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 13
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
No records of the descendants of Eberhart Schoppel are in evidence at Zion's Union Church. He may have left Windsor township after 1744, in which year he hewed his name on a stone now in the southeastern wall of the old graveyard. Tradition says that the stones upon which these names are carved (one bears the name of Jeremias) were once part of the wall of the first church. The fourth church was in process of construction in 1908.
Jacob Schappell, son of Jeremias, was better known as "Jockey," a nick- name evidently taken from the German pronunciation of his name. He was born in Wittenberg, Germany, Feb. 2, 1744, and died Sept. II, 1826. As stated
683
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
above he was the executor of his father's will in 1805. His wife, Susanna, was born Feb. 2, 1751, and died July 24, 1828. They are buried at Zion's Church. Jeremias, Eberhart and Jockey Schappell were founders of the orig- inal Zion's Church. Tradition says Jacob and Susanna had a large family, some of their children, however, dying in infancy and childhood. Of these may be mentioned those of whom there is record: Peter, born April 19, 1770; Col. Jeremiah, born March 20, 1774; Daniel, mentioned below; and Hannah, who married Georg Hoffman, a farmer of Perry township. There is a valley in Perry township known as Schappell's Dale, because of the many Shappells living there.
Daniel Shappell was born in Longswamp, Berks county, and followed farm- ing all of his active life. He came to Schuylkill county at an early date, set- tling between Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg, where he purchased 500 acres of land. He was a taxable resident of North Manheim township in 1790, where he died, and is buried in the old cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. His children were: John, Charles, Daniel, Jacob, Mrs. Tobias, Mrs. Dengler, Mrs. Potts, Mrs. Roudenbush, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Krebs and Mrs. Waitman.
John Shappell was born on the homestead and was reared a farmer. He came into possession of 136 acres of the homestead, which he continued to cul- tivate until his death. For a short time he followed the occupation of boat- builder at Schuylkill Haven, also making several trips down the canal. He died at the age of seventy-nine, his wife, Caroline Bowen, passing to rest at the age of seventy-two years. They are interred in the Union cemetery at Schuyl- kill Haven. Mr. Shappell was a man of high repute throughout the country- side and his death was regretted by all with whom he had intercourse in life. His children were: Edwin, living in Cressona; James, of Schuylkill Haven ; Hannah, wife of Elijah Boyer; Albert, living in Pottsville; John, who resides in Omaha, Nebr .; Daniel; Charles, who died in Cressona; Andrew J .; and a son who died in infancy.
ANDREW J. SHAPPELL was born on the homestead in North Manheim township Feb. 12, 1859, has followed farming all of his life, and is now half owner of his father's homestead. He was married to Ella Weaver, daughter of Charles Weaver, and to this union were born children as follows: Luther, Helen, Florence, Ida, Lester, Claude (deceased), and a daughter who died in infancy.
DANIEL SHAPPELL was born on the homestead in North Manheim town- ship Dec. 19, 1854. He is now the possessor of half of his father's homestead of 136 acres, and in partnership with his brother Andrew J. carries on a general farming and trucking business there, disposing of his produce in the Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven markets. He married Anna Bubeck, daughter of John Bubeck, and their children are: Lottie, wife of Morris Becker; Clair ; Daniel, Jr .; and Howard and Bird D., both deceased.
TIMOTHY F. BERNEY, postmaster at Tower City, Schuylkill Co., Pa., was born at Minersville, this county, Oct. 25, 1879, son of Patrick Berney. His father, who resides at Tower City, has for many years been connected with the Brookside colliery, and is adjudged one of the valued and reliable foremen in the employ of the Reading Company.
Timothy F. Berney was six years of age when brought by his parents to Tower City, and here his education was secured in the public schools. He was still a lad when he took employment at the West Brookside colliery, and
684
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
continued to work there for about two years, or until he learned the art of telegraphy at the Brookside station of the Reading railroad. This he followed as a vocation for one year, and was then promoted to a clerical position in the Brookside office of the company, having since that time been advanced to a place of importance. He is a Democrat in politics and has been prominent in the councils of his party in this locality. As a public servant he has served very satisfactorily in the capacities of member of the board of health, a posi- tion which he held for five years, and as auditor of Tower City borough, and on June 27, 1913, was appointed postmaster at Tower City borough by Presi- dent Woodrow Wilson. He has worked faithfully in an endeavor to better the service from his office, and has proved a most popular official with the people there. Formerly he was a director and secretary of the Franklin Build- ing and Loan Association of Tower City. His religious connection is with the Catholic Church, and at present he is a director of the Knights of Saint George, of Tower City, as well as president of the local organization of the A. O. H. In business, official and fraternal circles he is one of the most popular young men of Tower City.
Mr. Berney married Cecilia A. McDonald, a daughter of Archibald F. McDonald, of St. Clair, Pa., and they have one daughter, Florence Rita.
IVOR DAVID FENTON, M. D., is one of the younger physicians at Mahanoy City, but nevertheless a trustworthy member of the profession, and personally he bears the enviable reputation which has become attached to the name of Fenton in this part of Schuylkill county. His father, Patrick C. Fenton, has attained by his own efforts an honored position in mining circles. His grandparents were James and Mary ( Phillips) Fenton, natives of Scotland and Wales, respectively, who lived and died in the latter country. James Fenton passed away in 1871, aged sixty-eight years, his widow in 1904, at the age of eighty-six.
Patrick C. Fenton was born Jan. 3, 1860, in Glamorganshire, Wales, and was reared in his native country. His early educational opportunities were meagre, for he began work in the mines when a boy, but he was ambitious and attended night school, both in Wales and after coming to this country. In 1878 he turned to America to improve his fortunes. After landing he pro- ceeded directly to Shenandoah, Schuylkill Co., Pa., arriving there in Septem- ber, and immediately sought work at the mines. He was employed at Shenandoah for almost a quarter of a century, during which time he won several promotions on his merits. For ten years he was a fire boss, inside fore- man six years, and assistant superintendent two years. When he had been in this country eighteen years he made a visit to his old home in Wales, spending two and a half months on the trip. Returning to Shenandoah he resumed work as inside foreman of the Packer colliery, No. 3, where he continued until 1903, since when he has been engaged as a mine inspector. The duties of the mine inspectors are arduous and highly important to operators as well as employes. The company is divided into four districts, the Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Anthracite districts, each in charge of an inspector, and Mr. Fenton has held the position in the Eleventh district (known as the Mahanoy district) continuously since first chosen, now serving his fifth term. Though there has been official mine inspection since 1870, the Act of Assembly under which the Department of Mines, as at present constituted, was established was not approved until April 14, 1903. The office of mine
685
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
inspector is elective, the term three years, the responsibility great, the require- ments very exacting. Supplementing his practical experience, Mr. Fenton in order to qualify thoroughly took the full correspondence course in mining of the International Correspondence Schools, Scranton, Pa., familiarizing him- self with the theory of many details. At the general election in 1903 he was the successful candidate in the Eleventh district, where his ability was well known, and so well satisfied were the people with his performance of the duties intrusted to him that he was reelected without opposition in 1906. He has been the choice of the voters at each election since. There are nine collieries in the district, with about ten thousand employes, whose safety to a large extent is dependent upon the thoroughness of the inspector. He keeps a record of the ventilation- the condition of the mines with relation to the presence of gas and the methods employed to obviate its effects, the number of cubic feet of air supplied to each man, and the means employed to supply it; the extension of tunnels; abandonment of workings; installation of each new machine, and the reason for every change. All new workings are prose- cuted under his direct supervision, and he must keep track of all the details of the working of every mine in his district, above and below ground. The information must all be embodied in his annual report to the chief of the De- partment of Mines of Pennsylvania. When we state that Mr. Fenton has passed several examinations with high marks, it is only doing justice to his comprehensive knowledge of mines and mining in the anthracite region and his conscientious interpretation of duty. His genial nature has made him many friends. He has his official headquarters on East Centre street, Mahanoy City, at his handsome home. He is also president of the Mahanoy-Mecholin Coal Company, whose mines are in Harrison county, Ohio.
On April 20, 1882, Mr. Fenton married Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of John T. and Mary Ann Thomas, then living at Shenandoah. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are natives of Glamorganshire, Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton have had five children: Mary graduated from high school and taught school in Mahanoy City before her marriage to Charles Richards, now division super- intendent of the mines at Mahanoy City; Ivor David is next in the family ; Edith, a graduate of the Mahanoy City high school, lives at home; Caroline is attending high school; John is also at school. The family are members of the Welsh Congregational Church. Politically he is a Republican, and has always been active in party affairs and a leader in the locality. He is on the library committee which selects the public school books. Fraternally he is connected with the Ivorites, B. P. O. Elks and Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Fenton is fond of music and a good singer, and has been active in musical circles for many years. His numerous and various associations have brought him into contact with a large number of his fellow citizens, and he commands their respectful esteem by his many admirable qualities. He is a self-made man, and has gained his high standing by the most commendable methods.
Ivor David Fenton was born Aug. 3. 1889, at Buck Mountain, Schuyl- kill county. He received his literary education in the public schools of Mahanoy City and Bucknell University. Lewisburg. Pa., graduating from the academy there and spending one year in the college. He then matriculated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and after his graduation in 1912 was stationed for eighteen months in the Fountain Springs hospital at Ash- land, Pa., where he had many advantages for supplementing his college work with actual experience. Since entering upon independent practice he has been
686
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
established at Mahanoy City, where he is building up a creditable patronage. His success is the reward of devoted labor, and well deserved. Dr. Fenton is a Mason, belonging to Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M., and a member of the B. P. O. Elks and Improved Order of Red Men. His religious connection is with the Welsh Congregational Church.
JAMES M. SHELLHAMMER, of Pottsville, at present a member of the city council, was engaged in the confectionery trade there throughout his business career. He attained a substantial position entirely through his own efforts, having begun life a poor boy, but he had the ambition and determination necessary to make headway against obstacles, and his success was well earned. Thus he merits the confidence which his fellow citizens have placed in him, and which he has never betrayed either in his performance of public duties or discharge of any of the obligations of daily life.
The Shellhammers are of German origin, Isaac Shellhammer, grandfather of James M., having been born in Germany. When he came to America he established his home in Schuylkill, where he lived and died. His children were Benneville, Jared, Samuel H. and Mary (Mrs. Jonas Rerig).
Samuel H. Shellhammer was born at West Penn, Schuylkill county, and spent all his life in the county. In early life he did farm work, and after- wards became a mine worker, acting as inside and outside boss at the Myers- ville colliery (owned by Henry Myers), near Mahanoy City, where he was employed for a period of seventeen years. For about four years after giving up this work he was on a farm in the same vicinity, at Locust Valley, from there moving to the Daniel Hummel farm, near Orwigsburg. He remained on that property until his death, which occurred there in 1887. Mr. Shell- hammer is buried at McKeansburg, this county, near Orwigsburg. He married Priscilla Correll, of West Penn, this county, who survived him, dying in 1889. They had the following family: Charles, who is living at Bowmansville, Pa .; Mary, Mrs. William Mills ; James M .; Clara and Elizabeth, both of whom died young ; Joseph, living at Port Carbon, Pa .: Samuel, a resident of Schuylkill county ; and Elizabeth (2), who married Emerson Trout and (second) Joseph Mengle.
James M. Shellhammer was born Oct. 31, 1860, in Schuylkill county, near the Berks county line. He was reared on a farm. His educational advantages were limited, as he was only a hoy of eight years when he commenced picking slate at a breaker. He was employed about the mines at that and other work until sixteen years old, after which he farmed with his father for two years. He then came to Pottsville, where he learned the candy business with Henry Loechel, with whom he continued for about nine years, until ready to go into the business for himself. He was located at No. 15 North Centre street, and worked up a profitable trade by honest methods and satisfactory goods. Dur- ing the fifteen years he carried on the business Mr. Shellhammer made a reputation for reliability which has evidently gained him a permanent place in the regard of his townsmen. He retired in 1905, and has enjoyed thor- oughly the leisure which his release from business allows, taking a leading part in the social organizations of the city and devoting some of his time to the public service. In 1910 he was elected to the city council, and in Novem- ber, 1913, was reelected, with the largest vote given to any candidate for the office on that occasion. As there was a hard contest in 1913, this indorsement of his good work was especially creditable. Though a Republican in principle,
Doo MShellhammer
687
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. Shellhammer votes independently, supporting the men he deems best fitted for the places to be filled.
Socially Mr. Shellhammer holds membership in the I. O. O. F. (Lily of the Valley Lodge), P. O. S. of A. (Washington Camp No. 36), K. G. E., Red Men, Heptasophs and B. P. O. Elks (Lodge No. 207), all of Pottsville ; in the Ridgley Protective Association and Preferred Accidental. His religious connection is with the English Lutheran Church.
On Sept. 1, 1887, Mr. Shellhammer married Minnie H. Lord, daughter of Henry Lord. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Shellhammer occupy the handsome residence at the corner of Jackson and Greenwood avenues, on Greenwood Hill, which he built at the time of his retirement from business. The lot is 110 by 160 feet in dimensions, and beautifully situated, affording a fine view which adds greatly to the attractions of this beautiful home.
Elijah Lord, Mrs. Shellhammer's grandfather, was a pioneer settler in Pottsville, and died in the borough. He is buried in the Presbyterian ceme- tery. His children were: Seth, Charles, Peggin, Henry, Jeremiah, Isaac, William and Frank, all of whom lived and died at Pottsville.
Henry Lord, father of Mrs. Shellhammer, was born Dec. 23, 1819, at Pottsville, and passed all his life there, dying Feb. 7, 1889, as the result of injuries received in an accident. He was a carpenter, and followed contract- ing to the end of his days. His first wife, Ann ( Williams), born. Dec. 7, 1822, died Nov. 7, 1855, leaving four children: William, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg : Susan, who married Charles Seaman, a veteran of the Civil war ; Ellen, wife of Joseph R. Sowers ; and Albert, now living at Shamo- kin, Pa. Mr. Lord subsequently married (second) Lucretia Hagar, of Orwigs- burg, Pa., born Jan. 15, 1834, daughter of Peter Hagar. She survived him a year, dying March 19, 1890. To this union also were born four children : Minnie H., Mrs. James M. Shellhammer; Carrie, wife of Edward Boyer; Lulu, Mrs. Charles Hummel; and Hagar, who married Emma Brennaman.
WILLIAM G. STITZER, proprietor of Stitzer's Cafe at Schuylkill Haven, was born in that borough May 27, 1866, and is a son of William F. Stitzer. The family is of German ancestry.
David Stitzer, the first of the family on record in America, was born March 12, 1750, in Nova Scotia, whence he came to Philadelphia. He served in the Revolutionary war and at its close moved to Reading, Berks Co., Pa. His wife, Barbara Ann Elizabeth ( Pafenhouser), was a native of Nova Scotia, born March IO, 1754, and came to Philadelphia in 1757. Among the children of this couple was John D., the grandfather of William G. Stitzer.
John D. Stitzer was born at Reading, April 18, 1799, and learned the trade of shoemaker. For a time he lived at Rehrersburg, Berks county, removing thence in 1844 to Schuylkill Haven, where he followed his trade for a num- ber of years. He died at Mahanoy City, June 27, 1879, aged eighty years. He was originally a Whig, but became a Republican after the formation of that party, although he took no active part in politics. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. On Sept. 22, 1822, Mr. Stitzer was married by Rev. Mr. Muhlenberg, of Reading, to Sarah Hockaman, who was born Jan. 29, 1806, in Tulpehocken, Berks county, and died Sept. 18, 1884, at Minersville, Schuylkill county. Her father, Henry Hockaman, of Stouchsburg, Berks county, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1833 at the age of seventy-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Stitzer were the parents of thirteen children :
688
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
George W., born Nov. 17, 1823, at Reamstown, Lancaster county, died Oct. 28, 1901 ; Amelia E., born Nov. 19, 1825, married Morton Swartz, and died Jan. 6, 1906; Mary, born Feb. 28, 1827, married Anthony Lerch, and died in Ohio, June 14, 1904; Harriet S., born Oct. 31, 1828, died unmarried, April 6, 1847; Sarah Frances, born Jan. 21, 1831, married Engelbert Geiger, and died Oct. 14, 1902; John Andrew, born Feb. 1, 1833, died June 14, 1860; William Foster was born Jan. 2, 1835; a daughter, born Feb. 6, 1837, died in infancy; Ann Delilah, born April 19, 1838, lives in the South; Francis A., born Aug. 29, 1840, at Rehrersburg, became a private in the Union army April 17, 1861, and served throughout the war, being mustered out as a major July 27, 1865 (he served as deputy collector of internal revenue at Easton, Pa., for fifteen years, and Feb. 20, 1886, removed to Cheyenne, Wyo., becoming active in business and military circles in that State, and is at present serving as mayor of Laramie) ; David Henry, born June 7, 1843, served throughout the Civil war, afterwards had charge of the Gordon Plane in Schuylkill county for a time, and then removed to Kansas and engaged in farming, dying in that State Sept. 17, 1911 ; Catherine E., born Sept. 25, 1845, married Solomon Hoffas and is living in the South; Samuel, born Dec. 21, 1847, died Dec. 6, 1900.
William Foster Stitzer was born at Rehrersburg, Berks county, and attended the common schools there. When he was but nine years of age he became driver of a towing team on the Schuylkill canal, following that line of work for the next twenty-three years, becoming a captain in 1855. His boats plied between Schuylkill Haven and New York City. In 1868 Mr. Stitzer was elected constable of Schuylkill Haven, and served thereafter for twenty-four consecutive years, until he resigned. In 1869 he became borough tax collector, discharging his duties with such ability as to be chosen tax collector of North Manheim township three times and of Port Clinton once. In 1878 he collected $10,000 in Shenandoah, and he attained the repu- tation of an expert collector of public money. He also followed auctioneer- ing and real estate selling, for eighteen years being special officer for the Reading Railway Company, part of the time being active in the prosecution of the "Molly Maguires," a dangerous business in those times. On Feb. 9, 1892, Mr. Stitzer became proprietor of a hotel and restaurant-Stitzer's Cafe-which soon developed into a popular place under his management. In 1904 he sold out to his son William G. and retired.
In 1858 William F. Stitzer was married to Emma Hammas, daughter of the late John Hammas, of Oley, Berks Co., Pa., afterwards of Pottsville, where he died. To this marriage have been born eleven children, viz .: Charles A., born Jan. 11, 1859, a druggist, living in Nebraska, married Grace Traver : Horace E., born June 1, 1860, a saddler, is residing in Nebraska; Sarah, born March 7, 1869, died at the age of fourteen; Annie E., born Sept. 21, 1863, married Benjamin Kline, of Philadelphia; a daughter, born June 23, 1865, died in infancy ; William G. is mentioned below; Katie M., born Oct. 24, 1867, married Lewis A. Graeff, of Pottsville; Emma R., born April 14, 1870, died in infancy; Mrs. Frank Heiser, born Nov. 14, 1871, died at Schuylkill Haven, leaving three children; Ella L., born July 8, 1874, is a deaconess at the Lutheran Mother House at Baltimore, Md .; Carrie, born Jan. 18, 1876, is at home ; Garfield J. A. was born March 4, 1881.
William F. Stitzer has long been a member of the Lutheran Church. He
689
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
has been a lifelong Republican, and has taken much interest in local politics. He enlisted for the Union cause July 4, 1863, in Company I, Thirty-ninth Regiment, was honorably discharged in August of that year, and is a member of Helms Post, No. 26, G. A. R., of Schuylkill Haven.
William G. Stitzer attended public school in Schuylkill Haven, and began his business career by clerking in the hardware store of J. F. Thompson of that town. At the age of sixteen he went to Long Tree or Central City, Nebr., where he spent five years as a drug clerk and five years as a clerk in a hardware store. Returning to Schuylkill Haven he worked with his father for three and a half years, going then to Pottsville to work for Benjamin Zimmerman for a time, and subsequently for six years with Joseph Klitch. In 1904 he bought the cafe in Schuylkill Haven established by his father and conducted it at the old stand for three and a half years. He next pur- chased the "Union House," which he operated for a year, and then in November, 1912, bought the Huntzinger property on Main street, which is a fine location for his business. Here he has developed a large and lucrative trade. Mr. Stitzer is a member of the Retail Liquor Dealers' Association of the State and county, and is also a member of the Schuylkill Haven Hose Company.
William G. Stitzer was married Nov. 3, 1897, to Sarah A. Leitzel, daugh- ter of M. E. and Elizabeth (Weiser) Leitzel, the latter a direct descendant of Conrad Weiser, one of the early settlers of the State of Pennsylvania. To this couple has been born one daughter, Marion Leitzel, born at Pottsville May 23, 1901.
CAPT. HANS C. CHRISTESON, deceased, who was for many years one of the leading men of his part of Schuylkill county, was born in Denmark March 13, 1825. He came of a sea-faring family, and was brought up on a vessel, so that he was familiar with his calling from childhood. For many years he followed the sea, rising to be captain, and became the owner of a ves- sel that carried merchandise between San Francisco and China ports, and between New York and South American ports, and also made several voyages round the world. When the gold excitement was at its height, in 1849, Cap- tain Christeson went to California, and for several years thereafter was en- gaged in prospecting. Until after his marriage he followed the sea, and then spent some time in New York City. Subsequently he came to Pennsylvania, and with Charles E. Molly embarked in general merchandising at Pine Grove. He was also interested in a furnace at this point, and became a man of large affairs. After disposing of his mercantile interests Captain Christeson went to Mifflin, now Suedberg, where he bought a large tract of land, and opened a general store. He also conducted a hotel, and took an active part in hav- ing the Lebanon & Tremont branch of the Pennsylvania railroad built through this section of the county. Not only did he secure a post office for the station, but served as postmaster until his death, on Jan. 26, 1878. The name of the post office was changed from Mifflin, as it was originally known, to Suedberg in 1882.
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.