USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 65
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facilities were such that he resolved upm opening a bank. He ac- coralingly merged this business into the I'me farove bank, a private institution which he has since operated with a marked degree of precumary success to himself and full satisfaction to his patrons, and which furnishes convenient and satisfactory banking facilities to the citizens of Pine Grove and vicinity. He has a capital stock of about $150,000, wluch melades a $30,000 investment in real estate. He does a general banking, Joan and discount business. For the last twelve sears a branch of this institution has been running at Tremont. He is always interested in public affairs. Besides his realty in the borough he is the owner of several valuable farms. In 1865 Mr. Werntz was elected justice of the peace, and he has filled that office for fifteen consecutive years, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the citizens. He has also served as borough treasurer for a number of years, and has been school treasurer for a number of years. During the Civil war he was an active worker in behalf of the Union cause. Mrs. Werntz was formerly Miss Catharine Mars, daughter of William and Margaret ( Weaver ) Mars. She is a member of the Lutheran church, and her husband is a past officer in the Pine Grove lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Wharmby. Frank, proprietor of a first-class hostelry at Nur- emberg, is a son of John and Rebecca (Green) W harmby, and was born in Nottinghamshire, England, on Nov. 24, 1800. He is the only son of a family of five, the others being Rosina. Lylia, Jemina and Sadie, all of whom are living except Lydia. Mr. Wharmby had just begun his scholastic work in the English school when he parents im- migrated to the United States, locating at Girardville in 1867. Three years later the family moved to Gowen and Mr. Wharmby, although still a youngster, went to work in the breaker. Shortly afterward the W harmby - removed to Nuremberg, and the subject of this sketch resumed his educational training. For a number of years he alter- nated between attending school in the winters and working in the breakers during the summer, and when he was fifteen years of age he went to Girardville, where he again obtained work as a breaker boy. In 1881 he locatetd in Nuremberg and found employment as a miner, working for some two years as a conductor on one of the mine locomotives. When he left that work it was to start active training for a foot race, and then he embarked in the hotel business in the Cen- tral hotel. This hostelry is one of the best in the county and is espe- cially noted for its wholesome and well prepared meals. In politics Mr. Wharmby is an ardent upholder of the tenets of the Republican party, and he has been the recipient of many honors at the hands of that party. He is now serving his fourteenth year as tax collector. is a member of the regular county committee, and has been a delegate to each county convention for the past twelve years. On Sept. 18. 1884. was celebrated Mr. Wharmby's marriage to Miss Elizabeth Winters. Mrs. Wharmby is one of a family of eight children, the others being Isadora, Ella. Mattie, Cyrus, George H., Wayne and Uriah, all living with the exception of Cyrus and Uriah. To Mr. and
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Mrs. Wharmby have been born five children-Bertha May, Ray, Reta, Torell and Lorie. The family are attendants of the Evangelical church of Nuremberg. Mr., Wharmby is a member of the Nurem- berg Lodge, No. 1075, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past officer, and of the Shenandoah Lodge, No. 103, of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a model type of citizen, enterpris- ing and public-spirited and a genial, hearty host.
Wheeler, Frank B., who is a prosperous lumber dealer and a con- tractor and builder of Pine Grove, and a director in the Tremont Na- tional bank, was born in this county on Nov. 4, 1856. He is a son of Guy and Theresa ( Blank) Wheeler, the mother born in Germany and the father in New Jersey. The father was a cabinet-maker, furniture dealer and undertaker and for forty-five years was a resi- dent of Pine Grove. For twenty-five years he served on the school board and the efficiency of the educational system of the county to-day is in a large measure due to his efforts. He was the father of nine children, of whom six are living. Edward, the eldest, died in 1893 at the age of fifty years. Louisa, deceased, was the wife of Edward Tracy. Ferdinand is the superintendent of the gas works in Los An- geles, Cal. Minnie is Mrs. Robert Banford; Theresa is deceased ; George is district superintendent of the public schools in Philadelphia ; Gertrude is a teacher of music in Pine Grove; and Clara holds the position of teacher of music in the Sunbury, Pa., schools. Frank B. Wheeler, the subject of this sketch, is the fifth child in order of birth. He received his education in the Pine Grove schools, where for a time Judge Henning was his teacher. His first labor after he had left school was in a planing mill, and he learned the trade of carpenter and contractor at the same time. His start in business for himself was made in 1889, when he began operating a planing mill. He soon purchased a lumber yard at Tremont and another at Pine Grove and his business has increased from time to time until now he employs about twenty-five men in the building season. Many of the resi- dences and other buildings of the vicinity are evidence of his work- manship. For several years he was a member of the borough coun- cil. On May 30, 1879, Mr. Wheeler married Miss Ida Barr, a daugh- ter of Capt. J. W. and Louisa (Lumbert) Barr. Her father is a re- tired cabinet-maker and with his wife is living in Pine Grove. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been born two children-Robert Guy and Caleb C. Mr. Wheeler is a man of excellent habits unsullied honor, unusual enterprise and hard business sense.
Whitehouse, Clarence A., a prominent young attorney in Potts- ville, is a son of W. John Whitehouse, a leading lawyer at the Schuyl- kill county bar. W. J. Whitehouse is a son of David and Maria (Shakespeare) Whitehouse, natives of Staffordshire, England. They came to the United States in 1848, and soon afterward located at St. Clair, this county. They later moved to New Philadelphia, where they lived for about twenty-five years. David Whitehouse was a machinist during his early life, but abandoned his trade in later years, and was identified with the coal trade, owning and operating the
& #1\ YIKIL COUNTY
White house colliers, mar New Philadelphia. He retired from active business almost 1808. W. John Whitehouse was born in New Phila- delphin in the year 1822 He was educated in the Pottsville schools and at Cumberland Valles institute, completing his education at Dickinson college, at Carhsle. Pa. He was a teacher in Cumber- land Valles institute for some time during his preparation for col- lege. He studied law muler the tutorslap of Hon. Lin Bartholomew. in Pottsville, and was admitted to practice in 187.1. He has served as district attorney, having been elected as a Republican, in which party he has always been an able counsellor and a talented and ag- gressive campaign worker. He was a delegate to the national con- vention which nominated Mckinley and Roosevelt, and was a presi- dential elector on the Republican ticket in 1004. He was a formida- ble candidate for governor in 1002, and withdrew from the field in favor of l'ennypacker a few days before the meeting of the nominat- ing convention. He was a delegate from Schuylkill county to the Republican state convention in 1900. .. a lawyer Mr. Whitehouse stands well to the front at the Schuylkill county bar. Jan. 13. 1878. W. John Whitehouse married Miss Sallie Wintersteen, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Shaw ) Wintersteen, of Port Carbon. Three children were born to this union, the second of whom is Clarence .V. Whitehouse, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Pottsville. Apr. 30, 1880. He is a man of liberal education, having spent his life tlms far principally in study. After leaving the Pottsville high school he entered Princeton university and completed the full classical course of that renowned institution, being graduated with the class of 102. Two years later he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Pennsylvania, and was thus thoroughly equipped for his life pro- fession. He is associated with his father in an office adjoining and has access to a well filled library, the accumulation of years. Clar- ence A. Whitehouse is a Republican in political affiliations. He was married June 28. 1005. the lady of his choice being Miss Bertha Wren. \ son. Clarence \ .. Jr .. was born to Mr. and Mrs. White- house Aug. 31. terms. Mr. Whitehouse is a member of the Pottsville Lodge. No. 207. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the order of Heptasophs. No. 112. He is also a member of the Pottsville Outdoor club, Baxter's social club, the W. J. Whitehouse Republican club and the Schuylkill county bar association.
Whitmore, Rev. Samuel L., D. D., the popular pastor of the Trinity Reformed church of Pottsville, was born near Staunton. . Au- gusta county, Va., on Sept. 30, 1853. He is a son of Samuel and Sophia ( Ever-) Whitmore, both natives of Rockingham county. Va. Paternally he is of Swiss extraction, and on the mother's side has a mixture of German-English and Scotch-Irish blood. The father was a planter and was one of the few southerners opposed to slavery and supported the Union cause during the Civil war. He suffered much from the depredation of both Union and Confederate armies, and was but partially reimbursed when hostilities ceased. His first wife died in 1870 and in 1874 he married Mrs. Mary E. Kiser. of West
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Liberty, Logan county, Ohio. Samuel Whitmore's demise occurred at Mount Crawford, in Rockingham county, Va., in 1897, and his second wife survived him until March, 1906. The family by the first marriage consisted of eight sons and four daughters, of whom three are now living. The ckdlest of the family, Sarah M., wife of Thomas L. Beall, died at Bridgewater, Va., in 1878, leaving two sons, Samuel A. and Charles E. Rev. David M., the second born, died at Martins- burg, W. Va., in 1883, after serving six years in the ministry of the Reformed church. John E., a farmer, died at his home in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1880, leaving five children-Sophia, Laura (now deceased), Virginia, Charles and Alice. Rev. Jacob A. died at Kerr's Creek, Rockbridge county, Va., in 1883, after five years in the min- istry, leaving besides his widow, a daughter, Jessie E., now Mrs. Elliott Barker, of Farmville, Va. Rev. George A. is pastor of the Reformed church of Millersville, Lancaster county, Pa. His wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Lichliter, of Woodstock, Va., by whom he has four children-Bernard, George, Raymond and Ethel. Kate is the wife of Hon. E. S. Tabler, a member of the state legislature of West Virginia, from Martinsburg, and they have four children-Dr. Homer E., a practicing physician of Hancock, Md., and Mabel, Esther and Arthur. Dr. William P., a physician, died in 1886, at Shellsburg, Pa., leaving a widow, formerly Miss May Colvin, and two children, William and May. The other children were Charles E., Sophie E., Mary Elizabeth and Howard C., the last named of whom died in infancy, while the others passed away in childhood. The subject of this sketch, who was the seventh in order of birth of his father's fam- ily, received his elementary educational training in the common schools of Mount Crawford, Va., and then prepared for a collegiate course at the Mercersburg academy in Pennsylvania. He then matriculated in the classical course at Mercersburg college, from which he gradu- ated in 1877 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During the last year of his collegiate work he merged with it the first year of his theological work, which enabled him to graduate in theology in 1879. Three years after graduation he was granted the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1904 was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Whitmore's first charge was the church at Middlebrook, Va., and subsequently he was pastor of the churches at Winchester. Va. ; Adamstown, Md., and Mifflinburg. Pa. From the latter place he was called to assume the duties of pastor of the Trinity Reformed church of Pottsville, and on Dec. 1, 1899, he was installed in the new posi- tion. Prior to his coming to Pottsville he was for three years presi- dent of the Union County Sunday School association, and he was the first president of the Sabbath association in Schuylkill county. At the present time he is the incumbent of the office of president of the Schuylkill County Ministerial association. On Sept. 10, 1879, Dr. Whitmore was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Stonebraker, of Downsville, Washington county, Md., a daughter of Samuel and Eliza Stonebraker. Mr. Stonebraker is a farmer and devotes especial attention to the growing of fruit and the raising of stock. To Dr.
and Mrs Whitmore have been big five children. Irina, the oldest. is a talented musician She was united in marriage on Apr. 20, 1904. to H. P. Wamelulori, of cartersville, Ga. Samuel Il. graduated at Franklin Marshall college in June, um, Charles Frederick gradu- ated at the Pottsville high school m toog, then took a a year of post- graduate work and is now engaged in the study of law. Edna I .. graduated at the Pottsville high school in the class of toog and at the present time is taking post-graduate work in language, literature and music Thomas Carroll died in mianes. The doctor is a Republican in his political hebets, with a strong leaning toward independence in local affairs. While stationed at Mifflinburg he joined the Masonic order, which is the only organization of the kind to which he belongs. 1 Since the above was written. Dr. Whitmore received a call to Grace Reformed church, Chicago, Ill., which he accepted, and he removed with his family to that city Feb. 1. 1907. his present address being Joe Jackson boulevard. Chicago.]
Wilde, Elmer W .- The subject of this biographical review is one of the leading musicians of Schuylkill county, and not only that. he is also an artist of no mean ability. His parlor is adorned with paintings from still life and of animals, and these evince superior talent. Professor Wilde is a representative of an old and prominent family in the county, his father. George Wilde, having come from England in 1824, and established a home in Pottsville. He was a son of Jeremiah Wilde, who, with his wife and family, located at Jalappa and later removed to Young's Landing, where these ancestors ended their days. George Wilde, father of Professor Wilde of this sketch, was reared and educated in Pottsville. He was but four years old when he came from England, and seventy-two of his seventy-six years of life were spent in Schuylkill county, Pa. In the early days he was a driver on one of the horse railroads which conveyed the coal from the mines to the bat-landing. He was thoroughly identified with the pioneer days, and is well and favorably remembered by the men of his time as a progressive and successful citizen. He died in Shenan- doal, at the home now owned and occupied by Professor Wilde, in the year 1800. His wife, who in maidenhood was Harriet Huffman, was born in Hamburg. Pa., in 1823, and departed this life in Shenan- doah. Dec. 28, 1885. She was buried on the first day of Jan., 1886. They became the parents of five sons, of whom Prof. Elmer W. Wilde is the youngest. His eldest brother, William R., is an employee of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with which corporation he has a lucrative position at Hazleton, Pa. : John F. is a locomotive engineer employed on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, with home at Belle Plain. la .: Summerfield C. also was a railroad employe, with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company, and incurred a fatal disease at Plattsmouth. Neb., from which point he was brought home to die. He died at the home of the subject of this sketch in 1902, at the age of forty-seven years : G. Asbury is owner and manager of an extensive manufacturing industry at West Pittston. Pa. The sub- ject of this article received a thorough educational training in the
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schools of St. Clair, where he was born Oct. 16, 1860. This disci- pline has been supplemented by a lifetime of constant study and care- ful reading and observation. Very early in life he displayed excep- tional talents in music, and decided upon making the teaching of that fascinating science his life work. After making considerable progress under the teaching of local professors and by private study and prac- tice, he placed himself under the instruction of Prof. Gustavus A. Voelkler, of Williamsport, Pa. Completing his course there in 1882, he began his career as a teacher of instrumental music in Shen- andoah, and he has thus continued for nearly a quarter of a century. Every hour of the day and carly evening is taken up with a thor- oughly organized system of private instruction, and his eager stu- dents consider themselves especially fortunate if they can maintain a place on his well filled programme. Mr. Wilde has been a member of the Riley orchestra since 1900, and has materially assisted in making this one of the leading musical organizations in Schuylkill county. He was the first instructor of the Annunciation cadet band, which is a popular organization composed of boys between the ages of ten and sixteen years. At the celebration of "Old Home Week" in Pottsville during the autumn of 1906 none of the forty musical organizations in attendance clicited half so much applause as Professor Wilde's band of boys from Shenandoah. The professor is very justly proud of the achievements of this organization, one of whose members is his own son. He has retained the leadership since the organization was effected in March, 1906, and the grateful boys vie with each other in demonstrations of friendship and loyalty to their talented leader. He is the instructor of the Shenandoah high school band, composed of sixteen members, and has been organist at various churches for long or short periods, according as his other engagements permitted. One of these engagements was at the Greek Catholic church, where he was the first organist in the first church of that denomination es- tablished in America. Professor Wilde was married May 3, 1890, when he chose for his life companion Miss Lillie A, Parrott, daugh- ter of John and Mary A. Parrott, early settlers of Thomaston, Schuyl- kill county. The only surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Wilde is Bertram G., who was born March 29, 1891. He is a student in the high school and is making rapid progress in his educational career. He possesses a retentive memory and superior talents, both as a mu- sician and student of general educational topics. He inherits great musical talent and has already demonstrated his ability in that line. At the age of sixteen he is an excellent performer on the cornet and saxaphone, both very difficult instruments as viewed through the eyes of musicians. All help and encouragement is given the young man in the development of his talents. He is a member of the cadet band, as has been previously intimated ; a member of the Riley orchestra. which of itself is a distinguished honor, and of the high school orches- tra. He is the companion of his father, and is treated as a social and professional equal rather than as a child subject to the restraints of home life, for the "child" has passed within the pale of young man-
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heod antis mature bevond his sears Profesyon Wilde owns and os- cupres a fine home at 110 North Jardin Street, erected in tool. and modern in all appointments This site was formerly the home of his parents, and therefore has many cherished associations The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, which for generations past has been the religious home of their ancestors. Mr. Wilde was tais membership in the Roval Arcanum and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He is also a member of the Rescue hook and ladder company, a volunteer organization for the protection of the city against fire, and for social purposes as well. He has never taken in active interest in political matters except on national issues, when he casts his vote and influence with the Republicans. On questions of temperance and morality he is a Prohibitionist, but he has never esponsed the cause of a political organization along those lines. He believes that there is sufficient good in the time-honored and fire- tested Republican party to regulate such evils as are controllable through politics, and is willing to leave the balance to moral suasion and the influence of the churches. Professor Wilde is a gentleman of exalted social standing in the community where his life has been spent, and his superior talents place him within the ranks of the lead- ing musicians of the state and nation. Ile is affable and pleasant. easily approachable by the most humble, and is generous hearted and sympathetic toward the unfortunate. These find-given characteristics have made him friends by the thousands, reconciled his few enemies. and rendered life a pleasant sojourn, even though occasionally beset with thorns.
Wildermuth. Charles Wesley, of Pottsville, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Schuylkill county. He was born at Orwig-burg. on Oct. 21. 1839. His parents, John and Susanna (.Als- paugh) Wildermuth, were early settlers of that locality. Mr. Wilder- muth was educated in the public schools of his youthful days and learned the cigarmaker's trade. During the Civil war he served under two enlistments, in the Pennsylvania militia. first in the 27th regiment, and later in the 30th. He was finally discharged in August. 1863. Since the close of the war he has been engaged in his present business, and has the largest establishment of the kind in the county. He deals in cigars, newspapers, blank books, office supplies, maga- zines, notions, etc. The leading dailies of the country are a prominent feature of the business, and a convenience which is appreciated by the reading people of the community. The institution gives steady employment to three or four clerks and a myriad of newsboys. Mr. Wildermuth married Miss Mary Foy, daughter of David and Eliza- beth Hinckle, of Pottsville. A son and four daughters were born to this union: Fred .A .. Delia. Mame. Tena and Ella. They are mostly employed in the father's business. The subject of this sketch is affili- ated with the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities. He is a Re- publican in political views and the family are members of the Meth- odi-t Episcopal church.
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Williams, James, tobacconist and dealer in goldfish and canaries, in Tamaqua, was born in Cornwall, Eng., on Aug. 22, 1847, a son of James and Sarah Williams. The father, who was a miner, left for the gold diggings of Australia in 1853 and died there in 1879. The mother died in 1893 at the age of sixty-three. The family consists of three daughters and two sons, all living. Elizabeth is Mrs. Robert Carter, of Cornwall, Eng. ; Sarah is Mrs. Matthew Morris, of the same place ; Emily became the wife of a Mr. Lamp, and lives in Australia ; and Zachariah is in the state of California. James, the third in order of birth, attended the public schools for a time and then became em- ployed as a miner, working in tin and copper ore. When he had attained his majority, in 1869, he came to the United States and found employment as a laborer, but soon afterward he began mining on his own account. This furnished him a means of livelihood until 1878,. when he became brakeman on the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, continuing in the position until Aug. 6, 1886, when an accident in which he was involved cost him the use of his right hand. The com- pany made him gate tender, on Oct. 11, 1886, and for four years he had charge of the crossing. In 1887 he had established his tobacco store, leaving his son William H. in charge while he attended the gates, but by 1890 the business had grown to such proportions that it be- came necessary for him to resign his position with the railroad and assist in the work of the store. As a side issue Mr. Williams deals in canaries and goldfish, and in all his lines he has done exceptionally well in a financial way. For many years he had the unique distinc- tion of being the champion "go-as-you-please" racer of Schuylkill county. The title was acquired in a race held in Seitzinger's hall in Tamaqua on Apr. 11, 1879, on a track thirty-four laps to the mile. When the twelve hours allotted to the race had expired Mr. Williams was found to have covered sixty-three miles, while his nearest com- petitors had made forty-seven and one-third and forty-three and two- thirds miles respectively. After holding the record for many years Mr. Williams offered a silver medal to any one who could beat his record, and on Saturday, Jan. 7, 1899, a twelve-hour go-as-you-please was held in Allen's opera house, on a track twenty-five laps to the mile. Four contestants were entered-Thomas McMullen, Patrick Boyle, Thomas Jones and Edward Boyle-and the race was run between II a. m. and II p. m. McMullen covered fifty-one miles and five laps, but was compelled to leave the track at 8:24 p. m .; Patrick Boyle traveled sixty-one miles and seven laps; Thomas Jones sixty- two miles and seven laps, and Edward Boyle sixty-four miles and twenty-three laps. On Feb. 4, 1899, Mr. Edward Boyle was given the championship medal for Schuylkill county. The only restrictions as to the holding of this are that it must remain in the county and should the record which won it be broken it must be turned over to the winner. In Aug .. 1872, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Henryetta Booth, born Dec. 20, 1850. To this union were born nine children. William H., the eldest, first saw the light of day in Tamaqua on Sunday, April 6, 1873. He attended the public schools
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