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 81
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HENRY AUGUST WAGNER was born Oct. 17, 1877, at Gilberton, Schuylkill county. Moving to Frackville with his parents in 1881, he received a good education there in the grammar and high schools. From the age of eleven years he helped his father, working Saturdays, looked after the Gilberton shop when a mere boy, and has always been engaged in the same line. He was in his father's employ until he and his brother William took the business, in 1906, and they have operated it since under the name of Wagner Brothers. In 1900 lie was elected a director of the First National Bank of Frackville, and he has acquired creditable standing among the reliable business men of the borough. He is well known in local Masonic circles, belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M .; Griscom Chapter, No. 219, R. A. M .; Prince of Peace Commandery, No. 39. K. T .; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of
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Reading. His religious connection is with the Lutheran Church, and in politics he supports the Republican party.
Mr. Wagner married Susan Gilfert, daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Dalius) Gilfert, and they have two children: Helen I. and Charles C.
JACOB BOLTZ is now conducting two thriving industrial plants in Potts- ville, and the fact that fifty people are afforded employment thereby gives his operations an important relation to the domestic economy of the borough. He has made good in both lines by systematic attention to every detail of manufacture and marketing, and his steady success has been laid on a solid foundation which has demonstrated his shrewd judgment and given him pres- tige among the most substantial citizens of the town.
Mr. Boltz's great-great-grandfather came to this country from Germany and settled in the Tulpehocken valley in Berks county, Pa. Peter Boltz, the great-grandfather, was born in the Tulpehocken valley, where the family had settled in pioneer days. He followed farming there, and died at the age of eighty-one years at Fredericksburg, in Bethel township, that county. He married Margaret Klahr, of Strausstown, Berks county, and their children were Benjamin, Jacob, William, Sarah, Daniel, Elizabeth and Catherine, all now deceased.
Benjamin Boltz, grandfather of Jacob Boltz, was also born in the Tulpe- hocken valley, and like his ancestors engaged in farming, settling near the Blue mountains in Berks county. His family consisted of the following chil- dren : Isaiah; Jeremiah, who lives in Berks county; James, deceased ; Simon, a resident of Berks county ; and Rebecca, deceased.
Isaiah Boltz, father of Jacob, was born in Bethel township, Berks county, and while he lived there was engaged as a huckster. In 1875 he moved to Pottsville, Schuylkill county, where he followed contracting, he and his uncle William doing the excavating and taking the contract for laying the founda- tion of the new courthouse of the borough. He died in 1897, and is buried at Pottsville. To him and his wife Sarah (Ditzler) were born three children, Jacob, Mary J. and Sarah.
Jacob Boltz was born July 7, 1865, in Bethel township, Berks Co., Pa., and came to Pottsville with his parents in boyhood: His education was obtained in the public schools. For some time he worked for his father and then for six years was engaged in delivering mine timber to the York Farm colliery. After that, for a period, he ran the York Farm brickyard. In 1901 Mr. Boltz began the manufacture of paper boxes, his first location being at Tenth and Market streets. As the expansion of the business made larger and more convenient quarters necessary, he built his present plant at Ninth and Grant streets, in 1907. There are three floors, 32 by 80, 20 by 40 and 14 by 24 feet in dimensions, respectively, and the equipment is up-to-date in every particu -. lar. The product is high-grade and in steady demand. Between thirty-five and forty people are employed in the factory. In 1913 Mr. Boltz opened what is known as the Jacob Boltz Knitting Mills, where from fifteen to twenty . employees are engaged in the manufacture of ladies' underwear. Though this business has been in existence for a comparatively short period a profitable trade has already been established, with prospects of steady increase as the product becomes known in the market. For the success of both lines Mr. Boltz deserves much credit, and he is properly ranked among the manufac- turers whose establishments have proved a distinct benefit to the borough.
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Mr. Boltz married Maude Reed, daughter of Samuel Reed, of Schuylkill Haven, this county, and their children are: George, Benjamin and Paul. Mr. Boltz is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and socially he belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men.
CYRUS MOORE, late of Minersville, was a highly regarded citizen of that place for over fifty years, and practically throughout that period an active business man. Aside from his association with the firm of Phillips & Moore he had interests which showed his faith in the stability of local enterprises, and as an official of the county and borough he evidenced public spirit which made his record one of able, intelligent and conscientious service, thoroughly consistent with his reputation.
The Moore family has been settled in Pennsylvania for several genera- tions. Adam Moore, grandfather of Cyrus Moore, was a native of Lancaster county, this State. When a young man he settled in Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1839, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a cooper, and followed farming to some extent in addition to working at his trade. He was one of the most respected citizens of Schaefferstown in his day, an earnest member of the German Lutheran Church, in whose work he took an active part, serving faithfully in its various official positions. Politically he was a Democrat of the Jacksonian type. At Schaefferstown Mr. Moore married when quite young Barbara Bal- man, of that place, and their family consisted of four children: Henry, Michael, William and Sarah, all of whom grew to maturity.
Michael Moore, father of Cyrus Moore, was born in Schaefferstown, and passed all his life there, dying in the year 1828. In his early life he learned the trade of carpenter, and followed it for a number of years. He married Rebecca Groombach, of the same place, and they had two children, Cyrus and Anna, the latter, Mrs. Reisenbach, settling in Lebanon county. Michael Moore was an earnest member of the German Lutheran Church, and a Demo- crat in politics.
Cyrus Moore was born Nov. 30, 1826, at Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, and was only one year and ten months old when his father died. He was taken to the home of his grandfather, who brought him up, giving him such educational advantages as the time and place afforded, and a thorough train- ing for the practical work of life. He learned the trade of tinsmith, which he followed at Schaefferstown until 1846, that year coming to Pottsville, Pa., where he was employed by William Hill as a tinner. He was so engaged until April, 1847, when he moved to Minersville and found work with Hill & Wil- liams, whose interest he and Solomon A. Phillips bought on Sept. 4. 1887, con- tinuing the business under the name of Phillips & Moore. Mr. Moore held his interest in the business until his death, which occurred Aug. 11, 1903, and meantime the business grew to large proportions under the progressive man- agement of himself and partner. He also took a great interest in everything which promised to promote the welfare of the borough, being connected with the Minersville Water Company, of which he was a director for ten years ; was one of the organizers of the Minersville Home Fire Insurance Company in 1873. a director from the time of its organization, and became president in 1891; and served eighteen years as a member of the borough council and one term as treasurer of Schuylkill county, to which office he was elected in 1876, on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Moore showed his strength of character
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in his relations with all his associates, as well as in his successful business operations. All his transactions were above reproach, and his keen sense of responsibility towards his fellow men was exemplified in all his dealings with them.
Socially Mr. Moore was well known, belonging for many years to Miners- ville Lodge, No. 222, F. & A. M., which he served as treasurer for a long . period. He also held membership in Social Lodge, No. 56, I. O. O. F., of which he was a past noble grand, and served as treasurer for many years. He was a member of the Grand Lodge from 1850.
On March 17, 1850, Mr. Moore married Catherine Hiller, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Hiller, of Pottsville, and she passed away several years before him, dying Aug. 29, 1894. Five children were born to this union, two sons and three daughters, namely: Annie, widow of John Straub, lived at Minersville ; Stephen A. D. was drowned when twelve years old at Long Run dam. Minersville; Eizabeth M., unmarried, is a resident of Minersville; Cath- erine, widow of John Prosser, former train dispatcher for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company at Hazleton, Pa., lives at Minersville (she has two children, Cyrus and Rodger) ; Harvey, who lives at Minersville, married Dasie Russel and has two children, Cyrus and Elizabeth. All of the Moore family are associated with the English Lutheran Church at Minersville.
Mr. Moore is buried in the Union cemetery, at Minersville.
ROBERT J. ZIMMERMAN, of St. Clair, Schuylkill county, one of the popular residents of his section, is a representative of one of the estimable old families of the locality, being a grandson of Henry Zimmerman, the founder of the name here. The Zimmermans are of German extraction. John Zim- merman, great-grandfather of Robert J. Zimmerman, lived and died in Lebanon county, Pa., where he followed farming. His children were: Jacob, Kate, Margaret and Henry.
Henry Zimmerman was born in Lebanon county, where he spent his early life. "When a young man he came to Schuylkill county, first locating in Pine Grove, where he worked by the day and in time became a carpenter. Later he removed to Tremont, this county, and still later to what was then known as Fox Valley, where the town of Branch Dale is now situated. He lived to be eighty-four years old, dying at the home of his eldest son, John, at Clouser's Mills, in Branch township, Schuylkill county. His wife, Julia (Stahr), daugh- ter of Piter Stahr, of Branch township, died at the age of seventy-one years, and they are buried in the Clouser's Church cemetery. They had a large fam- ily, viz .: John, who was a carpenter, died at Clouser's Mills; William died young ; Elizabeth married Peter Rhoads, and both are deceased; Joseph H. is the father of Robert J. Zimmerman; Jacob died at Mount Carmel, Northum- berland Co., Pa .; Susan married Aaron Yoder, and both died in Columbia county, Pa .; Henry is buried in the State of Illinois; Frank is a resident of Hyde Park, Scranton, Pa .; Wiliam H. lives in Arkansas ; Charles is a resident of Fountain Springs, Schuylkill county.
Joseph H. Zimmerman, now living in retirement at Pottsville, spent sixty- three years of his life in mine work. Born April 18, 1835, at Branch Dale, Schuylkill county, he began picking slate when but seven and a half years old, at what is now Branch Dale, then called Muddy Branch. After two years at that work he was given other employment about the mines, acting as driving boy inside, loading coal, etc., until he reached the age of fourteen.
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when he began to cut coal, at Muddy Branch. He was actively engaged at the mines until seventy years old, for a number of years holding responsible posi- tions at various collieries. For some time he was employed as a boss by Col. J. C. White; was assistant inside foreman; boss at the York Farm colliery, for the Lehigh Company; and then a boss for the Albright Coal Company, at Silverton, for three years. His last work of the kind was at Eagle Hill, for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company. After living in retirement for one year Mr. Zimmerman became gate watchman at the Schuylkill county almshouse, where he continued for fourteen months. Again he had a year's leisure, and then for three years was night watchman at the courthouse. His home is at No. 623 Fairview street, Pottsville, and he and his family are highly respected in that city.
Mr. Zimmerman is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in Company K, 16th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, among the first ninety-days men. He received his discharge at Harrisburg July 24, 1861. Mr. Zimmerman was formerly a member of the G. A. R. post at Tremont, chang- ing his membership to Mahanoy City. He has been a Republican since 1856, and in his earlier years took considerable interest in local public affairs, serv- ing ten years as school director of Gilberton, and five years as tax collector in Reilly township. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church, and socially he belongs to Washington Camp No. 284. P. O. S. of A., of Gil- berton, and to Social Lodge, No. 56, I. O. O. F., of Minersville.
On May 26, 1856, Mr. Zimmerman married Janetta McClay, daughter of Robert McClay, and eight children were born to this union, viz .: William H., who is now living at Shenandoah, this county; Joseph, who died in infancy; Robert J .; Jacob, of Gilberton, this county ; Jeanette, who married John Gorey ; John, of Springfield, Ill .; James, of St. Clair, this county; and Mary, twin of James, who died young. The mother died Sept. 20, 1871, and is buried in Clouser's graveyard. On May 1, 1872, Mr. Zimmerman married (second) Mrs. Ellen (Finley) Stewart, whose father, Robert Finley, was a native of Ireland. She was first married Oct. 14, 1864, to John Stewart, who died Aug. 4, 1871, and by that marriage had three children: Eliza (Mrs. Charles Knoll), Robert and Ellen. To her union with Mr. Zimmerman have been born the following: Joseph, a resident of Shenandoah; Henry, of Schuylkill Haven; Franklin, of Pottsville; Annie, who died young; Hugh, who died young; Charles, who died young; and Alexander, who is living in Palo Alto, this county.
Robert J. Zimmerman, son of Joseph H. and Janetta (McClay) Zimmer- man, was born Feb. 29, 1860, at Branch Dale, Schuylkill county. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Reilly township and Gilberton bor- ough, where he moved in 1873. He began work as his father did, as a slate picker, being first employed at the Swatara colliery, in time became a full- fledged miner, and for eighteen years was stationed at the Draper colliery. where he acted as assistant inside foreman. In November, 1901, Mr. Zimmer- man moved to St. Clair, where he engaged in the hotel business, carrying it on successfully until 1906, when he sold his interests in that line. He has valuable property holdings in the borough, to whose management he devotes the principal share of his attention. Public matters have also occupied much of his time. During his residence at Gilberton he served six years in the borough council, giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned by his fidelity to the interests of his fellow citizens, and he has been a member of the St.
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Clair borough council for a similar period. The public spirit which charac- terized his service in both bodies has gained him the confidence and esteem of a large number of the best citizens all over the county, and at this writing he is Republican candidate for the office of county commissioner. His previ- ous record is sufficient assurance that he will do his duty faithfully and intel- ligently in any position to which he may be chosen. In fraternal connection Mr. Zimmerman is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
Mr. Zimmerman is married to Emma J. Davis, and they have two children, Raymond and Sarah.
EPHRAIM BARLOW, one of the oldest residents of Mahanoy City, has been one of the most valuable of his day, identified with the social progress as well as the commercial expansion of the borough. He has been president of the Malianoy City board of health since it was established, twenty-two years ago. His principal business interests have been in the coal fields, and he is still operating in the soft coal region in West Virginia, where he and his son have investments.
Mr. Barlow is of English descent. His paternal grandfather, the first of the line to settle in America, came to this country from England and made his home in Montgomery county, Pa., where he lived and died. In partnership with a man named Evans he owned the land upon which the borough of. New Philadelphia, Schuylkill county, now stands, at that time a wilderness and known as the Barlow & Evans tract. They bought it at an early day.
Nathan Barlow, father of Ephraim Barlow, was born Jan. 17, 1795, in Limerick township, Montgomery county. Coming to Schuylkill county he settled at the site of New Philadelphia about 1824, being the pioneer at that place and for many years the leading citizen of the town and vicinity. His was one of the two houses there in 1831, after which the village developed, and he continued to live there until 1866. In 1868 it was incorporated as a borough. He was one of the early justices of the township, holding the office for twenty- five years. During the earlier part of his residence here he taught school at Lewistown, this county, during the winter months, walking to that point from his home at New Philadelphia. Later he became a merchant at New Phila- delphia. The first services of the Primitive Methodist congregation, organ- ized at Tucker's Hill, were held in Squire Barlow's store. When he retired in 1866 he came to make his home at Mahanoy City, where his son lived, and died there Feb. 28, 1870. He is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Potts- ville. Mr. Barlow was twice married, the first time June 1, 1817, to Anna Brooks, of Montgomery county, daughter of John Brooks. She died May I, 1818, at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a son, John Barlow, born that day ; he grew to maturity and died at Pottstown, Pa., leaving a family. On March 10, 1824, Mr. Barlow married (second) Esther Kulp, who was born Sept. 6, 1804, of German descent, daughter of Henry Kulp, and died March 15, 1883. Eleven children were born to this marriage: William H., born Sept. 4, 1825, died Dec. 27, 1903, in Los Angeles, Cal .; Phoebe, born June 16, 1827, was the first wife of the late Andrew Robertson, the pioneer coal operator, and died Jan. 12, 1859, in Pottsville; Nathan, Jr., born Nov. 24, 1829, died in Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1856, and Andrew Robertson married his widow for histhird wife; Hiram, born Aug. 23, 1831, died at Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1856; Daniel, born Jan. 22, 1835, was a merchant and engaged in the lumber
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business at Mahanoy City, where he died Aug. 12, 1883; Ephraim is next in the family ; Alfred, born March 13, 1841, died at Roanoke, Va., in Decem- ber, 1893 (he was a coal operator in West Virginia) ; Malinda, born Nov. 4, 1843, was the second wife of the late Andrew Robertson, and died March 24, 1867; Esther, born Feb. 21, 1846, was the wife of Joseph Beddall, and died at Shenandoah, this county, May 1, 1882 ; Harriet, born Nov. 2, 1848, dicd Nov. 2, 1851; George W., born May 17, 1851, died June 2, 1851.
Ephraim Barlow was born Aug. 17, 1837, at New Philadelphia, where he attended public school. In the year 1854 he went to Dayton, Ohio, to learn the trade of wheelwright, and remained there about two years. Returning home, he worked at his trade a short time at Port Carbon, Schuylkill county. In 1857 he went to California, where his brother Daniel had gone in 1855, and he took up mining claims and joined the search for gold. The brothers were in partnership in mining and lumbering and were very successful. Ephraim Barlow spent five years in California, coming back to Schuylkill county in 1862, when he settled at Mahanoy City. Until about 1878 he was engaged in the mercantile business. Meantime he also became interested in the develop- ment of soft coal property in West Virginia and Kentucky, and he is now presi- dent of the Elk Horn Coal & Coke Company, which is engaged in large opera- tions in Mingo county, W. Va .; he is also president of the Burnwell Coal and Coke Company, whose mine is on the line of West Virginia and Kentucky, lying partly in each State. Mr. Barlow has been notably successful in his mining ventures. He has always been public-spirited in lending his influence to local projects which promise to benefit the community. When the borough board of health was organized he was made president, and he has held the position ever since, giving the greatest satisfaction to his fellow citizens. He is a member of St. John's English Lutheran Church and one of its prominent workers, being at present one of the church council; he has also served as elder.
In 1863 Mr. Barlow married Joanna M. Beddall, daughter of the late Thomas Beddall, of Schuylkill county, and his wife Mary (Shakespear). Children as follows have been born to this union: Wallace died in infancy July 26, 1864; Thomas B. died in infancy March 30, 1866; George W., born Dec. 3, 1866, is the only survivor of the family. He has been engaged with his father in the lumber business and is now interested with him in the soft coal business. He is a director of the Union National Bank of Mahanoy City. By his first marriage, to Ida Beddall, daughter of Benjamin Beddall, George W. Barlow had one child, Ephraim, Jr., who died in his seventeenth year. He married for his second wife Annie Skeath, daughter of John and Catherine Skeath, of Mahanoy City, and they have had five children: Ida, Catherine, Esther, Marie and George Wilbur.
JAMES D. SCHLEGEL, of Tamaqua, holds a foremost place among local builders and contractors. In the borough and vicinity are many examples of the skill and competence by which he has gained a large patronage, and he has as excellent a reputation for trustworthiness in all transactions as in hon- est construction. His contributions to the material development of Tamaqua are noteworthy and fully up to the best standards of modern building.
Mr. Schlegel is a native of Northumberland county, Pa., born in the Mahantongo valley, near the Schuylkill county line, in 1870, son of Daniel H. Schlegel and grandson of Charles Schlegel, who also lived in that valley. The name is an old one in Pennsylvania. John Christian Schlegel, the first Amer-
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ican ancestor and progenitor of this family, was a native of Germany, and undoubtedly was the Johanis Schlegel who emigrated on the ship "Bilander Townsend," which landed (qualified) at Philadelphia Oct. 5, 1737. On Aug. 16, 1738, and Nov. 7, 1754, he obtained proprietary warrants for land situated in Berks county, Pa. In 1759 he paid six pounds tax in Richmond town- ship, where he had lived since coming to the New World. He was a farmer and owned more than three hundred acres of land, and in 1797 built a stone house which is still standing and in good condition, owned and used by his great-grandson, Abraham, and his children and grandchildren. John Chris- tian Schlegel and his wife Esther had a number of children, among whom were: Peter ; Wilhelm; Christian, born March 25, 1765; Elizabeth, born April 9, 1767; Johannes, born Sept. 7, 1768, and Heinrich, born July 15, 1779. Peter and Wilhelm left that section, traveling on horseback across the Blue mountains, and settled in the Mahantongo valley in what is now Schuylkill county, then a part of Berks county. They visited their brother Heinrich at the old home every two, three or four years, coming on horseback and remaining for a week or two. One of the sons of John Christian Schlegel lived with the Indians, liking their mode of life. He was greatly admired by them, because of his courage, strength and marksmanship, and when he was quite an aged man he and some of his adopted brethren of the forest came to visit his old home near Fleetwood. Because of the great journey on which they came, and the effects of his strenuous life with the Redmen, he became exhausted at Dreibelbis spring, and he died soon thereafter, and fills an unknown grave. This account is based on tradition, and the family papers give brief accounts of it.
There were two brothers, Wilhelm and Peter Schlegel, of Berks county, - who settled in Northumberland county at an early date and who, according to the inscription on Peter's tombstone, in the graveyard of St. Peter's Church, Mahanoy, were sons of Johann Christian and Anna Barbara Schlegel. Wil- helm Schlegel was born in Richmond township, Berks county, on the original Schlegel homestead near Fleetwood, May 26, 1782. He came to Northumber- land county after his marriage, and farmed until his death, Jan. 14, 1856. He and his wife Elizabeth (Wentzel) had fourteen children, all of whom grew to maturity and survived the parents.
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