USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 60
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SCHUYLKILL. COUNTY
Strohmeier, Bertram A., as utant principal of the Pottsville lgh hh i a native of A bland. Schuylkill county, Pa, where he was Born Aug 26. 1883, the only child of William and Frances treasvo Strohmeier, al natives of Ashland. In the paternal hne. the family is of fin ant extraction The mother's family is of Scotch antecedente and was het established in Columbia county, where representatives of the same have been prominent in social and politi- of order for many years. The parental home of Professor Stroh- 11 cier was transferred to Philadelphia in 18os. and after a brief so- journ in the Quaker city, It was determined that the mountainous regin of his native county would prove more congenial in the res- toration of his health, which was then rather delicate. Accordingly he took up his residence with his annt. Mrs Daniel Christian, in whose family he has resulted since 188. He was graduated from the Pottsville high school in the class of 1002, and immediately be- gan the classical course at Pennsylvania college, Gettysburg, in which he was graduated with honor in the class of 1000. Immediately after graduation, Mr. Strohmeter was elected to the chair of Greek and English history in the preparatory school of his alma mater, but de lined that honor when elected to his present position in the Pottsville school Mr. Strohmeier has always taken high rank both as a student and instructor, and has carried away some distinguished honors from the oratorical field. He won the intercollegiate oratori- cal prize of the Pennsylvania Oratorical Union on March 9. 1966. The colleges comprising the union were LaFayette. Lehigh, Muhlen- berg. Franklin and Marshall. U'rsinns, Swarthmore and Pennsylva- nia college at Gettysburg. Besides the distinguished honor conveyed in this achievement, the cash prize was a handsome sum of money- not at all unwelcome to the average college student. Professor Stroh- meier is a zealous worker in church and Sunday school, and his ora- torical talents are fully appreciated in connection with this line of work, wherein his leisure and holidays are fully monopolized in de- livering public addresses. While in college he was editor-in-chief of the "Spectrum," a college annual published by the junior class. Hc has always taken an active interest in athletic sports and was a mem- ber of the Gettysburg basket-ball team during his four years' stay in the town. He was a member of the college football team during his senior year. He is also an interested and useful "coach" and organizer in connection with the football team of the Pottsville high school. Mr. Strohmeier is a member of the English Lutheran church. He is independent of party in political affairs and does not take an aggressive interest in politics, except as a student of history. His father was a business man in San Francisco at the time of the recent devastation by earthquake and fire. and was a serious sufferer from the destruction of his property and business interests.
Sturtevant, Benjamin Franklin, foreman of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company's engine house at Delano, is a son of Caleb and Mary Hodgson) Sturtevant and was born in Halifax, Mass .. on Feb. 24. 1852. He is one of two sons of his parents, the other of
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whom, Edward by name, has not been heard of for several years. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Halifax until he was fifteen years of age, and then, in July, 1869, began his active bread-winning by accepting a position as apprentice in the locomotive works at Taunton, Mass. In the spring of 1873 he went to Hannibal, Mo., and took a position as locomotive machinist and fireman for the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad Company. He remained there until late in 1875 and then removed to Raleigh, N. C., where he worked at the machinist's trade until his return to Hannibal and the employ of the St. Joe railroad, in 1876. From Hannibal his wan- derings took him to Keokuk, Ia., where for a year he was with the Keokuk & St. Joe railroad company. For the next few months he left his trade to prospect in the gold and silver regions about Den- ver, Colo. On his return to the east in 1880 he found employment as a machinist at Ashley, Pa., with the New Jersey Central railroad, and remained in that capacity for a period of eight years. Then he was transferred to Mauch Chunk and made engine-house foreman, a position he retained for a period of about five years, or until 1893. It was in that year that he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley railroad company in the same capacity, being placed in charge of the Mauch Chunk engine house of the company. From Mauch Chunk he came to Delano to assume the duties of a like position. On Sept. 28, 1880, Mr. Sturtevant was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Purdon, of Mahoning township, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Kidd) Purdon. Mr. Purdon is a native of England, the place of his nativity being near Hull, and his wife was born in Delaware. Mrs. Purdon was twice married, her first husband having been Griffiths Evans, to whom she bore two children-Anna, now Mrs. McCready, of Easton, Pa., and John R. Mr. and Mrs. Sturtevant have two sons, John Thomas and Benjamin Johnson, the former of whom is now serving an apprenticeship in the shops of the Lehigh Valley railroad company at Weatherly, Pa. Mrs. Sturtevant is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as are also the sons. Mr. Sturtevant is a Congregationalist and is a man who carries his religious views into the exercise of his right of franchise, being a strong upholder of the principles of the Prohibition party. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the encampment of the same at Wilkes Barre.
Stutzman, Frederick E., a farmer of Hegins township, was born at Fountain, Pa., Sept. 8, 1851, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of that part of Schuylkill county, his great-grand- father and his grandfather, Christian and Peter Stutzman, respect- ively, coming from Lebanon county and settling in Hegins township in the fall of 1826. Peter Stutzman married Elizabeth Bonarty, and they had eight children, viz .: Christian, David, Michael, Elizabeth, Peter, Catherine, Israel and William A., the last named being the father of Frederick E. William A. Stutzman grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving an education in the old subscription schools, and in 1850 he built the Fountain hotel at Fountain, which house he.
conducted for twents the years He served as por director of Schuylkill counts, treasurer tas collector and supervisor, being in Ins das one of the active Democrats of the county He was a me her out the Reformed church His arst wife was Catherine Zerby. a native of Schuylkill county, by whom he had six clublren, viz. : Henry. who died in Nebraska m 18-2. Frederick F. Isaac, sheeased ; Mary. deceased, John W., a farmer im Hegus township, and Andrew, also a farmer in the same locahty as his brother After the death of his first wife he married Helen Roebuck, of Northumberland counts, and to this umon were born three clubfren . Cela married P. M. Artz and is now dead. Carrie is single and hives at home ; and Emma 1 .. is Mr. R. L Bressler. of legins. Wilham \ Stutzman died on July 7. 1005 Frederick E. Stutzman was educated in the common schools and lived with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age. In Sept. 1874, he married Miss Melinda, daughter of Michael and Mary ( Kehras) Stutzman, of Fountain, and for the next three years he farmed for his father. He then bought sixty acres, where he now lives, forty acres being cleared and under cultivation. Since comme into possession of this place he has built a new house and barn and added other improvements, among them a fine orchard. Mr. Stutz- man is a Democrat in luis political conviction- and has served as town- ship assessor and a member of the school board. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grange, and holds membership in the Reformed church, which also represented the faith of his father. Mr. and Mr- Stutzman have the following children: Harry .A. i. a physician at Power City : Calvin A. married Vinie Smith, of Valley View, and has one daughter, Olivia; Mary is the wife of Charles Artz. a butcher at Minersville, and has two children, Raymond C. and Mertie : Robert E .. a butcher at Minersville, married Lizzie Lau- derman and has one son, Frederick Jacob; Bella is the wife of Oscar Snyder, of Tremont. and has one son, Herman : and Verda A .. Will- iam \. Christian .A .. Lizzie A. and Carrie IT. are at home with their parents. Harry A. was educated in the normal school at West Ches- ter and attended medical college at Philadelphia, graduating in 1005. since which time he has been in practice at Tower City. He married Catherine Williams, of Fountain, and has three children: Lloyd. Alberta and Fernic.
Stutzman, Samuel E., a farmer of Hegin- township, is a native of Schuylkill county, having been born near Hegins on April to. 1864. His parents. John and Polly (Holderman) Stutzman, were both born in the county, the father in Hegin- and the mother in Hub- les township. John Stutzman learned the trade of wheelwright with Jacob Wolfgang, of Valley View, and ran a shop at that place for many years In test he bought a farm of sixty-six and one-half acres in Hegins township, and from that time until his death he fol- lowed the vocation of farming. At the time he purchased the farm it was badly run down, the buildings being out of repair, etc. He rebuilt the house in 18;2 and continued to improve the place until it became one of the best farms in the locality. He was a Democrat
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in his political faith, and for some time held the office of supervisor. He died July 3, 1903, and his widow is still living on the farm. They had two children : Samuel E. and Maria A. The latter married Wil- lis Boyer, and is now deceased, leaving one son, John. Samuel E. Stutzman received a common-school education and has all his life been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He now lives upon the farm which his father bought in 1871, and there carries on a general farm- ing business, devoting considerable attention to the cultivation of fruit. He is a member of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of Amer- ica, the Grange and the Reformed church, all located at Hegins. He takes an active part in politics and has held the offices of school director, clerk and auditor, always discharging his duties with ability and fidelity. On May 15, 1886, he married Miss Sallie A., daughter of William and Susan Boyer, of Hegins township. Her father was born in Schuylkill and her mother in Dauphin county. Mr. and Mrs. Stutzman have four children: Carrie E., John W., Susie P. and Reba I.
Super, Albert Haeseler, M. D .- This popular and successful young physician was born at Pottsville, Pa., Feb. 25, 1881. He is a son of J. Harry and Emma ( Haeseler) Super, the former a native of Perry county, Pa., and the latter born at Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county. The father located in Pottsville in 1872, and has spent the intervening years in that borough and at Minersville, in which places he has been prominent in church and musical circles and in those things tending toward the betterment of the community. The pa- rental family consisted of six children, the eldest of whom is the subject of this article. The others are here named in order of birth : John H., Jr., a student at Dickinson college; Catherine Mary, Doro- tha Emma. Sarah Louise and Frederick Haeseler. The subject of this sketch completed the course in the Pottsville high school in 1898, being graduated with the class of that year. In 1899 he took up his professional studies at Hahnemann medical college, in Philadelphia, and received his diploma as a graduated physician and surgeon in 1903. He spent the succeeding year in hospital service at Mckinley memorial hospital, Trenton, N. J., and located in general practice at Tamaqua in 1904. He is the president of the Schuylkill county Homeopathic medical society, and an active member of the Pennsyl- vania state society of the same system of practice. The family are members of the United Evangelical church. Dr. Super was mar- ried in Sept., 1906, to Miss Edna M. Kline, a native of Canton. O., and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Kline, of Tamaqua.
Super, Alvin D., son of Henry and Mary (Deiner) Super. was born in Juniata township, Perry county, Pa .. on Oct. 8, 1857. He at- tended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. after which he came to Pottsville and learned the plastering trade, at which he worked for three and one-half years. At the end of that time he came to Wayne township and worked on a farm until 1894, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides, and which he has cultivated since that time. Besides his agricultural operations he
deals in fertilizers and is an agent for agricultural machinery. Un Apr 1. Por. Mr Super married Annie R Real, daughter of this Reed. of Wayne township They have had two children : One dangh- ter des in imitanes, and Ruth is living In politics Mr. Super is a Denerrat, and the family are members of the United Evangelical church Mr Super has recently been elected superintendent of the Sunday school, and i also class leader of the church, He has six brothers living - Charles W. professor of German in the University at AAthens, Ohio: Jetterson E. a farmer in Perry county, Pa. ; Oranda B, professor in Dickinson college. Carlisle, l'a : Daniel R., president of the (memati Queensware Compam ; | Harry, chief and inspector of police of Minersville, Pa, and Irving H., a teller in the Pennsyl- sama National bank, at Pottsville, Pa.
Swalm, Thomas W., M. D., a prominent Homeopathic physi- cian and surgeon in Pottsville, was born at Urwigsburg, this county. June 15. 1850. He is a son of John .A. and Catherine ( Hoy ) Swalm. natives of Schuylkill county. The father was born Dec. 19, 1826. and died June 2, 1804. He was a merchant for many years in Mah- anos City. The mother was born May 5, 1820. and died Jan. 3. 1887. Of the four children born to these parents Emma is the eldest and the only daughter. She is the wife of Albert J. Luburg, and resides in Philadelphia: Harry .A. Swalm is a merchant in Mahanoy City ; Dr. Thomas W. is the third in order of birth, and Albert H. is a hardware merchant in Pottsville, but until recently was located in Shenandoah in the same line of business. Dr. Swalm received his general education in the public schools of Mahanoy City and at New Berlin seminary, in U'nion county, Pa. He began his professional studies at the University of Pennsylvania, but completed his course at the Homeopathic medical college of New York city, in which he was graduated in the class of 1878. He spent one year in practice in the New York city hospital on Ward island, and in 1870 he came to Pottsville, where he has since been in continuous and successful prac- tice. Dr. Swalm has no specialties or hobbies, but is devoting his energies to general practice of medicine and surgery, according to the tenets of his profession. He is a close student of professional literature, and has a large and valuable library of carefully selected professional books. He is a member of the state and county medical societies of Homeopathic physicians, and keeps in the front rank in the onward march of his profession. Dr. Swalm has been a member of the Pottsville school board for the last seven years, and is presi- dent of that body at the present time. He was married in 1893 to Miss Annie Rickert. His church affiliations are with the First Pres- byterian church in Pottsville. The Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows is the only fraternal society with which he is affiliated.
Swank, Robert Porter, a well known attorney at Mahanoy City, was born at Delano, Schuylkill county, Pa .. Oct. 17. 1868. His father, Josiah Swank, was born at Mauch Chunk. Pa .. Sept. 11. 1844. He was a soldier during the Civil war. serving first in the 27th regi- ment of Pennsylvania militia during the "emergency call" of 1863,
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and he enlisted on Feb. 28, 1865, as a private in Company K, of the 202d Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. Ile was honorably discharged Aug. 3, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. The mother of Mr. Robert P. Swank was in maidenhood Miss Anna J. Porter, a native of Ballycairn, Colerain, Ireland, where she was born March 13, 1847. The subject of this article was educated in the public schools of De- lano, and at the Pennsylvania state college, near Bellefonte, being graduated from the last named institution with the class of 1889. In his sophomore year Mr. Swank was awarded the James A. Beaver prize for excellence in mathematics ; and a distinguished honor was conferred upon him two years later, when, as the representative of the senior class, he was awarded the second medal of the American protective tariff league. The theme of his essay on this occasion was: "What Are Raw Materials? Would free raw materials be bene- ficial to the labor and industries of the United States?"This contest was open to the senior classes of all American colleges. After gradu- ation, Mr. Swank entered upon the study of his chosen profession in the office of William Wilhelm, Esq., in Pottsville. He was ad- mitted to the Schuylkill county bar, Feb. 13, 1893, and has since been admitted to practice before all of the Pennsylvania and United States courts. He is a Republican in political views, but he has never sought or held public office. Mr. Swank was married Dec. 1, 1898, to Miss Ida M. Hepler, daughter of Jesse and Catherine P. (Daniel) Hepler, of Eldred township, this county. Nov. 15, 1899, Miss Anna Catherine Swank was born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Swank. Mr. Swank holds membership in the Royal Arcanum, the Young Men's Republican club of Mahanoy City, and the Masonic fraternity. He is also a director of the Union National bank of Mahanoy City.
Sweeney, Patrick Francis, who is incumbent of the responsible office of chief burgess of the borough of Shenandoah, is one of the honored and popular citizens of the county. He was born in county Mayo, Ireland, Nov. 2, 1862, and was there reared to the age of fifteen years, in the meanwhile securing a good com- mon-school education. In 1877 he came to America in company with his uncle Michael Sweeney, and he remained in New York city about eighteen months, at the expiration of which, in the latter part of 1879, he came to Shenandoah. Pa., where he has since maintained his home and where he has attained success through well directed effort and honorable methods. Upon com- ing to Shenandoah he secured work as a laborer in the mines and finally became a mining contractor, in which connection he so managed his affairs as to gain financial success and a reputa- tion for being a thorough and reliable business man. He con- tinued actively identified with mine contracting until his election to the office of chief burgess, Feb. 20, 1906. He assumed the duties of the office on the first Monday of the succeeding March. He was elected on the Citizens' ticket, which was brought forward to compass the overthrow of the ring which had so long con- trolled governmental affairs in the borough, and the magnificent
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
run made by Mr Sweeney testifies alike to his personal popu- larity and his eligibility and to the attunde of the voters in re- gard to the previously existing regime. Mr Sweeney has ever been a stanch friend of organised labor, and his efforts in behalf of the same have been timely and zealous. He first joined the Amalgamated Labor association and when this was absorbed by the knights of Labor he became affiliated with the latter organi- ration, which continued in existence until 1888. The losing of the strike in that year sounded the death knell of the Knights of Labor in the anthracite field of Pennsylvania. in 1( Mr. Sweeney became associated with the United Mine Workers, and he was elected president of the local union. No. 1085, an office of which he has since remained continuously incumbent. He was a member of the committee of the organization which met the mine operators in New York city in 1002, and though the committee was unsuccessful in its mission the miners' demand- were granted later. Mr. Sweeney has attended all the joint conventions of the three districts in the anthracite field, and is a recognized leader m the councils and deliberations of the miners. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Democratic party, in where cause he has done effective service. He has never been a seeker of politi- cal office and his present position is the first he has held in the line. He and his wife are communicants of the Church of the Annunciation, Roman Catholic. June 19. 1880), was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sweeney to Miss Ellen T. Reilly, who was born and reared in Shenandoah, a daughter of Thomas Reilly. one of the first settlers of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney have four children-John Emmett, William, Humbert, and Bessie.
Szliakys. Vincent J., editor and proprietor of the Darbininku Viltis, meaning in English the Workingmen's Hope, at Shenan- doal, was born in Lithuania. Det. 10. 1870. His parents, Barney J. and Elizabeth A. (Baltrukonis) Szliakys, still live in that country, as do his brother and sister, John and Petronello. The former conducts the old home farm and the latter is married and lives in the same vicinity. Mr. Szliakys was educated in his native land, taking a course in the gymnasium at Mariampol, in the province of Suvalki. Until he was twenty-six years of age he lived at home with his parents, serving as a correspondent for several American and German newspapers. In 1806 he came to America and located in Shenandoah, where for a time he was editor of the Garsas Amerikas Lietuvin, a newspaper published in the Lithuianan language. When the paper was removed from the city he established a job printing office, which he con- ducted for about a year. He then organized a company and be- gan the publication of the Viltis, a weekly newspaper printed in the Lithuanian language. In 1903 he purchased his present e -- tablishment, which under his management has been successful from the start. He is a practical printer, has the only book- printing press in the city, and has turned out a number of mis- cellaneous books. Mr. Szliaky- is also an accomplished writer
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and a ripe scholar, and he has translated several novels from the Russian and Polish languages, as well as having written several creditable works of fiction, most of which have been issued from his own plant. At the present time he is engaged in a transla- tion of a history of the Russo-Japanese war from the Polish, and in compiling a history of the Lithuanians in Shenandoah. He is unmarried, is a member of the Lithuanian national alliance and the Fatherland Lovers' association, the last named being a society for the publication and distribution of current literature among the poor people of his native country. Full of energy, capable and optimistic, he is popular among his fellow towns- men, especially those of his own nationality.
Tabor, Adolph P., holds prestige as one of the successful and popular business men of Shenandoah, where he has made his home since his early youth and where he has gained independence and prosperity through his own well directed efforts. He was born in the province of Lithuania. Russia, July 10, 1865, and in his native land he was reared and educated. He immigrated to America at the age of seventeen years and at once took up his abode in Shenandoah, in June, 1883. His parents, Peter and Frances Tabor, passed their entire lives in Lithuania, where the father followed agricultural pursuits. Of the children two remain in Lithuania-Mrs. Rosa Pilecky, and Joseph, who resides upon the old home farm of his father. Besides the subject of this sketch and the two just mentioned there is one other child, Annie, who came to America about 1890 and who is now Mrs. Pet- rowsky, of Waterbury, Connecticut. For three years after his arrival in Shenandoah, Mr. Tabor was employed in the mines and he then became a clerk in a local clothing store. In 1890 he opened a meat market at the corner of Center and White streets, and he has ever since continued in active business for himself. He now owns and conducts one of the finest restau- rants and buffets in the city, the same being located at the cor- ner of White and Center streets, diagonally across from his orig- inal meat market, which latter he still continues, in connection with a well equipped grocery department. "The best is none too good" is Mr. Tabor's motto in the conducting of his business and the popular appreciation of his efforts is shown in the large and representative trade he controls in his two business estab- lishments. He is a leader in the local ranks of the Democratic party and has done efficient service in its cause. He has held various offices of trust, and in 1897 he was elected chief burgess of the borough of Shenandoah, being the first man of his nation- ality to be thus honored by any municipality in the United States. His administration of the affairs of the office was a credit to him- self, to his nationality and to the borough. While incumbent of this position he organized a relief association to aid the people of the borough who were brought to the verge of starvation through insufficient work and pay, and he has at all times manifested a spirit of deepest humanitarianism and benevolence. No man
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