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 15
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Lodge, No. 222, F. & A. M .; of the chapter at Minersville; commandery at Pottsville, and Philadelphia Consistory, having attained the thirty-second degree ; he also belongs to Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Reading, Pa. Besides his Masonic connections he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum and the P. O. S. of A.
Mr. Quandel married Bessie Noble, of Pottsville, daughter of William Noble, of Pottsville, Pa., and granddaughter of the late John T. and Sarah Noble; John T. Noble was the proprietor of the iron works which bore his name. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Quandel are: Adda M., Doris May and C. Nobel.
MAJ. JOHN F. OWENS, of Pottsville, has the distinction of being the oldest member of the National Guard in the State of Pennsylvania. He has been on the retired list of that body since 1909, but he is still connected with the service, being at present caretaker of the new State Armory at Pottsville. Major Owens was born in this city Aug. 16, 1851, son of Thomas Owens, a native of Wales, who came to the United States in young manhood and settled in Pottsville, Schuylkill county, where he followed mining. He died at Potts- ville, and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery there. His wife was Hannah Mitchel.
Major Owens received a common school education, and in his youth did day's work until he entered the employ of Mr. Spark, with whom he learned the trade of boilermaker. Subsequently he entered the shops of the Philadelphia & Reading Company, where he was employed at boilermaking until 1911 -- a long period of service with the same concern. Then for a few years he was tipstaff at the courthouse, and in January, 1914, he became caretaker at the new State Armory in Pottsville, which position he now holds. Major Owens is particularly well known in his long association with the Pennsylvania National Guard, in which he enlisted Oct. 1, 1870, as a member of Company G, 7th Regi- ment, Light Infantry of Pottsville. His record is as follows: "Corporal, Com- pany G, 7th Regiment, N. G. of Pa., Feb. 10, 1877; Corporal, Company F, Ist Regiment, Inf. Vol., Aug. 23, 1877; Sergeant, Company G, 7th Regiment, N. G. of Pa., Dec. 8, 1877 : First Sergeant, Company H. 8th Regiment, N. G. of Pa., June 5, 1882 ; second lieutenant, Company H, 8th Regiment, N. G. of Pa., July 2, 1889 ; first lieutenant, Company H, 8th Regiment, N. G. of Pa., July 19, 1889 ; captain, Company H, 8th Regiment, N. G. of Pa., April 23, 1894; Major, 8th Regiment, Oct. 18, 1892." On Aug. 12, 1909, Major Owens was placed on the retired list. He has a fine medal, presented to him in recognition of his extended service. His association with Good Intent Fire Company has covered almost as long a period, he having joined that organization forty years ago.
On Dec. 16, 1875, Major Owens married Mary McGinley, by which union he had three children : Frances, John and Anna (deceased). His second mar- riage was to Emma Heffner, daughter of the late Edward Heffner, who at one time served as burgess of Pottsville, and to them were born two children: Harry, a civil and mining engineer, now located at Wilkes-Barre, Pa .; and Arthur, a machinist, in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Company at Pottsville. For his third wife Major Owens married Mary Flummer, and four children were born to this marriage: William, Anna, Thomas and Elizabeth.
The Major is a member of the Methodist Church. He does not identify
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himself with any political party, voting independently on all questions. He is a citizen who holds the unqualified respect of his fellow men wherever known, and has made a record of faithful service in every capacity of which he may well be proud and which entitles him to high regard.
ELVIN W. KEITH, M. D., of Minersville, though just at the outset of his professional career has every promise of success in his chosen calling, for which he has had the good fortune to be thoroughly prepared. He is a native of Luzerne county, Pa., born Aug. 26, 1886, at Stockton. His father, George Keith, came to America from Germany when a child and made his home in Luzerne county, Pa., for many years. By trade he was a carpenter, and for many years was engaged in contracting in that line where he now resides. He is carpenter foreman at the Pine Hill colliery. He married Martha Schnei- der, and they have the following children: Orthia, Mrs. George Pettit ; Anna, Mrs. Eilus Saylor ; George, of Nazareth, Pa .; Regina, wife of Frank Snyder, postmaster of Minersville; Harry, of Minersville; Elvin W .; Stanley, of South Bethlehem, Pa .; and Hilda, Mrs. Fred German, of Paterson, New Jersey.
Elvin W. Keith attended public school and was graduated from the Miners- ville high school in the class of 1907. He then took his professional course, at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1913. During the year following he was stationed at the Potts- ville Hospital, on June 1, 1914, locating at Minersville, where he has since been engaged in general practice. He is a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Keith has made an excellent start and is gaining steadily in the confidence and esteem of the resi- dents of Minersville and vicinity. He is married to Helen C. Dougherty. The Keith family are Methodists in religious faith.
MANUEL W. BROMMER, of Landingville, Schuylkill county, seems to have found the solution of being "pleasantly and profitably employed" for him- self, at any rate, and his beautifully kept little property is one of the features of the neighborhood, where enterprises similar to his are rare. For a number of years Mr. Brommer was an employee of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- road Company, and in that capacity and as hotelkeeper at Landingville, he has a very wide acquaintance. Born Nov. 6, 1857, in South Manheim township, Schuylkill county, he is a son of Lewis Brommer and grandson of Henry Brommer. The latter came to this country from Germany with his wife and one child, and settled at Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill Co., Pa. By trade he was a carpenter, and as such was employed at the locks when the Schuylkill canal was under construction.
Lewis Brommer, father of Manuel W. Brommer, was born in Wayne township. While living in Schuylkill county he followed farming, and in 1879 he moved out to Missouri, settling at Boonville, where he continued agricultural pursuits, also making a specialty of hog raising. He prospered and continued to reside there until his death. His wife was Eliza Reber, daughter of Samuel Reber, and they had children as follows: Manuel W., Morris, Harry, Robert, Francis, Fulton, Carrie, Jennie and Pearl.
Manuel W. Brommer attended public school during his boyhood, and later, in 1874-75, was a student of the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa. In his young manhood he taught six terms of school in Schuylkill county, after which he entered the service of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
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Company. Following a short experience as brakeman he became conductor of a freight train, and soon afterwards a passenger train, for eight years being so engaged on the best train on his division, the "Cannon Ball," running between Pottsville and Philadelphia. His employment with the railroad com- pany extended over a period of twenty years, and he retired in 1899, at which time he bought the hotel at Landingville. He conducted it as proprietor for seven years, leasing the property, and made a thorough success of his business, but gave it up to enter his present line, the raising of high-grade chickens.
Mr. Brommer has bought the small piece of ground on the road running west from Landingville, a short distance from the railroad station, two and a quarter acres, which was all woodland when it came into his possession. He put up a little two-story house, where he has since resided, and during the inter- vening years has improved the place with the idea of making it an ideal poultry establishment. Most of his land is on a hillside, and at the foot of the hill is a fine stream of clear water, a great advantage for his purpose. He has eight pens, 8 by 10 feet in size, with wire inclosures 10 by 100 feet for each, the latter extending down the slope of the hill to the creek at the bottom. The houses are of the open front variety, protected in the winter by muslin curtains. After considerable study of the various breeds of poultry, Mr. Brommer decided on the White Leghorns, which he keeps exclusively, and after import- ing a pen of Tom Barron Single Comb White Leghorns from Preston, England, he had such favorable results that he has tried no other kind since. At present he has about one hundred and fifty chickens, old and young, and the effect of scientific feeding and unremitting care is very well demonstrated, for often, even during the winter season, he gathers as many eggs daily as there are hens in the pens. The eggs are always very large, averaging nearly two pounds to the dozen, and he has been unable to supply the demand for hatching purposes. In one season from his small flock he has disposed of more than one hundred and fifty dollars worth in eggs for hatching purposes. Mr. Brommer has made a thorough study of feed, housing and the ideal conditions for his stock, and though he has taken infinite pains and neglected no precautions to keep the chickens in the best condition, his arrangements have been so perfected that he is able to accomplish all the necessary work with the minimum of labor. Cleanliness is the prime consideration, whitewash is used plentifully wherever needed, and all of the property is kept in a most attractive state, neatness and true economy being the most conspicuous characteristics. The feed house is one of the best arranged in the country. Mr. Brommer erected it especially for his purpose and it is admirably equipped, about 20 feet square and three stories high. The lower floor is used for the mixing of the feed and provided with two large mixing troughs, a grinder and a gasoline engine. After being mixed in the trough the feed is ground, and then placed in the hopper and fed. The hoppers are large enough to hold a week's supply of grain, thus eliminating much of the work of feeding. The second floor is so arranged that a team can back up against the front from the road and deliver the bags of feed right on the floor. The bins, six in number, with a capacity of 400 bushels, are on this floor, three on either side of the aisle. These bins are equipped on the bottom with chutes, leading into and operated from the basement, and when Mr. Brommer wants a certain kind of grain, he simply taps it from the bin. The third floor is used for storage purposes. Here he keeps his incubators when not in use, and various other articles.
Along with the raising of poultry Mr. Brommer has continued the clearing
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of his land and its improvement in other lines. He plants a fair sized garden, raising enough vegetables for his own use, and he has set out fifty peach trees, principally to supply shade for the chickens when the brush and trees originally on the land have all been cleared away. Last year he set out a strawberry bed, 20 by 100 feet in size. His little establishment is a model of its kind, and though he has expended much time and means on its development the venture is paying him well. Combining study with intelligent labor he has worked out many problems of the business to which he now devotes his time, making experi- ments which assist his neighbors as well as himself, and showing the possibili- ties of the industry in this section he has accomplished at least one thing of distinct value to his neighborhood.
Mr. Brommer is a skillful watchmaker and jeweler, and while on the rail- road he was well known as a reliable repairman, many of his fellow trainmen bringing their watches to him for care and adjustment. He continues to follow this trade as occasion demands. Mr. Brommer is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men.
JOHN F. SCHNEIDER, late of Pottsville, was a typical member of the thrifty German stock from which he came, a skillful tradesman, industrious, honorable in all his dealings and prosperous in business as a result of trust- worthy methods and steady service to his patrons. He was one of a family of five children, of whom August died at Minersville, Pa .; Lena married a Mr. Burkhart ; Sophia married Carl Spaulding; Catherine married August Orf.
Mr. Schneider was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1840. He grew up in his native country and was a young man when he came to America. From the time of his settlement in this country he lived in Schuylkill county, Pa., first at Minersville and later at Pottsville, where he resided until his death. A shoe- maker by trade, he followed that occupation throughout his active years, and by frugality and good management he became the owner of several valuable pieces of property. Mr. Schneider was a man of fine qualities and became well and favorably known in this region, for whose interest he always had close concern. His death occurred Jan. 22, 1914, at his residence in Pottsville, No. 214 North Third street, and he is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery. He was a zealous member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and in his will bequeathed one hundred dollars to that church and a like amount to the Third Brigade Band of Pottsville.
Mr. Schneider married Elizabeth Klein, who was born June 17, 1855, in the northwestern part of Germany, daughter of Joseph and Margaret ( Barnhart) Klein, both of whom died in Germany ; they had six children, Mrs. Schneider's brothers and sisters being : Frederick, John, Bernhart, Josephine and Catherine. Mrs. Schneider came to America when fourteen years old, and lived in New York City for five years, at the end of that time coming to Pottsville, where she has since made her home. She continues to occupy the old residence on North Third street. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schneider: John Frederick, who lives at Pottsville: August F., who died when twenty-two years old; Charles, who died young ; Mary Elizabeth, who married John W. Brown, and has two children : Elma E. and Robert P. ; and Charles F., living at home. The family are members of Trinity Lutheran Church at Pottsville.
CHARLES H. KRAMMES, proprietor of the "Anburn Hotel," was born in Wayne township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., Feb. 12, 1851, son of Benjamin B.
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Krammes and grandson of Andrew Krammes. The family is one of the oldest of German ancestry in the State. Andrew Krammes lived in Wayne township and followed farming until the end of his days. He is buried at Summer Hill cemetery. His children were: Moses, Daniel, Benjamin B., Sarah, Elizabeth, Louisa and Matilda.
Benjamin B. Krammes was born in Wayne township, and followed boating on the Schuylkill canal during all of his active life. He died in Wayne town- ship, and is buried near the old Summer Hill Church there. By his marriage to Lucy Ann, daughter of Daniel Krammes, he had these children : Benjamin L., W. W., Frank S., Levi (deceased), Charles H., James, David, Milton and Polly Ann (who married Levi Ditzler, of Washington township). After the death of Mr. Krammes Mrs. Krammes married Benjamin Heimbach. She is now deceased.
Charles H. Krammes obtained his education in the public schools. He followed boating on the canal for eight years, after which he took up the occupation of carpenter, which he continued for ten years. He then went into the hotel business, which he has carried on for the past nineteen years at the following places: Summit Station; "Red Lion Hotel," Washington town- ship; Rock Station ; Friedensburg ; "Half-Way House," North Manheim town- ship; "Springer Hotel," Cressona ; and the "Auburn House," which he bought of John H. Fahl Feb. 1, 1911. He is conducting the most popular house in the borough of Auburn and caters to the best trade of the county. Mr. Krammes is a member of the Board of Trade of Auburn and in every way is a citizen of public spirit and enterprise. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Summit Station, and also of the P. O. S. of A. camp at the same place. In religious affiliation he is a Lutheran. Fraternally he is a Mason, with member- ship at Pottsville.
Mr. Krammes was married to Sarah Jane Roeder, daughter of Anthony Roeder, of Wayne township, and they have had twelve children, as follows: (I) Carrie V. is the wife of Jacob W. Clauser, of Auburn, Pa. (2) Mabel A., wife of Frank Wilson, is living in Reading, Pa. (3) Clora M., wife of J. D. Kantner, died at the age of twenty-five years. (4) Sallie A. married Henry H. Emerich, of Summit Station. (5) Fronie J. is the wife of Alvin Maiden- ford, of Washington township, this county. (6) Richard E. lives at Frack- ville, Pa. (7) Rufus V. lives at Schuylkill Haven and is the proprietor of the "Columbus Hotel." (8) Mary L. is the wife of Edward Moyer, of Pine Grove. (9) Elerttie E. married Walter Fegley, of Palo Alto, Pa. (10) Brua C. lives at Pottsville, Pa. (II) Curtis E. lives at Schuylkill Haven. (12) Hattie F. died at the age of four years.
HENRY YERGER, retired resident of Palo Alto, was in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company for about forty-eight years. Mr. Yerger was born April 1, 1844, at Leesport, Berks Co., Pa., son of George B. Yerger, and his grandfather lived and died at Reading, Berks county. The latter had a family of six children, namely : John, Benjamin, George B., Mary, Lydia and Elizabeth.
George B. Yerger, father of Henry Yerger, was born March 15, 1820, at Reading, Berks Co., Pa., where he followed butchering. In 1845 he came to Pottsville, Schuylkill county, where he found employment with Mr. Spohn, who had a meat market here for many years. Mr. Yerger finally entered the busi- ness on his own account, and continued it until his death, in 1893. He married
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Esther Shuck, and their family consisted of twelve children: Henry is the eldest ; Ellen, born May 26, 1845, married a Mr. Marshall; Annie, born' April 30, 1846, married Philip Smith, and is deceased; Frank, born Feb. 1, 1848, is living at Norristown, Pa .; Charles, born Oct. 17, 1849, died in Iowa; Mary, born Feb. 7, 1853, married Edw. Taylor, of Illinois ; Alice, born Jan. 16, 1855, married a Mr. Applegate, and is living in Iowa; Agnes, twin of Alice, is un- married and makes her home at Pottsville; William B., born Nov. 24, 1857, lives near Reading, Pa .; George, born Feb. 2, 1860, is living in Iowa; Sallie married Thomas C. Williams, of Pottsville; John, born June 5, 1866, died in 1913 in Iowa.
Henry Yerger was but one year old when his parents came to Pottsville, and he grew up here, attending the public school during his boyhood. He found his first regular employment in the Snyder foundry, and did that kind of work for about three years. He then spent one year in the rolling mill at Palo Alto, was at the car shop in the employ of the Reading Company one year, and for another year held the position of brakeman. He afterwards served successfully as conductor and fireman, and in 1874 began running an engine, continuing with that company in that capacity until his retirement, April 1, 1914. He is now on the pension list. For about twenty years he ran an engine on the Frackville and Mahanoy division, and he was one of the oldest engineers on the road at the time of his retirement. His trustworthiness and his intelligent attention to his important work were properly valued by his employers. He is a member of Anthracite Lodge, No. 285. F. & A. M., and of Mountain City Chapter, No. 196, R. A. M., of Pottsville, Pa. By reason of his service in the Civil war Mr. Yerger is entitled to membership in the G. A. R., belonging to Gowen Post, No. 23, of that body, as well as to Union Veteran Legion, No. 19, of which he is a past colonel. He has also been prom- inent in the "First Defenders" Association, serving as president in 1900, and as vice president from 1909 to 1914.
On April 18, 1861, Mr. Yerger enlisted in Company D, 25th Regiment, National Light Infantry, for three months, under Captain McDowell, being one of the "first defenders." He was discharged July 27, 1861, at the expiration of this term, and reenlisted Oct. Ist, following, for three years, becoming a member of Company G, 48th Pennsylvania Regiment, from which he received his discharge Oct. 1, 1864. From Sept. 1, 1861, to Oct. 1, 1864, it was attached to Batteries L and M, 3d Artillery, U. S. A. Mr. Yerger received one slight wound while in the service, being wounded at Charleston, WV. Va., in the right ankle. In 1866 Mr. Yerger was married to Sarah Jane Lashorn, daughter of Daniel Lashorn, who was a native of Virginia. Five children have been born to this marriage : William D. is an engineer in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company, and resides at Reading, Pa .; Morris E. is a member of the well known firm of Yerger & Jones, clothiers at Pottsville ; George H., who lives at home, is a machinist in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Com- pany ; Frank H. is a telegrapher in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; Mary E. is the widow of Harry G. Miller, and resides at home. Mr. Yerger has served as a member of the council of Palo Alto.
ELWOOD T. EILER has been a recognized influence in the musical circles in Schuylkill Haven for a number of years, devoting practically all of his life to such interests, for he is not only a musician, but also engaged in business as a dealer in musical instruments and such merchandise. Mr. Eiler is the
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leader of the Schuylkill Haven Band and also plays cornet in the Third Brigade Band of Pottsville.
The Eiler family, to which Elwood T. Eiler belongs, traces its ancestry to Johannes Eyler, who was born Dec. 6, 1772, and died Dec. 21, 1843. He settled at what became known as Eyler's Hollow (in Pennsylvania German as "Noosadaul"), in North Manheim township, Schuylkill county, followed farm- ing, and died upon his farm, and is buried in the old cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. His children were: John ; Daniel ( 1811-1869) ; Henry ; Betsy, wife of Frank Mellon; and Kate, wife of Peter Strause. His children changed the name to its present form.
John Eiler, grandfather of Elwood T. Eiler, and son of John, above, was a large landowner in what is now known as Schuylkill Haven, and also at Eiler's Hollow. He was born on the homestead in North Manheim township, and died in that township at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He learned the trade of carpet weaver and followed it throughout his active life. His wife, Hannah (Schappell), daughter of Jacob Schappell, died at the age of forty-six years, and they are buried in the old cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. They had the following family : Mary married John Bubeck ; Maria married Levi Reich> ert ; Hannah married John Krietzel, who was killed during the Civil war, while serving as a member of the 48th Pennsylvania Regiment, and she afterwards married Samuel Bonberger, who was also a soldier in the Civil war ; Emaline married Joseph Freeman ; Susan married William Killian, a soldier of the Civil war; Israel died while serving as a soldier in the Civil war; Frank is the father of Elwood T. Eiler. Three children died young.
Frank Eiler, son of John and Hannah Eiler, was born April 13, 1840, in North Manheim township, and is now living retired at Schuylkill Haven, after a long service in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company. He began work for that company as a switchman, later becoming brakeman, and . three years afterwards was promoted to fireman, finally becoming an engineer. He was thus engaged for thirty-five years, most of the time on the Mine Hill road, and he brought the old yellow cars then in use to the Mine Hill crossing, where they were loaded on the canalboats. Thus he has seen the development of the railroads from the complicated but inferior methods of the early days to the splendid system now in operation. Mr. Eiler was retired by the company April 13, 1910. He has been a member of the Philadelphia & Reading Veterans since the organization of that body, and has also belonged to the Relief Association since its organization. Mr. Eiler married Leah Baker, daughter of John Baker, and the following children were born to their union : Elwood T. Eiler is mentioned below ; Harry and Clayton are barbers at Schuylkill Haven; George died young ; Frank is a barber and music dealer at Spring City, Pa. ; Robert, also a barber, is located at Landingville, Pa .; May is married to Arthur Rich, of Pottsville, Pa. The mother died Dec. 11, 1909, and is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven.
Elwood T. Eiler was born Nov. 24, 1861, and obtained his education in the public schools. When a youth he learned the trade of barber, which he followed until 1903. He has since been in business at Schuylkill Haven as a dealer in musical instruments and music, selling pianos, player pianos, organs and other such instruments, phonographs and records. Mr. Eiler has made a thorough success in his mercantile venture, his understanding of the require- ments of his customers and his familiarity with music fitting him to accommo- date his trade to the best advantage. His store on Main street is up-to-date
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