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 42
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Mr. Imschweiler made his first venture in the confectionery line at Tremont, Schuylkill county, whither he removed from Tamaqua, and he made a success, doing business there for a period of seventeen years. Then he sought larger opportunities at Pottsville, where he settled in 1881 and opened a store, his original location being at No. 217 Centre street. After a year there he moved next door, to No. 219, where he was established a few years, finally removing to No. 13 North Centre street. The business was carried on at that site until its recent removal to the old Dr. Robison property, where Mr. Miller, the present owner, has put up a modern building. Mr. Imschweiler conducted the business there until his retirement fourteen years ago, and acquired a sub- stantial competence as the trade grew under his capable management. His reputation extended all over Schuylkill county, and his substantial qualities of character made him one of the leading citizens of his day. He was a member of the Reformed Church in religious connection, and belonged to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Tamaqua. He died in December, 1904, and is buried in the Charles Baber cemetery.
Mr. Imschweiler married Julia Miller, who was born four miles from her husband's birthplace in Germany and came to Pennsylvania with her parents when four years old. They settled at Pottsville. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Imschweiler, but only one of this large family is living, Emma Louise, the wife of Edwin J. Miller.
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EDWIN J. MILLER has advanced to so solid a position among the leading figures in business circles at Pottsville that he may well be spoken of as a self- made man and his career cited as an example of what strict attention to purpose gains. His life has been one of useful activity, helpful to the community in more ways than one, and his ambition to win success has been so honorably attained that he has the unqualified esteem of his associates and of his fellow citizens generally.
Mr. Miller comes of the thrifty German stock whose influence on Pennsyl- vania has been felt from the days of its first settlement. His grandfather, Henry Miller, came to this country from Germany, and settled at what is now Brown's Farm, in Schuylkill county, Pa., where he became engaged in farming. He died there.
William Miller, father of Edwin J. Miller, lived at Minersville, Schuylkill county, where his death occurred in 1900. Having learned the trade of black- smith he was with the William Kear Coal Company in that capacity, later becoming an employee of the Philadelphia & Reading Company. His widow, Mary (Heller), still resides at Minersville. Of the seven children born to them five survive: Ella, who is the wife of Walter Trezise; Ida, wife of Daniel Price, of Minersville ; Carrie and Mame, living with their mother ; and Edwin J.
Edwin J. Miller was born June 15, 1871, at Minersville, where he was reared. During his boyhood and youth he was employed at the mines for about five years, and as he had to go to work at an early age he continued his studies at night school for a time. For two years he tried the grocery business, but did not like it well enough to go in that line, so in 1888 he came to Pottsville and engaged with Lorenz Imschweiler, with whom he learned the confectionery business. His facility in mastering its details, and the skill he soon acquired in the practical part of the work, gave evidence of ability which has developed steadily in the quarter century of his connection with this line. Remaining in Mr. Imschweiler's employ until the latter's retirement, he con- ducted the business for him thereafter until his death, and shortly afterwards, in 1905, took it over on his own account. Its expansion has gone on uninter- ruptedly under his progressive manipulation of affairs. In fact, it is taking place among the most successful of its kind in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Miller has recently established it in appropriate quarters. It has been on Centre street from the time of its inception, under Mr. Imschweiler. In the summer of 1914 Mr. Miller purchased the Dr. Robison property on that street, and proceeded to erect one of the finest business houses in this section of the State, equipped with all the modern devices for the comfort of employees as well as for the economical dispatch of the business. Its increasing needs have shown the wisdom of employing every facility obtainable for simplifying and expediting the work, and Mr. Miller has been forehanded about anticipating the require- ments, though the growth has been sufficiently vigorous of late years to over- take his provisions for the future, Its prosperous career is to some extent an indication of the favorable commercial conditions which now prevail in Potts- ville, although it has aided in bringing them about in larger proportion than it has benefited thereby. At any rate, the progressive spirit and business capacity Mr. Miller has shown in its upbuilding have earned his name a per- manent place among the influential men of his generation. He takes little direct part in local affairs, though he is a member of the B. P. O. Elks lodge at Pottsville.
By his marriage to Emma Louise Imschweiler, daughter of the late Lorenz
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Imschweiler, Mr. Miller has two children: Lorenz W., who is with his father in the store, learning the business; and Anna Louise. Religiously the family are of the Reformed faith.
ELMER HAROLD MAURER, M. D., has been in practice at Ashland throughout his professional career. He is a native son of Schuylkill county, a descendant of one of its old families which has been settled at Pitman, his birthplace, from the early days. The Maurers are of German extraction.
Charles Maurer, the Doctor's grandfather, was born at Pitman and resided in that vicinity all his life. By occupation he was a farmer and shoemaker. He was a man of intelligent, active mind, and took considerable part in local public affairs as well as in religious work, being an earnest member of the Church of God. He died in 1895 at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, Juda (Slobig), like himself of German ancestry, lived to the age of eighty-two years, dying in 1912. Their family consisted of six children : Gabriel S., the Doctor's father, was the eldest; Elizabeth married William B. Rodenberger, whose father, Jacob Rodenberger, was the first settler at Ashland, and owned and operated the first hotel there; John is a resident of Shamokin, Pa .; Lena is the wife of William H. Nicewanger, and they are living on a farin in Snyder- town, Pa .; Amelia, who died in 1904, was the wife of Elias Mayer, of Mount Carmel, a carpenter ; James died in 1902.
Gabriel S. Maurer was born May 31, 1850, at Pitman, Schuylkill county, and received his early education in the public schools there. Learning the car- penter's trade, he followed that calling until he began to teach school, at the age of eighteen years. He taught in Eldred and Butler townships, this county, and for four years was engaged at Ashland as assistant teacher in the high school. Later he was engaged in Conyngham township, and in 1898 went to Lavelle, Schuylkill county, to enter upon his duties as first principal of the school there, which position he has continued to fill ever since. His work as an educator covers over forty years, and the demands for his services are sufficient to indicate how highly they are valued wherever he is known. At present he has four assistants. Mr. Maurer married Elmira Kramer, also a native of Schuylkill county, born at Weishample, daughter of Harold and Elizabeth (Fetterolf) Kramer, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of Ger- man ancestry. He was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Elizabeth (Fetterolf ) Kramer was born in Schuylkill county and was also of German descent. Her family was represented on the Union side during the Civil war by her brothers Daniel and Peter Fetterolf, the latter now gatekeeper at the State Hospital at Fountain Springs, Schuylkill county ; his son Daniel is a professor at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Elizabeth ( Fetterolf) Kramer died in 1888, her husband surviving until 1902. They had a family of nine children, of whom Elmira was the eldest ; Charles, a resident of Ashland, Pa., is a traveling salesman ; Mary is the wife of W. C. Shoemaker, principal of the school at Locustdale, this county ; Sarah is married to Edward Smith, of Mount Carmel, Pa. : her twin brother died in infancy; Katie is the wife of Thomas Fennel, of Nazareth, Pa .; Belinda is married to John Carl, Jr., who is in the employ of the Mount Carmel Trust Company, and is town clerk there : Daniel, who was accidentally killed in 1901, left a wife and four children, one son, Daniel, being a physician in the hospital at New Castle, Pa .: Emma is the widow of Patrick Dorsey, and lives in Philadelphia.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel S. Maurer, namely :
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Delilah is the wife of William Follwell Lloyd, a resident of Philadelphia, in the employ of the Philadelphia Electric Company; Elmer H. is mentioned below ; Mamie became a trained nurse, having taken a course at the Children's Homeopathic Training School for Nurses, in Philadelphia, and is now the wife of George Metz, of Ashland, Pa. Mrs. Lloyd is also a trained nurse, having graduated in 1896 from the Hahnemann Training School.
Elmer H. Maurer was born Jan. 16, 1878, at Pitman, this county. His early education was acquired in the public schools, and he was but fifteen years old when he entered the State Normal at Kutztown, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1895. Following this he taught school for three years in Butler and Hegins townships, until he was ready to enter upon his medical course, in 1898. He matriculated at Hahnemann College, in Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1902. He has since been located at Ashland, where his skill and conscientious attention to his patrons have given him a place among the leading members of the profession. That his work is greatly appreciated by his fellow practitioners is shown by his high standing in the Schuylkill County Homeopathic Medical Society, in which he has been honored with election to the office of president. He is also a member of the Allopathic Medical Society. The Doctor's public services have been chiefly of a professional nature, he being at present deputy coroner of the county and physician to the poor in his district. He is also treasurer of the Ashland Town Society, and thoroughly interested in everything affecting the welfare of the boroughı. His willingness to assist all enterprises whose object is to promote the general good has made him trusted and esteemed by his fellow citizens of all classes. He has numerous social connections, being particularly prominent in the Masonic fraternity as a member of Lodge No. 294, F. & A. M .; Chap- ter No. 219, R. A. M .; Prince of Peace Commandery, No. 39, K. T., of Ash- land, of which he is at present eminent commander ; Williamsport Consistory, and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to Lodge No. 384, B. P. O. Elks, and to Camp No. 84, P. O. S. of A., and P. O. of A. Lodge No. 21. He is a very active worker in the P. O. S. of A., being a past State president, was assistant national president, and is now (1915) a past assistant national president. He is a member of the Hahnemann Alumni Association. On political questions he is a Republican.
On April 14, 1904, Dr. Maurer married Florence M. Hinterleiter, a native of Berks county, Pa., daughter of William G. and Catherine (Baer) Hinter- leiter, of Kutztown. Her father, who died July 3, 1903, was a dry goods mer- chant, and his sons are engaged in the same line of business in Allentown, Pa. His mother is still living in Allentown. Her family consists of two sons and two daughters: Irene, who lives at home; Florence M., Mrs. Maurer; Ray- mond, who is manager of the Allentown store conducted under the name of R. W. Hinterleiter & Co .; and Arthur, who lives at home.
Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Maurer: Catherine Elmira (born Feb. 9, 1905), Florence (born Jan. 17, 1912) and Harold (born April 12, 1914). The Doctor built his home at Ashland some years ago. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and she belongs to the Eastern Star and P. O. of A.
HON. JOHN T. SHOENER, of Orwigsburg, in his well rounded career has been in close touch with the development of Schuylkill county, as a business man as well as in the discharge of the numerous public responsibilities for which
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he has been chosen. The mere enumeration of the offices he has filled evidences his versatility and superior ability, and the repeated honors he has received at the hands of his fellow citizens speaks well for his efficient and conscientious attention to all the duties intrusted to him.
Mr. Shoener comes of pioneer stock of Schuylkill county, where the family has been settled since the time of his great-grandfather, a native of Berks county, Pa., who located in the vicinity of Orwigsburg (most likely in what is now West Brunswick township), in what is now Schuylkill county. John Shoener, the grandfather of John T. Shoener, was born in that township in 1800, and died at Orwigsburg in 1865. As the owner of the first stagecoach that ran from Sunbury to Philadelphia he was very well known in his day. For a short time he was engaged in the hotel business and later in life followed farming. He was also extensively interested in the timber business, for he owned a large tract of timberland in this section, and his industry and enter- prise brought him prosperity. Originally a Whig in politics, he became a Republican upon the organization of the party and took an active interest in public affairs. For a number of years during the period court was held at Orwigsburg he acted as court crier. His wife was a daughter of Frederick Hesser, who was a drummer boy in the Revolutionary war, and was with Wash- ington at Valley Forge; he was born in the vicinity of Orwigsburg, where he died and is buried. To Mr. and Mrs. John Shoener were born the following children : Daniel, George, Lewis, Charles F., William A., John T., Frank H., Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth, Louisa and Emma.
George Shoener, son of John, was born in 1827 at Orwigsburg, and passed the most of his life in that vicinity, dying in 1865. He followed farming and lumber dealing, for a time had a green grocery business in Pottsville, on the corner of Centre and Mahantongo streets, and during the latter part of his life kept hotel at Orwigsburg. He served as justice of the peace in South Manheim township. Like his father he was a Republican in political faith. He mar- ried Mary Super, a native of Switzerland, who came to America with her parents, the family settling at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa. To this union were born six children, four sons and two daughters, namely : John T .; Fannie, now the widow of T. B. Zulick, residing at Orwigsburg, Pa .; Lillie, who married Dr. Harry Fegley and resided at Ashland, Pa. (both are deceased) ; George, who was killed on the railroad at Port Carbon when fifteen years old; Frank E., of Shamokin, Pa .; and Howell F., of Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
John T. Shoener was born April 5, 1850, in South Manheim township, Schuylkill county, and attended the public schools of Orwigsburg until thirteen years old. Removing with his uncle to Hennepin, Putnam Co., Ill., at that time, he attended the Hennepin high school for three years, and having qualified began teaching school, being so engaged for one term in Illinois and for five terms in his native county. Thereafter he turned his attention to business, in 1873 commencing the manufacture of brick, at a location between Port Carbon and St. Clair. When the Orwigsburg Shoe Manufacturing Company was organized that year Mr. Shoener became secretary, and thus has the distinction of being associated with the first shoe factory started in the borough. The business was established in what was formerly the courthouse. Besides acting as secretary Mr. Shoener represented the firm on the road until 1878, in which year he and George H. Bickley organized the Bickley Shoe Company, Mr. Shoener retaining his connection with that concern until July, 1893. After that he engaged as a wholesale dealer in boots and shoes, and though much of
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his time during that period was necessarily given to public affairs, he was thor- oughly successful in his business ventures. Mr. Shoener is now engaged in the manufacture of brooms at Orwigsburg, which he commenced in 1912.
Mr. Shoener has been in public life from early manhood. In 1878 he was elected to the State Legislature as representative from the Third district of Schuylkill county, and though a Republican won the election by 183 votes in spite of the fact that the district was strongly Democratic, by about one thousand majority. He served his term with the utmost fidelity to the interests of the people, and there is one very special reminder of his services in Schuyl- kill county, the Miners' Hospital at Ashland. At the time of its establishment this was the only institution of its kind in the world, having been provided especially for the persons injured in the coal regions, and it was unique in that it was supported by the State entirely, and designed solely for the laboring class. Mr. Shoener had the honor of introducing the measure providing for this hospital, and if he had nothing else in the way of public service to his credit his efforts in its behalf would entitle him to the gratitude of his fellow citizens. At the close of his term Mr. Shoener was renominated in 1880, but was defeated. In 1886 he was unanimously nominated on the Republican ticket for representative from the Thirtieth Senatorial district in the State Senate, and though defeated drew a most flattering vote, losing the election by only seventy-three votes in a district ordinarily Democratic by 2,500 majority ; had it not been for the division of votes caused by the support given to the Prohibition candidate, he would have been the victor in this contest. His popu- larity again made him a candidate in 1890, when he was nominated for repre- sentative in Congress from the Thirteenth Congressional district, and again, though defeated, he ran far ahead of his ticket, his opponent winning by 1,480 votes, although the Democratic candidate for governor on the same ticket had a majority of 4,400 votes. In 1894 he became State sergeant at arms at Harrisburg, and served for one session. In local affairs he has always been very influential, and his services and advice have been frequently sought. In 1896 he was elected clerk of the courts of Schuylkill county, serving two suc- cessive terms of three years each. He has been a member of the borough council and chief burgess of Orwigsburg, and also member of the school board, in all these positions exerting himself to conserve the best interests of the municipality and further progress in the administration of its affairs. In 1900 he was the chairman of the Republican party in Schuylkill county. Mr. Shoener has long been a prominent member of the Schuylkill County Agricul- tural Society, and for twenty years was the executive head of that body. He has numerous social connections, being a member (and past president) of Camp No. 86, P. O. S. of A., which he joined in 1867; of Schuylkill Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M., which he has served as treasurer ; of Mountain City Chapter. No. 196, R. A. M .; Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T .: Industrial Coun- cil, No. 437, Jr. O. U. A. M .; and the Improved Order of Red Men.
On June 22, 1875, Mr. Shoener married Ida E. Miller, daughter of Abra- ham Miller, of Trappe, Montgomery Co., Pa., and they have had a family of three children : Walter D., who died when thirty-one years old; Edna M., well known as an elocutionist ; and John Ralph, at home.
GEORGE WISHART BUTZ, of Schuylkill Haven, is at present engaged in business in that borough as proprietor of the general store formerly con- ducted by his father, and also follows his profession, civil engineering. He is
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connected with the administration of local affairs as civil engineer, and as such has done good work for the town. Mr. Butz belongs to a very old Penn- sylvania family, settled from the carly part of the eighteenth century in Berks county, the first of his line to come to Schuylkill county being his grandfather, Nathan Butz.
Among the relics owned by this old and honored family of Berks county is a Bible, in excellent condition, now in the possession of Mrs. Fianna ( Butz) Bertolet, who has willed it to her son, Dr. M. L. Bertolet, of Mount Penn, Pa. This Bible was brought to America by (1) John Butz, who in 1737 landed at Philadelphia with his two children, Peter and Catharine. John Butz came to this country from Hertzogberg, near Kromanenberg, in the lower part of Bavaria. He died Feb. 23, 1750, in Philadelphia.
(II) This same old Bible shows that Peter Butz ( son of John ) was married Oct. 22, 1743, to Anna Barbara Carl, who was born in Hessen-Nassau, Ger- many, and they had these children: Mary, born in 1744; Caroline, in 1746; John, in 1747; Samuel, in 1750; Peter, in 1754; Elizabeth, in 1758; and Anna, in 1761. Peter Butz died in 1780, aged sixty-one years, eight months, twenty- five days. His wife died March 6, 1795, aged seventy-six years, four months.
(III) Samuel Butz, son of Peter, was born in Longswamp township, Berks county, Aug. 10, 1750. By occupation he was a blacksmith and farmer. On Dec. 13, 1774, he married Anna Mary Romig, born May 31, 1754, died Feb. 21, 1813, and they had children : Peter, born Oct. 29, 1775; Catharine, March 25, 1777 ; John, April 27, 1779; Susanna, March 6, 1781 ; Esther, Dec. 29, 1783 ; Elizabeth, Nov. 28, 1788 (died Oct. 31, 1791) ; Mary, April 5, 1793. Samuel Butz died in Longswamp township Aug. 17, 1821, aged seventy-one years, seven days:
(IV) John Butz, son of Samuel, was born April 27, 1779, and died Aug. 19, 1874, aged ninety-five years, three months, twenty-two days. The place of his birth was the same as that of his father, the homestead in Longswamp town- ship, and he followed blacksmithing and farming at the same shop and farm as his father had. Later he removed to Oley township, where he died and is buried. In 1806 he married Anna Yeager (sister of Jacob, the well known ironmaster of Berks county ; the name is also translated, to Hunter), of Oley township, who died Aug. 24, 1828, aged forty years, eight months, fourteen days, and they had eight children, but only three grew to any age: Nathan, Jacob (died in Oley), and Anna Maria (married James Butz). Charles died young. In 1828 the Butz family Bible came into the hands of John Butz, who highly cherished it. This very valuable volume was printed in 1704, and it is in an excellent state of preservation. It contains the family records, and is of great value.
(V) Nathan Butz, son of John, was born in December, 1806, on the old homestead in Longswamp township, Berks county, and followed farming, starting on the old homestead. After his marriage he bought a farm in Lehigh county, Pa., in 1829, near Alburtis, cultivated that place for many years, and in 1849 moved to Schuylkill Haven, where he built the well known "Spring Garden Hotel" that year. He conducted this hotel until 1869, when he sold it and resumed farming. Later he bought the Nagel mill at Cressona, which he operated for a period of four years. Thereafter he lived retired until his death, in 1886, when he was seventy-nine years old. He is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. . His wife, Leanda ( Haas), was born in 1809,
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daughter of Jonathan Haas. They had children as follows: Jonathan H .; Samuel, deceased; Marietta, who married Henry Bowman; Angeline, who married B. F. Lessig; Elizabeth, who married Jeremiah Kline; Elvina, who married Henry A. Zimmerman; James A., living at Cressona ; Tillie A., who died unmarried; John, now constable of Schuylkill Haven; and Emma, who married L. W. Kern.
(VI) Jonathan H. Butz was born in Lehigh county, Pa., Nov. 25, 1829, and lived on the farm until eighteen years old. Then he began clerking for Henry Lou, near Kutztown, Berks county, remaining with him a short time. From there he went to Lobachsville, same county, where he clerked for six years, at the end of that time coming to Schuylkill county, in 1855. After assisting his father at the hotel he engaged in the general mercantile business on his own account, so successfully that he continued it for fifty-one years, until he sold out to his son George in 1911. The latter has carried it on to the present.
Mr. Butz has been very active in borough affairs as well as diligent in busi- ness. In 1870 he was elected justice of the peace, and filled that position con- tinuously until 1911. For twenty-seven years he was a member of the school board, and has acted as president and secretary of that body. For two terms he was a member of the borough council, and in every office has discharged his duties with conscientious regard for his responsibilities. Politically he is a Democrat. As trustee, elder and deacon of the First Reformed Church Mr. Butz has been one of its most valuable members.
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