USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; genealogy-family history-biography; containing historical sketches of old families and of representative and prominent citizens, past and present, Volume I > Part 32
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Mr. O'Donnell is a Catholic in religious faith, and belongs to the church at Minersville, to which he contributes liberally. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. Though past threescore and ten years he still main- tains an active interest in business and in local affairs. A man of thrifty habits and honorable character, successful through his own efforts and carrying on business according to irreproachable standards, he commands the esteem of all who know him, and they are many in Schuylkill county.
Mr. O'Donnell married Isabella Harkins, like himself a native of Ireland.
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She died April 17, 1913, and is buried at Minersville. Of the two children born to this union Mary died when seven years old, and the other died in infancy.
SAMUEL KEITER, late of Pottsville, where his widow still resides, was one of the substantial merchants of that borough in his day. He spent all his life in the same line of business. Mr. Keiter was born Dec. 22, 1847, in the city of Reading, Berks Co., Pa., son of Samuel Keiter and grandson of John Keiter.
Jolin Keiter was a native of Montgomery county, Pa., where he lived and died. He married Susan Munshower, and they became the parents of the following children : Amos lived and died at Spring City, Pa., his death occur- ring when he was ninety-nine years, six months, five days old (he was twice married there) ; Jacob also lived and died at Spring City, Pa .; Mary married George Deary ; Samuel was the father of the late Samuel Keiter, of Potts- ville; Elizabeth married John Royer, and died at Limerick, Pa .; John died at Spring City, Pa .; and there was a daughter who lived and died in Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Keiter, son of John, was born near Spring City, Pa., and when a young man moved to Reading, where he passed the rest of his life, dying in that city when about twenty-eight years old. By calling he was a stonemason, and he became a boss on the canal in that capacity, following this work all his life. He married Sarah Griffith, who survived him many years, dying at Reading, Pa., when seventy-six years old, and they are buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. Four children were born to them: Mary, who died at the age of fifty-two years, was a school teacher in Reading for many years ; George, who married Sallie Wasley, died Feb. 28, 1913, at Bloomsburg, Pa., where he was well known as a prosperous miller ; Susan married Jacob L. Griffith, and they reside at No. 424 Benjamin street, Reading, Pa. (they have one child living, Elizabeth, wife of Samuel W. Wagner) ; Samuel completes the family.
Samuel Keiter, Jr., was but twelve years old when he came to Pottsville, and his first employment was as clerk in the store of Mr. Morris for some time during his young manhood. As he acquired familiarity with the business he developed ability which made him a valuable employee, and he was manager for some time for R. C. Boone, at St. Clair, this county, in whose employ he continued twenty-seven years. Returning to Pottsville, he embarked in business in partnership with a Mr. Rishel, under the firm name. of Keiter & Rishel, and was so engaged the remainder of his life, dying Feb. 8, 1899: he is buried in the Charles Baber cemetery. Throughout his residence here Mr. Keiter maintained an honorable place among the most respected merchants of the town, and he was also highly esteemed for his personal qualities. He was a Mason, belonging to St. Clair Lodge, F. & A. M. Mr. Keiter married Eleanor J. Lindenmuth, daughter of Jacob and Eleanor ( Phillips) Lindenmuth, and she resides at No. 1121 West Market street, Pottsville, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Moll. The family are Methodists in religious con- nection. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter had but one child, Mary L., now the wife of George R. Moll, who is a clerk in the Union Safe Deposit Bank at Pottsville. and also the owner of the People's Meat Market on Centre street, located in the Thompson building. He is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter. The Molls are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Moll has been especially active in Sabbath school work from her teens, having been a teacher in the Sunday school for the last twenty years. She has been a
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leading worker of the W. C. T. U. in her locality, having filled the position of county president for the last five years, and is equally interested and active in other organizations important to the social well-being of the community, being a member of the board of managers of the Pottsville hospital, a member of the Y. M. C. A. auxiliary, and of the Civic Club. Mr. and Mrs. Moll have one son, Francis Keiter, born Nov. 27, 1903.
HARRY ALBERT REBER, of Schuylkill Haven, has already done so much to further the development of that borough that his career gives promise of unlimited usefulness. As a member of the firm of Meck & Company he is associated with one of the most successful manufacturing concerns of the place, and his efforts in the direction of social betterment have already borne good fruit. His broad sympathies and alert intelligence have made him alive to the needs of the community in other channels, and his interest has found expression in the acceptance of numerous responsibilities, in all of which he has acquitted himself most honorably.
George Washington Reber, father of Harry Albert Reber, was born in 1835 in South Manheim township, Schuylkill county, and died March 23, 1914, in Reading, Berks Co., Pa. During his young manhood he was engaged as a boatbuilder, later farmed for some years in South Manheim township, and eventually settled at Reading, where he lived retired until his death. During the Civil war he served in the Union army as a member of Company K, 127th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, taking part in the battle of Fredericksburg, and doing his duty faithfully. Though wounded he was able to continue with his regiment to the close of his enlistment period, and received an honorable discharge. He married Anetta Achenbach, who was born in 1836 in Wayne township, this county, and died in February, 1878. Ten children were born to this couple, as follows: Leah, deceased, who was the wife of Albert Seigfreid; Rev. John E., a Methodist Episcopal minister, who was located at Port Clinton, Schuylkill county; Elmira Jane, who died when fourteen years old; Catherine, the wife of John M. Brown, of Schuylkill Haven : George; William, Charles and Franklin, all three deceased; Lillie, wife of Thomas Murray ; and Harry Albert.
Harry Albert Reber was born Nov. 27, 1874, at Schuylkill Haven, where he received his education in the public schools. He has found his life work at the place of his birth, and plenty of opportunity to work out his own ambitions as well as for the exercise of that spirit of usefulness which the progressive man of this generation holds necessary to a truly successful career. As a boy his first work was in the hosiery mills, where he remained one year, after which he learned the trade of painter and paper hanger, which he fol- lowed for a period of eight years. Then for two years he was engaged in railroad work, for the Philadelphia & Reading Company, in 1902 becoming a stockholder in the firm of Meck & Company. Since then practically all of his time has been given to the promotion of their business. He is one of the officials of the company and has been highly efficient in the expansion of its interests, much of the prosperity of the concern being due directly to his executive ability and capable management. His other business interests include connection with the Schuylkill Haven Trust Company, of which he was an organizer and original director.
Though his success in business alone would entitle him to rank among the most desirable citizens of Schuylkill Haven, Mr. Reber has won special esteem
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for his unselfishness in devoting his best efforts to the improvement of local conditions. His sincerity in this cause has manifested itself in various ways. As an ardent believer in Prohibition principles he has given considerable time to bringing them before the public, and has taken an active part in the work of the party, which he served one term as chairman of the county board of executive officers and four terms as county treasurer ; in 1904 he was a presi- dential elector on the Prohibition ticket of the State, and in 1912 was Prohibi- tion candidate for congressman. He has also been an active worker in the Sons of Temperance, has supported the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is a member in good standing of the Patriotic Order Sons of America and Modern Woodmen of America. Religious enterprises have also claimed their share of his attention. He is a leading member of St. John's Reformed Church, which he is at present serving as elder, as superintendent of its Sunday school and also as teacher ; in 1905-06 he was president of the Schuylkill County Christian Endeavor Union, and 1914 became county presi- dent of the County Sabbath School Association.
For several years Mr. Reber served in the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and on April 28, 1898, at the breaking out of the Spanish-American war, enlisted for service, being a private in Company F, 4th Pennsylvania Volun- teers, which regiment was attached to the 3d Brigade, Ist Division, Ist Army Corps. The command was sent to Porto Rico, but not called into any engage- ment, as the peace protocol was signed shortly after its arrival.
On July 12, 1900, Mr. Reber married Emma Irene Fry, daughter of Valen- tine and Amelia (Liebensberger) Fry, of Schuylkill Haven, the former a native of Germany ; Mr. Fry came to Schuylkill Haven in boyhood and engaged in boating on the canal. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reber : John William, Paul Valentine, June Sarah and Dawn Amelia. Mrs. Reber is an earnest member of the Lutheran Church.
H. I. SILLIMAN, editor of the Pottsville Journal, formerly the Miners' Journal, was born at Mahanoy Plane, Schuylkill Co., Pa., Dec. 15, 1876, and is a son of John H. Silliman and Hannah ( Rhoads) Silliman. He is a grandson of John Silliman (he spelt his name Sillyman), who, with James, Thomas and Samuel Silliman, was among the very earliest settlers of Pottsville. John "Sillyman" came to Pottsville in October, 1817, with his oldest brother, Thomas. With Thomas he had charge of the Centre Turnpike Company, from Hamburg to Sunbury. The Sillimans claim to have been the fifth family that came to Schuylkill county.
On the maternal side, the subject of this sketch is a grandson of Andrew Jackson Rhoads, for many years a well known builder in Schuylkill county. he having located at Frackville, Gordon, Ashland and Shenandoah. The Rhoads genealogy stretches back to old Holland stock.
John Silliman 2d was for many years prominently identified with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, having been employed as train- master on the Shamokin division, with headquarters at Mahanoy Plane. Sub- sequently he was transferred to Tamaqua, and later went South and engaged in contract business, not only there but also in Jamestown, New York City and Springfield, Ill. He is now attached to the State Department of Public Health. At the age of sixteen years John H. Silliman, fired with a great patriotism, ran away and enlisted and served a three months' term.
James I. Silliman, a brother of John H., was one of the "First Defenders."
A.J. Ticiman
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and died soon after being discharged from a three months' service, in 1861. He was the first Civil war soldier buried in Pottsville, his remains resting in the Presbyterian cemetery.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the Tamaqua public schools, and at the age of fifteen began his newspaper career. He was given prac- tical training, starting at the very bottom of the business and learning every detail. When he had been at the printing business about nine months he was made forcman of the office in which he was employed. In 1897 he started a small newspaper, the Tamaqua Herald, which he continued successfully up to the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, in 1898, when he closed his newspaper office and enlisted in Company B, 8th Regiment, P. V. 1. Return- ing from the war, he associated himself with J. M. Harris, and with him edited the Tamaqua Evening Courier, Mr. Harris serving as editor and man- ager and Mr. Silliman as associate editor. He continued in this capacity until 1909, when he became the editor and principal owner of the Pottsville Miners' Journal, the name of which he subsequently changed to the Pottsville Journal. The Journal had for many years been a morning paper, and in 1910 it entered the evening field.
Mr. Silliman is a director of the Merchants' National Bank of Pottsville, the Eastern Pennsylvania Light, Heat & Power Company, and the New City Building & Loan Association. He is a member of the Pottsville Club, which he has served two terms on the board of managers, and is also a member of the State Editorial Association, the Schuylkill County Historic Society, the Pottsville Rotary Club, the Pottsville Merchants' Association, the United Span- ish War Veterans and the Knights of Malta. He was one of the founders of the State Hospital at Coal Dale, is a member of the board of trustees and vice president of the institution. In religion he is a Presbyterian and affiliated with the Second Presbyterian Church, at Pottsville.
On May 10, 1913, Mr. Silliman was united in marriage with Miss Argenta Fay Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David E. Jones, of Pottsville.
JOHN VEITH, deceased. In the course of more than thirty years' service with the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, much of the time as superintendent in control of the vast mining interests of that con- cern in Schuylkill, Northumberland and Columbia counties, the late John Veith became one of the most familiar figures in the coal region of this section of Pennsylvania. Having begun life as a miner he had a practical knowledge of the actual work which proved invaluable in the discharge of the important responsibilities of his later years. More than that, it was the basis of the sympathetic understanding which enabled him to handle large numbers of men so effectively, winning their respectful admiration by his thorough comprehension of their duties as well as his own.
Mr. Veith was a native of' Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, born June 3, 1832, son of John and Margaret (Keene) Veith. The father, born in the same locality in 1806, followed mining, and met with an accidental death in 1847, while driving a tunnel. His widow came to America and lived in Schuylkill county. Pa., making her home at Silvercreek, and she died at Patterson, this county, in the winter of 1890. We have record of five of her eight children : Christian, John, Peter, Valentine and Mary, all of whom lived in Northum- berland county, Pa., except Valentine, who settled in Kansas City, Missouri.
John Veith was reared and educated in Germany, and came to this Vol. I-14
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country in his nineteenth year, landing at New York in 1850. After spend- ing about five weeks in that city he came on to Schuylkill county, Pa., Jan. 17, 1851, and first located at Port Carbon, where he found work as a miner. His intelligence and fidelity brought him to the notice of his superiors, and in 1863 he was promoted to boss, holding that position for various companies during the succeeding years. In 1872 he entered the service of the Phila- delphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, his first position in that employ being as superintendent of the North Franklin collieries, Nos. I and 2, where he was stationed one year. He was next in the Locustdale district, then comprising nine collieries, from 1874 to 1877, until called to the assistance of William Herman, of Pottsville, mine inspector for the county. When Mr. Herman died, in March, 1879, Mr. Veith was appointed his successor, and he was known as mine inspector until 1887, in which year the title of the position was changed to "mining superintendent of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Coal & Iron Company." It required not only a wide knowledge of gen- eral mining work, but close familiarity with conditions in this immediate field, and that Mr. Veith proved fully equal to its demands was an evidence of superior intelligence and executive ability of a high order. He served under four general managers, General Pleasants, F. B. Neiding, R. C. Luther and W. J. Richards, performing all his duties most satisfactorily until his retire- ment, during which period he received a pension. However, he did not have long to enjoy his leisure, his death occurring eight months after he was retired, Oct. 8, 1905. Mr. Veith was a faithful member of the German Catholic Church. His politics changed with conditions in the country. Orig- inally a Democrat, he subsequently adopted the principles of the Republican party, was again a Democrat in the Hayes-Tilden campaign, and in his later years supported the men and measures he considered best, regardless of party lines. He was a man of vigorous intellect, and his many years in a position of high authority gained him influential standing.
Mr. Veith married Anna Maree Hartmann, who was born Nov. 1, 1838, daughter of Peter Hartmann, a native of Rhine Prussia, who brought his family to America in 1848, settling first at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and later moving to Kaskawilliam, this county. Mr. Hartmann died in 1891 at Pottsville. Mrs. Veith's death occurred Aug. 3, 1905, shortly before her husband's, and they are buried in Yorkville cemetery. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom we have the following record: Elizabeth, born Nov. 9, 1854, at Silvercreek, Schuylkill county, died Sept. 10, 1857; Susan, born Ang. 19, 1856, at Middleport, Schuylkill county, is the wife of Joseph P. Knapp, formerly of Yatesville, this county, now a well known mine super- intendent at Shamokin, Pa .: Mary, born Sept. 17, 1858, at Middleport, died May 5, 1896, was the wife of the late William T. Cooney, who was employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, as private secretary ; Peter, born May 30, 1861, at Silvercreek, is foreman for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company in the blacksmith department, at Pottsville, Pa. (he married Anna Hartmann) ; Margaret, born July 2, 1863, at Silver- creek, died in 1868: Emma, born Aug. 19, 1865, at Middleport, is the widow of William H. Gibson, of Pottsville, Pa .; John, Jr., was born March 19, 1867, at Middleport ; Catherine, born July 9, 1868, at Middleport, lives at home : Clara, born April 26, 1870, at Middleport, lives at home ; Callie, born June 30, 1872, at Ashland, Pa., is the wife of Thomas A. Flanagan, of Pottsville, Pa., accountant for the Coal & Iron Company; Dr. Charles A., born Aug.
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22, 1874, at Ashland, died Nov. 6, 1908 (he married Agnes J. McGorman) ; Lena, born July 31, 1876, at Locustdale, died young ; Agnes, born July 29, 1878, at Pottsville, is the widow of Charles A. Fluehr, of Philadelphia, Pa .; Bertha, born March 11, 1882, at Pottsville, lives at home.
Jolin Veith, Jr., attended public school in Pottsville and learned the machinist's trade in the Philadelphia & Reading Company's shop, continuing in the employ of that company for about thirty years. He is now living retired, he and his sisters occupying the homestead at No. 410 East Market street, Pottsville, where they are highly esteemed.
EDWARD SHARADIN, of Schuylkill Haven, is the manager of the Eagle Underwear Mills now conducted by the estate of Daniel Sharadin. The mills were established a quarter of a century ago, and the Sharadins have been connected with them ever since the beginning. As manufacturers and large employers of labor they have, during all that time, maintained a leading position in the industrial circles of the borough. They have kept pace with the progress of the business, being provided with the best of facilities, and having laid the operations of the factory upon a systematic basis which insures prompt service to their patrons and the best products in the market. Daniel Sharadin, father of Edward Sharadin, one of the founders of the business and its leading spirit until his death, in 1907, was a native of Schuyl- kill county and of old Berks county stock. The family has been in Pennsyl- vania for several generations.
Jacob Scharadin, the grandfather of Daniel Sharadin, was born in Berks county, Pa., probably near Topton station on the East Penn railroad. Remov- ing to Schuylkill county about 1830, he settled at Pinedale, in West Brunswick township, and passed the remainder of his life at that location, dying in 1873. Throughout his active years he was engaged in farming. In political opinion he was originally a Whig, later joining the Republican party. His children were: William, Abraham, Daniel, Charles, Eliza (Mrs. Kerchner) and Susanna (Mrs. Moyer).
Charles Sharadin, son of Jacob, was born in 1818 in Berks county, and was a boy when the family settled in Schuylkill county. He passed the remainder of his life near Pinedale, in West Brunswick township, and like his father was a lifelong farmer, owning a small tract of land, upon which he made his home. He served his fellow citizens for four years in the office of township supervisor, but he did not aspire to public honors of any kind, being a man of modest, unassuming character. His industrious and useful life won him the respect of all who knew him. He was a Republican in politics. Mr. Sharadin married Elizabeth Geiger, who was born in Orwigs- burg in 1821 and survived him a short time, dying at the age of sixty-six years. He died in 1885 when sixty-eight years old. They are buried at the old Red Church. Of the three children born to them, William lives at Hamburg, Berks county, where he was formerly extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick; Mary Ann is the widow of David R. Fall, and resides in Schuylkill Haven; and Daniel was the father of Edward Sharadin.
Daniel Sharadin was born April II, 1842, near Pinedale, in New Bruns- wick township, Schuylkill county. He obtained a common school education in his home locality, and in his youth learned the trade of boatbuilder, at that time a profitable calling, owing to the activities on the canal. In 1866 he had made enough headway to engage in the canal transportation business on his
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own account, owning a line of boats which plied on the Philadelphia & Schuyl- kill canal, between Schuylkill Haven and tidewater. To this business he gave his attention for over twenty years, giving it up in 1888, when he decided to enter the manufacturing field. In the spring of 1889, in partnership with Emanuel Baker, he established the knitting business which he and his estate, in turn, have since carried on. Baker & Sharadin erected the present mill when they started business, and the association lasted until Oct. 31, 1891, when Mr. Sharadin purchased his partner's interest and continued the Eagle Knitting Mills, as the factory was known, on his own account. He main- tained an active connection therewith until his death, which occurred July 22, 1907, building up the trade steadily by a high grade of work, for which the mills became noted. Since his decease it has been directed by the estate of Daniel Sharadin, and is now known as the Eagle Underwear Mills. The plant is a two-story frame structure, 32 by 80 feet in dimensions, and changes have been made in the equipment from time to time to meet the demands of the necessary increase of output, modern methods being employed in every department to facilitate operations and economize space. ' About fifty hands are regularly employed, which indicates the important relation of the business to the industrial situation of the borough. Though his business required close attention Mr. Sharadin found time for public service, for three years filling the office of borough auditor at Schuylkill Haven with his customary ability, and for years he was president of the council. Politically he was associated with the Republican party, and his religious faith was that of the Reformed denomination. He is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. During the Civil war he enlisted in the service for the Union cause, on Sept. 15, 1862, joining the Pennsylvania Volunteer service, and received his honor- ยท able discharge July 10, 1863, at the expiration of his term. Mr. Sharadin's contribution to the business prosperity of Schuylkill Haven was one of material worth, and he was not only respected for his achievements in this world, but for his sterling character, which made his influence a power for good wherever he was known.
On June 4. 1864, Mr. Sharadin married Edith Catherine Wagner, and eleven children were born to this union, as follows: Charles, who lives in New York City: Thomas, deceased, formerly a resident of New York City, later of Schuylkill Haven; Henry, now of Reading, Pa., connected with the Key- stone Correspondence School of that city; Annie, wife of Dr. George H. Moore, a physician of Schuylkill Haven, at present county coroner ; Elizabeth, wife of William Dress, a merchant of Schuylkill Haven: William, who now lives at Palo Alto, this county ; Daniel, of Jenkintown, N. J .; Edward, men- tioned below ; Blaine, who is employed at the Eagle Underwear Mills ; George WV., who died in infancy ; and a daughter who died in infancy.
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