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 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
WILLIAM R. ADAMSON, of St. Nicholas, is one of the most successful merchants in that section of Schuylkill county. Since 1904 he has been post- master at St. Nicholas and member of the firm of Noonan & Adamson, general merchants. He has just entered upon his duties as county treasurer. Mr. Adamson is a native of Schuylkill county and of Scotch descent, his father, David Adamson, and grandfather, William Adamson, having been born in Scotland, whence the latter brought his family to America in 1850. They settled at Branch Dale, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he followed mining, and he died there Dec. 3, 1876.
David Adamson was a boy when he accompanied his parents to this country, and he had few advantages of any kind, for he began mine work as a slate picker. But he was intelligent, ambitious and trustworthy, possessing the strong mental, moral and physical characteristics typical of his race, and he rose to the position of foreman, acting in that capacity at the Excelsior colliery in Northumberland county, and Suffolk and Maple Hill collieries, in Schuylkill county, in turn. He became well known to many in the mining circles of this region. His death occurred when he was sixty-four years of age, and he is buried in the Charles Baber cemetery at Pottsville. Mr. Adamson married Jennie Pace, who was born in England and came to America when a young girl, and she survives him, now living with her son William at St. Nicholas.
248
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. David Adamson, William R. and John O .; the latter is an attorney at law, and resides at Mahanoy City.
William R. Adamson was born Oct. 4, 1876, at Branch Dale, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and spent most of his boyhood in Mahanoy township, this county, where he attended the public schools. He then took a commercial course at McCann's business college, and when a youth obtained a position as clerk at the Ellangowan colliery, where he remained continuously for a period of thirteen years, until he found his present business connection. Meantime, in 1904, he had been appointed postmaster at St. Nicholas, and he has held the office ever since. In February, 1904, Mr. Adamson formed a partnership with Frank J. Noonan, under the firm name of Noonan & Adamson, and he has since had the principal care of their store at St. Nicholas, which is well stocked and a popular trading center in that portion of the county. Mr. Noonan is a leading business man of Mahanoy City, vice president of the Union National Bank and member of the firm of Noonan Brothers, who started the establishment at St. Nicholas now conducted by Noonan & Adamson. Noonan Brothers transferred their business to Mahanoy City from St. Nicholas in 1906, but the original store has continued to draw a profitable trade. Mr. Adamson is a man of sound business principles, diligent in looking after his interests and thoroughly honorable in all his transactions, qualities which have combined happily to place his affairs on a substantial basis and win him high standing among all his associates. The office of postmaster has not been his only public trust. For the last thirteen years he has been a member of the Mahanoy township board of school directors, and is now secretary of that body. He has been prominent in the activities of the Republican party, and has been delegate to the county conventions on various occasions. At the primaries in the spring of 1915 he was chosen as nominee for the office of county treasurer, and at the polls in November following was elected by the gratifying plurality of 8,548. He assumed the responsibilities of his new trust in January, 1916. Socially Mr. Adamson is a Mason, a member of Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M., Mizpah Chapter, No. 252, R. A. M., and Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 31, K. T., all of Mahanoy City ; he also belongs to Lodge No. 695, B. P. O. Elks, and Council No. III, Jr. O. U. A. M., both of Mahanoy City. His religious connection is with the Methodist Church.
Mr. Adamson married Martha Cathers, of this district, and they are the parents of eight children: Jennie, David, Luther, Anna, Thomas, John, Martha and Agnes.
JOHN HARRY FILBERT, a well known attorney of the Schuylkill county bar, is descended of a long line of ancestry whose beginning dates far back into antiquity.
The family name of Filbert is one of the oldest in the Teutonic language, being derived from "fiel brecht," which means very bright or illustrious. This appellation was borne by many of the old Teutonic chieftains, whose descend- ants carried it into all the countries of western Europe in their early conquests. Formerly the name was spelled "Philbert" and "Philibert," and in England it exists in both the forms "Philbert" and "Filbert," while in France and Italy it has survived as "Philibert."
St. Philibert, who founded the Abbey of Jumieges, on the north bank of the Seine, and died in 683, had been an Abbot at the Merovingian court. He was so greatly beloved by the peasantry that at his death they took his day,
249
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Aug. 22d, to gather the hazel nut which ripened in that locality about that time, and called it St. Filbert's nut. The admiral of the French fleet that made the demonstration against Morocco several years ago belonged to the French branch of the family. Philibert, Prince of Orange, was one of the generals of Charles V., and fell in the Italian campaign of 1529; several counts of the name ruled over Savoy in the twelfth century, and the descendants of Emman- uel Philibert of Savoy became kings of Sardinia, and later kings of Italy.
The American branch of the family traces its ancestry to the great-great- great-grandfather of Mr. Filbert, (I) John Samuel Filbert, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 8, 1710, and who with his wife Susanna came to the New World on the ship "Samuel," Hugh Percy, master, sailing from Rot- ter dam, and took the oath of allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain and the Province of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia Aug. 30, 1737. He spelled the name "Filbert," but Rev. John Caspar Stover, who kept the baptismal records of the family, spelled it "Philbert." The children of John Samuel Filbert were: John Thomas, 1737-1784, married to Catherine Batteiger ; Maria Catrina, born 1739, married to John Heinrich Ache; Anna Elizabeth, born 1741, married to John Henry Webber, a captain in the Revolutionary war; John Phillip ( 1743- 1817); John Peter, born 1746, who was a delegate from the Ist battalion of Berks county militia to the convention held in Lancaster July 4, 1776, to elect three brigadier generals for the Pennsylvania and Delaware militia, and who was elected sheriff of Berks county in 1785; and Maria Christina, born 1749, married to Jost Ruth.
As the father and three sons had the first name "John" in common they dropped it in active life, and the only places it can be found are on their bap- tismal records and tombstones.
Samuel Filbert and his wife Susanna settled immediately on coming to this country in Bern township, Lancaster (now Berks) county, at the present site of Bernville. Samuel Filbert and Godfried Fidler each gave an acre of ground to the North Kill Lutheran Church at Bernville, and a log church was built in 1743 on the part donated by Samuel Filbert. Tradition says that he paid half of the cost of the building, which was used as a church on the Sabbath and as a school on weekdays. In 1791 the log church was replaced by a brick building, at which time his son Phillip acted as president of the building committee. In 1897 the present handsome brownstone edifice was erected on the same ground. Back of the chancel in the new building is a beautiful stained glass window dedicated to "Samuel Filbert, Founder, 1743." He died Sept. 25, 1786, and is buried in the center of the old churchyard.
(II) John Phillip Filbert, son of Samuel and Susanna, was born Dec. 7, 1743. He was commissioned as a captain of the 8th Company of the 6th Battalion of Berks county militia June 14, 1777, and was recommissioned in 1780, 1783 and 1786, so that he served as an officer of the Pennsylvania militia during the whole period of the Revolution. Capt. Phillip Filbert's battalion was mustered into the Continental service on Dec. 13, 1777, for sixty days, and was engaged under General Washington in the Schuylkill valley, between Valley Forge and Germantown. He was married to Anna Maria Meyers and had three children: Samuel, mentioned below; John, married to Anna Maria Leiss ; and Catherine, married to William Machimer. He died Aug. 20, 1817, and is buried at Bernville.
(III) Samuel Filbert (about 1770-1795), eldest son of Phillip and Anna
1
250
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Maria, married Sibylla, daughter of Francis Umbenhaur, a captain in the Revolutionary war. He left two sons: Joseph, who died in 1804, and Peter. (IV) Peter Filbert, son of Samuel and Sibylla, was born at Bernville, Berks county, in 1794. His father died when he was about six months old, leaving his two sons to the guardianship of their grandfathers Phillip Filbert and Francis Umbenhaur. In 1814 he enlisted with the troops called out for the defense of Baltimore against the British army, and marched under Captain Smith to Springfield camp, near that city, and after the retreat of the British was honorably discharged from the service. In 1818 he married Elizabeth, daughter of John Stoudt, and the next year removed to Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, to take charge of the Pine Grove Forge. Peter and Elizabeth Filbert had the following children : Samuel P., married to Lavina Lamm; Edward T., married to Mary Clayton; Peter A. ( who was a major in the 96th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the Civil war), married to Theodosia Reitzel; Leah, married to Dr. John Kitzmiller; Rebecca, married to F. W. Conrad, D. D .; Sarah, married to Richard Musser; and John Q. A., mentioned below. Mr. Filbert was the presidential elector chosen to represent this district in the election of 1840, and cast his vote for the successful candidate, William Henry Harrison. He died Feb. 14, 1864.
(V) John Quincy Adams Filbert, son of Peter and Elizabeth, was born in Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, Feb. 11, 1827. At the age of sixteen he served in the engineer corps of the late Col. Benjamin Aycrigg. Later on he removed to York, Pa., and then to Baltimore, Md., where he lived when the Civil war broke out. Mr. Filbert was a stanch Unionist and was one of the men who helped save Maryland for the Union. When it was reported that the Con- federates were going to seize the city, he stood in the trenches to help guard it. All the coal yards of the city were in the hands of Southern sympathizers, who would not coal the government vessels, and the government did not dare to confiscate them for fear of further inflaming sentiment. Mr. Filbert at the request of the leaders of the Union element in the city came up to Schuylkill county and made arrangements to procure coal for the national vessels. He returned to his native county in 1866, residing on his farm in North Manheim township, below Schuylkill Haven, for thirty-five years. On April 30, 1856, he was married to Mary, daughter of Michael G. and Mary ( Harman) Beltz- hoover, of Boiling Springs, Pa., and they had the following children: Benja- min Aycrigg; May E .; Helen B., married to Dr. Gaylord A. Hitch, of Laurel, Del .; Charles B., married to Florence Saulsbury, and residing in Muskogee, Oklahoma; and John Harry. The father died at Schuylkill Haven, Dec. 4. 1910.
(VI) John Harry Filbert was born in the city of Baltimore, Oct. 19, 1865. When he was only a few months old his parents removed to Schuylkill county, where he has resided ever since. He is a graduate of the Pottsville high school, and attended Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, Pa., and Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. He registered as a student at law under the late Judge David C. Henning, and was admitted to practice law in the courts of Schuylkill county on the first day of January, 1894.
Mr. Filbert takes a deep interest in educational matters, having been a member of the Midwinter Educational Club of Pottsville for upwards of twenty years. He was one of the incorporators of the Schuylkill County Historical Society and is its first vice president, and is one of the best read men in the community on local historical matters. He resides in Schuylkill Haven,
251
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Pa., and maintains a law office in Pottsville. He has filled many local offices of honor and trust. Fraternally he is a member of Page Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M., at Schuylkill Haven, and a member of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He has never been married.
JOHN H. ANGST has applied the best efforts of his business years to the institution of which he is now the head, the Pine Grove Bank, the oldest finan- cial house of the borough. But he has also been occupied with other things of interest to the municipality, performing public duties and carrying social obli- gations which indicate clearly his sincere desire to lead a life of service. His work has been attended with the success which shows that it has been laid on a solid foundation.
Mr. Angst bears a name which has been respected in this section for several generations. His grandfather, John Angst, was born in Pine Grove township, and was a blacksmith by occupation, his son, William H. Angst, father of John H. Angst, also following that calling. The latter had a shop of his own here for many years. He was born in Pine Grove township, where he still makes his home. William H. Angst married Eliza Mars, who was born in Pine Grove township, of Irish ancestry ; her father, William Mars, a cabinet- maker by trade, came to Schuylkill county from Lancaster county, Pa., settling in Pine Grove township at an early day and continuing to reside there until his death. Mrs. Angst died in February, 1905, the mother of four children, namely: Sallie, the eldest, is living at home; John H. is next in the family ; Mamie is the wife of John Wolf and is residing at Pine Grove; Clara is the wife of John Ansbach, a farmer of Pine Grove township.
John H. Angst was born Feb. 24, 1873, in Pine Grove township, where he gained his early education. During his younger manhood he followed teaching for ten terms in Pine Grove township, in the year 1900 entering the employ of John F. Werntz, in the Pine Grove Bank, with which he has since been connected. The bank, which was established by Mr. Werntz in 1886, was car- ried on as a private bank until his death, in 1909. Mr. Werntz was the first president and continued to fill the office to the end of his life, when his widow, Mrs. Catherine (Mars) Werntz, succeeded him. Upon Mr. Werntz's death Mr. Angst was made cashier, and practically the entire responsibility is in his hands. The bank is in sound condition, with a paid-up capital of $95,000 and deposits of twice that amount, and the resources are placed at $225,000. Mr. Angst had careful training under Mr. Werntz, and his ability has devel- oped with the increase of his responsibilities, which he has managed admirably. Under his guidance the affairs of the bank have been regulated intelligently and competently, and its prestige has risen accordingly.
Mr. Angst has been the choice of his fellow citizens for local office and has served satisfactorily as justice of the peace of Pine Grove and member of the board of school directors. He was again elected a school director, of Pine Grove borough, in November, 1915. He is prominent in fraternal work at Pine Grove, being a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 409. F. & A. M., of Pine Grove ; of the Royal Arcanum (trustee of the Pine Grove lodge) ; of the I. O. O. F. lodge, which he has served as secretary for ten years; and of the Improved Order of Red Men. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church.
In 1896 Mr. Angst married Clara Boger, of Lebanon county, Pa., daughter of Adam and Anna (Dohner) Boger, farming people of that county, both now
252
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Angst: Roy (a student), Minerva, Anna, Mabel, Mary and Della.
OSCAR KNIPE, of Orwigsburg, is the executive head of the firm of the Oscar Knipe Company, recently incorporated. He came to the borough in 1892, and throughout the period of his residence there has been engaged in his present line, the manufacture of paper boxes, in the development of which he has shown commendable enterprise, taking advantage of conditions in the local manufacturing field. The convenience of having a box factory immediately at hand was promptly recognized by the factory owners in the vicinity, and Mr. Knipe has adapted his output so thoroughly to their needs that he com- mands a large share of the patronage in this section.
Mr. Knipe was born Dec. 5, 1876, in Reading, Berks Co., Pa., son of Otto Knipe, a native of Dresden, Germany, who settled at Reading upon his arrival in America when a young man. By trade he was a printer, and he was employed on a German newspaper there. His death occurred in Oakland, Cal. He married Amelia Nebekind, and they had one son, Oscar.
Oscar Knipe received his education at Reading, attending the public schools and Professor Stoner's business college, from which institution he was gradu- ated. Coming to Orwigsburg in 1892 he began work in his present line of business, and from modest beginnings has built up one of the most important industries of the kind in this region, the plant now operated by the Oscar Knipe Company being a two-story structure, 60 by 132 feet in dimensions. Thirty- five hands are employed in the production of paper boxes of all kinds, most of them for consumption in the local trade. The firm was known as Oscar Knipe & Company until July, 1914, when the Oscar Knipe Company was incorpo- rated with Mr. Knipe as president, and Elwood L. Orwig, secretary and treas- urer. Though yet a young man Mr. Knipe has attained a foremost position among the live figures in the commercial life of Orwigsburg, and his coopera- tion in all the affairs of the borough is sought and appreciated. He is a mem- ber of Schuylkill Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M., and a past master of that body ; he holds membership in the chapter and commandery at Pottsville. During the Spanish-American war he was in the volunteer service as a member of Company F, 4th Pennsylvania Regiment ( from Pottsville).
Mr. Knipe married Florence Erb, daughter of the late Rev. I. N. S. Erb. a Lutheran minister of Orwigsburg. They have had two children, Margaret and Marion, both of whom are now attending school.
WILLIAM HOFF, JR., has been at the head of the borough government in Tremont for some years, and his competent administration of affairs is deeply appreciated by his fellow citizens, whose confidence is established on his able performance of all the trusts reposed in him. He is a creditable member of a family which has been resident in the borough for the last seventy years, and his maternal ancestors have been also identified with its progress for the same period. The family is one of long standing in Pennsylvania, Mr. Hoff's great-grandfather having lived and died at Reading, Berks county. His chil- dren were: William; Kate, who died in Reading; Eva, who married Paul Barr, of Pine Grove; Bright, Jacob and Henry, all deceased in Reading.
William Hoff, the grandfather, was born in Reading, where he grew to manhood and married. He was the first of the family to settle in Schuylkill county, where he had a tanyard near Hegins and also a farm, being occupied
253
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
at his trade and agriculture for many years. In 1846 he moved with his family to Tremont, where he was a pioneer resident, and he became very successfully engaged in the real estate business here. His death occurred at Tremont, and he is buried in the Reformed cemetery. To his marriage with Esther Kimmel were born the following children: Catherine, who married Simon Fegley and ( second) Conrad Buecher; Rebecca, who died unmarried : Barbara, who died unmarried; John, who died unmarried; Sarah, wife of Hiram Pinkerton : Eliza, wife of Sigmond Gardner; Emma, who died unmar- ried : Henry, who died unmarried; Richard; William; and Amanda, wife of Charles Graver.
William Hoff, son of William and Esther (Kimmel) Hoff, was born at Tremont and has passed all his life there. For some time he was employed at the mines in this section, but he is now doing business on his own account as a dealer in ice cream and confectionery, having established a very good trade in the borough. He married Sarah Bensinger, daughter of Charles Bensinger, and the following children were born to them: William, Jr .; Charles, who has been in the Philippine islands for the last eighteen years, being now in the government employ there (he served in the Spanish-American war) ; Carrie, at home; Bert ; Arthur, and Harvey. Mrs. Hoff died Nov. 27, 1894.
Charles Bensinger, Mrs. Hoff's father, was born in the Mahantongo valley, and settled at Tremont about 1845, living there until his death, which occurred when he was over sixty years old. He was a carpenter, and was employed at that calling by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. He married Justine Lengel, of Pine Grove, who survived him, living to the age of seventy- eight years ; she was at Tremont when there was but one house on the site of the town. To Mr. and Mrs. Bensinger were born the following children : Josiah, who is deceased; Samuel, now living in Reading, Pa .; Sarah, who married William Hoff ; and Jeremiah, a watchmaker, of Tremont.
William Hoff, Jr., was born at Tremont July 10, 1877, and obtained his education in the public schools of the borough. At the age of thirteen years he began work at the mines, being employed at the Brookside and Goodspring collieries, and for the last twenty years he has held the responsible position of coal inspector for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company. He has proved himself a man of reliable character, and worthy of the respect of his associates. Mr. Hoff has long been active in local public affairs, in which he has taken a leading part. In 1908 he was elected to the office of chief burgess of Tremont, for a term of four years, which he completed, and he is now holding the office by appointment, having been selected for the honor by Judge Bechtel three years ago. His services have been characterized by honorable, unselfish devotion to the best interests of the community, where his public spirit has won him esteem among the best element. He is one of the active members of the Tremont Fire Company, No. I, belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge and encampment, and to the Royal Arcanum, and affiliates with the Democratic party on political issues.
Mr. Hoff married Jennie Hepler, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Koehler) Hepler, and they have two daughters: Carrie Rebecca and Mary Elizabeth. The family adhere to the Reformed faith in religion.
THOMAS C. O'CONNOR, of Mahanoy City, editor and manager of The Mahanoy City Record, is one of the most influential newspaper men in Schuyl- kill county and a power in the Democratic party in his county and State. Alert,
254
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
aggressive and capable, he has gained flattering recognition in his section through the wholesome exercise of an energetic nature which could not help but be a live factor in any community where his lot might be cast.
Mr. O'Connor was born in Heckscherville, in Cass township, Schuylkill county, June 9, 1863, son of the late Michael and Mary (Brennan) O'Connor. The father, a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, born in 1829, came to this country when sixteen years old, and settled at Heckscherville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he found work at the mines as miner and foreman. He was so employed until his removal to Mahanoy City. His family consisted of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Mr. O'Connor was always an inter- ested member of the Democratic party and bore a useful part in its local activi- ties. For a number of years he served as a school director in Cass township. He passed away May 29, 1896.
Thomas C. O'Connor came to Mahanoy City in May, 1864, and here received his education, graduating from the high school in 1878. In his early manhood he followed the teacher's profession for fourteen terms in Mahanoy City, being assistant in the high school when he gave up that work. On April 15, 1894, he was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland, and served a full term of four years. Since June 17, 1899, he has been editor and manager of the Record, as well as one of the owners of the Record Publishing Company, which issues that publication, the most influential and widely circulated news- paper in northern Schuylkill county, and with no superiors in the southern part. Mr. O'Connor has been true to his original profession in the effective work he has done in the interest of the public schools. His long experience gave him an insight into the needs of the schools and authoritative judgment regard- ing them, and he has exerted himself to the utmost in behalf of their welfare. He is considered one of the ablest members of the Democratic party in the county, where his personal following is large. He always took a prominent part in the county conventions of the days gone by, and his activities have also extended into State and national politics.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.