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 66
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Mr. Schaeffer married Priscilla Leiby, who was born in 1853, in West Penn township, and received her education there. She remained at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer are the parents of the following children: Emma, Mrs. Elmer Woomer; Howard, who died when twenty years old; Fred, a resident of West Penn township, who married Amanda Benninghoff ; Earl, at home; Albert, who died when thirteen years old; Carrie, wife of Edgar Smith, of Tamaqua; Ida, wife of Fred. Zehner, of Tamaqua ; and Mary, Mrs. Harry Zehner, of Tamaqua.
Jacob Leiby, Mrs. Schaeffer's grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, enlisting from near Philadelphia, Pa. He was sixty-nine years old when he died, and his wife reached the age of eighty-eight years. A daughter still survives, Mrs. Polly Dietrich, of Kempton, Berks Co., Pa., who is now (1915) eighty-two years old.
Reuben Leiby, son of Jacob, was born July 4, 1814, in Berks county. His early occupation was tanning, which he followed for a number of years. While living in Berks county he attended market at Hagerstown, Md., and in exchange for his produce took shad, which he sold on his way home. While
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en route he slept on his wagon at night. When a young man he came to West Penn township, Schuylkill county, and for a time was engaged as a drover, bringing cattle from Buffalo, N. Y., to the township. He made the trip on foot. For a long time he had a store at Leibysville, which village was named after him, and he also conducted "Leiby's Hotel" for many years. Ile owned two farms, aggregating about one hundred acres, which he operated in con- nection with his other business. For many years before his death he lived retired, making his home first with his daughter Rebecca ( Mrs. John Snyder), who conducted the "Snyder Hotel," and later with his daughter Priscilla (Mrs. Jeremiah Schaeffer), at whose home he died April 12, 1915, aged one hundred years, nine months, eight days. His wife (whose maiden name was Lydia Dreisbach) died at the age of seventy-five years, and they are buried in Zion's Church cemetery. They had children as follows: Frank, who was killed on the railroad, married Sarah Staudt, of Fullerton, Lehigh Co., Pa .; Rebecca married John Snyder; Carolina is the widow of William Knepper and lives at Snyders, Pa. (at Tilghman Snyder's) ; Leanda, widow of Nathan Knepper, lives at Weissport, Carbon county ; Priscilla married Jeremiah Schaef- fer; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Tilghman Snyder. Reuben Leiby, the father, was an ardent Democrat and always active in local party affairs, never missing an election. At one time he was affiliated with the Odd Fellows.
FRANK GERHARD has a fine farm in West Brunswick township, where he makes a specialty of fruit growing and dairying, his place being quite famous for its products in both those lines, as well as for general excellence. He was born Feb. 5, 1869, in West Brunswick township, at the place where his father, Henry Gerhard, still resides, and belongs to a family of substantial old Pennsylvania stock, long settled in Berks county. His great-grandfather, Jacob Gerhard, was born in Germany, and on coming to America, when a young man, settled at Rehrersburg, in Tulpehocken township, Berks Co., Pa., where he followed farming and his trade of wheelwright. He lived there until his death. His children were: Peter, Heinrich (Henry), John, Jacob, Wil- liam, Catherine, Lydia, Polly, Sarah, Elizabeth and Lavina.
Heinrich (Henry) Gerhard, grandfather of Frank Gerhard, born May I, 1798, at Rehrersburg, died Nov. 22, 1871. Like his father he was a farmer and wheelwright. Coming to Schuylkill county in 1828, he bought a farm in West Brunswick township April 5th of that year, the old Abraham Werner farm, comprising 263 acres, 155 perches. He continued to farm here the rest of his life, dying at that place, and is buried in the Reformed cemetery at Orwigsburg. His wife, Maria Sarah, daughter of Philip and Maria (Gil- bert) Hoy, was born in 1800, and died in 1863, at the age of sixty-three years, nine months, twenty-three days. They were the parents of six children : Maria, who married Daniel Alspach; Sarah, Mrs. Samuel Yost; Henry; Priscilla, who married James Anderson and (second) Edward Mengel ; Wil- liam; and Edward, the last named dying young.
Henry Gerhard, father of Frank Gerhard, was born Aug. 25, 1829, in West Brunswick township, in the house where he still resides. Part of this house was standing when his parents moved here, his father adding to it subsequently. Mr. Gerhard has been living retired since 1912. He attended school in the neighborhood, and farmed throughout his active years. After the death of his father he bought 148 acres of the home property, his brother
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William taking eighty-three acres, and their brother-in-law, Daniel Alspach, also owning a tract. The latter engaged in the undertaking business. While the cultivation of the property was under Mr. Gerhard's direct management he was one of the prominent farmers in his vicinity and attended the markets of Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville and Orwigsburg, where he was known as a thoroughily reliable dealer, all his transactions being above reproach. He is a Democrat, serving many years as school director of his township, and was one of the prominent members of the Reformed Church, in which he held the offices of elder and deacon for many years.
On June 19, 1852, Mr. Gerhard married Diana Mengel, who died Jan. 3, 1857. She was the mother of three children : Charles, born July 16, 1853, died Oct. 8, 1854; William Francis, born March 11, 1855; and Diana, born Nov. 5, 1856, died Nov. 10, 1857. On Nov. 5. 1859, Mr. Gerhard married (second) Eliza Yost, daughter of Samuel and Betsy (Merkel) Yost. Eleven children have been born to this union, as follows: Elwood P., born May 31, 1860, is living at Port Carbon ; Mary E., born Aug. 2, 1862, is married to Joel Degler, and lives at Orwigsburg ; Henry Y., born Oct. 5, 1864, a shoe manufacturer of Orwigsburg, married Emma M. Knoll; Samuel, born April 6, 1867, died aged nine years ; Frank, born Feb. 5, 1869, is a farmer of West Brunswick township; Emma M., born Feb. 22, 1871, married Jacob Zuber, and is living at Allen- town, Pa .; George A., born April 11, 1873, is a shoe manufacturer at Orwigs- burg, with his brother; John, born March 11, 1875, is farming in Orwigsburg ; Calvin L., born July 2, 1876, is farming in the borough of Orwigshurg; Hannah S., born June 20, 1881, married George Seltzer and is living at McKeansburg, Schuylkill county ; and Edwin R., born Oct. 20, 1884, is farming the homestead place in West Brunswick township.
Frank Gerhard attended the Gerhard school, No. I, in West Brunswick township, and grew to manhood on the home place, working for his father until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He learned the trade of painter with John Miller, of Orwigsburg, and followed it for nine years in Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven, meantime making his home at the latter place. Return- ing to West Brunswick township, he commenced farming on his own account, renting his father's property for four years and then tenanting the farm of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Fidler, in South Manheim township, for three years. In the spring of 1907 he came to his present place in West Brunswick township, which he bought from George Freeman, having 116 acres, of which eighty-five are under cultivation. Mr. Gerhard is engaged in general farming, but he has thirty acres of his place planted in fruit and garden truck, and he is also exten- sively interested in dairying, keeping seventeen cows, Holsteins and Jerseys. He has a milk route to Orwigsburg, which he covers daily, and he attends the markets at Pottsville twice a week all the year round, finding a steady demand for his fruit and vegetables. He has one tract of twenty acres containing three thousand peach trees ; another fruit tract containing three hundred peach and two hundred and fifty apple trees ; and three acres in truck. The fruit and vegetables require the closest attention, but Mr. Gerhard has proved equal to the work, and he has been developing his farm steadily since he took possession. Though not ambitious for the duties or honors of public office he has served as school director. He is a Democrat in political connection, a charter member of the Orwigsburg Council of the Order of Independent Americans, and a member of Zion's (Red) Church in West Brunswick township; he was con- firmed in St. John's Reformed Church at Orwigsburg.
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Mr. Gerhard was married in Schuylkill Haven to Ellen Lucetta Fidler, who was born Oct. 26, 1872, in South Manheim township, this county, was reared and educated there, and lived at home until her marriage. She is a member of the Lutheran congregation of Zion's (Red) Church in West Brunswick town- ship, and was formerly a teacher in the Sunday school. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard: Oleta Beatrice, born April 13, 1894, is the wife of Robert Aulenbach and has one child, Leonard Linwood (they live with her parents) ; Milo Harrity, born June 27, 1895, is at home; Sarah Eliza was born July 11, 1897; Marion Caroline, Feb. 28, 1902; Melvin Frank, June 9, 1903; Margie Irene, Feb. 4, 1905: Henry George, April 26, 1907; Ilelen Lucetta, May 31, 1908; Grace Gertrude, Oct. 4, 1909 : Christine Hazel, Oct. 27, IQUI : Martha Annie, April 1, 1914. Oleta B. was educated in South Manheim and West Brunswick townships, and the rest of the children have received their schooling entirely in West Brunswick township.
Samuel Fidler, Mrs. Gerhard's grandfather, was the first of the Fidlers to settle on what is now known as the old Fidler farm in South Manheim town- ship. He cleared a large part of the 194-acre tract, about 165 acres being under cultivation at present, built the frame house on the place, and also erected the barn. He followed general farming, and lived to the age of about seventy-five years. His wife, Catherine (Scholl), died in July. 1888, at the age of eighty- eight years, and they are buried at St. John's Church, Friedensburg, this county. Mr. Fidler was an active member of the Lutheran congregation of that church, and a Democrat in his political principles. His children were: David married Lavina Phillips, and both are deceased; John, deceased, married Lydia Reed, who lives at Pine Grove; William, deceased, was three times married, his first wife being a Phillips, his second a Dewalt, his third Mary Morgan, who is also deceased ; George was the father of Mrs. Gerhard; Franklin married Lucy Dewalt and lives at Cressona, Pennsylvania.
George Fidler, son of Samuel, was born July 16, 1838, on the Fidler home- stead farm, attended the Deibert's school in South Manheim township, worked at home for his father until his marriage, and thereafter rented the paternal farm for several years. He bought the place before his father's death, and continued to engage in agricultural work all his life, dying May 19, 1884. He served many years as school director, but otherwise took no specially active part in the public affairs of the township. In politics he was a Demoerat, in religion a Lutheran, belonging to St. Paul's Church at Summer Hill, in South Manheim township, and serving many years as elder and deacon. He and his wife, Sarah Ann (Emerich ), are buried at that church. She was born in April, 1843, and died Oct. 12, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Fidler had children as follows: Sarah Alice, who married Lewis Berger, lives at Schuylkill Haven; Katie Augusta is the widow of William Bittle, and makes her home at Tamaqua ;. Mary Alta is married to Harry Moyer, of Schuylkill Haven; Albie Aun mar- ried Irvin Reed, of Reedsville, Pa .; Ellen Lucetta is the wife of Frank Ger- hard ; Amanda Agnes is married to George Phillips, of South Manheim town- ship; Darius Howard married Katie Wert, and lives in South Manheim township: Alvin Hilarius, who lives at Philadelphia, Pa., married Mabel Dewalt ; Minnie Rebecca married William Clouser, and lives at Pottsville, Pa .; Martin Luther, of Schuylkill Haven, married Annie Scholl.
Jacob Emerich, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Frank Gerhard, was a farmer in South Manheim township on the place now owned by his son Wil- liam. He owned 150 acres, most of which was cleared, and carried on general
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farming. His death occurred when he was about seventy-two years old, and his wife, Lucetta (Battren), died at the age of sixty-two years. They had the following children: Morgan, deceased, married Mary Ney (she lives at Shamokin, Pa.) ; Frank, deceased, married Caroline Wert, now living in Wayne township, Schuylkill county; Ephraim married Mary Boyer, and they live at Bromerstown, in South Manheim township; Sarah Ann was the mother of Mrs. Gerhard; Amanda, deceased, married James Reber, of Bromerstown; Florenda married Pierce Roeder, of Schuylkill Haven ; William is on the home- stead farm; Lewis, of Boyertown, Berks Co., Pa., married Mary Emerich. The father of this family was a Democrat and a Lutheran, an active member of St. Paul's Church at Summer Hill, South Manheim township. He and the mother are buried at that church.
Mrs. Eliza (Yost) Gerhard, mother of Frank Gerhard, was born in West Brunswick township, where Charles Klahr now resides, and where her father, Samuel Yost, conducted a hotel in his early days. He was a farmer also, owning nearly two hundred acres of land there, and died at that place. To his mar- riage with Betsy Merkel were born the following children: Samuel married Sarah Gerhard; Lewis died in Indiana ; Frank married Catherine Shellhammer ; Catherine married Charles Lerwig; Caroline married John Schott; Susanna married John Leiser; Eliza married Henry Gerhard; Mary never married ; Sarah married Philip Bretz. The parents are buried at Christ Reformed Church, McKeansburg. Mr. Yost was a member of that church, and he was a Republican in his political views.
CHARLES B. MILLER, of Orwigsburg, has had an active and useful career, and although he has passed the three-score and ten mark is still engaged in business and counted among the enterprising citizens of his borough. Born July 4, 1844, in West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, he is a son of Daniel Miller. His grandfather lived in East Brunswick township, this county, where he married, and later moved out to Ohio, where some of his younger children were born. His death was caused by the kick of a horse. His chil- dren were as follows: William, Daniel, Peter, Charles, Francis, Anna, Eliza and Elizabeth.
Daniel Miller, father of Charles B. Miller, was born Aug. 10, 1810, in East Brunswick township, where he lived to the age of eighty-four years, passing away at the home of his son Charles, where he spent the last six years of his long life. He is buried at the Red Church. Though he learned the trade of miller he did not follow it long, farming being his principal business in life. and he carried on that occupation in West Brunswick township, where he had a good property, the farm now owned by Lewis Freeman. To his marriage with Elizabeth Krebs were born four children, namely: Francis; Charles B .; Mary, wife of Michael Moser ; and Sarah, wife of George Hoy.
Charles B. Miller received a public school education in his native township and followed farming there from early life. Meantime he also became inter- ested in the manufacture of brooms, which he carried on from 1872 to 1887 in connection with his agricultural pursuits. In the year 1907 he moved to Orwigsburg and established the Orwigsburg Broom Factory, which he has conducted ever since, at present giving all his attention to the business, which has prospered steadily. Most of the product is sold in the coal regions. Mr. Miller has always been thoroughly alive to the best interests of the community, and has shown his desire to further the same by his association with such move-
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ments as have for their object the promotion of the general welfare. He was one of the founders of the Southern Schuylkill County Fire Insurance Com- pany, which he served as secretary for seven years, and for twenty years he was secretary of the West Brunswick township school board, which has charge of what is known as the Center school district. He is a devout member of the Reformed Church, and formerly took an active part in its work. During the Civil war Mr. Miller showed his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in the Home Guards during Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania; he was out ten days.
Mr. Miller's first marriage was to Miriam Hoy, daughter of Henry Hoy. Eight children were born to this union, namely: Miriam, who died young; Loretta, Lillian and Annie, all three deccased; Oscar; Frank; Clayton, and Joseph. The mother of this family died and Mr. Miller subsequently mar- ried the widow of Samuel Bossler. No children have been born to this mar- riage.
JOHN FISHER STAUDT, of West Penn township, owns what is prob- ably the oldest mill property in Schuylkill county, the tract at Staudtsville on which is located the Miller mill, which has been in operation since Henrich Miller built it there in 1782. In his active years he developed the business along the most progressive lines, and though he has practically retired he still retains his interests in its prosperity and also in the course of local events.
The Staudts are an old Berks county family, of German origin. Johannes Staudt, grandfather of John Fisher Staudt, followed milling and farming all his life, being the owner of Staudt's mill in Berks county and also of a small tract of land. He married a Christ and they had a number of children, of whom Daniel was one. Johannes Staudt was a member of the Bern Church, the German Reformed Church in Bern township, Berks county, and there he and his wife are buried.
Daniel Staudt, father of John Fisher Staudt, was born in Penn township, Berks county, Feb. 10, 1800, on the same place where his son John was born. He was educated in the schools of his native township, and learned the trade of miller with his father, spending all his days in operating the Staudt mill. He was married, by Rev. Mr. Dubbs, to Mary Ann Fisher, who was born July 6, 1806, in Heidelberg township, Berks county, daughter of Wilhelm and Mar- garetha (Spohn) Fisher, and they became the parents of these children: Mary Ann, born Aug. 22, 1828, died March 22, 1893, married Benneville Richard and (second) Daniel Weaver ; Adam, born Dec. 1I, 1829, lived at Shoemakers- ville, Berks Co., Pa., and died Sept. 8, 1915 (he married a Gehret and second Fiana Neff) ; Joshua, born in February, 1831, died the same month ; Eliza Ann, born in August, 1833, died in April, 1892, the wife of Daniel Miller, who is also deceased; Fayetta, born in February, 1835, died when five months old; Alfred, born March 18, 1838, died in 1881, married Sarah Ludwig, who resides at Hamburg, Pa .; Johannes Fisher was born Feb. 18, 1841 ; Emilie Sara Ann, born March 6, 1844, married Cyrus Bagenstose (deceased) and (second) Frank Moyer, and resides at Reading, Pa .; Daniel Jared, born Jan. 20, 1846, died Aug. 24, 1909, married a Miss Brossman, who now resides at Reading, Pa .; Aaron, born April 6, 1850, lives in California. The father of this family died April 1, 1876, the mother Dec. 18, 1863, and they are buried at the Bern Church in Berks county, of which both were members. Mr. Staudt was a
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Democrat in politics. He was a man of high Christian character, and uni- versally respected.
John Fisher Staudt was born Feb. 18, 1841, near Bernville, in Penn town- ship, Berks county, and received his education in the schools of that township. He learned milling with his father at Staudt's mill, and was married while learning the trade, remaining at the mill for three years. Then he rented a farm and sawmill in Center township, Berks county, for three years, after which he removed to Bernville, where he engaged in the timber business for a time, buying up tracts and cutting off the timber. For a year he was at the old Kissinger mill above Reading, later went to the Stump mill at Womelsdorf, where he was employed for one year, and from there went to Pottsville and engaged in the feed and grocery business for one year. He has since been at his present place in West Penn township. When he came here it was the property of his brother Adam, from whom he rented it, later becoming the owner. The land comprises thirty-two acres, of which twenty acres are under cultivation. The mill is known as the old Miller mill, having been built by Henrich Miller in 1782, and is probably the oldest mill in Schuylkill county ; some of the original timbers are still in a fine state of preservation. Mr. Staudt also has a sawmill in connection with the flour mill, and himself oper- ated both, as well as a cider mill, for eight years. His was the first large cider mill operated by power, in the county.
Mr. Staudt has been a useful and important member of the community, not only in the promotion of business activities but also in direct service to his fellow citizens. In 1882 he was appointed county surveyor of Schuylkill county, by the governor of the State of Pennsylvania, and remained in office about seven years. On Oct. 17, 1893, he was appointed postmaster at Staudts- ville, by Postmaster General Wilson S. Bissell, being at that time a resident of Staudtsville, where he conducted a general store for a number of years. He continued to operate his farm and mill during the period he was postmaster. Though he has given up active work he continues to look after his affairs personally, having considerable valuable property, including nearly three hun- dred acres of timber lands. He was formerly a member of the township school board. In politics he has been allied with the Democratic party, and his religious connection is with Zion's Reformed Church in West Penn township. For many years he was Sunday school superintendent.
By his first wife, Sarah ( Snyder), who was born Aug. 5, 1836, a daughter of Jacob Snyder, Mr. Staudt had the following children : Mary Ann, born Nov. 15, 1858, is married to Noah Loch, and they reside at Andreas, in West Penn township; they have had children, William (who married Minnie Steigerwalt and has one child, Harlan) and Charles (deceased). Sarah Ann Valera, born Dec. 18, 1860, is the widow of Frank Leiby, and resides at Fullerton, Lehigh Co., Pa. ; she has had a large family, Clinton ( who is married and has two children, Alma and one yet unnamed), Howard, John, Emma (who married George Reichelderfer and has one child, John), Lulu (who is the wife of Irwin Hill and has two children, Albert and Myrtle), Elsie, William, Charles, Bessie. Helen, Hattie (deceased), Jennie ( deceased), and several who died in infancy. Hiram Henry, born Jan. 3. 1863, is now postmaster at Staudtsville, in West Penn township; he married Mary Houser, and their children are William (married Emma Yoxheimer, and has one child, Florence), Laura (married Frank Hill and has one child, Erma) and Tillie (married William Bailey and has one child, Elsie). Alvin married Alice Orner, and their home is in
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West Penn township; their children are Helen, Hattie, Leroy and Lloyd. Milton, who lives at home, married Jennie Orner; they have two adopted children, Harvey and Jennie. Fianna Rebecca, born April 13, 1865, is the wife of Daniel Loch, and resides at Andreas, in West Penn township; she has one child, Charles (who married Amanda Hoppes and has one child, Hattie). Ellen married James Muth, and they are residents of Catasauqua, Pa .; they have had two children, Ralph and Hattie, the latter deceased. John, born Oct. 22, 1867, is deceased. Daniel Jacob, born Nov. 19, 1869, died March 6, 1890. Charles William, born Feb. 3, 1871, is deceased. Clara is the wife of William Stahler, and they have had children, Herbert, Calvin (married Chris- tina Nies), Charles, Alberta, Howard, Jennic, Verna, Mamic, Ralph (deceased) and Elsie (deceased). The mother, Mrs. Sarah (Snyder) Staudt, died Feb. 2, 1902, and is buried at Zion's Church in West Penn township. For his second wife Mr. Staudt married Mrs. Carolina Schrack, the widow of Aaron Schrack, and daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Dreisbach) Osen- bach. She was born Dec. 12, 1847. By her first marriage, Mrs. Staudt had one child, Samuel, who is married to Laura Gehret and has one child, Galon. She is a granddaughter of Christian and Catherine (Gottshall) Osenbach, of East Brunswick township, this county, who are buried at the Frieden's Church, New Ringgold. Their son, Daniel Osenbach, father of Mrs. Staudt, was born Feb. 5, 1819, in East Brunswick township, and died in that township in November, 1882. He was reared and educated in East Brunswick township, learned the wheelwright's trade, and farmed for many years. He and his son-in-law, Jared Hafer, owned farms together in West Penn township, and came to East Brunswick township together. Mr. Osenbach owned forty-three acres of the original 260 acres in the Hafer farm, which he later traded for another piece of land; this tract of forty-three acres is now owned by Mr. Elmer Diener. Mr. Osenbach had a shop on his farm and followed his trade along with farming. He was a Democrat, and kept in touch with local poli- tics and public matters, was elected to the offices of school director and super- visor, and served his fellow citizens capably in both. Church work was always one of his chief interests, and he was very active as a member of the Frieden's Lutheran Church at New Ringgold, which he served as deacon. Mr. Osen- bach married Catherine Dreisbach, who was born Oct. 31, 1817, and died when over seventy years of age. She is buried with her husband in West Penn township, Schuylkill county. Children as follows were born to them: Carolina married Aaron Schrack (deceased) and (second) John F. Staudt ; Rebecca died when nine years old; Catherine is Mrs. Jared Hafer ; two children died unnamed.
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