USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 59
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has neither heldl nor aspired to offices of public trust. Professionally he is associated as a member with the Schuylkill county medical as- sociation and is medical examiner for the Metropolitan and Pruden- tial Life Insurance Companies, His religious convictions are with the German Reformed society, at the church of which faith he wor- ships.
Stevens, James E., senior member of the firm of Stevens & Bro., wholesale and retail dealers in ice at Port Carbon, is a son of Asher and Elizabeth ( Mortimer ) Stevens, and was born in the borough where he now resides in 1857. Hle is one of a family of seven, the other members being Mrs. Emanuel Templin, Eliza, Hannah, Oliver, D. D .; Ambrose and William W. His first labor after leaving the public schools was as a carpenter and subsequently for a number of years he was engaged as a contractor. For the past few years he and his brother, Oliver, have been successfully engaged in their pres- ent business. Mr. Stevens married Miss Henrietta Conrad, of Potts- ville, by whom he has had five sons, one of whom, Albert J., is de- ceased. The others are Edward F., Walter C., Clarence, Mortimer and Wesley. The family are all members of and workers in the Methodist Episcopal church of Port Carbon, and the father is identi- fied with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. Oliver D. Stevens, junior member of the firm of Stevens & Bro., was also born in Port Carbon, the year of his nativity having been 1861. He had about the same educational advantages as his brother James, and has been in the same business with him practically all his active life. His wife was formerly Miss Mary Hay, of Port Carbon. They have no chil- dren. Like his brother, Oliver is a Republican in politics and he and his wife are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church. Oliver is a member of Pottsville Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles. The firm of Stevens & Bro. has an increasing patronage each year and is growing in popularity. Besides their ice business they do a general drayage business.
Stewart, Allen Neifert, proprietor of a leading general store at Quakake, was born at Stewart's Station, Pa., Nov. 30, 1866, and is a son of David J. and Rosina (Neifert) Stewart, the other children being .Adam. Francis, Frank, Emanuel, .Adeline, Samuel. Edmond and Paul. Emanuel and Samuel are deceased, and Adeline is the wife of Isaiah Kreischer, of Aristes. Columbia county, Pa. The Stewarts are of Scotch descent. and the Neifert (or Neuferdt) an- cestry is German. Family traditions and records state that Hans Jacob Neuferdt. the great-great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to America from Würtemberg on the ship Nancy, Captain Ewing commanding. and on Sept. 27, 1752, when in his seventeenth year, he took the oath of allegiance, required of all male members of the family, to King George the Third and the common- wealth of Pennsylvania. Hans Jacob Neuferdt had a son, Johann Jacob, born in 1765, who came to Rush township in 1797. Johann Jacob married Magdalena Breiner, born in 1760, and they had a son
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named John Jacob, who in turn became the father of three sons, Peter, George and John. Peter was the father of Mrs. David J. Stewart, the mother of Allen Neifert Stewart, the subject of this memoir. The latter began his attendance upon the Rush township common schools when he was but seven years of age, having to go a distance of two and a half miles to what was known as the Liebig school, No. 4. This was the only institution of learning he attended until he reached his seventeenth year. Then he was out of school for about five years, and after taking another term of work when he was twenty-one years old he took an examination under County Superintendent George W. Weiss and received a teacher's certifi- cate. Until 1889 he was engaged in pedagogic work, completing meantime in vacations a course in a Reading business college. On April 19, 1890, he opened a general store in Quakake and has con- tinued in the management of it ever since. The first stock of goods was valued at $1,000; to-day insurance is carried on $20,000 worth of stock. On July 5, 1890, Mr. Stewart received an appointment as postmaster of Quakake and served in that capacity until March 31, 1906. His marriage occurred on June 2, 1892, to Miss Luella M. Whetstone, and to this union have been born three children-Harold Van Allen, Warren Whetstone and Carl Winfield, the latter of whom is deceased. Mrs. Stewart attended the public schools in Walker township, near Tamaqua, until the age of fifteen, when she attended the Millersville state normal school for one term, after which she entered the pedagogic profession and taught for three years. Mrs. Stewart's parents are Absalom K. and Rebecca (Andrews) Whet- stone, and her paternal grandparents were John and Barbara (Mo- ser) Whetstone. Absalom K. Whetstone served in the Civil war as a corporal in Company E, 129th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. His grandfather, Isaac Whetstone, was a soldier in the War of the Revo- lution. The original Whetstone farmily came from Würtemberg, Germany, and wrote their name "Whetstein." Her maternal grand- parents were Peter and Phoebe (Houser) Andrews. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Stewart were seven in number-Claude Elias, Elmer Ellsworth, Alice Rebecca. Milton Absalom, Edwin, Darwin Benjamin and Eva Ellen-of whom Claude, Elmer and Edwin are deceased. Milton A. Whetstone was born near Tamaqua in May, 1873, graduated in the Kutztown normal school, taught in the public schools of Lansford for two years, and when the Citizens' National bank opened on Jan. 1, 1904, he entered upon his duties as cashier. On Aug. 11, 1906, in company with Daniel McGeehan, assistant cashier of the bank, he was engaged in distributing circulars through the country announcing an increase in the rate of interest paid by the bank, and while crossing the tracks of the Tamaqua & Lansford electric railway on the Tamaqua side of hill No. II, the carriage in which they were riding was struck by a car. Mr. Whetstone was thrown under the car, where he was struck on the head by the box containing the air pump, and death ensued almost instantly. He was one of the most prominent and capable business men of Lansford.
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Mr Stewart and his family are all devout members of the Lutheran church, to which faith his ancestors for several generations have belonged. He ranks hugh in fraternal circles, being a past officer in Tamaqua Lodge, No. 238, Free and Accepted Masons, Mizpah Chapter. No 177, Royal Arch Masons, and is a member of Ivanhoe Commanders. No. 31. Knight- Templars. He has also held ofice in Camp No. 578, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and Council No. 217. Junior Order of United American Mechanics. In political matter- he is a stanch adherent of time-honored Democracy, and has been several times honored with public ofice at the hands of his fel- low citizens, For many years he was township auditor and at the present time is serving his sixth year as the incumbent of the office of township clerk. His business interests include a financial interest in the Tamanend loan and building association, of which he is the treasurer. He is also heavily interested in realty in Quakake and owns his store builling and home, which is one of the prettiest in the
Stine, Edwin S., chici burgess of the borough of Pottsville, l'a .. was born in the borough of which he is now the executive head, on Nov. 8. 1870. He is one of two surviving children of John P. and Elizabeth ( Stichten) Stine, and his sister, Carrie, is living with her parents. Another sister, Bessie, and a brother, George, died in in- fancy. The father is paying teller of the Miners' National bank of l'ottsville, a position which he has held for more than thirty-four years. The subject of this sketch received his education in the schools of his native township, and for the first three years following the completion of his studies he was engaged in the restaurant business at Tumbling Run. For a period of two years thereafter he was em- ployed in the sub-treasury of the United States at Philadelphia. When he left that position it was to accept a responsible clerkship in the office of the county commissioners of Schuylkill county, at Potts- ville. This latter he retained until his elevation to the office of chief burgess of the borough of Pottsville, in February, 1906. There were five other candidates in the field when he was chosen and his election over them all by a good majority is ample evidence of his popularity and the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Dur- ing the war with Spain Mr. Stine enlisted as a private in Company H of the 8th Pennsylvania infantry, on Apr. 28. 1898, and on March 7. 1800, he received an honorable discharge at Augusta. Ga., as a corporal. The regiment saw camp service in various southern states and upon the reorganization, after the mustering out. Mr. Stine was made color sergeant on the regimental staff. He is a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans' association, the Turtle club. a social organization of high standing in Pottsville, and the West End fire company. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 207. Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks: Lodge No. 134. Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Seneca Tribe. No. 41. Improved Order of Red Men.
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Stocker, Remegius, a well known merchant and old resident of Shenandoah, was born in Northampton county, Pa., Jan. 31, 1830. His father, John Stocker, was born in Switzerland, but came in his boyhood to America, located in Northampton county, where he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Kutz, a native of the county, and passed the remainder of his life as a farmer in that and Union counties. The mother died in 1851 and the father in 1860. Of their children three reached the years of maturity. Remegius is the eldest; Mathias was a farmer and died in 1902; and the sister is now Mrs. Sarah E. Scha- del, living in Watsontown, Northampton county. Remegius Stocker was educated in the schools of Northampton and Union counties, and lived upon the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits, with which he has ever since been connected. In 1866 he located in Shenandoah, before the first line of railroad was completed to the town, which then had a popula- tion of less than 3,000. For a time he was in the lumber business and then formed a partnership with Jonathan Wasley as dealers in general merchandise. During the days of the "Mollie Maguires." by doing a large credit business, the firm was driven to the wall and the business was closed out at a loss of some $25,000. Mr. Stocker again started in on a small scale, with a stock of groceries and pro- visions, and this stock has been gradually increased as his trade de- manded it, until to-day he has a well appointed store. From the time he first came to Shenandoah he has always been identified with every movement for the advancement of the town, and is generally regarded as one of the public-spirited and representative citizens. He served for six years on the school board; was secretary of that body for three years; was instrumental in establishing the gas company and other public utilities ; served for many years as a director of the gas and electric companies, and his advice or opinion is frequently sought by his fellow townsmen, because of his general knowledge of affairs and his well recognized, sound business judgment. Although a Dem- ocrat in his party affiliations, he is independent in his local politics, believing that the best way to secure good local government is to elect honest and capable men to office without regard to their party associations. In 1871 Mr. Stocker married Miss Mary Van Bus- kirk, a native of Union county and a daughter of John Van Buskirk, an early settler in that part of the state. They have no children and both are members of the United Evangelical church, representing the faith of their ancestors.
Stone, John W., the popular proprietor of the Westminster hotel at Frackville, Pa., was born in Gloucestershire, England, Nov. 26. 1863, a son of Samuel and Susannah (Stone) Stone. He was reared in his native country, where he received his early education, and where he remained until his eighteenth year. when, in 1881. he im- migrated to the United States, first locating in Mahanoy City. Pa .. where he was engaged in the butcher business, which trade he had learned in his native country. After several years' stay in Mahanoy City, he removed to Gilberton, embarking in the same business, in
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
which he continued until 18os, when he there entered the hotel busi- ness. In December, 1903, he purchased his present location in Frack- ville and removed to the last named city. His hostelry is known as the Westminster hotel, and is the leading hotel of the city. Mr. Stone has successfully conducted this business since he purchased it, and is also an extensive dealer in real estate. He is one of the represen- tative and progressive business men of the city, taking a deep interest in all public matters. Hle was one of the organizers of the First National bank of Frackville, in which he is a stockholder and direc- tor. He is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party and during his residence in Gilberton served in the city council and as a member of the school board and board of health. In March, 1885. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stone to Emma J. Weeks, a daughter of Benjamin and Emma J. Weeks, of Gilberton, and to this union have been born seven children: Susie, now the wife of George Boner, and Gilbert S .. Berdie, Marie, John. Benjamin, and Lee, Jr. The family are members of the Episcopal church.
Stoyer, Rev. William D., pastor of the First Reformed church of Schuylkill Haven, is a native of Delaware township, Mercer county, Pa .. where he was born Dec. 1, 1860. He is a son of Henry S. and Armina ( Adams) Stover. The first school he attended was a select one. under Prof. J. B. Scott, at Transfer, Mercer county, and then he was a student at an institution of the same nature at Fre- donia. under Prof. L. R. Eckles. When he had completed his pre- paratory work he entered the State Normal School at Edinboro, in Erie county, and graduated with the class of 1890. From this insti- tution he returned to Fredonia and took up a scientific course in the Fredonia institute. Then he entered Thiel college, at Greenville, and in 1895 was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. His theological training was acquired in the Reformed theological semi- nary at Lancaster. where he graduated in 1898. Mr. Stoyer's first charge was at Tremont, which pastorate included the congregations of Llewellyn and Donaldson and the congregation at Newtown, which he had organized. In 1901 he accepted a call to become pastor of the Auburn Reformed charge. This charge included the Old Red church congregation, and those at New Ringgold and Port Clinton, and subsequently the one which he organized at Landingville. His present pastorate dates from April, 1905, when he relinquished his Auburn charge to accept it. The church heretofore known as the Jerusalem church was owned jointly by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations, but under Mr. Stover's management sufficient funds were soon raised to purchase the Lutheran interest and the edifice was renamed as the First Reformed church. Working in connection with the congregation he has remodeled the building and the par- sonage, and has installed new heating and lighting systems as well as new furnishings in both. The parsonage is widely known as the Bast homestead, and is one of the most beautiful places in the Little Schuylkill valley. As a pastor Mr. Stover is immensely popular with all who know him, and his sermons are plain, straightforward talks
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that have the ring of sincerity. In June, 1902, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stoyer to Miss Bessie E. Stuck, a daughter of Hon. Benjamin F. and Mary J. (Charlesworth) Stuck, of Tremont. Two sons have blessed this union-William Henry Franklin and Benjamin Irvin Frederick. In his political affairs Mr. Stoyer is aligned with no party or faction, but votes for the best interests of the community. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Masonic fraternity, the Royal Arcanum and the Protected Home Circle. He is stated clerk of the Schuylkill county classes of the Reformed church, and is general overseer of all publications is- sued by the denomination in the county. Rev. Mr. Stoyer's strong- est and most able efforts in the ministry have been the organization of new congregations and the freeing of old ones from debt. He is distinctively a self-made man, and one whose life is well worthy of emulation.
Strauch, Lambert A., owner and proprietor of the grain and feed mill at Cressona, was born in that borough in 1881, a son of Augustus R. and Sallie (Grimm) Strauch. His paternal grand- parents were Isaac and Lavinia (Heiser) Strauch, the former of whom was born in what is now the township of North Manheim, this county, on Feb. 4, 1806. He was a boatman on the Philadelphia and Schuylkill canal in his early life, but later engaged in mercantile business and still later removed to Cressona, where he built and operated a flour mill. He died on July 4, 1885. It was at Cressona that Augustus R. Strauch, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born, on Aug. 8, 1857. When Isaac Strauch died his son, Au- gustus, took charge of the mill and continued to operate it until his death. By his marriage to Sallie Grimm, Augustus became the father of two sons, Robert D. and Lambert A. He was a prominent man in the borough and held many offices of public trust, among them the position of chief burgess for one term, councilman for three years, auditor and member of the school board. Lambert A. Strauch attended the public schools and after availing himself fully of the educational advantages there afforded he found employment in his father's mill. During all his active life he has had no other employ- ment, having operated the concern under his own name since his father's death. He is unmarried and makes his home with his mother. In religious affairs both mother and son are associated with the Re- formed church of Cressona. Mr. Strauch is recognized as a young man of fine business capacity and his friends predict for him a most successful future.
Straughn, Charles T., of Shenandoah, is one of the able and popular representatives of the newspaper fraternity in Schuylkill county, and is editor and one of the proprietors of the Shenandoah Evening Herald, besides being incumbent of the office of county con- troller. Mr. Straughn is a native of Cambridge. Dorchester county, Maryland, where he was born Feb. 24, 1860, and is a son of Levin and Annie Straughn, both of whom are now deceased. The father was editor of the leading newspaper of his native state and continued
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a resident of Maryland until the được of his hit The subject of this reviews was attended the advantages of the public schools of his not- tive place and as a with entered upon an apprenticeship at the prim- ter's trade Hle m due time fannharized himself with the practical minuter of the art preservative of all art ." and models pressed his Www torwart into the reportorial and chitorial ranks of newspaper- dom That he has succeeded in his cho en sphere of endewar is amply demonstrated in the superiority of the paper of which he is new comiter in chief and which covers is assigned field with distinct- Ne success, lesples being an efficient exponent of the principles and pluies of the Republican party Of this party Me Straugh is a valiant and loval member and he has been active in its work. He has served as a member of the borough council of Shenandoah and also as its treasurer, and is now entering upon his second term as county controller, in which office he has made an enviable record. He is public spirited and progressive and has done much to further the interests of the county in which he maintains his home. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which both he and lus wife are members, and he is affihated with the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In July, 1885, Mr. Straughi was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Davies, daughter of Thomas 1 and Margaret & Jones) Davies, of Shenandoah, and the children of this umon are six in number, namely: L. Emory, Themas D. William S. M. Anna, Archibald and Margaret J
Strause, Frank, son of Sammel and Susan ( Miller) Strauss, was born in Schubert. Berks county. Sept. 28, 1856. His father was a carpenter in his early hie, and in later years a hotel-keeper. He con- ducted a hotel in Berks county for twenty-two years, and also one at Summit Station for four years. He spent the closing years of his hie with his son Frank, the subject of this sketch. He died in 1904. aged eighty -four years and eighteen days. Frank Strause is one of a large family of children. His brothers and sisters are: Mary, married to Simeon Weber, of Berks county : Monroe: Adam : Ann, married to Andrew Cottaman, of Mverstown, Lebanon county: Ma- tıkla (deceased1 ; Kate (deceased) : Caroline adeceased) was the wife of P. S. Kremer, of Summit Station, Schuylkill county : Susan. married to Charles Roeder, of Summit Station : Charles : Jane, mar- ried to George Krommes. Frank Strause attended the public schools of his birthplace until he was sixteen years of age. after which he remamed at home with his father, assisting in the hotel business until he was twenty -two years old. At that time he began to work inde- pendently, for two years cutting wood and afterward being employed in the construction department of the Philadelphia & Reading rail- way for about three years. He then took a contract for cutting wood and worked in that business until he returned to hotel-keeping. in which he remained for sixteen years. His last business enterprise Is in timber, with which he combines a general mercantile establish- ment, being at the present time thus engaged. On July 20, 18-8. Mr.
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Strause was married to Miss Amanda Roeder, daughter of kha. Roeder, of Summit Station. To them have been born five children : Oliver, Charles A., Robert 1 .. , Bessie AL, and a son who died in infancy. Bessie is the wife of Jacob Babb, of Rorders, Schuylkill comty. In politics Mr. Strause is a Democrat, but has never desired public office. The family are members of the Summit Hill Lutheran church. Mr. Strause's son, Charles, manages the mercantile bu iness for him, and also attends to the clerical work in connection with the extensive timber business in which Mr. Stranse is engaged.
Strimaitis, Anicetas B., son of George and Agotta ( Laurinaitis) Strimaitis, was born in Lithuania, a part of Russia near the boundary of Germany, on Oct. 17, 1875. He attended the schools of his coun- try until he was eleven years of age, when he worked on the farm for his mother, his father having died when he was three years old. At the age of fifteen Mr. Strimaitis decided to come to America, and he located first at Worcester, Mass,, where he remained for a year and a half, having found employment with a butcher. He then went to Scranton, Pa., locating a little later at what is now Avon, where he worked in the mines about two years. He then came to Mahanoy City, where he was again employed in the mines. remaining there about seven years, when he decided to change his occupation, and became a partner in a meat market in the same place. After two years he went to Mount Carmel, where he worked for Weissinger Bros., in the same business, for a short time, coming from there to Shenandoah, Schuylkill county. Here he was at first employed in a grocery store and later became connected with the Lithuanian paper published in Shenandoah, known as the Darbuininku Viltis, where he was in charge of the outside printing. On Feb. 17. 1905. he was appointed head-keeper of the infirmary of the Schuylkill county alms- house, which position he is at present occupying. Mr. Strimaitis took out his first naturalization papers at Scranton. in 1895. casting his first vote for President Mckinley in 1806. He was married to Marguerite, daughter of William and Mary ( Strielkinte ) Lutkevicz. of Mahanoy City, on Oct. 30, 1000. One child born to them died at the age of eleven months and thirteen days. Mr. Strimaitis is a mem- ber of Szyono Friksztytoio, of Mahanoy City, also of the S. L. A. of America, and the T. M. Dr. of America. He is a member of the Independent club of Mahanoy City, which he organized. and of the young men's club of the same place. Mr. Strimaitis is an ambitious and energetic young man, and during his residence in Mahanoy City attended a night school that he might become more conversant with the language and the ways of the Americans. He is also a talented musician, being a fine violinist and a composer of vocal and instru- mental music. He has a number of compositions which he expects to publish soon. Dec. 24, 1901, while working in the mines at Elin- wood colliery, Mahanoy City. he was seriously injured by falling coal, and was in consequence in the hospital for eighteen months. In politics Mr. Strimaitis is a Republican, and his family attends the Lithuanian church of Mahanoy City.
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