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 79
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Mr. Bell was married at Heckscherville, in St. Kyran's Church, to Mar- garet Conville, who was born in February, 1846, daughter of Patrick and
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Catherine (Hughes) Conville. A large family was born to this union: John William, who died Jan. 22, 1915, when about fifty years old, was engaged as a stationary engineer; he married Margaret Kelly. Patrick W., now of Phila- delphia, where he is engaged as a plumber, married Margaret Loftus. Joseph IV. is engaged as a superintendent of building construction in Albany, N. Y. Thomas Francis, who died in Shenandoah at the age of thirty-three years, was a graduate of Lehigh University, from which he held the degree of mechanical engineer, and had attained quite a reputation as a naval architect, having designed the battleship "Maine." Four children died in infancy or youth. James J: is next in the family. Margaret M. and Mary M. are living at home. Richard Alfonse received injuries which caused his death April 30, 1905, at the age of twenty-two years, when he was just about to graduate from the normal school at East Stroudsburg, Pa., where he had been pursuing a preparatory course. William Francis, a graduate of the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, is now practicing law at Wilkes-Barre, Pa .; he married Marie Ryan.
Patrick Conville, the grandfather of Mrs. Margaret (Conville) Bell, was a native of Queen's County, Ireland, and after his death, his wife, Margaret (Delaney), also a native of Queen's County, came to America with her son Patrick and other children, and settled at Heckscherville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where she died at the age of eighty years.
Patrick Conville, son of Patrick and Margaret (Delaney) Conville, was born in Queen's County, Ireland, and was a child when he accompanied his mother to America. For a number of years he lived at Heckscherville, and there began mine work, which he continued to follow most of his life. Even- tually he settled at Shenandoah, where he spent the latter part of his life in retirement, and he died there. He married Catherine Hughes, who was born in Queen's County, Ireland, daughter of Richard and Catherine (Bergen) Hughes, farming people, both of whom died in Ireland. Their children were Patrick, Edward, Catherine (Mrs. Conville) and Mary (who married Mar- tin Brennan). Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Conville: Mary married Michael Hughes, and both are deceased; Mortimer married Mary Brophy, and both are deceased ; Margaret, Mrs. James Bell, is the only survivor of the family ; Julia married William Doyle, and both are deceased.
James J. Bell matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan, and graduated in 1898, with the degree of LL. 'B., and in the same year was admitted to practice in the Supreme court of Michigan. He then returned to his native city, where he opened an office. In 1901 he successfully defended James Horrox, who was charged with the murder of Edward Ball, and the same year represented the prosecution in the case of John Fronk, charged with the murder of Edward Hoffman, at Minersville. In the follow- ing year he was retained for the defense of Charles Shealer and George Stini- tis. who were accused of brutally beating and leaving for dead Frank Bloom, and secured their acquittal. In May, 1902, he was of counsel for the defense in the case in which Matt. Stiavinsky and John and Charles Margavage, charged with the murder of John Litwinavage, were acquitted. He was of coun- sel for the State in the case of Arthur Wadsworth, the soldier who shot and killed William Durham in the strike of 1902, and it was Mr. Bell who set in motion the process of law that forced the surrender of Wadsworth to the civil authorities by the military power, the Supreme court sitting in extraordi- nary session as committing magistrates to hear the case. Mr. Bell defended
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Joseph Paliewicz for the murder of Joseph Beddall. This was one of the most closely contested cases ever tried in Schuylkill county. The prosecution was represented by District Attorney Mclaughlin, M. M. Burke, J. F. Whalen and E. W. Bechtel, all lawyers of recognized ability. The accused was ac- quitted.
Mr. Bell is a close student of the law and a keen follower of events in general. He devotes much time to the study of the United States constitu- tion, its history and interpretation. He takes an academic interest in many much neglected but important questions, and is affiliated with national socie- ties whose object is the study of such matters. He takes a public-spirited stand in all matters concerning the welfare of Shenandoah and enthusiastically identifies himself with every movement in that direction. Mr. Bell has, with- out exception, consistently refused to represent the libelant in divorce cases upon the ground that divorces result in confusion and are therefore uneco- nomic. He further contends that divorces render the home unstable and will, in time, affect the stability of the nation. In every case where he has thus far appeared for the defense in divorce cases, he has succeeded in defeating the divorce.
On Feb. 21, 1906, Mr. Bell married Mary Catherine Bender, daughter of the late Lawrence and Anna Bender, of Ashland, and this union has been blessed with a son, Laurence Justin, who was born on June 23, 1907. Mrs. Bell is one of a family of eight children. Englebert C., one of her brothers, is a Philadelphia physician of great promise, who has spent eight years in college and hospital work, the last eighteen months of that time in Vienna, Austria, where he was appointed to a place on the hospital staff of the Uni- versity of Vienna. Frank, another brother, is a division engineer for the P. & R. C. & I. Company at Shenandoah. William is a graduate of the Phila- delphia School of Pharmacy. Louis E. is in business at Ashland. Anna is at home and J. Harry is a dental student at the University of Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM HENRY DIEFENDERFER (deceased), of Auburn, was one of the foremost men of his generation in Schuylkill county. Possessed of un- usual business ability, he was remarkably successful in the direction of his private undertakings and equally effective in advancing the welfare of his borough, being intimately associated with public affairs in spite of the demands of his large business interests. Born May 29, 1854, near Auburn, he was a son of John Henry Diefenderfer and grandson of John Diefenderfer.
John Diefenderfer was a native of Lehigh county, Pa., and spent his later years with his son, John Henry, near Auburn, Schuylkill county, where he died at the age of seventy-three years; he is buried at Auburn. His wife, also from Lehigh county, is buried at Kimmel's Church in West Brunswick township. Their children were: John Henry; Christian, who died in West Brunswick township; Maria, who died unmarried at the age of eighty years and is buried at Auburn ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Lloyd, who died at Pottsville, Pa .; and Susanna, Mrs. Samuel Moyer, who died at Orwigsburg, and is buried at Auburn.
John Henry Diefenderfer was born in 1824 in Lehigh county, Pa., and remained there until after he had served his apprenticeship to the trade of stone and brick mason. Moving to Schuylkill county, he made his home in West Brunswick township, followed his trade, and soon after his arrival here bought a farm in the township, which he operated for about twelve years.
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Selling that place, he had property below Auburn, on which he was engaged in farming for seven years. At the end of that period he moved into the bor- ough, where he worked with his son in the factory for a short time, subse- quently living retired until his death, April 28, 1903, in his seventy-ninth year. He is buried at Auburn. Mr. Diefenderfer married Martha A. Wagner, who was born in West Brunswick township, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Neff) Wagner, and she still resides at Auburn, being now (1915) in her eighty-fifth year. Children as follows were born to this union: Francis Daniel died when five and a half years old; Allen died when three and a half years old; Walter B., M. D., is now stationed at Altoona, as physician for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at that point ; Horace G., of Auburn, is R. F. D. mail carrier.
William Henry Diefenderfer spent his youth assisting his father with the farm work. During the early part of his independent business career he was engaged in the manufacture of brooms for a time, and subsequently in the manufacture of hosiery, which he carried on until 1895. That year he embarked in the manufacture of underwear, ladies' and children's union suits, ribbed vests and drawers, and this was afterward his main business until his death. He became associated in that line with W. G. Faust, under the name of W. H. Diefenderfer & Company, and the plant was known as the Auburn Knitting Mills. When Mr. Faust died Mr. Diefenderfer purchased his interest, and was afterwards sole owner. Through his energy and wise business policy the business grew until from sixty to seventy hands were given constant employ- ment at the plant, which is 40 by 120 feet in dimensions, two stories and base- ment.
Mr. Diefenderfer was never limited in his operations by narrow vision, his active mind enabling him to see the possibilities of modern public utilities and the benefit to be derived from the introduction of new enterprises into the community. Thus he was one of the promoters of the Auburn Electric Light & Power Company; was president of the Renovo Fire Brick & Clay Manu- facturing Company ; an organizer of the First National Bank of Auburn, of which he became president, filling that position most creditably until his death. He was never too busy for participation in the local government affairs, was particularly zealous on the subject of public education, and served twenty-one years as president of the borough council. Religious enterprises also had his support, and he was one of the active members of the Church of God, serv- ing as trustee and as teacher in the Sunday school. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to Page Lodge, No. 270. Mr. Diefenderfer's sudden death occurred in his home at Auburn, Jan. 24, 1914, and was not only a loss to the domestic circle, but deeply felt by his associates in every relation of life. His widow, Sebilla Faust (Moyer), daughter of Abraham and Mary (Faust) Moyer, continues to reside on the homestead at Auburn. They had a family of ten children, namely: Jennie; Winfield; Hermie, who married Harry F. Drumheller and resides at Allentown, Pa .; Iva, who married Earle Fegley and resides in Philadelphia ; Elsie, Mrs. John Dreher, living at Hudson, N. Y .; Arbie, married to Ira Bartlett, living at Hudson, N. Y .; Earnestine, at home ; Guy H. : Blanche, married to Augustus McGovern, residing at Cressona, Pa .; and Iwilla, at home.
GUY H. DIEFENDERFER was born Aug. 16, 1889. at Auburn, Pa., where he grew up, obtaining his early education in the local schools. He graduated from the Pottsville high school with the class of 1908, in 1909 finishing a course in
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the Peirce business college, at Philadelphia, and subsequently studied in the Perkiomen Seminary, at Pennsburg, graduating from that institution in 1910. He was preparing for a course at Lehigh College, but instead entered his father's factory in the fall of 1910 and fortunately had several years' experi- ence under his father's able guidance, qualifying him to take over the business when the latter died. He has managed the plant for the estate ever since, and gives promise of being a worthy successor to one whose name had a promi- nent place in the history of business development of Auburn, and, indeed, all over Schuylkill county. His fellow citizens paid him a high compliment when they appointed him a member of the council to succeed his father. For some time Mr. Diefenderfer was a director of the Auburn Electric Light, Heat & Power Company, resigning in 1913. Fraternally he holds membership in Schuylkill Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M., of Orwigsburg. Mr. Diefenderfer resides at home with his mother.
JACOB KILGUS, of Pottsville, has many substantial pieces of construc- tion work to show for the quarter of a century he has been doing business in this part of Schuylkill county. The variety of his operations has made it possible for him to acquire liberal experience, of which his patrons have received the benefit. Mr. Kilgus has kept steady pace with the improvements which have taken place in the building trade in his day. He is one of the thrifty German citizens of Schuylkill county who have contributed an appreciable share to the upbuilding of the town.
Mr. Kilgus was born Oct. 31, 1863, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and his father, Jacob Kilgus, was a contractor and builder in that country. He lived and died there. His son came to America in early boyhood, first locating at Mahanoy City, Pa. He learned the carpenter's trade with Solomon Faust, with whom he remained about one year, after which he was at Tremont, Schuyl- kill county, for about two years, until he entered the employ of the Philadel- phia & Reading Railway Company as a carpenter. During the six years he was in the service of that company he was stationed at different points, and was subsequently employed in the planing mill of Weed & Saylor, until their busi- ness was closed out. In 1890 he engaged in the contracting and building busi- ness on his own account, and among the structures of notable importance for which he has had the contracts we may mention the schoolhouse at Mount Carbon, the Greek church at Brockton, Schuylkill county, a chapel at Mechan- icsville, all houses at the Lytle colliery in Cass township-about eighty, all buildings at the Buck Run colliery in Foster township, Schuylkill county, and many residences in Pottsville. Mr. Kilgus is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Loyal Order of Moose, and his religious connection is with the German Lutheran Church. Personally he is respected everywhere for his honesty and trustworthiness.
Mr. Kilgus married Christina Spath, who was born in Germany, and they have the following children: Rosa, wife of Fred Zimmerman, residing at Schuylkill Haven ; Fred ; William; Barbara ; Charles ; Harry Lawrence ; Edith, and Jacob. The family home is at No. 414 East Norwegian street, Pottsville.
MICHAEL HENRY HEINE is one of the leading business men of Orwigsburg in his line and his popularity is based solely upon his reliability, of which there are many substantial evidences in and around the borough. He was born May 16, 1869, in East Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, son of Solomon Heine.
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Solomon Heine, the father, was born about 1847 in the borough of Tamaqua, this county, and there received his education. Before he attained his majority he had served an apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade, becoming a journey- man, and he followed that calling principally in West Brunswick township. About fifteen years before his death he bought a farm in South Manheim township, and devoted the remainder of his life to its cultivation. He was a citizen interested in local affairs, serving a number of terms as school director, and was active in the interest of the Republican party, acting as judge of elec- tion. He was a member of the Evangelical Church of Orwigsburg, of which he was a regular attendant for many years. He married Mary Hendricks, daughter of Michael Hendricks, and she survives him, being now (1915) seventy years old. Mr. Heine died at the age of sixty-eight years, and is buried in the Evangelical cemetery at Orwigsburg. We have the following record of their children: Francis W., a farmer in West Brunswick township, married Fannie Moyer ; Charles H., an underwear manufacturer in Girardville, married Rose Miller ; Carolina died aged twenty-two years ; Michael H. is next in the family; Amanda married Charles Potts, a plasterer, of Orwigsburg ; Kate married John Deibert, a shoemaker, of Orwigsburg; James, a farmer in West Brunswick township, married Mamie Heiser.
Michael Henry Heine was educated in the public schools at Orwigsburg, and served his apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade with his father. When he had worked as a journeyman plasterer for several years he took over his father's business in that line, the older man having given up his trade to go farming. During the first six years Michael Henry Heine conducted the business for his father, afterwards carrying it on for himself, and he has added general cement work to the original line, now commanding the principal patron- age in Orwigsburg and vicinity. He is a man of the most estimable character, with a keen sense of responsibility, and in all the relations of life is thoroughly respected for his actual worth. Fraternally he is connected with Washington Camp, No. 86, P. O. S. of A., at Orwigsburg; and Orwigsburg Council, No. 437, Jr. O. U. A. M. Like his father he is a Republican in politics, and he gives his support to the Evangelical Church, although he is not a member.
Mr. Heine married Celia Berger, who was born Jan. 16, 1871, in Auburn, Schuylkill county, and received her education in the schools of that borough, attending the high school. Two children have been born to this marriage : Edna Marian, on Jan. 7, 1892; and Florence Elizabeth, Dec. 2, 1893, the latter residing at home. The elder daughter is the wife of Ammon Berkheiser, a cigarmaker, son of John Berkheiser, of Orwigsburg, and they have one child, Leroy Warren, born Dec. 30, 1914.
William Berger, father of Mrs. Heine, was an engineer on the Schuylkill & Susquehanna railroad for many years, and his death was the result of an accident on the road. He is buried at Auburn, where he was a member of the Reformed Church and of the Odd Fellows lodge. Politically he was a Repub- lican. He married Mary Fahl, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Wiltermuth) Fahl, and they had a family of five children: Kate married Jacob Graham, a stenographer in Harrisburg : David, a railroader, of Auburn, married Annie Sowers; Celia is Mrs. Michael H. Heine; Bertha married William Fritz, a shoemaker of Adamsdale; Charles, a farmer in South Manheim township. married Clemmie Gouger. The mother resides with her son Charles in South Manheim township. Her father, Henry Fahl, was a farmer in that township, where he owned a large tract of land, which he operated until his death. He
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and his wife Elizabeth (Wiltermuth) were members of the Church of God at Auburn, and they are buried at that place. They had the following children : Joseph married a Miss Mengel, and both are deceased; Henry lives in the West ; John is deceased; Mary marrried William Berger; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Samuel Heim; Sarah is the widow of Francis Wiltermuth; Kate married Manton Shaller ; Susanna married Seth Mengel, and both are deceased.
Michael Hendricks, maternal grandfather of Michael H. Heine, followed the trade of plasterer all his life. He was located at Eckville, in Albany town- ship, Berks county, and he and his wife were buried there. They lived to old age. Her maiden name was Loy, and they had six children: Rebecca, Mrs. James Schrader; Sophia, Mrs. Peter Heckman, deceased; Hannah, Mrs. Charles Settelmoyer ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Aaron Bailer, deceased ; Emma, Mrs. John Berk ; and Mary, Mrs. Solomon Heine.
HENRY KOLBE is an extensive landowner in North Manheim township, where he has a valuable farm. He settled on his present place, a large tract near the Second mountain, in 1913, and is engaged in general farming and trucking, being a well known trader in the Pottsville markets, where much of his produce is disposed of. Mr. Kolbe is a German by birth, and his father, Jacob Kolbe, had a large estate in Germany and was a prominent man of his neighborhood. His wife, whose maiden name was Wilhelmina Miller, died upon their property there. Their family consisted of the following children : Otto, who was a farmer; Jacob, who was a sea captain, stationed on a German training ship (he died of yellow fever, and was buried in Germany) ; Mary Theresa ; Bertha ; Clara ; Selma ; Anna ; Frances ; and Henry.
Henry Kolbe was born in 1837 in Prussia. He was reared upon the paternal farm, and was thoroughly educated in his native town. He served three years in the German army as a cavalryman, under old Emperor William. After his marriage he remained on the home place until he came to America, in the year 1884, settling at once at Yorkville, in Schuylkill county, Pa., where he lived for a year. Then for five years he resided on the well known Shellen- berger farm, near Minersville, this county, thence removing to North Man- heim township, where he had bought the Martin Sheaffer farm of eighty-nine acres. Later he purchased the Kinney farm of 184 acres, located near the Second mountain, and he has lived on the latter place since 1913. The farm is now owned by his son. Vast improvements have been made on both these properties since they came into his ownership. He is as systematic and thor- ough in his work as the members of his race generally, looking after the cultiva- tion of his land according to the most approved and modern ideas, as its thrifty appearance testifies. As a citizen he is highly regarded among his neighbors in North Manheim township, where his many substantial qualities, and his intelligent management of his property, have been valuable in maintain- ing high standards among agriculturists. Mr. Kolbe is an educated musician, and even at his advanced age a skillful performer on the piano. Since settling in this country he has made two trips to the old world.
On July 31, 1865, Mr. Kolbe was married in Germany to Anna Heilman, and they are the parents of the following children : Emil is a farmer ; Henry, a contractor and builder, is now settled in California; Otto is a contractor and builder in Philadelphia, Pa .; Armo Oscar is a farmer in North Manheim town- ship ; Frederick lives at home ; Annie is the wife of Albert Geiger ; Frieda mar- ried George L. Sommers ; Pauline lives at home, caring for her aged parents ;
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Rosa married Ray Rumble; Lydia married Bert Drumheller. The family are Lutherans in religious faith.
WILLIAM W. BROWN, of Pottsville, is one of the most widely known citizens of Schuylkill county, his various business, fraternal and official associa- tions having brought him into contact with an unusually large proportion of his fellow citizens. He is at present giving his attention principally to the hotel business as proprietor of the "Central Hotel" at Pottsville.
Mr. Brown was born in Wayne township, Schuylkill county, July 16, 1850, son of Henry Brown and grandson of Valentine Brown. His father was also a native of Wayne township, where he owned a tract of ninety-two acres and followed farming very successfully. He died there at the age of seventy-one years, and is buried at St. Mark's Church. By his marriage to Leah Machmer, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Wert) Machmer, he had four children, namely : William W .; Lewis J., deceased, who was a well known man of his day, serving as county commissioner and almshouse steward in Schuylkill county ; Sarah J., who is the wife of George Boyer, and resides at Cressona ; and Susan, Mrs. Frank Graby, living at Pottsville.
William W. Brown obtained his early education in the public schools, and later studied at the Myerstown College. In his young manhood he taught school four years in Wayne township, and two years in Washington town- ship, Schuylkill county. Later he bought the old homestead farm, which now contains ninety acres, St. Mark's Lutheran and Reformed Church having ob- tained two acres of this tract for a building site. Besides farming, Mr. Brown was engaged for about six years in the lumber business. In 1888 he took charge of the "Northwestern" Hotel, now known as the "Park" Hotel, in Pottsville, subsequently conducting a hotel in Manheim township, this county, and later was proprietor of the "Newtown" Hotel in Reilly Tp., this county. Selling out his interest there, he returned to Pottsville, where he held the posi- tion of court crier for eleven years, under Judge P. M. Dunn, of the Orphans' court. On Nov. 10, 1913, he took charge of the well known "Central" Hotel, located at No. 310 North Centre street, Pottsville, and has since given the principal part of his attention to its management. The hotel has thirty-two rooms and is a popular stopping place in this part of the State. Mr. Brown's reputation and liis capable management have brought a steady increase of patronage to the house.
Mr. Brown has been associated with the administration of public affairs in the county in different capacities. For six years he was constable of Wash- ington township, and also served as tax collector. While a resident of Port Clinton he was a member of the school board. In 1885 he was elected poor director of the county, and served continuously until 1888. Politically he has always given his support to the Democratic party.
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