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 82
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Peter Schlegel, brother of Wilhelm, was born Oct. 12, 1786; came to Northumberland county from Berks county ; and died Feb. 1, 1864. His wife was Elizabeth (Rettinger), born Sept. II, 1789, died July 16, 1866. They are buried at the Herb (Salem) Church. They had sons Peter, David, and another. Of these, Peter had five children, Joel, Milton, Elizabeth, and another daughter. David's children were Samuel, Peter, and Charles.
Charles Schlegel, son of David, was the grandfather of James D. Schlegel.
Daniel H. Schlegel, father of James D. Schlegel, was a carpenter by occupation. For many years he lived in the Mahantongo valley, later remov- ing to Shamokin, Northumberland county, where he died in 1914. He had the following children: Nathan, who is superintendent of the Burnside colliery, at Shamokin, Pa .; James D .; Lydia ; Catherine ; Helen ; and. Rose.
James D. Schlegel lived on the farm at Snydertown, Northumberland county, until nineteen years old, when he went to Shamokin and at once com- menced an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade with Aucker, Slayman & Co., who are now operating as the Shamokin Lumber & Manufacturing Com-
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pany. After two years there he removed to Pottsville, Schuylkill county, and entered the employ of the late Lewis Medlar, who gave him full charge of the erection of the residence of John Zerbey. He was ambitious to vary his experi- ence as much as possible, and from Pottsville he changed to Reading, where he was engaged at interior finishing on such important structures as the Fifth Street Memorial church, being similarly employed at the Keystone State nor- mal school (at Kutztown) and the State sanatorium at Wernersville. Return- ing to Shamokin, he took a position as carpenter with the Shamokin Lumber & Manufacturing Company, with whom he continued until his removal to Tamaqua seventeen years ago. There he has won a place among the most reliable builders in that section of Schuylkill county. For a few years he worked for the late Daniel Weaver, head of the firm of Daniel Weaver & Son, and for J. A. Schilbe, and since 1902 he has been doing business on his own account as an architect and builder. His first contract was for the fine modern dwelling of Nels Nelsen, the West End florist, which he designed and con- structed, and many other beautiful residences in and around the borough testify to his taste and skill. He has also remodeled and modernized a number of the older homes, notably that of M. A. Gerber, and he designed and built a six-apartment dwelling and office structure for Dr. George A. Wilford; the beautiful home of Mrs. F. P. Spiese, on West Broad street ; the Presbyterian parsonage; a double block adjoining the property of W. A. Pugh on West Broad street; the Evangelical parsonage; residences of John F. Wagner, Samuel P. Wagner and Clarence Schultz; eight tenement houses for B. H. Seltzer; twelve for Dr. Kate Freudenberger; remodeled the D. F. B. Shepp, W. R. Jones and John Roberts properties on West Broad street; in 1914 built the George Kelner apartment and business block on West Broad street, and a bungalow for Harry Kramer on Cottage avenue. His own residence, at the corner of Lehigh street and Cottage avenue, he erected in 1912. As architect he planned the remodeling of the Courier building, the Trinity Re- formed church, and many equally creditable undertakings. His exceptional mechanical ability, combined with executive talent well developed in his wide experience, has made him a substantial contributor to the material betterment of the borough, where his work has justly received much appreciation. Mr. Schlegel is well known socially, belonging to Tamaqua Lodge, No. 238, F. & A. M., and to Vigilance Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Reading, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Schlegel was united in marriage with Mana Beader, daughter of Charles Beader, of Shamokin, Pa., and the following children have been born to them: George J., Verna, Erye, Nelson, Pauline, James and Daniel. The family are of the Reformed faith in religion.
SAMUEL DEEBEL, who is extensively engaged in farming in East Union township, has a finely improved property and beautiful home there. The home place has been owned in the family for almost three-quarters of a century, Mr. Deebel's father having bought and settled there in 1841.
The Deebels are of German origin, and John F. Deebel, the father of Samuel Deebel, was the first of the line to come to this country. The grand- father was a farmer in Baden, owning a small tract of land. He followed his son to America with the intention of remaining here, but as he did not like his new surroundings returned to the old country. Later, however, he became dissatisfied there and decided to try the United States again, and he was frozen to death while traveling through the forest, on his way to take
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passage. He and his wife are buried in Baden. They had two children of whom we have record, Andrew and John F. The grandfather was a Lutheran in religion.
John F. Deebel was born July 28, 1808, in Baden, Germany, and was reared and educated in that country. He served an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, and about the time he completed his term underwent the customary test of skill in that vocation. The apprentice had to construct a keg without hoop or band that would hold water, and if successful was considered a good mechanic, and had the privilege of presenting himself for employment as a finished tradesman. John F. Deebel followed coopering as long as he remained in his native land. When a little over thirty years old he decided to come to America, but not having the money for the journey he borrowed one hundred dollars from two friends, with the understanding that after he had estab- lished himself here he would find positions for them, so that they would have employment ready for them when they arrived. He settled at Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he worked at carpentry, and in due time he kept his agreement and sent for his friends, one a Mr. Thatch, for whom he secured work as a carpenter at Tamaqua. There is no record of the other, except that it is known Mr. Deebel fulfilled his obligation. Mr. Deebel did carpenter work around the breakers, etc., at Tamaqua, working at first for fifty cents a day, was married there, and soon afterwards turned to the agricultural opportunities the surrounding country afforded, which seemed to him to promise very well. In 1841 he moved to the place in East Union township, Schuylkill county, now owned by his son Samuel, having bought a tract of four hundred acres from Samuel Knaube. Six acres were clear, the rest in timber. Mr. Deebel cleared a great deal of it in his lifetime, some forty acres being placed under profitable cultivation through his labors, assisted by his children as they became old enough. When he came to the property a log house and log barn stood there, and he used both. As he prospered he bought more land, his industry and thrift being very well rewarded. In 1874 he sold out to his son Samuel and a new house was built, the parents living with Samuel until they died. The father passed away at his home place May II, 1894, aged eighty-five years, nine months, thirteen days. He was interested in politics and local affairs, supporting the Democratic party, and for nine years he held the office of tax collector. In religion he was a Lutheran, belong- ing to St. Paul's Church in East Union township, which he served as elder and deacon.
Mr. Deebel married Mrs. Rebecca (Zehner) Kreitz, who was born Feb. 28, 1808, at Zehner's Mill, in West Penn township, daughter of David Zehner, a miller of West Penn township, this county, Zehner's mill standing there to this day, operated by one of his descendants, Jacob Zehner; it is near Zehner's station, on the Philadelphia & Reading road. Rebecca Zehner was first mar- ried to David Kreitz, by whom she had two sons, David and William, the latter now eighty-six years old. To her marriage with Mr. Deebel were born the following children: Samuel; Louisa, widow of Robert Fehr, living in Mahanoy City; Rebecca, who married Henry Betzenberger, of Walnutport, Pa .; Elizabeth, who died young; John, of East Union township, who married Hannah Lorah; Abraham, deceased, who went West and married there ; Henry, who married Anna Herring; and a son who died young. The mother of this family died June 20, 1894, aged eighty-six years, three months, twenty- two days. Both parents are buried at St. Paul's Church.
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Samuel Deebel was born Aug. 19, 1842, on the farm in East Union town- ship which he now owns and occupies. He grew to manhood there, during his boyhood attending the Lorah school, and received his training for his life work under his father's tuition, continuing to work for him after he attained his. majority. When his father was no longer able to do his share of the farm work he cared for him dutifully, looking after both his parents in their old age. In 1874 he was given a deed to the home property by his father, in consideration of the wages due him for his work after he was twenty-one years old. He has added to the original tract by two purchases, one of thirty- five acres, the other of seventy acres, of which sixteen acres are cleared. He works all three tracts, carrying on general farming, in which he has been very successful, being looked upon as one of the substantial men of his township. Besides improving his land he built the present dwelling there, and has recently made a number of changes in the house and grounds, having cement walks and walls for his garden, and up-to-date appointments in his house. All three places are equipped with hot and cold water and bathroom. As he and ' his wife are great lovers of flowers they have beautified their yard with unusual care, having one of the most attractive homes in the vicinity.
Mr. Deebel prizes all the possessions which have come down to him from his ancestors, especially his mother's china, which includes some very fine old specimens. He has been offered good prices for some pieces, but would never consent to part with them. He has several fine carriage robes, one specially fine piece of work, made of coonskins from animals he trapped himself. He has another made from the skins of groundhogs which he caught, and a fine black bearskin from a bear which he shot in Centre county, this State.
Like his father Mr. Deebel has been a prominent member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of which he is now elder, having held that office for twenty years. He has also been deacon, and he is a regular attendant at Sunday school services. Politically he is a Democrat, and though never an office seeker he served as tax collector in 1885. He was a charter member of Ring- town Lodge, No. 287, I. O. O. F. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Ringtown, and for twenty-two years has held stock in the Mahanoy City Bank.
Mr. Deebel married Mrs. Rachel (Zimmerman) Eisenhauer, widow of Samuel Eisenhauer. They have one child, Rebecca, born April 20, 1902, who is attending school in the home township.
Mrs. Deebel was born Feb. 2, 1856, in Union township, this county, near Ringtown, where the "Hotel Slitzer" now stands, and was ten years old when the family moved to Roaring Creek, Columbia Co., Pa. She was married in Ringtown to Samuel Eisenhauer, who was born near that place, son of Jacob and Sarah (Kramer) Eisenhauer, and they first lived in Union township, where he rented a farm, later moving to East Union township, where he died. He was a Democrat, and his religious connection was with the Old White Reformed Church in Union township, at which church he is buried. Mr. and Mrs. Eisenhauer had the following family: Mina Jane, who is deceased ; Sarah Ann, deceased ; Benjamin Franklin, who married Lillie Donahoe; David Jacob, who married Helen Miller ; Catherine. deceased; Lizzie May, deceased ; Ira, who married Mary Nungesser ; Eva, wife of Charles Scott ; William Roy, who married Margaret Klopp; Ida Pearl, wife of Harvey Barker; and Arthur John, unmarried, who lives at home. Mrs. Deebel is a member of the Reformed congregation of St. Paul's Church, and belongs to the Ladies' Aid Society.
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John Zimmerman, Mrs. Deebel's grandfather, was born in Union town- ship, this county, and followed farming, owning seventy acres. He had two children, Emanuel and David, and died when the latter was young. In religion he adhered to the German Reformed faith, belonging to the Old White Church, and he and his wife are buried there. Politically he was a Democrat.
David Zimmerman was born in Union township, and being quite young when his father died was reared by his grandfather, John Zimmerman. He became a farmer, and some time after his marriage, which took place in Union town- ship, bought his father-in-law's farm in Roaring Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., consisting of over one hundred acres, upon which he made a perma- nent settlement. He died there. Mr. Zimmerman married Mrs. Mina ( Mil- ler) Lindermuth, daughter of Daniel and ( Kline) Miller and widow of Michael Lindermuth, by whom she had four children: Frank and his wife Priscilla are both deceased; Anne is the widow of Samuel Dresher and lives at Ringtown, Pa .; Nathaniel married Sarah Snyder, and they live in Centre county, Pa .; Michael married Sarah Ulshafer, and they live in East Union township. To Mr. and Mrs. David Zimmerman were born the following children : John married Caroline Maurer ; Daniel, deceased, married Susan Maurer, who lives at Shamokin, Pa .; Lena is deceased ; Rudolph married Margaret Leiby, and they live in Roaring Creek; Polly, deceased, was the wife of Samuel Rupert, of Ringtown, Pa .; Lewis, deceased, married Sarah Leiby, who lives in Roaring Creek; Rachel is the wife of Samuel Deebel; Isaac, deceased, married Emma Leiby, who lives at Elysburg, Pa .; Andrew married Ellen Berger, and they live near Elysburg, Pa .; Catherine is deceased.
Mr. Zimmerman was a member of the German Reformed Church of Numidia, Columbia county, where he and his wife are buried. He was a Democrat on political questions.
FREDERICK RICK WAGNER, D. D. S., is one of the successful dental practitioners in Schuylkill county, having his office at Mahanoy City, where this Wagner family has been established for over forty years. His father, Franklin B. Wagner, was a merchant of high standing in the borough for more than a quarter of a century, and most of his children are still living there and taking their part in the life of the community as substantial citizens.
Earlier generations of the Wagner family were in Berks county, Pa., where George Wagner and his wife, the Doctor's great-grandparents, lived and died. He was born March 3, 1776, and died Aug. 21, 1857; she was born May 5, 1777, and died aged forty-four years, nine months, three days. They lived at the old Wagner homestead about five miles west of Hamburg, where he followed farming. He was married three times and we have the following record of his children: Solomon died in September, 1898, aged ninety years, nine months ; Daniel, born July 1, 1801, died-July 12, 1882; Mrs. Salem died Sept. 7, 1889, aged eighty-six years, ten months, five days; Benjamin, born Aug. 29, 1804, died Jan. 3, 1892 ; Samuel, born Oct. 11, 1809, died in April, 1887, aged seventy-seven years, five months, twenty-five days; William, born Oct. 14, 1811, died March 27, 1888; George, born May 10, 1816, died June 10, 1896; Elias was born Jan. 25, 1820.
William Wagner, son of George, was born in Upper Bern township, Berks Co., Pa., Oct. 14, 1811, and died March 27, 1888, at Hamburg, that county,
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where he was engaged in farming. His wife was born May 18, 1814, and died July 23, 1886. Their children were: Charles died May 18, 1899, aged sixty- three years, eight months, twenty-seven days; William died May 28, 1879, aged thirty-nine years, three months, ten days; Franklin B. died March 26. 1904, aged sixty years, one month, five days; Catherine died Nov. 1, 1889, aged forty-four years, six months, sixteen days; Sarah died April 19, 1901, aged fifty-four years, twenty-seven days; Adam, born May 25, 1850, died June 1, 1876; Fayetta died Dec. 5, 1891, aged thirty-seven years, ten months, sixteen days ; Jonathan died Nov. 28, 1891, aged thirty-four years, seven months, seven- teen days; Amelia, born Dec. 27, 1848, died March 1, 1857; Henrietta, born Aug. 3, 1855, died May 2, 1861.
Franklin B. Wagner, son of William, and father of Dr. Frederick Rick Wagner, was born at Hamburg, Berks Co., Pa., and was reared and educated there. He came to Mahanoy City about 1873, and engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on successfully the rest of his active life, becoming widely known and making an enviable reputation both in business and for per- sonal integrity. He retired about two years before his death, which occurred March 26, 1904, at the age of sixty years, one month, five days. He is buried at Hamburg, Pa. Mr. Wagner married Caroline K. Rick, a daughter of George Rick and his wife, Caroline (Kauffman), both members of old families of Berks county, Pa. Mrs. Wagner still resides at Mahanoy City. Children as follows were born to this union: Alice R., now the wife of Dr. C. D. Miller, of Pottsville, Pa .; Jovina R., wife of Frank Kemery, living at Mahanoy City; Milton R., who now has charge of the C. R. Wagner store at Mahanoy City ; Catherine R., living at home; Frederick R .; Carrie, the wife of Harry F. Newhard; and Frank R., a mining engineer, living at home.
Frederick Rick Wagner was born Nov. 20, 1876, at Mahanoy City, and in his boyhood had the advantages afforded by the public schools of the borough. Later he attended Mercersburg (Pa.) College, and prepared for his profes- sion in the dental school of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, graduating in 1900. Dr. Wagner began independent work in his profession at Watertown, N. Y., where he continued practice for seven years, at the end of that period returning to his native place, where he has found an excellent field of labor. Beginning on the prestige of his personal worth, he has built up a large practice by conscientious service to all patrons alike, and their num- ber has increased steadily in the years of his location here. His office is in the Dipper building. Dr. Wagner is a Mason in good standing, affiliated with ยท Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; with Mizpah Chapter, No. 252, R. A. M. (past high priest) ; and Ivanhoe Com- mandery, No. 31, K. T. He also belongs to the Woodmen and the P. O. S. of A. In religious matters he is active as one of the efficient workers in the St. Paul's Reformed Church. In every association he enjoys the unstinted regard of his townsmen.
Dr. Wagner married May E. Ross, of Watertown, N. Y., and they have one child, Doris.
LOY & MINNIG, owners and publishers of The Call, Schuylkill Haven. This firm is composed of two young men born and raised in Schuylkill Haven, who in December, 1910, purchased outright the town's newspaper, The Call, and the job printing department connected with it, and immediately began upon a plan to improve and enlarge the scope of the publication. In the five years
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the paper has grown from a four-page, six-column, three-quarter advertise- ment and boiler plate construction, to a six-page, seven-column, all home print publication, containing the news of the town and surrounding communities, in addition to many special features which are carried only by the larger metropolitan dailies. A large modern and complete job printing department is conducted in connection with the newspaper publication.
HARRY F. LoY, the business manager of the firm, son of Frank and Mary Loy, the second eldest in a family of five children, was born in Schuylkill Haven on Jan. 28, 1886, and with the exception of a few years in Philadelphia has spent his entire life in this town. Mr. Loy is the married member of this firm. He is a member of the First Reformed Church and a member of the board of church officials of this denomination. Fraternally he is connected with Page Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M., the Royal Arcanum, and is a past grand of Carrol Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Schuylkill Haven. He is the president of the Sigma Club, composed of the town's most prominent and rep- resentative young men. His many years' experience in large printing houses and on several newspapers, and his careful study of the printing art, make him capitally fitted for the business management and superintendence of the mechanical and printing department of The Call printing office.
FLOYD H. MINNIG is the single member of this firm. He is twenty-nine years of age, having been born May 6, 1886. He is a son of John and Emma Minnig, the former being the well known Schuylkill Haven coal dealer for many years. He received his education in the public schools of the borough and later took a thorough course in the Pottsville Business College. He se- cured a position as clerk with a shoe manufacturing firm in Schuylkill Haven, which position he held for six years, resigning to embark in the newspaper and printing business. Mr. Minnig is the editor of The Call. His knowledge of the newspaper game and experience in this line of work was gained through his years of service on the Pottsville Journal as a local correspondent, and his training received from the editorial staff of this publication. He is a violinist of no mean ability and a clever and exacting trap drummer. Fraternally he is connected with the F. & A. M. of his town, and the Improved Order of Hep- tasophs of Schuylkill Haven. He is a member of St. John's Reformed Church. He is secretary of the Sigma Club, and for the past six years, as at present, has held the position of secretary of the town council of his borough.
JOHN E. BUBECK, for many years a well known resident of Schuylkill Haven, and an honored veteran of the great Civil war in his adopted country, was born at Esslingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America and the United States in boyhood. He landed at the port of New York and from there made his way to Philadelphia. With German thrift he accepted the first job of honest work that came his way, and followed butchering for a short time before coming on to Schuylkill Haven. Here, while the Schuylkill Haven docks were being built, he worked in the stone quarry. On March 31, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company B, 48th Pennsyl- vania Infantry, commanded by Capt. Thomas B. Williams, and saw very hard service before his honorable discharge, June 26, 1865, at the close of the war. He participated in the following battles : Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Nortli Anna River, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg and the mine explosion, Poplar Spring's Church, and Hatcher's Run, at the last named, in February, 1865, being captured by the enemy. He was incarcerated for three months in the
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Salisbury prison and afterwards had to be cared for in a hospital at Baltimore.
After his military service had been so faithfully performed Mr. Bubeck returned to Schuylkill Haven and for a time followed butchering, and then was employed on the canal at Landing No. 1, under John B. Striker, where he con- tinued for four years. Mr. Bubeck then accepted a position as shipper for the Reading Railway Company, and continued in that relation until the comple- tion of the canal, after which he was employed in the storage yards until he retired from active service, a few years before his death. He was an honest, upright, industrious man, one who commanded respect from employers and associates. In his religious belief he was of the Lutheran faith. He is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. In politics he was a Democrat, and fraternally was a member of the Knights of the Mystic Chain ; he belonged also to Jere. Helms Post, No. 26, G. A. R., at Schuylkill Haven.
John E. Bubeck was united in marriage with Mary Eiler, a daughter of John Eiler, and the following children were born to them: John E., of Cressona, Pa .; Minnie, wife of John McCanna; William; Frank; George; Charles H .; Anna, wife of Daniel Shappell; Marietta, deceased ; Clayton W .; and four who died in infancy.
CHARLES H. BUBECK, son of John E. and Mary Bubeck, a well known business man at Schuylkill Haven, was born in that borough Dec. 10, 1868. He attended the public schools in North Manheim township and afterwards, for two years, was employed on the Schuylkill canal, and for two years more was located at the Schuylkill Haven landing. Mr. Bubeck was then employed by the Reading Railway Company in its repair department for one year, follow- ing which he was a brakeman on the Mine Hill railroad for nine years. He then left the railroad for a time and went to Philadelphia, entering the employ of the Hagens boatyard people, but remained only a short time, and after coming back to Schuylkill Haven returned to the Reading Railway Company. Until June 12, 1901, he was engaged in several capacities, and then he went into the car shops, where he continued until June, 1913. At that time he bought the stock of L. M. Reichert, an established grocer, at No. 164 Dock street, and has built up a very satisfactory grocery and green goods business.
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