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 57
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On April 2, 1906, Mr. Wallauer married (second) M. Margaret Eisinger, a native of Ashland, whose parents, Jacob and Catherine (Aichelen) Eisinger, were born in Germany, and came to America in 1854. The father died in January, 1905, the mother yet surviving. Mr. Eisinger was a wheelwright, and after following his trade for some time carried on a meat market at
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Ashland for many years, retiring from business some time before his death. He served the borough as member of the council.
In the course of his forty odd years as a merchant at Ashland Mr. Wal- lauer has built up a profitable trade and become well and favorably known in that place, of which he and his family have been most creditable citizens. He was reared in the faith of the German Reformed Church.
JOHN S. DESILVA, late of Mahanoy City, was one of the most widely known residents of Schuylkill county, maintaining business, social and church connections which drew him into close relation with many of his fellow men. Possessed of practical ability and unusual intelligence, he combined strong qualities of leadership with personal characteristics that won confidence and friendship in all circles, and his name commanded respect wherever known. Mr. DeSilva was born at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Dec. 7, 1838, son of John E. DeSilva. The father was a native of the city of Lisbon, Portugal, and members of the family are well known in South America. John E. DeSilva was a gunman for many years, stationed on board the "Constitution," and saw service in all parts of the world. When he settled in America he lived at Philadelphia for a time, later in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and he died at Ashland, this county.
John S. DeSilva was given a good public school education and then learned the trade of machinist, which he followed for a short time. When yet a young man he became superintendent of coal mines in Schuylkill county, being so engaged in the employ of various independent operators, and when their holdings were bought by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Com- pany he was retained in the same capacity. Mr. DeSilva's shrewd judgment and executive ability were recognized factors in the success of the collieries he supervised, and he had a high reputation throughout the anthracite fields. He continued with the Philadelphia & Reading Company until 1902, after which he served two years as deputy revenue collector in this district, extend- ing his already wide acquaintance in Schuylkill county. He was as well known in other connections as in business. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M., and to Mizpah Chapter, No. 252, R. A. M. He also held membership in the P. O. S. of A. and the G. A. R., taking a very active part in the latter organization as a member of Severn Post, G. A. R., of Mahanoy City, which he served as commander. During the Civil war he fought on the Union side under three enlistments, the first in the three months' service and the second for nine months in the 129th Pennsylvania Regiment. Mr. DeSilva was also prominent in Church and Sunday school work, a leading member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mahanoy City, which he served as elder and trustee, filling both offices at the time of his death, March II, 19II.
In 1871 Mr. DeSilva married Ella Richardson, who survives him, residing in their old home at Mahanoy City, where she is highly respected. Mrs. DeSilva is a daughter of Isaac W. and Sarah (Black) Richardson, both of whom came from England, Mr. Richardson settling at Mahanoy City, Pa., soon after his arrival. Their son, the late Col. W. F. Richardson, became very prominent in military circles in this State, for many years holding the position of keeper at the Harrisburg Arsenal, and at the time of his death he had the rank of colonel in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was a
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thirty-third degree Mason, one of the founders of Zembo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Harrisburg.
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FRANKLIN DAVID BAVER bears a name which has long been asso- ciated with good citizenship and progress in West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, and for a number of generations with the history of Berks county, Pa. He is a son of David Baver and a grandson of Christoph Baver.
Christoph Baver was born Jan. 14, 1777, and died March 5, 1865, after a lifetime devoted to farming and blacksmithing. He is said to have been an excellent mechanic, and to have enjoyed a large trade, the blacksmiths at that time being very scarce and living far apart. He also raised consider- able flax, which was woven into clothing in the winter months by his indus- trious wife. On July 14, 1805, Christoph Baver married Susanna Elizabeth Boyer (born Jan. 6, 1787, died Jan. 25, 1865), and these sturdy pioneers lived together for the unusual period of fifty-nine years, six months, eleven days. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of the following children : Polly, who married Jacob Stitzel; Samuel, who married Lydia Focht ; John, who married Hanna Focht ; David; Elizabeth, who married Jeremiah Focht ; Daniel, born in 1825, who died unmarried in 1849; Joseph, who married Mary Focht; Ann, who married Jacob Miller ; and Amelia, who married Bill Mar- shall. The father was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and in politics adhered to the principles of the Democratic party. He and the mother are buried at Zion's Church in Windsor township, Berks county.
David Baver, son of Christoph, was born in 1823 in Windsor township, Berks county, where he was reared, receiving such education as the local pay schools afforded. Having learned the trade of carpenter, he became a boatbuilder in the employ of the Schuylkill Navigation Company at Han- burg, Pa., and also followed the other branches of his calling, assisting in the construction of a hotel at Tuscarora, Schuylkill county. He bought the farm of seventy acres in West Brunswick township, this county, now owned by Charles Schaeffer, and after living there eleven years rented the George Moser farm for one year, after which he purchased from John Medlar the farm at present owned by his son Franklin David Baver. When it came into his possession it consisted of 160 acres, but he sold part of the property, retaining 125 acres, now practically all under cultivation. He carried on general farm- ing, and was one of the industrious and prosperous agriculturists of the neigh- borhood in his day. A man of active disposition and foresight, he was one of the first to advocate the establishment of public schools in the township, and he served twenty years or more as a member of the board of school directors, filling the office until his death, which occurred Feb. 18, 1888, in West Brunswick township. In political faith he was a Democrat, in religious connection a member of Zion's Reformed Church (the Red Church) in his township, and he was serving that body in the capacity of elder at the time of his death. As a member of the building committee he helped to rebuild the present house of worship of that church. He and his wife are buried there. Mr. Baver married Mary Miller, who was born in 1823, daughter of Daniel Miller, a native of Berks county, and died at the age of seventy-six years. They had the following children: Saria, who married H. J. Wagner : Emma, Mrs. J. R. Stevens; Cordelia, who died unmarried ; Ellen, unmarried ; Mary Cordelia, now the widow of Charles Mengle; Sarah J., unmarried; Allen
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Albert, who married Serena Smith; Franklin David; and Annie, Mrs. Horace Stroah.
Franklin David Baver was born May 8, 1861, on the farm in West Bruns- wick township now owned by Charles Schaeffer, and obtained his education in the Molino school near by. He was trained to agriculture from boyhood, working on the home place for his father up to the age of twenty-six years, at which time his father died. Thereafter he operated the farm for the estate four years, and then upon his marriage bought the property, where he has since continued to reside. He does general farming. Mr. Baver has prospered by dint of industry and good management, and has contributed his share to the general advancement by looking well to the improvement and development of his land, setting a worthy example by his faithfulness to every duty. He has been quite active in township affairs, having succeeded his father as school director and still continuing to serve on the board, of which he was treasurer for eighteen years or more; he has acted as judge and inspector of election, and also as auditor of the township, and has discharged his responsi- bilities intelligently in every position. In politics he acts with the Democratic party. He has been a deacon of the Reformed congregation of Zion's (Red) Church, to which his wife also belongs.
Mr. Baver married Catherine Kramer, who was born Dec. 16, 1866, in East Brunswick township, this county, on the farm now owned by Charles Koch, was educated in West Brunswick township, and was engaged as a seamstress until her marriage. Eight children have been born to this union : Vernon David, born Jan. 2, 1892, was educated in West Brunswick township and at the Keystone State Normal School. Kutztown, and has been a school teacher; Clinton Mendon, born March 10, 1894, was educated in West Bruns- wick township and at the Keystone State Normal School, and is now engaged in teaching; Mary Amelia, born May 26, 1896, died Oct. 20, 1897; Annie May, born May 22, 1898, died Aug. 25, 1906; Herbert Franklin was born Oct. 10, 1900; Raymond Theodore, March 8, 1003 ; Charles Lewis, Oct. 31, 1904; Allen Albert, July 29, 1909. The younger children are attending the local public schools. Mary Amelia and Annie May are buried at Zion's Church.
Joseph Kramer, grandfather of Mrs. Baver, was a carpenter by trade, and he also had a farm in West Brunswick township, the property now owned by Samuel Dreher. He followed general farming, and manufactured rakes and other farm implements, being a competent mechanic. He died on the place mentioned, when over seventy years old, and his wife Christianne (Albright), survived him many years, living to the age of ninety-one. They are buried in the cemetery of St. John's Reformed Church at Orwigsburg. He was an elder of the Reformed congregation of Zion's Church, and lived up to the faith he professed in his relations with all his fellow men, by whom he was thoroughly respected. Politically he was a Republican. His children were: Elijah, of West Brunswick township, who married Phoebe Bock (she is deceased) ; Mendon; Isabella, who was to have been married to Joseph Kim- mel and died on her wedding day; and Joseph, of West Brunswick township, who married Catherine Kock (she is deceased).
Mendon Kramer, son of Joseph, was born Dec. 26, 1843, at the place in West Brunswick township where Samuel Dreher now lives, and died July 8, 1914. He received his education in that township, worked for his father up to the time of his marriage, and then took up farming on his own account, buying a farm of ninety acres from Abraham Sharadin in West Brunswick
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township. There he passed the rest of his life, carrying on general farming, and he became a well known man in his locality, holding the township office of school director, and serving several terms as deacon of the Reformed congregation of Zion's (Red) Church in West Brunswick township. Polit- ically he was a Republican. His wife, Amelia Louisa (Koch), daughter of John and Salome (Fussleman) Koch, died March 8, 1914, aged sixty-nine years, one month, twenty-three days, and they are buried at Zion's Church. They were the parents of seven children: Mrs. Franklin D. Baver; John H., of Allentown, Pa., who married Emma Fussleman; Ida J., wife of Charles F. Fichthorn, of Philadelphia; William H., who also married; Theodore, who married Annie Hill and lives on the homestead farm; Irwin, deceased in infancy ; and Herman, who is an invalid, and lives with his brother Theodore.
SAMUEL S. BAILEY, at present serving his second term as recorder of deeds of Schuylkill county, has been a railroad man most of his life, having rounded out a service of thirty-nine years with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company before he assumed the duties of office. His home is at Frackville.
The Bailey family is of English origin. During the Revolution John Bailey (grandfather of Samuel S. Bailey) and his wife Sarah lived at Spring- field, in Chester county, Pa., where he followed farming. He served in the war with the Colonial troops, and his wife cooked and supplied food for many of the soldiers. Removing to Schuylkill county, he bought a tract of land on Peach mountain, now included within the limits of Pottsville. On this tract, while digging a well, he found coal, the first discovered in Schuyl- kill county. He built a log raft covered with boards, and his son John took it down the Schuylkill river. In time John Bailey, Sr., opened a hotel at Pottsville, where he was one of the pioneer settlers, and he continued to carry it on for many years. Later he bought property on Acker street in Port Carbon, this county, where he lived until his death, in 1846. He was buried at Pottsville, behind the grammar school, in what is now the public park where the John Pott monument stands. Mr. Bailey married Sarah Butler, a native of the North of Ireland, who died in Port Carbon in 1856, reaching the advanced age of one hundred and four years, seven months, five days. They had a family of seven children, Hannah, Betsy, Polly, Rachel, Harrict, Phoebe and John.
John Bailey was born in Chester county, Pa., and came to Schuylkill county with his father. For several years he was engaged in shipping coal to Phila- delphia, being the first man to take coal down the canal from this district, and he came to own a line of canalboats, for many years also carrying on a general mercantile business at his father's homestead in Port Carbon. During the Civil war he boated hay and other feed down to Washington and Baltimore for the government, and his last active work was the shipping of coal down the canal to Philadelphia. He lived retired one year before his death, which occurred July 10, 1879, at Port Carbon, and he is buried in the Presbyterian graveyard there. Mr. Bailey was originally a Democrat in politics, changing later to the Republican party, and always took an interest in public affairs. He served for years as assessor of Port Carbon, and exerted a very appreci- able influence for good in his community. By his marriage to Ann L. Fister he had the following children: William, a resident of Ashland, Schuylkill county, formerly a railroad engineer, married Priscilla Halderman ; John, who
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is engaged in the butcher business at Port Carbon, married Margaret S. Ammon, of Chester county, Pa .; Dillie is the wife of John M. Oren, deputy recorder of Schuylkill county, and they reside at Port Carbon; Samuel S. is mentioned below; Joseph died at the age of twenty-five years; Amanda died at the age of sixteen years; George died when two years old; two children died in infancy ; George Taylor, who married Emma Wetstone, of Mahanoy City, died Dec. 10, 1911, aged sixty years, and is buried at Tamaqua.
Samuel S. Bailey was born at Port Carbon Jan. 10, 1856, and received his education in the schools of that place. His first work was driving mules on the canal, and he was thus engaged for about eight years. He then entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, first as a brake- man, afterwards as fireman, conductor and finally engineer, in which capacity he continued with them for about twenty-two years. His services with this company altogether covered a period of thirty-nine years, during which time he was located at Palo Alto, Tamaqua, Mahanoy Plane and, ultimately, Frack- ville, as convenient to his work.
In 1908 Mr. Bailey was elected to the office of recorder of deeds of Schuyl- kill county, which he has held continuously since, having been reelected in 1911. When he took office he appointed his brother-in-law, John M. Oren, as his deputy. Mr. Bailey's administration of the affairs of this office has been efficient and highly creditable to himself and to the county he serves. Polit- ically he is a Republican. Mr. Bailey was one of the organizers of the Frack- ville-Gilberton Light, Heat & Power Company, and served as a director of that company until the plant was sold to the Eastern Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Other local projects have also had his encouragement and influ- ence. Socially he is well known, holding membership in Anthracite Lodge, No. 285, F. & A. M., of St. Clair; in Council No. 828, Jr. O. U. A. M., of Frackville, and in Division No. 90, Brotherhood of Railroad Engineers of Pottsville. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Bailey married Mary Miller, daughter of George Miller, Sr., of Port Carbon. They have no children.
EDWIN E. WIESNER, M. D., of Mantzville, Schuylkill county, is not only a successful medical practitioner but in various other connections as well a leading citizen of his section, a force for progress whose influence should have a permanent effect on its advancement.
Dr. Wiesner is a native of Pennsylvania, born Oct. 19, 1878, at Stines Corner, in Lynn township, Lehigh county, and is of old Montgomery and Berks county stock. The family has long been settled in this State. History shows that the Woesner, Weasner, Wiessener, Wisner, Wissner, Weisner, Wiesner families in America migrated from Europe in three separate migrations, the first, Johannes (or John) Weasner, coming from Switzerland to Long Island just about two hundred years ago, and very shortly moving to Orange county, N. Y., where a considerable number of his descendants still live. A grandson of this Johannes Weasner, namely, Henry Wisner, was a man of considerable prominence, being a delegate to both of the Continental Congresses, and en- joyed the distinction of being the only man from New York who actually voted for the Declaration of Independence. His name appears in Dwight's Lives of the Signers, and he is also mentioned in Bryant's and Gay's History of the United States, in a footnote on page 484 of Volume III which reads as fol- lows: "Henry Wisner was one of the delegates from New York, and Thomas
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McKean, a delegate from Delaware, declared in several letters, written at dif- ferent times and in subsequent years, that Wisner voted for the Declaration of Independence. But as the vote was taken by colonies his individual vote could not be counted if the rest of the delegates refrained from voting." This Henry Wisner was not present when the Declaration was signed, and therefore his name does not appear among the signers.
The second migration came about fifty years later (1750) and settled in either Bucks or Berks county, Pa. A certain Jacob Wiesner or Weasner, who was the progenitor of this line, in 1758 paid a tax on 100 acres of land. The third migration came in 1800, when seven brothers came and landed at New York. They seem to have scattered pretty well, but two of the brothers' fam- ilies have been traced, Jacob Wisner and Frederick Wisner.
A certain Christian Wisner, who came from Germany to this country in 1850, and who is a' Presbyterian minister in Indianapolis, Ind., tells us that the original spelling was Woesner, and that Wisner is the correct English form of the word. The first branch came from Switzerland, the second and third from Wurtemberg, which is right next to Switzerland. There seems but little doubt that all three emigrations are remotely related. The name itself seems to have meant "dwellers on the meadows," which must have been at one time a sort of tribe name. It is to this second migration that we trace a certain George Wiessener, who came on the snow "Catherine," Captain Gladman, and arrived in Philadelphia May 28, 1742. Leonard, Martin and Heinrich, the latter the Doctor's great-grandfather, were three of George Wiessener's sons. In 1769, in Philadelphia county, lived George Wiessener, who owned 160 acres of land, and Leonard, who paid a proprietary tax on 100 acres of land. John Weisner (as the Doctor's early ancestors spelled the name) was a ranger of the frontier from Northampton county, Pa., between 1778 and 1783, in John McClelland's company. One Godfrey Weisner lived in Lehigh county in 1829, aged seventy-four years ; he was a pensioned soldier of the Revolutionary war. In 1744, in Philadelphia county, lived David Weisner, who owned 100 acres of land, and is said to have been a pioneer of the family now located about Pottstown, Pa. In 1783 the Thomas Weisner estate was assessed in Falls township, Berks Co., Pa. In 1786 one Matthias Wesner was assessed from Lower Makefield township, Berks county.
Heinrich Weisner, the Doctor's great-grandfather, lived in Douglass town- ship, Montgomery county. He was an undertaker and farmer, and died in 1809 aged about thirty-seven years. He is buried at the Swamp Church, in Montgomery county, and his wife, Catharine ( Yerger), is buried at Huff's Church. She married for her second husband John Laub. To Heinrich and Catharine Weisner were born children as follows: George, located in North- umberland county, Pa .; Amos, located about Danville, Pa .; Lydia, married to George Reichard; Rachel, married to Ezra Yergy ; Rebecca, married to Charles Wagonhorst; Henry, who died young; Jonas, married to Sallie Dietrich ; Samuel (died in Montgomery county, aged fifty-nine years), married to Sarah Smith, of Montgomery county, and had Catharine (who is blind, and lives at Pottstown), Matthias (of Pottstown) and Mary (married John Wanner, of the Trappe).
Jonas Weisner, son of Heinrich, was born in Douglass township, Mont- gomery Co., Pa., Dec. 15, 1806, and before his marriage located in Green- wich township, Berks county. Here he was married to Sallie Dietrich, daugh- ter of Michael Dietrich. She was born Jan. 6, 1810, and died Jan. 25, 1895. Vol. I-25
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Jonas Weisner was a lifelong prosperous farmer, and for many years operated the Weisner farm at Round Top, which consisted of more than 120 acres. He was a shoemaker by trade, and made his own shoes and those for his family. He died Jan. 24, 1892. To him and his wife were born the following children : Henry (1833-1906) ; Jonas (1835-1855) ; Mary Ann, married to William Zimmerman; Samuel, married to Mary Schaeffer; Nathan, married to Mary Ann Zimmerman; Willoughby; David, married to Ellen Moyer; and Lydia, married to Alfred Dietrich.
Willoughby Wiesner, father of Dr. Wiesner, was born at Round Top, in Albany township, Berks county, and acquired his education in the local schools. He left home and went to Danville to get business experience and familiarize himself with the English language, and after returning home continued to work on his father's farm until his marriage. Then he worked for his father- in-law until the latter's death, when Mr. Wiesner purchased the farm from the estate, and he still lives there, actively engaged in general farming. His home place comprises about ninety-six acres, situated in Lynn township, Lehigh county, and ninety-two acres of the tract is cleared. Besides this he owns a farm of eighty-two acres in Weisenberg township, same county, of which all but ten acres are cleared; he rents that property. Mr. Wiesner raises general crops, but makes a specialty of potatoes, and he has prospered steadily because of his diligence and thrift. He is a member of the Frieden's Lutheran Church at Wessnersville, and in politics supports the Democratic party. Mr. Wiesner married Amelia Oldt, who was born at Stines Corner, Lehigh county, only child of Elias and Catherine (Snyder) Oldt, the former a native of Greenwich township, Berks county, the latter of Lynn township, Lehigh county. Elias Oldt was a blacksmith, and later bought the farm now owned by Willoughby Wiesner, where he died when nearly eighty years old; his wife died when ninety-one years old. He was a Republican, and a mem- ber of the Frieden's Church at Wessnersville, where he and his wife are buried. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wiesner: Alfred Leo died in infancy ; Edwin E. is next in the family ; Elias G., a dealer in gen- eral merchandise and agricultural implements at Stines Corner, Lehigh county, married Lillie Fisher, and they have three children, Ethel, and Ellis and Violet, twins; Annie M. is living at home.
Edwin E. Wiesner began his education in the public schools of Lynn town- ship, Lehigh county, and during the summer seasons attended the local sub- scription schools. In 1898 he entered the Normal University at Valparaiso, Ind., where he took a course in pharmacy, graduating with the class of 1900. This he followed with a medical course at the Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1903. During his attendance there he was a member of the Roussel Medical Society. He com- menced practice the year of his graduation at New Tripoli, Lehigh Co., Pa., where he remained until his removal to Mantzville, in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, in 1906. Here he has since been established, having a beau- tiful home upon which he has made many improvements, and enjoying the full confidence of his fellow citizens, both in his professional capacity and as a private citizen. He is a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society, Pennsylvania State Medical Society and American Medical Association. Though busy with his chosen work, the Doctor has successfully combined with it activity in business and public affairs, being at present a director of the Tamaqua National Bank and a director and secretary of the Mahoning
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