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 45
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In 1883 Mr. Thompson was married to Annie M. Knittle, daughter of Daniel Knittle, and they have two children, Claude K. and Erle R.
DONAHOE BROTHERS, proprietors of a prosperous general store at Ashland, are representatives of a family whose members have been noted for business thrift and sound character throughout the half century and more that the family has been located in the borough. They are sons of John J.
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Donahoe, and their great-grandfather, Michael Donahoe, established the family in Schuylkill county, Pa., he and his wife Mary coming to the United States in 1846 and settling near Pottsville.
Thomas and Margaret (McCormac) Donahoe, the grandparents, were both natives of the parish of Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, where Mr. and Mrs. Michael Donahoe lived until their emigration to America. Thomas Donahoe followed mining in the vicinity of Pottsville until 1855. He then removed to Ashland, where he passed the remainder of his life, continuing to work as a miner. He died in June, 1864, when forty-six years old. Of the six children who survived him, John J. is mentioned below; Mary, the eldest daughter, is the widow of Anthony Murphy, of Salem, Ohio, where she is still residing ; Margaret, deceased, was the wife of Terence O'Brien, of Deca- tur, Ill .; Hubert lives in Salem, Ohio; Bridget, deceased, was a resident of Philadelphia, Pa .; Michael T., of Ashland, is associated in business with his son J. Wilfred, and both are mentioned elsewhere in this work.
John J. Donahoe, eldest son of Thomas Donahoe, was born in Roscom- mon, Ireland, and was a young child when the family settled in Schuylkill county, Pa. At an early age he began to work as an employee at the mines, and he was thus employed at the time of his accidental death, having been killed in the Bast colliery near Ashland July 20, 1887. A man of energetic and enterprising nature, he had numerous other interests. For a number of years he was engaged in business, conducting the store now owned by his brother, Michael T. Donahoe, with whom he was in partnership for some time, dealing in books, music, etc. He found his greatest enjoyment in music, for which he had considerable talent, particularly as a vocalist, and he worked hard to perfect himself in that art. He was very successful as a music teacher and did much to establish high standards and promote interest in music in his community. Mr. Donahoe married Margaret A. Thornton, a native of Wilmington, Del., and like himself of Irish extraction. Her father, Richard Thornton, was a native of Ireland, coming to America and settling at Wilming- ton, Del., the family subsequently removing to Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pa., where they remained for some time. Thence they removed to Dark Corner, near Ashland, and later into the borough, where Mr. Thornton became a prominent man. He died there in 1875. His first wife, Mary (Dougherty), of Wilmington, Del., died while the family was residing at that place. She was the mother of four children, all now deceased, namely : Mary Ellen, Mrs. Thomas Burke; John; Gerald; and Margaret A., Mrs. Donahoe. By his second marriage, to Miss Annie McCusker, of Wilmington, Del., Mr. Thornton had six children: Richard, deceased : Isabella ; two named Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Sarah, the wife of William Donavan, of Wilmington, Del .; and James I., of New Orleans. To Mr. Thornton's third marriage, with Mrs. Annie Curry, were born three children: Daniel, of Wilmington, Del .; Michael, known on the stage as Richard, of New York City; and John, deceased. Mrs. Thornton had two sons by her first hus- band: Patrick Curry, deceased; and Dr. Thomas Curry, of Philadelphia.
Five children were born to the marriage of John J. and Margaret A. (Thornton) Donahoe, viz .: Thomas C., who is a member of the firm of Donahoe Brothers; Mary E., married to James Hunt, of Ashland; Richard A., another member of the firm of Donahoe Brothers; Margaret B., and Cecelia M. The mother passed away Feb. 24, 1914, and is buried at Ashland.
THOMAS C. DONAHOE was born at Ashland and grew to manhood there,
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in his boyhood enjoying the advantages of the public schools. He first found employment at the mines in Ashland, and later began to work for Spayd Brothers, who had a large general store in the borough. Still later he was in the employ of W. H. Spaide, with whom he continued until he became associated with his brother Richard as a member of the firm of Donahoe Brothers, opening the general store which they have since conducted. Their establishment is known as the Acme Store, and by honorable dealing and their accommodating policy the brothers have had a steady increase of trade dur- ing the ten years of their business career together.
RICHARD A. DONAHOE was also reared and educated at Ashland, and after leaving school entered the employ of Spayd Brothers, with whom he remained until 1895. That year he took a position in the establishment of William Strohmeier, grocer and dry goods merchant of Ashland, and after five years with him went to Philadelphia, where he was employed for about one year in the store of Kuhn & Brother. Returning to Ashland, he was with the Mahanoy Grocery Company for a time, until he changed to the employ of John E. Haas, a leading merchant of Girardville, this county, with whom he continued until he formed the present partnership with his brother on Sept. 3, 1904. His long experience in the various lines of merchandising has been very valuable to the building up of the business in which he is now interested, and he has done his full share toward establishing and maintaining the high reputation of the firm.
The Donahoe brothers are typical representatives of their family, whose high character, thrift and reliability have made all of the name much respected . in the community. Like the rest of the family they are Roman Catholics in religion, belonging to St. Joseph's Church, and they are also members of Sarto Council, Knights of Columbus.
JACOB LAUDEMAN has a valuable farm in Branch township, adjoin- ing the borough of Minersville, the old home place of his father, Philip Laudeman. Besides looking after its cultivation he operates a milk route in and around the borough, and as farmer and business man he has shown good judgment and ability in the care of all his interests. His grandfather, Paul Laudeman, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and died at Minersville, Schuyl- kill Co., Pa. He came to America with his family, and after a short stay at Philadelphia, they settled at Minersville, where he spent the rest of his days. By trade he was a tailor, but he retired when he settled there.
Philip Laudeman, son of Paul, was born and reared in Germany, where he learned the tailor's trade, following it until he came to this country with his father. He worked by the day at Mine Hill Gap, being employed as a stonemason, and continued at that kind of work almost twenty years. Then he bought the Samuel Heffner farm in Branch township, consisting of about twelve acres, and thereafter followed farming until a few years before his death, spending his last days in leisure. He passed away when sixty-six years old. He married Elizabeth Meyers, and they had children as follows: Philip, who is now living in Philadelphia ; Godfried, a resident of Pottsville, Schuyl- kill Co., Pa .; Jacob ; and Elizabeth, who died unmarried.
Jacob Laudeman was born May 7, 1854, at Philadelphia, and was reared at Minersville. When a mere boy he entered the employ of Thomas Shellen- berger, with whom he remained for thirty-five years, doing gardening, after which he began to farm the home place in Branch township, the tract adjoin-
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ing Minersville, which he still owns and occupies. Upon his father's death he took full charge of the place, which he has notably improved under careful management. The location is admirably suited for residence sites, and gives every promise of increasing steadily in value. For the last twelve years Mr. Laudeman has had a milk route which has added considerably to his agri- cultural profits, his dairy products being in regular demand. He is thoroughly respected in the borough and vicinity, and is a member in good standing of the German Lutheran Church, of Minersville.
Mr. Laudeman is married to Rosa Bell Wenrich, daughter of Cornelius Wenrich, and they have had four children : Paul, Elizabeth, Philip and Carrie.
JOHN SHOENER, farmer and fruit grower, of East Brunswick town- ship, is one of the expert agriculturists of Schuylkill county whose conspicu- ous achievements have brought reputation to this part of Pennsylvania. Aside from his personal successes, which have been sufficient to attract the atten- tion of his neighbors and stimulate their emulation in various lines, his work in the Grange and on the State board of agriculture has been especially pro- ductive, an influence for the adoption of enlightened ideas and up-to-date methods which has many good results to its credit. He is known personally to leading farmers of the county, and consulted as an authority by many. The record of his busy life is one of constant progress. He is a member of a family which has been prominent in the southern part of Schuylkill county for many years, many of the name having attained good standing.
John Shoener, the great-grandfather of John Shoener, was a farmer in what is now West Brunwsick township, at that time a part of Berks county, Pa. He was born about 1767, settled on a large farm, built a log house and barn, and carried on farming the greater part of his life. He was a highly respected man in his neighborhood, died upon his farm, and is buried with his wife in the Reformed cemetery at Orwigsburg. He had a family of about twelve children, and we have record of George, Henry, John, Daniel, Solomon, Wil- liam, Jacob, Anna and Susanna. Politically he was a Democrat, and his re- ligious connection was with the Reformed Church.
Henry Shoener, son of Jolin, above, was born in West Brunswick town- ship June 23, 1813, was educated in the schools of that township, and stayed on his father's farm until he moved to Orwigsburg, about 1874. He had a farm of over two hundred acres, part of which he cleared, and was a well- known man in his day. His wife, Christiana Sheip, was born Dec. 31, 1818, and died Oct. 6, 1891. Her father, Abraham Sheip, died in May, 1887. Mr. Shoener died Jan. 20, 1890, and he and his wife are buried in the Reformed cemetery at Orwigsburg. He was a member of the Reformed Church and a Democrat in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Shoener had the following children : Lewis, married Sarah Koch, and both are deceased; Joseph is mentioned be- low; Caroline, deceased, married Morgan Koch, who resides in McKeans- burg, Pa .; Edward is a resident of Orwigsburg; William, married Diana Sheip; John, died young; Charles, deceased, married Anna Hummel, who resides at Orwigsburg; Clara, married Charles Cook; Mary, married James Dreher; Daniel, married Alice Dieffenderfer; Albert, lives at Orwigsburg ; Thomas, married Emma Faust.
Joseph Shoener, son of Henry, was born Jan. 14, 1842, in West Bruns- wick township, and was educated there, and worked on the homestead farm until he enlisted in the Union service during the Rebellion. He served under
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two enlistments, as a member of Company A, 173d Pennsylvania Regiment, for nine months, the second as a member of Company I, 48th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry, from Schuylkill Haven, which he entered for three years or during the war. He was mustered out at Harrisburg. Return- ing from the army he worked in the coal mines for a short time, and in 1867 bought the farm of 130 acres in East Brunswick township which his son, John, now occupies. He made many improvements on the place, putting up new buildings, etc., and continued to operate this farm until 1898, when he located on another tract, of forty acres, which he had bought. There he remained about five years, meantime making many improvements on the property, and in 1903 moved to McKeansburg, where he now lives retired. He retains his own- ership of timber and other valuable property. Mr. Shoener served his town- ship well in the offices of school director and supervisor, and has always kept in touch with local interests. In his earlier years he was a member of the P. O. S. of A. In politics he lines up with the Republican party, and his religious connection is with the Church of God at Steigerwalt.
Mr. Shoener married Mary Paul, who was born in February, 1845, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Yeager) Paul, and they had the following children: George, Robert, Maggie and Lizzie died in infancy; John is next in the family; Charles, married Cora Bachman, and they are living on the forty-acre farm previously mentioned; Fred, who is engaged as a general merchant at Orwigsburg, married Katie Wagner. Mrs. Shoener died June 13, 1901, and is buried in Steigerwalts cemetery. For his second wife Joseph Shoener married Emma Kunkel, by whom he has three children, Mary C., Naomi Pearl and Joseph Edward.
John Shoener was born June 25, 1873, on the farm in East Brunswick township where he is now living. His early education was acquired in the East Brunswick schools, and for two years he was a student at the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa. He taught school two years in East Brunswick township. When his father moved to the forty-acre farm, in 1898, he took the larger property, and has been conducting it ever since, carry- ing on general farming. He has ten acres in fruit trees, apples, peaches, pears and plums, and has made some valuable demonstrations in the cultiva- tion of these under local conditions.
Mr. Shoener is one of the most prominent Grangers in Schuylkill county. He is a member of McKeansburg Grange, No. 1256, P. O. H., a past master of that organization, which he has served also as secretary and purchasing agent, and has been State deputy since 1906. He has been an influential worker in the broader activities of the State and National organizations of the Patrons of Husbandry, and has been honored in their councils. He is the only seventh degree member of the Grange in his county, having had that degree conferred upon him at the forty-eighth annual meeting of the National Grange, at Wilmington, Del., Nov. 12, 1914. For four years he was lecturer in the Schuylkill county Pomona Grange. Mr. Shoener's membership in the Schuylkill County Agricultural Society has not been a passive association. In recognition of his live interest therein he was elected a member of the State board of agriculture, into which body he has been well received, and his services have been so highly esteemed that he has been a member of the executive committee for two terms. Meantime he has not neglected general public affairs in the county. In 1906 he was elected a school director, and he has been a member of the board almost continuously since, at present serv-
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ing as president; he was treasurer three years. For one term he filled the office of justice of the peace, 1902 to 1907. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. Mr. Shoener is a valued member of various social bodies. On June 8, 1893, he joined Protective Council, No. 935, Independent Order of Americans, then Junior Order United American Mechanics, is a past councilor, and served as recording secretary for five years; he served several terms as trustee, and twice as delegate to the State convention. He is also an Odd Fellow, affiliated with Grace Lodge, No. 157, of Orwigsburg.
Mr. Shoener married Bessie M. Acker, who was born July 29, 1881, in East Brunswick township, and they have had four children, born as follows : Elmer Ellsworth, Jan. 31, 1904; Miriam Edith, July 21, 1906; John Robert, May 24, 1912; Harold, June 6, 1915.
TERENCE JOSEPH QUINN is a member of a pioneer family of Miners- ville, and is following the line of business in which his father was also en- gaged, the latter having been a meat dealer there for a number of years, at the stand where his son is now located. He is a son of James Quinn and the family is of Irish extraction, the grandfather having lived and died in Ireland. The grandmother came to America after his death and made her home at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where she died at the advanced age of eighty years.
James Quinn was born in Ireland, and was a young man when he came to America and settled in Pennsylvania among the early residents at Miners- ville, Schuylkill county. He embarked in the meat business, which he con- tinued to carry on all his active life, dying at the age of forty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Christopher, was also a native of Ireland, and lived to the great age of ninety-six years, being one of the best known of the earlier residents of the borough. They were the parents of a large family, viz .: John, Bridget, Margaret, Henry, Annie, Terence Joseph, Mary, Thomas and James (twins), and Patrick.
Terence Joseph Quinn was born July 7, 1843, at Minersville, where he was reared, in his boyhood attending the public schools. After commencing work he was employed at the mines for seventeen years, at the end of which time he engaged in the meat business, now having his father's old stand and home- stead on Sunbury street. Mr. Quinn has been thrifty and successful in busi- ness, and he has also become well known in the borough in other associa- tions, having always taken an interest in local affairs generally. At one time he served as a member of the town council. As an athlete he was well known in the county in his younger manhood, having been one of the fastest run- ners of his day, and his activities in all kinds of clean sports, such as hand- ball, etc., have brought him considerable prominence in such circles. He was one of the winners in the big meet at Cressona in 1874. He has always been especially interested in good horses and has driven in many races. His friends throughout this section are many. Mr. Quinn is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
By his first marriage, to Ellen Bensman, Mr. Quinn had a family of four children : J. Frank, Ella, Elwood and John. The mother dying, Mr. Quinn married Sallie Frances Weaver, daughter of the late Michael Weaver, of Minersville. There are no children by this union.
The Weaver family is an old one in Northumberland county, having been founded here by Mrs. Quinn's grandfather, Michael Weaver (the name was
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originally spelled Weber), a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to America about 1769. He first located in Brecknock township, Lancaster Co., Pa., later in Berks county, and in 1770, in Northumberland county, near Lib- erty Pole, Rush township, upon land subsequently owned by the heirs of Peter Hughawaut. There he died in 1834 and was buried upon the farm. He was a taxable in Shamokin township in 1788. He joined the American army during the Revolution, in which he served seven years under Washing- ton. He married before coming to this country, and was the father of thir- teen children. We have record of nine, namely: Michael, Martin, Joseph, John, Mrs. Catherine Hass, Mrs. Susan Neal, Mrs. Harriet Gibson, Mrs. Elizabeth Shindel, and Mrs. Hannah Beck.
Michael Weaver, son of Michael, above, was the father of Mrs. Quinn. He was born at Sunbury, Northumberland county, and during his early man- hood drove stage between Sunbury and Philadelphia, following this occupation for some time. Afterwards with his uncle he was engaged in the coal busi- ness at Branch Dale, Schuylkill county, and also had the contract for hauling the mails between Minersville and Pottsville and Tremont and Centralia. He served his fellow citizens in this capacity for almost forty years, was also postmaster at Minersville, and represented his district in the State Legislature for three terms, 1858, 1864 and 1865. He was a well known figure in the State Assembly, regarded as one of the foremost men of his district and noted for his public spirit, which made him highly trusted. He died in 1886 at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Weaver married Charlotte Borda, who was a daughter of Nicholas Borda and was reared at Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county. They had the following children: Elizabeth, Catherine, Thomas, Alice, Martha, Charles, William, Martin, Sallie Frances (Mrs. Quinn) and Isabella.
JAMES A. SHOEMAKER is a wide-awake farmer in West Penn town- ship, where he has been identified with the various activities of the community to a helpful degree, doing his share towards the establishment of desirable social conditions as well as in the material improvement of his section. He belongs to a family of German origin well known in this county. His great-grandfather, Johannes Shoemaker, who founded the family in this section, came from Germany, and settled in Lehigh county, Pa., where he followed farming. He is buried there.
Jonas Shoemaker, son of Johannes, was born in Lehigh county, in the township of Lehigh, and settled in Schuylkill county, where he became a very prosperous farmer and landowner. His holdings included five very good farms, comprising between 500 and 600 acres of land, and he lived on a 200-acre tract, most of which he cleared. When he retired he went to live with his son Joel, giving up active work about eleven years before his death. He was a man of energetic nature, and interested in all things which con- cerned the community, taking an active part in the work of the Democratic party in his locality. He was a Lutheran member of Zion's Church in West Penn township, where he and his wife are buried. He lived to the age of ninety-one years. He was twice married, and by his first wife, whose maiden name was Bachert, had the following children: Polly, born Nov. 3, 1819; Priscilla, born Jan. 4, 1822; a child, born Feb. 22, 1824, that died unnamed ; Joel, born Nov. 8, 1825; Sallie, born Jan. 8, 1827, who died unmarried; Mary Ann, twin of Sallie, who married Ephraim Snyder and (second) William Schaffer; Johannes, born Jan. 24, 1830; Barbara, born Sept. 13, 1833; Gideon, Vol. II-20
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born March 28, 1836, who married Levina Neifert; Samuel, born Aug. 26, 1838, who married Mary Moyer; a child, born July 21, 1841, that died un- named; Leah, born April 14, 1843, widow of Noah Houser, and Elavina, born Jan. 15, 1847, who married Nathan Miller. For his second wife Jonas Shoemaker married Mrs. Lavina (Kistler) Kemp, widow of Isaac Kemp, and to this union came one child, Adam, born Oct. 16, 1870, who died at the age of twenty-one years.
Joel Shoemaker, son of Jonas, was born Nov. 8, 1825, in Lehigh town- ship, and received his education in his native county. He worked for his father until after his marriage, and his father then gave him the farm now occupied by Gottfried Knodler, a tract of eighty acres, which he improved greatly during the seven years he resided there. He cleared most of the land, put up a number of outbuildings and a new house, and by his thrifty manage- ment increased the value of the place very materially. Then he removed to the place in West Penn township now occupied by his son John, the old Christian Crouse farm, comprising eighty acres of valuable land, all of which was cleared and under cultivation. He followed general farming until his death. Mr. Shoemaker took some part in the administration of local affairs, serving as school director and collector of school tax. He is a Democrat in political opinion and a Lutheran in religion, belonging. to Zion's Church, where he and his wife are buried. He married Mary Ann Neifert, who was born June 4. 1835, daughter of Peter Neifert, and died at the age of sixty- seven years. We have the following record of their children: Amanda Matilda, born May 13, 1857, is the wife of Charles Johnson; James A. was born Oct. 15, 1858; Lavina Rebecca, born Oct. 8, 1860, died July 22, 1873; George McClellan, born Dec. 9, 1862, is now living in Kansas; John Henry, born Nov. 10, 1869, married Caroline Zehner; Rosie Cecilia, born Sept. 7, 1871, died Sept. 22, 1877; Clara Mary, born Aug. 12, 1878, married Daniel Gerber and (second) Frank Boyer.
James A. Shoemaker was born in West Penn township Oct. 15, 1858, where he grew to manhood and received his education. He worked for his father up to the time of his marriage. After that he was employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company for a time, meanwhile residing at Weath- erly, Carbon county, for two years. He then bought a farm of about one hundred acres, situated about eleven and a half miles from Tamaqua, this county, and remained there for a period of five years, when he purchased and moved to a thirty-two-acre property above the present place, upon which he made his home for seventeen years. He built a house and barn there and improved the property in many other ways. His next purchase was the place where he now resides, a tract of 112 acres, about seventy of which are cleared. When the Lehigh & New England railroad was built through the township he sold his upper farm to the railroad company, and he has since lived on the 112-acre tract, where he is engaged in general farming, making a specialty of trucking. He attends the markets at Tamaqua, Coaldale, Lansford, Maryd and Middleport, making two or three trips a week all the year round and generally going daily during the summer season. Mr. Shoe- maker has not only been enterprising in the conduct of his own affairs, but has also interested himself in the things that affect the community generally. He is a Democrat and has taken some part in the workings of the party in his neighborhood, serving as election inspector, and he has held the township office of school director. Socially he is a member of Washington Camp No.
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