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 39
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Mr. O'Connor married Frances Bastian, daughter of Valentine and Mary Bastian, the former now deceased. Two daughters have been born to this union : Mary (aged nineteen) graduated from the Mahanoy City high school as valedictorian of the class of 1915, and is now a student at the Westchester Normal School; Ursula (aged twelve) is attending the St. Fidelis parochial school in Mahanoy City, and will enter the public schools in 1916.
SAMUEL BRODE, at one time one of the most vigorous spirits in the business activities of Tamaqua, now living retired in that borough, has been a resident of that place practically all his life. Almost half a century ago he founded the butcher business now conducted by his son William Brode, con- tinued it successfully for many years, and as his original undertaking pros- pered made other ventures, assisting several progressive projects at their inception with his encouragement and capital. He has been throughout his career a citizen of substantial worth.
The Brode family is of German ancestry, and on first coming to America settled in Lehigh County, Pa. Michael Brode, the grandfather of Samuel Brode, was a native of Pennsylvania, and in his later life became settled at White Haven, Luzerne Co., Pa., where he died. He was the father of a large family.
Thomas J. Brode, father of Samuel Brode, was born in 1819 in Lehigh
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County, Pa., and was still a lad when the family removed to White Haven, where he attended school. He learned both grist and saw milling and followed that line of work for several years, giving it up on account of his health. In the early forties he came to Schuylkill county and located at what is now known as Hometown, in Rush township, near Tamaqua, living there for fourteen months, and removing thence to Tamaqua, where he made a perman- ent home. Here he engaged in the butcher business, being one of the pioneers in that line at Tamaqua, and he followed it profitably until about six years before his death, passing his closing years in retirement. His death occurred in April, 1890, and he is buried at Tamaqua. For a long period he was a prominent member of the Evangelical Church at Tamaqua, in which he held office for many years, retaining his active association with the organization to the end of his life. In 1842 Mr. Brode married Sarah Olewill, who was born in Lehigh county, daughter of Andres Olewill, and of the ten children born to them we have record of the following: Samuel; Kitty, who is deceased ; Thomas; Benjamin; Elmer ; Charles, deceased; and Sarah, wife of Dr. C. B. Dreher, a prominent physician of Tamaqua and president of the Tamaqua National Bank.
Samuel Brode was born May 27, 1844, at Hometown, the village in Rush township, near Tamaqua, where the family lived for a short time. He was very young when his parents settled at Tamaqua, where he was reared and educated and trained for the serious work of life, learning the butcher's trade with his father, with whom he remained until he reached his majority. He also clerked for Charles Schoener, under Walter Kirk, until he went into the emergency service during the Civil war. In 1863 he enlisted in Company B. 27th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, to reinforce the Union army at Gettysburg, and was out for six weeks. He was in the skirmish at Wrights- ville, his command arriving at the battleground just after the Union troops had gained their famous victory. Returning to Tamaqua when discharged from the service, he was there until 1865, in which year he went South to Charlotte, N. C., to take the position of superintendent at a gold mine in which his father was a stockholder. He was in the employ of M. F. Ludwig. After fourteen months' work there he came back to Tamaqua and resumed the butcher business, which he followed for a short time at Audenried, Carbon county. In 1867 he began butchering on his own account, selling his meat at Summit Hill and in that vicinity, though he made his home meanwhile at Tamaqua. The business grew steadily under his thrifty management, and he retained his immediate connection therewith until 1875, after which he turned the actual work over to other hands, giving his time only to overseeing the various details. His attention thereafter was divided among the numerous interests he had acquired. In 1885 he was one of the group of five men who organized the Edison Electric Light Company of Tamaqua, and he served as a director of the company from that time until it sold out. He was also one of the organizers and directors of the Tamaqua Land & Improvement Com- pany, and many other local enterprises of vital importance to the advancement of the section have counted him among their influential supporters. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge at Tamaqua, and in religion he adheres to the Reformed faith, belonging to Trinity Church, in whose work he and his family have taken an active part.
On May 27, 1866, Mr. Brode married Lucy Miller, who was born June 27, 1846, daughter of Israel and Elizabeth Miller, of Tamaqua. A large family
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has been born to this union, namely: Frank, born Ang. 9, 1867, is deceased ; Cora May, born Feb. 3, 1869, is the wife of Dr. George W. Dreher, of Shamo- kin, Pa .; William was born July 28, 1870; John E., born Dec. 31, 1872, is engaged as a machinist in Tamaqua; Alburtus, born April 16, 1874, is. deceased; Sarah E., born March 3, 1876, is deceased; Walter, born March 22, 1878, is deceased; Thomas, born Nov. 9, 1879, is employed as an electrician in Tamaqua ; Emily E., born Aug. 20, 1882, is deceased; Charles L. was born Feb. 14, 1886.
WILLIAM BRODE, eldest surviving son of Samuel Brode, was born at Tamaqua July 28, 1870, and during his boyhood acquired a practical education in the common schools of the borough. He learned the trade of butcher in his father's employ and has followed it up to the present time, with the success which has marked the operations of three generations of the family in this line. In 1895 he took the old stand where his father had started so many years ago, on Schuylkill avenue, Tamaqua, and has a well equipped meat market, supplying a large share of the best trade in the borough. Per- sonally Mr. Brode ranks with the most respected citizens there. He and his wife are members of Bethany Evangelical Church, in whose activities Mrs. Brode has taken a helpful part. Mr. Brode belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his wife to the Rebekah degree.
In April, 1892, Mr. Brode married Elizabeth Lane, daughter of William and Priscilla ( Gallagher) Lane, the former a native of England, the latter born near Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa. When he came to America Mr. Lane settled in Schuylkill county, where he followed mining; he died at Tamaqua. He and his wife had a family of six children: Elizabeth (Mrs. William Brode), Margaret, Eliza, George, James and Jonathan. To Mr. and Mrs. Brode has been born one daughter, Lucy, now the wife of Edw. Danner, living at Hometown, in Rush township.
JOHN H. POLLARD, of Mahanoy City, Division Superintendent for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company since 1905, is a native of Schuyl- kill county, where his father, John Pollard, settled in the early forties. The latter was born in 1820 in Cornwall, England, coming to America when twenty- one years old. For a short time he was located at Schuylkill Haven, Schuyl- kill Co., Pa., thence removing to Pottsville, same county, where he resided con- tinuously to the end of his life, dying in 1903, at the age of eighty-three years.
John H. Pollard was born April 19, 1854, at Pottsville, where he was edu- cated in the public schools. After a year's employment in the establishment of the Miners' Journal, under Benjamin Bannan and Colonel Ramsay, he returned to the high school, and was a member of the class of 1871, but quit school to take advantage of an opening in the office of the Harris Brothers, Civil and Mining Engineers, who were in charge of the Girard estate in Schuyl- kill and Columbia counties, and also conducting a general engineering business. He continued with the Harris Brothers until 1874, in which year the late Heber S. Thompson succeeded to the management of the Girard estate. He was with Mr. Thompson until May, 1878, when he was employed by the Phila- delphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, as a member of the engineer corps at Ashland, covering the territory from Ashland to Shenandoah, and subse- quently having charge of the engineering department for the Mahanoy and Shenandoah districts of this company. On April 1, 1905, he was transferred to Mahanoy City in the capacity of Division Superintendent of the Philadel-
Johust Pollard
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phia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, his territory including the St. Nicholas and Mahanoy districts, a total of nine collieries.
Mr. Pollard has been a director of the First National Bank of Mahanoy City since 1912. He is well known in fraternal and social bodies, belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M., Griscomb Chapter, No. 219, R. A. M., and Prince of Peace Commandery, No. 29, K. T., all of Ashland; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading, Pa. He also holds membership in Ashland Lodge, No. 384, B. P. O. Elks, and Washington Camp No. 84, P. O. S. of A., at Ashland, as well as in the Pottsville Club.
PROF. CHARLES J. CARROLL, present principal of the Blythe town- ship schools, has made an excellent record in his long connection with the public schools of Schuylkill county. For almost thirty years practically all of his time and the best of his talents have been expended in their interest, but the reward is a worthy one. His work will stand as one of the most efficient units which have cooperated in the furtherance of educational progress in the county, whose standards compare with any in the State.
Mr. Carroll was born in Blythe township May 20, 1863. His father, Charles Carroll, lived there for a number of years. He was a native of Ireland, came to this country in 1821, and for a short time after his arrival lived at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa. Thence he removed to Blythe township, where he followed mining and spent the remainder of his days, dying at Cumbola when sixty-five years old. He is buried at Port Carbon, this county. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Creary, was also born in Ireland, and came to America when a young girl. Only two of their children survive : Catherine, who is the widow of James Armstrong; and Charles J.
Charles J. Carroll attended public school at Port Carbon. He began mine work when a boy, but kept on with his studies as much as possible, so success- fully that in 1881 he was able to begin teaching. His first school was in Blythe township, in an independent district, and his salary was thirty dollars a month for a six months' term. Subsequently he taught two terms in the Tumbling Run Valley, one term at Tucker Hill, in Blythe township, and several terms elsewhere in that township, until he was promoted to the principalship of the schools in the borough of New Philadelphia, filling that position for one term. In 1889 he resumed his connection with the Blythe township schools in the capacity of supervising principal, and was so engaged until 1897, doing notable work in developing the educational facilities of the township. At the end of that period he removed to Port Carbon, and soon assumed the duties of a government position in the agricultural department at Washington, continuing in the United States service for the next five years. Returning to Schuylkill county he resumed his profession, becoming principal at Palo Alto, where he added considerably to his reputation during the seven years he remained there, building up the schools of the borough and making the most of their possibilities, to the great satisfaction of the community which had the benefit of his labors. In 1911 Mr. Carroll came once more to Blythe township, and has since been principal of the township schools, which have thrived steadily under his energetic management. In April, 1913, he removed to Cumbola, where he has since made his home.
Professor Carroll's wide experience has broadened his judgment and given him a liberal outlook in his own field, and he has endeavored to adapt his work so as to make it most useful in its relation to the general affairs of the Vol. I-17
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community, a basis for good citizenship and a preparation for honorable and intelligent participation in the conservation of the common welfare. He has many devoted pupils to testify to his success, and his continued popularity shows that he is not disposed to rest upon past achievements, but maintains the zealous spirit for which he became noted in his early years. While a resident of Port Carbon he was elected a member of the borough council and gave able assistance in the deliberations of that body. He votes independently, for principle and not for party.
Professor Carroll married Sarah McDermott, who was born at Shenan- doah, this county, and is of Scotch descent, being a daughter of Dennis and Mary (Paul) McDermott. They have a family of seven children: Charles, now in Philadelphia, where he is secretary of an insurance company ; John, who is principal of the public school at Brockton, Schuylkill county ; Sarah ; Catherine ; Mary ; Daniel, and Helen.
RICHARD COOMBE is engaged in the development of a fine farm in West Penn township and is doing his full share towards the promotion of modern agriculture in that section. But the greater amount of his property is in timberland and he is doing a large business as a lumberman, in which connection he has become widely known in his part of Pennsylvania. His enterprise and vigor have made him notably successful in both lines, and deservedly so, his prosperity being entirely the result of his own efforts. He is considered a valuable force for progress in the locality which he has chosen for his home and center of operations.
The Coombe family is of English extraction. John Coombe, grandfather of Richard Coombe, was a native of England and a skilled mine worker, engaged in driving tunnels and similar operations. From his own country he went to Ireland, where he was employed at the copper mines for one year, and thence came with his family to America. They made the voyage in a sailing vessel, the "Monticello," and were on the ocean six weeks and three days, landing at New York City, and arriving at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pa., July 4, 1840. Mr. Coombe did not spend much time at that location, moving to Woodside, near Forestville, Schuylkill county, and later to Middle- port, this county, where he did rock work in the mines. Thence he went to St. Nicholas, Schuylkill county, where he also followed mining. His children were: John, who is deceased; Thomas, deceased ; William, deceased ; Richard, deceased ; Ebenezer, who married Ida Raudenbush; Caroline, widow of Josiah Gill; and Minnie, unmarried. The mother of this family is buried at Potts- ville. Their religious connection was with the Presbyterian Church.
Richard Coombe, son of John and father of Richard, was born in Ireland Nov. 4, 1839, and was seven months old when his parents brought him to this country. He received his schooling at Middleport, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and began work early, and he was only a boy of nine when he met with an unfortunate accident, being run over by a mine car and losing an arm. Being thus incapacitated for some kinds of work he secured the best education possible, and he taught school for a couple of terms at Locust Valley, this county. But most of his days were spent at the mines. He went with his father when the latter removed to St. Nicholas, was slate picker boss for some time, and as he understood the work well was later made outside foreman at the individual colliery of John Phillips, holding that position for twenty-one years. Subsequently he held a similar position at the mines of the Reading
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Coal & Iron Company. In his later years he moved onto the farm in West Penn township now owned and occupied by his son Daniel, owning it for thirteen years before he lived on it. For ten years he and his brother-in-law, Mr. Gill, had held the property in partnership and had several tenants thereon. The son Daniel operated the place for one year before his father moved there from St. Nicholas, the latter never doing much in the work of its cultivation. It was devoted to general farming, sixty-five acres being under cultivation. The entire area was ninety-six acres, and Daniel bought it after his father's death. Richard Coombe passed away Sept. 1. 1893, in West Penn township, and is buried at Pottsville. He was a Republican in politics and a Presbyterian in religion, especially interested in church work, to which he devoted much time. He was superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school at Mahanoy City for fifteen years. While residing in West Penn township he attended St. Peter's Reformed Church and also taught in the Sunday school there for a couple of years.
Mr. Coombe married Ellamandia Raudenbush, who was born Aug. 2, 1844, daughter of Daniel Raudenbush, and now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Wallace Hoppes, in West Penn township. Children as follows were born to this marriage: Daniel Oliver, born Oct. 15, 1871, now living on the home- stead farm, married Ida Hunsicker; a son born in 1872 died in infancy ; Richard is next in the family ; a son died at birth ; Charles, born Nov. 22, 1877, married Kate Miller, and they live in West Penn township; Elmer, deceased, born Oct. 27, 1879, died when about two years old; William Henry, born Nov. 3. 1881, married Mame Adams and lives in West Penn township; Phoebe, born July 10, 1887, is the wife of Wallace Hoppes, of West Penn township; Caroline Job, born April 1, 1890, is the wife of Granville Dreisbach.
Richard Coombe, son of Richard and Ellamandia Coombe, was born June 22, 1874, at St. Nicholas, Schuylkill county, and there spent his early life, obtaining a good education in the public schools. He also attended school one year in Shenandoah, and one year after the family removed to West Penn township, at which time he was fourteen years old. He worked on the home farm until his father died, married early the following year, and then bought the farm of his father-in-law, Daniel Reinert, which consisted of forty acres, all cleared. After residing on that place for nine years he leased and moved to the WV. D. Zelmer farm, taking a five-year lease with the privilege of giving up the place on six months' notice. He remained there two years, thence coming to his present location in West Penn township, which he had bought previously from the Thomas Neyer estate. This tract comprises 260 acres, eighty of which are cleared ; later Mr. Coombe purchased four acres adjoining, from Edwin B. Hoppes. In the spring of 1913 he bought another farm, eighty-four acres (of which forty are cleared, the remainder in good timber for sawed lumber), from Lewis Hoppes, and he is farming altogether 160 acres. His other holdings include a timber tract of thirteen acres in Strauss Valley, Carbon Co., Pa., which he bought from the Charles Fritz estate; a 400-acre tract in Rahn township, Schuylkill county. which he bought in part- nership with the late John E. Lauer, and which is covered with timber suitable for mining purposes : the perpetual timber rights on a 130-acre tract adjoining his 400-acre property, which he purchased from the Eastern Pennsylvania Coal Company ; and sixty acres of leased ground. During the comparatively short time he has resided upon his present property Mr. Coombe has improved it greatly from the agricultural standpoint, following general farming syste-
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matically and profitably. He has also remodeled the dwelling and provided it with all modern conveniences. He markets his farm products at Summit Hill, Lansford and Nesquehoning. Mr. Coombe has a portable sawmill, traction engine and other equipment for conducting his lumber business, and is now building a permanent sawmill on his home place, to be operated by water power. He takes a good citizen's interest in the affairs of his locality, supports the Republican party on political issues, and is a member of the Reformed congregation of St. Peter's Church, with which his wife also unites.
Mr. Coombe married Amanda L. Reinert, who was born May 26, 1876, in West Penn township, on property now owned by her husband, was reared there, and received her education in the local public schools. She remained at home until her marriage. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coombe: Flossie May, born Dec. 28, 1894; Richard Daniel, May 12, 1899; Arthur Earl, June 7, 1905; Alfred Felix, March 26, 1910; Mildred Amanda, Oct. 16, 1911 ; and Irene Reinert, Oct. 21, 1914. All the children old enough have attended school in West Penn township.
Mrs. Coombe's paternal grandparents were natives of Berks county and farming people. Their children were: Julia, John, David and Daniel. In religion they were German Lutherans.
Daniel Reinert, Mrs. Coombe's father, was born in April, 1833, near Lynnville, Lehigh Co., Pa., and died Nov. 21, 1902, in West Penn township, Schuylkill county. He received his education in his native county, and in his early days worked for the local farmers and learned shoemaking. Coming to West Penn township, he opened a shoe shop near the "Mantz Hotel," and carried on business for a number of years at that location. Some time after his marriage he moved to near Mr. Coombe's present home, cultivating a tract of over one hundred acres for about two years. Then he bought the forty-acre farm Mr. Coombe now owns, and remained there until his death, following general farming. His wife, Polly (Guldner), born in 1838, died in September, 1889. They are buried in St. Peter's cemetery in the township, and were members of the Lutheran congregation of St. Peter's Church, in which Mr. Reinert was very active, holding the offices of elder and deacon. He was interested in all religious enterprises and the advancement of Christian- ity. In politics he was a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Reinert had two children : David, now a resident of Summit Hill, Carbon county, who married Nora Miller ; and Amanda L., wife of Richard Coombe.
RICHARD E. MILLER, SR., of Hometown, Schuylkill county, is an old- time lumberman of this part of Pennsylvania, where he has been operating for forty-two years, during thirty-six of which he has been associated with the Lehigh Company, contracting. He still has large holdings of timberland in the vicinity, and he owns considerable farm land in Monroe county, this State. His father, Elias T. Miller, was also engaged in lumbering in this region, and his grandfather, John Miller, lived and died at Orwigsburg, this county.
Elias T. Miller lived for several years at Tumbling Run, Schuylkill county. and thence removed to Middleport. this county, where he died at the age of eighty-nine. He was a large landowner, his holdings comprising five farms. By his marriage to Hannah Jane Evans he had the following family: Mary. Mrs. Bossler; John T .; Joseph D .; Richard E .; Hannah Jane, who married John D. Derrick; Charles ; William; and Sarah, who married James Gillespie.
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Evan Evans, father of Mrs. Hannah Jane ( Evans) Miller, was born in Wales, and became a resident of Reading, Berks Co., Pa. lle taught at the Blue Mountain school in Berks county, and died in that county when ninety- nine years old. His wife lived to the extraordinary age of 101 years. Their children were: Jacob, James, Martin, John, Evan, Jr., Thomas, Hannah Jane, Mary, Phoebe and Margaret.
Richard E. Miller was born Nov. 29, 1849, at Tamaqua, Schuylkill county. His early education was received in the public schools, and later he attended the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Berks Co., Pa., from which institution he was graduated when eighteen years old. He assisted his father in the lumber business until he reached his majority, when he went to Cata- wissa, Pa., to build a breaker. For three years thereafter he was engaged in clerking in a store at Shenandoah, and was then in Philadelphia for a time, employed in a cedar factory. His next removal was to Hauto, Carbon Co., Pa., where he was foreman for a lumber company one year, at the end of that time buying the business for himself. He has since been doing business on his own account, and during most of the time as a contractor for the Lehigh Company. At one time he owned all of the town of Hauto, but disposed of four hundred acres to the Lehigh Company at one sale, and later sold 3,200 acres on the Broad mountain, where he still owns three thousand acres of woodland. He also has a 140-acre tract in Carbon county ; another tract of IOI acres; and leases 135 acres from the Reading Company. He operates two sawmills and has a large equipment for the lumbering business, having thirty-three head of mules, besides other stock, as well as all kinds of vehicles, including automobiles. In Monroe county he owns three valuable farms, containing 175, 280 and 180 acres, respectively. His energetic business policy and good judgment have made him one of the leading lumbermen in his section of the State. By square dealing and reliable transactions he has acquired a reputation for integrity and unswerving honesty which he prizes as dearly as his material success. On April 6, 1911, Mr. Miller moved to Hometown, in Rush township, Schuylkill county, where he has a hotel and in connection therewith a fine tract of seventy acres, a desirable location with a beautiful view. The hotel has been very successful under his management.
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