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 19
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has qualified him for effective service and he is conscientious in the perform- ance of all his duties.
Mr. Neiswender married Catherine Magdalena Vetter, born Jan. 22, 1880, a daughter of David and Mary C. (Hetzel) Vetter, and they have had two children : (1) Florence May, born Dec. 20, 1895, began her education in the schools of New Ringgold and is a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, class of 1913. She is now teaching the primary grade in the New Ring- gold schools. (2) Luther Edwin, born Dec. 9, 1900, died March 28, 1902.
Mrs. Neiswender obtained her literary education in the schools of New Ringgold, and spent seven years as a private pupil of Gilbert R. Coombs, principal of the South Broad Street Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, graduating from the conservatory in piano, theory, harmony, history and ensemble, analysis, sight 'reading, and the normal training course. Subse- quently she started a class of piano students in Tamaqua, Pa., which she continued for four months, until because of illness she was obliged to discon- tinue it, having contracted blood poisoning. After a lapse of one year she resumed teaching, at New Ringgold. She is now organist and chorister of Frieden's Lutheran and Reformed Church.
Mrs. Neiswender is of German lineage on both sides, being a daughter of David and Mary C. (Hetzel) Vetter, granddaughter of John and Mary (Hetzel) Vetter and great-granddaughter of John Vetter. Her father was station agent at New Ringgold for over twenty years, and is now living retired in that borough. An account of the Vetter and Hetzel families appears in his biography in this work.
JOHN O. J. BOYER, a popular engineer in the employ of the Phila- delphia & Reading Railway Company, located at Schuylkill Haven, was born Jan. 7, 1877, in that borough, son of Edward Boyer and grandson of Philip Isaac Boyer, all natives of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.
Philip Isaac Boyer, the grandfather, was born May 2, 1805, in Manheim township, this county, and was a farmer by occupation, residing in South Man- heim township for a number of years. He then removed to Schuylkill Haven, where he died May 16, 1863, and is interred in the Union cemetery there. He was twice married, his first wife, Maria, born in South Manheim township Jan. 22, 1811, dying in Schuylkill Haven Nov. 15, 1829; she is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. Edward Boyer was born to this union. For his second wife Philip Isaac Boyer married Catharine Heffner, and she was the mother of a daughter, Maria, who married Daniel Moyer.
Edward Boyer was born May 16, 1828, in South Manheim township, Schuylkill county, and followed farming during the earlier years of his work- ing life. He spent some years in railroading, but most of his work was agricultural in character. His death occurred on the street in Pottsville, while he was waiting for a car to go on a visit, and before he could be con- veyed to the hospital for treatment he passed away. His remains lie in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. Mr. Boyer was married to Sarah Ann DeLong, a daughter of Isaac DeLong, of Cressona, blacksmith and wheel- wright. Nine children were born to this union: Celia, Philip, Catherine, Ed- ward, Calvin, Mary, Luther, Mabel and John O. J.
John O. J. Boyer attended the public schools of Schuylkill Haven, and as soon as he was permitted to go to work selected the occupation of railroading. At the age of eighteen years he began to fire an engine, and in 1904 was given
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charge of his first engine, on the run between Pottsville and Philadelphia. All of his railroad experience has been with the same company, and he has gained the respect of his employers and the friendship of his fellow employes and the traveling public. After running a passenger train on the Reading division of the Philadelphia & Reading road successfully he was promoted to the posi- tion of road foreman of engines on the Reading division, and is so engaged at the present time. Mr. Boyer resides on Dock street, in Schuylkill Haven, and is one of the respected citizens of the borough.
Mr. Boyer was united in marriage to Lillie I. Brownmiller, a daughter of Thomas Daniel Brownmiller, of Lebanon county, Pa., a sketch of whose family follows. Mrs. Boyer was born in Lebanon county, June 7, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have two children, Paul and Edward. Mr. Boyer is a mem- ber of the Reformed Church, while his wife is an attendant of the Lutheran Church. Socially Mr. Boyer is a member of Page Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M. ; a charter member of Reading Lodge of Perfection (fourteenth degree) ; belongs to Philadelphia Consistory (thirty-second degree), and to Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and the P. O. S. of A.
The Brownmiller family, of which Mrs. J. O. J. Boyer is a member, was founded in America by Johannes Braunmiller who was born about 1712 in Germany, and emigrated to this country on the ship "Samuel," from Rotter- dam, landing in Philadelphia Aug. 27, 1739. He is supposed to have settled in New Jersey, where he raised a large family.
Luttwick Braunmiller (Ludwig Brownmiller), son of the emigrant Johannes, located in Northampton county, Pa., before the Revolution, and from that place many of his family moved to Lenhartsville, Berks county, Pa. Luttwick Braunmiller served in the Revolutionary war, in Capt. Frederick Kern's company, and since that time the family has been represented in every war in which this country has been involved.
Nicholas Brownmiller, M. D., son of Luttwick, lived near Lenhartsville, Berks county, and owned what is now called the Yenser farm. On this farm is a private burial ground where many of the family are interred. His chil- dren were: Moses and Josiah, of Hamburg, and Nicholas, of Pottsville. Penn- sylvania.
Frederick Brownmiller, son of Luttwick, lived in earlier life near Bath, Northampton county, and from there moved to Hokendauqua, Lehigh county, and then to Lenhartsville. He was married to Barbara Nolf, and their chil- dren were: George, Joseph, Daniel, Reuben, Samuel (died in the Civil war), Jeremiah and Benneville (a Methodist minister). All of the earlier members of the family were Lutherans.
Joseph Brownmiller, son of Frederick, was born Oct. 23, 1807, at Hoken- dauqua, Lehigh county, and was a shoemaker. He was organist and chorister of Klopp's Church, in Lebanon county, Pa., for more than forty years. He died April 7, 1895. He married Hannah Stein, of Greenwich, Berks county, who died May 1, 1877, aged sixty-four years, six months, twenty-six days, and they had ten children : Helena : Maria, wife of Gideon Botz; Esther, wife of Eli Wolever : Amelia, wife of Samuel F. Steiner ; Joel; Susanna, married to Jonathan Miller ; Amanda, married to Isaac K. Wolf; Emma, wife of John H. Kreiser : Ephraim S .; and Thomas Daniel, father of Mrs. Boyer.
Thomas Daniel Brownmiller was born May 14. 1856, at Hamlin, Lebanon Co., Pa., and his death occurred Aug. 14, 1915. He was a graduate of Palat-
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inate College, Myerstown, Lebanon county, was a professor of music, and for forty-six years was organist and chorister in the Lutheran Church. He mar- ried Fianna Gerhart, of Hamlin, and their union was blessed with five chil- dren : Lillie, wife of John O. J. Boyer ; J. Harry, of New York City, at present a salesman in the Wanamaker store; Charles, of Cape May City, Cape May, N. J .; Roy and Annetta, living at home in Schuylkill Haven.
JOHN M. OREN, of Port Carbon, has been deputy recorder of Schuyl- kill county for several years, and his intelligent performance of the duties of that position has given much satisfaction to his fellow citizens. The pains- taking attention he has given to his work and obliging courtesy to all who have had occasion to seek his services have made him deservedly popular at the county seat, and his long service has given him a familiarity with the records which is of the highest value in the correct transaction of the business of the office. Mr. Oren was born at Palo Alto, Schuylkill Co., Pa., Feb. 5, 1856, son of James Oren. His grandfather, James Oren, was a native of Ireland, and on coming to America settled at New Cumberland, in Cumberland county, Pa., where he followed farming.
James Oren, father of John M. Oren, was born in New Cumberland. He was only a boy when he came to Palo Alto, where he was in the employ of the Navigation Company for many years, being with them when the canal was first opened until it was discontinued in 1871. He rose to the position of harbormaster. After the canal was abandoned he was engaged as a railroad foreman for several years, and he died at Palo Alto at the age of sixty-seven years. By his first marriage, to Rosa Krause, of Lebanon, Pa., Mr. Oren had four children, Jennie, Elizabeth, John M. and Cora. By his second wife, Luthena (Chillson), daughter of Squire Walter S. Chillson, of Palo Alto, he had a family of six children : Jessie, Elsie, Edith, Olive, 'Mary and George.
John M. Oren had common school privileges during his youth, but was only twelve years old when he began work, loading canalboats. At the age of fifteen he began to learn the trade of machinist, with Robert Allison, in whose employ he continued for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1901 he took a position with the Reading Coal & Iron Company, and he was also employed at his trade in Virginia, Ohio and various places in Pennsylvania, being so occupied until January, 1909, when he assumed the duties of his present position, to which he was appointed. Mr. Oren has proved himself worthy of the confidence of his fellow citizens, and is looking after their interests well. He is a Republican on political questions, and socially holds member- ship in the local lodge of Elks, No. 207, and in the Sons of America.
On May 13, 1880, Mr. Oren married Annie E. Bailey, sister of Samuel S. Bailey, recorder of Schuylkill county. No children have been born to this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Oren reside at Port Carbon.
DANIEL LOCH is the owner of valuable farm property in West Penn township, and is busily engaged in its cultivation and in lumbering, which he has carried on successfully for a number of years. He is a native of the township, born Jan. 22, 1858, on the place now owned by Daniel I .. Miller, and is a grandson of George Loch, who founded the family here.
George Loch, the grandfather, came to this section from Lehigh county, and settled in West Penn township, where he worked at his trade of weaver all his life. He and his wife were members of Zion's Lutheran Church in
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West Penn township, and they are buried at that church. He was a Republi- can in politics. His children, all now deceased, were: Samuel, Jonas (who married a Holshoe), George, Mary (wife of Daniel L. Miller, of West Penn township), Maria (who married George Schmidt, both dying in Philadelphia) and Amos.
George Loch, father of Daniel Loch, was born and grew up in West Penn township, receiving his education in the public schools. Farming was his life work. About the time he reached his majority he married, and after working around among farmers he bought thirty acres from John Hartung, where he followed general agriculture all his active years, retiring some five years before his death, which occurred at Mantz, in West Penn township, when he was fifty-nine years of age. He was a veteran of the Civil war, a stanch Republican in politics, and a sincere Christian, one of the valued mem- bers and workers of the Evangelical Church in his township, which he served as elder, deacon and in all the other offices. He was also superintendent of. the Sunday school. Mr. Loch married Kate Beibleheimer, daughter of George and Kate (Yeager) Beibleheimer, natives of West Penn township, and chil- dren as follows were born to them: Joseph, who lives in West Penn township, married Sarah Lutz, and their children are George, Eva, Clinton, Pierce, Howard, Mamie and Sadie; Daniel is next in the family; Noah, a farmer and lumberman, residing at Sittler (Andreas), this county, married Mary A. Staudt, and they have had two children, Charles Edwin (deceased) and William A .; George A., who lives at Nesquehoning, Carbon Co., Pa., and is engaged as a section foreman on the Central railroad of New Jersey, married Emma Bachert, and their children are Edward and Mabel; Fred B., proprietor of the "Lansford House," at Lansford, Pa., married Annie Kemmerer, and they have one child, Gertrude; Kate, wife of William Freeman, of Allentown, Pa., fireman at a brewery, has children, Mazie, Erma, Robert, Allen and Herbert; Sallie is married to Edward Kern, of Lehighton, and their children are Harry, Florence, Edward, Guy, Leroy, Arline and Paul. The parents are buried at the Evangelical Church in West Penn township.
Daniel Loch was reared and educated in West Penn township, attending Bolich's school, and was trained to farming, working for his father until he left home, at the age of eighteen years. He was employed by various farmers until twenty-one years old, when he went to Shamokin, Pa., where he worked at the coal breaker for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company for four months, following which he spent over a year at Audenried, Carbon county, with Weaver & Dick, contractors, stripping coal. His next removal was to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he learned the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship with George D. Silvis, under whom he became quite proficient at house building and similar work. Returning to West Penn township in the year 1882, he followed his trade at Sittler, his first job being on the erec- tion of the store of the late T. E. Sittler. He remained at that location until May, 1883, when he married, thereafter continuing his trade for a number of years. For about three years he lived with his brother Noah at Sittler. In 1887 he built the house he has since occupied, in West Penn township in the vicinity of Sittler, and a few years later bought the old Rubrecht farm, adjoin- ing his dwelling site, from Francis K. Mantz, a tract of one hundred acres, of which seventy-five are cleared. He bought another tract in West Penn township, containing fifty acres, and cut the timber from twenty acres of that property, all of which is now clear, Mr. Loch farming both his tracts and
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finding profitable occupation in general agriculture. For a number of years he has also carried on lumbering, buying timber tracts, cutting the wood and hiring saw-mills for its manufacture, and then marketing the finished product. His operations in this line are all in West Penn township.
Mr. Loch is recognized as a thoroughly progressive character wherever his interests take him. He has long been a leading member of Washington Camp No. 615, P. O. S. of A., of Sittler, Pa., which he served eight years in the capacity of financial secretary, and he is at present treasurer of the organ- ization. As a member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 1153, I. O. O. F., of Sittler, he is one of the best known Odd Fellows in this part of Pennsylvania, being a past grand of his own lodge and its present secretary, and he was a delegate to the State convention held at Harrisburg in May, 1909; he had the past grand degree conferred upon him at Harrisburg. In political principle he is a Republican, and he has been associated with the local activities of the party, having served as election inspector; though not an office seeker he is interested in the proper administration of township affairs, and he is serving as registry assessor of the Southeast district of West Penn. His religious connection is with Zion's Reformed Church in his home township.
Mr. Loch was married at Lehighton, Pa., by Rev. Abraham Bartholomew, to Fianna Rebecca Staudt, who was born April 13, 1865, at Bernville, Berks Co., Pa., daughter of John Fisher and Sarah (Snyder) Staudt, and obtained her schooling in West Penn township. She remained at home until her mar- riage. Mrs. Loch is a member of Zion's Reformed Church. By this union there is one child, Charles Calvin, who was born Sept. 8, 1884, received his education at Sittler, and has always worked with his father, whom he assists at both farming and lumbering. He is married to Amanda Hoppes, who was born April 28, 1890, in West Penn township, daughter of Solomon and Caro- line (Eberts) Hoppes, farming people of that township, now living retired. They have one child, Hattie Caroline, born Feb. 2, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Loch also have an adopted child, her niece, the daughter of Frank Leiby and grand- daughter of John F. Staudt. She has lived with them from the age of six years, and is now nineteen.
The Staudts are an old Berks county family, and Mrs. Loch is a daughter of John Fisher Staudt, granddaughter of Daniel Staudt, and great-grand- daughter of Johannes Staudt who married a Christ. Daniel Staudt mar- ried Mary Ann Fisher, and their children were: Mary Ann, Adam, Joshua, Eliza Ann, Fayetta, Alfred, Johannes Fisher, Emilie Sara Ann, Daniel Jared and Aaron.
John (Johannes) Fisher Staudt was born Feb. 18, 1841, in Penn town- ship, Berks county, and spent his early life in that county. When he settled in Schuylkill county he carried on a feed and grocery business at Pottsville for one year, and has since been a resident of West Penn township, owning and operating what is probably the oldest mill property in the county. He has been county surveyor, postmaster at Staudtsville, and member of the township school board, and has been long regarded as one of the most useful members of his community. He is now living retired, but retains the over- sight of all his affairs. All his children were born to his first marriage, with Sarah Snyder, viz .: Mary Ann (Mrs. Noah Loch), Sarah A. V. (Mrs. Frank Leiby), Hiram Henry, Alvin, Milton, Fianna R. (Mrs. Daniel Loch), Ellen ( Mrs. James Muth), John, Charles William, Daniel Jacob and Clara (Mrs. William Stahler). For his second wife Mr. Staudt married Mrs. Carolina
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(Osenbach) Schrack, widow of Aaron Schrack, and daughter of Daniel Osenbach. A full account of the Staudt family appears elsewhere in this work.
FRANK L. BENSINGER is farming the old Bensinger homestead in East Brunswick township, and is known as an estimable representative of a family whose members in every generation have been respected for intelligent citizenship and substantial character. He is one of the fourth generation of Bensingers in East Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, being a great- grandson of Frederick Bensinger, the progenitor of many of the name in this locality, who was born in Montgomery county, Pa., and settled in East Bruns- wick township before the Revolution. When the war broke out he was engaged in farming there, and he left his private affairs to go to the assistance of the Colonies. In his later years he received a pension for his services. He married Mary Weiman, and had a family of eight children, one of whom, Jacob, married Hannah Dreher, and was the ancestor of another branch of the family in East Brunswick township.
Michael Bensinger, son of Frederick, was a farmer in East Brunswick township, where he owned about seventy-five acres of land. He cleared that tract, erected a log house and barn, and carried on general farming the greater part of his life. He had the following children: Edward married Sarah Heiser, and both are deceased; William, deceased, married a Miss Fister; Franklin B. is next in the family ; Benneville married Caroline Fahl, and both are deceased; Fred married a Miss Bock, and they reside at McKeansburg ; Priscilla married Thomas Hartung, and both are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bensinger are buried in the Steigerwalt cemetery in East Brunswick town- ship. He was a Whig in politics.
Franklin B. Bensinger was born in East Brunswick township in March, 1822, was educated in the schools of the local district, and spent his youth and early manhood assisting his father on the farm. After his father's death he bought out the other heirs to the homestead farm, which he operated all his life. His wife, Catherine (Shuster), who was born in September, 1821, and died in March, 1899, was a daughter of Martin Shuster, whose wife was a Koons. Mr. Bensinger died in March, 1898. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children: John went West, and is now deceased; Howard, a farmer in West Brunswick township, married Emma Leiby ; Charles S. married Ida Baer ; Frank L. is mentioned below ; Harry, who is a foreman in a silk mill at Tamaqua, married Cora Albright ; Thomas, deceased, married Elmira Horn, who resides in McKeansburg; Dora married W. S. Miller, of East Brunswick township; Mary married W. H. Yost, of Reading; Susan is the widow of James Shoener, and lives at Hamburg, Pa .; Lizzie is the widow of Oscar Kimmel, and makes her home at Port Carbon; Kate married J. A. Shellham- mer, of Port Carbon; Carrie married J. A. Yost, of Ringtown, this county. Politically Mr. Bensinger was a Republican. He was an earnest member of the Church of God and very active in its work, serving as trustee and in other capacities. His wife was also a member. They are buried in the Steigerwalt cemetery in East Brunswick township.
Frank L. Bensinger was born Dec. 5, 1860, on the place where he now lives, the old Bensinger homestead. His education was acquired in the East Brunswick schools, and he worked for his father on the homestead farm until 1883, when he went to Ohio. After doing farm work there for one year he
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returned home and entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- way Company, as coal flagman on the main line from Palo Alto to Port Rich- mond, Philadelphia, remaining with that company for two years, when he moved to McKeansburg. He worked for his father another three years, and then rented the Steigerwalt farm, near the Steigerwalt church (now owned by E. H. Kunkel), being tenant on that farm for nine years. At the end of that time he bought the homestead tract, where he has resided ever since, engaged in general farming and trucking. He makes two trips a week to the markets of New Philadelphia and St. Clair. Mr. Bensinger has found time to take part in the township government, has been elected school director and auditor, and has been associated with politics as a Republican. Socially he belongs to Washington Camp No. 100, P. O. S. of A., of New Ringgold, and to Protection Council, No. 935, Order of Independent Americans, of Mc- Keansburg ; at one time he was very active in the work of the latter organiza- tion, but never held any elective office. In religion he leans toward the teach- ings of the Evangelical Association.
Mr. Bensinger married Ida Albright, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Kershner) Albright, and they have had one child, Eva May; she was edu- cated in the East Brunswick schools and the Keystone State Normal School, graduating with the class of 1913, and was married to Leon Kimmel in 1915. Previously she taught school at Rauschs and Kepners, in East Brunswick township.
Mrs. Ida (Albright) Bensinger was born and educated in West Brunswick township, and lived at home until married. Her grandfather, Joseph Albright, was a farmer in West Brunswick township, owning 120 acres, nearly all of which he had under cultivation. He married Esther Sharadin, and they had children : Thomas; Susanna, widow of Solomon Moyer; Morgan, who mar- ried a Deibert; Benneville, who married Mary Hicks (both are deceased) ; Lucian, deceased, who married Isabella Hoy; and William, who married a Miss Bodey. The father died when over seventy years old, the mother when over sixty, and they are buried at St. John's Reformed Church, Orwigsburg, of which Mr. Albright was a member. He was a Democrat politically.
Thomas Albright, son of Joseph, was educated in West Brunswick town- ship and at the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, where he spent one year. He worked for his father on the farm until after his marriage. He operated his grandfather Kershner's farm at Drehersville for about eight years, and then moved to Orwigsburg and lived retired for one year. His next removal was to the homestead farm, which he had bought from his father, and he operated it for eleven years, at the end of that time removing to Allentown, where he is now employed by Dr. Albright. Mr. Albright is now (1915) seventy-seven years old. He married Catherine Kershner, daugh- ter of Daniel and Judith (Fegley) Kershner, and they had five children : Thomas and Lewis died young; Calvin married Ella Shoener, of Tamaqua ; Ida is Mrs. Bensinger; Cora married Harry Bensinger. Mrs. Albright died in March, 1895, and is buried at Orwigsburg. Mr. Albright is a member of St. John's Reformed Church, of Orwigsburg, Pa. He is a Democrat in politics.
ALEXANDER KAUFMAN, who is now living in the borough of Gor- don, was born March 23, 1850, at Schuylkill Haven, this county, where his grandfather, George Kaufman, settled about 1825. The latter was born Nov.
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