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 26
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Albert L. Moser was born May 12, 1874, in Albany township, Berks county, and obtained his schooling at the neighboring town of Steinsville, across the line in Lehigh county. Up to the age of twenty years he gave his services to his father at home, and after that worked one year on the home place for wages. Then for nearly a year he was in the employ of his uncle, James Moser, at Zion Grove, in North Union township, Schuylkill county, and for the three years following was a tenant on his uncle's farm, which he operated on shares. Buying a farm from Fred Hosler, he settled at Zion Grove and followed gen- eral farming on his own account, having a tract of 102 acres, of which all but twenty were cleared. For eleven years he continued to operate that place, which he then rented for two years, on shares, at the end of that time selling it to Cyrus Moyer. In March, 1911, Mr. Moser bought his present farm in Union township from Nathan Fitzgibbons, and he has been living there since and devoting his time to its cultivation. At the time he purchased the place it comprised 213 acres, of which 113 acres were cleared, the balance covered with sprouts, and he has sold fifty-four acres of the sprout land to the Girard Estate Water Company. His cleared land is planted in general crops, and he has been especially successful in growing potatoes, cabbages and other vege- tables. He attends market at Shenandoah. Mr. Moser has made remarkable progress in the improvement of the property during the few years it has been in his possession. He has remodeled the dwelling, and equipped it with all the modern conveniences, running water, hot water heat, gaslight, etc., and he has been equally enterprising about putting the other buildings into excellent shape, everything about the place being kept in the good condition which he has found to be profitable economy. His fellow citizens availed themselves of his serv- ices for different purposes, and he served them very efficiently as road com- missioner. He is a Republican and was much interested in politics, taking an active part in local elections, at which he served as judge and inspector. He belongs to the Mount Zion Lutheran Church at Zion Grove, in North Union township, and was one of the deacons.
When twenty years old Mr. Moser was married to Millie Geneva Oswald,
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who was born Sept. 3, 1877, at Lynnport, Lehigh county, where she was brought up and educated. She lived at home until her marriage. Like her husband she is a member of the Mount Zion Lutheran Church. They are the parents of five children : George Raymond, born March 28, 1895; Pearl Cleo, May 26, 1900; Ralph Lewis, Oct. 22, 1902; May Ella, Jan. 10, 1910; and Olive Oswald, Dec. 22, 1911. They are all still at home. George was educated in the John- son school at Zion Grove, and the others have attended in Union township.
Samuel Oswald, grandfather of Mrs. Moser, was born at Lynnport, Lehigh Co., Pa., where he farmed all his life, living to seventy-four years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Fetherolf, died when seventy- one years old, and they were the parents of four children: Edward, who is deceased; Lewis; Kate, wife of Charles Kressley, of Jacksonville, Lehigh Co., Pa .; and Mary, living at Jacksonville. The parents are buried at St. Jacob's Reformed Church, and Mr. Oswald was an active member of that organization. Politically he was a Republican.
Lewis Oswald was born Sept. 12, 1842, at Lynnport, where he grew to manhood and received his education. He worked on the farm for his father until twenty years of age, was married two years later, and became a well known farmer and merchant of that locality, buying a farm of over one hun- dred acres at Lynnport, where he also had a general store and served for many years as postmaster. After conducting his farm and store for a number of years he sold out, and though he is now doing a little huckstering is prac- tically retired. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and a member of St. Jacob's Reformed Church at Jacksonville, where he and his wife attend serv- ices. Mr. Oswald married Mary Ann Faust, who was born April 12, 1843, in Albany township, Berks Co., Pa., and they have a family of five children : Charles Samuel, who is now carrying on his father's old business at Lynn- port, married Messina Smith; Ellen Jane is the wife of Wilson Werley, of Bernville, Berks county; Lena Alice is married to Nathaniel Shearer, of Lynnport ; Millie Geneva is the wife of Albert L. Moser; Cora Mamie is the wife of William Mader, of Roscoe, South Dakota.
Charles Faust, Mrs. Oswald's father, was a farmer in Albany township, owning a large tract of land, and spent all his life in that section. He and his wife are buried at the New Bethel Church in that township, and he was one of the leading workers in the Reformed congregation of that church. In political faith he was a Republican. He married Mary Ann Zettlemoyer, and their children were: Amandus, who married Eliza Trexler; Albert, who married Malinda Sechler; James, who married Kate Christ; Sarah, Mrs. Elias Fetherolf ; Cordelia, Mrs. Isaac Deisher ; Ellen, Mrs. Obediah Shuler ; Malinda, Mrs. John Hunsicker; Jeanetta, Mrs. Samuel Loy; Mary Ann, Mrs. Lewis Oswald; and Mrs. Isaac Smith.
THOMAS A. FARRELL is one of the popular residents of Middleport, where he is serving his fellow citizens at present in the capacities of post- master and justice of the peace. Mr. Farrell belongs to the third generation of his family resident at that place, his grandfather, James Farrell, having settled there in 1845.
James Farrell was a native of County Carlow, Ireland, and in 1832 landed at Quebec, Canada. From there he went to Steuben county, N. Y., and in 1844 settled at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he did not remain long, removing thence to Middleport, where he made his permanent home. By
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trade he was a butcher, but he did not follow that calling long, working at the mines after locating at Middleport. He died there in 1878, at the age of seventy years. His children were: Matthew, James T., Andrew, John and William. Of these, James T. Farrell became a member of Company E, of the famous 48th Regiment of Pennsylvania, and was wounded in the second battle of Bull Run, dying in the Eighth Street hospital, at Washington, D. C., Sept. 25, 1862. He is buried at Port Carbon, this county. His nephew, Thomas A. Farrell, has in his possession several letters that he wrote home during his service in the army.
Andrew Farrell, son of James Farrell, was born in Steuben county, N. Y., and came to Schuylkill county with his parents. He was a mine worker all his life, employed at the Big Vein, and made his home at Middleport, where he died June 16, 1910. His brother William died June 18th, and they were buried at New Philadelphia, in one grave. Andrew Farrell married Catherine Muldowney, who survived him nearly five years, passing away Feb. 21, 1915, and is buried at New Philadelphia. Nine children were born to this marriage: James, Mary, Thomas A., William, Ellen, Sarah, Lucy C. (deceased), Andrew and Matthew.
Thomas A. Farrell was born Nov. 28, 1876, at Middleport, and attended the public schools of Blythe township. When a boy he began picking slate at the Big Vein breaker, where he was employed for twenty-six years in all, during sixteen years of that time having charge of the lamps. He also ran a pump and hoisting engine there. In 1914 he made a change, taking his pres- ent position at the Maryd colliery. Mr. Farrell has always maintained an interest in local affairs, working zealously in the furtherance of good move- ments, and he has been active in the Democratic party, in whose councils he has served as committeeman. In 1911 he was elected justice of the peace, and on Oct. 13, 1913, he was appointed postmaster at Middleport, continuing to fill both positions, in which he has given general satisfaction by his conscientious attention to their duties. In his various associations he has made numerous friends in his section of Schuylkill county.
Mr. Farrell married Rose E. Gallagher, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Tolan) Gallagher, and they have had two children, Andrew and Thomas; Andrew died Nov. 4, 1915.
ANDREW W. HUBER, of Pine Grove, is one of a numerous family whose members have shown themselves worthy of the high regard in which they are held in that borough. He is a native of Pine Grove, born July 4, 1844, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Minnick) Huber and grandson of John Huber, one of the pioneers of this section. By occupation John Huber was a farmer. Washington Huber, a resident of Harrisburg, Pa., is now the only survivor of his family of ten children, viz .: John, Jacob, Isaac, William, Jefferson, Washington, David, Mary, Rachel and Sarah.
Isaac Huber was born in 1817 in Pine Valley, Schuylkill county, and died Oct. 24, 1896, in Pine Grove, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was en- gaged at mine work near that borough. His wife, Elizabeth (Minnick), was born Feb. 15, 1820, in Schuylkill county, and reached the age of ninety-two years, dying July 9, 1912. She was a daughter of John Minnick, also a native of Schuylkill county, a wheelwright and farmer, who was the father of eight children, Mrs. Huber's brothers and sisters being: John, Jonathan, Henry (a half brother), Dena, Barbara, Kate and Mary, (a half sister) ; Henry, Barbara
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and Mary are still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Huber were born the fol- lowing children : Andrew W .; William A., who died Nov. 1I, 19II; Isaac A., a resident of Tremont, Schuylkill county; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of William Heimbach; Lilla, widow of George W. Stuckey, of Harrisburg ; Ellen, wife of Walter Miller, of Omaha, Nebr .; and Laura, widow of Edward Zimmerman, of Bristol, Pennsylvania.
Andrew W. Huber was reared and educated at Pine Grove, and upon leav- ing school began work at the mines. For a number of years he was employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Company in different capacities, for several years before his retirement being engaged as engineer at one of the collieries. For thirteen years he held the position of loader boss at the Lincoln colliery. During the last few years he has been living in comparative retirement, enjoy- ing well earned rest after a life of steady industry and conscientious attention to duty. He is serving as janitor of the Pine Grove borough annex school.
In June, 1863, Mr. Huber enlisted from Pine Grove in Company H, 39th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. James Nagle, and after serv- ing that term reenlisted, in August, 1864, joining Company G, 7th Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, with which he served to the close of the war. His command was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in eight important battles : Vinnings Station, Ga .; Columbia, Oct. 1, 1864; Rome, Ga .; Leeds Cross Roads, Nov. 1, 1864; Bardstown, Ky., Dec. 29, 1864 ; Selma, Ala .; Columbia, Ga., April 16, 1865; and Macon, Ga., May 5, 1865. He was dis- charged at Nashville, Tenn., June 23, 1865, by reason of the close of the war, and returned to his home and his work, proving his good citizenship as much in his private life as in his military service. He is the present commander of Wolf Post, No. 203, G. A. R., of Pine Grove; has been a member of the P. O. S. of A. since 1869; and belongs to the Independent Order of Ameri- cans. He has served his fellow citizens at Pine Grove on the board of health, of which he is still a member. For fourteen years Mr. Huber was a member of the famous Huber Band of Pine Grove, which had fourteen Hubers in its membership. He has been quite prominent in the local Evangelical Church, which he has served as trustee, and his wife also belongs to that congregation.
On Nov. 3. 1866, Mr. Huber married Lizzie A. Berger, a native of Wayne township, this county, daughter of Daniel and Eva (Auman) Berger and granddaughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mumbeck) Berger, who lived in Williamsport, Pa. Henry Berger died there, his wife passing away near Reading, Pa. They had two children, Daniel and Mary, both now deceased. Daniel Berger was born in this section, possibly in Wayne township, and died Oct. 24, 1907, when eighty-two years old. He was a plasterer, and also owned a farm. His wife, Eva (Auman), was born in this section of Schuylkill county, and died Feb. 11, 1859. She was a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Goliff) Auman, who had a family of eight children: Eva, Mrs. Berger; Jacob; Solo- mon ; Gabriel; Hannah; Kate; Julia, and Harriet. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Berger were born six children: Mrs. Huber; Levi, of Pottsville, Pa .; Henry, of Lisbon, Iowa; Rebecca, the wife of Samuel Mangle, of Auburn, Pa .; Ella, wife of Henry Zweizig; and Mary, widow of Frank Burkhiser, living in the State of Indiana.
To Mr. and Mrs. Huber have been born two children: (1) Agnes, the eldest, is the wife of Frank Harvey, of Pine Grove, and they have two children, Myrtle and Olive; Myrtle is the wife of Howard Hughes, of Pine Grove, and they have one son, Luther ; Olive is the widow of Harry Christ. (2) Gertrude
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is the widow of Peter Hehn, who was a hotelkeeper of Landingville, this county, and has two children, Agnes (wife of John Peiffer, of Auburn) and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert have also raised an adopted son, Benjamin H., who still lives at Pine Grove; he married Lillie Stahler, of Cressona, and they have two children, Ruth M. and Paul A.
SAMUEL MOORE has been a lifelong resident of Schuylkill county, and since September, 1909, has been stationed at Port Carbon as superintendent of the mines of the Port Carbon Coal Company, independent operators. He has been a mine worker from boyhood, is thoroughly familiar with the busi- ness, and is widely and favorably known in that connection all over the county.
Mr. Moore was born Aug. 14, 1873, at Tremont, Schuylkill county, son of Richard Moore, a native of England, who has lived in this country since two years old. Mr. Moore began picking slate at the North Franklin colliery in boyhood, and eventually became a full-fledged miner, following this work for a period of twenty-eight years. He then gave up mine work, moving to Philadel- phia, Pa., where he is now employed at the Midvale Steel works. He married Harriet Faust, daughter of the well known Samuel Faust, and member of a family which has long been prominent in the southern part of Schuylkill county, and they became the parents of the following children: Samuel, Mary, Emma, Sadie, Elizabeth, Minnie, William and Edward (who died in infancy).
Samuel Moore received his education in the public schools of Tremont and Minersville, this county. His first work was picking slate at the Lincoln colliery. After a time he became pumpman and engineer, and when com- petent was promoted to foreman, his first position of that kind being at the Crystal Run colliery, where he remained for nine years. In September, 1907, he came to Port Carbon, where he took charge of the mines of the Port Car- bon Coal Company, operated by Slattery Brothers. They ship a very fine grade of coal, and the works are ranked among the most successful in this district. The development of the workings has gone forward steadily under Mr. Moore's efficient management, and the highly satisfactory conditions which prevail at the mines are credited to his good judgment and superior executive ability. Since assuming his present duties Mr. Moore has made his home at Port Carbon, where he has many friends. Formerly he resided at Frack- ville, this county, and he was considered one of the most valuable citizens of that borough, where he served his fellow citizens as councilman for nine years, and had the honor of being president of the council. Fraternally he holds membership in the Jr. O. U. A. M. and the Royal Arcanum. The family are Lutherans in religious connection.
Mr. Moore married Carrie Reber, daughter of William Reber, of Schuyl- kill county, and children as follows have been born to this marriage: Harriet, George, Clair, Olive, Mary, Ruth, and Harvey.
JOHN F. HANNEY has been a prosperous blacksmith of Pottsville, Pa., for over twenty years, having combined skillful workmanship with excellent business methods in acquiring a profitable patronage. He and his brother are doing business together under the style of Hanney Brothers, and their estab- lishment, at No. 551 North Centre street, is well equipped for prompt atten- tion to all customers.
The Hanney brothers are sons of John Hanney, a native of County Galway,
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Ireland, who was a young man when he came to America and settled in Nor- wegian township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., near Pottsville. The father followed mining throughout his active years. He became very well known in this part of Schuylkill county, having served his township for thirty years as tax col- lector, and he also held the county office of jury commissioner, giving the public good service in both capacities. Politically he was a Democrat. He and his wife, Mary (Cumings), died at their home in Norwegian township. They had the following children: Catherine, Patrick, Sarah, Thomas, Martin, Edward J., John F. and Mary.
Edward J. Hanney, son of John, above, was born at the homestead in Norwegian township in 1863, and worked at the mines for several years before learning the blacksmith's trade, beginning as a slate picker. He learned his trade with Joseph Schablein, with whom he remained two and a half years, and in 1892 he engaged in business with his brother, John F. Mr. Hanney has been prominent in local affairs, particularly as a member of the township school board, on which he has served for twenty-five years, part of the time acting as president and also as secretary. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. Hanney is unmarried and makes his home with his brother John.
John F. Hanney was born March 3, 1867, in Norwegian township, Schuyl- kill county, near Pottsville, and obtained his education in the local public schools. When a boy he began picking slate at the Wadesville colliery in New Castle township, continuing at this work for about four years. Subsequently he drove mules at the colliery for a time, till he began to learn the trade of horseshoer with Thomas Brennan, of Pottsville. After four years in Mr. Brennan's employ he spent a short time in Philadelphia, was later employed for about one year in a lumber camp in Potter county, Pa., at his trade, and then returned to Pottsville, where he and his brother started their present business in 1892. Thoroughly conversant with all the needs of their business, they have given solicitous attention to all their patrons, who have showed due appreciation of the high-class service which may be obtained at their estab- lishment. Mr. Hanney has taken considerable interest in keeping abreast of the times in his line, and he is a prominent member of the Master Horseshoers' Association of Pottsville, of which he is at present financial secretary. Move- ments for development in any line have also had his hearty support, but he has never cared for public office, preferring to do his share by choosing reliable officials and supporting good causes with his influence. Politically he is a Democrat. He and his family belong to St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church.
In 1904 Mr. Hanney married Florence V. Carr, daughter of John Carr, of Schuylkill Haven, and they are the parents of five children, namely: Esther and Edward, who are attending school; John; Thomas; and Martin, who died March 10, 1914, when he was one year, six months old.
JAMES CURRAN, of Gordon, Schuylkill Co., Pa., now living retired after fifty years' service in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- way Company, was born in Ireland in October, 1830. His parents, Edward and Catherine (Cowan) Curran, were natives of King's County, Ireland, where they died. John Curran, the paternal grandfather of James, lived to the age of 105, while his wife reached the still greater age of 108 years.
James Curran came from Ireland to America in 1849, landing at New York City on April 8th of that year. He remained there but a short time, before the end of the year going to Port Carbon, Schuylkill county, and from
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there to Carlisle, Pa. In 1854, when the Indians of the West became trouble- some, Mr. Curran enlisted in the United States army, serving until the end of the disturbances. He then came to St. Clair, Schuylkill county, where he went to work for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, during the next four years assisting in the construction of the road, being foreman of a construction crew. After the completion of the work he came to Gordon, where he continued work for the same company until he had rounded out a service of fifty years, when he was pensioned.
In 1860 James Curran was married to Anna Riley, daughter of Bartlett and Anna (Murphy) Riley, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America in an early day. The father returned to Ireland, where he died, but the mother passed away in this country. Mrs. James Curran died in November, 1904. She was the mother of children as follows: Katherine, deceased ; Mary, widow of Michael Conway, who has two children, James and Margaret ( Mrs. Conway is housekeeper for her father) ; James, postmaster at Gordon ; Edward, Julia and James, all deceased. Mr. Curran is now the only member of his parents' family alive, and coming of a remarkably long-lived race, he bids fair to hold their record for age and vitality. He and his family have always been devout members of the Roman Catholic Church.
EDWARD SHOENER, at present an official of Orwigsburg, is a native of West Brunswick township, this county, and a member of one of the old families of that section. The family is of German extraction, and his first ancestors in America settled in Berks county, Pa., the branch here under con- sideration moving to southern Schuylkill county, where its members have been prominent for many years.
John Shoener, grandfather of Edward Shoener, followed farming in West Brunswick township, and was a highly respected man in his neighborhood. He died upon his farm, and is buried in the Reformed cemetery at Orwigs- burg. His children were: Henry, John, Daniel, William, Jacob, Anna and Susanna.
Henry Shoener, son of John, was born July 23, 1813, in West Brunswick township, and died Jan. 20, 1890. He is buried with his wife in the Reformed cemetery at Orwigsburg. He followed farming in his native township, clear- ing part of his land, and was a well known man of his day. His wife, Christiana (Schipe), daughter of Henry Schipe, was born Dec. 31, 1818, and died Oct. 6, 1891. Her father died Nov. 25, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Shoener had a large family, viz .: Lewis, Caroline, Joseph, Edward, William, John, Charles, Albert, Daniel, Thomas, Clara and Mary.
Edward Shoener was born April 1, 1844, in West Brunswick township, and obtained his education there in the public schools. He was a youth of nineteen when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company I, 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served eighteen months, being in the army until the close of the war. Among the battles in which he took part were those of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Shady Grove, Poplar Road Church, and the actions around Petersburg, including the mine explosion. After the war he returned home and for a short time was engaged in agricultural work, subse- quently spending two years as an employe in the coal mines. Then he engaged in the contracting and building business at Orwigsburg, where he put up many residences and also the first factory of the H. S. Albright Shoe Company.
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There are many barns of his construction in southern Schuylkill county. He retired from the contracting business in 1907, but he has not withdrawn entirely from active life, still holding the office of tax collector for the borough, which office he has filled for the last twenty-five years. He has had other con- nections with the administration of the municipal government, having served one year as chief burgess, one year as assessor and eight years as special police- man, to which position he was appointed. Politically he is a Republican, and prominent in the local activities of the party. He is a member of the Reformed Church, of the Independent Americans, and of Jere Helms Post, No. 26, G. A. R., of Schuylkill Haven. There are few citizens in Orwigsburg or that vicinity more generally known.
Mr. Shoener married Carrie E. Porter, daughter of Plini Porter, and they have had two children: Plini, deceased; and Elizabeth, wife of Morton Zulick, an electrician, of New York City.
FRANKLIN WAGNER, a resident of Pine Grove since 1891, is now enjoying his leisure years after an industrious early career. He has spent all his life in Schuylkill county, having been born June 6, 1843, in Washington township, where he lived until his removal to Pine Grove, with the exception of the period of his absence while in the army during the Civil war. He is a son of Philip Wagner and grandson of a pioneer of the county, a substantial agriculturist of his day.
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