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 3
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To Mr. and Mrs. Laubenstein were born six children: Howard R. died in 1902; Frank J. is mentioned below ; Albert R. is manager of the Laubenstein Manufacturing Company, of Ashland; Harry W. is also a member of that company, as is E. Carl; Ida R. is the youngest of the family. The father died in March, 1909, the mother in May, 1910.
Frank J. Laubenstein was born Sept. 3, 1878, at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and was brought up at Ashland, receiving his preparatory education in the public schools there. After graduating from high school he took a course at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., and in 1897 entered the Dickinson Law School, at Carlisle, Pa. He was graduated from that institution in 1899, took a post-graduate course there in 1902, and was admitted to the bar in Schuylkill county in 1905. That year he began the practice of law at Ashland, and has continued it since, giving considerable time to his profession in spite of the fact that he has important interests in the local manufacturing field. His legal work has attracted much favorable notice, and he has acquired a clientele rep- resentative of the best interests in the community, the standing of his patrons being sufficient comment on his own reputation. He is a member of the Law Fraternity and of the American Bar Association. As president of the Lauben- stein Manufacturing Company he has been influential in shaping its present policy and directing its affairs along thoroughly progressive lines, continuing the course for which it has been noted throughout the ownership of the Lau- bensteins. Frank J. Laubenstein is also doing effective work in local politics, as a member of the Republican party. Though still a young man he has done enough to show that he possesses the qualities for which the family name has stood in this region for several generations.
Mr. Laubenstein is a member of the B. P. O. Elks and the P. O. S. of A. His religious connection is with St. James' Lutheran Church.
The LAUBENSTEIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY has occupied a place as a stable industrial asset of the town of Ashland for over fifty years. Started by George Helfrig, it remained in his hands until purchased about 1875 by Albert L. Laubenstein, then the manager of a similar plant at Ashland. He had acquired considerable experience as a manufacturer of screens. After taking over the factory he began to enlarge its facilities and the scope of the work as increasing trade demanded, having a keen appreciation of the calls of the market and foresight as to the improvement of his product and its adapta- bility to various uses not hitherto appreciated. He carried on the business until his death, following a policy of liberal expansion which kept the Lauben- stein Company among the foremost of its kind. Following his death, in the year 1909, it was carried on for a year by the estate, with his sons in charge. In the latter part of 1910 his heirs, four sons and one daughter, incorporated under the present name, the Laubenstein Manufacturing Company, the officers
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being Frank J. Laubenstein, president; E. Carl Laubenstein, vice president ; Albert R. Laubenstein, manager; Harry W. Laubenstein, secretary. All the brothers were born and reared at Ashland. The product of the plant, princi- pally perforated plates and wire screens, has a recognized reputation in the market. Modern machinery and new appliances have been installed wherever necessary, facilitating operations and bringing the equipment up to the maxi- mum of efficiency. The enterprising spirit of the owners has animated every branch of the work, which is going forward along the most approved modern lines.
HENRY D. RENTSCHLER, M. D., of Ringtown, Schuylkill county, a practicing physician there for over fifty years, has during all that period been held in deserved esteem for his sincere devotion to the best interests of the community in which he chose to spend his life. His labors have all been in useful channels, contributing directly or incidentally to the general well- being. As one of the guardians of local prosperity he has allied himself with worthy movements of every character, whether their object was the eleva- tion of social conditions, the widening of business opportunities, or the mate- rial improvement of his borough. With broad intelligence and far-reaching sympathies he combines a versatility of talent which not only assured his professional success, but made him a valued cooperator in those enterprises which require foresight, clear judgment and executive capacity. Brought into close daily contact with all classes of his fellow citizens, he made practical use of the knowledge thus acquired regarding their vital needs, and never withheld his services in the promotion of such causes as he felt were favorable to supplying them. For many years he was the honored medical adviser of many a family, and though he has withdrawn from most of the arduous work of the profession he is still in demand for consultation, and attends to a large office practice.
The Rentschler family is of German stock, and was founded in Berks county, Pa., about the time of the close of the Revolutionary war, there being three brothers, one of whom settled in the city of Philadelphia, one near Sun- bury, Pa., and the other, John George, in Bern (now Upper Bern) township, Berks county. John George Rentschler was born Oct. 11, 1755, lived for many years at Hamburg, Berks county, and afterwards followed farming and dis- tilling near that place. In 1785 he married Catherine Wagoner, born Dec. 23, 1765, who died Jan. 2, 1847. They became the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, namely: Daniel; George, who settled out West ; Samuel; Elizabeth, Mrs. Peter Phillips ; Jacob; Mrs. Christ. Kauffman ; Mrs. Joseph Kauffman ; and three others-two sons and one daughter.
Jacob Rentschler, son of John George and father of Dr. Henry D. Rent- schler, was born April 3, 1804, on the old homestead, and was reared in Bern township. He was a farmer and also owned a woolen mill, which stood upon his farm, the buildings being still there, about three quarters of a mile from Upper Bern post office. He manufactured woolen bedspreads and woolen goods from which men's and women's clothing was made, and in his time was known as an energetic, hard-working man. In about middle life he be- came paralyzed, and during the rest of his life he was lame. He died at Bern- ville Jan. 28, 1874. Mr. Rentschler was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Fegley, by whom he had four children, namely: Charles F., Fietta, Matilda and Frank. His second wife was Sarah Diehl, who died in 1845, and hy this union there were two children: Henry D .; and Lewis, who died in 1898, in his forty-fifth year.
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Henry D. Rentschler was born May 5, 1841, in Upper Bern township, Berks county, and there acquired his preliminary education in the public schools, which he attended up to the age of fifteen years. Then he was a student in Washington Hall Seminary, at the Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pa., for three years, and he began his medical studies in the office of Dr. Devilla Schoener, at Shartlesville, Berks county. Entering the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania in 1861, he was graduated in 1864, and immediately thereafter settled at Ringtown, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he has since had his home and field of practice. His work has been general, and his patrons during his active years were scattered over a wide territory, the country adjacent to Ringtown and other boroughs in this part of the county as well as his home place. He is an honored member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and respected by his contemporaries in the profession as well as by his patients. His public services have a large place in the records of his section. For twenty-eight years he held the position of school director in Union township (before Ringtown was incorporated as a borough), and during twenty-one years also acted as secretary of the board, where his recommenda- tions were always received with respect and his opinions sought and valued. In 1878 he was elected coroner of the county and filled that office for one term, when its duties were both responsible and dangerous by reason of the activities of the Molly Maguires. Politically he has always given his sup- port to the Democratic party.
When the need for more solid financial institutions in this section became apparent Dr. Rentschler lent his aid to their establishment, having been one of the organizers of the Merchants' National Bank of Shenandoah, and was a director of same for twelve years, until the First National Bank of Ringtown came into existence, in 1904. He was interested in its organization, served as vice president for some years, and is now president of the institution, which has been a valuable adjunct to the business activities of the borough and sur- rounding country. He owns a farm of eighty-seven and a half acres in the borough, turned over to general agriculture and fruit growing.
Fraternally the Doctor affiliates with the Odd Fellows and Masons, belong- ing to Ringtown Lodge, No. 287, I. O. O. F .; to Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M .; Mizpah Chapter, No. 252, R. A. M., of Mahanoy City (charter member) ; and Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 31, K. T., of Mahanoy City. He and his wife and all of their children are members of the Lutheran Church.
On Feb. 15, 1869, Dr. Rentschler was married to Emmaline Rumbel, of Ringtown, who was born there Feb. 21, 1852, and received her education in the local public schools. Eight children have been born to this marriage: Adalaide, born Aug. 19, 1870, completed a course in the Keystone State Nor- mal School, at Kutztown, Pa., afterwards studied music in a seminary at Hagerstown, and was organist of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church for years ; she is now the wife of Dr. George R. Shenk, of Reading, Pa., and has three children, Katherine F., Florence E. and Frederick R. Maurice F., born Aug. 19, 1872, after receiving an excellent fundamental education entered the University of Pennsylvania, but did not finish the course, and he is now engaged in the confectionery business at Ringtown ; he married Sadie Rumbel, daughter of Francis Rumbel, of Ringtown, and their children are Emmaline, Winifred, Ralph M. and Frederick. Walter R., born Oct. 12, 1874, received his education in the public schools of Ringtown, Bloomsburg State Normal
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School and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, which he entered in 1892, graduating in 1896, since when he has been in practice with his father at Ringtown; he married Edna Hughes, daughter of George S. and Emily (Barrow) Hughes, of Clearfield, Pa., and their children are George Hughes, Henry D., Emily B., Rebecca R. and Isabelle C. Sadie May, born Dec. 10, 1876, graduated from the Bloomsburg State Normal School and taught school at Ringtown; she was organist of St. John's Evangelical Luth- eran Church for over ten years; she died Feb. '7, 1907, when thirty years old. Harry J., born Dec. 16, 1878, was formerly engaged as a machinist in the hosiery mills at Ringtown, and is now farming there; he married Pearl Fuhrman, and they have had two children, Elizabeth (deceased) and Fuhr- man Henry. Robert F., born May 23, 1881, graduated from the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Pa., taught school a few terms, took a course in a commercial college at Reading; and then entered the employ of the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company, at Birdsboro, where he is accountant; he is unmarried and makes his home at Reading. Elizabeth M., born Aug. 28, 1883, who lives at home, graduated from the musical department of the Bloomsburg State Normal School, and has taught music at Ringtown, where she has also been organist in the church since 1908. Guy H., born Sept. I, 1885, is a graduate of the Bloomsburg State Normal School, has taken courses at Columbia University, New York City, and is now supervising principal of the schools of Dunellen, New Jersey.
Mrs. Rentschler belongs to an old family of Schuylkill county, being a granddaughter of Henry Rumbel, who was born Oct. 31, 1801, in East Bruns- wick township, this county, where he owned land near Rauschs which he traded for property in Union township, acquiring valuable holdings. He had one tract principally in timber (now owned by Washington Rumhel), cultivating the few acres which were cleared, and owned another which he occupied and operated, selling the latter eventually to his son Henry. He gave each of his sons a farm. Mr. Rumbel was independent in politics. He was known for his high Christian character, and was a zealous member of the Lutheran congregation of the Old White Church, in which he filled all the official positions. His wife belonged to the Reformed denomination. Her maiden name was Salome Andrews, and she was born Sept. 18, 1807. Mr. Rumbel died Nov. 17, 1869, Mrs. Rumbel on May 20, 1887, and they are buried at the Old White Church. They were the parents of the following children: Henry married Elizabeth Singley; Daniel is mentioned below; Jacob served in the Civil war, was wounded, and died from his injuries ; Joshua married Lucy Singley ; Rebecca married William Laudig; Mary mar- ried Levi Reber.
Daniel Rumbel, son of Henry, was born Dec. 24, 1830, in East Brunswick township, this county, and died at Ringtown June 26, 1891. He was educated partly in his native township, but was still a boy when the family moved to Union township, where he finished his schooling. During most of his early life he helped his father on the farm, continuing thus for some time after his marriage, and he also learned the trade of shoemaker. In time he bought a farm of about 115 acres from his father, nearly all timbered, cut the wood and cleared the ground, selling his lumber to the Catawissa Railroad Com- pany, who used it in the construction of bridges along their road. Later he sold fifteen acres to Jacob Laudig, retaining the remainder for himself and carrying on general farming for some years. He sold another portion of this tract to the Ringtown Fair Association for fair grounds. Below Ringtown
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he owned a tract of fifty acres mostly in timber, on which he had a water- power sawmill, and the timber cut there was used for mining and building purposes. His general farming and lumbering operations were very profitable, and he did well, but he was too good-natured for his own interest about going on others' bonds, and as a consequence he failed financially, his property being disposed of at sheriff's sale. After that he went into the shoe business at Ringtown, conducting a store and working at the trade. He spent his later years in retirement there.
Mr. Rumbel married Sarah M. Seltzer, who was born Sept. 7, 1832, in East Brunswick township, and they had three children: Emmaline, wife of Dr. H. D. Rentschler, of Ringtown; William H., born Jan. 29, 1854, who married Louisa Seitz; and Trenton W., born in October, 1856, who married Barbara Maurer. The mother died Sept. 2, 1914, and both parents are buried at the Old White Church. Mr. Rumbel was a Lutheran member of that church, and a Republican in political sentiment.
SALEM W. KOCH, who has valuable mercantile and agricultural in- terests near Rauschs, in East Brunswick township, has been one of the most enterprising residents of that portion of Schuylkill county for a quarter of a century and more. He has taken a hand in the direction of township affairs in various official capacities, and his personal influence has always been felt as a distinct force for progress. In church and social affairs he has also done his share, helping to raise the standard of the community by giving en- couragement to every movement whose object appealed to his sympathies as being worthy of support. He is a native of East Brunswick township, born Sept. 21, 1848, son of William W. Koch and grandson of William Koch.
William Koch, the grandfather, lived in Schuylkill county from early life, and followed farming in East Brunswick township, where he owned a farm of 180 acres, IIO acres of which were cleared ground. After operating this farm for some years he sold it to his son, William W., and it is now the property of George Zimmerman. After selling his farm he moved to Schuyl- kill Haven and was a boatbuilder for the Schuylkill Navigation Company for many years before his retirement. He died in that place, aged ninety-two years. Mr. Koch married a Miss Bolich, by whom he had the following chil- dren : William W .; Daniel; and Kate, who married John Deibert. For his second wife he married Briggetta Schaeffer, who was from Berks county, and they had one child, Lewis, who is unmarried. He became a Republican, and served his fellow citizens as school director. Mr. Koch was first a member of Christ Church at McKeansburg, but on his removal to Schuylkill Haven became a member of the German Lutheran Church there. He and his sec- ond wife are buried at Schuylkill Haven.
William W. Koch, father of Salem W. Koch, was educated in East Brunswick township, and worked for his father until he was twenty years old, when he married. Then he bought his father's farm and operated that place for eight years, when he sold it and bought the mill property which Jonas Kunkel now owns. He conducted the property for eight years, when he sold out and removed to Lewisburg. Union Co., Pa., remaining there one year. Then he removed to Selinsgrove, Snyder Co., Pa., and bought a property, but held it only one year, when he sold and removed to East Brunswick township and bought the mill property now owned by Elias Bachert. At that time the property was known as the Weaver property. Mr. Koch operated the mill and farm for eight years, when the mill burned down and he sold the property
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to Elias Bachert. Then he removed to New Ringgold and from there to Rauschs, where he lived retired. He was killed accidentally on the Lehigh Valley railroad about a mile from his home, when on his way to go fishing. He married Catherine Kershner, a daughter of William B. and Elizabeth (Seltzer) Kershner, and they had three children: Oliver, who is deceased; Salem W .; and Wesley W., who conducts a hotel at Mohnton, Berks Co., Pa., his mother, now eighty-nine years old, making her home with him (he married Hannah Hartman). Mr. Koch was a Republican and was elected school director. He joined the Church of God at Steigerwalt, McKeansburg, and was an active church member. He is buried in Christ Church cemetery at McKeansburg.
Salem W. Koch started his education in East Brunswick township, later attending the seminary at Collegeville and Lewisburg Academy. He pre- pared himself for teaching, and taught one term at Selinsgrove, Snyder county, after which he came to East Brunswick township, and worked in his father's mill (now the Bachert mill), also operating the sawmill and assisting on the farm. Later he engaged in the general store business in New Ring- gold, where he remained five years, after which he removed to Rauschs Sta- tion and bought his father-in-law's farm of eighty-six acres. He still owns the same and has added to his holdings, having bought a tract of eighty acres and later one of fifty-five acres from the Bachert land. All told he had IIO acres under cultivation. Mr. Koch devoted himself to the operation of his farm for a while, and when the Lehigh Valley railroad was built through that section he put up his present store building, where he has done a general mer- cantile business for the last twenty-four years. His son Luther now manages the farm. He is a substantial man in his community and a good citizen. He has been closely associated with the township government, having served as auditor ; for four years as supervisor ; ten years as justice of the peace ; and twenty-four years as school director, also acting as secretary of the board throughout that period. As a worker of recognized value in the Republican party he has been township committeeman fifteen years, and has served as inspector of elections.
Mr. Koch has numerous social connections. He is a member of East Brunswick Lodge, No. 802, I. O. O. F., of New Ringgold, and is a past grand ; a member of Washington Camp No. 100, P. O. S. of A., of New Ringgold, and a past president, and has been delegate to county and State conventions ; belongs to Protection Council, No. 935, Order of Independent Americans, McKeansburg, and is a past councilor. In religion he is a Lutheran, a member of the Frieden's Church at New Ringgold, and he has taken a leading part in the church and Sunday school affairs. He was deacon for many years ; secre- tary of the church council from twenty-four years of age until 1913; superin- tendent of the Sunday school for several years; and was also superintendent of the Bachert Sunday school for some time.
Mr. Koch married Maria Bolich, who was born Oct. II, 1848, a daughter of William and Mary (Sechler) Bolich, the latter coming from Lehigh county. Mr. and Mrs. Koch have had six children: Luther Martin married Laura Hartman and they have three children, Mildred Emma, Salem Hartman and Roberta Maria; Mary Catherine married W. M. Miller, of Topton, Pa., and has one child, Bessie Florence; Emma Elizabeth married George G. Shick, of Pottsville, Pa., and has three children, Catherine Koch, Salem Henry and Bernon George; Salem W., William B. and Oliver are deceased.
John Bolich, Mrs. Koch's grandfather, farmed in East Brunswick town-
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ship, where he owned about three hundred acres of land. He followed gen- eral farming throughout his active years, but retired many years before his death, which occurred when he was eighty-four years old. His wife, Susan (Fisher), died at the age of fifty, and they are buried in the cemetery of the Frieden's Lutheran Church, of which organization they were members. Polit- ically he was a Republican. Their children were as follows: John married Hannah Sechler; George married Priscilla Wanamaker; Daniel married Eliz- abeth Sechler; Samuel did not marry; William married Mary Sechler; Ben- jamin married Mary Reinhard; Joseph married Sarah Oswald; Susan mar- ried Joseph Alspach; Kate married Jesse Sechler; Hannah married Charles Dreher; Mary married Jacob Steinmetz; Diana and Sarah never married.
William Bolich was born July 12, 1820, in East Brunswick township, and was educated there. He worked for his father on the farm for some time and before his father's death bought about eighty acres of the place, later pur- chasing another farm of 100 acres, to which he removed. He cultivated that tract until his death, which occurred when he was aged fifty-seven years. He was actively interested in politics as a member of the Republican party, served as school director, and belonged to the Frieden's Lutheran Church at New Ringgold; he is buried in the cemetery of that church. Mr. Bolich mar- ried Mary Sechler, who was born March 10, 1823, in Lynn township, Lehigh county, daughter of Jacob Sechler, whose wife's maiden name was Fussel- man. Mrs. Bolich survives her husband, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Bauscher. Mr. and Mrs. Bolich had three children: Charles married Sarah Kindt, of New Ringgold, Pa .; Maria married Salem Koch, of Rauschs, Schuylkill county ; Emma is Mrs. David Bauscher.
WESLEY A. SELTZER belongs to two families of old and honorable standing in Schuylkill county, being connected in the maternal line with the Albrights, whose name has long been associated with high qualities of char- acter, for which its representatives have been known.
The Seltzers were first established in Berks county, Pa., after their emigra- tion to America. Jacob Seltzer emigrated in the year 1752 from the upper Rhein, near Coblentz, in the vicinity of the famous "Seltzer Springs" in Ger- many, where he was born in 1732. He settled in Heidelberg township (where afterwards Womelsdorf was laid out), Berks Co., Pa., and became a natural- ized citizen in 1765. Several years before (in 1762) he had established a hotel in the village, which has been known until the present time as the "Selt- zer House." He died in 1788. He was married to Maria Catharine Hiester, of Bern township, who was born in 1735 and died in 1817. By her he had six children: Jacob, who married Catharine Kauffman; Michael, who enlisted in the Revolution and died of fever shortly before the end of his term of service; Elizabeth, who married Dr. Michael Tryon, a prominent physician of Tulpehocken; Mary, who married Jacob Spang, a prominent ironmaster of Oley; Catharine, who married David Dewees; and a daughter who married Christopher Reed.
Jacob Seltzer was born in 1764 at Womelsdorf, where he carried on farm- ing and kept hotel until his decease in 1825. He was married to Catharine Kauffman (daughter of Jacob, of Oley), born in 1766 and died in 1842, and by her he had eight children : William married Catharine Ruth ; John married Mary Van Reed: Daniel married a Weiser; David married Eliza O. Sheetz and moved to Ohio; Jacob married a Hassinger; Michael married Catherine Hain; Anna remained single; Elizabeth married George See.
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