History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 152

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

circle of friends, and has been a resident of Liberty township for over three-quarters of a century.

FRANCIS MARION SHEFFER, prothonotary of Tioga county, was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, August 17, 1844, a son of Michael and Mary E. (Cox) Sheffer. He was educated in the public schools of Liberty township, and when seventeen years of age entered his father's shop to learn wagon-making. When twenty-one years old he began life for himself, and worked at his trade in Liberty township until 1881, when he purchased a saw and planing-mill, which he operated until 1889. Mr. Sheffer has always been an ardent Republican and has given an unwavering support to that party. In the autumn of 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. While a resident of Liberty, he filled the offices of school director and constable three years each, and that of justice of the peace five years. He was elected sheriff of Tioga county in 1889, served in that office three years, and then returned to his home in Liberty township. In 1893 he was elected prothonotary, and was re-elected in 1896, which position he still occupies. He is one of the most efficient and popular officials in the county, and is quite prominent in the local councils of his party. Mr. Sheffer was married December 28, 1864, to Margaret L. Bastian, a daughter of Benjamin Bastian, of Jackson township, Lycoming county, to which union have been born two children: Leroy W., deceased, and Ada B. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Sheffer belongs to the Masonic order.

CHARLES A. MILLER, merchant, was born in Jackson township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1840, and there grew to manhood. He obtained a common school education, and subsequently entered the employ of Werline & Miller, merchants of Liberty, Tioga county. At the end of two years he purchased the interest of Mr. Werline, and the firm then became H. Miller & Company. In 1862 this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Miller worked in saw-mills and at lum- bering. In 1864, in connection with Isaac Miller, he built a saw-mill at Roaring Branch, which they operated until 1867, when he sold out to his partner. He then entered the employ of Sebring & Fellows, general merchants at Liberty, and one month later bought the interest of Mr. Fellows and continued as a member of the firm of Sebring & Miller until 1872. In that year he sold out to R. C. Sebring and removed to his farm in Jackson township, Lycoming county, but in 1873 purchased the Sebring store, in partnership with his brothers, Nathaniel and Ira, and carried on the business up to 1877, when his brothers sold out to G. T. Werline. Mr. Wer- line continued as a partner until 1883, since which time Mr. Miller has conducted the business alone, being to-day the leading merchant of the borough. Mr. Miller has met with considerable losses during his business career. In 1865 his mill and boom were swept away, and December 5, 1879, his store was destroyed by fire. His safe has been robbed three times, and he also suffered much loss by the great June flood. Notwithstanding these reverses, Mr. Miller is to-day the owner of one of the leading business houses in Tioga county, as well as one of its most substantial citizens. On July 15, 1869, he married Clara F. Sebring, a daughter of Robert C. Sebring, of Liberty, to which union have been born four children, viz: Merton R., Phoebe Belle, wife of George C. McVoy, of Carney, Michigan; Minnie M., wife of Fred E. Baird, and Fred B. Mr. Miller is an enthusiastic Republican. He was ap-

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pointed postmaster of Liberty under President Harrison's administration and served nearly five years. He has also filled the offices of justice of the peace, school director and auditor. In 1896 he was chosen as one of the Republican delegates to the state convention at Harrisburg. He is a Past Grand of Block House Lodge, No. 398, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Washington Camp, No. 628, P. O. S. of A.

MERTON R. MILLER, eldest child of Charles A. Miller, was born in Liberty, Tioga county, April 7, 1870, and obtained his education in the common schools and at Williamsport Commercial College, from which institution he graduated in 1889. He afterwards took a special course in stenography and typewriting, and then en- tered his father's store in Liberty, where he has remained up to the present. Mr. Miller is an ardent Republican, and has filled the positions of auditor, inspector, clerk and chairman of the vigilance committee. He is a member of Arnot Lodge, No. 465, K. of P., of Arnot; Washington Camp, No. 628, P. O. S. of A., of Liberty, and is also connected with the L. A. W. and the Williamsport Turn Verein.

WILLIAM F. WESEMAN, M. D., is a native of Goettengen, Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, where he was born December 23, 1822. His father, Frederick Weseman, was a prominent government official, and a member of a leading German family. William F. spent his boyhood in the University of Hanover, and at the age of twenty- two entered the Medical University at Goettengen, where he pursued a full course of study. When twenty-five years of age he came to the United States and com- menced the practice of medicine in the Mahanoy valley, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he remained four years. In 1852 he located in Liberty, Tioga county, and during the succeeding twelve years built up a large practice. On Sep- tember 8, 1864, Dr. Weseman was commissioned by Governor Curtin quartermaster of the Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, with the rank of first lieutenant, and served with his regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out May 31, 1865. He then resumed practice in Liberty, which he continued up to a recent date, when he retired from the active duties thereof. Dr . Weseman has been very successful in his profession, enjoyed an extensive practice, and was held in high esteem because of his medical skill and kind attention at the bedside of the suffering. He is a member of the G. A. R., and one of the oldest physicians in Tioga county, where he has lived for nearly half a century.

DANIEL HARTSOCK was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1806. His parents removed to Williamsport a few years later, and when Daniel was seven years old they located in Jackson township, Lycoming county, where he grew to manhood. He married Magdalena Brion, whose parents were early settlers of that locality, and in 1830 removed to Liberty township, Tioga county, where both he and wife resided until death. They were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Christina, widow of James McVoy; Richard H., a resident of Liberty; George, Mary, wife of John Raker; Elizabeth, wife of Sylvester Keeler; Harriet, wife of Seth Wilson, of Nebraska; Jacob, deceased; Levi, Samuel, Daniel and Henry, the last three of whom are dead. Mr. Hartsock died in 1885, and his wife in 1880. They were members of the Lutheran church, and in politics, he was a Republican. At the time of his death Mr. Hartsock was one of the largest land owners in Liberty township.

RICHARD H. HARTSOCK, oldest son of Daniel Hartsock, was born in Liberty

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

township, Tioga county, December 11, 1832, and was reared on the homestead farm. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in merchandising at Liberty, which business he followed for three years, and then began dealing in wild lands in connection with farming. In 1881 he established a general store in Liberty, which business he con- tinued for eleven years. In 1892 he embarked in the milling business, followed it for two years, and then engaged in stock and grain dealing, which he has continued up to the present. In politics, Mr. Hartsock is a stanch Republican, and is one of the oldest and most substantial citizens of his native place.

FREDERICK HEYLER came from Stuttgart, Germany, about 1818, and settled on a farm in Liberty township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He was married in Germany to Dora Goodschmert, who bore him nine children, as follows: Frederick, Mary, who married Henry Kohn, of Lycoming county; Catherine, who married John Linck, of Morris; Jackson, deceased; John, Daniel, deceased; Mina, who mar- ried Fred Boger; Caroline, who married Jacob Gleckner, and Gottlieb. In politics, Mr. Heyler was a Democrat, and in religion, a member of the Lutheran church. He died in November, 1881, and his wife in May, 1876.

JOHN HEYLER was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, in September, 1826, a son of Frederick Heyler, and has spent his entire life in his native township, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. On May 11, 1852, he married Elizabeth Boger, who became the mother of nine children, as follows: Julia Ann, wife of William Snyder; Johanna, wife of Samuel Maneval; Mary Ann, wife of John Mayer, of South Dakota; Joseph, who married Annie Smith; Samuel, who married Annie Purhan; John, who lives in South Dakota; Edwin and Emma, both of whom live in South Dakota, and Titus, who lives with his parents. Mr. Heyler is a stanch Democrat, and is a member of the Lutheran church.

JOHN FICK was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, a son of John Fick, who removed from Berks county to Northumberland county in 1793. In 1825 the family came to Liberty township, Tioga county, where the father died in 1863. At the age of twenty-four Mr. Fick left home and lumbered for two years along Big Pine creek, and later worked two years on the Tioga railroad, from Mans- field to Berry's bridge. He subsequently bought a farm in Liberty township, on which he lived until 1890, when he sold out and moved to Liberty borough. He reared a family of four sons, viz: Levi J., Huling J., Perly H. and Albert L .; also an adopted daughter, Mary S., who married Abraham L. Monroe, of Delmar town- ship. Mr. Fick has retired from active labor and is spending the evening of his life with his son, Albert L., of Liberty, being now seventy-seven years old. In religion, he is a Lutheran, and in politics, an adherent of the Democratic party.

PERLY H. FICK, third son of John Fick, was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, July 27, 1857. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the com- mon schools of the district. At the age of twenty-one he began lumbering, which business he continued for eight years. He then went to Detroit, Michigan, worked at house-painting in that State for three years, at the end of which period he re- turned to Tioga county and bought his father's farm. He farmed one year, then sold out and worked at house-painting for two years, when he purchased a tract of land in Pine township, Lycoming county, where he engaged in clearing the land and lumbering. In the spring of 1895 he bought a small place a mile and a half from

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Liberty borough, where he follows farming and painting as an occupation. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. Fick was married in Wellsboro, May 2, 1890, to Delila A. Boswell, a daughter of Richard E. Boswell. Her father was a native of Conway, Stafford county, New Hampshire, and settled at English Centre, Lycoming county, where Mrs. Fick was born November 9, 1854. She is the mother of one daughter, Katherine May, born July 8, 1893, the only grandchild in the family.

PETER MANEVAL emigrated from Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1828, and set- tled in Liberty township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Peter Maneval and wife, came a short time afterwards and located close to their son. Both Peter and his father were stocking weavers, which trade they followed in their native land. Our subject was the eldest in a family of four children, viz: Peter, Jacob, Louis and John. The father died in 1834, while the mother survived until 1856, living to the ripe age of ninety-two years. The subject of this sketch was married in Germany, but his wife died soon after coming to this county, leaving four children, viz: David, deceased; Charles, who lives in Lycoming county; Peter, deceased, and Jacob, a resi- dent of Salladasburg, Lycoming county. Mr. Maneval married for his second wife, Maria Kopp, of Liberty, who became the mother of five children, as follows: Mary, wife of Jacob Essick, of Blossburg; Susan, Catharine, widow of Henry Root; John, of Liberty, and Elizabeth, wife of James Morehouse. In politics, Mr. Maneval was a Democrat, and in religion, a Lutheran. He died in 1856, and his wife in 1889,

DAVID MANEVAL, eldest child of Peter Maneval, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in October, 1817, and was eleven years old when his parents settled in Liberty, Tioga county, where he grew to manhood. In 1837 he married Elizabeth Boger, a daughter of Jacob Boger, who bore him a family of thirteen children, as follows: Peter, a resident of Ohio; Rosanna, wife of Michael Heyd, of Lycoming county; Benjamin, of Liberty township; Daniel, who lives in Williamsport; Ed- ward, deceased; Aaron, a resident of Ohio; Mary, deceased wife of Albert Douglas; Catherine and David, both deceased; James, who lives in Denver, Colorado; Wilson, a resident of Clearfield county; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Cowden, of Williams- port, and one that died in early youth. In politics, Mr. Maneval was originally a Democrat, but joined the Republican party in 1860. He filled the offices of super- visor, school director and collector in Mifflin township, Lycoming county, and spent his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Evangelical Protestant church. His death occurred in August, 1864, and that of his wife, in November, 1890. He removed to Lycoming county in 1846, where he spent the remaining years of his life.

BENJAMIN MANEVAL, second son of David Maneval, and grandson of Peter Maneval, was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, April 8, 1842, and was four years old when the family removed to Lycoming county. He there grew to maturity and learned the blacksmith's trade at Linden, Lycoming county, and Turbottville, Northumberland county. He worked at his trade in those two counties until the spring of 1865, when he returned to Liberty township, Tioga county, settled at Nauvoo, and has since followed blacksmithing and farming at that place. January 1, 1865, he married Mary Linck, of Morris township, who has borne him five children, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Freemont Russell, of Omaha, Nebraska; Charles E., William H., Lydia May, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Maneval is a stanch Republican,

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

has served as a school director, and in religion, is an adherent of the Evangelical Protestant church. He is one of the prosperous and progressive citizens of his native township.

WILLIAM H. MANEVAL, youngest son of Benjamin Maneval, was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, July 11, 1871. After attending the common schools of the district, he settled down on the homestead farm, where he has remained up to the present. He is an ardent Republican, and is now filling the office of school director. In 1896 he was a candidate for county commissioner, and considering the number of candidates in the field, he received a flattering vote. Mr. Maneval is a member of the Union church at Nauvoo.

LEWIS MOYER was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1829, a son of Jacob Moyer, a native of the same place. His father immigrated to Pennsylvania, remained a short time at Mauch Chunk, and in 1831 came to Liberty township, Tioga county, and settled near the old "Block House." Here he spent the remaining years of his life, dying at the age of seventy-five. Lewis was but two years old when his parents settled in Liberty township. He was reared on the homestead farm, and attended the common schools of his district. In 1854 he married Mary Kopp, a daughter of John Kopp, of Liberty township, to which union have been born seven children, as follows: Henry L., Minerva, wife of John S. Brion, who has three sons, Edwin, Charles and Iver; Almina, deceased; Ida C., wife of George D. James, a native of Derbyshire, England, who lives in Liberty township; William W., Edmond and one that died in infancy. On February 21, 1865, Mr. Moyer enlisted in Company D, Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was discharged from the service at Washington, D. C., June 29, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer are members of the Evan- gelical church. In politics, he is a Democrat, and one of the substantial farmers of the township.

ALEXANDER HARVEY was born in Scotland, in 1820, and immigrated to the United States in the early sixties. He spent a short time in the Pittsburg region and then located at Arnot, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, before the railroad was completed into that now famous coal field. He was among the pioneers of what is now one of the leading coal fields in Pennsylvania. Mr. Harvey was a good citizen, and was widely known for his honesty, integrity and originality. He had a family of ten sons and one daughter, all of whom were in the employ of the Arnot Coal Com- pany. Seven sons and one daughter are living, viz: Four sons in Arnot, one in Alaska, one in Colorado, and one in Farrandsville, Clinton county, while the daugh- ter lives on the homestead farm in Liberty township with her widowed mother, who still retains a strong and vigorous constitution at the age of seventy-six years. Prior to the death of two sons, one of whom was killed in Colorado and the other in the woods near Arnot, it was no uncommon thing to see the parents and their eleven children all together at the home farm. Through the frugal habits of Mrs. Harvey, they finally saved enough to purchase a good farm of 320 acres in Liberty township, Tioga county, and there Mr. Harvey passed his declining years, after being connected with mining for half a century. He died on his farm in Liberty, January 9, 1895, and was interred beside his three sons in Blossburg cemetery. The family were all ardent Republicans, and in 1880 Mr. Harvey and his ten sons marched to the polls

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

and voted for James A. Garfield for president, an event which brought their names into local prominence.

The oldest son, John C. Harvey, is perhaps the best known of the children. He had traveled extensively before locating in Tioga county, and induced the family to come to the coal region. He became well known over Tioga county, especially in political and labor circles, and his advice was keenly sought in all mining troubles. He was foremost in the memorable fight for the establishment of check-weighmen on the tipples, in opposition to the Erie Railroad Company. He has always been a stanch Republican, and his influence in the coal region was recognized by the local party leaders. Mr. Harvey is now employed with the famous Farrandsville Fire Brick Company, of Farrandsville, Clinton county. He claims that Tioga county is underlaid with as good fire clay as exists in the State. He has been employed on several occasions to trace the fire clay strata from the West Branch and Scootac regions to the borders of Tioga county. This he hopes to see developed in the near future, and Blossburg become one of the fire brick centers of Pennsylvania.

SAMUEL HARTMAN was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1823, a son of Samuel Hartman, Sr. His father was born in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, January 4, 1791, there grew to manhood, and in 1821 married Margaret Miller, of Selins Grove, Snyder county. They soon after removed to Williamsport, and in 1826 settled in Jackson township, Lycoming county, where both spent the remaining years of their lives. Their family consisted of the following children: Jacob, Samuel, Jonas H., Catherine, who married Nicholas Fessler; Mrs. Harriet N. Baird, who lives in New Jersey; Henry, who died at Fort Scott, Kansas; Sarah A., who married Daniel Hartman; Julia A., who married C. Meaker; Margaret, who married Charles Harman, of Wisconsin; M. D., who lives at Fort Scott, Kan- sas, and Eliza C., widow of Rev. T. Morris, of Williamsport. The subject of this sketch was three years old when his parents located in Jackson township, Lycoming county. He spent his boyhood on the homestead in that township, and at the age of twenty-three married Mary A. Werline, a daughter of Isaac Werline, of Liberty township, Tioga county. In March, 1861, Mr.Hartman located in Liberty, where he soon afterwards engaged in the drug and mercantile business, which he followed until 1892, when he retired from active labor. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman have reared several adopted children, viz: Catherine Werline, Joseph W. Hartman, a nephew, who enlisted in the army at the age of fifteen; Thomas Hartman, Della Applegate, Mary and Isabella. Mr. Hartman has been identified with the churches and Sab- bath-schools of Liberty for many years, and has also filled the offices of school di- rector and treasurer.

GEORGE BECK was one of the oldest citizens in Liberty township at the time of his death, November 13, 1896. He was born in Jackson township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1817, a son of Daniel Beck, who came from Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, in 1813-14, and settled on a farm in Jackson township, Lycom- ing county. His grandfather, Andrew Beck, came to the United States from Neidergelheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, at an early day, and settled in the coal regions, whence the family removed to Lycoming county, locating in Jackson town- ship, south of the old "Block House." The subject of this sketch was left an orphan at the age of two years, attended the common schools of his native township in boy-

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hood, and assisted his grandfather, Miller, in the duties of the farm. At the age of eighteen he went to Williamsport, where he followed blacksmithing three years. In 1839 he purchased 100 acres of land, a part of the old homestead, and began farming. In 1844 he married Catherine Taylor, of Muncy, Lycoming county, who became the mother of nine children, as follows: Jonas D., of Liberty; L. H., of Elmira; John S., a farmer of Cogan House township, Lycoming county; George W., deceased; Uriah G., a dentist of Elmira; Warren F., also a resident of that city; Mary Margaret, deceased; one that died in infancy, and William B., who died at the age of twenty-two years. Several members of the family are well known inventors and patentees. Jonas D. has invented and patented a machinist's vise; also invented an automatic boiler-feeder which keeps the water at any height desired without waste of steam or fuel, and an electric light. L. H., Uriah G. and Warren F. are the inventors of the Eureka Cash Register and Pass Book System, now established at Scranton, Pennsylvania, in which they sold their interest, and later invented the Standard Pass Book System, since succeeded by the Standard Account System, now established in Elmira, New York, with a capital of $50,000. L. H. Beck is employed by the Standard Account Company, successor of the Standard Pass Book Company, in which he and his brothers are financially interested as patentees. George Beck spent nearly his entire life in agricultural pursuits, but finally retired from active labor to enjoy the fruits of his industry. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the community.

HENRY YOUDIS was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1858, a son of Frederick and Christina (Weaver) Youdis. His father was born in Germany, in 1819, and came to Lycoming county with his parents when but nine years old. They settled in Jackson township, where Frederick grew to maturity. He was twice married. By his marriage to Christina Weaver, a daughter of Henry Weaver, were born three children: Sena, wife of Levi Hartsock; Henry, of Liberty town- ship, and George, who lives in Jackson township, Lycoming county. Frederick's second wife was Lizzie Callenback, of Lycoming county, who bore him three chil- dren, viz: Sarah, Mina and Charles. He was a Republican in politics, and a Lutheran in religion. He died in February, 1890. Henry was reared in Jackson township, there attended the common schools, and worked on the homestead farm until his marriage. On February 11, 1884, he married Laura Hartsock, a daughter of R. H. Hartsock, of Liberty township, and settled upon the farm where he still resides. They are the parents of three children: Manie, Mervin and Clair. Mr. Youdis is an independent voter, supporting men rather than party. He makes a specialty of stock raising and sugar making, in which branches of agriculture he has been quite successful.

JOHN DUFF was born in Bonny Bridge, Sterlingshire, Scotland, in 1838. His father was a sergeant in the British army, and some of his ancestors fought against Napoleon. In possession of the Duff family is a pair of eye glasses of peculiar make, encased in a tortoise shell frame, which belonged to a grand uncle of Mr. Duff. They were used by General Abercrombie in his Egyptian campaign, and are highly prized by the Duff family. They also own an ancient Bible, published in Scotland. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native land, and was there married in 1868, to Jane Shaw, a daughter of David Shaw, of Dumbartonshire. In 1881 he

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 152

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1454

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454