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 34
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Mr. Schaefer married Mary A. Miller, daughter of Richard E. Miller, of Tamaqua.
WILLIAM T. PATTEN, now a prosperous farmer of Barry township, Schuylkill county, was at one time one of the principal lumbermen in this county, during the period when that occupation was one of the leading indus- tries followed by residents of this section. He was born in Cass township, this county, in 1852, and is a son of Thomas Patten, Jr., and grandson of Thomas Patten, Sr. The ancestry of the family is English and Irish.
Thomas Patten, Sr., was a native of England. Coming to America he set- tled in Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., later moving to another location in Cass township, he and his family residing in what became known as Patten's valley. The chief industry in those primitive days was lumbering, and Mr. Patten engaged in it, following that line of work until his death, and thus lay- ing the foundations of the business which his son and grandson later devel- oped. His wife's name was Elsie.
Thomas Patten, Jr., father of William T. Patten, was born in England, and came to America with his parents. He followed the occupation of his father, lumbering, and hauled timber for the Schuylkill Haven railroad, from Schuylkill Haven to Minersville. Later he went to Barry township and pur- chased large tracts of land for the sake of the timber upon it, lumbering these tracts and operating a sawmill, his operations being extensive and profitable. He bought the place where his son William lives and devoted the balance of his life to farming. He died in 1896. Mr. Patten married Sarah Bradley, a native of Ireland, where her parents died. She was brought to America by her brother, who settled in Minersville, and there she was married to Thomas Patten. She died in 1910, at Minersville, where she had resided after the death of her husband. They had four children: William T .; Emma, wife of B. Boker, of Philadelphia; J. Frank, of Barry township; and Elsie, wife of Rev. Mr. Darby, of Cincinnati.
William T. Patten attended school in Cass township and also at Pottsville. After his schooldays were over he went to the woods to work at lumbering with his father, and after his marriage was made foreman by his father and operated several sawmills in this section of the county. He bought his pres- ent farm and has since engaged in general farming exclusively. Mr. Patten was married in 1876 to Delia Betz, daughter of Isaac Betz, of Barry township, who was a merchant at Mabel. He was a school teacher in that township in the early days, later removing to Philadelphia, where he died. The mother, whose maiden name was Bolich, died in Barry township. To Mr. and Mrs. Patten were born two children: Maude I., wife of Allen Bolich, resides in Ohio; Harry is assisting his father on the farm. Mrs. Patten died in 1903. Mr. Patten is a member of the school board of Barry township, having held the office since he was twenty-one years of age. He is a member of the Epis- copal Church.
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LEWIS F. REMALY, of Tamaqua, president and manager of the Remaly Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, has been associated with the fortunes of that concern for over forty years, in fact throughout the period of his resi- dence in the boroughi. Always a live unit in the industrial resources of the place, it has increased in importance yearly, providing profitable employment to a number of skilled mechanics, and represents one of the best local invest- ments. Mr. Remaly having been connected with the business as owner since 1883, most of the credit of its development along modern lines and steady expansion belongs to him, and bears substantial testimony to his ambition and ability, for he has guided it to its present standing among the principal enter- prises of Tamaqua.
Mr. Remaly came to Tamaqua in the year 1873. He was born Sept. 20, 1851, at Lehighton, Carbon Co., Pa., son of Henry Remaly, the latter a native of Lehigh county. The father followed the trade of wheelwright, and lived in Lehigh and Carbon counties, dying at Lehighton. Lewis F. Remaly was reared and educated at Lehighton, having public school advantages. For several years he was engaged in railroad work, but when he came to Tamaqua entered the employ of G. L. Boyd, who had established the wire and screen manufacturing business which was the nucleus of what is now the Remaly Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. Mr. Remaly began at the bottom and acquired a thorough knowledge of screenmaking at the plant, working for Mr. Boyd from 1873 to 1883, and meantime rising to the position of foreman. Then he formed a partnership with Frank Swartz and took over Mr. Boyd's entire interest, three years later, in 1886, buying out Mr. Swartz and becoming sole owner. He continued the business as such until the year 1905, when it was incorporated under the present style, and Lewis F. Remaly is now president and manager, with Martin Fry as vice president and L. S. Follweiler as secre- tary and treasurer. On June 15, 1913, the plant was destroyed by fire, but operations were resumed a month later and continued during the construction of the new building, which is of brick, iron and concrete, modern in construc- tion and equipped with all ordinary conveniences, besides the special facilities for the business. It is considered absolutely fireproof, having heavy iron doors and window frames, a substantial safety vault, is steam heated and electric lighted throughout, and has up-to-date toilet facilities and ventilating devices, everything in fact for the comfort of the employees as well as for convenience in dispatching the work. The company owns considerable ground space around the plant, available as the expansion of the business demands. It is located on Cedar street, near Centre, one of the oldest manufacturing sites in Tamaqua, the industry having been one of the first of the kind started there. The product of the company, wire coal and sand screens, perforated sheet iron screens, elevator buckets, cellar doors and coal chutes, is sold mostly to the numerous coal companies operating in Pennsylvania, and the value of the annual output is estimated at $125,000. Twenty skilled mechanics are employed regularly, and altogether considerable money is circulated in Tamaqua through this industry alone. It is counted among the valuable assets of the town and surrounding territory. Though primarily a business man, Mr. Remaly has not neglected his duties as a citizen, and he served three years as a member of the council, during that time acting as chairman of the street committee.
Mr. Remaly was united in marriage with Sallie Leffler, daughter of Andrew Leffler, of Lehigh county, Pa. They have no children. He is a very active
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member of Trinity Reformed Church, which he is serving as deacon, is a member of the choir, and a teacher in the Sunday school. All good move- ments in the borough and county have his hearty support.
ABRAM CLARENCE MESSERSMITH, of Pottsville, has had so many important building contracts in Schuylkill county that it is no exaggeration to say his operations have had a very perceptible influence on the character of construction work in this part of the State. The reputation he has maintained in over twenty years of successful business has been established upon a basis of absolute integrity, and none of his patrons has ever had cause to regret placing confidence in his ability or his reliability. Mr. Messersmith is a native of Montour county, Pa., born Aug. 19, 1868, in Liberty township, and his parents, William James and Elizabeth (Hendrickson) Messersmith, live at Washingtonville, that county, where the father carries on a furniture and un- dertaking business, and is also interested in contracting and building, being a carpenter by trade. He and his wife were both born in Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Messersmith's father, Abram Hendrickson, was also a native of this State and a member of an honored old pioneer family. Until his death he was a farmer in Montour county, a prominent and influential citizen of his section.
Abram Clarence Messersmith grew to manhood in the county of his birth, meantime attending the public schools. He began work in his present line in 1885, when he became an employe of the Wilkes-Barre & West Railroad Com- pany, being engaged in the erection of bridges, depots, etc. He remained with that company for about eighteen months, for the next few years following his trade in different sections of Pennsylvania, in 1892 locating at Pottsville, where he has since resided. In 1894 he began contracting and building on his own account, and the high grade of work intrusted to him shows how thor- oughly he has mastered the details of his business and how he has developed his responsibilities. Pottsville has many examples of his workmanship, notably the new Y. M. C. A. building, Hummel Brothers' building, the Hippodrome theatre and the new Synagogue. He also rebuilt the Mountain City building there for J. Miehle & Son. Outside of the borough his important contracts include the First National Bank building at Minersville, the First National Bank building at Frackville, the First National Bank building at Coaldale, and the Polish Catholic church at New Philadelphia, as well as many school- houses in various sections of the county, including the Fishbach school and the annex of the Jallapa school, at Pottsville. Many fine residences in the borough attest the wide range of his ability. From time to time he builds houses for sale, and in his various activities employs forty mechanics reg- ularly. For several years Mr. Messersmith has been in partnership with his brother under the name of Messersmith & Brother, conducting the furniture and carpet store at Lansford, Pa. Wherever known Mr. Messersmith has gained the unlimited respect of his associates.
Mr. Messersmith married Margaret Evans, a native of Wales, who was three years old when she came to America with her parents, George and Fanny Evans, the family settling at Lansford, Carbon Co., Pa. Mrs. Messer- smith died in 1900, leaving two children: Leroy, who died in 1910, and Leah, who lives at home. For his second wife Mr. Messersmith married Caroline Miller, daughter of Levi P. and Rebecca Miller, of Pottsville. There are no children by this union. The family reside at No. 526 West Arch street, Pottsville. Mr. and Mrs. Messersmith are members of the Methodist Epis- Vol. II-15
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copal Church, and socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, P. O. S. of A., and Lodge No. 207, B. P. O. Elks. On political ques- tions he is a Democrat.
CHARLES V. B. DEIBERT, now one of the oldest citizens of Schuylkill Haven, was born Dec. 10, 1836, in North Manheim township, Schuylkill county. He is the oldest living member of his branch of the family.
Michael Deiver (as his generation spelled the name), his greatgrandfather, was the founder of this branch of the family in Schuylkill county. He was born in Germany, and came with his parents to America, the family settling in Bern township, Berks county, in the then Province of Pennsylvania, near Michael's Church. There were five children, three sons and two daughters : Michael, Christopher, Wilhelm, Mrs. George Huntzinger and Mrs. John Gevert. When the sons were grown they moved to Manheim township, Schuyl- kill county, and married, Wilhelm to a daughter of John Renchler, from Bern township, Berks county, Michael to Elizabeth Waver. In the year 1744 the brothers Wilhelm and Michael bought in partnership three hundred acres of land in North Manheim township, at the road leading from Schuylkill Haven to Landingville, Wilhelm's part being at the location occupied by Edward Peale in 1884, and Michael's where John Filbert lived at that time. The third brother, Christopher, it was claimed went to Virginia in his younger years, but in the spring of 1915 Mr. C. V. B. Deibert was visited by Humphrey C. Dibert (as this branch of the family spells the name), who is a great- grandson of Christopher. He said his great-grandfather had two brothers, Wilhelm and Michael. According to him, Christopher settled down in Bed- ford county, Pa., near Bedford Springs, married and reared a large family, and his oldest living descendant is Sharron Dibert.
In the beginning Wilhelm and Michael Deiver had the Indians for their neighbors, and were molested considerably. Deer and bears were plentiful in the region at that day, but as they divided the meat with the savages when they shot any the Indians became more friendly. A long account of the fam- ily appears elsewhere in this work.
Michael Deiver had five sons and two daughters, Henry, Andrew, Michael, Christian, John, Catharine and Elizabeth. (The Daniel Deibert pamphlet says three daughters, but only two names are given.) Henry married Miss Kriner; Andrew, Miss Luckenbill; Michael, Miss Luckenbill (they had no children) ; Christian, Miss Miller; Catharine, John Dewald; Elizabeth, Daniel Repp. The father, Michael, died on his property in North Manheim township, and is buried at the Red Church in this county.
John Deibert, son of Michael, was born in North Manheim township, and was a farmer by occupation. He is buried in the old cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. He was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife being Renchler, of his second Wagner. His children were as follows: Daniel, who lived in Schuylkill Haven; George; Jacob, who died at Schuylkill Haven; John, who died at Schuylkill Haven; Benjamin, who died at Pottsville; Wil- liam, who died in the upper Mahantongo valley, Schuylkill county; Samuel; Hannah, wife of John Hummel, of Selinsgrove, Pa .; and Christine, who mar- ried Henry Shelly and lived at Pottsville.
George Deibert, son of John and grandson of Michael, was born at the old homestead of his parents, and followed farming until a few years before his death, when he retired to Schuylkill Haven. He died when about seventy
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years old, and is buried in the Union cemetery at Schuylkill Haven, as is also his wife. He had many interesting experiences in the early days. His father owned a large tract of land where Fishbach is now located (near Pottsville), then thickly wooded. When the timber was cut it was floated down the Schuyl- kill. One day, while going past what is now known as Mount Carbon, he was followed by a wolf, and hastened to reach the river so that the animal might lose his scent when he forded the stream. When somewhat older he had another exciting time while plowing on the homestead, on the Second moun- tain. A deer ran out and got into a pond, and Mr. Deibert, thinking he could kill it, went into the water after it, but the animal almost drowned him. He also had some adventures with panthers. Mr. Deibert was a Democrat, and a German Lutheran in religion, belonging to the White Church in North Manheim township. He married Susanna Reed, daughter of James Reed, and she survived him, living to the age of seventy-one. The following chil- dren were born to them: Charles V. B .; Sarah, wife of Abraham Sharadin; Mahlon, deceased when nine years old; Amanda, who married Harrison Ber- ger, both now deceased; James, who lived on the old homestead in North Manheim township until his recent death (he married Mary Faust, who is also deceased) ; Frank, mentioned elsewhere in this work; George R., living at Landingville, who married Mary Deibert; Hannah, who married Edw. Schappell; Elwin, living at Schuylkill Haven; and William, who died when sixteen years old.
Charles V. B. Deibert was reared upon the farm, remaining there until he reached the age of nineteen years. Coming to Schuylkill Haven at that time, he became clerk for his uncle, Samuel Deibert, continuing in his em- ploy about four years. In 1860 he took the census of his district, and on Aug. 6th of that year entered the Philadelphia & Reading railroad shops at Schuylkill Haven, forming a connection which continued over a period of forty-seven years, until he was retired, in 1907. He has since been enjoying well-earned leisure, having given up all business except his connection with the Schuylkill Haven Building & Loan Association, of which he has been president since 1902.
Mr. Deibert married Emma Sterner, daughter of Jacob Sterner, who mar- ried a Luckenbill. They have become the parents of the following named children: Annie, now the wife of George Witman, living at Pottstown, Pa .; Milton, living at Schuylkill Haven; Catherine, of Schuylkill Haven; John Joseph, living at Schuylkill Haven; and Walter, Robert, Charles and Minnie, all deceased.
During the Civil war Mr. Deibert served in the Union army, enlisting in September, 1862, in the Pennsylvania militia, and remaining in the army a short time. He is a member of Jere Helms Post, No. 27, G. A. R., at Schuyl- kill Haven, and is serving as quartermaster of that organization. Mr. Deibert is one of the oldest members of Page Lodge, F. & A. M., of Schuylkill Haven, which he joined in June, 1873, and has been tiler of the lodge since 1898. He is also a member of I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 120, and of the Improved Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 327.
RAYMOND H. STUTZMAN, M. D., of Tower City, is taking his place among the most useful members of that progressive community, both in his private capacity and as a public servant. His professional duties naturally bring him into contact with many phases of life in the community, and he is
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in a position to judge well of its needs, to which he has devoted considerable of his time.
Dr. Stutzman belongs to an old Pennsylvania family, founded in this coun- try by three brothers who came from Switzerland and settled in the Province, one at Iona, one in Jefferson county and the other in what is now Schuylkill county. In the fall of 1826 Christian Stutzman, the Doctor's great-great- grandfather, moved with his son Peter from Lebanon county to Schuylkill county, settling in Hegins township. Peter Stutzman married Elizabeth Bonarty, and they had a family of eight children: Christian, David, Michael, Elizabeth, Peter, Catherine, Israel and William A.
William A. Stutzman, son of Peter, grew up on the home farm in Hegins township, and received his education in the local subscription schools. In 1850 he built the "Fountain Hotel" at Fountain, in that township, and con- ducted it for twenty-five years. He was also active in public affairs, holding the offices of poor director of Schuylkill county, township treasurer, tax col- lector and supervisor, and he was one of the leading members of the Demo- cratic party in the county in his day. His religious connection was with the Reformed Church. Mr. Stutzman was twice married, his first wife being Catherine Zerby, a native of Schuylkill county, by whom he had six children : Henry, who was murdered in 1877, in Iowa, where he had settled and taken
up land (he is buried in Hegins township, Schuylkill county) ; Frederick E .; Isaac, deceased; Mary, deceased; John W .; and Andrew J. To his second union, with Helen Roebuck, of Northumberland county, were born three children, Celia (deceased, who married P. M. Artz), Carrie, and Emma L. (Mrs. R. A. Bressler). William A. Stutzman died July 7, 1905, on his farm in Hegins township, and is buried at the Frieden's Church.
Andrew J. Stutzman, the Doctor's father, was born in Hegins township. He received a good education, graduating from the Millersville State Normal School, and taught for some years, finally settling down to farm life at Foun- tain, in Hegins township, where he is still so engaged. He has always done a good citizen's share in promoting good government in his locality and adminis- tering township affairs, has served many years as school director, held the office of assessor, and acted as judge of election. Mr. Stutzman married Alice Schnell, and they have had three children: Fred, of Philadelphia, super- intendent of the Fox Gun Works; Allen, at home; and Raymond H.
Raymond H. Stutzman was born Dec. 13, 1885, at Fountain, Hegins town- ship, and received his elementary education there, later attending school in Philadelphia. He then entered the Medico-Chirurgical College in that city, first taking the course in pharmacy, and after graduating in that department took the medical course, graduating in 1912. For the next six months he was stationed at the hospital there, and then started independent practice at Pillow, Dauphin county, where he also remained six months, on April 29, 1913, com- ing to Tower City, where he took up the practice of the late Dr. Stutzman, his cousin. Dr. Stutzman has gained steadily in the confidence of the community during his comparatively short residence there, and has every prospect of a busy, helpful career. He is serving as president of the board of health of Tower City, and attends conscientiously to his duties.
Dr. Stutzman married Sarah Jane Graber, of Hegins, and they have three children : Howard G., Harry A. and Herman M. Socially the Doctor holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the lodge at Tower City.
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FREDERICK CARL, of Shenandoah, now living retired, is undoubtedly one of the best known mine workers in this region, having been employed in the local anthracite fields for sixty years, from 1854 to 1914. During the last forty-six years of that period, from 1868 until his retirement, he was at the Shenandoah City colliery, where he held the responsible position of inside foreman. As miner, engineer, repairman and foreman Mr. Carl proved well adapted to his occupation, being naturally of a mechanical turn, and he gave his undivided attention and care to his work. He was considered a master in his line and eminently trustworthy, and personally he is liked as well as esteemed.
Mr. Carl is a native of Germany, born March 7, 1841, in Dieffenbach, Prussia. His father, Henry Carl, was born at the same place, and was a linen weaver by calling. He and his wife Catherine became the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters, all born in Germany. This entire family came to the United States in August, 1853, crossing from Antwerp in the sailing vessel "Columbus," and they were on board forty-seven days, having been obliged to lie in the English Channel fourteen days waiting for favorable weather. After landing at New York City they came on to Potts- ville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and the father found his mechanical skill very use- ful, being given outside work at the mines. We have the following record of the family: (1) Philopina married Philip Bauer, and in 1855 they moved to Belleville, St. Clair Co., Ill. Mr. Bauer was a bricklayer by trade. He and his wife are both deceased, her death having occurred in 1913. They had one son and six daughters. (2) John, who became an inside superintendent at the mines, died in 1899. He married Lizzie Klein, who now lives in Mount Carmel, Northumberland Co., Pa., and they had five sons and three daughters. (3) Frederick is next in the family. (4) Annie is the widow of Adam Bommers- bach, a stationary engineer. They had two sons and three daughters. (5) Conrad, who was a miner, died in 1914. His widow, Sarah, lives at Mount Carmel, Pa. They had three sons and two daughters. (6) Peter, who lives at St. Clair, this county, is a stationary engineer. He married Sarah Bom- mersbach, and they have a family of seven, three sons and four daughters. (7) Henry, who formerly worked as a mechanic in Schuylkill county collieries, resides near Tower City, this county. He married Mary Winch, who died in about 1906, and they had one son and two daughters.
Frederick Carl received his education in Germany. Soon after coming to this country he began work at the mines, first driving mules, and he was vari- ously employed until he attained the position of inside foreman. After work- ing for a time at the Hickory colliery he went to the Eagle workings, at the upper end of St. Clair, this county, where he remained for nine months or a year, employed as miner, engineer and repairman. Then for eight years he was similarly engaged at the Pine Forest colliery, St. Clair, then owned by George W. Snyder, on March 17. 1868, taking a position at the Shenandoah City colliery, where he remained continuously until his retirement, in August, 1914. He became inside foreman there in 1870.
On May 14, 1863, Mr. Carl married Marguerite Weber, at St. Clair. She was born in Saxony, Germany, daughter of George Weber, and died in 1872, aged twenty-nine years, the mother of children as follows: George H., a machinist and pipe fitter at the chemical works in West Philadelphia, Pa., married Martha Evans ( they have no children) ; John W., deceased, who was a carriage painter, married Mary Scanlan, and they had one son and one
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daughter, John and Annie (Mrs. Edward Price) ; Harry G., a cigar manu- facturer of Shenandoah, who died Aug. 29, 1915, married Annie Townley, and they had one son and two daughters, Clarence, Mabel and Kate, the last named deceased in infancy. The mother was a member of the Lutheran Church; she is buried at St. Clair.
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