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 58
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Rural Telephone Company; township supervisor, for competent service in which position his professional driving gives him many opportunities ; a mem- ber of New Tripoli Grand Council, No. 204, Jr. O. U. A. M., of which he is a past councilor ; member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 1153, I. O. O. F., of Sittler, Pa .; of Norman Commandery, No. 135, A. & I. O. Knights of Malta, Lehighton, Pa .; Wehr Tent, No. 464, Knights of the Maccabees, of Wehr (in West Penn township), this county; and Tamaqua Lodge, No. 238, F. & A. M. His religious connection at present is with St. Peter's Lutheran Church. He was formerly a Sunday school teacher in the Ebenezer Lutheran Church at New Tripoli. On political issues the Doctor is a Democrat.
Dr. Wiesner married Ella D. Seiberling, who was born Oct. 28, 1882, in Hynemansville, Weisenberg township, Lehigh county, where she received her early education, later attending school at Allentown and Philadelphia, Pa. She joined St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, and is now a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church and a member of the Luther League. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Wiesner: Hazel E., born Oct. 30, 1905 ; Ernest E., born Oct. 13, 1907; and Carl S., born Nov. 9, 1909. The chil- dren attend St. Peter's school in West Penn township.
Joshua Seiberling, grandfather of Mrs. Wiesner, lived for many years at Seiberlingville, Lehigh county, conducting the "Seiberlingville Hotel" and a general store; he also operated his farm of 150 acres, retiring some years be- fore his death, which occurred at the home of his daughter, Mary (Mrs. Wil- liam Grosscup), at Germanville, Lehigh county, when he was eighty-two years old. His wife, Catherine (Moser), died also when eighty-two years old, and they are buried at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Seiberlingville, of which he was a faithful member. He served a number of years in the official capacity of justice of the peace, was a Democrat in politics, and one of the well known residents of the neighborhood in his day. His children were as follows: Oliver died in the West; Henry, deceased, who was a veteran of the Civil war (his wife was Mollie) ; Fred, who lives at Allentown, Pa., mar- ried Sarah Kline; Joshua W. was the father of Mrs. Wiesner; Mary married William Grosscup and lives at Germanville; Emma married Dr. Willoughby Kistler, of Lehighton, Pa .; Lila is the wife of Edwin Lobach, of Philadel- phia, Pa .; Ida married Lavinus Holben, of Allentown, Pa .; Rosa married Henry Grim, of Coggon, Iowa; three children died young.
Joshua W. Seiberling, M. D., was born July 4, 1847, at Seiberlingville, and there obtained his early education. He prepared for his profession at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, from which institution he was graduated, and commenced practice at Limeport, Lehigh county, where he remained two years. At the end of that period he made a permanent location at Hynemansville, Lehigh county, where he was in practice until his death, March 23, 1911. He is buried at Seiberlingville. Dr. Seiberling was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Seiberlingville and one of the active workers in that organization. Politically he was a Democrat. His first wife, Helena E. (Dillinger), born Jan. 27, 1852, died April 13, 1894, and is buried at St. Paul's Church, Seiberlingville. She was well educated, having attended school at Limeport, Lehigh county, and several terms at Pennington Seminary. Five children were born to this union: Dr. Joseph D., born Sept. 11, 1876, now practicing in Philadelphia, married Edith Allen, and their children are Edith and James; Rev. William J., born Nov. 3, 1877, a Lutheran clergy- man, stationed at Mulberry, Ind., married Jennie Weisser, and their children are
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Ruth, Miriam, Philip, Esther, Anna and Frederick; Ella D., born Oct. 28, 1882, is Mrs. Edwin E. Wiesner; Anna C., born Aug. 12, 1888, a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, of Kutztown, Pa., is a public school teacher in Atlantic City, N. J. ; Lena M. D., born April 5, 1894, a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, is teaching school in West Penn township. For his second wife Dr. Seiberling married Emma Bachman, daughter of Jacob Bachman, both natives of Berks county, Pa. By this marriage there is one child, Ida C., born Jan. 1, 1902, now a student in the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown.
Willoughby Dillinger, father of Mrs. Helena E. Seiberling, was a miller and farmer at Limeport, Lehigh county, where he owned a large property. Retiring a few years before his death, he made his home thereafter with his daughter, Mrs. Emanuel Weider, in Limeport. He and his wife, Helena (Pearson), are buried at the Chestnut Hill Church near Limeport, to which he belonged ; politically he was a Democrat. Three children were born to them : Mrs. Joshua W. Seiberling; Mary, married to Hon. Frank Keller, a former member of the State Legislature and director of the State Insane Asylum at Norristown ; and Alavesta, wife of Emanuel Weider, formerly a justice of the peace and farmer at Limeport, now cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of Pennsburg, Montgomery county.
JEREMIAH SMITH, retired, has been a resident of Orwigsburg since 1895, has taken some part in the administration of municipal affairs, and though he has had heavy business responsibilities of his own has done excellent service for his fellow citizens in the borough. He is a native of Berks county, Pa., and a member of one of its old families, his grandfather, Henry Smith, having lived and died there, in Albany township. He is buried at the Bethel Church. He gave his attention to farming and milling, owning about 150 acres of land and a sawmill. His children were: Jacob, David, a son that died in infancy, Lydia, Abbie, Sallie, Mary, Sybilla and Sarah.
Jacob Smith, son of Henry, was born on the homestead in Albany town- ship, and in early life learned the trade of carpenter and cabinetmaker. Later he took the old homestead, where he farmed for some time, and then removed to Schuylkill county, where he rented a farm near Friedensburg. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, in politics a Democrat. His wife, Sarah (Bailey), survived him and remarried, her second husband being Daniel Raudenbush. She passed away at the age of sixty-nine years, at Schuylkill Haven, where she is buried. By her first marriage she had nine children: Sophia, Mary, Sarah, Henry, Jeremiah, Daniel, Lewis, David and Albert. Two children were born to her second marriage, Rosie and a daughter that died in infancy.
Jeremiah Smith was born March 14, 1838, in Albany township, Berks county, where he spent his early years, beginning his education in the local public schools. Coming to Schuylkill county with his parents he afterwards attended school in North Manheim township and at Schuylkill Haven. Reared on a farm, when twenty-two years old he began farming for himself, renting land in West Brunswick township, this county, which he cultivated for four years. Subsequently he bought a tract of 125 acres from his father-in-law, Joseph Hoy, and devoted the remainder of his active days to its development, bringing it to a valuable state of fertility. He retained the ownership of this property until 1911, when he sold it to Calvin Gerhard. Meantime, in 1895, he had built a fine residence at Orwigsburg, to which he removed when he
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gave up farming extensively. His property at Orwigsburg comprises about six acres, which he continues to cultivate. Mr. Smith has always been public- spirited, believing that all good citizens should work together for the public good as well as for the advancement of their pesonal interests, and he has been exceptionally impressed with the value of public school advantages. While living in West Brunswick township he was a member of the school board and president of that body, and he has served in the same capacity since his removal to Orwigsburg. He has also been chosen a member of the borough council, in which he has served about six years. Politically he is a Democrat.
On Dec. 24, 1859, Mr. Smith married Lydia Hoy, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Maria (Snyder) Hoy. They have no children. Mr. Smith is a member of the Reformed Church.
Philip Hoy, grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was among the early settlers of Orwigsburg, where he owned a large tract of land. He died here and is buried in the Reformed cemetery. To this marriage with Maria Gilbert werc born eight children, namely: Abraham, Henry, Joseph, John, William, Sarah (wife of Henry Gerhard), Maria (wife of David Wiltrout) and Susanna (wife of Joseph Zoll).
JOHN J. FLYNN, of Minersville, is serving his third term in the office of justice of the peace, and when he was first chosen, in 1902, was the youngest incumbent of that position in Schuylkill county. As might be inferred from his name he is of Irish extraction, a descendant of a worthy family founded here by his grandfather, which has contributed to the substantial citizenship of Schuylkill county for three generations.
Timothy Flynn, the grandfather, was born in County Cork, Ireland, came to America when a young man, and first settled at the Morris addition to Pottsville, in Schuylkill county, Pa. For some time he was employed as a fireman on the railroad, afterwards removing to Tremont, this county, where he was engaged at the mines. He then located at St. Nicholas, and later purchased a farm near Barnesville, in Mahanoy township, where he made a permanent home, becoming one of the leading men of that district. He acquired valuable holdings, and was well known for his fondness for fast horses, always owning several. As he became known to his fellow citizens he entered into public life, serving as tax collector and as treasurer of the local school board; he was also a candidate at one time for chairman of the borough, but defeated for that office by a small majority. Mr. Flynn married Mary Sheehan, and they had children as follows: Patrick; Ellen, wife of Patrick O'Brien; Timothy ; Michael, who lives in Tamaqua; and Daniel, a farmer of Lakeside, Pennsylvania.
Timothy Flynn, son of Timothy, was best known to his many friends as "Tim" Flynn. He was born at Pottsville and received a good education, after his course in the public schools attending a summer normal school at Port Carbon, and later the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Pa., from which he was graduated. He taught school at Mt. Pleasant, Foster township, and later in North Manheim township and in Mahanoy township. For some time afterwards he was located at Philadelphia, engaged in clerical work there, being a very fine penman. He died in that city, at the University hos- pital, when but forty-five years old, and his remains were brought to Potts- ville for interment. Mr. Flynn married Margaret Toole, daughter of Austin and Mary (Kelly) Toole, and sister of ex-Sheriff John Toole. Mrs. Flynn
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continues to reside at Minersville. They were the parents of four children: Mary, who is the wife of Charles Oxner and lives in Chicago, Ill .; John J .; William, living at home; and Margaret, wife of Fred Egert, residing at Gary, Indiana.
John J. Flynn was born Nov. 27, 1878, at Primrose, a small place near Minersville. In his early boyhood he was given common school advantages, but he was only eight years old when he began to work at the mines. When a boy of twelve years he met with an accident while coming home from work at Glen Carbon, a train running over his left leg below the knee, causing the removal of the limb. After that he attended school for two terms more, and he subsequently resumed work at the mines, where he continued to be employed until twenty-three years old. In 1902 he was elected justice of the peace, and has held the office continuously since, by reelection in 1907 and 1912, each time with increased majority. The flattering support which he has received from his fellow citizens speaks well for his popularity, for the town is Republican and he is a Democrat in his political affiliations. Mr. Flynn has endeavored to do his duty according to the highest standards, and his fellow citizens have had no reason to regret their choice. His office is on Sunbury, street, and he is a busy man. Socially Mr. Flynn has been quite active in his connection with the Minersville Athletic Association, which he founded and of which he is president. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
MONROE WOMER is now occupying the old Womer homestead in West Penn township and adding to his reputation by what he has accomplished in its improvement., Having taught school in the township for a number of years he is especially well known in this section, and is highly thought of for the efforts he has made in behalf of various interests affecting the general welfare.
Mr. Womer belongs to an old family of Schuylkill county first repre- sented here in Schuylkill township by his grandfather, Jacob Wummer, who was a native of Bern township, Berks Co., Pa. After his removal to this county he was in the timber business at Rabbit Run, near Tamaqua, for many years. When he retired he lived with his son Isaac at Steinsville, Lehigh Co., Pa., where he died, aged eighty-seven years. He is buried at Jackson- ville, that county, and his wife, Susanna (Hufer), is buried at Lewistown, Schuylkill county. They had twelve children: John, George, Jacob, Isaac, William, Simon, Joshua, Jonas, Elias, Lucy (Mrs. Dicus), Maria (Mrs. Moser) and one whose name is unknown. Jacob Wummer was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Reformed Church.
Isaac Wummer, son of Jacob, was born Sept. 5. 1810, in Bern township, Berks county. How the change in the spelling of the name came about is unknown, but the change was made from Wummer to Womer in about 1863. Isaac was very young when brought to Schuylkill county, where he received his education, learning to read German very well. He worked for his father, in the timber business, and while so engaged constructed rafts and floated timber to Port Clinton, on the Little Schuylkill river and from there on the canal to Philadelphia. Giving up the timber business, he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed for about fifteen years at Jacksonville, Lehigh county. Then he settled at Steinsville, Lehigh county, where he bought a farm of 100 acres, upon which he remained ten years. During part of that time he also conducted a distillery. Selling out he removed to Tamaqua,
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where he lived for two years, practically retired, and then moved to West Penn township and bought the farm (then consisting of 110 acres) where his son Monroe now resides. He sold off some of the land, retaining seventy- five acres, all clear, where he carried on general farming until his death, his sons assisting him with the work. He died May 20, 1893, and is buried in the Odd Fellows' cemetery at Tamaqua. At one time he held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious connection was with Zion's Reformed Church in West Penn township. Though a Whig in his younger days, he later became a Democrat. Isaac Womer was married three times, and by his first wife, Elizabeth (Hoffman), had two children, Sarah and Abner, both of whom died in infancy. His second wife was Hannah Meier, daughter of Henry Meier, and their children were: William, born April 18, 1837, died aged twenty-two years; Luisiann, born March 16, 1840, died unmarried ; Amandus, born Aug. 15, 1842, lives in Reading, Pa., married to Annetta Womer. The mother of these children is buried at Jacksonville, Lehigh county. Mr. Womer later married her sister, Magdalena Meier, who was born Jan. 1, 1818, and died Jan. 9, 1898. She is buried in the Odd Fellows' cemetery at Tamaqua. By this union there were ten children: Charles, born March 6, 1844, who married Kate Houser, and lives at Summit Hill (they had three children) ; Wilson, born Jan. 13, 1846; Maria, born Feb. 12, 1848, widow of Frank Houser, living at Tamaqua (they had three children) ; Missuri Elmira, born Sept. 29, 1850, who died young; Monroe, mentioned below; Caroline, born July 21, 1855, who died young ; James, born Jan. 1, 1857, who died when about two years old; Dr. Franklin, born Jan. II, 1859, now of Reading, Pa., married to Matilda Kistler; John, born Nov. 18, 1861, unmarried, who has always lived on the home place, being now with his brother Monroe; and Ida Jane, born March 27, 1863, who died in infancy.
Monroe Womer was born April 6, 1853, at Jacksonville, Lehigh Co., Pa., and received his first schooling there. He was eleven years old when the family came to Tamaqua, continued his education there, and later attended school in West Penn township. Then he entered the Missionary Institute at Selinsgrove, Pa. (now known as Susquehanna University), where he studied for two years, and later he took a twenty-two weeks' course in commercial work at the Iron City College, Pittsburgh, Pa. Returning to Lehigh county he taught school for one term in Lynn township, and then changed to Salis- bury township for one term. Then he had about twelve years' experience in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, at the Zehner School, Zion's Church school and West Penn Station. He has since devoted his attention to farming, on the homestead place, having bought the farm from the estate. Mr. Womer has made many improvements on the property, including the building of a substantial barn and one of the finest houses in the township. Though he carries on general farming he gives considerable time to the raising of garden truck and fruit, and markets to the Panther Creek valley, to the towns of Tamaqua, Coaldale and Lansford. He has kept in touch with the public interests of the locality, and being independent in his political views works to get the best men in office regardless of party, and supports good movements, whatever their origin. Being interested in education he still reads the Latin authors, and expects to read them as long as he lives. Mr. Womer was confirmed in the Reformed Church.
Mr. Womer is married to Susan Flexer, who was born March 21, 1860,
ยท
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daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Kocher) Flexer, and they have one child, Elbert Franklin, born Oct. 3, 1892. He was educated in the West Penn township schools, and is a professional musician and much interested in educational work of all kinds.
Jacob Flexer, Mrs. Womer's grandfather, was a well-to-do farmer in West Penn township, in the Mahoning valley, and acquired considerable property, his holdings at one time comprising some five hundred acres. His principal farm is now owned by David Zettlemoyer. When he retired he sold his home farm in West Penn township and moved to the home farm of his son-in-law, Jonas Hill, Sr. (the place now owned by Elmer Womer), at whose home he died when ninety-three years old. He was a Democrat, and in religion a Lutheran, belonging to Zion's Church in West Penn township, where he and his wife are buried. Her maiden name was Fink, and they reared the following children: Elizabeth married Isaac Stahler, and both are deceased; Jacob was next in the family ; Salome married Jonas Hill; Daniel was the father of Mrs. Monroe Womer.
Daniel Flexer was born July 7, 1809, in West Penn township, and edu- cated there in the pay schools conducted before the introduction of the free school system. He worked for his father up to the time of his marriage, and received a portion of the home tract from his father, about twenty-one acres of cleared land and some timber. There he remained until a short time before his death, which occurred at Tamaqua, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Polly Keen. Like his father he was a Democrat and a Lutheran, belonging to St. Peter's church in the Mahoning valley, in West Penn town- ship, where he and his family are buried. He was twice married, first to Salome Bachert, by whom he had five children: Christian, now deceased ; Rebecca, wife of William Cooper, both deceased; Polly, wife of William Keen, both deceased; Daniel, who married Kate Honsberger, and lives at Tamaqua ; and Isaac, deceased. The mother is buried at Zion's Church in West Penn township. Mr. Flexer's second wife, Rebecca (Kocher), daugh- ter of Jacob Kocher, died when fifty-seven years old. She was the mother of the following children: Hannah married John Wheatly, of Catawissa, Pa .; Lydia married Aaron Haiman, and both are deceased; Kate died unmar- ried ; Matilda married Stephen Eck, of Allentown, Pa .; Sarah, David, James and Samuel died young; Emmalina is the widow of Frank Fisher; Susan is Mrs. Monroe Womer.
FREDERICK SPEACHT, late of Pottsville, the founder of the business now continued by his sons under the name of Speacht Brothers, belonged to a family of French descent which has been represented in this part of Penn- sylvania since 1830. His grandfather was a native of France and a promi- nent man in his locality.
John Speacht, father of Frederick, was born in France, and when a youth of sixteen entered the army under Napoleon, serving for six years; he was under the great leader at Moscow and Waterloo, and was wounded in the service. Two of his brothers who were serving during that war were lost in the Alps. After John Speacht located in Paris he followed his trade, that of goldsmith, until he came to America in 1831, settling at once in Pottsville, Pa. The town was too small to afford him sufficient employment at his trade, and he moved to the vicinity of Selinsgrove and Sunbury, in Union county, Pa. where he became engaged in farming. Later he returned to Pottsville, where
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he died. llis children were as follows: Magdalena, who married Richard light; Elizabeth, who married George Frazer; Sarah, who died unmarried; Louise, who died young ; John, who died at Pottsville; Frederick; Sophia, who married Frederick Moser; and Mary, who married Edw. Henry.
Frederick Speacht was born in Union county, Pa., in the vicinity of Sun- bury, April 20, 1836, and came to Pottsville with his parents in 1848. He had the limited educational advantages afforded in his day. In his boyhood he was employed in a brickyard for a time, and later at the furnace at Palo Alto, beginning his connection with the flour and feed business as a driver for Rousch & Evans, millers, in whose employ he continued for a period of eighteen years. After a short experience in railroad work he engaged in the flour and feed business on his own account in 1886, continuing therein until his death. His thorough familiarity with all the branches of the business, and its operation in this territory, brought him steady success, and he became one of the substantial merchants of the borough. He died July 14, 1907, at his residence in Pottsville, No. 352 South Centre street, and is buried in the Charles Baber cemetery.
Mr. Speacht married Dorothy Guess, of Schuylkill county, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Bordel) Guess, and she is still living at the old family home on Centre street, Pottsville. They had a family of eight children, of whom Mary Louise and Emma Elizabeth died young ; Clara Katherine is the widow of Henry P. Slater, of Pottsville; Daniel Franklin married Kate Hoke, of Tower City; John Frederick is married to Lillie Pickle, of Pottsville ; Edward has been married twice, to Anna Bechant and Kate Hyde, both deceased. Mrs. Speacht has two grandchildren. Her three sons are now carrying on the flour and feed business in Pottsville established by their father. Mrs. Speacht conducted it for one year after her husband's death and then sold out to her sons. who are associated under the firm name of Speacht Brothers. They are established at No. 209 South Railroad street and have a large and growing business, endeavoring to maintain the high standards of their father's hon- orable career. He was an honored member of the English Lutheran Church.
Daniel Guess, Mrs. Speacht's father, was a farmer near Lewistown, Schuyl- kill county, where he died. To his marriage with Mary Bordel were born children as follows: Dorothy, Mrs. Speacht: Peter, who served in the Civil war from Schuylkill county; Louis; Jacob; Henry ; Mary ; Sophia ; Susan, and Louise.
OWEN A. ANDREAS, whose home is now at Andreas (postoffice Sittler), in West Penn township, has for a number of years been ranked as one of the most successful agriculturists in his section of Schuylkill county. He has been as much a leader in all the other activities of the neighborhood, taking his share in the responsibilities of the township government, promoting social and religious enterprises, and lending his valued support to every movement which has for its object the betterment of present conditions. He is a native of West Penn township, and a member of a family of substance and worth long known in this region.
Jonas Andreas, his grandfather, was a farmer just over the Schuylkill county line in Carbon county, in East Penn township, owning about one hun- dred acres. He farmed all his life, and lived to be over eighty. His wife's maiden name was Bowman. and their children were: Tilghman married Polly Harter; Adam was the father of Owen A. Andreas; Owen married Druscilla
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