith, born in Berks county. Albanus S. Riland was born Dec. 22, 1824, at Chestnut Hill. Philadelphia county, an.l moved to Norristown with his parents, and to Schuylkill county. settling in Wayne township in 1838. He has been a member of the Friedensburg church for fifty-eight years, and has been superin- tendent of the Sunday school for fifty-four consecutive years, still holding that office at the age of eighty-two years. His son, William HI., was educated in the Lebanon Valley college, and from the age of twenty-two years has been occupied on his farm, where he is now located. He is the agent for several firms dealing in agricultural implements and fertilizers. In politics he is Republican, and has served as delegate to several conventions. He is a member of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and the Knights of Malta. and the family belongs to the United Brethren church. Nov. 22. 1878. he married Emma, daughter of John and Mary ( Steib) Stranb. of Wayne township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Straub are natives of Ger- many. To William H. Riland and his wife have been born four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, viz .: Albanns S .. Aug. 18, 1880: John G., Dec. 20, 1881 ; Harry E., May 5. 1883 : Robert S., Oct. 5. 1885: Anna M., May 14. 1889, and Dora R., April 20, 1893. Albanus S. is a teacher in the high school at Shoemakersville and is a graduate of the Millersville state normal school: John G. is also a graduate of the Millersville normal, and is a teacher at Auburn ; Harry E. is employed at Buffalo, N. Y. : Robert S. is a machinist at Reading ; Anna M. and Dora R. are at home.
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Riland, Charles, son of Samuel B. and 'Elizabeth (Mullin) Ri- land, was born Dec. 19, 1845. He attended the public schools until the age of eighteen years. He enlisted in the 16th Pennsylvania cavalry, Troop A, in the latter part of the Civil war, and served under General Sheridan. At the close of the war he returned home, where he and his brother worked their father's farm for a year, after which Charles went on his brother's farm, remaining three years. Sept. 5, 1868, Mr. Riland was married to Sarah Aun Dish, of Wayne township, and after his marriage he continued to work with his brother until the spring of 1870, when he moved to his father's farm, in Washington township, remaining there for four years. The next move was to Cressona, where he remained only six months, after which he moved to the small farm where he at present resides. This is a farm of thirty-five acres, and is devoted to general market gardening. In addition to this, the place, known as Sunnyside farm, has become a resort famous throughout all the country for its chicken and waffle suppers. Mrs. Riland, who has a great reputation as a fine cook, takes full charge of the chicken suppers served at the farm. The guests are the best people of the country and as many as 422 persons have been served in one month. The total number of guests for 1905 was 1,955, which is in itself a sufficient commentary on the meals served. The guest book shows a wide range of patrons, from England on the east to California on the west. Mr. and Mrs. Riland have four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom are living-Samuel B., Anna Lorinia (married to Harry Straut, of Wayne township), Isaac M., and Harry W. Mr. Riland is a mem- ber of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics at Friedensburg, the Grange at Friedensburg, and Jere. Helm Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Schuylkill Haven. In politics he is a Republican and he has been township assessor for nine years. His family are members of the Evangelical church of Friedensburg.
Riley, John David, M. D .- This popular and well known physi- cian of Mahanoy City, was born at Mahanoy Plane, Schuylkill county, Pa., March 28, 1867. His parents were John and Matilda (Ferguson) Riley, both natives of Pottsville. His father was born in 1837, and died at Shenandoah, at the age of forty years. The mother lives at the family home in Shenandoah. John Riley and his partner. William Thickens, established the first store at Mahanoy Plane, and Mr. Riley, who was a machinist and engineer, erected and started the first pair of engines at Bear Ridge colliery, which was the first colliery opened in that locality. John Riley lost his health in the army during the Civil war, and was an invalid during most of the time following his discharge; his untimely death was undoubtedly the result of disabilities incurred in the service. He was a member of Company L. 3d Pennsylvania cavalry, and served with the Army of the Potomac for a period of three years. Dr. John D. Riley was educated in the public schools of Shenandoah. His professional education was acquired in the medical department of
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the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with honors. He has been in successful practice at Mahanoy City during most of his career, and stands high in the medical profession of Schuylkill county. He is a member of the Schuylkill county medical society, the Pennsylvania state medical society, and the American medical association. He was married Sept. 11. 185, to Miss Eliza- beth Thompson, a daughter of David and Vice (Timmons) Thomp- son, of Thompsonville, Schuylkill county, prominent early settlers of that locality. Dr. and Mrs. Riley have an interesting family of three children-Matilla, John and Alice. The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and the doctor is independent in his political preferences.
Roads, George MacCabe, attorney at law, of Pottsville, Pa .. was born at Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pa., Oct. 7. 1857. a son of Jacob Oliver and Mary Mackey Roads, the former of whom was born in Berks county, Pa., and the latter at Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county. Mr. Roads traces his ancestry to the colonial era of our country. His forebears gave valiant service in the Continental army. Col. Jonathan Jones, a maternal ancestor, was commissioned a colonel by the Continental congress, and fought and won distinction under Arnold in his wonderful march against Quebec, through the wilderness of Maine. His plantation near Germantown, Philadel- phia, was used by the Continental army under General Washington as a part of its camp when it was stationed in and about Philadelphia. and the crops and improvements on the farm were rendered value- less by the occupation of the army. For this loss Colonel Jones never asked or received any compensation from the government. Later generations of the family were prominent in the early history of the state, a maternal grandfather, John Roseberry, having been an emi- nent attorney at the Schuylkill county bar. He was a member of the legislature, was commissioned deputy attorney general in 1819, and was a major of the Pennsylvania militia in 1814. The father of Mr. Roads was one of the most prominent coal operators of Schuylkill county, wherein he conducted mining operations for forty years, and was also one of the oldest Knights Templars in central Pennsylvania at the time of his death, which occurred in 1902, at which time he was eighty-six years of age. George MacCabe Roads, the immediate subject of this review, received his academic education in the Potts- ville high school, after which he took up the study of law in the office of the late Hon. Lin. Bartholomew. He was admitted to prac- tice in July, 1880, and has been successful in this line of endeavor in all that the word implies. While he may properly be termed a corporation lawyer, he has a general clientele, and a diversified busi- ness, though he principally appears on the civil side of the common pleas court, and in equity. A stanch supporter of the Republican party, he is, however, an outspoken advocate of party independence in the selection of the judiciary, and in local affairs also he exercises the right of independent judgment. He is a member of the Pennsyl- vania state bar association, and of the Schuylkill county bar associa-
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tion. June 22, 1882, Mr. Roads was united in marriage to Miss Maud E., a daughter of Col. Z. P. Boyer, of Pottsville, Pa., and to them have been born four children, three of whom are living: Catharine B., George M., and Prall B. Roads.
Roeder, Elias R., is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Reber) Roeder. The family line for five generations back is as follows: Herman Anton and Christian Roeder; Conrad Roeder, born May 13, 1757, in North Driedorf-Nafau, Diellenburg, Germany; Kasper Roeder, born Aug. 3, 1788; Joseph and Sarah ( Reber) Roeder ; Elias R. Roeder. The last, Elias R., was born at Roeders, Schuylkill county, March 3, 1861. His father, who was a stone-mason by trade, but also fol- lowed farming, died in 1904. Elias was educated in the schools of his birthplace, and at the age of eighteen went to work on his father's farm, remaining there until 1886, when he went into the general mercantile business at Summit Station, where he has con- tinued in the same up to the present time. Apr. 26, 1884, Mr. Roeder married Caroline Reber, daughter of Daniel Reber, of South Man- heim township. Four of the children born to them-two sons and two daughters-are living, viz .: Herbert; Mabel, married to Casper Roeder, of Summit Station; and Joseph D. and Edna, at home. In politics Mr. Roeder is a Democrat. The members of the family be- long to the Lutheran church of Summit Station. Mr. Roeder was agent for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company for fifteen years and has been postmaster for nineteen years. Mr. Roeder has in his possession an interesting historical relic in the shape of a copy of Freiheits Presse, a German paper published in Orwigsburg, on Nov. 10, 1826, by Grim & Thomas.
Rogers, Jerome Bonaparte, M. D., a regular practicing physician and surgeon of Pottsville, is a native of Jersey City, N. J., where he was born Oct. 20, 1876. His father, Jerome Bonaparte Rogers, was born at Tom's River, N. J., and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Allen, was a native of Jersey City. The mother died in 1877. and as the father spent his life on the ocean, Dr. Rogers has been separated from his immediate family during most of his lifetime. His fatlier was a captain in the United States navy, commencing with the Civil war, and continuing in service until retired by the age limit. He died in the year 1900. Two of the father's brothers were officers in the Union navy, their names being Alfred and Henry C. Rogers. The evidence of the honorable service of Paul Potter in the Revolu- tionary war is unquestioned, and this distinction has been transmitted to his posterity, his daughter, Mrs. Samuel ( Potter) Rogers, being the paternal grandmother of Dr. Rogers of this sketch. She was a a member of the New Jersey chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, her number being three hundred and eighty-five. Dr. Rogers is the only one of his family remaining in the east. He has one brother, two full sisters and a half-sister living on the Pacific coast. These are J. Raymond Rogers. Aline Rogers and Lulu S. Rogers, of Portland, Ore., and the half-sister, Mrs. D. C. Griswold, of Redmond, Washington. Other relatives are scattered through the
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undle west, the Hon Samuel K. Van Sant, externer of Mine- sofa, being an undle of the Rogers family just mentioned Dr. J. B. Kongens was educated at l'onmington sommary, in his native state. and professionally educated at Jefferson medical college in Philadel- phi. being graduated from this institution with the class of uri. He located in Pottsville soon after completing his college coupe, and has established a good general practice. He served one your as resident physician at the Pottsville hospital. Dr. Rogers is a member of the Schuylkill county medical society and of the American med- ical association : abo of the Ph Alpha Sigma medical fraternity, He is a Republican in political affihations, and is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church in Pottsville.
Romberger, John G., proprietor of the Valley View roller mills, was born at Curtin, Dauphin county, l'a. Aug. 10, 1877. His father. whose name was also John Gi., was a native of that place, and his mother, whose maiden name was Anna Clark, was born near Hele. Northumberland county. The father was a farmer by vocation and passed the latter part of his life at Fishville, where he died in 1887. His widow is now living at Perrysburg. Dauphin county. They had thirteen children, of whom nine are yet living. Emma is at Fish- ville : David is in Califorma: George is a farmer in Hegins township. Schuylkill county ; John Gi. is the subject of this sketch ; Jennie, Sallie, Charles, Ellen and Hannah live at Sunbury, Pa. John G. Rom- berger attended the common schools in his early boyhood and at the age of ten years he began working on the farm. He continued in this occupation for several years and then started in to learn the miller's trade at Rover's mill. After two years there he came to Valley View, where he worked about a year for H. H. Shrope & Bro. At the end of that time he bought the mill property and sixty acres of land, thirty-five of which were under cultivation. The mill is a substantial brick building, with a capacity of twenty-five barrels a day, and equipped with modern machinery throughout. His brands of flour are the "Miner's Favorite," and "Latest Up to Date." He keeps two teams constantly employed in delivering flour, selling his product at Tower City, Tremont. Gratz, and other near-by towns. and also ships considerable quantities from Good Spring. The prin- cipal crop on his farm is wheat, and he devotes some attention to feeding hogs and raising poultry, white Leghorn chickens being his specialty. His father was a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church, but in politics he himself votes independently and in religious matters affiliates with the United Brethren church. March 26. 1896, :Mr. Romberger married a daughter of Paul Wolfgang, of Valley View. and they have six children: Paul, Vernon, Arlin, Ellen, Charles and Hannah.
Roth, Charles F., a prosperous general merchant of Ringtown. was born at Whitehaven, Pa .. in 1862. He is one of two children of Charles and Eliza ( Bensceuter ) Roth, the other being a sister. Ida, now Mrs. Watson Baker, of Kelley Cross-roads. Union county. Both parents had children by previous marriages. The father's first wife
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was a Miss Yost and the children were Elizabeth, Mary, Henry, John and William. The mother was formerly Mrs. Brown and her chil- dren were George, Emma and Mary. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Whitehaven and did not leave the parental roof until he was twenty-six years of age, working meantime on the farm with his father. His first employment away from home was in the grocery business in Union county. In 1893 he came to Ringtown and opened a general merchandise store, which he has continued most successfully since that time. Since his coming his patronage has increased and he has added to his stock proportion- ately, keeping his place of business the most modern in the borough. In 1888, at New Mahoning, Carbon county, was celebrated Mr. Roth's marriage to Miss Ella K. Arner, daughter of Henry and Harriet Arner. Mrs. Roth is one of seven children, the others being Nettie J., Emma, Jefferson, William, Joseph and Brinton. Mr. and Mrs. Roth have one child, William Ernest. The mother and son are mem- bers of the Reformed church, and the father is a Baptist. Frater- nally Mr. Roth is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. His political affiliations are with no particular party in local affairs, and he exercises his right of franchise as his conscience and judgment dictate. In national affairs his sympathies are with the Republican party, and he generally votes for the party candidates who are to have a hand in the framing of measures of large import.
Rumbel, Francis, a prominent citizen of Ringtown and a mer- chant whose name in connection with a project or enterprise is synonymous of square dealing and modern ideas, was born in Union township, this county, in 1851. He is one of the seven children of Henry and Elizabeth (Singley) Rumbel and is a descendant of a line of Pennsylvania pioneers. The paternal grandparents, Henry and Salome (Andrews) Rumbel, were residents of New Ringgold, and the maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Catherine (Geahart) Sing- ley, were born in Berks and Columbia counties, respectively. The subject of this sketch attended school until he was eighteen years of age and then put in his time for three years on his father's farm. The year he attained his majority he started business in Ringtown by opening a tinsmith shop and employing a man to teach him the trade. Subsequently he added other branches to his place of business. until it contained grocery, hardware and boot and shoe departments. A portion of these interests he has since disposed to other parties, and he oversees the management of the remainder himself. In 1873 was solemnized Mr. Rumbel's marriage to Miss Violetta Lebenberg, daughter of David and Rebecca (Dornbach) Lebenburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Rumbel have been born two children-a son and a daugh- ter. The son, Ralph Monroe, is an electrical engineer by vocation and is general foreman of the works of the Western Electric Com- pany of Chicago, and the daughter, Sadie Rebecca, is the wife of Maurice F. Rentschler of Ringtown. The family are of the Luth-
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cran faith and the parents are communicants of St. John's church of that denommation in Ringtown. Mr. Rumbet is identified with no pohtical party or organization, and has never held or aspired to pub- lic office. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of Lodge No. 28; of the Independent Order of Cold Fellows. Per- sonally he is a man of clean, wholesome habits, fine carriage and a Kemal, courteous manner that makes him many friends.
Rumbel. William H., a prosperous fruit grower and the owner of the largest orchard in the Catawissa valley, was born Jan. 20. 1854. at Ringtown. He is one of three children of Daniel and Sarah M. (Seltzer) Rumbel, the others being Trenton W. and Emma, the latter of whom is now the wife of Dr. H. D. Rentschler, of Ring- town. The public schools of his native borough, which he attended until he was seventeen years of age, afforded all the specific educa- tional advantages Mr. Rumbel ever received. His first occupation was as a helper on a farm, and then for four years he rented and worked a place. At the expiration of that time he had accumulated sufficient savings to purchase the farm which he now owns and man- ages. The place contains the largest and one of the most productive orchards in the Catawissa valley, and the fruit is renowned through- out the region. In Oct. 1873. Mr. Rumbel married Miss Louisa Sides, one of the nine children of Samuel and Maria ( Bernard) Sides. The names of the others are John B .. Samuel B., Daniel K., Benjamin. Barbara, Sarah, Delilah and Maria. Barbara is Mrs. Jonas Watson, of Kansas City: Sarah is Mrs. George Hastings, of Lancaster City: Delilah is Mrs. Elim Glouner, of Lancaster county ; and Maria is Mrs. Harry Maurer, of Lancaster county. To Mr. and Mrs. Rumbel have been born twelve children-Valeria. Gertrude, Grace. Anna, Clara, Winifred, Esther, Philip. Warren, Carrie, Earl and Beatrice. Of these Gertrude, Earl and Winifred are deceased. The family are all members of the Lutheran church of Ringtown. In political matters Mr. Rumbel is a Republican, but. aside from service at two different elections as an inspector, he has never held political or public office. Fraternally he is identified with Camp No. 265 of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. at Ringtown. He is a man of fine physique, excellent carriage and withal is a most exemplary citizen.
Russell. H. B. C., an officer in the Pennsylvania state militia and general foreman of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad shops at Tamaqua, was born in Schuylkill county, Dec. 6, 1873. He is a son of James and Emma ( Bishop) Russell. both native Pennsylvanians and among the carly residents of Tamaqua. The father was em- ployed by the Philadelphia & Reading railroad the greater part of his active life, and was a quiet, unassuming citizen. His death oc- curred .Aug. 20. 1004. when he had reached his sixty-fifth year. The mother survives him, making her home in Tamaqua. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the seven children in the family. Ida May is the wife of John Enterline. a traveling salesman whose home is in Tamaqua : Blanche lives with her mother : Earl is a printer and superintendent of the Tamaqua Recorder : James H. is fireman on a
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passenger locomotive on the Philadelphia & Reading; Rolson King is in the shops with his brother ; and Anna, the youngest, is a mem- ber of the high school class of 1907. Captain H. B. C. Russell, sub- ject of this sketch, attended the public schools of Tamaqua and after he had completed the courses offered there he went into the railroad shops and served an apprenticeship as a molder. When he had mastered that trade he worked at it for a few years and then became an apprentice to the machinist's trade. With the exception of the time he was serving his country in the Spanish-American war he has been continuously employed in that line for more than eighteen years. His selection to the position of foreman of the shops came on March 8, 1905. He has general charge of the 165 men employed, planning and assigning their work. On Sept. 12, 1889, Captain Russell enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard as a pri- vate. His connection with the Tamaqua company continued through several years, and in 1898, when President Mckinley's call for vol- unteers came, he went out as first sergeant with Company B of the 8th Pennsylvania infantry. The regiment was mustered into the service at Mount Gretna, and went from there to Falls Church, Va., near Washington, D. C. After four months of camp life there the organization was sent to Harrisburg. While at the latter place Ser- geant Russell was appointed first lieutenant by Governor Hastings. The following six months were spent at Augusta, Ga., where the promotion to captain came to the subject of this sketch from Gov- ernor Stone. Shortly afterward the company was discharged and came home. When the captain left for the front his friends feared that he would fail to pass the physical examination, as he weighed but 109 pounds and was not in very vigorous health. Outdoor life was apparently just what was needed, however, as it made a new man of him. When he returned he weighed 210 pounds, and to-day he is in the prime of a vigorous. healthy manhood. On Christmas day, 1898, his company presented him with a handsome sword and belt, as a token of the esteem in which he was held. June 28, 1905, Captain Russell married Miss Cinnie Kantner, a native of Tamaqua, and a daughter of Wesley and Sophia Kantner. Mrs. Russell's father is deceased, but her mother is still a resident of Tamaqua. The captain and his wife are both devout communicants of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Russell is a member of the Blue Lodge of the Masonic order. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held all the chairs and is now a trustee of the ceme- tery and hall : the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Sons of America, the order of Rebekahs, and the hose company of Ta- maqua. In politics he is a stanch believer in the principles of the Re- publican party. and he has a number of times been a delegate to state and county conventions. Personally the captain is a man of fine physique, soldierly bearing and courteous manner-an ideal soldier and polished gentleman.
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