USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 32
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GEORGE HHt, was born in Northumberland County on the 3d day of August, 1821. He received his education in a select school at Me-
Ewensville. For several years he taught school in Union County. In 1845 he began the study of law under James Pollock, afterwards Gover- nor, at Milton, and finished his course of prep- aration in the office of Absalom Swineford, at New Berlin. During this course of study he was also engaged in teaching as a means of ob- taining sufficient funds to prosecute his studies. In 1848 he was admitted to the bar in New Berlin, and located in Selinsgrove, where he practiced his profession nine years. In the spring of 1858 he located at Sunbury, where he is still engaged in the practice of the law. In December, 1850, he was elected district attorney of Union County, he being the first occupant of that office in said county. Mr. Hill is a mem- ber of the Reformed Church. On December 25, 1848, he was married to Miss Martha Buhler, of' Selin's Grove, who died June 2, 1870. Mr. Hill was afterwards married Miss Sue E. Kirlin, of Middletown, Dauphin County.
ANTHONY C. SIMPSON is a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and was born in the year 1827. In 1845 he entered Trinity College, at Geneva, N. Y., where, however, he remained only one year, being compelled to gain a liveli- hood ; so that we find him clerking in a hard- ware-store in Geneva until 1848. He then en- tered the office of Hon. Charles J. Folger, and applied himself to the study of law. On the 8th of May, 18-49, he was admitted to the bar, and shortly after located at Selin's Grove, and commenced the practice of his profession. He remained at this place until 1872, when he moved to Northumberland and practiced iu Northumberland County. About 1878 he re- turned to Selin's Grove, where he still resides. From 1861 to 1864, Mr. Simpson held the position of district attorney in the county of Snyder. During the Rebellion he was captain of Company D, Eighteenth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. This was in the fall of 1862. In the summer of 1863 he became captain of Company I, Thirtieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and with his company was sworn into the United States service. This rank he held for about six weeks, when his company was mustered out of service. He after- wards held a position in the Army of the Poto-
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mac, being attached to the commissary of sub- Mr. Hower were John Nicholas and Elizabeth i-tence, Department of Washington, with the Hower, the latter's maiden-name having been runk of major. Mr. Simpson at one time was Dreisbach, both of whom lived and died in president of the Sunbury and Lewistown Rail- Northampton County. His father was JJacob road Company, and it was during his adminis- Hower, born April 1, 1793; died May 9, 1861, tration that the road was completed. He is and was buried at Mifflintown, Juniata County. now solicitor of the same company.
His mother was Miss Mary Morden, who died and her remains were interred by the side of
CHARLES HOWERis a nativeof Northampton December 27, 1865, aged seventy-four years, County, Pa., and was born February 18, 1832. His birth-place was on the old homestead called her husband. She was a daughter of George
Chas Hower
Howerton, in Allen township of that county, a Morden, a native of England, who at an carly -pot carly settled by his ancestors upon their ; age was brought to this country by his parents, arrival from Germany. This place, for a per- ! who were Quakers, and located at Belvidere, iod of more than one hundred and fifty years, i .N. J. has remained in possession of the Flower family, Mr. Hower obtained his elementary education in the public schools and at the MeEwensville Academy, Northumberland County. Until nineteen years of age, when not attending school, he assisted his father on the farm. At this age he entered the active scenes of life on his own responsibility. After leaving the parental roof being still owned by George Hower, now eighty- seven years old, an unele of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Flower's great-grandfather was Frederick Hower, born at Baden, Germany, who came to America with his parents when only eight years of age. The grandparents of !
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BHINE
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he engaged in teaching school for three consec- ntive years-first in Delaware and then in Chil- lisquaque townships, Northumberland County, and finally in Liberty township, Montour County. In this way he acquired sufficient means to proscente the study of the law. In 1851 he entered the office of William C. Law- son, Esq., a prominent lawyer at Milton, under whose charge he received preparatory instruc- tion and soon after entered the Easton Law School, then in charge of Judge McCartney and Judge fireen, the latter now one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and completed his course of study at this institu- tion.
At November term, 1851, he was admit- ted to practice in the courts of Northumberland County, his examining committee being Hon. George F. Miller, Hon. Joseph Casey and Henry Donnel, Esq. The your following, upon the formation of Snyder County, he located at Sel- in's Grove, April 3, 1855, where he has since re- sided and been engaged in the active practice of his chosen profession.
On the 26th day of December, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Nicholas, of Northumberland County. Their union in life was of but few years' duration, -the wife and mother dying October 11, 1858, and is buried in the Lutheran grave-yard at Selin's Grove. Their only daughter, Mary Alice, born October 2, 1855, is married to William Field Shay, Esq., and resides at Watsontown, Pa .; and their only son, Asher Morden, born Sep- tember 17, 1857, is unmarried and still resides under the parental roof.
In 1858 Mr. Hower was elected district at- torney of Snyder County by an unusually large majority, which office he filled for three years. On the 1st of September, 1859, he was married to his present wife, Rebecca Shriner, daughter of Daniel Shriner, of Mifflinburg, Union Com- ty, Pa., who, in his declining years, -now being in his ninety-third year of age -- makes his home with his daughter and son-in-law. Mr. Shriner is the only person now living, so far as is known. who saw the famous Dr. Joseph Priestley alive at Northumberland, -Priestley arriving there from England about the same year that Mr. Shriner | Snyder, and the conviction, beyond a doubt,
was born, 1793, and dying in 1801, when Mr. Shriner was about eleven years of age.
During the Rebellion Mr. Hower, in October, 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy- second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, a quartermaster, with the rank of first lieuten- ant. In 1861 he was made a member of the board of enrollment of the Fourteenth District of Pennsylvania.
As a lawyer, he has enjoyed a liberal patron- age, and has attained a prominent standing in his profession. In 1882 the Republican par- ty of his county instructed it- delegate to the State Convention to support him for the nomi- nation for judge of the Supreme Court, and Col- onel David Taggart, the Senatorial delegate, also favored his nomination, as well as a respect- able number of other delegates throughout the State; but he declined having his name brought before the convention. For a number of year- he was solicitor of the Simbury and Lewistown Railroad Company, under the management of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
On the night of the 8th of December, 1877, an elderly couple named John and Gretchen Kintzler, of Adams township, Suyder County, were murdered, and their bodies consumed in their burning dwelling. The commissioners of the county decided to investigate the case and prosecute the perpetrators of the crime, if discor- ered. Suspicion was fixed upon Israel Erb, Emanuel Ettinger and Uriah and Jonathan Moyer, parties residing about three or four miles from the scene of the murder. The commi -- sioners asked Mr. Hower to become their com- sol, which he agreed to do on condition only that he could assure himself' first that the person? named were guilty. After a careful examina- tion of the witnesses he consented to act as coun- sel, and advised the arrest of the suspected per- sons, all of whom were convicted of murder in the first degree. Ettinger, after his conviction, committed suicide in jail ; Jonathan and Uriah Moyer were excented, and the sentence of Israel Erb was commuted by the Board of Pardons to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary. The-e were the first and only persons that were ever convicted of felonious homicide in the county of
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was a just one. After conviction, Emannel Ettinger and Uriah Moyer confessed their guilt.
For many years Mr. Hower has been em- ployed in the greater part, if not in all, of the important cases tried in Snyder County. His practice, however, was not confined to his own county ; but he was frequently employed in im- portant cases in Lycoming, Northumberland, Montour, Dauphin and other counties. He is regarded as one of the leading lawyers in the central part of the State.
HON. JOHN P. CRONIMILLER was born at Mifllinburg, Union County, November 19, 1826, and died at the same place January 15, 1885. In early life, under the instruction of his father, Jacob Cronimiller, he learned the trade of blacksmithing, and for a number of years sue- cessfully carried on that honest and honorable calling at his native place. He attended the free schools, the Mifflinburg Academy, and af- terwards completed his education at the Lewis- burglı University. He then devoted some years to teaching, and was engaged in this calling at Mifllinburg, Easton, Middleburg and Sunbury. About 1854 he commenced the study of law at New Berlin, under the instruction of Absalom Swineford, Esq. In 1856 he moved to Middle- burg, lately made the county-seat of the new county of Snyder, and continued to prosecute the study of the law under Charles Merrill, Esq. Upon the completion of his studies, and his ad- mission to the Snyder County bar, on the 22d day of September, 1857, Mr. Cronimiller entered into a law partnership with his preceptor, Mr. Merrill. After a period of about five years, and upon the enlistment of Mr. Merrill in the Federal army, Mr. Cronimiller continued the practice of law. In 1872 he was elected a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention. In the fall of 1873 he was married to Miss Lonisa Shindel, daughter of Rev. J. P. Shindel, of Middleburg. After a continuous and successful practice of his chosen profession for a period of twenty-four years, Mr. Cronimiller moved back to his native place, with the plausible expecta- tion of the remainder of his life being spent in retirement and case. In three years after his removal from Middleburg he passed to the eter-
nal world. Mr. Cronimiller was a man of hon- or and of the highest integrity. He was a use- ful and consistent member of the German Re- formed Church. In his profession he ranked among the first. His office, on the corner, a few doors cast of the court-house, will long be remembered as the rendezvous of his brethren in the profession, where they often met in social converse aud recited many a jovial story. Mr. Cronimiller's demise was regretted by his nu- merous friends, among whom none were more sincere than those of the profession.
SOLOMON MALICK was born in Lower Au- gusta township, Northumberland County, Jnne 15, 1831 ; died at Sunbury, March 21, 1882. At the age of twenty he went to Selin's Grove where, for a time, he was under the tutorship of Dr. J. C. Fisher. This was followed by a four- years' course of classical and scientifie instrue- tion in the Freeburg Academy. At one time he was principal of the Selin's Grove High School. In 1856 he commenced the study of law in the office of George Hill, Esq., at Selin's Grove, and was admitted to practice in the Suyder County courts February 23, 1858. After a short legal partnership with A. C. Simpson, Mr. Malick accepted a co-principalship in the Freeburg Academy, which continned for several years, he, in the meantime, practicing his profession in the courts to which he was ad- mitted. In the spring of 1861 he moved with his family to Sunbury, where he continued in active practice to the time of his death. In 1866 he was made county attorney, and was re- appointed to that position by the commissioners in 1867. In the spring of 1872 he was elected chief burgess of Sunbury, and was re-elected in 1873 and 1874. Early in 1858 Mr. Malick was married to Miss Mary Ann Roush, daugh- ter of Andrew Roush, of Freeburg, Snyder County. In his younger days he worked on the farm until he was eighteen. He then spent some two years in the cabinet-maker's business. Mr. Malick possessed fine musical talent, and early turned his attention in this direction and received instruction in the same. In after years he took great delight in instructing others and in leading in musical concerts. He became the author of some choice musical compositions,
91
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some of which were published. Mr. Malick was a trustworthy and sincere friend, a nseful citizen, an honest and conscientious lawyer, and when Death claimed what was mortal the infhi- ence of his spirit was cherished by many mourn- ing acquaintances.
JouN 11. ARNOLD is a native of Perry County and was born March 18, 1837. In carly life he obtained a complete education, having attended the New Bloomfield Academy, Perry County, the Newville Academy, Cum- berland County, and finally, in 1857, graduat- ing at Jefferson College. He read law under the instructions of Benjamin and C. J. T. Me- Intire, at New Bloomfield, and was admitted to the courts of Perry County April 10, 1860. Shortly after he located at Middleburg and on the 24th of May, 1860, was admitted to prac- tice in the several courts of Snyder County. Mr. Arnold was district attorney for the county last named from 1876 to 1879. Part of his time has been devoted to teaching. During the Rebellion he enlisted as a private in Com- pany D, Second Pennsylvania Regiment, in the three months' service. August 23, 1863, he was appointed first lieutenant in the recruiting service by Adjutant-General Russell. After- ward he joined Company G, Ninth Pennsylva- nia Cavalry, and became chief clerk to General Kilpatrick in the campaign through the Caro- linas.
B. F. HOUSEWERTH was born at Selin's Grove, educated in the public schools, read law with A. C. Simpson and was admitted to prac- tice in the courts of Snyder County in 1860. ITe commenced practice at Middleburg in the law-office of Samuel Alleman, Esq., where he remained but a short time and then returned to Selin's Grove. He continued his practice at Selin's Grove until he moved to Iowa, where he is still in practice. During the War of '61 he enlisted in one of the companies that went out from this county.
HON. JEREMIAH SNYDER is a native of Sny- der County and was born in 1832. In carly years he was deprived of the advantages of an education, spending his time entirely on the farm. After the age of twenty he, however, began to apply himself diligently and in a few
years engaged in teaching in Penn township, Middleburg and New Berlin. It was while teaching at New Berlin that he began the study of law under the instruction of Isaac Slenker, Esq. At the age of twenty-five he entered the law-office of Charles Hower, Esq., of Selin's Grove, and in March, 1861, was admitted to practice in the Snyder County courts. In 1860 he served as a delegate to the Democratic Con- vention at Charleston. In April, 1861, Mr. Snyder enlisted in the volunteer service of the United States. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, three months, he recruited Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. In the win- ter of 1862 he removed to Shamokin and began the practice of his profession, and in the following April removed to Sunbury. In 1865 he was elected district attorney of Northumberland County, and in 1868 was re-elected. In Au- gust, 1866, he was delegate from the Four- teenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania to the Union Convention in Philadelphia. In 1873 he was elceted a justice of the peace at Sunbury, which office he resigned in 1877 and was elected to the Legislature, serving as mem- ber of the House from 1877 to 1878.
JAMES N. KNIGHT was born at Liverpool, Pa., 1840. He was educated at the Freeburg Academy ; when about twenty-one years of age he commenced the study of law under Solomon Malick, Esq., and was admitted to practice in the courts of Snyder County in 1863. Died at Freeburg May 8, 1875. Mr. Knight, during his period of practice, had manifested the ele- ments of becoming one of the leading members of the bar ; but in the prime of life he was called hence.
THOMAS J. SMITH is a native of the county, and was born at Middleburg July 20, 1837. He was educated in the public schools, and afterwards, in 1861, graduated from the Dickin- son Seminary, Williamsport, Pa. For a num- ber of terms he engaged in teaching, both in his native county and in Centre County. In 1863 Mr. Smith commenced the study of law under the instruction of Charles Merrill, Esq., and completed his course under Samuel Weirick, Esq. He was admitted to practice February
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SNYDER COUNTY.
27, 1865. Mr. Smith has been nominated for district attorney, for the Legislature and for Congress, but his party being in the minority, his election was always impossible. These compliments showed the esteem in which Mr. Smith was held by many of the citizens of the county.
B. T. PARKS was born at New Berlin, Union County, December 17, 1842. In 1850, in com- pany with his parents, he came to Selin's Grove. lle was educated in the public schools and in the classical department of the Missionary In- stitute. Mr. Parks has devoted considerable time to teaching, having taught in the public schoolsof Middleburg, Salem and Selin's Grove. At September term, 1866, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Snyder County, having previously read law under the instructions of Charles Hower, Esq. In the fall of 1867 he was elected district attorney, and was re-elected in 1870. Mr. Parks also represented the county for a period of six years as counsel for the commissioners. During the Rebellion he eulisted as private in Company B, Sixth Pen- sylvania Reserves, and served until honorably discharged. He then re-enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, as a private. During this last enlistment he rose through promotion to first lieutenant of the company, and served until the close of the war. During his military career Lieutenant Parks made some very narrow escapes with his life, at one time being shot through the head. His sears are the best evi- dence of his valor and devotion to the Union.
HON. L. N. MYERS was born in Juniata County February 22, 1838 ; educated in public schools, and at the MeAlisterville and Shirleys- burg Academies. He was admitted to practice about 1869, and in 1873 was elected district attorney in Snyder County ; he having moved into the said county some time previous, locating at Middleburg. In 1881 Mr. Myers was elected to the State Legislature as representative of this county. In 1883 he removed with his family to Akron, Ohio, where he has since re- sided.
GEORGE A. BOTDORF was born at Freeburg September 25, 1848. He received his education
in the public schools and the Freeburg Acad- emy. Afterwards taught school in Union, Juniata, Northumberland and Snyder Counties, in all ten terms. He also studied and prac- tired surveying. About 1869 he commenced the study of law under A. C. Simpson, Esq., at Sclin's Grove, and was admitted to practice at May term, 1871. Since his admission Mr. Botdorf has continued to practice his profession, having his office and residence in Freeburg, his native place.
HORACE ALLEMAN is a native of Dauphin County, and was born at Harrisburg February 7, 1817. At the age of ten years he came with his parents to Snyder County. His education was obtained in the public schools of Dauphin and Snyder Counties; in select schools at Harris- burg and Middleburg ; at the Missionary In- stitute, Selin's Grove, and at Pennsylvania Col- lege, Gettysburg, from which last-named insti- tution he graduated June, 1869. In the fall of the sumne year he commenced the study of law under the instruction of his father, Samuel Alleman, Esq., and so continued until the fall of 1870, when he entered the senior class of the Law Department, Columbia College, Washing- ton, D. C. In June, 1871, he graduated from this institution, and was admitted to practice in the several courts of the district. Upon his re- turn to this county he was admitted to the bar September 25, 1871, since which time he has practiced in the county. Mr. Alleman has been commissioned a notary publie from 1870 to the present time, with the exception of the period spent in Washington. Upon the vacancy caused by the death of his father, in 1881, he was elected a director of the Missionary Institute. During the Rebellion, September, 1862, being but a lad, in his sixteenth year, he enlisted as private in Company D, Eighteenth Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteer Militia, and in June, 1863, re-eulisted in Company I, Thirtieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, having been sworn into the United States service. In 1884 Mr. Alleman was appointed county attorney, and in the following year, npon the meeting of an entire new board of commissioners, was re- appointed to the same position.
HENRY HI. GRIMM was born at Freeburg, .
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Snyder County, June 30, 1845. He received his education in the public schools, and is a graduate of the Freeburg Academy. In 1869 he commeneed the study of law under the in- struction of Anthony C. Simpson, Esq., and completed his course under the instruction of James W. Knight, Esq. Mr. Grimm was ad- mitted to practice in the several courts of Suyder County at December term, 1871. He held a commission of notary public from 1872 to 1875. In the fall of 1876 he was elected district at- torney, and it was during his term of office that the famons Kinstler murder trials took place.
ALBERT W. POTTER is a native of Hunting- don County, and was born at Shirleysburg Janu- ary 7, 1847. He received his education in the publie schools and in the Kishacoquillas Semi- nary, in Mifflin County. In carly manhood Mr. Potter tanght school in Juniata, Hunt- ingdon, Blair and Mifflin Counties. In 1870 he commenced the study of law, under the in- struction of G. W. Elder, Esq., of Lewistown, and was admitted to practice in Mifflin County April 1, 1872. Shortly after his admission he removed to Selin's Grove, where he has since re- sided, practicing his profession as a member of this bar. In 1875 Mr. Potter was county at- torney, and held this position for several years. During the Rebellion he enlisted and served in Company F, Forty-sixth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Militia, being but in his six- teenth year.
WILLIAM P. SCHARF was born at Selin's Grove July 20, 1849 ; was educated in the public schools and at the Missionary Institute, Selin's Grove. In 1872 he began the study of law, under Charles Hower, Esq., and after complet- ing his course was admitted to practice at Feb- ruary term, 1874. In 1878 Mr. Scharf was elected county superintendent of the public schools and served one full term. He has de- voted most of his time to educational matters, and has, for a number of years, been successful in teaching. At present he is in the United States Mail service, on the Northern Central Railway.
HENRY G. DEIFRICH is a native of the county, and was born in Penn township October 22, 1836. Ilis early days were spent on the
farm, assisting his father. He received his education in the public schools, the Freeburg Academy and the Missionary Institute, and de- voted much of his time to teaching in North- umberland and Snyder Counties. In 1873 Mr. Deitrich commenced the study of law, under the instruction of Horace Alleman, Esq., and was admitted to practice in the several courts of Snyder County December 15, 1875. Since his admission to the bar he has resided and practiced in Selin's Grove.
ALBERT M. PFAHLER was born in Somerset County October 25, 1850; died at Middleburg August 18, 1879; edneated by his father, the Rev. M. H. Pfahler, in the public schools, and attended Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, several sessions. Subsequently he attended a course of medical lectures in St. Louis, and taught in the public schools of West Virginia and Illinois, holding a professional certificate in the latter State. In 1868 Mr. Pfahler came to Snyder County, stopping sometimes at Selin's Grove and at other times at Shamokin Dam. About this time he was put to the test of a hard struggle for a livelihood ; but, being determined and with admirable pluck, he took up the shovel and pick and became a day-laborer on the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, which was then being constrneted. After this he tanght school in Monroe township, and for a short time read and practiced medicine under Dr. Isaac Hottenstein, of Shamokin Dam. Thus it was that he struggled for an honest and honorable living. Ultimately he registered in the office of' S. P. Wolverton, Esq., of Sunbury, and began the study of law. Mr. Pfahler was first admitted to practice in Northumberland County in 1873. In 1875 he located at Mid- dleburg and was admitted to the Snyder County bar. After a short, but successful and promising, practice in his profession, he was called from time to eternity. Mr. Pfahler at all times exhibited a kind and gentle- manly disposition. In his study and practice he showed that interest and determination which, in later years, would have placed him in the front rank of the profession.
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