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 61
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Mr. Buehler is one of the most progressive young men in the Yorkville district of Pottsville, where he has made many friends in church and social circles. He is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of St. George, and the St. John Beneficial Society, as well as of the Holy Name Society, of which he is secretary. He is also a prominent member of the Yorkville Hose and Fire Company, which he is now serving as recording secretary, and is foreman and chauffeur of their motor apparatus ; and is a member of the Pottsville Board of Fire Trustees and Firemen's Relief Trust Association. His home is at No. 1802 West Market street.
JOHN H. FELTY, a retired farmer of Pine Grove township, is a grand- son of Martin Felty, one of the pioneer residents of that part of Schuylkill county. The family is of German extraction, and the name was formerly written "Fallentine."
Martin Felty was born in Pine Grove township, and spent the greater part of his life there, dying in 1845. at the age of seventy-eight years. He owned a large amount of land, which has since been divided up into a number of small farms and is still for the most part in the possession of the Felty family. By occupation Martin Felty was a farmer. He was the father of seven children, three sons, John, Levi and another, and four daughters; Levi married
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Lavinia Barshore. Politically Mr. Felty was a Whig, in religion a member of the Lutheran Church.
John Felty, son of Martin, was born in Pine Grove township, and like his father was engaged in farming. He remained in his native township until his death, which occurred in 1847. He married Elizabeth Hossler, who was born in Berks county, Pa., her father coming to this county at an early time and dying here; he is buried in Pine Grove. Mrs. Felty died in 1890. Six children were born to this marriage, viz .: Leo, who is deceased; Elizabeth, deceased ; Mary, deceased; John H., living retired in Pine Grove township; Levi, deceased; and Ferdinand, who lives in Pine Grove township.
John H. Felty was born in Pine Grove township in 1840, and was reared in the neighborhood where he now makes his home. For several months during the latter part of the Civil war he was in the Union army, enlisting in Company C, 214th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and serving until the close of the conflict. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., and received his discharge at Alexandria. His regiment was under the command of Col. J. H. Brannan and attached to the 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. It was in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, where Mr. Felty lost his hearing; Spottsylvania, May 8 to 18, 1864; North Anna River, May 23 to 27, 1864; Petersburg, June 15 to 30, 1864; Cold Harbor, June I to 12, 1864; Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864: Poplar Springs Church, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 1864; North Sedgwick, Nov. 5. 1864; fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865 ; pursuit of Lee and conduct of prisoners to Appomattox, April 9, 1865. Mr. Felty shared the fortunes of his regiment in all its movements after he joined it, and was taken sick while in the service with typhoid fever, which kept him in the hospital at Annapolis, Md., for three weeks, and also in the hospital at Philadelphia. He was honorably discharged July 17, 1865, at Alexandria. Returning to Pine Grove township after his military experience Mr. Felty has since resided there, for a number of years engaging in farming. For some time he has been employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the latter connection belonging to Wolf Post, of Pine Grove. In religious belief he is a Lutheran.
Mr. Felty married Elizabeth Behncy, daughter of John Behney, and a native of Lebanon county, Pa., member of one of the old families of that region, whence Mrs. Felty's parents moved to Suedberg, this county. Here they remained until they died. Mrs. Felty died in 1903 and is buried near the old home. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Felty, of whom Mary, the eldest, is deceased ; two died in infancy; Elizabeth is the wife of John Hoster, of Pine Grove township; Reuben is deceased; John is a farmer of Pine Grove township; William E. is a merchant at Outwood, this county ; Frank, twin of William, is living in Pine Grove township; Jacob also lives in Pine Grove township; Clara is married to Andrew Bohr and lives in Pine Grove township.
HENRY REICHWEIN, a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Barry township, Schuylkill county, was born in Germany in 1861, son of Frank Reichwein.
Frank Reichwein and his wife were natives of Germany. In 1870 he came to America with his children, his wife having died in the old country. They landed in New York, and from there proceeded to Locustdale, Schuyl-
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kill Co., Pa., where Mr. Reichwein lived for a time, later going back to New York, where he died. Of his surviving sons, besides Henry, Joseph, the eldest, is in New York; John is living in Barry township; Anthony is in New York. Henry Reichwein has two step-brothers.
Henry Reichwein was but nine years old when he came with his father to America, and at the age of twelve he entered the mines at Locustdale. He continued to work in the mines until he began farming at Rocktown, this county, at which place he remained for about ten years, when he bought his present farm in Barry township. He is engaged in general farming and dairying and has made a success of his venture.
Mr. Reichwein was married in 1883 to Elizabeth Reichwine, daughter of Peter and Margaret Reichwine, old settlers of this county and residents of Fountain Springs until they died. To this union have been born seven children: Katherine, wife of Peter Schuerer, of Barry township; Peter J., also a resident of this county, engaged as a farmer; William, Mary, Anna, Raymond and Herman, all at home. Mr. Reichwein and his family are members of St. Mauritius' Roman Catholic Church of Gordon.
RICHARD W. HOPKINS, proprietor of a plumbing and heating establish- ment at Gordon, Schuylkill county, was born at Ashland, this county, in 1878, son of Richard W. Hopkins. His paternal grandfather was a native of Wales and a doctor by profession.
Richard W. Hopkins, Sr., was born in Cardiff, Wales, became a miner by occupation, and after coming to America followed that vocation at Ash- land, Schuylkill Co., Pa. There he died. He married Mary Evert, daughter of William Evert, of Ashland, and they had five children: Elvira, wife of Isaac Sproats, of Ashland, now living in Elizabeth, N. J .: Thomas, residing in Mount Pleasant, Pa .; George and Edith, deceased; and Richard W., the youngest of the family. After the death of Mr. Hopkins his widow married James M. Seitzinger, a railroad engineer, of Gordon.
Richard W. Hopkins, Jr., was educated in the schools of Ashland, and at the age of fifteen years went to Philadelphia to learn the trade of plumber. He also worked for a time in Ashland, later coming to Gordon, where he entered the shops of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, remaining there some years before he opened his present place of business in Gordon. In 1897 Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage to Martha McAndrew, daughter of Thomas C. and Sarah (Dobson) McAndrew. Mr. McAndrew was one of the pioneers at Ashland and came to Gordon about 1869, entering the employ of the Reading Company, and serving successively as fireman and engineer ; he has been retired by the company and is now residing in Gordon. The mother of Mrs. Hopkins was born in Carlisle, Pa., and died in Gordon in June, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have had three children, Thomas, Marie and Willard. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is connected with the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
HENRY KNAUBER, now living retired at Newtown, in Reilly township. was one of the best known citizens of that section of Schuylkill county in his active years, occupying an enviable place in the esteem of his fellow men. He has been a resident of that town since he came to the county, in the year 1866.
Mr. Knauber was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1838, son of Adam Knauber, who lived and died in Germany. Henry Knauber came to this
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country in 1863, arriving at Castle Garden, New York City, Nov. 27th, and continued his journey at once to Pittsburgh, Pa., where the next month he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company L of the 5th Pennsyl- vania Cavalry. He was in the army until June 15, 1865, receiving an honor- able discharge at Philadelphia, and he was incapacitated for about a year thereafter, having been injured in the first charge at Petersburg. A ball passed through his right wrist, and he will always bear the marks of the wound. Returning to Pittsburgh after the war, he remained there until 1866, when he settled at Newtown, in Reilly township, Schuylkill county, and for over thirty years was engaged in mining, at Sharp Mountain, the Otto colliery and Mid- dle Creek. In 1898 he gave up that occupation, and became interested in the hotel business as proprietor, conducting the "Washington House," which he still owns, though his son has taken the active management, Mr. Knauber having retired a few years ago. The hotel has always been popular under his ownership, as may be judged by the number of its regular patrons. He has been associated with the administration of public affairs in the township to some extent, having served six years as school director and nine years as constable. He is a Catholic in religious belief. Being eligible to the Grand Army of the Republic because of his Civil war service, Mr. Knauber belongs to Williamstown Post, No. 280.
Mr. Knauber married Charlotte Baune, who was born in Germany, in the same town as he was, and died in 1902. She is buried at Clouser's Church. Seven children were born to this marriage: Matilda married David Beyer; Catelina married John Irving; Ida married James Bowle; Louis, deceased, served in the Spanish-American war; Henry is now operating the "Washing- ton House" at Newtown for his father; Blanche is teaching public school at Newtown .; Leo, M. D., graduated from the Medico-Chirurgical College, Phila- delphia, and is now an interne in the Pottsville hospital.
MONCURE R. SPOHN, late of Pottsville, was a well known merchant there for many years and his widow still maintains the old homestead in that borough. Mr. Spohn was a descendant of an old Berks county family, several of whose members have been conspicuous in the history of that section. The cemeteries show some of the early records of the family: Henry Spohn, born March 10, 1729, died Jan. 21, 1813; and his wife, Maria Katharine, born March 12, 1736, died Jan. 25, 1810. Adam Spohn ( son of Henry), born Jan. 25, 1758, died Jan. 18, 1831 ; and his wife, Elizabeth, born Dec. 15. 1764, died Sept. 23, 1829. Maria Katharine Spohn, wife of Henry, was a famous nurse in her day, and attended the births of 1,114 children. During the war of the Revolution Philip Spohn became, May 17, 1777, first lieutenant in the 8th Company, Berks county militia ; on May 31, 1781, he was a private in Col. Joseph Hiester's Battalion and Sebastian Miller's Company ; he was captain of the 8th Company, 6th Battalion, Lieut. Col. Joseph Hiester, May 27, 1780. Henry Spohn, presumably the Henry mentioned above as born March 10, 1729, was courtmartial man in the 8th Company, of which Philip Krick was captain, May 17, 1777.
John Spohn, father of Moncure R. Spohn, was born in Berks county, and moved to Schuylkill county shortly after his marriage. He engaged in the hotel business at Broad Mountain, conducting the hostelry well known in pioneer days in this section, as the stagecoaches stopped there. After many years at that place he removed to Pottsville, locating in the section known as
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the Orchard, and here too he carried on the hotel business. He built one of the first houses in this vicinity and was in business there until his death. His wife, Margaret (Harf), was a native of Reading, Berks county, and their family consisted of six children, namely: Barbara; John, who is living in Kentucky ; Moncure R .; Sarah; Eliza, and Frank.
Moncure R. Spohn was born at Broad Mountain, Schuylkill county, where he grew to manhood. When a young man he learned the trade of butcher, which he continued to follow all his life, for many years doing business on his own account. His meat market, on Mahantongo street, Pottsville, was one of the best known in this part of Schuylkill county, and is not only one of the oldest places in the county, but also one of the most popular. Mr. Spohn was thoroughly familiar with all the details of his business and absolutely reliable as a tradesman, and the large custom which his market enjoyed was the result of years of good service to his patrons and unimpeachable business methods. Socially he was widely known and esteemed in the borough, taking particular pleasure in his Masonic associations, having been a member of Cressona Lodge, No. 426, F. & A. M., at Cressona, this county ; of Mountain City Chapter, No. 196; Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., Pottsville ; and Lu Lu Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He died in April, 1906, at the age of seventy-three years, and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Pottsville.
In 1857 Mr. Spohn married Eliza Womelsdorf, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Nunnemaker) Womelsdorf, and the following children were born to this union: Emily married George F. Seltzer; Fannie is the widow of W. C. Ulmer; Maggie is the wife of R. C. Green, a prominent jeweler of Pottsville; Maude is married to W. S. Cowen, a successful druggist of Pottsville. Mrs. Spohn continues to reside on the old homestead at No. 309 Mauch Chunk street, Pottsville, and she is affectionately esteemed by a large circle in the borough.
OSCAR ST. CLAIR, who is now living retired at Pottsville, represents a family of Scotch extraction which has been settled in Pennsylvania since the early days of the Commonwealth. His grandfather, a weaver by trade, was a native of Berks county, and lived in Reading for many years, later removing to Schuylkill Haven, this county, where his death occurred. His children were: Mary married John Jenning and (second) William Koch, and died at Schuylkill Haven; Abraham was the father of Oscar St. Clair; Reuben mar- ried Susan Christian and they had children, Sarah, Charles, John, Edw., Elizabeth, Alice and Clara ; Jacob settled in Illinois, where he died, leaving a family ; Hartman settled in or near Danville, Montour Co., Pa., where he became a well known farmer, and died there.
Abraham St. Clair, father of Oscar, was a tinsmith, and followed his trade for many years at St. Clair and Pottsville, where he died in 1859. He is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at the latter place. He was twice married, first to Hannah Cook, and his second wife was Lydia Dries, who was born at Maiden Creek, Berks Co., Pa., daughter of Jacob Dries. They had one son, Oscar.
Oscar St. Clair was born Dec. 1, 1855, at St. Clair. Schuylkill Co., Pa., and in his boyhood attended the local schools. At an early age he began work in a rolling mill, and was employed at that kind of labor for eight years. For two years following he was engaged at a blast furnace, and then followed railroad work for a period of five years, in the employ of the Philadelphia &
Oscar St Clair
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Reading Company. For the six years succeeding he was in the hotel business on South Centre street, Pottsville, returning thereafter to the Philadelphia & Reading Company, as an employee in the blacksmith shop for five years. He has since lived retired, residing at No. 1337 West Market street, Pottsville, in the fine home he built some years ago. Mr. St. Clair is well and favorably known in Pottsville. Though he has not recently taken any active part in public affairs, he served his fellow citizens very faithfully as councilman for seven years when Yorkville was an independent borough, and during three years of that time had the honor of being president of the council. Politically he is a Democrat. He has been a member of the Good Intent Fire Company for the last thirty years, belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Owls, and is a member of St. John's Catholic Church at Pottsville. His fidelity to duty in all the relations of life has had its reward in the good wishes of friends and acquaintances, and the respect of every member of the community with which he has so long been identified.
Mr. St. Clair married Theresa Weismiller, daughter of Clement Weis- miller, and she died Oct. 3, 1909. One child of this union is living, Elizabeth, now the wife of Rudolph Wachter, Jr., of Pottsville; Mr. and Mrs. Wachter have one daughter, Margaret.
MICHAEL R. BRENNAN, a resident of Heckscherville, has assisted actively in the administration of public affairs in this section of Schuylkill county, being particularly interested in promoting the efficiency of the public school system. He was born in 1867 in Cass township, where the family has resided for fifty years or more, his father, Patrick Brennan, having settled here when he came to America. He was a native of Ireland and a miner by occupa- tion. He married Mary Kennedy, and both died in Cass township. Of the eleven children born to them, eight are still living.
Michael R. Brennan attended the public schools of Cass township, and with a brief exception has been employed at the mines ever since he began work. He started as a breaker boy, picking slate, and did inside work at the mines for about fifteen years, at the end of that time engaging in the hotel business in Cass township. After three years' experience in this line he returned to mining and for some time he has been employed at the Pine Knot colliery, where he has charge of the safety lamps. He has made a reputation as a man of reliable habits, intelligence and strict regard for the importance of the duties intrusted to him, and he stands well with all his fellow workers. He has been a lifelong resident of Cass township, at present making his home at Heckscherville, where he is well and favorably known. Mr. Brennan is unmarried.
Mr. Brennan has been closely associated with public affairs in his town- ship for some time, and is at present serving as president of the school board, of which body he has been a member for the last seventeen years.
MONROE HEADER, a well known mechanic who has been successfully established in business at Mabel for a number of years, has been a lifelong resident of Barry township, Schuylkill county. His father, Joel Header, followed blacksmithing there for many years, and his grandfather, Jacob Header, was a hatmaker by trade.
Joel Header was born at Valley View, in Hubley township, this county, and after learning his trade came to Mabel and started blacksmithing on his Vol. II-27
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own account, carrying on a shop throughout his active years. He died in 1902, several years after his wife, Amelia, who passed away over twenty years ago. She was born in Barry township, daughter of Reuben Yoder, a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Header were the parents of five children, Monroe being the eldest : Nora is the wife of Ez. Dieber, of Mabel; Hannah is the wife of Edward Hazen; Calvin lives at Valley View; Katie is the wife of Alfred Brown, of Lavelle.
Monroe Header was born in 1870 in Barry township, and there grew to manhood, receiving a common school education and learning the trade of blacksmith under his father's capable guidance. He worked several years for his father, and eleven years ago, not long after the latter's death, started the shop at Mabel which he has since conducted. He is a man of substantial qualities and much respected in the town, where his industrious life and upright character have gained the utmost esteem.
In 1892 Mr. Header married Mary Mosser, a native of Barry township, daughter of Charles and Esther ( Morgan) Mosser, both of whom are deceased. Four children have been born to this union: Viola, Alma, Roy and Monroe.
DAVID C. HUGHES, as inside foreman at the Phoenix Park colliery in Branch township, holds an important position in the operation of one of the largest coal properties in Schuylkill county. He was assigned to that position over twelve years ago, from which it may be inferred that he has made a record of competence and has close familiarity with the workings and local mining conditions. Mr. Hughes has spent a lifetime in the mines, and his father, John D. Hughes, was also a miner. The latter came to this country from Wales and settled at Shenandoah, Schuylkill Co., Pa., in 1869, following mining there until his death.
David C. Hughes was born in Wales, Oct. 6, 1862, and came to America in 1872, with his mother, two brothers and one sister. He attended public school at Shenandoah for a couple of years, but was only a boy of twelve when he began working at the breaker, picking slate. After a time he was put to work inside the mine, tending door, and gradually worked his way up through the various stages until he became a regular miner, in which capacity he was employed for twenty years. For seventeen years he was at the Shen- andoah City colliery, during five years of that period as fire boss. Then he was made assistant inside boss at the Turkey Run colliery, where he con- tinued for two years. In December, 1902, he was made inside foreman at the John Veith colliery, but had been there only a month when he was transferred to the Phoenix Park colliery, taking charge of the inside work. As there are about six hundred inside employees, his duties are not light, but he has come fully up to all requirements, and the commendation of his employers has been frequently expressed. Among his fellow citizens he is equally respected. His religious connection is with the Methodist Church, and for many years he sang in the choir. While at Shenandoah Mr. Hughes was admitted to the Odd Fellows lodge and Masonic blue lodge (No. 511, F. & A. M.), and he also belongs to Philadelphia Consistory, being a thirty-second-degree Mason.
Mr. Hughes was married to Mary MacLavan, daughter of William Mac- Lavan, the latter a native of Scotland who settled at Shenandoah, this county. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes : Leroy, a druggist, employed at Camden, N. J .; and James A., who is employed at the Phoenix Park col- liery. They also have an adopted daughter, Evelyn.
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JAMES B. MONAGHAN, as manager of the general store owned by the estate of Michael J. Monaghan, his father, is carrying on an old established business of Ashland. The Monaghans are a most respected family of Schuyl- kill county. They are of Irish extraction, Michael J. Monaghan and wife having been natives of Ireland, whence they came to America with their people. For a time the family resided in New York State, moving thence to Columbia county, Pa., and settling in Centralia, where the father was employed for several years in the mines. He finally located at Ashland, where he became interested in business as proprietor of a general store, since owned by the family. He continued his connection with the business until his death, which occurred Feb. 19, 1908.
Michael J. Monaghan married Mary Monaghan, daughter of Patrick and Anna (Conly) Monaghan, who came to America many years ago, settling at Ashland, Schuylkill Co., Pa. Patrick Monaghan died in Ashland in 1901. His widow still survives. They had a family of six children, namely : Edward, who is a resident of Philadelphia, Pa .; Mary, Mrs. Michael J. Monaghan ; Bridget, deceased ; Patrick, of Ashland, Pa .; John, deceased ; and Catherine, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Monaghan were also born six children : Ellen, Mary, Sallie, James B., Michael J., and Owen, all deceased but James B.
James B. Monaghan was born in Columbia county, Pa., but has passed the greater part of his life in Schuylkill county. His competent management of the general store founded by his father, and now belonging to the Monaghan estate, has stamped him as a reliable young business man of the town, and he is trusted and respected by all his associates. Mr. Monaghan is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Ashland, and also belongs to the local council of the Knights of Columbus.
On June 23, 1913, he was united in marriage with Catherine Staudenmeier, of Ashland, who was born in the borough. They are the parents of one child, Mary.
DAVID BEVERIDGE is one of the expert mining engineers in the Schuyl- kill county coal fields, now engaged at the Lytle colliery in Cass township. He is a man who has achieved his present success entirely through ambition and work. Obliged to commence work in early boyhood, he has combined study with practical experience, until now he is recognized as one of the most skillful men in his calling in this region. Mr. Beveridge is of Scotch extrac- tion. His father, Robert Beveridge, was born in Scotland, coming to America in 1850 and settling at Llewellyn, in Schuylkill county, Pa., where he followed mining the rest of his life. He was killed at the mines in 1863 and is buried at Llewellyn. To him and his wife, Margaret (Pennman), were born seven children, namely: Elizabeth, Robert, Helen, Jane, Margaret, William and David.
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