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 6
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Conrad Bausum, the emigrant ancestor of this family, came from Alsace- Lorraine, near the border line of Germany, settling in America in young manhood. He located near what is now Orwigsburg, in Schuylkill county, Pa., and followed the miller's trade at Orwigsburg, as well as farming. He died there, and is buried in the old cemetery at that place. His children were: John; Philip; William; and Sarah, who went West with a family by the name of Allairs.
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Philip Bausum, son of Conrad, was born at Orwigsburg, Pa., and spent most of his life there, dying at the comparatively early age of thirty-five years. He is buried at Orwigsburg. By occupation he was a carpenter and builder. He married Rebecca Reinheimer, daughter of Jacob Reinheimer, of Berks county, Pa., and they became the parents of the following children : Mary, who died in infancy; Edw., deceased; Henry, deceased; Daniel F .; Sarah, who died in infancy ; and Emma, who married Charles Reinhart.
Daniel F. Bausun, father of Frank W. Bausum, was born at Orwigs- burg Feb. 9, 1840, and owing to his father's untimely death had few advan- tages. When but seven years old he began to work for Isaac Orwig, Sr., by whom he was employed until he reached the age of fourteen, and he also drove a store team for Isaac Orwig, Jr. His next employer was George Moser, for whom he did farm work for some time at Pine Creek. Return- ing to Orwigsburg he worked there until the Civil war broke out, enlisting Aug. 5, 1861, in Company K, 48th Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he served to the close of the war, reenlisting Jan. 1, 1864, in the same company. He was in the corps under Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, and took part in thirty-seven battles, every one in which his regiment was engaged except that at Newport. After the war he returned to Pottsville and entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company, being engaged in railroad work with that company from Aug. 7, 1865, until March, 1911, when he was pensioned. He is now living retired. Mr. Bausum married Anna Wesley, daughter of Peter Wesley, of Berks county, Pa., near Reading. They have had five children : George, of St. Clair, this county, a merchant; Mary, de- ceased; Anna, who is teaching public school at Pottsville; Frank W .; and Cora B., at home.
By virtue of his service in the Civil war Mr. Bausum holds membership in Gowen Post, No. 23, G. A. R., of Pottsville, and in the encampment of the Union Veteran Legion at that place. He is also a member of the I. O. R. M. His religious connection is with the Trinity Reformed Church of Pottsville. Politically he is independent, casting his ballot for the candidates he favors regardless of the party which sponsors them.
Frank W. Bausum was born Feb. 16, 1872, at Pottsville, and obtained his education in the public schools there. When a boy of fifteen he began to work in Mr. Rohrheiner's clothing store in the borough, and after clerking in the same line for a period of fifteen years he formed his present association with George F. Moyer, in 1902, engaging in the clothing business under the firm name of Moyer & Bausum, as they still continue. Their first store was at the corner of Centre and Market streets, and in 1907 they purchased the premises at No. 4 South Centre street, opening their new store on that site Sept. 25, 1913. The fine line of clothing carried by Moyer & Bausum is adapted to cater to the most fastidious trade, the patrons of this firm knowing from long experience that it can be relied upon to supply them with up-to-date furnish- ings and correct clothes and having a wide choice of desirable garments to select from. Mr. Bausum has evidenced his willingness to aid in keeping his city well to the front as a progressive municipality by his hearty cooperation in the activities of the Merchants' Association (of Pottsville and vicinity), of which he was an early member and is now president. His fellow officers are: E. F. Schlaseman, vice president ; H. R. Knapp, recording secretary ; T. E. Hummel, financial secretary; Harry C. Manbeck, treasurer. Mr. Bausum is also a member of the Civic Club of Pottsville, taking a thorough
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interest in all that affects the welfare of his native city. He' belongs to the Reformed Church, and socially to the local lodges of the Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, P. O. S. of A. (Camp No. 36) and I. O. O. F. (Lodge No. 20) ..
Mr. Bausum married Catherine R. Mayberry, daughter of Joseph S. May- berry, of Schuylkill Haven, this county, and they have two children, Ethyle M. and Harry W.
PROF. GEORGE A. BEHNEY, principal of the public schools of Out- wood, Schuylkill Co., Pa., was born Aug. 10, 1876, at Outwood, and is a son of Emanuel and Catherine (Reinhart) Behney.
Michael Behney, the paternal grandfather of George A. Behney, passed his entire life in Lebanon county, Pa., where he followed the trade of cooper. He was the father of the following children : Ephraim, who served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and now resides at Lebanon; Jere- miah, who also joined the Union army during that struggle, and met his death while a prisoner in the notorious Andersonville stockade; Emanuel ; Louis; John, who is deceased; Eliza ; Lucinda, and Mary.
Emanuel Behney, father of George A. Behney, was born in Lebanon county, Pa., there received limited educational advantages, and grew up amid the furnaces and forges. He became a forgeman and in 1874 located in Pine Grove township, Schuylkill county, securing a position at the Eckert Forge, where he followed his vocation during the remainder of his active life. He died at Outwood in 1910. While he was an industrious and skilled worker, Mr. Behney was able to accumulate but little property, but he was one of his community's respected and substantial citizens. He married Catherine Reinhart, daughter of Ephraim Reinhart, who survives her husband and lives at Outwood with her son George A. The following children were in the family : Emanuel, Ephraim, Mary, Ellen, John, Jacob, Elizabeth and George A.
The boyhood of George A. Bchney was passed in the little country com- munity about six miles west of Pine Grove, and, as his parents were poor, he was allowed few advantages of an educational nature, early beginning work at the Lincoln colliery as a slate picker in order to contribute to the family income. He was, however, of a particularly studious and ambitious nature, and studied at night when through with his day's work, in addition to carefully hoarding whatever he could save from his meagre earnings, always with the goal in view of bettering his condition. Through hard work he was able to amass enough to pay his way through the Keystone State Nor- mal School, at Kutztown, Pa., from which he was duly graduated at the age of twenty years, and since that time he has been engaged principally in teach- ing school, although he has also worked in the mines in the summer months and engaged in other enterprises. For five years after completing his normal course Mr. Behney taught school at Outwood, and then entered the United States railway mail service, with a run between Pittsburg and New York City. This work did not prove congenial, however, and after three months he returned to Outwood and established himself in business as the proprietor of a general store at Suedberg. After one year he disposed of his interests in that line and accepted the position of principal of schools at Outwood, a capacity in which he has acted capably ever since. Mr. Behney is one of the popular and efficient educators of the county, earnest, zealous, energetic and painstaking, interested in the advancement and careful in the training of those
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under his charge. He belongs to the Pennsylvania State Educational Asso- ciation and the Pennsylvania State Teachers' League. Fraternally he is affil- iated with Camp No. 223, Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Suedberg, of which he is now secretary, and of which he is an ex-district president, of the Fourth District of Schuylkill county. He also holds membership in the Knights of the Mystic Chain. Mr. Behney belongs to the Lutheran Church, and teaches in German a large Bible class at Outwood. That he is independ- ent in thought and action in political affairs, and is standing boldly forth as an exponent of better government, is shown by a letter which he sent to the voters of his district when he became a candidate for the Pennsylvania Legis- lature in 1915, and which said in part: "A little over half a century ago, on the now historic field of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered a short ad- dress which has become world-famous, largely through its decisive utterance of the principles that really stand for human liberty and free government. The closing lines of this address were: 'Government of the people, for the people, by the people, shall not perish from the earth.' To-day the words of Lincoln are on the verge of becoming a false prophecy through the abominable manip- ulations and treacherous tactics of self-seeking politicians and party machines. It was for the purpose of trying to rectify these evils, and to make this coun- try once more a government of, for, and by the people, that I conceived the project of placing myself among those who are laboring toward this end. The Washington Party as you well know is the only party in the country to-day that strives toward this goal; it is to this party, therefore, that I have given my support and my undying allegiance. I sincerely hope that you will stand by me in this fight, which means so much for you and for me and for the unborn future."
Mr. Behney was married, July 24, 1915, to Elizabeth Ditzler, daughter of Clinton Ditzler, of Greenpoint, Lebanon Co., Pa. Mrs. Behney's death, occurring after less than five months of married life, Dec. 6, 1915, was a great shock to the entire community.
JOHN K. BERK, M. D., has been established at Frackville ever since he began the practice of his profession, in which he has attained honorable stand- ing by conscientious attention to his duties. He is, indeed, a most creditable representative of a respected family of Berks county, Pa., where it was founded during Provincial days. The Berks are of German lineage.
The Berk, Berck, or Berg family settled in Berks county in the very be- ginning of its history. The pioneer members of the family were Henry and Ludwig Berck, probably brothers, who located in Greenwich township. In 1759 the former paid four pounds tax, and the latter three pounds. In 1774 the taxable list of Greenwich township records the names of Henry Berck and Peter Berck. It appears that Ludwig had already died or removed from that township. The Federal census for 1790 records the following Berks for Greenwich township, as heads of families: Peter Berck, who had a son under sixteen years, a wife and three daughters; George Berck, who was married but had no children. In 1811 John Berk was a taxable of Greenwich town- ship, and paid a tax of £1 5s. 4d. The Berks were among the Huguenot fam- ilies who came to this country for religious freedom, and with a family bear- ing the name of Beli (now Bailey) settled in the same (Greenwich) township. Both families later moved to Albany township in the same county. One
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branch of the Berk family went to Ontelaunee, and of that line one member went to Cumru township, where to-day Charles Berg is well known.
David Berk, who died în Greenwich township in 1871, was survived by his wife Hannah and sons David and Nathan. His will is on record in Book 12, page 354.
Daniel Berck (as his name is spelled on his tombstone) was born July 27, 1796, and died March 6, 1871, and is buried at New Jerusalem Church in Albany township. He owned the farm now the property of Charles Schol- lenberger. This was a large farm, and when Mr. Berck died it first became the property of his son, Reuben. His wife was Sarah Billman, born Oct. 12, 1793, died May 28, 1869. They had seven children, and at their deaths twenty- nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Among their children were: Johan; Reuben, born in 1821, who died when past sixty years of age (he married Lovina Knepper, who died at the age of fifty-four years, and they lived in Albany township) ; Daniel B., born in 1825, died in 1884, who lived in Albany township; and Salome, who married Jacob Reinhart.
Henry Berk, grandfather of Dr. John K. Berk, was a prominent farmer in his section of Berks county, where he passed all his life. His wife's maiden name was Greenawalt, and they had the following children: Floranda, John G., Amanda (Mrs. Peter Warner, living at Kutztown, Pa.) and Llewellyn (who lives at Molltown, Berks county).
John G. Berk, the Doctor's father, was born Jan. 20, 1845, and settled at Girardville, Schuylkill county, in the year 1873. After clerking about a year in a general store there he moved to Frackville, where he was in business as senior member of the firm of John G. Berk & Co., general merchants, remaining at the head of that concern the rest of his life. His death occurred at Frackville April 22, 1880, when he was but thirty-five years old, and he was buried at Hamburg. On March 30, 1869, he married Mary Jane Kal- bach, and they had four children, namely: William Henry, born Dec. 3, 1869, a clergyman of the Lutheran Church now located at Berwick, Pa .; John K., born Aug. 22, 1871; Katie Louisa, born June 28, 1874, who died July 20, 1875; and Harvey Isaac, born July 3, 1877, who died June 5, 1878. The mother remarried, on Dec. 30, 1893, becoming the wife of William Huppert, of Frackville. No children were born to this union.
John K. Berk was born Aug. 22, 1871, at Hamburg, Berks Co., Pa., and was reared in Schuylkill county, beginning his education in the public schools at Frackville. His higher literary studies were pursued at the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa., where he graduated in 1892, after which he taught school for one year, at Lewistown, Schuylkill county. In the. fall of 1893 he entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and was graduated in 1896 with the degree of M. D. He opened an office at Frack- ville, Schuylkill county, the following October, and has since devoted prac- tically all his time to general practice. His skill and sincere efforts to keep those who call on him have made him very popular with a wide circle of patrons, and in his desire to serve them well he has kept pace with the advances made in medical science through various channels. He is a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society; of the Pennsylvania Medical State So- ciety ; and the American Medical Association. Local business interests have also attracted him to some extent. He was one of the charter members of the First National Bank of Frackville, and was made vice president of that insti-
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tution in 1911. In religious connection he is a Lutheran, and fraternally he is a thirty-second-degree Mason, affiliated with Ashland Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M .; Griscom Chapter, No. 219, R. A. M .; Prince of Peace Commandery, No. 39, K. T .- all of Ashland; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading.
On June 6, 1900, Dr. Berk married Rae Ethel Hand, daughter of Lud- man and Hester (Goff) Hand, of Cape May Court House, N. J. They have had two sons, John William and Leslie Hand.
The Kalbach family, from which Dr. Berk is descended in the maternal line, had its origin in the northeastern part of Germany, whence came Chris- topher Kahlbach, the immigrant ancestor, who settled in Heidelberg town- ship, Berks Co., Pa., before the middle of the eighteenth century. Here he acquired property, prospered, and reared a family of children, among whom were Adam and Michael. The latter, born in 1766, died in 1840. He had sons : Daniel, 1800-1874; and Michael, 1814-1896 (who married Elizabeth Womelsdorf, 1816-1895). Michael, Sr., and his sons are buried at Womels- dorf.
Through the marriage of George Kalbach, one of the early members of the family, to Maria Spang, of Berks county, Pa., these Kalbachs are among the heirs to the great Spang fortune in Germany.
Adam Kalbach, son of Christopher, was a farmer in Tulpehocken town- ship, where he owned a large plantation, on which he died, ripe in years, in 1801. He and his wife, Maria Eva, had these children: Michael, George, Adam, Johannes, Susanna, Elizabeth, Maria Sabilla, Regina Catherine and Sophia.
Adam Kalbach, son of Adam, above, was a farmer in Tulpehocken (now Penn) township, owning a large tract of land. He was twice married, his first wife's maiden name being Catherine Ruth, and his second wife's name being Christ. His children, all by the first union, were: Adam; Joseph; John ; William; Isaac ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Conrad Loose; Catherine, Mrs. Loose ; Liddie, Mrs. John Epler; and Jacob.
Isaac Kalbach, son of Adam and Catherine (Ruth) Kalbach, was born July 3, 1820, near Bernville, in Bern township, Berks county. He attended school in the locality, and until forty years old remained on the home farm in that township with his brother William. Meantime, on Feb. 2, 1845, he mar- ried L. Hans, the ceremony being performed by Rev. August Hermann. She was born May 1, 1826, in Bern township, daughter of Benjamin and Elisabetha Haus, and died at Frackville. Mr. Kalbach died there March 10, 1877, aged fifty-six years, eight months, seven days. He was a member of the German Reformed Church always known as the Bern Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kal- bach had children as follows: Elisabetha, born Nov. 1, 1845, who died when eighteen years old; William Adam, born June 1I, 1847; Mary Jane, born Aug. 13, 1848; James Benjamin, born Jan. 31, 1853, who died when nine years old; Emma Catherine, born Sept. 10, 1854, deceased in infancy ; Henry Wash- ington, born Oct. 10, 1856, who died when five years old; Martha M., born March 28, 1860, who died when three years old; and Catherine Ellen, born Sept. 20, 1862, who married Isaiah Mensch.
ABRAHAM CARL, deceased, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., a son of Philip Carl, also a resident of this county, whose useful life was rounded
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out within its confines. The children of Philip Carl were: Elizabeth, John, Daniel, Abraham, David and Samuel.
While still a boy Abraham Carl learned the shoemaker's trade, and he followed it for a few years, but later became a butcher, learning that calling at Fearnot, where he resided for a period. In 1874 he located at Tower City, and until 1881 was actively engaged in butchering. Then for a year he operated a farm in Porter township, and returning to Tower City embarked in a general merchandising business, which he continued for seven years. He built the well known "Carl House" at Tower City, and operated this hotel until within a year of his death, which occurred Jan. 30, 1898. His remains were interred at the Artz Church, near Sacramento, in Hubley township, Schuylkill county. For many years he was one of the well known men of this section, and his success in business through honorable methods proved an incentive to others to pursue a like course. He was one of the members of the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
Mr. Carl married (first) Catherine Schwalm, who died leaving one son, Fred M., who is now a butcher in Tower City. The second wife of Mr. Carl bore the maiden name of Ellen M. Shade, and she was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Klinger) Shade. There were no children of this marriage, but Mrs. Carl has reared four belonging to others, one of whom, Harry C. Kurtz, a son of Reuben Kurtz, has been with her since he was two years old. He is a plumber and tinsmith by trade, and is employed by Ira W. Hand at Reiner- ton, Pa. Mrs. Carl still owns the "Carl House." Like the rest of the fam- ily she is a Lutheran, and her charities in conjunction with her church, in addi- tion to those of a private nature, are many. She is beloved by all who know her, and those whom she has reared as her own rise up to call her blessed.
WALTER G. BOWERS, M. D., Medical Superintendent at the Schuyl- kill County Hospital for the Insane, located within two miles from the borough of Schuylkill Haven, is a physician of wide hospital experience, particularly in the line in which he is now serving. His early training was thorough and comprehensive, a solid foundation for the practical work which he has had in such great variety in his special field, and his administration has been highly satisfactory to the citizens of Schuylkill county.
Dr. Bowers was born Sept. 23, 1879, at Parsons, Luzerne Co., Pa., and obtained his early literary education in the public schools of that vicinity, graduating from the high school at Wilkes-Barre. He then entered the Medico-Chirurgical College, at Philadelphia, Pa., where he took the full course, graduating in the year 1904. Immediately following his graduation he became an Interne at the State Hospital of the North Eastern Anthracite Coal Region, at Scranton, Pa., where he remained for one year. Then for eighteen months he was at the Philadelphia General Hospital ( Blockley), Philadelphia, mean- time passing the civil service examination at that city and at the close of his service in the institution named becoming first assistant at the Philadelphia Hospital for the Insane, at Philadelphia. The next three years were spent there, until he transferred to the State Hospital for the Insane at Norristown, Pa. He continued in successful work in that connection until appointed to his present position, at the Schuylkill County Hospital for the Insane, July 17, 1912. He was its first superintendent, assuming his duties when the hospital was opened, so that the entire credit for the progressive spirit which has been manifested at this institution from the beginning belongs to him. This is
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verified by the report of Floyd Haviland, M. D., of Kings Park, N. Y., who in his report to The Public Charities' Association of Pennsylvania, after a survey of all the Institutions in Pennsylvania caring for the insane, said: "This, in most respects, is the best County Hospital in the State." Dr. Haviland spent six months at this work. Dr. Bowers' conscientious performance of every obligation, and many responsibilities voluntarily taken upon himself, show how deep is his interest in improving the condition of those in his care, and how earnest he is in his endeavor to be of real service to the community which has honored him with so important a trust. He has been well received among his professional co-workers in the county, being a member of the Southern Schuylkill County Medical Society, the Schuylkill County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is a Mason, affiliated with Page Lodge, No. 270, F. & A. M., of Schuylkill Haven.
Dr. Bowers was married to Rae R. Pierce, of Millville, N. J., and they have two children, Leroy and Ruth.
CHARLES HERBERT MARSHALL, cashier of the Merchants' National Bank, Pottsville, Pa., is undoubtedly a self-made man, and his career is an example of what can be accomplished even in these modern days by energy, hard work and perseverance. Young men who complain of lack of opportu- nities for advancement should read and learn what has been done by one man who started in life without a dollar and won a position where he handles thousands of those valuable tokens of wealth.
James Henry Marshall, father of Charles H. Marshall, was born in England April 20, 1820, and came to America when a youth. He first resided in Philadelphia, being a member of the old Marshall family of that city, but remained there only a short time, coming to Jefferson county, Pa., where he bought a plat of 165 acres at Sugar Hill, near Brockwayville. He settled down to agriculture for the rest of his days. His wife, Ellen (Robinson), a native of England, died in Jefferson county Jan. 21, 1880, and is buried at Sugar Hill. Mr. Marshall died Aug. 5, 1874, and is also buried at Sugar Hill. Six children were born to their union: Martha Jane Marshall, who married William W. Dougherty ; Emma Marshall, wife of John Bryan; Florence Marshall, wife of William F. Burchfield; John E. Marshall, who resides on the homestead in Jefferson county; James H. Marshall, also residing on one of the homesteads in Jefferson county ; and Charles H. Marshall.
Charles Herbert Marshall was born July 27, 1866, on the old farm at Sugar Hill, Jefferson Co., Pa. He was orphaned at the age of thirteen and had but twenty-five cents when he started out to get an education and support himself during the endeavor. But he had unlimited courage, and undaunted by adversity took every odd job given him by the sympathetic but hardworking neighbors. In the summer he worked from daylight to dark at the numerous tasks of the farm, and in the winter did chores morning and evening to pay for his board, so as to attend the local public schools, from which he was grad- uated in 1883. As he grew older he labored in the lumber camps during sev- eral winters, in order to get money enough to continue his education. Finally he accumulated the amount necessary to pay for a course at the Clarion Normal School, Clarion, Pa., and later one in the Iron City Business College, at Pittsburgh, and defray his expenses while in attendance. Having com- pleted the course and graduated, April 14, 1887, he immediately found a posi-
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