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 77
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1 fellow citizens. He has always been a Republican in political association, and has done considerable work in his party's cause.
Mr. Buehler has numerous fraternal connections in Schuylkill Haven, being a member of Carroll Lodge, No. 120, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand; of Pecos Tribe, No. 327, I. O. R. M., of which he is a past sachem; of Pottsville Aerie, No. 134, Fraternal Order of Eagles ; and of. the Owls. He also belongs to the Fish and Game Protective Association of Pottsville. His religious connection is with the German Lutheran Church of Schuylkill Haven.
On Dec. 13, 1898, Mr. Buehler was married to Ida Sheaffer, daughter of George and Susanna (Deibert) Sheaffer, of Schuylkill Haven, who had a family of three children: Ida; Nora, wife of Alden Mayberry; and George, who married a Hirleman. Mr. Sheaffer died in 1911. Mrs. Ida Buehler died Oct. 5, 1903. In May, 1909, Mr. Buehler married (second) Susan Bernheisel. There were no children by either marriage.
JOHN GEORGE STRIEGEL, M. D., one of the younger physicians in practice at Pottsville, was born Aug. 27, 1885, at Shenandoah, Schuylkill county. He belongs to a respected family of German origin, which has been resident in Schuylkill county since settling in America.
Charles A. Striegel, his father, was a native of Baden, Germany. He was twenty-eight years of age when he and his wife came to America, and they made a home in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., at which place he engaged in the bakery business. Later they moved to Shenandoah, where he was in the same line for several years, eventually returning to Pottsville, where he is now living in retirement. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Hirschel- man, was born in Bavaria, Germany. Of the children born to their union three are living: George, who is practicing law at Pottsville, a successful pro- fessional man; Catherine, widow of James A. Fadden ; and John George.
Dr. Striegel acquired his early education in the public schools at Pottsville, graduating from the high school in that borough in 1902. Then he took his medical course, in the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in the year 1910, since when he has been in practice at Potts- ville. During his college course he was active in the fraternities and other life of the university, being a member of Alpha Tau Delta and Omega Upsilon Phi, the latter a medical society. For one year he was a member of the college basketball team. Since beginning practice he has become associated with the various professional organizations, belonging to the Pottsville Medical Club, the Schuylkill County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he holds mem- bership in the Improved Order of Heptasophs and the German-American Alliance. By his earnest devotion to his professional work, his thorough prepa- ration and a sincere desire to give his patients the best attention possible, he has already laid the foundation for a successful practice. As a citizen he has the zeal and public spirit essential to useful life in every community.
Dr. Striegel married Neva Amanda Kuhn, daughter of Stephen H. and Florence A. (Larrison) Kuhn, of Olean, N. Y., and they have one child, John Garison, born July 30, 1914. Their home is at No. 326 East Norwegian street, Pottsville, where the Doctor also has his office.
ROBERT J. HOFFMAN is one of a group of wide-awake business men who have developed one line of industry at Schuylkill Haven until the borough
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has become noted as a center for the manufacture of knitted goods in Pen- sylvania. It has benefited the town directly by providing wholesome and desirable employment for a large number of people, whose income is disbursed as well as acquired in the locality, thus creating brisk trade conditions which are apparent in the thriving mercantile establishments of the borough.
The Hoffman family has been settled in Schuylkill county from the time of Robert J. Hoffman's grandfather, Amos Hoffman, who was a native of Berks county, Pa., whence he removed to this region in the first half of the last century. He lived at Landingville, following agricultural pursuits and hotelkeeping, and spent the remainder of his days there. All his children were born to his first marriage, to Mary Reed, whose father was a large land- owner in the neighborhood of Schuylkill Haven; his second wife was Leah Achey. The family consisted of the following: Jonathan, who died at Schuyl- kill Haven, married Abbie Kitner ; Sarah married David Warmkessel; James married Mary Deibert ; Amos R. is mentioned below ; Thomas married Emma Krainmes ; Rebecca married Michacl McCann, and is now living in Philadel- phia ; George, who lives at Jersey City, married Alice Wagner.
Amos R. Hoffman was born in 1848 at Landingville, in South Manheim township, Schuylkill county, and grew to manhood there. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a boatbuilder for many years, later finding employment as carpenter in the Philadelphia & Reading shops at Schuylkill Haven for about twenty years. He then became janitor of the school building at Schuylkill Haven, holding that position about eighteen years, and in all his associations he discharged his duties with intelligence and conscientious promptness, winning a well deserved reputation for reliability. His death occurred Feb. 21, 1912, and he is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven, where his parents are also interred. Mr. Hoffman married Abba Wagner, daughter of Tobias and Mary (Knittle) Wagner, who lived at Landingville, Mr. Wagner being employed on the canal for some years and later as lock tender. He died at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife living to be eighty-two. They were the parents of children as follows: Amelia married Moses Betz; Catherine married Daniel Sheridan; Daniel married Elizabeth Shollenberger ; Rebecca married George Reber; Priscilla married William Web- ber : Abba married Amos R. Hoffman ; Susan married John Rhoad ; Alice mar- ried George Hoffman, a brother of Amos R. Mrs. Amos R. Hoffman's grandfather Wagner was a well known resident of Hamburg, Berks county, where he died.
Mr. and Mrs. Amos R. Hoffman were the parents of the following children : Robert J. is mentioned below ; Cecelia married Jeremiah Harner and lives at Schuylkill Haven : Lulu married Edward Shellenberger, and lives at Schuylkill Haven ; Raymond S., of Pottsville, this county, married Martha Emerich; Reuben, of Schuylkill Haven, married Elsie Gerhart; Newton resides with his mother ; Blanche married Frederick Hildebrand and died at Pottsville; Elsie died in infancy.
Robert J. Hoffman was born Oct. 29, 1873, at Landingville, Schuylkill county, attended public school at Schuylkill Haven, and in his boyhood was employed in a knitting mill for a time. He then learned the business of house painting, which he followed for a period of four years, and again worked in a knitting mill, from 1895 to 1900. By this time he had acquired sufficient familiarity with its details to feel confident he could make a success as a manu- facturer, and in company with Harry A. Dohner began to operate a factory,
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the firm of Hoffman & Dohner lasting five years. In 1905 Mr. Hoffman purchased his partner's interest. Then followed a limited partnership with Dr. P. C. Detwiler, Charles Keller and C. F. Schumacher, the firm being known as the Eureka Knitting Company, Limited, who did business until their plant was struck by lightning in September, 1906, and totally destroyed in the fire which followed. Mr. Hoffman has since been in the business alone. He erected a fine brick building 26 by 100 feet in dimensions, two stories high, and thor- oughly up to date in equipment and appointments for its purpose, the manu- facture of ladies' union suits, for which he finds a wide market. His force consists of from thirty-five to forty hands, and the business ability he has dis- played in the building up and maintenance of the business entitles him to a distinct place among the progressive and influential men of the borough.
Mr. Hoffman married Carrie Spindler, daughter of August H. Spindler, who was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and they have a family of three children : Catherine, Isabelle and William A.
At present Mr. Hoffman is serving his fellow citizens in the position of councilman, to which office he was elected in January, 1914. For nine and a half years he was a member of the school board, and secretary of that body during six and a half years of the time. Politically he is associated with the Republican party, and has been a member of the local election board. In fraternal connection Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Heptasophs, in religion a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
JACOB F. HIME, who is now spending his advanced age in retirement at Pottsville, was throughout his active years one of the foremost citizens of Branch township, Schuylkill county. For sixty years and more he was closely associated with the administration of public affairs there, and as an active participant in religious enterprises and the work of social betterment generally has been a representative member of a family noted for vigorous moral char- acter.
Paul Heim (as the name was originally spelled), grandfather of Jacob F. Hime, came to this section when the Indians were still plentiful here, but his intercourse with them was always friendly and they never molested him. They often came to his cabin, and it is said that it was his custom to set a dish of bread and milk before each Indian that visited him. Paul Heim was a native of Germany and came to America when eighteen years old. For a time he lived in Berks county, Pa., in 1747 crossing the Blue mountains, and settling at what is now Auburn, Schuylkill county, in the earliest days of its settlement. He cleared land and engaged in farming and assisted in all the other work of shaping a thriving community. He was especially remembered for his zeal in the organization of Zion's Church there, and assisted in erecting its house of worship, known as the old Red Church, some of his fellow workers being: Peter Schmetgert, Peter Neyman, Jacob Schaeffer, Michael Deibert, Gott- fried Beyer, Paul Heim, Philip Pausman, Christian Schabet, Casper Prag and George Huntzinger. The original membership of this famous old church con- prised about one hundred, scattered over a large territory, as it was the only organization at that time north of the Blue mountains. The church building was begun in 1765 and completed in 1770. Mr. Heim served the congregation faithfully as one of its officials. and both he and his wife were laid to rest in the burial ground of this church.
Jacob Heim, son of Paul, above, was born and reared on the old homestead
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in Schuylkill county. During his young manhood he followed the carpenter's trade for a short time, in 1809 settling in Norwegian (now Branch) township, this county, being the first to locate where the village of Llewellyn now stands. Here he engaged in farming the rest of his days, dying upon his home place. Mr. Heim prospered by industry and he was one of the most intelligent citizens of his day, encouraging and aiding every movement which promised to benefit the locality. The first township election was held in his home in 1837, and on that occasion he and John Moore were chosen the first supervisors of the township. Like his father he was a zealous church worker, one of the founders of the well known Frieden's Church in Branch township, where he was one of the first trustees. It is a Union Church, German Lutheran and Reformed. Mr. Heim married Elizabeth Faust, who died July 23, 1827, and they are both buried in the Frieden's Church cemetery, in Branch township. Their children were as follows: Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rebecca, Esther, Jacob F. and Catherine.
Jacob F. Hime, son of Jacob, above, was born Sept. 28, 1825, at his father's old home in Norwegian (now Branch) township. Reared in a home where diligence, self-reliance and honesty were the guiding principles of everyday life, he has lived up to the best traditions of an honored race. In his early man- hood he learned his father's trade, that of carpenter, and he continued to follow it for over forty years in and around Llewellyn, where many evidences of his industry still remain. In 1856 he built the present Frieden's Church and much of his work was in building breakers at the collieries. For fourteen years he was engaged at repair work in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company. Mr. Hime retired from his trade in 1884. However, he continued his activities in other directions for many years longer. With an intelligent comprehension of the needs of his community and no disposition to shirk responsibilities, he is called upon to perform many services for his fellow citizens, and has been faithful to every trust. Branch township felt that it was giving up one of its best citizens when he concluded to withdraw after many years of participation in public affairs, and spend his days in retirement at Pottsville. He had filled numerous township offices, serving as assessor ( for six years), auditor (one term), treasurer, tax collector and member of the school board (two terms), and for forty years continuously he acted as justice of the peace, to which position he was first elected in 1856. So well satisfied were his fellow citizens with his services in this capacity that he finally had to refuse to be a candidate for the office in order to unburden himself of its duties. He was inspector of elections and in fact cooperated with his towns- men in conserving the best interests of the township in every way. The name of "Squire" Hime was a household word in Branch for many years. His wife dying in the fall of 1912, he had one of his grandchildren stay with him until the next spring, when he sold out and came to Pottsville to make his home with his son Allen J. Hime, with whom he has resided since Feb. 8, 1913. He has followed the custom of his family in his interest in church work. always doing his share to promote the welfare of the Lutheran Church, of which he was a faithful member and a devoted official. In May, 1846, he joined the Miners- ville Artillery, of which he was a member for seven years.
Mr. Hime married Angeline Heim, daughter of Benjamin Heim (not related, though of the same name). Her father died in Iowa. Mrs. Hime passed away Sept. 23, 1912, at the age of eighty-four years, and is buried in the Frieden's Church cemetery. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
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Jacob F. Hime, namely : Charles, Allen J., John B. and David L. The only sur- vivor is Allen J., who is a pattern maker with the Philadelphia & Reading Com- pany at Pottsville. He married Clara V. Gabel, and they have one child, Amy, now the wife of J. H. Rabenoe.
PETER J. SCHNEIDER, late of Pottsville, though a resident of that borough for only a few years, identified himself with municipal affairs as well as business, and showed his capable qualities in various associations. He was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, which at the time of his birth belonged to France, and was a son of Joseph Schneider, who came to America and settled at Potts- ville, Pa., during the first half of the last century. He was a soldier in the Mexican war and won a medal for bravery. Soon after coming to America he bought a few acres of ground at Germantown, Philadelphia, but he subse- quently lived among his children. He died in Pottsville, at the home of his son John, corner of Market and Centre streets. His wife Mary died at Locust- dale, Schuylkill county. They had the following children: Joseph, August, George, John and Peter J.
Peter J. Schneider was reared in his native land, coming to America with his mother when twenty years old. For a few years he was employed at the Silver Creek mines, Schuylkill county, and later spent a few years at St. Clair, where he was in the saloon business. He then removed to Pittsburgh, where he was employed at the mines, remaining there about two years, after which he located at Ashland, Schuylkill county, in 1862, and embarked in the hotel business. His residence there covered a period of twelve years, after which he located at Pottsville, in 1874, continuing in the same line as proprietor of what was known as the old "Washington House," at the corner of Coal and Nicholas streets. It was the only hotel in that part of the city, and was very successful under Mr. Schneider's management. He operated the place until his death, May 26, 1886, and is buried at Pottsville. Mr. Schneider was a Democrat and active in politics, and at the time of his death was a member of the borough council, in which he had served four years. He was a charter member of the Good Will Fire Company, and belonged to St. John's Society, being a member of the Catholic Church. He made many friends during his active life by his genial manners and readiness to oblige whenever possible.
In 1859 Mr. Schneider married Catharine Schlotman, and ten children were born to this marriage, namely: Mary married Peter Glaub, and they reside in Philadelphia ; Katie married Charles A. Wretman, and (second) George W. Bernhard, who has succeeded his mother-in-law, Mrs. Schneider, in the hotel business (by her first marriage Mrs. Bernhard had one son, Carl A., now at Harrisburg, in the employ of the State Highway Department; he married Anastatia Keefer, of Harrisburg) ; Charles is a resident of Pottsville ; Helen married Merrill Walker and lives at Harrisburg ; Henry, John, Joseph, Louis, Frank and Theodore are deceased.
After Mr. Schneider's death Mrs. Schneider and her daughter Mrs. Bern- hard continued the hotel business, carrying on the house with the same policy which made it so popular under Mr. Schneider's management. In 1905 Mr. Bernhard, son-in-law of Mrs. Schneider, took charge of the business, and the house is now conducted under the name of the "Bernhard Hotel," the present proprietor keeping up the standard which has always characterized this house.
Joseph Schlotman, Mrs. Schneider's father, was born in Westphalia, Ger- many, and came to America when a young man. For many years he was en-
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gaged as a mine boss for the Sillymans of Pottsville. He married Louisa Osterman.
OLIVER A. BITTLE, the well known undertaker, and associated with his brother, David M. Bittle, as furniture dealers at Schuylkill Haven, was born at Cressona, Schuylkill county, Aug. 30, 1882, son of Albert O. Bittle. He is a grandson of Jacob Bittle and great-grandson of Jacob Bittle, and traces his line of descent from a German ancestor who was one of the emigrants wlio came to America in 1753.
Christopher Bittle is known to have landed on the soil of the New World Sept. 24, 1753, when he was but a youth, and he soon after located at Quaker- town, near Philadelphia. For a time he worked on a farm. Later lie married a Miss Neiman and settled on a farm near Pottstown, Pa. Selling out, he came to Schuylkill county and bought the farm now owned by the Henney and Reber families, near Schuylkill Haven. After a time he sold this farm and bought another along the road from Schuylkill Haven to Cressona, later known as the Bartolette farm. He also sold this place, and finally settled on a tract near Minersville, where his death occurred. This place was later known as the James farm. Besides farming he was a lumberman, cutting and selling timber and operating a sawmill. Christopher Bittle had these children : John, Jacob, Henry, Jonathan, Mrs. Maria Strauch, Mrs. Molly Pott, Mrs. Kate Weaver, Mrs. Elizabeth Weaver, Mrs. Rebecca Reed, Mrs. Sarah Jennings and Mrs. Eva Warner.
Jacob Bittle, son of Christopher, was born in North Manheim township and attended different schools in the various places to which his father removed as the years passed. Pursuing the vocation of farmer on the many places his father possessed at different periods, he finally bought a farm of his own in Long Run valley, North Manheim township, cleared off the timber, and spent the remainder of his life there, dying at the age of eighty-eight. His wife, who was a member of the well known Clouser family of Llewellyn, Schuylkill county, had passed away some time previous. They both lie in the old ceme- tery at Schuylkill Haven. They had the following children: William; Jacob, mentioned below; John, who died on the homestead; Andrew, who died at Schuylkill Haven ; Maria, who married (first) a Mr. Zerbe and (second) a Mr. Berger ; Katie, wife of Isaac Berger; Tina, wife of Gabriel Groan ; and Sallie, wife of Isaac Ely.
Jacob Bittle, son of Jacob, was born in Schuylkill county and lived for a time at Long Run, later removing to Cressona, where he was an employee of the Mine Hill Railroad Company. He then bought a farm in North Manheim township, west of Cressona, and followed farming until his death. He was united in marriage to Catherine DeLong, and their children were: William, Amanda, George W., Robert L., Albert O., Alice, Peter C., David M. and Isaac E.
Albert O. Bittle was born at Cressona, Pa., and reared upon the farm, attending the country schools. Having an inclination for railroading, he fol- lowed that occupation for many years. Finally he gave up this strenuous work and settled down to carpentering and contracting at Cressona, which he still fol- lows. He married Mary Coover, daughter of George W. Coover, and they have had children as follows : George C .; Jacob WV., a merchant of Cressona ; Bertha, wife of Calvin Huntzinger; Sadie, wife of Clayton Ginder; Oliver A., men-
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tioned below; David M., partner of Oliver A .; Arthur J .; Bessie, wife of Newton Blecker; and Mary, wife of Stanley Kulp.
Oliver A. Bittle attended the public schools and when a youth began his life work with W. F. Weber, the well known undertaker of Pottsville, Pa., continuing in his employ for a period of six years. He then accepted a posi- tion with D. M. Wagner, furniture dealer of Schuylkill Haven, remaining with him from Aug. 4, 1912, until April 1, 1914, at which time he and his brother took over the business by purchase from Mr. Wagner, operating under the name of Bittle Brothers. They now carry one of the largest stocks in the county, and have the only store of its kind in the town of Schuylkill Haven.
Mr. Bittle was married to Anetta Huntzinger, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Shurey ) Huntzinger, of Hegins, Pa., and they have had one daugh- ter, Grace L. Mr. Bittle is a member of St. John's Reformed Church of Schuylkill Haven.
ZACCUR P. MADARA, of Pottsville, is a descendant of a family which has been identified with the history of the borough for over a century, and its members in the present generation may well be proud of the substantial evidences the town has of their skill as workmen and general trustworthiness.
The Madara family is of French extraction, and the name is found variously spelled-Maddeira, Madery, etc. Sebastian Madery, the ancestor of the family in Berks county, where it was originally settled on coming to this country, died at Reading in 1775. It is not known how many children were in his family, but we have record of Michael, Casper, Samuel and Nicholas. All of these but Samuel served in the Revolutionary war. Michael, who was in Captain Will's Company, died in 1823. He was the ancestor of Zaccur P. Madara.
Nicholas Casper Madara, grandfather of Zaccur P. Madara, was born and reared in Berks county, Pa. He was a stonemason by trade. Coming to Schuyl- kill county in 1806, he was one of the early residents of Pottsville, and much of the most important construction work was intrusted to him in his day: the buildings he erected included the Episcopal church and the old Parvin mill, which later was torn down. He died in Pottsville when fifty-seven years old. Mr. Madara married Mary Dreher, and they became the parents of eight chil- dren, namely: Jacob, Charles, James, Nicholas, George, Maria, Elizabeth and Catherine Eliza. Of this family Charles built the stone wall as well as all the mason work, including the chapel, at the Charles Baber cemetery, Potts- ville, a notably fine sample of masonry.
Jacob Madara, son of Nicholas Casper Madara, followed the business of stonemason and plasterer, and like his father was regarded as one of the leading men of the day in the borough and county. The construction work of the Henry Clay monument, of which the community is justly proud, was awarded to him, and stands as a monument to his conscientious and efficient workmanship. He died in March, 1884, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a Republican on political questions and a Lutheran in religious connection. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Hart, also lived to the age of seventy-six years. Zaccur P. is now the only survivor of their six children, namely: William George ; Zaccur P .; Maria, wife of Frank Schulze; Nicholas ; and Georgiana and Henrietta, both of whom died young.
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