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 41

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 684


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 41


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Frederick Stamm, son of Werner, the emigrant ancestor, had the following children: John; Frederick; Jacob; Catharine, married to Abraham Good ; Mary, married to Dr. Schwartz; Maria Magdalena married to Peter Bright (1793-1877).


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Nicholas Stamm, son of Werner, born April 22, 1752, died Oct. 6, 1828. He married Catharine Lerch, born April 21, 1754, died May 16, 1844. Like his parents they are buried in the Bern Church. Among their children were: Johann Adamı, Frederick, Peter, John, Mrs. Benjamin Graeff, Philip, William, Catherine (married Peter Reinhart) and Benjamin. Some of this family moved to Lycoming, Snyder and Northumberland counties.


John Jacob Stamm, the grandfather of Mrs. Gangloff, was born in Berks county, at Mount Pleasant. He was a cabinetmaker, having learned that trade in his native county. Coming to West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, he rented Preacher Moyer's farm for a number of years, until he removed to Mount Ætna, Berks county, and bought a farm of sixty acres, which he operated until 1866. Then he returned to McKeansburg, where he died in 1871, aged seventy-nine years, six months. He is buried at the Frieden's Church, New Ringgold, and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth, who died when her son Severinus was very young, is buried at Orwigsburg. Children as follows were born to them: Israel married Maria Weaver; John married Kate Haas; Mary married William Frantz; Sarah married John Weaver; Kate married William Tyson; Eliza married Joseph Marburger; Severinus was the father of Mrs. Gangloff. Mr. Stamm was a Democrat and a member of the German Re- formed Church, at Mount Ætna, Berks county.


Severinus Stamm, father of Mrs. Gangloff, was born Oct. 23, 1839, in West Brunswick township, attended school in Berks county, and stayed with his parents until he was fourteen years old. He then moved to Adair county, Mo., and worked as a cowboy, going thence to Kansas and then to Iowa in 1860. There he fed cattle until July 12, 1861, the date of his enlistment in Company K, 2d Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Crocker, to serve three years. He was mustered in at Davenport, Iowa, and assigned to the Western Army. In March, 1864, he reenlisted, in the same company, under Capt. Charles P. Moore, at Germantown, Tenn., to serve during the war, and was discharged at Thelma, Ala., Sept. 25, 1865. He participated in about thirty-five engage- ments, including: Monterey, Booneville, Corinth, Black Head, siege of Corinth, Cold Water, Coffeeville, Prairie Station, Palo Alto, Pigeon Roost Creek, Tuscahomat, Jackson, La Grange, Colliersville, Moscow, Prairie Sta- tion, Oakolona, Tupelo, Hurricane Creek, Butler Creek, Lawrenceburg, Campbellsville, Nosbulle, Little Nazareth, Rutherford, and Anthony Hill.


On his return from the army Mr. Stamm stopped off at Drehersville and visited his sister, Mrs. Marburger, and then went to farming with his brother Israel, near New Ringgold, on the farm now owned by Walter Grube. He remained there three years, and next went to McKeansburg, to work with Daniel Frantz, learning the carpenter's trade. He followed his trade for seventeen years, as a bridge builder and general carpenter, and in 1871 settled at McKeansburg, where besides working at his trade he helped the neighbor- ing farmers. He retired about four years ago. Mr. Stamm was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican. By reason of his army service he belongs to Severn Post, No. 110, G. A. R., of Mahanoy City ; he was a charter member of both the P. O. S. of A. and Odd Fellows lodges at New Ringgold, and belongs to the Reformed congregation of the Frieden's Church.


Mr. Stamm married Elizabeth Frantz, who was born Jan. 1, 1846, a daughter of Daniel and Rachel (Lutz) Frantz. They have had a large fam- ily, viz .: Lauranna Victoria married Harry Fink, of Annville, Pa .; Elmira Priscilla is Mrs. Gangloff; Kate Rachel married Oscar Miller; Sallie Ara-


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bella died in infancy; John Severinus is unmarried; Mamie Eliza married Daniel Saul; Daniel Israel married Rosie Shellhammer; William Jacob, twin of Daniel I., married Mary Hill; Nydia Maria married Frank Miller; George Aquilla married Nora Hill; Laura Saloma May married Robert Grimes.


AARON NESTER is one of the best known residents of West Penn township, where he has served as constable for over a quarter of a century. The family has been identified with this section of Schuylkill county for almost a century, and his earlier ancestors lived in Berks county, Pa., his grandfather, Daniel Nester. having been a native of that county, born in Hereford township. He was a blacksmith and farmer, following those occu- pations all his life, was a Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religion, belonging to the Hill Church in Hereford township, where he and his wife, Esther (Moyer), are buried. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: Elijah, who died unmarried; Daniel, who married Priscilla Kepner, and settled in Schuylkill county; Benjamin; Henry, who married Hannah Zimmerly and (second) Sarah Aaron, who never married; Sallie, Mrs. J. Shirey; Esther, Mrs. Samuel Seiple; and Lydia, who died in child- hood.


Benjamin Nester, son of Daniel, was the father of Aaron Nester. He was born Feb. 20, 1815, in Hereford township, Berks county, and there grew to manhood, working on the farm for his father until he attained his majority. Coming to East Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, he settled at Rauschs and there learned rolling-mill work in the plant of John Rausch, in which employ he continued for about ten or twelve years. He then bought a farm of 112 acres, most of which he cleared, residing there until his death, which


occurred in March, 1894. His land was devoted to general farming, and he made a specialty of the raising of fine stock, doing well in both lines. Intelli- gent and public-spirited, he took an active interest in local affairs, and served his fellow citizens many terms as school director, and also in the office of tax collector. Politically he was associated with the Democratic party. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, a prominent member of the Frieden's Church at New Ringgold and one of its most zealous officials, having been deacon, elder and trustee. He is buried at that church, as is also his wife Lillie.


Mr. Nester's first wife was Lillie Seltzer, and she and her father, William Seltzer, were natives of East Brunswick township. She died when about forty years old, the mother of four children, namely: John D., who married Catherine Behler (she is deceased) ; William, now a resident of Tamaqua, Pa., who married Mary Bock and (second) Judith Moyer; Mary. wife of William Kunkle, of Rush township, Schuylkill county; and Benjamin, who died in boyhood. For his second wife Mr. Nester married Lena Shuster, who was born at sea while her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Shuster, natives of Germany, were bringing their family to America. Mrs. Nester is now (1915) about eighty years of age, and is living with her daughter Emma ( Mrs. W. W. Kleckner) in East Brunswick township. To this union were born seven children: Aaron; David, who married Sarah Dreibelbeis and lives at Geneva, N. Y .; Charles (deceased), who married Sarah Behler, his widow living at Hometown, Schuylkill county; Emma, married to W. W. Kleckner, of East Brunswick township; Clara, wife of Adam Behler, of West Penn township; Catherine and Alice, living with their mother. Vol. II-18


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Aaron Nester was born in East Brunswick township, at the place Francis Bachert now occupies, and was reared and educated there, attending Rausch's school. His early years were spent assisting his father, for whom he worked until twenty-one years old. Afterwards he was employed at the New Ring- gold furnace, operated by the Little Schuylkill Coal Company, for a couple of years, but when he married he decided to resume farming, and bought from Solomon Lynn most of the property in West Penn township where he has since resided. His first purchase was eighty-four acres, to which he has added by another investment until he now has 102 acres, of which about eighty acres are under cultivation, in general crops. There are several acres in fruit, Mr. Nester having two hundred peach trees, one hundred apple trees, and twenty plum trees. He markets his products at Lansford, Carbon county. Mr. Nester has prospered in his own work by diligence and thrift, profiting by modern methods and appliances, and he has shown himself just as wide- awake in other matters, giving his encouragement and support to all projects which have the general welfare in view. He has taken considerable part in politics in the township as a worker in the Democratic party, and has served twenty-six years as constable of West Penn township. He is a leading mem- ber of Washington Camp No. 132, P. O. S. of A., at North Penn, in his home township, and is a past president of that organization. Like most of the fam- ily he is a Lutheran on religious questions, belonging to Zion's Church in West Penn township, and formerly taught in the Sunday school.


Mr. Nester married Priscilla Oswald, who was born Feb. 18, 1853, in East Brunswick township, where she was reared and educated, remaining at home until her marriage. She, too, is a member of Zion's Lutheran congre- gation, and has taught in the Sunday school. To Mr. and Mrs. Nester have been born the following children: Rosie died when three years old; John Daniel is living at home; Wilson died when five years, six months old ; Victor Benjamin is at home; Amandus William, now living at Bowmansville, Car- bon county, married Mary Hoffman; Jennie is the wife of John Bachert and lives at Rauschs, in East Brunswick township; Mamie is the wife of Albert Winter and also lives at Rauschs; Clara, wife of Oscar Welsh, lives at Tama- qua, this county ; Eva married Charles Shaeffer and lives at Pinedale, in West Brunswick township, this county. All of this family were educated at the Sassaman (No. 10) school in West Penn township. Rosie and Wilson are buried at Zion's Church.


Elias Oswald, Mrs. Nester's grandfather, came to this region from Berks county, Pa., and farmed in West Penn township, owning and operating the place now occupied by James Homberg. He had about eighty acres, and cleared nearly half of it, raising general crops and prospering by dint of indus- try and close application to his work. He built the old stone house on that property, and died there. Mr. Oswald was an earnest Christian and active in the work of Zion's Lutheran Church, assisting in the erection of the present stone church used by that congregation. All the family are buried there. In politics he supported the Democratic party. His children were: Elias, Hoff- man. Emmanuel, Catherine and Polly. Elias was the only one that married.


Elias Oswald, son of Elias, above, was a native of East Brunswick town- ship, where he spent his early life and received his education. He became a farmer, owning a tract of ninety acres which he bought from Samuel Hoff- man, the place now owned by his son John Oswald, upon which he remained to the close of his long life, dying at the age of eighty-three years. For many


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years he was successfully engaged in general farming, retiring about five years before his death. He attended market at Tamaqua. Like his father he was a zealous member of Zion's Lutheran Church in West Penn township, hold- ing the offices of elder, deacon, etc., and he and his wife are buried at that church. He was a Democrat in political sentiment. Mr. Oswald married Catherine Hoffman, who was born in East Brunswick township, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Dreisbach) Hoffman, and they had a family of six chil- dren, viz .: Priscilla, wife of Aaron Nester; Frank, who married Caroline Miller and is now living in Oklahoma; John, who is on the homestead, mar- ried to Emma Hartung; Elias, who died when about forty-two years old; Savina, who resides in East Brunswick township; and Catherine, wife of Monroe Hess, of that township.


JOSEPH KILLIAN, ice dealer at Schuylkill Haven, was born in Dan- ville, Montour Co., Pa., Feb. 10, 1873, and is a son of William Killian. The grandfather, Martin Killian, was a native of Germany and a resident of that country until his death.


William Killian, the father of Joseph, was a stonemason by trade. He emigrated to America when he had reached the age of about nineteen and settled in Philadelphia, where he followed the butcher business. Later he came to Schuylkill Haven, where he continued to follow the occupation of butcher for many years. He also did considerable contracting in the way of stone work in the surrounding country. He owned about 335 acres of land in North Manheim township, near Schuylkill Haven, 140 acres of which was cleared, and the remainder he permitted to remain in its primeval condition of woodland. Mr. Killian was a Union soldier in the Civil war. A Republican in politics, he was a member of the election board for twenty years, a school director of North Manheim township, and for fourteen years constable. He died May 6, 1904, and is buried at Schuylkill Haven. His widow still resides in North Manheim township.


William Killian was united in marriage to Susan Eiler, daughter of John Eiler, and granddaughter of John Eiler, the latter a pioneer of lower Schuyl- kill county. To Mr. and Mrs. Killian were born these children: Minnie, who married Henry Mengle; William, deceased; Joseph; Clara, deceased ; John; William (2) ; Mark; Charles Edw., deceased; Henry Clayton; Marietta, wife of Oscar May; Elsie May, deceased; Edward, deceased; Charles, deceased ; Emma Susan, deceased; and Bessie, wife of George W. Coover.


Joseph Killian was brought by his parents to Schuylkill Haven when he was but nine months old, and attended the local schools. When eighteen years of age he entered the ice business, which he has continued to carry on since. He has a large storehouse, with a capacity of 50,000 tons, and cuts his product from two large ponds, fed by pure springs. He has a large auto-truck and two teams, which he uses to supply his numerous customers in Schuylkill Haven and Cressona. He also supplies the Reading Company with ice in this district. Mr. Killian has a fine home and a farm in North Manheim township connected with his business property. Mr. Killian also does some contract work, and when the new State road was built through this section did some work upon it.


Joseph Killian was married to Kate Steffey, daughter of Daniel Steffey, of Lancaster county, and their children are three in number. Annie, Samuel and Edward. Mr. Killian is a Republican, and has been a constable and a mem-


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ber of the election board. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and of the Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men.


The Killian family own valuable land in North Manheim township, ad- joining the borough of Schuylkill Haven, most of which at one time was the property of John Eiler.


The Eiler family, of which Mrs. William Killian, mother of Joseph Kil- lian, is a member, traces its origin from Johannes Eyler, who was born Dec. 6, 1772, in Germany, and died in Pennsylvania, Dec. 21, 1843. He settled in what is known as Eyler's Hollow, Northumberland township, called "Noo- sadaul" in Pennsylvania German, his children having altered the name, to its present form. His son, John Eiler, was a large landowner in the part of the county of Schuylkill now occupied by the borough of Schuylkill Haven, as well as on the spot called Eyler's Hollow. He died upon his farm after a long life as an agriculturist and is buried in the old cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. His children were: John, Daniel (1811-1869), Henry, Betsy (wife of Frank Mellon) and Kate (wife of Peter Strause).


John Eiler, son of John, above, was born on the homestead in North Man- heim township, and died in that township at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was a carpet weaver by trade. He married Hannah (daughter of Jacob) Schappell, who died at the age of forty-six and is buried beside her husband in the old cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. They had the following family : Mary married John Bubeck; Maria married Levi Reichert ; Hannah married John Krietzel, who was killed in the Civil war as a member of the 48th Pa. Vols., and she married (second) Samuel Bonberger, also a soldier in the Civil war ; Emaline married Joseph Freeman ; Susan is mentioned above in the sketch of William Killian; Israel died while serving in the Civil war; and Frank is now living in Schuylkill Haven.


ADAM WINGERT has been a resdent of Mahanoy City from boyhood, and few of its citizens are more generally known or held in better favor in the regard of the community. His long connection with the Mahanoy City col- liery, where he has held the responsible position of outside foreman since 1898, has brought him into contact with a large number of the men whose work has attracted them to the locality, this being one of the largest workings of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company.


Mr. Wingert was born Dec. 12, 1856, in Upper Bern township, Berks Co., Pa., and the family has been in Pennsylvania from early times. His grand- father, John Wingert, was a native of Montgomery county, this State, where he lived and died. He was a successful contractor and builder, and a well known man in this part of Pennsylvania in his day, having constructed several of the Schuylkill canal locks in and near Berks county.


Daniel Wingert, son of John, was born in Montgomery county, whence he first removed to Berks county, and from there about 1865 to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county. By trade he was a blacksmith, and he was employed in that capacity for a time at the old Robesonia Furnace and also at Sinking Spring, both in Berks county. He also followed that line of work after settling in Mahanoy City, for many years with George W. Cole. He lived retired for some years before his death. Mr. Wingert married Mary Kauffman, whose mother was the first person to cross the long Philadelphia & Reading bridge over the Schuylkill river near Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Wingert became the parents of ten children, but only three survive at this writing (1915) :


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Eliza, wife of Joseph Lindermuth, living at Auburn, Schuylkill county ; Adam ; and Ella, wife of John Klingerman, of Locust Valley, Schuylkill county (his father, David Klingerman, was the pioneer in that section).


Adam Wingert came to Mahanoy City with his parents. He attended pub- lic school until he went to work, beginning like most boys picking slate at the breaker. Later he learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed for fifteen years at the mines, until promoted to the position of assistant outside foreman at the Mahanoy City colliery. He was so engaged until 1898, when he succeeded Andrew Ferguson as foreman, and has been retained in that capacity continuously since. The colliery is one of the largest operated by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, seven hundred and twenty- five men and boys being employed at these workings, in whose successful development he has had a creditable part. His able discharge of his duties, and intelligent comprehension of their requirements, account for the high stand- ing he enjoys with both employers and men. For high personal character there is no more trustworthy man at the mines. Mr. Wingert married Emma L. Hoppes, who is a daughter of Andrew Hoppes, in his day well known as a miller in Mahanoy City. They have one daughter, Kate, now the wife of Harry Christ, who is engaged as a mining engineer by the Locust Mountain Coal Company ; Mr. and Mrs. Christ reside with her parents. Socially Mr. Wingert is a member of the P. O. S. of A., belonging to Washington Camp No. 21, of Mahanoy City. He is a prominent member of the Salem United Evangelical Church, which he has served as president of the board of trustees for the last twenty-five years. He was chairman of the building committee when the present church building was erected, was a chorister of the church for twenty years, and for ten years acted as superintendent of the Sunday school.


FREDERICK L. GRUMM, of Girardville, justice of the peace, was born March 30, 1867, son of Daniel and Sarah ( Moll) Grumm.


Daniel Grumm, the father, was born in Easton, Pa., and his father was a native of Germany. Coming to America he settled at New Philadelphia, later moved to Germantown, and then to Ashland, Schuylkill county, eventually locating at Girardville. He was a miner by occupation, working in several mines, and being at one time foreman of the Beatty mine. Daniel Grumm was married to Sarah Moll, a native of Tuscarora, Schuylkill county, whose family were early settlers of this State and of German origin. Daniel Grumm died in Girardville a number of years ago, and his wife died in 1910. To them were born nine children : Andrew W., residing in Girardville; John, deceased; Hannah, wife of William Abrams, of Girardville ; Charles, Philip and Henry, deceased ; Frederick L .; Ellen, of Girardville; and Bertha, wife of Daniel Reese, of Girardville.


Frederick L. Grumm was educated in the schools of Girardville, and at the age of eight began to work in the mines, at the age of sixteen being a coal cutter. On April 7, 1909, he succeeded to the office of justice of the peace made vacant by the death of his brother Henry, and in 1910 he was elected to the office, which he has held ever since. On April 4, 1890, he was married to Anna L. Wagner, daughter of Elias B. and Elizabeth (Landeman) Wagner, the former deceased, the latter still living at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Grumm. Mr. and Mrs. Grumm have had five children: Charles, who lives at Girardville; Freda, who died at the age of fifteen; Vera Lorena, who died


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in childhood ; Blanche ; and Bertha. Mr. Grumm served as constable of Girard- ville for six years in all, from 1890 to 1893, and again when reappointed in 1895. He is a member of the Independent Order of Americans, of the United Mine Workers of America, and of the Zion Lutheran Church at Girardville. His son Charles is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and of Girardville Hose Company No. I.


Elias B. Wagner, father of Mrs. Grumm, was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted from Schuylkill county. Previous to the war he was a soldier in the regular army, and after the end of the conflict he became a prominent labor leader in this county, in the days of the Workingmen's Benevolent Asso- ciation. The family were then living at Shenandoah.


Daniel Grumm, father of Frederick, had four brothers: Louis; Henry, who was killed in the Civil war at the battle of Gettysburg; and Charles and Frederick, both of whom served in the Civil war. Mrs. Grumm also had two brothers, William and Michael Moll, who served in the Civil war. All of these soldiers enlisted from Schuylkill county.


PETER KRIPPLEBAUR, late of Ashland, Schuylkill county, was a veteran of the Civil war. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Kripplebaur, brought their family to America from Germany in the year 1852. They landed at New York after a voyage of forty-eight days, and coming then to Schuyl- kill county, Pa., located at St. Clair, where the mother died, some forty-seven years ago, the rest of the family moving to Ashland, where the father died at the home of his son Peter. They were the parents of two children, Peter and one daughter, Elizabeth, Mrs. Hasel, now living at Girardville, Pennsyl- vania.


Peter Kripplebaur was born Dec. 25. 1843, in Bavaria, Germany. He worked in the mines of Schuylkill county from early boyhood until his retire- ment. On Feb. 15, 1864, he enlisted at Philadelphia for service in the Civil war, joining Company H, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and remained in the army to the close of the conflict, taking part in a number of battles and skir- mishes. He was wounded in battle, and was present when Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, was taken prisoner. The war over, Mr. Krip- plebaur was mustered out at Macon, Ga., receiving his honorable discharge at Harrisburg, and returned to his home in Schuylkill county. Mr. Kripple- haur was a much respected citizen of Ashland, where his industrious and hon- orable life gained him many friends and well-wishers. He was living in retirement at the time of his death in 1915.


On Oct. 3, 1865, Mr. Kripplebaur was married to Margaret Husler, of St. Clair, Pa., who was born in Germany, and was brought to America when five years old. Her parents were early residents of St. Clair. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kripplebaur, Peter, Jr., and John, both of whom reside at Ashland. Mr. Kripplebaur was a member of St. Mauritius' German Cath- olic Church.


HENRY MOLL, who is now spending his days in well earned retirement at Pottsville, is a veteran of the Civil war and a citizen who has demon- strated his public spirit in his private life as well as he did in the discharge of his military duties, when the country needed his services. He is a native of Prussia, Germany, born Oct. 1, 1842, and his father, Henry Moll, was also born in that kingdom. The latter was a stonemason by trade. He brought his




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