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 5
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Judge Koch's activities have not been confined to the law. During the years 1896 and 1897 he was president and general manager of the company operating the local trolley road, but relinquished this position in January, 1898, because of his judicial duties. It was during his administration that the line to Schuyl- kill Haven was built. He opened that road on the same day that he took his oath of office as judge, the 11th of October, 1897. For several years he was president of the Rapid Transit Company and of the Lookout Mountain Inclined Plane at Chattanooga, Tenn. He was the first president and general manager of the Cumberland & Westernport Electric Railway Company, and still con- tinues one of its board of directors. He was also for a time connected with the Wilmington and New Castle trolley line. He financed the building of the Shamokin Extension Electric Railway, of which company he is the president. He was also president of the Danville & Bloomsburg Street Railway Company until its acquisition by another company.
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COL. NICHOLAS SEITZINGER founded a family in Schuylkill county whose members were among the most potent forces for progress in the early days, and some of his posterity continue to reside here, ready to aid in every good cause and ranking with the most intelligent citizenship of the present as those of the race have always done.
Colonel Seitzinger was born in Reading, Berks Co., Pa. He had two brothers, Michael and Alexander, the latter dying unmarried. Nicholas Seitzinger imarried Barbara Setley, who died at Reading, after which the Colonel settled at what is now Fountain Springs, in Schuylkill county, Pa. He died there in 1835. He gave the land for the burial ground at that place and is interred there. His family consisted of eight sons and one daughter, namely: (I) Nicholas, who died at Reading, Pa., married Catharine Reese, and among their children were Alfred, Charles, Jacob, Harry, Amelia and Emma. (2) John, who died at Reading, married a Mrs. Brumm and had children: Henry, John, Amos, Rebecca and Sarah. (3) Daniel, who died in Iowa, married Mary Bean, and they became the parents of Edward, William, Jacob, Frank, Rebecca, Hester, Lavina, Heber, Mary and Jane. (4) Henry died at Pottsville. (5) Jacob is next in the line of descent, mentioned below. (6) Samuel, who died at Port Carbon, this county, married Anna Louisa Dreibelbis and (second) Hannah Reed. To the first union were born Charles, Augustus and Caroline. By the second there were Jeremiah, Samuel, Thomas, Charity Ann, Eliza, Matilda, and another whose name is not known. (7) Peter, who died at Fountain Springs, this county, married Catharine Shelly, by whom he had Joseph S., Charles L., Emmanuel, Peter W., Henry, Amanda, Barbara, Alice and Catharine. (8) George, born Jan. 8, 1781, died at Fountain Springs, April 1, 1862. He married Catharine Kantner, who was born May 13, 1777, and died June 29, 1860, and they had a family of nine children : Nicholas K., Peter K., William (born June 28, 1805, died July 21, 1851 ; his wife, Maria, born May 13, 1809, died June 5, 1890, and their son Erastus, born Sept. 17, 1829, died June 22, 1868), George, Harriet, Maria, Kittie, Barbara and Eliza. (9) Catharine married William Scott, and had the following family: William, John, James, Samuel, Barbara, Betsy and Catharine. James went West, to California.
Jacob Seitzinger, son of Nicholas, was one of the prominent business men of Pottsville in the early days, settling there in 1816. He was one of the leading capitalists of his day, conducted a sawmill, tannery and brickyard, making the first brick in this section, and built the first brick house in Potts- ville. His progressive spirit drew him into many of the most ambitious under- takings of his time. He was one of the organizers of the old Miners' National Bank at Pottsville, and was its first notary. He was one of the owners of Penn Hall, built and owned the "Exchange" hotel, and also erected the old "Mortimer House." The only public position he held was that of justice of the peace. Few men of the borough were more intimately associated with its interests for the quarter of a century he resided there.
Mr. Seitzinger married Elizabeth Moyer, daughter of George Moyer, and she survived him many years, his death occurring at Pottsville, May 23, 1844, hers in 1888, at the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Hippel, in Kansas. Eight children were born to this union: Jeremiah was a resident of Potts- ville, but his death occurred in Denver, Colo .; Susanna married Joseph Kitchen, but had no children; Israel, who died at Gordon, Pa., married Mar- garet Heebner, of Port Carbon, who continued to make her home at Gordon
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after his death (they had three children, John L., James and William) ; Isa- bella married Robert N. Palmer, of Pottsville; Lizzie married Washington Bigler ; Sarah married J. K. Fernsler ; Annetta married Joseph M. Schuyler ; Adelia married Charles D. Hippel and (second) Henry Streiff, and now lives in Effingham, Kansas.
JOSEPH M. SCHUYLER was a native of Northumberland county, Pa .. and settled at Pottsville, where he engaged in the manufacture of screens, follow- ing that business for many years. In his early manhood he taught school in his native county. His death occurred in Pottsville in 1880. His wife, Annetta (Seitzinger), died in 1911, and they are buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Pottsville. Their family consisted of three children: Joseph M., deceased ; Elmer, who lives at Pottsville; and Mary' Isabella, also of Potts- ville, who is an active worker in all movements intended for the social and material betterment of the community, and highly esteemed among her neigh- bors and friends.
An interesting paper read before the Schuylkill County Historical Society Dec. 27, 1911, by Miss Elizabeth Eastman, contains so many items portraying life in Pottsville in the early days, and so much concerning the Seitzingers which should find a permanent place in their records, that we append most of it here:
"Annetta Seitzinger was born in September, 1828, and died in August, 191I, so that her life covered almost the entire period of the history of Potts- ville. Her wonderfully keen and accurate memory was a treasure house of facts about the local history of the town, and even in her old age she retained this vivid recollection of persons, places and incidents of the old days. She was born in a house which stood where the Exchange Hotel now stands. When she was only six weeks of age the family moved into what is now the Spicker building, afterwards used as the post office. The lower floor of this building was then occupied by Trego & Leib, dealing in dry goods and groceries. Mr. Seitzinger began the building of the Exchange Hotel, which he con- pleted in 1829. He was a contractor and builder, and built many houses in Pottsville, some of which are now standing. Mrs. Schuyler (nee Seitzinger) said that her first clear recollection was of the farm at Bull's Head, which belonged to her father at that time, being part of the Seitzinger coal tract. She was taken out there with her mother, who was bringing dinner to the men working on the farm, and she remembered-as children often do remember little things-that each man was given a small rice pudding of his own.
"In those days the citizens of Pottsville lived closer to the wild life of the woods than we do today. One time Mrs. Seitzinger went out to the old Turnpike road in the afternoon to visit her friend, Mrs. Starr, and liad to remain all night, because the wolves made it dangerous for her to come home. At another time Mrs. Schuyler's brother came into the house saying that there was a sort of cow on the street near their gate. It proved to be a deer running along on Centre street, and it soon was driven back up Sharp Mountain.
"The Seitzinger family came to Pottsville in 1816 and lived first on the site of the Merchants' bank, then on Union street opposite the old depot in a house which has now been moved back into the alley. Mr. Seitzinger had a brickyard where the Coal and Iron Company shops are now. He built the
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Hause building with brick which he had manufactured himself, and brought the workmen from Reading. It was the first brick building in Pottsville.
"In a building on the site of the old Coal and Iron building on Centre street was a parochial school, kept by the Sisters of St. Anne, an Order that came here from Reading in 1837. There Mrs. Schuyler went to school. Although called the convent, this school never was a convent in the strict sense of the word. There never has been a convent in Pottsville, as there has not been a training school for novitiates here. In 1840 the present school building at the corner of Seventh and Mahantongo streets was erected, and the school moved there. So it occupied the Centre street building for only three years. This had a free and pay department both, and music and embroi- dery, as well as common branches, were taught. When Annetta Seitzinger was there, she embroidered a large and elaborate sampler, still in the possession of the family. The young student of embroidery did not lack ambition, for one of the most popular designs was 'The Last Supper,' a large and ambitious work, containing twelve figures, and involving a vast amount of painstaking effort. But we must not conclude that only these more feminine arts occupied the time of these little pupils at the convent so many years ago. Science was also included in the curriculum, and here, in a pink muslin cover, is a little volume inscribed on the fly leaf, 'Annetta Seitzinger's Book, Feb. 21st, 1839. This is First Lessons in Natural Philosophy for Children, by Miss Mary A. Swift. principal of the Litchfield Female Seminary, Second Edition, published in Hartford, by Belknap and Hamersly, in 1837.' The arrangement of the book would seem curious to us to-day. The first twelve chapters cover the following subjects : solids and fluids, elasticity, motion, attraction and gravi- tation, the lever, wheel and axle, inclined plane, wedge, screw, pulley, motive power and friction, and curious clocks. The chapter on natural forces con- tains the Biblical story of Samson. Then come several chapters on physical geography, about lakes and springs. In one chapter is an account of the Dead Sea, with the statement that it was caused by the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then comes a chapter on specific gravity, and the barometer, section, sound, light and heat. The language is very simple and the lessons are all given in the form of question and answer. Another school book was colled 'The Young Ladies' Class Book,' a selection of lessons for reading in prose and verse, by Ebenezer Bailey, principal of the Young Ladies' High School in Boston, published by Gould, Kendall and Lincoln, in Boston in 1840. Some of the subjects of these readings present a striking contrast to readings for children at the present time. One is 'On the relative Value of Good Sense and the Beauty in the Female Sex,' from an English paper-The Literary Gazette. It concludes with this ornate paragraph: 'The favored child of nature, who combines in herself these united perfections, may be justly con- sidered as the masterpiece of the creation; as the most perfect image of the Divinity here below. Man, the proud lord of creation, bows willingly his haughty neck beneath hier gentle rule. Exalted. tender, beneficient is the love that she inspires. Even time himself shall respect the all-powerful magic of her beauty. Her charms may fade, but they shall never wither and memory still, in the evening of life, hanging with foul affection over the blanched rose, shall view, through the vale of lapsed years the tender bud, the dawning promise, whose beauty once blushed before the beams of the morning sun.'
"In 1841 Mr. John M. Crosland and Mr. John T. Hazzard arranged for a funeral pageant to take place in Pottsville at the time of the funeral of Presi-
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dent William Henry Harrison, on April IIth. Each State in the Union was represented by a young girl. Elizabeth Seitzinger (now Mrs. Bigler) repre- sented the Goddess of Liberty, and the subject of this paper, Annetta Seit- zinger, represented the State of Georgia."
Here follows the account of the pageant published in the Pottsville Empo- rium of May 1, 1841, from which we quote a couple of paragraphs of special interest in this connection.
"The Field and Staff Officers of the 30th Regiment P. M. looked unusually well, but their appearance was entirely eclipsed by the next body in the procession. They consisted of 32 young ladies, from the age of 8 to 16 years-the eldest representing the Genius of Liberty, the whole Union! while 26 represented the several states, one the District of Columbia, and four the Northwestern, Florida. Oregon and Iowa Territories.
"We do not flatter ourselves with the idea of doing justice to this interest- ing part of the procession, but we should be wanting in common justice and the parental feeling of our nature, were we to omit the acknowledgment of our thanks to those who were instrumental in its accomplishment, and our heartfelt satisfaction at the beauty, correct deportment and interesting appear- ance of the young daughters of our republic.
"The representative of our free and happy land deserves the most flat- tering encomiums of our citizens, for her maidenly reserve, her dignified deportment, and her able representation of the character throughout; which, with the appearance of the representative of New York and Pennsylvania on either side, in support of her, put all doubts of propriety and beautiful effect to flight.
"The representative of Ohio was in deep mourning, supported by Massa- chusetts and Kentucky. Next came Virginia and Maryland, with their little relative, the District of Columbia. The remainder of this interesting retinue followed, two and two, each bearing a small blue silk banner with the State designated in gilt letters. All were apparelled in white dresses with black caps and black crepe veils, and never have we seen a better behaved or more interesting assemblage in our mortal career. We expect to carry this impres- sion with us to our graves ; and while it is a source of proud satisfaction to the youthful hearts engaged in it, it leaves a lasting impress upon the reflective mind, of more value than all the idle pageantry attending the ceremonials of royalty.
"Each girl who took part in the procession was given a certificate bearing the following words: 'Reward of Merit. The Committee of Arrangements appointed by the Citizens of Schuylkill County to arrange the Funeral Pro- cession in honor of the memory of the late President of the United States, William Henry Harrison, on the 26th of April, 1841, hereby tender their unfeigned thanks to the parents and relatives of Miss Annetta Seitzinger, who on that occasion, represented the State of Georgia in the procession, and this memorial is presented as a token of respect to the young lady for her deserved merit on that occasion .- John M. Crosland, Chairman of Committee; Jno. T. Hazzard, Secretary.'
"Mrs. Schuyler attended the Presbyterian Church, which stood where Mrs. A. M. Foster's house now stands, on Market street. The Rev. Joseph McCool was the first pastor of the church in her recollection, and a Mr. Swift was superintendent of the Sunday school. Miss Mary Moorehead was her Sunday school teacher, and Mary Beck, Mary McCool, and Tilly Beatty were
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in the class. Every Fourth of July the Sunday school went up to Agricultural Park, heard the Declaration of Independence read and were served with lemon- ade. Mrs. Schuyler's mother used to come on horseback to attend a little red church, a Lutheran Church, which stood near where Colonel Hyde's house is now. This was before 1816. Mrs. Schuyler was a member of the Presby- terian choir, and others she remembered as fellow singers were Miss Mary Beck, Miss Mary McCool, and Mr. and Mrs. Gore. Mr. Gore played the flute and Mr. John Little was the leader of the choir.
"Among her memories of war times in Pottsville, Mrs. Schuyler recalled a song written by Mr. Crosland when the soldiers in the Mexican war returned home. It began 'When the war clouds were rising, sweet peace fled away,' and was sung to the tune of 'Home, Sweet Home.' An ox-roast was held in Market Square on the occasion of the soldiers' return.
"The social life of the early days was simpler than that of the present time. However, assemblies were held from time to time in the old Mansion House at Mount Carbon, and then in the old Town Hall. The singing school and the old Philharmonic Society existed for many years, and did much for the cultivation of music in the community. As to the drama, Mrs. Schuyler remembered attending a performance of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' in the room above the 'Pottsville House,' kept by Edward O'Connor, at the corner of Centre and Mahantongo streets, several years before the war. And at another time she saw 'Romeo and Juliet' performed there. Memories such as these help us materially in framing a picture of life in the early days of Pottsville, and it seems wise to write them down while they are accessible."
PETER C. DETWILER, D. D. S., the oldest living dentist in Schuylkill Haven, has been a resident of that borough since 1856, and though now in his eighty-second year is still practicing. His professional skill combined with conscientious work and honest advice to his patrons earned him a reputation years ago, and his wonderful vitality, enabling him to continue his career long beyond the ordinary limits, has made him a notable figure in the profession, as popular as he is widely known.
Dr. Detwiler is descended from Swiss ancestors who long ago established the family in America, the emigrant coming from Duefelt, Switzerland. Jacob Detwiler, grandfather of Dr. Detwiler, lived near Kutztown, in Berks county. Pa. By occupation he was a carpenter. He married Maria Rothermel, mem- ber of an old and prominent family of that county, and their children were: Daniel, John, Charles and Maria (who married and moved West). Jacob Detwiler died when fifty-six years old.
Charles Detwiler, son of Jacob, was born in Kutztown, Berks county, in 1805, and passed all his life there, dying in 1889. Like his father he followed the trade of carpenter. He took an interest in the local welfare, particularly in support of the public school system, which in his day was in great disfavor among most of the residents of this region. For a number of years he held the position of school director in Rockland township. Originally a Democrat in politics, he became a Republican at the time of the Civil war. He was long a member of the Reformed Church, and a hearty worker in the promotion of its various enterprises, giving liberally of both time and means to maintain them. Mr. Detwiler married Catherine Christman, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Barto) Christman, and they had a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, namely: Isaac C., deceased, graduated from the
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Hahnemann College, Philadelphia, and was long a successful practitioner at Reading, Pa .; William C., who died at Easton, Pa., had followed the dentist's profession there for many years; Peter C. is mentioned below : Isabella, now living at Reading, Pa., is the widow of William Eckert, who was timekeeper in the Philadelphia & Reading shops there; Rosalind is the widow of John Sell, of Philadelphia, where she now lives; Charles C. entered the Civil war for the Union service, and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, dying from the effects of his injuries in the Chestnut Hill hospital, Philadelphia ; Benjamin died when three years old; Washington C. graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and practiced his profession at Reading, Pa., until his death, July 6, 1884, he and his brother Aaron being drowned at the same time; Aaron C. was also a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, and practiced at Reading, Pennsylvania.
Peter C. Detwiler was born July 23, 1833, at Kutztown, and received his early education in the public schools of that borough and at Reading. In his youth and young manhood he was employed at farm and carpenter work. When twenty-one years old he commenced to study dentistry, to which pro- fession his life has since been devoted. Coming to Schuylkill Haven in Octo- ber, 1856, he has resided there ever since, and his extensive popularity is shown in the loyal patronage of many of his patients, who still rely upon him for professional services. Dr. Detwiler has also been quite successful in his business ventures, having owned several ice dams in the vicinity of Schuylkill Haven, from which a large part of the trade in the borough has been supplied. As a citizen he has been one of the most useful members of the borough, his work as a member of the council and on the school board being highly appre- ciated by those who have had the best opportunity of judging its value. All local measures for the general good have had his sympathy and support. He has been a member of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ for many years, and its enterprises as well as the broader religious movements have had the benefit of his financial and moral support. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Page Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; he also joined Mountain City Chapter, No. 196, R. A. M., of Pottsville, and was elected for membership in the commandery, but never took the degrees. He was originally a Republican in politics, but now supports the Prohibition party.
Dr. Detwiler married Rebecca Bowen, daughter of Samuel Bowen, and of the six children born to this union but one, Samuel B., survives. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Dental College, and in practice with his father at Schuylkill Haven. He married Gussie Saylor, and they have two children, Charles and Bessie. Mrs. Rebecca Detwiler died in March, 1875, and the Doctor subsequently married Lucetta Horn, daughter of Jonathan Horn. Seven children have been born to this marriage, of whom one is deceased. Of the survivors, Aaron H. is a physician in successful practice at Schuylkill Haven ; George H., a lawyer, is located in Philadelphia; Maria is a nurse in the navy ; Lulu, formerly engaged as a nurse, is now the wife of Capt. James Goethe, of the United States army, now stationed in Texas, where he is also paymaster and land agent for the government ; Mark is engaged in the butcher business at Schuylkill Haven; Ruth is a trained nurse.
WILLIAM LESLEY SHEAFER, son of Peter W. and Harriet N. Sheafer, was born Feb. 19, 1859, at Pottsville, Pa. He was educated in the
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private and public schools of Pottsville, graduating from the high school in 1874. He then entered Lafayette College, and was graduated in 1878. For the rest of his life he served as permanent secretary of his class. Later he returned to college for a postgraduate course, and at the end of one year received the degree of Master of Science. Upon his return to Pottsville he received his introduction to business life in the office of his father, with whom he was associated until the elder man's death, in 1891. He then became one of the executors of the estate and continued to act in that capacity until his own death. A man of wide business ability, his cool, clear and farseeing judgment made him a most valuable acquisition to any extensive enterprise, not alone in its formation, but also after its organization. While he was largely engrossed in financial matters, as a director and second vice president of the Safe Deposit Bank of Pottsville and in great business interests in behalf of the estate and privately, he at all times found leisure to devote to the welfare of his city, its public life, its churches, its schools and its charities. He served as a member of the council from the Second ward for two terms, and during part of that time was president of that body. As chairman of the highway committee he was an able pioneer in the good roads movement in Pottsville. He was very prominent in the organization of the Taxpayers' Association of Schuylkill County, serving as executive officer thereof until 1912, when forced to retire on account of ill health. When an emergency hospital was established at Mount Carbon during an epidemic of typhoid fever in 1894, he took a very active part in the enterprise, and continued his interest in such matters when the Pottsville Hospital was founded in the following year. The welfare and progress of this institution were very close to his heart, and as a member of the board of managers and its secretary for eighteen years he was untiring in his devotion to its administration and devel- opment. Mr. Sheafer was a trustee of Lafayette College for almost twenty years and at one time served as president of the Alumni Association. For many years he was a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and other scientific and economic societies. Mr. Sheafer died at his home, No. 430 South Centre street, Pottsville, April 24, 1913, after a long and brave battle with an illness that baffled the best medical skill. His death was a severe loss to the community, in the regard of which he held high place.
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