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 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
Christian Henry, son of Adam, was born at Wanamakers, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the local schools. In his youth he worked for his father, and after his marriage bought a tract of forty acres, of which twenty-five were cleared. All his children were born there. Later he bought the homestead farm and there passed the remainder of his life. He built a new barn and made other improvements on the property, which increased steadily in value under his care. He died at the age of fifty-two years, several months, and his wife, Carolina (Straub), born Sept. 15, 1811, died in January,
415
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1892. She was a daughter of Daniel and Carolina (Brobst) Straub. Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry: Mary married William Boyer, and both are deceased; Savina married Nathan Leininger, and both are deceased; William married Sarah Rabenhold, and both are deceased; Cordelia died young ; Polly died young ; Sarah is the widow of William Brendel; Amelia married Albert Muthart, both deceased; Wilson is next in the order of birth; Atnandus married Emma Frankheiser, now deceased, and he lives at Tamaqua, Pa .; Carolina married Harrison Brendel, of Lancaster, Pa. The father sup- ported the Democratic party in political issues. He belonged to the Jackson- ville Lutheran Church, and both parents are buried there.
Wilson Henry was educated in the schools of Lehigh county, and remained at home working with his father until thirty-five years old, receiving no wages until he was twenty-two years of age. When a youth of nineteen he took up the cooper's trade, and followed it until twenty-eight years old. When he mar- ried he left the home place and removed to West Penn township, Schuylkill county, where he bought a farm of 101 acres from Henry Endy. At that time only thirty acres were clear. Here he went into general farming, in which he has been engaged ever since, and he has found a satisfactory market at Tama- qua, where his produce is always in demand. His son Irwin now operates the farm, the father having practically retired. He is a highly respected citizen of his section, a Lutheran member of Zion's Church in West Penn township (his wife belonging to the Reformed congregation), and identified with the Demo- cratic party in politics.
Mr. Henry was married to Andora Susanna Arndt, who was born May 6, IS63, near Lenhartsville, Pa., daughter of Elanius and Ellen (Zettlemoyer) Arndt, and the following children have been born to them: (1) Albert Syl- vester, born March 1, 1884, died Feb. 11, 1887. (2) Clara Isabella, born April 22, 1885, died Feb. 7, 1887. They are buried at Zion's Church, in West Penn township. (3) Calvin Jonas, born Oct. 15, 1886, married Sallie Reinert, and lives at Slatington, Pa .; he is a member of the Knights of Friendship and of the P. O. S. of A., at Slatington. (4) Ellen Carolina, born March 10, 1889, mar- ried George J. Hoppes, a farmer of East Brunswick township, this county, and their children are: Albert Calvin, born Nov. 4, 1904; Mahlon Irwin, April 30, 1906; Clarence Oscar, July 18, 1907 ; Howard Sylvester, April 7, 1911 ; Maurice Leroy, Oct. 25, 1912. (5) Beatta Viola, born Oct. 1I, 1892, is married to Edward Reeser, a farmer in Lehigh county. (6) Irwin Elanius, born April 17, 1894, is farming the home place, and lives there. He is married to Cora Clauss. (7) Annie Elsie was born Dec. 15, 1900. All the children were born on the farm in West Penn township and have attended the Summerdale school in that township.
Benjamin Arndt, Mrs. Henry's grandfather, was born Aug. 10, 1810, in Lehigh county, Pa., and died in January, 1895. He farmed in Lehigh county, where he owned a small tract, and after coming to West Penn township worked for other farmers until his death. He married Susanna Weidnicht, who died at the age of seventy years, and they are buried at Zion's Church in West Penn township. They had children as follows: Elanius ; Levi, who married Tavillia Fegley, both deceased: Alfred, who married Rebecca Leiby (after his death she became the wife of John Snyder, for many years proprietor of the "Sny- der's Hotel," now also deceased, and she now makes her home at Allentown, Pa.) ; Carolina, wife of Stephen Werley, both deceased. The father was a Democrat and his religious connection was with the Zion's Reformed Church.
416
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Elanius Arndt, son of Benjamin, was born May 18, 1836, in Lehigh county, where he was educated. He learned tanning, and followed the trade for a long time, until within a few years of his death, being in the employ of Daniel Kistler, in West Penn township, for a considerable period, and also with Henry Enterline, at Tamaqua. He came to West Penn township with his parents, and at different times worked for farmers in the locality. He retired because of illness, and died in West Penn township Dec. 26, 1894. He and his wife are buried at Zion's Church in that township, where he was a member of the Reformed congregation, Socially he held membership in Washington Camp No. 615. P. O. S. of A., in West Penn township, and he upheld the principles of the Democratic party. His wife, Ellen (Zettlemoyer), born Sept. 2, 1841, daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Keller) Zettlemoyer, died Sept. 4, 1905. They had children as follows: Ellen Catherine, wife of Seth Reeser, both deceased ; Andora Susanna, Mrs. Wilson Henry; Cyrus Ulysses, engaged in saw-milling in West Brunswick township, who married Mary Levan; Lila Elizabeth, married to John Levan, of Franklin, Lehigh county, near Slatington ; Lela Mentana, married to Eli Steigerwalt, of Andreas, West Penn township; Lily Regina, who married George Rankin, and after his death (second) Daniel Kocher, of Lansford, Pa., the latter also deceased; Alfred Elanius, deceased in infancy ; Levi Oscar, of West Penn township, married to Sarah Smith; and Enos Benjamin, who is unmarried.
Mrs. Carolina (Straub) Henry, mother of Wilson Henry, was born in Lehigh county and received her education there. Her father, Daniel Straub. farmed near Tripoli, Lehigh Co., Pa., where he had a forty-acre property, and died there when past fifty years of age. His wife, Carolina (Brobst), died aged ninety-four years, and they are buried at Tripoli, Lehigh county. Their children were: Daniel, who married a Miss Billman; Jacob, who married a Miss Henry ; a son who went West ; Carolina, Mrs. Henry ; Kate, and Polly.
Isaac Zettlemoyer, father of Mrs. Elanius Arndt, was a farmer and butcher at Lenhartsville, Pa., and died at the age of seventy years. To his marriage with Catherine Keller were born children as follows: James, Harriet, Malinda, Mrs. Charles Reppert ; Ellen, Mrs. Arndt ; Lessina, Mrs. Samuel Epler ; Isaac ; Alvin ; Adelina, Mrs. William Williams; Fannie, Mrs. George Schoener ; and Lafayette. The parents are buried in the graveyard of the Lutheran Church at Lenhartsville. Mr. Zettlemoyer was a member of that church, and a Repub- lican in his political views.
GEORGE OLIVER has been an all-around useful citizen in his busy career, all of which has been passed at Mahanoy City. A native son of that borough, he has taken due pride in the maintenance of its most desirable insti- tutions, his public spirit leading him into active cooperation wth the best ele- ment on all questions affecting the general welfare. As a mine foreman of unquestioned competence he is well known in the local collieries, both among the men and those who have the direction of the coal operations, which play so important a part in the industrial situation in this section.
Mr. Oliver is of English ancestry. His grandfather, Jonathan Rustin Oliver, was a miner in England, in which country he spent all his life. His family consisted of the following children: Edwin, Samuel, James, William, Eliza, Anna, Maria, Emma and Fannie.
William Oliver, father of George Oliver, was born in 1843 in Staffordshire, England. where he was reared. When a lad he went into the mines there to
417
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
work, following mining until he came to America. In 1869 he brought his family, then consisting of wife and two children, to this country, landing at Castle Garden, New York City, May 30th, after a voyage of about fifteen days. They at once continued their journey to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where Mr. Oliver was soon engaged at his old occupation, at which he was employed to the end of his active days. He died at Mahanoy City Nov. 19, 1901, and is buried there. Mr. Oliver was a member of General Grant Lodge, No. 575, I. O. O. F., of Mahanoy City, and at one time also belonged to the Improved Order of Red Men, taking an active part in the work of that fra- ternity. He married Hannah Beddard, like himself a native of Staffordshire, England, born April 17, 1844, daughter of William and Harriet Beddard. She still resides at Mahanoy City, making her home at No. 124 West Spruce street. Six children were born to this union: Eliza, now the wife of Harry Board- man ; Hannah, wife of Thomas O. Jones; George ; William, born Feb. 17, 1873, at present stable boss at the Tunnel Ridge colliery ; Jonathan ; and Emma, wife of Joseph Draper.
George Oliver was born Nov. 27, 1870, at Mahanoy City, where he was reared and educated. He began mine work when nine years old, in the humble capacity of slate picker or "breaker boy," and as he gained strength and acquired familiarity with the mines was advanced to more responsible positions. For some years he worked as a regular miner, and he was still a young man when made fire boss at the Tunnel Ridge colliery, holding that position steadily for a period of twelve years. At its expiration, in 1906, he changed to his present place, becoming inside foreman at the Mahanoy City colliery. This was at one time known as the Hill colliery. Mr. Oliver's efficiency and intelligent comprehension of his duties have had many severe tests here, and he has lived fully up to his reputation for trustworthiness. His position has been retained by the utmost fidelity to the interests of his employers as well as sympathetic understanding with the men under his charge.
Mr. Oliver has been actively associated with local musical interests. For seven years he was a member of the Citizens' Band, and was playing cornet with that organization when it won one hundred dollars and a gold medal at the Lavelle fair grounds in 1893. He was elected to the school board, serv- ing eight and a half years, during two years of which time he served as president of that body. His interest in public affairs has found its chief expression in the promotion of public educational facilities, but he may also be counted upon to support any good measure. He is a member of the Citizens' Steam Fire Company, and socially belongs to Lodge No. 575, I. O. O. F., and Castle No. 86, K. G. E., both of Mahanoy City.
Mr. Oliver married Annie Bradley, daughter of Michael Bradley, and four children have been born to them: Edith Pearl, now the wife of David Davis ; William J., who died when one year old; Annie Myrtle and Elsie May, both at home.
JONATHAN FRANK STEIN, best known as Frank Stein, is considered one of the most enterprising business mien in his section of Schuylkill county. He operates a mill near Llewellyn, in Branch township, making a specialty of fine flour for family use, and also deals in flour, feed, hay and straw, and by strict attention to all his undertakings he has met with deserved prosperity. The mill, the only one in that part of the county, has been owned in his branch of the Stein family for over forty years, the present owner's father having Vol. I-27
418
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
purchased it in 1872 from Nathan Stein. Moses S. Stein, uncle of Frank Stein, is senior member of the firm of Stein & Co., wholesale and retail dealers in flour, feed, etc., at Pottsville, this county, where he has been in business for over fifty years.
The Steins are an old family of this part of Pennsylvania, having been set- tled in the adjoining county of Berks since 1742. The name Stein is German, meaning stone or rock, but the family is known to have been French as far back as 1688 and originally called Pierre, which name appears among those of the French nobility. It is supposed the family changed the name upon removing from France to Germany.
During the year 1742 Jacob Stein and his wife came to America from Ger- many, and they settled in what is now Richmond township, Berks Co., Pa., where he took up a large tract of land, to whose cultivation he devoted the remainder of his life. Here he and his wife died. They had children: Hein- rich, who was born at sea while the parents were coming to America ; Michael ; Peter ; Jacob, and Jonas.
Jonas Stein, son of Jacob, the emigrant, was born Aug. 16, 1766, in Rich- mond township, and followed farming in Greenwich township, Berks county, being a well known resident of that locality in his day. He lived to the age of seventy-five years, dying Jan. 16, 1842. His wife, Maria (Berk), born about 1774, died about 1848. To them were born children as follows: Jacob, Peter, Benjamin, Daniel, Solomon, Hannah (married Joseph Brownmiller), Eliza- beth, Hetty, Mrs. Zears, Mrs. Seitler and Mrs. Gramer. Of these, Jacob, born Feb. 16, 1794, became engaged in farming and distilling on an extensive scale, owning five hundred acres of land, which he divided into five farms, erected substantial buildings thereon, and made other improvements. He was public- spirited and built a schoolhouse near his home for the township. He died March 2, 1874, in his eighty-first year, long surviving his wife, Sarah (Sunday), who had passed away in February, 1846. They had the following children, all born in Greenwich township, Berks county: Solomon, Adam, Nathan, Annie (who married William Schaeffer), Lavina (married Daniel Deisher), Lucinda (married Henry K. Seigfreid), Jacob and Henry.
Peter Stein, son of Jonas and Maria (Berk) Stein, was born Dec. 28, 1797, in Richmond township, Berks Co., Pa. He followed the carpenter's trade for some time, and carried on agricultural pursuits most of his life there. He died on his farm Feb. 28, 1865, and his wife Elizabeth ( Spohn), daughter of Conrad Spohn, born in Greenwich township, Berks county, Nov. 8, 1807, died on the farm in 1864. They are buried at the Dunkel Church in Greenwich township. Fifteen children were born to this marriage, and we have the following record of this family: Nathan S., born Jan. 5, 1832, died Jan. 4, 1914, in Oskaloosa, Iowa ; Adamı S., born Aug. 15, 1833, died in infancy ; Jonas S., born Aug. 29, 1834, died March 22, 1906; Moses S. was born Aug. 26, 1836; Lelia S., born Aug. 28, 1838, died Jan. 8, 1840; Daniel S., born Dec. 23, 1839, is living at Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Co., Pa .; Maria S., born Jan. 31, 1841, is the widow of P. W. Woliver, and resides at Lafayette, Ind .; Solomon S., born Jan. 30, 1842, lives at Newark, N. J .; Noah S., born March 25, 1843, is living at Bristol, Ind. ; Anna S., born Nov. 1I, 1844, died Feb. 3, 1879, was the wife of Ephraim H. Mattern, who died Nov. 14, 1907; Joel S., born Sept. 16, 1846, is living in Mitchell, S. Dak .; Samuel S., born July 14, 1848, died Aug. 9, 1848; Lavina S., born Aug. 14, 1849, died Sept. 23. 1849; William S., born July 30, 1852, died March 7, 1853; Florenda S., born Feb. 25, 1854, died Aug. 6, 1854.
419
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Jonas S. Stein was born and reared in Berks county, and for a time was engaged in keeping store at Shoemakersville, that county. Thence he came to Pottsville, Schuylkill county, where he carried on the feed business as a mem- ber of the firm of Stein & Co., remaining there about three years. In 1872 he came to Branch township and purchased from Nathan Stein the property then known as the Muddy Branch mills, built in an early day by Jacob Clauser. Here he followed milling successfully until four months before . his death, which occurred March 22, 1906. He is buried in the Frieden's Church cem- etery in Branch township. His widow, Catherine (Frey), daughter of John Frey, still lives at the homestead in Branch township. She belongs to an old family of Berks county. Mr. and Mrs. Stein had the following children : Mary, now Mrs. Charles Shadel; Jonathan Frank; Augustus; Elizabeth, Mrs. Grant Schoffstall; Maggie, Mrs. Lee Jay ; and Della, Mrs. Joseph Thomas.
Jonathan Frank Stein was born May 23, 1862, in Greenwich township, Berks Co., Pa. His education was received in the public schools, and his practical training under the guidance of his father, whom he assisted from boyhood. He drove team and became thoroughly familiar with the milling business, which he took over shortly before his father's death, leasing the mill from his father April 1, 1905. In August, 1910, he bought it from his mother. It has long been known as Stein's mill. Mr. Stein is a typical member of the ener- getic race to which he belongs, and has won his way to a place among the leading business men of his township through the foresight and good judgment characteristic of the Stein family. Though he has not craved public honors he has been chosen for official responsibilities by his fellow citizens, who elected him township treasurer for eight years. He belongs to the Reformed denomi- nation, holding membership in the Frieden's Church.
Mr. Stein married Minnie Yust, whose parents, Charles and Fredericka Louise Yust, came to this country from Germany in December, 1857. The father died July 31, 1894, the mother Oct. 17, 1914, and they are buried in the Frieden's Church cemetery in Branch township. Of the large family born to Mr. and Mrs. Stein six children died young, Alma, Calvin, Amy, Ethel, Norma and Norman, twins. The survivors are: Cora, wife of Irvin Keeney ; Mary; William; Ada ; Evelyn; Raymond; Irma ; Merceides, and Stella.
JACOB M. KOCH has a model farm in Walker township, in the improve- ment of which he has displayed a broader purpose than its development from a purely commercial standpoint. It is indeed one of the most highly culti- vated tracts in the locality, affording many illustrations of the value of intensive farming, and has become productive and profitable to an extraordinary degree under Mr. Koch's management. Yet with all his business acumen he has never become indifferent to the charms of ideal home conditions, and the standards he has followed in that respect are fully equal to those adopted in his work. In fact, his measure of value to the community has been taken by the spirit of intelligent progress which has animated him throughout.
The Koch family has been farming in Walker township for several gen- erations. Daniel Koch, grandfather of Jacob M. Koch, owned the old Koch homestead there, the farm now in the possession of William Miller, which con- tained over 143 acres, over one hundred of which was under cultivation. He remained on that place until his death, which occurred when he was in middle age, but forty-five years old. He was a Republican and active in the local work of the party, and his religious connection was with the Union
420
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Church at Lewistown, at which place he and his first wife are buried. Her maiden name was Catherine Heiser, and they had the following children: Mahlon married Sallie Snerd; John H. was the father of Jacob M .; Martin married Carolina Stibitz; Mandon married Laura Albertson; Ellen married Charles Shultz; Carolina married Jonathan Allspach; Mary married a Seltzer. The mother of this family died, and Mr. Koch married ( second) Mrs. Eliza (Stump) Dennis, widow of M. Dennis. No children were born to this union, but she had the following children by her first husband: Seth married a Miss Croll; Diana married William Schock; Emma married a Mr. Kemp.
John H. Koch was born June 9, 1846, was educated in the schools of Walker township, and worked for his father during his youth. Later he went to Tamaqua, Pa., and engaged in the huckster business for a few years, subsequently buying a farm of thirty acres in Walker township, where he continued his huckster business. He gathered a great deal of his produce in Berks county and went to Mahanoy City to market the same. When he sold his farm he went to Tamaqua to live, remaining there until his death, Dec. 13, 1909. He and his wife are interred at Lewistown, in the cemetery of the United Evangelical Church, to which they belonged. Mr. Koch was active in church matters, and in the administration of public affairs, serving most efficiently as school director. Politically he was a Republican. He married Christianne Schoener, who was born July 4, 1851, daughter of William and Maria Schoener, and died Dec. 24, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Koch had the follow- ing children: William O. married Elmeda Ebling; Jacob M. married Cathe- rine Boyer; Edward Franklin, deceased, married Dora Daleus ; John A. mar- ried Bessie Walker; Horace S. is unmarried; Kate married Daniel Keim; Lillie died aged six years; Ida married Irvin Christ; Sallie married Lerene Steigerwalt.
Jacob M. Koch was born July 26, 1873, in Walker township, and received his education in the schools there. Working on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age, he was next employed by the day for about one year, and then went to work for William F. Miller, of Walker township, with whom he remained almost six years-less only four months. Then he bought Mr. Miller's huckster business, which He has conducted ever since. For a period of three years he rented a small farm from Daniel Boyer, in the spring of 1904 buying his present place of twenty-six and a half acres, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Koch raises his own truck, which he markets to Brockton, St. Clair and Mahanoy City, and part of his land is in general crops. He has improved the soil greatly, sparing neither time nor expense to make it suitable for truck raising especially, and the property has been thor- oughly modernized in equipment also. His house has every possible con- venience for comfort, being heated with a hot water plant and lighted by gas, Mr. Koch having installed an acetylene plant which is in very satisfactory operation. He takes great pride in keeping his home in prime condition, and the premises show unusual care.
Mr. Koch married Catherine Boyer, who was born April 16, 1873, in Walker township, daughter of Jacob B. and Catherine (Bond) Boyer, and here received her education. Mr. and Mrs. Koch are the parents of children as follows: Maria Lydia, born June 10, 1892; Claude Jacob, Jan. 1, 1895: Roscoe Samuel, March 2, 1898, a student at the Keystone State Normal School; Adwood Howard, Sept. 24. 1899: Bertha Miriam, July 29, 1901 ;
421
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Iola Ruth, Nov. 19, 1903 (died aged three years) ; Paul Andrew, Sept. 17, 1905; Irene Grace, Nov. 10, 1906; Carl Robert, July 11, 1911.
Mr. and Mrs. Koch are active members of the United Evangelical Church at Lewistown, which he is serving at present as assistant class leader. For many years he held the office of steward, and he has also been helpful in the Sunday school, of which he was superintendent for many years; he is now a supply teacher in the Sunday school. Politically he is a Republican, and he has held the position of school director.
Jacob B. Boyer, father of Mrs. Jacob M. Koch, was born in Schuylkill (now Walker) township, March 4, 1843, a son of Samuel Boyer and grand- son of Jacob Boyer. His great-grandfather, Jacob Boyer, was a farmer in Schuylkill township, owning over one hundred acres. He was a member of Zion's Union Church at Lewistown, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Boyer, one of the four sons of Jacob Boyer, above, was born in Schuylkill township in the year 1801, and educated in the township school. He worked for his father a while and then learned the blacksmith's trade with his father-in-law, Frederick Bensinger, but did not follow the trade very long. After spending some time in the West he returned to Walker township and bought about three hundred acres of land, which included the present place of J. I. Yost. He cleared a great part of that tract, and sold considerable of it, until he had 178 acres left. For a time he operated a mill near the present Lewistown mills, but later moved from that location and built a stone house and barn on another part of his land. Jacob B. Boyer's son Isaiah now owns that property. Having sold his 178 acres, Mr. Boyer bought forty acres of the original tract, and there resided until his death, which occurred March 4. 1873. Mr. Boyer married Lydia Bensinger, a daughter of Frederick Ben- singer, and she lived to be nearly eighty-seven years old. To this union were born fourteen children: One child died in infancy; Samuel died aged twenty- one years; Israel married Katherine Lindner; Emmanuel married Elizabeth Horn; Joseph married Lena Kunsett; Benjamin married Susanna Horn; William married Susanna Schoener: Catherine married Eli Wertman ; Eliza- beth married James Diener; Jacob B. married Catherine Bond; Daniel mar- ried Mary Ringer; Carolina died unmarried; John married Sarah Hine; one died in infancy. The parents are buried at Lewistown. Mr. Boyer was a Democrat and a member of Zion's Reformed Church at Lewistown.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.