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 59
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ยท Ruch ; Salinda became the wife of Owen Smith; Mary married Stephen Lauch- nor; Eve, twin of Adam, married Henry Ruch; Sabina was the wife of Jacob Behler. Jonas Andreas was a Democrat, and his religious connection was with the Ben-Salem Church in East Penn township, Carbon county, where he and his wife are buried. He held all the church offices, and was a member of the building committee when the present church was built.
Adam Andreas, son of Jonas, was born in East Penn township, Carbon county, Nov. 1I, 1832, and died Feb. 24, 1904. He was educated in the pay schools of his native township, and worked on his father's farm until twenty- three years old, when he married and moved a half mile away, buying a farm of about sixty-five acres. After operating this place/for about twelve years he bought the farm of 112 acres (of which eighty acres are clear) in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, now owned by his son Owen A. Andreas, and there carried on general farming, marketing his produce to Lehighton, Carbon county. In the year of 1900 he sold this farm to his son Owen and built a house in Andreas, where he lived thereafter in retirement. His wife, Florianna (Steigerwalt), born Nov. 19, 1838, daughter of Joseph and Polly (Gumbert) Steigerwalt, now lives with her daughter at Andreas. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Andreas: William and James died young; another son died in infancy ; Caroline is married to Benjamin F. Haberman, of East Penn township, Carbon county; Fianna married Wellington Weaver, a leading gen- eral merchant at Andreas, Pa .; Louisa married Edwin Hill, of Andreas; Owen A. completes the family. The father supported the Democratic party in politi- cal sentiment. Socially he was a member of Washington Camp No. 615, P. O. S. of A., of Sittler, Pa:, and his church connection was with the Ben-Salem congregation in East Penn township, Carbon county, in which he was a promi- nent worker, holding the offices of elder, deacon and trustee. He is buried at that church.
Owen A. Andreas was born Nov. 22, 1869, obtained his education in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, and worked for his father on the farm until twenty years old. He then married and moved to Andreas, where he rented a forty-two-acre farm from his father for twelve years, during which time he also did a great deal of lumbering. About 1900 he bought the 112-acre farm from his father, and lived there until 1912, in which year he built and moved to his present home at Andreas (Sittler), which is one of the finest homes in that part of Schuylkill county. He now rents his 112 acres to Fred Reinsmith, his son-in-law, and is himself engaged in general farming on a thirty-eight- acre tract in East Penn township, Carbon county, which he bought from Charles A. Andreas. Twenty acres of this property have been cleared. He makes a specialty of raisng White Leghorn chickens, with which he has been notably successful. Mr. Andreas is a director of the Citizens' National Bank of Lehighton, Carbon county. He is at present treasurer of the West Penn township school board, and has been a member of that body for eleven years, exercising a most desirable influence in its councils. At one time he was town- ship auditor. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, and he has taken an active part in local elections as chairman of the township com- mittee and inspector of election. He has been prominent in the fraternal organizations, being a past president of Washington Camp No. 615, P. O. S. of A., at Sittler; a past noble grand of Sittler Lodge No. 1153, I. O. O. F .; and a member of Lehighton Commandery, No. 1135, Knights of Malta. As a member of the Ben-Salem Reformed Church he has been one of its most
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efficient workers, serving as elder, deacon and trustee, and several times he has been superintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. Andreas married Louisa Steigerwalt, who was born March 9, 1870, in East Penn township, Carbon Co., Pa., a daughter of Stephen Steigerwalt, who was educated in her native township, and remained at home until her marriage. She, too, is a valued member of the Ben-Salem Lutheran Church, which she has served five years as organist, and for fifteen years was con- nected with the Sunday school in that capacity. She is now teacher of the Bible class in the Sunday school. Mr. and Mrs. Andreas are the parents of four children : Neda Luella, born July 4, 1889, is married to Fred Reinsmith, a farmer on the place of his father-in-law, O. A. Andreas ; Raymond Adam, born June 2, 1892, who lives at Andreas and is engaged in lumbering, married Beulah German, and they have two children, Mark Owen and Noble Llewellyn ; Herbert Alexander, born Sept. 20, 1893, a resident of Lehighton, married Stella Ruch, and they have one child, Evelyn Marie; William Stephen, born July 18, 1895, now a student in the West Chester State Normal School, taught school for three terms in West Penn township (he excels in athletics, and has broken several records at school).
Frederick Steigerwalt, the grandfather of Mrs. Andreas, was born in Ger- many, son of Carl Steigerwalt. When he emigrated to America he settled in East Penn township, Carbon, Co., Pa., where he encountered the most primi- tive conditions, sleeping under the trees when he first came to the township, until he could make a home. He became the owner of a 100-acre tract. He married Mary Hetler, a daughter of George Hetler, and they had a family of twelve children: Leah married Gideon Nothstein; Reuben married Priscilla Stahler ; Charles married Katie Halderman ; Levi married Mary Wise; Han- nah married James Nothstein ; Mary married Amos Gerber ; Rebecca married Matthias Frantz; Levina married Levi Frantz; Lucenna married William Kressley : Stephen was the father of Mrs. Andreas; Rosinna married William Wise; Gideon married Christie Bowadbeck. Mr. Steigerwalt was a Democrat, and active in township affairs and in the work of the Ben-Salem Lutheran Church, which he attended regularly. He served as elder and deacon, and in other positions. He and hs wife are buried there.
Stephen Steigerwalt, son of Frederick, was born July 18, 1835, in East Penn township, Carbon Co., Pa., and died Feb. 13, 1905. He was educated in that township and at the Lehighton high school, and worked with his father until he enlisted in the Union army, during the Civil war, becoming a member of Company A, 202d Regiment. When he returned from the army he went to Tamaqua, this county, and married there. He settled in East Penn township, buying the homestead farm, which he operated until advancing years made it advisable for him to give up hard work. Then he built a home in Sittler and lived retired until his death. He learned the carpenter's trade and followed it to some extent.
On Sept. 25, 1862, Mr. Steigerwalt married Priscilla Houser, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wertman) Houser, and she survives him, residing at Andreas. They had children as follows: Albert H., who is engaged in busi- ness as a saddler in Andreas, married Ida S. Gerber ; Louisa is Mrs. Owen A. Andreas ; Uriah married Emma Wehr; Ira married Lilly Wehr; Clara married Charles Everett ; Edward was killed on the railroad when twenty-three years old; Mary married George Wertman; Wallace married Emma Steigerwalt; Beulah married Warren Trexler ; Minnie married William Loch. Mr. Steiger-
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walt was a very active member of the Ben-Salem Lutheran Church, which he served as elder and deacon. He is buried at that church. He served his town- ship as school director, to which office he was elected on the Democratic ticket. By virtue of his Civil war experience he was a member of the G. A. R., belong- ing to Bertolet Post at Lehighton.
JOHN FERTIG, after a conspicuously successful business experience as a contractor and builder, has settled upon a fine farm near Orwigsburg, in West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, and has every prospect of being as prosperous in agriculture as he was in his former vocation. He is a native of Cressona, Schuylkill county, born Sept. 4, 1868, son of John W. Fertig and grandson of Joseph Fertig, a pioneer of the county.
Joseph Fertig was a woodchopper and carpenter, and was known as a good mechanic. He bored many pump stocks from trees which he himself felled in the neighboring forests. He would take a basketful of provisions and go into the woods to work, remaining until his supplies gave out, and he was respected by all who knew him for his industry and honesty. He was a mem- ber of the old Reformed Church, and a Republican in his political convictions. His children were: John W .; Sarah, now a resident of Pottsville, widow of Jacob Rauch; Mahlon, who married Amanda Sweigert, both now deceased ; Annie, deceased, who was the wife of Peter Yoder, of Frackville, this county ; William, a farmer in the Cressona valley, who married Emina Dishe; Daniel, deceased, who married Susan Brown, of Cressona ; and Abigail, wife of Isaiah Schuyler, of Manayunk, Pa. The parents are buried at Friedensburg, in Wayne township, Schuylkill county.
John W. Fertig, son of Joseph, was born Sept. 9, 1834, in Schuylkill county, was educated in the local schools, and in his young manhood learned the trade of carpenter. He followed it for many years as a successful carpenter and builder, well known all over the county. He was one of the first men to cut timber on Sharp mountain, and while so engaged had to walk a distance of eight miles twice a day, to and from his work. In 1870 he settled in Pottsville, where he not only continued contracting, but also conducted a dry goods and retail grocery business for some time. He also owned a good farm, which he cultivated, and in the pursuit of his various business activities became well- to-do. When he retired he settled at his fine home in Pottsville to enjoy his well earned leisure, and there he died in April, 1908.
Mr. Fertig married Catherine Loubey, who was also born and reared in Schuylkill county and was a member of one of its pioneer families. She passed away in February, 1890, aged about fifty-four years, and they are buried in the Charles Baber cemetery at Pottsville. They were members of the United Evangelical Church of Pottsville, in which Mr. Fertig filled all the official positions, taking great interest in the welfare of that organization. Mr. and Mrs. Fertig had seven children who attained maturity, namely: William H., who married Ada Durand, is now residing at Riverside, Cal., where he has an interest in the Glenwood garage; he has two children, Walter, of Los Angeles, and Mae, now Mrs. Orvill Miller, of Sacramento, Cal. Abraham L., master mechanic at the Tilt Silk Mill, Pottsville, married Effie Payne, and they have two children: Earl Payne, who is employed in the office of the Sheafer Estate; and Ralph A., who is in the printing business. Kate married Francis L. Billig, by whom she had two children, Marguerite and Esther, the latter deceased; after Mr. Billig's death she married P. L. Knowlton, city
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editor of the Pottsville Chronicle, and they have one child, Louis Lorrane. John is next in the family. Annie (deceased) was the first wife of P. L. Knowlton, and left one son, Kenneth, who is a clerk in the office of the National Biscuit Company at Pottsville. Caroline married George S. Umholtz, now of Riverside, Cal., engaged in the picture and music business; their chil- dren are: Catherine, now the wife of Milford Parker, and Dorothy, unmar- ried. Augusta married Heber Medlar, a contractor and builder of Pottsville, and they have three children, Kathryn, John and Augusta.
John Fertig received his education in the public schools of Pottsville, attending until he reached the age of sixteen years. Hc then learned the trade of butcher. When he reached his majority he turned to railroad work and was so engaged for six months, and then for two years was employed in the Tilt Silk Mill at Pottsville. Returning to his trade, he followed it until he entered business as a contractor and builder, in 1897, in which year he built the West End engine house in Pottsville. Many other notably substantial structures in Pottsville and at various other locations in Schuylkill county, private resi- dences and business blocks, were erected by him in the course of an active career in construction work. For several years he took quite a prominent part in municipal affairs in Pottsville, having served two terms in the borough council, to which he was first elected in 1901, and again in 1907, as repre- sentative from the Fourth ward. Always associated with the most progressive and disinterested element, he displayed creditable public spirit in the discharge of all his duties, and conscientiously administered his trust, giving great satis- faction to the fellow citizens who had honored him with their support. In 1910 he decided to take up agriculture as his principal occupation. Purchasing a farm of 147 acres from the Jacob Petery Estate he settled on that place, and has since been engaged in its cultivation and improvement. He has sold off part of the property, retaining 112 acres, which he devotes to general farming, though about twenty acres are planted entirely in fruit. The location is favor- able, the land productive, and under Mr. Fertig's business-like management the farm bids fair to become one of the most valuable in the vicinity. As a home he has improved it in an artistic manner, remodeling the dwelling thoroughly and making it beautiful as well as convenient, one of the finest residences in the township. His knowledge of building and skill as a mechanic are of great help in every department of his work.
Mr. Fertig has always taken great interest in social affairs. While a resi- dent of Pottsville he joined the West End Hose Company, affiliated with Miners' Lodge No. 20, I. O. O. F., and Franklin Encampment, I. O. O. F., and became a Mason, in the latter connection holding membership in Pulaski Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M .; Mountain City Chapter, No. 96, R. A. M., and Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., all of Pottsville. He also belongs to Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading. For over twenty years he was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Company H, 8th Regiment. in which he was private four years; corporal four years; quartermaster sergeant seven years; first lieutenant, elected in October, 1902; and captain, elected July 1, 1907. He resigned in October, 1910. Politically he is a Re- publican.
On Dec. 24, 1889, Mr. Fertig married Sally E. Reichard, who was born Aug. 13, 1869, in Pottsville, where she was reared and educated. She lived at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Fertig are members of the English Lutheran Church. They have had four children : Orpha, born in April, 1892,
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died in infancy ; Anita, born Feb. II, 1894, died when eighteen months old; Naomi Augusta, born May 14, 1896, has been educated under private tutors from the International School of Correspondence, Scranton; Ruth, born April 30, 1899, died aged one year, three months. The deceased children are buried in the Charles Baber cemetery at Pottsville.
Mrs. Fertig's grandfather Reichard was a native of Dauphin county, Pa., and he and his wife are buried at Hepler's Church, in the upper Mahantongo valley. By trade he was a cabinetmaker. His children were: Charles, who married Susan Witman; Sophia, wife of Amos MacDaniel; Rachel, who mar- ried Samuel Young; Edward, who married Elizabeth German; and Joseph.
Joseph Reichard, father of Mrs. Fertig, was born in 1822 in Columbia county, Pa., and became a resident of Pottsville, Schuylkill county, making his permanent home there. By trade he was a carpenter. He and his brother Edward were pioneers in the coal mining business, opening small mines at the Rabbit Hole, what is known now as Railway Park, in Schuylkill county, and operating them successfully, until the coal companies bought up their interests. Joseph Reichard served in the Civil war under two enlistments, first as a three months' man. Later, on March 27, 1865, he enlisted in Capt. Frank Snyder's Company C, 214th Pennsylvania Volunteers, for one year's service, or during the war; he was discharged March 21, 1866.
On April 18, 1846, Mr. Reichard married Susan Artman, who was born Nov. 29, 1824, and died March 3, 1912. She is buried with her husband, who died in 1896, in the Charles Baber cemetery at Pottsville. Children as follows were born to this couple: Sophia Ellen, born Aug. 14, 1848, died March 29, 1851; Rachel Alice, born May 29, 1851, is the widow of Thomas Roome, and lives with her sister Mrs. Cruikshank, at Pottsville; Joseph Logden, born Jan. 28, 1854, died Aug. 4, 1855; Susan Agnes, born Feb. 9, 1856, married David Cruikshank, of Pottsville; Charles Henry, born March II, 1858, mar- ried Lizzie Parsons, of Chicago, and was killed on the railroad, at Quincy, Iowa ; Cecelia Arlington, born Sept. 7, 1865, married William Link, of Phila- delphia ; Sally E. is Mrs. John Fertig. The father of this family was a mem- ber of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pottsville, and a Republican in political faith.
SCHEELE BROTHERS, contractors and builders, of Girardville, have built up a very extensive and successful business in the county of Schuylkill, and their work is to be seen in Girardville and the surrounding towns, as evi- dence of their capabilities and energy. The firm consists of Charles, William A., Louis and Otto Scheele. They are of German ancestry.
Carl Scheele, father of these brothers, was born in Celle, Germany, and was the son of August Scheele, who lived and died in the Fatherland. Carl Scheele was educated in the local schools in Germany, married there, and came to America after two of his children had been born. He arrived in this country in 1869 and engaged in the work of contracting and building. After a time he accumulated sufficient to send for his family and established a home here, and continued his labors successfully until his death, Jan. 8, 1913. His place of business was located where his sons are now established. Carl Scheele was married to Matilda Kirchner, daughter of Adolf Kirchner, a native of Ger- many, where he lived and died. To this union two children were born in Germany: Dora, wife of George Fritz, of Peoria, Ill .; and Anna, wife of Charles A. Seaman, of Williamsport, Pa. The remainder of the children were
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born in America, viz .: Elizabeth, Charles, William A., Louis, Otto and Harry. Mrs. Scheele died at Girardville, Feb. 8, 1914, and is buried there in the Odd Fellows cemetery.
WILLIAM A. SCHEELE was educated in the schools of Girardville, and learned the trade of carpenter with his father, after his death associating himself with his brothers to carry on the business. He married Esther Linkhurst, of William Penn, Pa., and they have three children, Elmira, William and Wanda. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. In politics he is a Republican. .
LOUIS SCHEELE was educated in the schools of Girardville, and became employed as a brick layer and cement worker. After his father's death he became one of the firm of Scheele Brothers. He married Anna Klase, of Girardville, and they have two children, Edward and Matilda. Mr. Scheele is a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and of the German Lutheran Church. He is a Republican in politics.
CHARLES SCHEELE was educated in the Girardville public schools, learned the cement business and became a member of the firm of Scheele Brothers after the death of their father. He is unmarried. Like his brothers he is a member of the German Lutheran Church and of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and he also belongs to the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican.
OTTO SCHEELE obtained his education in the schools of Girardville, and was engaged as a bricklayer there for a number of years. He is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and of the German Lutheran Church of Girardville, and a Republican in political sentiment. He is unmarried.
HARRY SCHEELE attended the schools of Girardville and Williamsport, Pa., and learned stenography and bookkeeping. He is now located in Phila- delphia, where he is connected with the Philadelphia Electric Lighting Com- pany. He is unmarried. He is a Lutheran, and in politics a Republican.
FRED. D. FREUDENBERGER has served his fellow citizens of Tamaqua in various public capacities, and in every one has, by honest devotion to the in- terests of the people he represented, shown himself entitled to their confidence. There is one very substantial evidence of his services in the State Legislature, the Panther Creek hospital at Coal Dale, this county, for the establishment of which he did notably effective work.
Mr. Freudenberger was born at Tamaqua July 2, 1870. His father, Fred. D. Freudenberger, had settled there upon coming to this country from his native Germany, and engaged in the general mercantile business. He died at Tamaqua in 1875. Fred. D. Freudenberger, the son, attended the local public schools, enjoying ordinary educational advantages. During his youth he was employed for five years in the Bischoff furniture store, and then went West for five years. Returning to Tamaqua he became interested in general merchandising on his own account, carrying on a store for twelve years. In 1909 he received the appointment of postmaster at Tamaqua, under President Taft, and held the office throughout the administration until 1913. From early manhood he has been a very valuable worker in the Republican party, and in 1907 he was chosen to represent his district in the State Legislature, serving two terms with conspicuous credit to himself and his constituents. His fel- low legislators recognized his ability and gave evidence of their appreciation by assigning him to membership on several important committees, those on Law
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and Order, Appropriations, Mines and Mining and Accounts, of which latter he was chairman during his second term in the House. Mr. Freudenberger was the prime mover in the agitation for the establishment of the Panther Creek hospital, at Coal Dale, opened in 1907, and there has never been any occasion for questioning its necessity, as it has been in use to the limit of its capacity ever since. He is now serving as a member of the board of health of Tamaqua. Since retiring from the postmastership, in 1913, he has devoted his time to real estate and insurance business, which he has handled very suc- cessfully. In the fall of 1915 he was made the nominee of his party for clerk of the courts, and in November was elected with a plurality of 4,927.
Mr. Freudenberger married Gertrude Lutz, daughter of Alfred Lutz, of Tamaqua. He is a member of the local lodge of B. P. O. Elks, of the Tamaqua Club, and of the English Lutheran Church. From 1888 to 1891 he was a mem- ber of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, serving in Company B, Sth Regi- ment.
HENRY PRESTON SLATER, late of Pottsville, had valuable property interests there up to the time of his death. As the only son of George WV. Slater he succeeded him as owner of Centennial Hall, which father and son conducted for practically half a century, and the name has been one of high standing in local business circles for a period of more than seventy years.
George W. Slater was born in Center county, Pa., where the Slaters settled at an early day. Settling at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, in the early forties, he engaged in the grocery business, and also followed mining, accumulating a comfortable estate. Centennial Hall, which he owned from 1863, had been originally erected in 1840 for the town hall, and after coming into his hands was conducted as an amusement hall. The upper part was burned in 1876, and at once rebuilt in modern style. Mr. Slater married Anna S. McCartney, who was born in Germantown, Pa., member of an old settled family of the Commonwealth. Mr. and Mrs. Slater are both deceased, the former passing away May 4, 1894, the latter April 14, 1897. Besides their son Henry they had one daughter, Anna F., who died in July, 1888, at the age of thirty-seven years. She was a prominent worker in the Second Presbyterian Church of Pottsville.
Henry Preston Slater was born Aug. 29, 1842, in Pottsville, where he was reared. Most of his education was acquired in the public schools there, and he also attended at Kingston (near Wilkes-Barre), Pa. Learning the printer's trade, he followed it until he joined the army during the Civil war, enlisting March 23, 1863, at Philadelphia, in the United States Marine Corps. He was under Admirals Dupont, Dahlgren, Farragut and Porter, and served with the South Atlantic squadron in all its operations from the time he entered the service, including the naval investment of Forts Wagner and Sumter, in Charles- ton harbor, S. C., serving at different times on the vessels "Wabash" and "Pawnee." In the siege of Charleston he had charge of and commanded a naval battery on Morris Island, in the harbor, and after the capitulation of Fort Sumter, when the services of the marines were no longer required on the South Atlantic seaboard, the battalion of marines under the command of Colonel Reynolds, to which Mr. Slater belonged, was transferred to the marine barracks at Washington, and there held in reserve for a considerable time. In the meantime the Confederate cruiser "Alabama" was committing depredations on the commerce of the United States, and the government fitted out a detail
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