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 II > Part 10
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Theodore G. Updegrove, the father of Walter E. Updegrove, was born at Williamstown, Dauphin Co., Pa., and after attaining an ordinary educational training in the public schools started to learn the trade of shoemaker under the instruction of his father. After mastering his vocation, he followed it in Juniata and Columbia counties, and at Tower City, Schuylkill county, and later came to the community of Reiner City (Muir P. O.), where he began to build up a trade. Here, as he prospered, he built a residence and store, in which latter he established his place of business as a dealer in hoots and shoes,
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and continued to be successfully engaged in this line right up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1899. He had inherited the qualities of industry, honesty and fidelity from his forebears, and in all his business dealings was known to be above-board and straightforward. He was a good and public- spirited citizen, who took an interest in the advancement of his community and who could be counted upon to serve it in any way he was able. Mr. Updegrove was buried in the cemetery at Muir. He married Catherine Shadle, a daughter of George and Maria (Guard) Shadle. George Shadle was a resident of Porter township, where he was stable boss for the Lincoln colliery, and met his death by being killed by a train while in the performance of his duty. Mr. and Mrs. Updegrove became the parents of the following children : Walter E .; Charles Howard; Henry O., who is deceased ; Ella M., who is the wife of Prof. H. O. Unger, a teacher in the public schools of Muir ; Laura A., who is the wife of Prof. George D. Nelson, a teacher in the public schools of Orwin; and Theodore G. Jr., who resides at Muir.
Walter E. Updegrove secured his education in the public schools of Porter township, which he attended when not engaged in working to aid in his own support. An evidence of his thrift and industry as a lad is found in the fact that from the time he was nine until he was sixteen years of age he, assisted by his brothers and sisters, carried the mail from Orwin to the people of Reiner City, this being before the establishment of the post office at Muir. He also gave his services to the farmers of his community and worked at the shoemaking trade, accepting whatever honorable employment came his way and performing all his tasks in an able, thorough and cheerful manner. When he was eighteen years of age he began teaching in the public schools of Porter township, and for twelve years continued to be engaged in work as an educator. At the time of his father's death, Mr. Updegrove took over the management of the business, which he conducted for his mother for seven years, buying it on July 5, 1906, since when he has continued to carry it on with much suc- cess. He has a carefully selected stock of the latest footwear, and is enjoy- ing an excellent patronage among the people among whom he has lived for so long, and whose wishes and needs he well knows.
Mr. Updegrove was married to Nora M. Gamber, daughter of Henry Gamber, who resided in Clark's Valley, Porter township. To this union there have been born the following children: Prof. Harry H., a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, Pa., class of 1915, and now teach- ing at Reinerton, Schuylkill county ; Elsie M., a member of the class of 1916, of the Porter township high school; Esther M., who is attending the Porter township high school; T. Walter, who is attending school; and James Arthur and Norman Henry, at home.
Always a friend of education, Mr. Updegrove has long been well and favorably known in educational circles in this part of the State. During the last four years he has been secretary of the School Directors' Association of Schuylkill county, and from the time he ceased teaching school has been a member of the school board of Porter township, having served as president thereof and now being secretary of that body. Outside of his shoe business he has other interests, and for three years has been secretary of the Williams Valley Savings Fund and Building Association. Fraternally, he belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America, which he joined twenty-four years ago, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics, of which he became a mem-
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ber sixteen years ago, and also holds membership in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His good citizenship has never been doubted.
SAMUEL J. DEIBERT, deputy prothonotary of Schuylkill county, Pa., has been engaged at the courthouse for the last twenty years, in various capac- ities, and his obliging service and long continuance in public positions have made him a popular as well as familiar figure in the official circles of Potts- ville. He was born March 31, 1858, at Schuylkill Haven, this county, where he maintains his home.
Samuel Deibert, father of Samuel J. Deibert, was the son of John and Christina Deibert, and was reared on his father's farm in North Manheim township, Schuylkill Co., Pa. He had such schooling as is common to the average country boy. He was born in the year 1818, and remained beneath the parental roof up to the age of twenty-five, when he engaged with his brothers John and Jacob at Schuylkill Haven in boatbuilding. After a brief period in that line he embarked in the mercantile business at the same place, which he successfully conducted until the time of his death, in 1867. To his first mar- riage, with Mary Essert, were born one son, Thomas, and one daughter, Emma, who became the wife of Martin Fisher. No heirs came of this alliance. His second wife was Mary A. Sterner, daughter of Jacob and Anna Sterner, and to this union were born three children, viz .: Alice, Thomas I. and Sam- uel J. It may be justly recorded that Samuel Deibert was a most modest man, and though prominent in business and benefactions shrunk from eulogy and praise, but he was a man revered, and one whose place cannot well be filled. In religious affiliation he was a Lutheran.
Samuel J. Deibert obtained a public school education at Schuylkill Haven, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about twenty years. During Dr. Daniel Dechert's term as county treasurer he came as a clerk to his office, serving there one year. After that he became deputy treasurer under Elias Davis, holding that position for a period of almost three years, until the death of Mr. Davis, which occurred Nov. 11, 1899. The county commissioners appointed Mr. Deibert treasurer for the unexpired term, and he discharged the duties of the office for six weeks. In August, 1900, he became deputy prothonotary under W. S. Leib, and served to the end of his term, subsequently serving six years in the same capacity under Samuel H. Gore, and continuing under his successor, the present prothonotary, John W. Reese. Up to now he has been in the public service for twenty years. His courtesy and efficiency have combined to make him a most desirable official in the office and sought by those who have business there, his work being greatly appreciated by all who have had occasion to call for his services. His political association is with the Republican party. Mr. Deibert makes his home at Schuylkill Haven, and at one time served as assessor of that borough.
Mr. Deibert married Lavina Bitzer, daughter of Conrad and Anna Bitzer, and they have had four children, namely: Alice, Ralph, Samuel and Willis. Alice is the wife of Rev. William Schlappich, of the Evangelical denomination, now stationed at Perkasie, Pa. Ralph Deibert received his early education in the schools of Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville, later attending Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., and entering the ministry of the Evangelical denomination ; he is now pastor of a church at Myerstown, Pa. Samuel, who is at home, is an assistant in the Schuylkill Haven Trust Com-
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pany. Willis, also at home, is bookkeeper or clerk at the Schuylkill County Hospital for the Insane.
A. FRANK GEIST, of Hegins, is a business man who has attained honor- able standing by giving his patrons the best accommodations to be obtained in the local market, and he is equally esteemed for his worth as a man.
The Geist family to which he belongs is of pioneer stock of Northumber- land county, this State, where he and his father were born. His grandfather, Peter Geist, lived and died there, following his trade of blacksmith and also engaging in farming. The history of the family has been lately traced back to the year 1129. From the Official Register of the Holy Roman Empire, we find that the family has an official "Coat of Arms" and is of the nobility of Ravensburg, Germany. A copy of this "Coat of Arms" is in the hands of A. F. Geist, of Hegins, Pennsylvania. The word Geist has been spelled in six different ways. We find it first Gayst-Van Wildeneck, A. D. 1129, King. In 1300 we find it spelled Geyst, in 1590 Geist, in 1750 Goist in Germany, and in the Colonies of America Geist and Gist. In 1842 and to the present time it is spelled Guist in Germany and in the United States Guist and Geist.
The family to which A. F. Geist belongs and whose biography appears later, emigrated from Lorraine, Germany, with the Schwenkfelders' colony in or about the year 1725 and settled at Pottstown, Montgomery Co., Pa., where A. F. Geist's great-grandfather, Andrew Geist, was born on Jan. 26, 1755. This great-grandfather of A. F. Geist came to what was then and is yet known by some people as Swoven Creek or Green Brier post office, Nor- thumberland Co., Pa., in or about the year 1777. He came to this place in his young manhood and took up a tract of land from the United States govern- ment about the time of the Revolutionary war, consisting of about three hundred acres situated half way between the Leck Kill and Green Brier post offices. He died Dec. 18, 1849, at the age of ninety-four years, ten months, twenty-three days, on the old homestead which he obtained from the United States govern- ment, and is buried at Himmel's Church, Roebuck's post office, or about four miles west from the old homestead. This church property consists of a beauti- ful church situated on a tract of land given by the United States government to the Reformed and Lutheran congregations for church and school purposes ; said property is today under the control of these congregations and in its ceme- tery are buried some soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary war.
While great-grandfather Andrew Geist was working on this homestead in Swoven Creek, he had but one cow on these three hundred acres of land, and this cow had no tail. During this period the Revolutionary war was in progress and Andrew was drafted to serve in this great war for freedom, and not desiring to serve he sold this tailless cow in order to raise money to buy a substitute to serve in his place. It was during this time, from the landing of the Schwenkfelders' colony to the close of the Revolutionary war, that the word Geist was spelled Gist, appearing this way on official records and papers examined by R. P. Geist, justice of the peace, Green Brier, Northumberland Co., Pa., 1915.
On the homestead of Andrew Geist, the grandfather of A. F. Geist, Peter Geist, was born Dec. 21, 1804, and died at this place on Jan. 8, 1875, aged seventy years, eighteen days. He is buried at St. John's Reformed and Lutheran Church, Leck Kill, Pa. In his boyhood days Peter left the old home- stead and went to Washingtonville, Montour Co., Pa. There he learned his
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trade, that of blacksmith. He also married at this place and soon after moved back onto the old homestead in Swoven Creek, where he continued at his trade and did farming. Here Jacob, the father of A. F. Geist, was born Feb. 11, 1835.
Jacob Geist, father of A. Frank Geist, learned the trade of carpenter in his youth and followed that calling all his life. In 1881 he came to Hegins, Schuylkill county, where he continued work at his trade and resided to the end of his days, dying in the year 1898. His widow, whose maiden name was Catherine Schwartz, still lives in Hegins township, near Hegins, on the Geist home place. She was born in Hegins township, Schuylkill county, where her father, Abraham Schwartz, engaged in farming and made his home until his death. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Geist, four sons and four daughters, namely : Ellen is the widow of Samuel E. Schwalm and lives in Hegins township, at what was known as Kessler's gristmill; S. Calvin resides at Hegins ; Elizabeth is the wife of S. R. Masser, who has a general store at Hegins ; Cora is married to A. C. Kessler, a farmer of Hegins township; Katie is married to Harry Leonard, of Tremont, Schuylkill county, baggagemaster in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company; A. Frank is next in order of birth; Thomas J. is a graduate of the Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., and now engaged as a teacher at Ephrata, Lancaster Co., Pa .; Nathan Francis is doing a general hauling and teaming business at Hegins, where he lives.
A. Frank Geist was born in 1877 in Northumberland county, Pa., and has lived at Hegins from early boyhood. He began his education in the Hegins township schools, later attended graded school at Hegins, and supplemented his public school training with a course at the Shamokin ( Pa.) business college, in his native county. In his young manhood he taught eight terms of school in Hegins township, during the winter season, finding employment the rest of the year at the carpenter's trade, which he learned partly under his father's tuition. It was only a step from that vocation to his present line. In 1907 he established the lumber trade and planing mill at Hegins which has since occupied most of his time. His experience as a carpenter has proved an extra qualification for the business he now follows, assisting him in judging the quality of materials and filling mill orders intelligently. No doubt his knowl- edge of building materials and requirements has had much to do with the prosperity of his enterprise, for it has been gratifyingly successful, and the plant is considered one of the most useful industrial establishments in the locality. Mr. Geist is looked upon as a trustworthy man in every respect. His fellow members in the I. O. O. F. lodge at Hegins have chosen him secretary, and he is serving at present as treasurer of the Reformed Church of Hegins, to which he and his wife belong. Fidelity to all his obligations is one of the most noteworthy characteristics he possesses.
In 1900 Mr. Geist married Katie Bair, a native of Hegins township, and five children have been born to this marriage: Allen H., Guy A., Lloyd W., Tillie V. and Earl B.
CYRUS W. BAIR, Mrs. Geist's father, was born in Perry county, Pa., and her grandfather, Joseph Bair, was also a native of that county. The latter was a farmer by occupation. The father learned the trade of plasterer, and besides following same farmed and taught school, following his profession for more than thirty years, in the Mahantongo valley, Schuylkill county, and in Dauphin county. He died in 1910, and is buried at Fountain, in Hegins township. He was twice married, first to Isabella Otto, a native of Hegins township, daughter
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of David Otto, a farmer of that township. Mrs. Isabella Bair died about twenty-five years ago, and is buried in the cemetery at Fountain. She was the mother of two children, Mrs. Geist being the elder ; the younger, Jesse A. Bair, lives at Ashland, Schuylkill county. For his second wife Mr. Bair married Mrs. Sarah Smith, of Barry township, Schuylkill county, and to this union were born three children: Lydia is the wife of Robert Eckler, of Hegins; Roy S. and Stephen A. also live at Hegins, making their home with their sister, Mrs. Eckler.
EPHRAIM YARNALL owns and occupies a beautiful farm property in Barry township which has been developed entirely by the Yarnalls. The fam- ily is one of old standing in this section of Schuylkill county and was estab lished here by Isaac Yarnall, grandfather of Ephraim, who came from New Jersey and settled in the Mahanoy valley. He took up government land and followed farming. His family consisted of eight children, viz .: Anna, John, Jonathan, Francis, Asa, Elijah, Annie, and one that died young.
John Yarnall, father of Ephraim, was born in Mahanoy township, this county, and lived to the age of eighty-three years. He settled on the farm in Barry township where his son Ephraim now lives, cleared the land, and made great progress in the work of improvement, which he carried on for many years. He is buried in the cemetery near the farm. Mr. Yarnall mar- ried Mary Rodenbeier, who was born near Ashland, this county, daughter of an old settler in this part of the State, Jacob Rodenbeier. He kept the hotel known as the Red Tavern, near Centralia. Mr. Rodenbeier had ten children, namely : Jacob, Solomon, Peter, Philip, David, Rebecca, Mary, Lydia, Susan and Sarah. Mrs. Yarnall died near Ashland. Of her six children, Mary, Martha, John, Ephraim, Reuben and Ezra, Ephraim is the only survivor.
Ephraim Yarnall was born in 1837 in Barry township and grew up on the farm, attending school in an old log building nearby. During his school years he gave his spare hours to assisting with the farm duties at home, and subse- quently devoted all his time to the operation of the home place, working in partnership with his father until the latter retired because of advancing age. Under his competent management the home tract has undergone steady im- provement, Mr. Yarnall sparing neither thought nor labor in the advancement of his work. Modern methods, the intelligent application of various up-to- date ideas, have resulted in increased production along different lines, and Mr. Yarnall has also taken much pleasure in beautifying his surroundings, as the attractive arrangements and comfortable home conditions testify. His opin- ions on public questions, as in his chosen calling, are considered practical and worthy of attention, and his neighbors have shown their faith in his views and character by electing him to represent them in various capacities. In the offices of township supervisor and member of the school board he has done good work for the locality.
In 1860 Mr. Yarnall married Lucy Sigenfuse, who was born in the same part of Barry township as himself, her parents, Charles and Susan ( Bixler) Sigenfuse, having settled there many years ago. Mrs. Sigenfuse was born in Mahantongo. She and her husband died when comparatively young. Their family consisted of six children: Betsy, now the wife of Elias Slopick, of Mount Carmel; Lydia, wife of Jacob Umlauf, of Mount Carmel; Susan, Mrs. Peter Bradbury, of Tamaqua, this county; Charles, a resident of Allentown, Pa .; Elias ; and Lucy, Mrs. Yarnall.
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Of the thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Yarnall several are deceased ; William and Franz live at home; Charles and Irvin are also located in Barry township; Sallie is the wife of Sam Kessler, a farmer of Barry township; Cora is married to Thomas Hoch, of Barry township; Katie is the wife of Albert Moser, of Pottsville. Mr. and Mrs. Yarnall are members of the United Brethren Church.
WILSON R. DINGER, a farmer of Porter township, was born in Hegins township Feb. 26, 1850, son of Jonathan Dinger, and grandson of Peter Dinger. The great-grandfather, Frederick Dinger, came from Berks county, Pa., to become one of the first settlers of Hegins township, Schuylkill Co., Pa. Sub- sequently he moved to Lower Mahanoy township, where he died upon farni- ing property owned by him.
Peter Dinger, the grandfather, was an officer of the war of 1812. He was also a farmer of Hegins township, settling on the homestead, his farm being located about two and a half miles above the borough of Hegins, and comprising 225 acres of land. There he died. The maiden name of his wife was Magdalena Hand, and they had these children: Catherine, who married Jacob Crone; Elizabeth, who married John Horn; Mrs. Eliza Seitz; Peter ; Daniel; William, and Jonathan. The latter was a farmer of Hegins township, the Dinger family forming a little settlement in this township, and there lie resided until his death at the age of sixty-nine years. He is buried in Fountain cemetery. Jonathan Dinger married Catherine Dinger, a daughter of George Dinger, of Hegins township, and their children were: Joel, who was a hotel man of Pottsville, Pa., died in 1914; Frank is a resident of Hegins township; Wilson R. is mentioned below; Amanda married John Stutzman; Alice mar- ried (first) Aaron Heater and (second) Harvey Kline.
Wilson R. Dinger was reared on the family homestead, and made his home there until he was fifty-three years old, for many years having sole charge of the property. In 1913, however, he bought the Berger farm at Tower City, and has forty acres of land in an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Dinger married Maria Lucas, a daughter of Emanuel Lucas, and they have one daugli- ter, Irene Catherine, born Feb. 21, 1915. Independent in his political views, Mr. Dinger votes for the man rather than according to party regulations. He has served some years as township auditor. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Dinger is a member of the Church of God at Weishample. Fraternally he belongs to the K. G. E.
Mr. Dinger was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Hegins, and served on its directorate for five years, but refused further serv- ice, although elected, feeling that he was too far away from the bank. He is still a stockholder. The Dinger family is one of the best known and most highly respected in this part of the county, and the individual members are proving themselves worthy of their name.
HENRY W. KRAUS is one of the leading spirits in agricultural progress in Ryon township, where he has a fine farm and dairy, both branches of his business exemplifying his advanced ideas, which have had a noticeable effect on raising standards all over his section of Schuylkill county.
Mr. Kraus was born Feb. 17, 1862, at Mahanoy City, this county, son of William and Mary ( Kraus) Kraus, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father born at Seise, the mother at Reigelsdorf, in the same vicinity. Wil-
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liam Kraus came to America when seventeen years old, and first located at Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co., Pa., for a time following mining, but later turning to the butcher business. Moving to Mahanoy City he carried on business there for several years, until he purchased the John Schlear farm in Ryon township, a tract of 150 acres which is considered one of the finest properties in the valley. Most of the buildings on that place are of his construction, though part of the old house built in 1829 is still standing. There Mr. Kraus died in 1888, at the age of fifty-six years, and he is buried at Tamaqua. To him and his wife were born nine children, four of whom survive: Mary, who married Mack McMinity and settled in Meadville, Pa .; Anna, widow of John Lathan ; William, of Rush township, this county ; and Henry W.
Henry W. Kraus received his education in the public schools of Jonestown, Lebanon county, and Mahanoy City, meantime assisting his father in the butcher business until he reached the age of fourteen years. He has since been occupied with farm work. In 1896 he purchased the homestead place in Ryon township, above mentioned, and in the twenty years which have elapsed since has made numerous improvements thereon, his place being one of the most valuable in the locality. He has taken pleasure in developing the property, which shows the intelligent interest with which he has followed modern meth- ods, everything about the farm being up-to-date. He has been foremost in en- terprise among the farmers of his neighborhood in adopting new ideas for economy of labor and assuring good results, and his success has been an encour- , agement to others in many ways. Mr. Kraus has a fine dairy, operated in accordance with modern views on the production of clean, wholesome milk, which he ships daily. As a manager he has shown business ability beyond the ordinary, and he has not limited his activities to his farm work, supporting any movements which hold promise of benefiting the community. He is presi- dent of the Lakeside Rural Telephone Company, whose line has been a great convenience in the neighborhood. For six years he was a member of the town- ship board of school directors, and he has taken an active part in promoting the work of the Grange in his locality, whereby many excellent ideas have been brought to the attention of the farming population. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Loyal Order of Moose, and his religious connection is with the German Lutheran Church. His neighbors regard him as one of the most valuable citizens in this region.
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