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 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
By his marriage to Mary Williams, daughter of John and Mary Williams, Mr. Spencer had a family of seven children who reached maturity: William ; Thomas, deceased; Hannah, widow of Edward Cooke, of West Bethlehem; John, deceased ; George, agent for the Dupont Powder Company at Ashland, Pa .; Rachel, widow of Dr. Thomas Patterson, of Mahanoy City ; and Mary, deceased, who was the wife of William Taylor, manager of the stores of the Forest Improvement Company at Heckscherville and Forestville, Schuylkill county.
Mr. Spencer was a Whig in politics until the organization of the Repub- lican party, which he supported during his last years. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and took a sincere interest in its work, which he assisted generously.
William Spencer was born Aug. 7, 1830, at West West, in Norwegian township, Schuylkill county, and received his early education in convenient academies, later attending Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1847. When ready to commence work he joined his father, for whom as soon as able he acted as superintendent at the Oak Hill collieries, and later at Buck Mountain, near Hazleton. His career as a coal operator had two interruptions, the first in 1849, when he joined the rush to California in search of gold. He made the voyage around the Horn to San Francisco, but did not spend much time in the coast region. On his return to the East he was located for a time at Paterson, N. J., conducting coal yards run in con- nection with his father's mining business in Schuylkill county. Later he was out of the coal business again during the Civil war, in which he served under two enlistments. He first entered the 5th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Benjamin C. Christ, the regiment spending most of its three months' term in camp duty at Harrisburg, Washington, D. C., and Alexandria, Va., and
47
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
never coming into direct contact with the enemy. After being mustered out, July 25, 1861, Mr. Spencer reenlisted at once, in the Pennsylvania cavalry service, in which he served honorably to the end of the war, attaining the rank of major.
The war over, Mr. Spencer resumed his old calling, being superintendent and general manager of the Buck Mountain colliery and company store, near Hazleton, where he continued for a period of eighteen years, returning to Minersville to live in the fall of 1885. Though particularly well experienced in anthracite mining he joined Andrew Robertson, of Pottsville, about 1881-82, in the development of bituminous coal fields in West Virginia, under the name of the Bottom Creek Coal and Coke Company, and retained his interests there to the close of his life. The property increased in value under their efficient management and intelligent exploitation, and as president, corresponding secre- tary and general manager Mr. Spencer took an active part in superintending the operation of the mines, which are located near Vivian, McDowell county. He was there attending to business while stricken with pneumonia, dying Dec. 13, 1904, after a brief illness. His remains were brought back to Minersville and interred in the Union cemetery.
Mr. Spencer's experience in mining, begun in boyhood, and varied by the different operations he superintended, was so extensive and intelligently applied that he was looked upon as an authority in the business. But he was not so thoroughly wrapped up in it as to ignore other interests or neglect his duties of citizenship, and he assisted in the establishment of business institu- tions and public utilities which were necessary to stimulate the growth of his town and county, or whose support seemed assured by their advancement. He was one of the organizers of the Minersville Electric Light Company, a director of the Minersville Water Company, and connected with the First National Bank. He was also interested in the manufacture of sewer pipes in Alabama. The ability so admirably demonstrated in the direction of his private concerns gained all his opinions the respectful consideration of his associates in every relation, and was never turned to any but the most com- mendable use. His name and reputation live on in the good movements which received their impetus largely through his encouragement. The large numbers who turned out to pay their last respects at his funeral showed how generally he was beloved in the community where he had been known from boyhood.
On Nov. 3, 1853, Mr. Spencer was married to Amelia J. Prevost, daughter of John Prevost, and they had one child, Mary E., who died in infancy. Mrs. Spencer continues to occupy the fine old home on Front street where she and her husband spent so many happy years, and where cordial hospitality has always been assured their many friends. She is now one of the oldest resi- dents of the town, and deservedly held in tender regard by a wide acquaintance- ship.
JOHN PREVOST, in his day a citizen of note at Minersville, was a native of Pennsylvania, born about 1788 near Phoenixville, Chester county, where his parents settled on their removal from Canada. They came to America from France. In his early life Mr. Prevost learned the saddler's trade. About 1828 he settled at Minersville, where he made a permanent home, dying in 1863, at the age of seventy-five years. For several years previously he had lived retired, but during the greater part of his residence at Minersville he was in the hotel business, and his strong character and uprightness made him very influential in local affairs, in which he took a leading part. He served a long
48
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
term as postmaster, was school director and treasurer of the borough, and officially and unofficially did his share towards its advancement. Politically he was an old-line Whig.
At Phoenixville Mr. Prevost married Mary Jones, a native of Wales, by whom he had eight children, namely: Etta died when twenty years old; Susanna died at the age of five years; Louis WV:, a prominent physician for many years at Tremont, died at Minersville in 1900; Charles C., who was employed in various stores at Minersville, died at the age of thirty-one years ; Hiram W., a druggist at Minersville, died at the age of sixty-eight years ; Amelia J. is the widow of William Spencer ; Elizabeth married Dr. L. J. Hale and lived in Minersville for some time after her marriage, and then removed to the vicinity of Jenkintown, where she still resides; Mary P. is now Mrs. Jacob Serrill, of Philadelphia, where her husband is a coal operator.
JUDGE GEORGE J. WADLINGER, who died a few months after his elec- tion as judge of the courts of Schuylkill county, was a man of such unusual at- tainments that although he barely lived to reach his prime his name will have a permanent place in the records of this bar. In the few months of his service on the bench he gave every indication of the possession of true judicial qualities, and though he interpreted the law with the utmost fidelity his strong personal- ity injected itself into all his decisions with a tone of sincerity which he could not disguise. Keenly alive to his obligations in the administration of the law, and yet with a sensitive comprehension of a strong man's sense of responsibil- ity towards his fellows, he had a proper conception of the duties of his office which with his legal fitness made him highly competent for their performance.
Judge Wadlinger was a native of Schuylkill county, of German descent. His grandfather, George J. Wadlinger, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and passed all his life in that country. Francis Wadlinger, the Judge's father, was born in Germany in 1836 and spent his early years there. He lived in Schuylkill county, Pa., from the time of his immigration to America, in 1854, first settling at Minersville, where he lived until 1865. Thereafter he resided at Mahanoy . City, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until his death, which occurred there in 1879. During his later years he was associated with the opera- tion of various collieries, as superintendent, acting in that capacity at the Diamond colliery, at Forestville, and the Anchor colliery, at Heckscherville. It was while thus occupied that he received the injuries which eventually caused his death. With his brother John he was interested in the Phoenix Park col- liery, as F. Wadlinger & Co. Though an ardent Democrat and active in politics he never had any aspirations for office. He married Anna M. Schaub, and of the children born to them the following lived to maturity: Frank, John A., Jacob, Michael M. and George J.
George J. Wadlinger was born July 10, 1857, at Minersville, began his edu- cation there, and continued it in the public schools at Mahanoy City. After clerking in his father's store for a time he became a student in St. Vincent's College, in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he obtained the degree of master of accounts, in 1873. Then for a time he was in the mercantile business at Mahanoy City, meantime engaging also in newspaper work and beginning his preparation for the legal profession. In 1879 he gave up merchandising and entered the office of Hon. Charles N. Brumm, at Pottsville, where he carried on his law studies until admitted to the bar, March 4, 1881. From that time until his death he devoted practically all his time to practice. Recognition of
Grogwondering
١
1
49
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
his abilities and the confidence he inspired came early. In 1891, when but thirty-four years of age, he was nominated for the position of additional law judge of Schuylkill county, but was defeated by his opponent, David B. Green. On July 10, 1899, he received the nomination for judge of the court of Com- mon Pleas of Schuylkill county, and was elected the November following with a majority of 1,872 over Judge D. C. Henning, the Republican candidate. He presided over the January and March terms, 1900, and although very ill during the latter obeyed his stern sense of duty rather than the advice of his physi- cian, attending to his work at the expense of his health. His death, which occurred May 16th following ( 1900), at his home, No. 514 Mahantongo street, Pottsville, showed how serious the need for rest was.
Though he had been on the bench but a few months Judge Wadlinger had begun to "do things" in dispatching the business of the court as well as in dis- pensing justice, inaugurating changes of great importance in the economical administration of his office. He had delivered several opinions in important cases which drew favorable comments from all interested by reason of the ex- ceptional ability they showed. All his work on the bench was done in the clearest and most concise manner. In his action in the case of the Culm dam- age suits he blazed a new path, and his utterances in this connection have since been quoted as the clearest exposition of the law upon the subject rendered up to date. Twelve hundred actions were to be disposed of at one time by his decision in this case, with the cost to the public of one suit-an immense sav- ing to the county. Judge Wadlinger's conduct of the whole affair was char- acteristic of his attitude towards the possibilities he could see for efficient service to his community. He had decided to attempt to put an end to petty litiga- tion with which the court had been burdened and hampered in its operations, and in all such cases tried before him indicated his position clearly and fol- lowed with an opinion. His charges to the jurymen were models, clear and urgent, and left no room for doubt in their minds as to their duty so far as the law was concerned. His judgment upon questions of the law was admired by all his associates in the profession, and he had every prospect of a brilliant career of usefulness when death took him. There was unanimous expression of sorrow at his untimely demise, which left a vacancy in many circles and was regarded as a loss to the whole county.
Judge' Wadlinger was secretary of the Schuylkill County Bar Association for about fourteen years, from the time of its organization in 1887 until the close of his life, and kept closely in touch with its various activities, serving six years as member of the committee for the examination of students for admission to the bar, and as one of the staff of reporters for the District Reports, a series of legal records which since 1891 have had a very important place in the law literature of the State. In 1889 he published his treatise on the "Law of Costs in Pennsylvania," a creditable work on one of his favor- ite themes and well received by lawyers and judges all over the State. At the time of his death he was preparing another work, on "Fraudulent Debtors," and had mapped out one on "The Law of Libel." Judge Wadlinger made a study of the finer points of jurisprudence, and his painstaking investigations showed conscientious research and an earnest desire to master fundamentals in all proceedings. He was thoroughly familiar with court routine, a fact which gave his clients a distinct advantage over those who had less accom- plished counsel, and his unimpeachable integrity was too well understood to need comment. His whole life was ordered on a high plane, and though he Vol. I-4
50
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
gave his best to the community while he lived his friends generally shared the opinion of his fellow lawyers that he had not gained the summit of his powers. His name will live among the leaders of the Schuylkill County Bar.
Judge Wadlinger was one of the original stockholders and organizers of the Union National Bank of Mahanoy City, now the leading financial institu- tion of that place. He was at one time president of the American Democratic Club (now out of existence) and always a valued and influential worker in the Democratic party, consulted as one of its ablest advisers. In 1883, the first time he had the honor of being a delegate to the State convention, he presented the name of B. B. McCool as nominee for State treasurer. He was a dele- gate to several subsequent State conventions. Though often urged to accept candidacy for office he invariably declined except in the instances already cited, which were in the line of his chosen work. Socially he belonged to the Alumni association of St. Vincent's College, and served as president of that organization.
On Aug. 29, 1882, Judge Wadlinger married Margaret D. Jones, daughter of David N. Jones, a native of Wales, who resided in Luzerne county, Pa. They had children as follows: (1) Mary Louise, born June 5, 1883, died Dec. 25, 1884. (2) Charles Vincent, born Dec. 5, 1885, attended public school at Pottsville, and after graduating from high school, in 1904, entered the Medico- Chirurgical College, at Philadelphia, graduating in 1908. He was then located at St. Agnes hospital, Phoenix, for ten weeks, and at the Pottsville hospital seven months. He practiced at Tower City, Pa., for twenty-two months, and on Sept. 25, 19II, located at Port Carbon, Schuylkill county, where he is now engaged at his profession. He married Jan. 12, 1910, Edyth May Moore, daughter of Peter F. J. Moore. The Doctor is a member of Pottsville lodge of Elks, No. 207, the Loyal Order of Moose (No. 411) and the I. O. O. F. lodge at Port Carbon. (3) George William, twin of Dr. Charles V. Wad- linger, was born Dec. 5, 1885, and received his early education in the public schools of Pottsville, graduating from high school in the class of 1904. He then entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he graduated with honors in 1907, and is now practicing his profession at Pottsville, having his office in Market street. On Sept. 22, 1915, he married Maude Elizabeth Muehl- hof, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Muehlhof. (4) Francis Raymond, born Sept. 12, 1890, began his education in the public schools of Pottsville, grad- uated from the high school, and then entered Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., where he graduated with honors after studying there only one year. Then he took a course in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, graduating in 1912 with honors, and became associated with T. D. Finletter, Esq., of Philadelphia (now Common Pleas judge). When a student of the University of Pennsylvania he was a member of the Mask and Wig Club and of the Glee Club, having a fine tenor voice which is in great demand. (5) Herman David, born May 14, 1893, was edu- cated in the public schools of Pottsville and Bellefonte Academy. He resides at home. (6) Helen Margaret, born Feb. 22, 1896, is at home.
PATRICK J. FERGUSON is remembered in Shenandoah as one of the most notable characters among its early citizens. He settled there about two years before the town was incorporated as a borough, and continued to live there for fifty years, during most of which time he exercised great influence in the direction of business activities and the establishment of public institu- tions. With an original mind and unlimited enterprise, though he began with
51
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
limited means, he worked his way to prosperity. His faith in the future of the town, as indicated by his investments and even by his losses, was a strong factor in its development. The fact that he was known as the "iron man" evidences the unusual strength of character he displayed in so many ways. He was an excellent judge of men, and never hesitated to show his confi- dence in the worthy. His own early struggles made him sympathetic with the efforts of others, and he aided many to turn failure into success by timely and liberal loans, in several instances without security. Plain and unassum- ing in manner and dress, he was approachable and loved by all, and his name will endure in the hearts of many who knew and admired him.
Mr. Ferguson was of Irish extraction, though his branch of the family was formerly established in Scotland and a distinguished clan in that country, of ancient and noble ancestry. But they have always been stanch Catholics, and because of their refusal to support the Church of England lost their lands in Scotland, hence the emigration to Ireland. John O'Hart, in his Irish Pedi- grees, mentions the Fergusons among the leading families descended from Heremon, the youngest of the three sons of Milesius of Spain who left issue. According to this author the name has been Anglicized to Ferguson from MacFergus. Fergus is derived from "fear," a man, and "gus," strength, and signifies strong warrior. It is a very ancient Pictish Irish name, handed down from the early Pictish Irish and the Scoti. On page 206, in Hanna's Scotch- Irish, we find the following, which shows that the family name is very old : "King Alpin-Nechtan, who resigned his rule to Druxot in order that he himself might experiment with monastic life, now returned to contest the claims of Alpin, the Dalriadic aspirant who had driven out Nechtan's legatees. Angus of Forlrenn, son of Fergus, also appeared as a claimant; Alpin was defeated by Angus in a battle fought in 728 at Monash-Cracbi (now Mon- crieff), and the territory west of the river Tay was lost to him in consequence. Not long afterward Nechtan met Alpin in battle at Scone, completely over- threw his forces, and partially recovered the Pictish (Irish) and title for himself. In 729 Angus and Nechtan met and contested for supreme leader- ship, which resulted in the defeat and rout of Nechtan's forces and the assumption of kingly authority and title by Angus. Angus ruled Pictland for thirty years. In 730 Angus destroyed the Scots city of Creic. Angus died in 734.
Thomas Ferguson, father of the late Patrick J. Ferguson, had a history of the family and a representation of the family arms in his fine library, which was burned many years ago. The crest of several of the Irish Fer- gusons and Scotch Fergusons is given thus: On a thistle, leaved and flowered, proper, a bee, or. Several other Scotch and Irish Ferguson crests show enough similarity to indicate that the branches had a common origin, viz .: A dexter hand grasping a broken spear in bend, all proper. A naked hand couped below the elbow, holding the upper part of a broken lance proper, headed or. An arm in armor, grasping a broken spear. A dexter hand issuing from a cloud, grasping a broken spear in bend proper. A dexter hand grasping a broken spear bendways proper. The motto, "Vi et arte," is also common to several branches.
On page 141, "Handbook of Heraldry," by John E. Cussans (third edition, London, England), we find: "About the time of Queen Elizabeth, the custom of wearing badges began to fall into disuse: there are at the present time but few of our noble families which retain it. In Scotland, however, the custom
52
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
still in a great measure survives ; a branch of a tree, a sprig, or a flower, in every instance constituting the distinguishing badge of the various clans, as exemplified by the following list: Buccleuch-Heather; Grant-Cranberry Heath; Gordon-Ivy ; MacDonald-Bell Heath ; MacDougal-Cypress; Mac- Donell-Mountain Heath; Ferguson-Poplar; Campbell-Myrtle; Stewart- Thistle; Murray-Juniper;" etc. "The last personal royal badge was that devised by Queen Anne, in which the Rose of England and the Thistle of Scotland appeared growing from one stem imperially crowned. The Rose, Thistle and Shamrock, however, still constitute the national emblems of Eng- land, Scotland and Ireland."
The Ferguson coat of arms of Ulster: Azure, a'fess, between a star of eight rays in chief and a lion rampant in base, all or.
In Irish Pedigrees (by O'Hart), No. 27 among the chiefs and clans of Brefney (comprising the present Counties of Cavan and Leitrim) and the territories they possessed in the twelfth century: Several clans in the County Leitrim, not mentioned by O'Dugan; as the MacGloin of Rossinver; the MacFerguses, who were hereditary "erenachs" of the churches of Rossinver, and whose name has been Anglicized Ferguson, etc. On page 189, Hanna's Scotch-Irish, we find: "The district comprising the Counties of Lanark, Renfrew, Ayr, Dumfries, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright and Dumbarton, an area about the same as the State of Connecticut, and the most of which was for- merly included in the Celto-British kingdom of Strathclyde, has produced a very large proportion of the men and families who have made the name of Scotland famous in the world's history. Elderslie in Renfrewshire is said to be the birthplace of Scotland's hero, William Wallace. Robert Bruce, also, son of Marjory, Countess of Carrick, daughter of Neal (or Niall, who was himself the Celtic Earl of Carrick and the grandson of Fergus, Lord of Gallo- way), was according to popular belief born at his mother's castle of Turn- berry, in Ayrshire." Dumbartonshire is the reputed birthplace of St. Patrick, Ireland's teacher and patron saint.
On page 84, in Hanna's Scotch-Irish: "Among the British and Tory leaders during the war of the Revolution there was Col. Patrick Ferguson." Page 194: "A. D. 592, Feargus mac Farca the Great held a part of Britain with the Dalriadic tribe and died there." Page 532: "Robert Ferguson, tenant to John Hamilton in 1617, County Armagh." Page 145, Vol. I, under the heading "Scottish Achievements": "The only poets that Ulster can boast of are Samuel Ferguson, the author of 'Forging the Anchor,' William Alling- ham, the author of 'Lawrence Bloomfield,' and two or three of lesser note."
Patrick Ferguson, grandfather of Patrick J. Ferguson, had a blacksmith shop at Ballyhain (or Ballyhane ), in County Mayo, four miles from Castlebar. He was a gentleman of fine appearance, and wore knee breeches and silver shoe buckles. One of his brothers was an officer in Napoleon's army. His wife was a Walsh, and they had five children, Thomas, Rev. Stephen, Nellie, Kitty and Bridget. As it is known that Thomas Ferguson had sisters who left the old country and settled in Canada, all or most of this family came to America.
Thomas and Bridget ( Christopher) Ferguson, parents of Patrick J. Fer- guson, were natives of County Mayo, in the Province of Connaught, Ireland. She was a daughter of Michael and Bridget (Flannery) Christopher, the former an innkeeper at Ballyhain, having an inn noted to this day. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ferguson were well educated, not only in English, but able to
1
1
-
53
SCHUYLKILL. COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
read and write Irish as well. Thomas Ferguson wrote a beautiful hand, and his writings show evidence of culture. Indeed, he and his brother Stephen, who accompanied him and his wife to America in 1842, were among the privileged few allowed in their day the advantages of a university training. This alone would indicate that the family was influential, and it is known that they stood in favor because of distinguished services their military grand- father rendered to the crown. The Fergusons were fourteen weeks on their voyage across the Atlantic, a storm driving the vessel into Nova Scotia. While she was at anchor off that place there was a request for a priest, to baptize a child, and Stephen Ferguson, who had taken orders, responded, going ashore, with several others, among them Thomas Ferguson and wife, who left their children aboard. A favorable wind arising the ship sailed away, and when the father of the child who had been baptized learned that she had left he took the Fergusons in a swift sailing vessel and followed, overtaking the larger boat after a day and a night of skillful sailing and tacking. Mrs. Ferguson was nearly frantic, fearing that she would never see her children again, and indeed when they boarded the ship she found they had been adopted by people whom they had met coming over, and who like themselves had left Ireland for Canada. Father Stephen Ferguson had an appointment as priest in Canada, but on leaving Nova Scotia they went to New York City, whence the Father proceeded to his church. At New York they met Mrs. Ferguson's brother, Henry Christopher, and brother-in-law, James Quinn (who had married her sister Margaret), both of whom were settled at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where Mrs. Ferguson persuaded her husband to locate, instead of accompanying his brother to Canada. Another sister, Julia, wife of Michael Bradigan, lived in the nearby village of Jonestown. Henry Christopher was tax collector at Minersville ; James Quinn was a butcher.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.