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 44
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George W. Bolton, Jr., obtained a limited education in the public schools of Schuylkill Haven, and at the age of thirteen began to work as boatman on the old Schuylkill canal, where he was employed until his twenty-sixth year. He then transferred his energies to the railroad, being connected with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company for thirty-five years. In 1904 he withdrew from that work and built an establishment at Schuylkill Haven,
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on Liberty street, where he opened a small store, afterwards adding the busi- ness of hotelkeeper to his other occupations. He continued the hotel business for four years and then sold out, purchasing the property on Canal street where he opened the general store which he now conducts. He has a fine trade, and is building up the business as rapidly as the demands of this growing town will warrant.
Mr. Bolton was married to Sofiah Theresa, daughter of George and Kate (Lloyd) Bausman. Mr. Bausman was a boatbuilder at Schuylkill Haven, later going to Reading, where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Bolton have been born twelve children, namely: Samuel, deceased; Charles, at home ; William, a conductor on the Reading railroad; Lottie, wife of Samuel Trout; Mamie; Kate, at home; Harry (twin of Kate), deceased; Oscar, residing in Schuyl- kill Haven; Gussie, married to Samuel Sleeper and residing in Schuylkill Haven; Hattie, married to William Reed; George, living at home; and one child that died in infancy.
Mr. Bolton is a Republican in politics. He was formerly a member of the Odd Fellows, and is an attendant of the Evangelical Church. He has gained a large circle of friends through his connection with the Reading road and his business activities, and few are more respected or popular among the residents of Schuylkill Haven than George W. Bolton.
JOEL S. DEGLER, of West Brunswick township, is looked upon as one of the most intelligent citizens of his section of Schuylkill county. He is a farmer of progressive tendencies and excellent business ability, has served capably in more than one official position, and in all the other relations of life has proved his reliability and worth.
Mr. Degler is a native of Berks county, Pa., born July 21, 1863, at Strauss- town, in Upper Tulpehocken township, where the family has farmed for several generations. He is a great-great-grandson of Frederick Degler, who came to this country from Germany, and a great-grandson of Frederick Jacob Degler. They lived near Fort Northkill, which was built in the early part of the year 1754, as a protection for the settlers against the Indians, and stood about two miles east of Strausstown, in Upper Tulpehocken township, on the Northkill, a small stream which emptied into the Tulpehocken creek at Bernville. Frederick Degler made his home in the locality before the French and Indian war, and his farm has been occupied since by his son, grandson and great-grandson, John W. Degler ( father of Joel S. Degler), the latter's son, Jacob, now having a portion of it. An old chest owned by John W. Degler until his death had an interesting history. It was brought from the old country by Frederick Degler, and upon his death came, with the home property, into the hands of his son, Frederick Jacob Degler, and in turn into the possession of the latter's son John, and his son John W., the family in- tending to preserve it carefully as a memento of the days of fearful conflict endured by their forefathers during the pioneer period, in guarding their lives and homes against the hostile Indians. The emigrant ancestor possessed the virtues common to many of the old settlers, being honest, kindly, generous and hospitable, and he always furnished food and other necessaries to the Indians who frequented his home. They never disturbed anything on the premises or molested him in any way to excite his distrust, but when the savages murdered the white people only a short distance away, he feared they might become treacherous, and moved his family close to the fort so that
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they would be under the protection of the guard stationed there. The In- dians were lurking in the dense woods adjacent, and seeing him near the fort, became convinced that he had turned against them. Acting on this belief they proceeded to his house, and finding neither him nor his family there ransacked the dwelling. The old chest previously mentioned, made of un- painted cedar and protected on the edges with iron trimmings, was in the house, and when they demolished the furniture the Indians split the chest completely through the middle; small iron bands were afterward used on the ends to hold the parts together, though the lid was still in two pieces when John W. Degler owned it. The chest bears the date 1757, and it is presumed this is the year in which the Indians smashed it. Two stood guard at some distance from the fort while the others plundered the house, and the guards were captured but subsequently released. The above account appears in a work entitled "Indians of Berks County," by D. B. Brumer, A. M., published in 1881. The author visited the spot where the fort stood Nov. 26, 1879, at which time John W. Degler was alive and had the chest.
John Degler, grandfather of Joel S. Degler, also farmed near Strausstown, in Upper Tulpehocken township, having 168 acres of land, a great part of which he cleared. He remained there all his life. His children were: John W .; Daniel, who married a Moyer ; and Lydia, who married John Moyer. The father was a Democrat and a Lutheran, belonging to Zion's Church at Strauss- town, where he and the mother are buried.
John W. Degler, father of Joel S. Degler, was born at Strausstown, Berks county, and lived to the age of sixty-six years. He obtained his education in the pay schools conducted in the home vicinity, and during his youth and early manhood worked for his father, who was a weaver as well as farmer, making linen cloth. He also fashioned baskets. After his father's death John W. Degler bought the home farm from George Degler, who had pur- chased it from the estate, and thereafter he lived on and operated the place until his death, doing general farming and also conducting the grist and saw mill which stood upon his property. He was a highly respected man, a promi- nent member of Zion's Lutheran Church, near the Blue mountain, which he served officially as elder and deacon. Politically he was a Democrat. Mr. Degler married Elizabeth Smith, who was born at Rehrersburg, Berks Co., Pa., and died, aged seventy-two years, and they are buried at Zion's Church. Children as follows were born to this union: Sarah, married William Noecker, of West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county; Malinda, married Alfred McAllister, of Strausstown, Berks county; Enoch, married Ida Naftsinger, who survives him and lives in Missouri ; Monroe, married Rachel Huyer, and they live in Texas county, Mo .; Susan, married Oliver Engleman (deceased) and (second) Fred Leonhardt, of Ohio; Rebecca (deceased) was the first wife of Fred Leonhardt; Emma (deceased) was the wife of David McAllis- ter, of Strausstown, Berks county; Kate, married Morris Strauss, of Orwigs- burg, Schuylkill Co., Pa .; Jacob, married Kate Bauscher, who is deceased, and he lives on part of the old homestead farm at Strausstown; John, who married Susan Wagner, lives near Strausstown; Joel S., completes the family.
Joel S. Degler received his education in the public schools near Strauss- town, where he was reared. Farming was his early occupation, and he worked on the home place for his father until he reached his majority, afterwards farming there for another four years. When his father died he bought the property, which he occupied for four years thereafter, at the end of that time
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removing to East Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, where he farmed Jacob Weible's land for one year. He then moved to his present home in West Brunswick township, buying the property, which comprises seventy- four acres, fifty-two acres of which are cleared. Here he followed general farming for seven years, until he sold the place to Mary Alspach, and for the next several years he was variously engaged, for three years operating a coal washery at Landingville, which he owned. In the spring of 1915 Mr. Degler bought back his farm, from Frank Kershner, and he has erected a new dwelling house and made various other improvements since it came back into his possession. He is now devoting his energies to general farming, and he bids fair to make his place one of the notably successful tracts in the lo- cality, if good management and judicious cultivation count for anything. Mr. Degler has always been public-spirited in looking after local interests, and he has served faithfully as school director in West Brunswick township. While at Landingville he was also called into the public service, as member of the borough council, where he gave ample evidence of the solid qualities which have commended him to official preferment. Politically he supports the Demo- cratic party. In religions connection he is a Lutheran, at present belonging to St. Paul's Church at Orwigsburg, and while at Landingville he was promi- nent in the congregation there, which he served as deacon. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, holding membership in Strausstown Lodge, No. 77, of which he is a past grand, and he served at one time as assistant secretary.
Mr. Degler married Mary E. Gerhard, who was born Aug. 2, 1862, and six children have been born to them, as follows: Lizzie Ann, born April II, 1885, in Upper Tulpehocken township, Berks county, was educated in that county and in West Brunswick township, and is now the wife of Robert Lindermuth, a shoemaker, of Orwigsburg; they have had three children, George (deceased), Earl and Mary. Emma Rebecca, born Dec. 27, 1886, at- tended school in West Brunswick and North Manheim townships, and at Landingville, and is now living at home. Mary Etta, born Dec. 31, 1889, was educated in West Brunswick and North Manheim townships, and at Landingville. Elsie May, born March 4, 1892, was also educated at those schools, and is now living at home. Dora Dianna, born March 31, 1895, at- tended school at Landingville, and also at Orwigsburg, graduating from the high school at the latter borough in 1914. Arthur Dewey, born Oct. 7, 1898, has also received his education at Landingville and at the Orwigsburg high school, which he is still attending, and is now assisting his father on the farm.
Mrs. Degler is a great-granddaughter of Jacob Gerhard, a native of Ger- many, who settled in Berks county upon coming to this country. Her grand- father, Heinrich (Henry) Gerhard, born May 1, 1798, at Rehrersburg, that county, died Nov. 22, 1871. He moved to West Brunswick township, Schuyl- kill county, in 1828, and is buried in the Reformed cemetery at Orwigsburg. His wife, Marie Salome (Hoy), born in 1800, died in 1863. They had six children, namely: Maria (Mrs. Daniel Alspach), Sarah (Mrs. Samuel Yost), Henry, Priscilla (who married James Anderson and Edward Mengel), Wil- liam and Edward, the last named dying young.
Henry Gerhard, father of Mrs. Degler, was born Aug. 25, 1829, in West Brunswick township, in the house where he still resides. He farmed through- out his active years, and has been living retired since 1912. His first wife, Dianna (Mengel), died Jan. 3. 1857, the mother of three children: Charles, deceased in childhood; William Francis; and Dianna, deceased in infancy.
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By his second marriage, to Eliza Yost, he has had eleven children: Elwood P., born May 31, 1860, is living at Port Carbon ; Mary E., born Aug. 2, 1862, is married to Joel S. Degler; Henry Y., born Oct. 5, 1864, is a shoe manu- facturer of Orwigsburg; Samuel, born April 6, 1867, died aged nine years; Frank, born Feb. 5, 1869, is a farmer of West Brunswick township; Emma M., born Feb. 22, 1871, married Jacob Zuber, and is living at Allentown, Pa .; George A., born April 11, 1873, is a shoemaker at Orwigsburg, with his brother; John, born March II, 1875, is a farmer in Orwigsburg; Calvin L., born July 2, 1876, is farming in the borough of Orwigsburg; Hannah S., born June 20, 1881, married George Seltzer and is living at McKeansburg, Schuyl- kill county ; Edwin R., born Oct. 20, 1884, is farming the homestead place in West Brunswick township.
SAMUEL B. BEHLER is farming in East Brunswick township, follow- ing the occupation in which his immediate ancestors have been engaged for over a century in that part of Schuylkill county.
The Behler family has been in America from Colonial days, and Samuel B. Behler belongs to the fourth generation of the branch which has contributed so much to the improvement of West Penn and East Brunswick townships. Its members have done their share in clearing the land and developing the agricultural possibilities of the region in the pursuit of a living and the acqui- sition of property ; and they have been equally useful in the introduction and maintenance of desirable social conditions, themselves leading exemplary lives and assisting in the establishment of church and schools, with their accompanying benefits.
Anthony Behler, founder of the family in Schuylkill county, was a native of Georgia. When he settled in what is now West Penn township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., he bought a tract of 167 acres, known as the Bankes tract, much of which he cleared. He built a log house and barn, and worked the place throughout his active years. He lived to the remarkable age of ninety-six. He married a Miss Bankes, and they had children as follows: Jacob, who mar- ried Rosie Donert; George; Gideon, who married Leah Warner; John, who married Betsy Moyer; Mrs. Paul; Mrs. Wilhelm; Mrs. Donert ; Mrs. Houser, and Mrs. Raber. The parents are buried in Zion's Church yard in West Penn township. Mr. Behler was a Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
George Behler, grandfather of Samuel B. Behler, was born in 1800 in West Penn township, was educated there, and worked for his father in young manhood. He learned the shoemaker's trade. His first property was a tract of 190 acres, a great part of which he and his family cleared. Selling this farm to his son-in-law, Elijah Moyer, he bought a tract of 200 acres which he operated for a while, and remained on that place until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-two years old. He followed his trade of shoe- maker all his life, was an industrious worker and an intelligent citizen, active in public and church affairs. He was a strong Democrat and lent all his influence to the success of the party. As a member of Zion's German Luth- eran Church in West Penn township he was zealous in the promotion of its interests and assisted in its building of the stone church. He and his wife, who died at the age of eighty-nine years, are buried at that church. Her maiden name was Judith Donert, and she was born in 1801. They had the following children: George married Eliza Sassaman; Louisa married Elijah Moyer; Samuel is mentioned below; Rebecca married Jonathan Lechleitner ;
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Mary Ann died young; Judith married Charles Sassaman; Catherine married John Nester; Diana married Wallace Frederici.
Samuel Behler, son of George, was born Sept. 10, 1825, near Steinsville, Lehigh Co., Pa., and was educated there and in West Penn township. He helped his father on the farm until his marriage, when he was about twenty- five years old, at that time leaving the parental home and buying a farm near Reynolds, containing twenty-five acres. Learning the shoemaker's trade with his father, he carried it on along with his farming, and was also handy at other mechanical work, understanding the use of many tools. After operating his twenty-five-acre tract for a time he sold it, and bought a farm in East Brunswick township, fifty-four acres, much of which he cleared. This farm today is owned by Henry Grube. Mr. Behler bought another farm, of ninety- nine acres, but finding he could not handle both places he sold the fifty-four acres to John Stibitz, and stayed on the other farm until his death, which occurred in March, 1912, when he was aged eighty-six years. Most of his time was devoted to farming, and he also became quite prominent as a local official, holding the positions of supervisor, school director and tax collector. Politically he was a Democrat.
Mr. Behler married Matilda Buchner, who was born May 16, 1831, in Rush township, Schuylkill county, and died Dec. 4, 1892. She was a daughter of Aaron and Annie ( Brause) Buchner. Mr. and Mrs. Behler had these children : Jeremiah married Amanda Haas, who is now deceased; Samuel B. is next in the family ; Judith resides in East Brunswick township; Moses married Sarah Mantz; Aaron, twin of Moses, married Elizabeth Hendricks, who is deceased; Harvey is unmarried. Mr. Behler was a member of the Frieden's Lutheran Church at New Ringgold, where he and his wife are buried.
Samuel B. Behler was born Oct. 17, 1856, in East Brunswick township, where he obtained his education. He worked with his father until twenty- one years old, when he went to learn the carpenter's trade. He also continued to work among farmers for about four years. Then he went into the lumber woods at Slate Run, in Brown township, Lycoming Co., Pa., as driver and manager, shipped timber, etc., being so engaged for four years. Going to Packer township, Carbon Co., Pa., he managed the Harry Mellington farm for three years, and then returning to his trade worked for J. C. Hayden &' Co., at their mines in Mahanoy City, for one year. He married while in that employ. Entering the employ of the Reading Coal & Iron Company, as carpenter with the chain gang, building breakers, etc., he remained for eleven years, at the end of which time he went into North Union township, Schuyl- kill county, and bought a farm of forty-two acres from Wesley Pettit. He cultivated thirty acres of this place, on which he lived for eleven years, and on selling it came to East Brunswick township and bought his present place, from Benjamin F. Sassaman. It contains about eighty acres, seventy of which he cultivates, carrying on general farming. He markets to New Philadelphia, St. Clair and Port Carbon, making two trips a week in the summer time, mostly to New Philadelphia. Mr. Behler gives practically all his time to his farm, taking little active part in public affairs, though he does a good citizen's part in furthering movements intended to stimulate improvements in the com- munity. He is a faithful member of the Lutheran congregation of Frieden's Church at New Ringgold, and serving at present as deacon. In politics he is a Republican.
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Mr. Behler is married to Ida Amelia Bittner, who was born July 15, 1870, in Packer township, Carbon Co., Pa., received her education there and lived at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Behler have two children: Joseph Walter, born Dec. 10, 1893, who married Mamie Eliza Baer, born Aug. 3, 1898; and Samuel Edgar, born Feb. 28, 1899. Mrs. Behler is a member of the Frieden's Lutheran Church at New Ringgold. Before her marriage she was a Sunday school teacher at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, in Packer township, Carbon county.
Martin Bittner, her grandfather, was a miller, and followed that trade in West Brunswick township. He and his wife are buried at Zion's Old Red Church in West Brunswick township. They had two children, Mary and John.
John Bittner, father of Mrs. Behler, was born in Columbia county, Pa., near Mainville, Feb. 24, 1836, and died in Packer township, Carbon Co., Pa., Nov. 8, 1914. He lost his father when he was nine years old, and was put out to work with Daniel Hummel, a farmer, of West Brunswick township, until twenty-one years of age. He learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it in Tamaqua and then in Audenried, and assisted in the laying out of the Lehigh Valley railroad through the Quakake valley. After he was married he started housekeeping in Mahanoy City, and followed his trade. It was from Mahanoy City that he enlisted in the Union army, Company F, 187th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to serve three years, during which time he participated in the battle of Cold Harbor, siege of Richmond and the bat- tles along the Weldon railroad. After returning from the army he located in Packer township, Carbon county, and bought the Dietrich gristmill. Later he purchased the farm of his father-in-law, John Faust, sold the mill and moved to his farm, retaining the ownership until a short time before his death. On April 7, 1860, Mr. Bittner married Caroline Faust, a native of Packer township, born Sept. 9, 1841, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bachert) Faust. Mr. and Mrs. Bittner had a large family: Charles Edward died in infancy : William Henry, born Sept. 27, 1863, married Myrtle Tracy, and they reside at Louisville, Colo .; Allen David, born June 1, 1866, married Nellie Piper, who is deceased; Mary Abaline, born Jan. 10, 1868, married Joel Leininger ; Elvin Daniel, born April 10, 1869, married Clara Fritz; Mrs. Sam- uel B. Behler is next in the family ; Clara Elizabeth, born Oct. 15, 1871, died when nearly eleven years of age; Jeremiah Franklin, born March 27, 1873, died aged twenty-two years; Samuel Edgar, born June 5, 1874, married Ida Newcomb; George Washington, born Feb. 9, 1876, died in infancy; Harriet Agnes, born Sept. 12, 1877, married Allen Gerhard; Alexander Milton, born Jan. 29, 1879, married Anna Jane Eweing; Arthur Roy, born Sept. 1. 1880, married Dora Muzzelman; Martha Jane, born Dec. 31, 1881, married Wal- lace Gerhard; Laura May, born Jan. 26, 1885, married Truman Muzzelman. Mr. and Mrs. Bittner were members of St. Matthew's Lutheran and Reformed Church and Sunday school, which is situated on the ground which originally belonged to the Faust homestead. He was a man of extraordinary qualities, and unselfish in his devotion to whatever he believed to be right. The high opinion his associates held regarding his integrity and ability was shown by his selection for numerous positions of trust; he held all the offices in his church, and most of the township offices.
CHARLES D. THOMPSON, of Port Carbon, has been storekeeper for the Philadelphia & Reading Company at Mahanoy Plane for over a quarter
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of a century. He is a substantial, respected citizen of Port Carbon, and a member of an old Pennsylvania family of Irish origin, settled in the early days at Maiden-creek, Berks county. There John Thompson, his great-grand- father, was a landowner and farmer. At an early day he purchased a tract of land in Northumberland county, between Shamokin and Mount Carmel, which remained in the family for many years. John Thompson died there. Among his children were: David, who died in Shamokin; John, who died in Shamokin; Michael, who died in Gordon, Pa .; Isaac; Benjamin, who died at Schuylkill Haven; and Jonathan, who died in Exeter township, Berks Co., Pennsylvania.
Isaac Thompson, grandfather of Charles D. Thompson, lived in Schuyl- kill county for a number of years, and was engaged in the flour and feed busi- ness at Pottsville. He also ran a stage to Northumberland county. Later he went to Philadelphia, Pa., and became a boatman on the Schuylkill canal, and he died on his first trip up the canal to Pottsville. His wife, Caroline (Stone), was born in Harrisburg, Pa. Their children were: David, Amanda, Alba, Angela and Susan.
David Thompson, son of Isaac, was the father of Charles D. Thompson. For years he carried on a restaurant business in Pottsville, was afterwards in the bottling business at Mauch Chunk, Carbon Co., Pa., and eventually re- turned to Pottsville, where he was in the business until his death. He mar- ried Mary Musselman, daughter of Jesse Musselman, of Carbon county, Pa., and they had a family of five children, namely: Sarah E., Charles D., Caro- line A., Harry J. and George C.
Charles D. Thompson was born Jan. 6, 1857, at Mauch Chunk, Carbon county, and was reared in Pottsville, this county, where he received his educa- tion in the public schools. He has followed clerical work all his life. His first position was in a book store at Pottsville, and he afterwards worked for his father. For some time he held the position of timekeeper for H. K. Nich- ols, was subsequently clerk at Pine Grove four years for W. G. Johnson, division engineer for the Reading Company, and then for three and a half years was chief clerk to Superintendent H. W. Tracy. He has since been at Mahanoy Plane as storekeeper for the Reading Company, having held that position continuously for the last twenty-six years. Mr. Thompson makes his home at Port Carbon, where his excellent business qualities and high personal character have gained favorable recognition. His principal con- nection with public affairs has been as a member of the Port Carbon school board, to which he was elected six years ago, and he is now serving as presi- dent of that body, an honor he well deserves because of his untiring efforts in behalf of the public schools. He is well known in local fraternal bodies, belonging to Pulaski Lodge, No. 216, F. & A. M., Mountain City Chapter, No. 196, R. A. M., and Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., all of Potts- ville, Pa. He also holds membership in Miners' Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F., of Pottsville, and in the Three Links Club of Port Carbon.
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