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 62
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David Beveridge was born March 1, 1863, at Branch Dale, Schuylkill county, and was but a few weeks old at the time of his father's accidental death. The youngest of a large family, it was necessary for him to begin work early, and from the age of seven years until he was eleven he was employed picking slate at the breaker of the St. Nicholas colliery, at Branch Dale. As he grew older he was engaged at loading coal, later ran an engine, and then followed mining for a period of four years. However, he was anxious to advance him- self, and he began to study, taking a special course under Prof. William Owen, of Shamokin, Pa. In 1887 he became a member of the engineer corps of the
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Mineral Railroad & Mining Company, at Shamokin, and for seventeen years continued work in that section as a mining engineer. For one year he held the position of superintendent of the Dodson Coal Company, and then became borough engineer of Mount Carmel, Northumberland Co., Pa., being so engaged for three years. On Aug. 11, 1907, he took his present position, becoming mining engineer at the Lytle colliery, in Cass township, Schuylkill county. His attainments and comprehensive experience have proved highly valuable in the discharge of his important duties at this colliery. The self-reliance which Mr. Beveridge exhibited in making his way upward has also carried him through many difficult situations he has met in the course of his work, and his determination has been quite as serviceable an asset as his professional training in this respect. Fraternally Mr. Beveridge is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 378, F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F. lodge at the same place.
Mr. Beveridge married Esther Jones, daughter of John R. Jones, the latter a native of Wales. They are the parents of the following children: Robert, Martha, Norma (deceased), David, Margaret, Esther and John.
GOTTLIEB BUCHSBICE (deceased), a former railroad man and farmer of Butler township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., was born in Germany, and was a son of Elias and Augusta Buchsbice, both also natives of that country. The par- ents came to America and settled at Ashland, Pa., where they remained a short time. They died on the farm of their son.
Gottlieb Buchsbice worked in the mines at Ashland for a short time and then moved to Gordon, Schuylkill county. For many years he was in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, in his later years working in the shops. He died Sept. 21, 1908. He bought a farm in Butler township, near Gordon, which is now owned by his widow. On July 26, 1874. Mr. Bushsbice was united in marriage with Dorothy Klineleine, and to them were born the following children: William, a resident of Bath, Pa. ; Hannah, wife of William Seybrecht, of Detroit, Texas; Rudolph, a resident of Schuyl- kill county ; Laura, wife of Oscar Wallauer, residing in Utah; Fred, living in Ashland; Edward, living in Utah; Christian, of Ashland; August, deceased ; Anna, Louis and Elmer, at home; John and Lawrence, deceased ; and one that died in infancy. Mr. Buchsbice was always a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, to which his widow also belongs.
Jonathan Klineleine, father of Mrs. Buchsbice, was a native of Germany, as was also his wife, Christiana. They came to America in March, 1863, and settled first at Ashland, later moving to Locustdale, the father working in a colliery in the vicinity. He died at Ashland in 1900; his wife died in Feb- ruary, 1914.
CHARLES J. MONAGHAN, ex-member of the State Legislature and resident of Girardville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., was born Dec. 9, 1874, in that town, a son of Charles and Anna Monaghan. The family is of pure Irish descent. Both of the parents died when Charles J. was very young, so he was obliged to make his way unaided through this world. He attended public school in Butler township until he had attained his seventh year, when he went to work in the mines, continuing to labor in the coal region until his service in the Spanish-American war. In 1898 he enlisted, in Company F, 8th Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was sent to Augusta, Ga., where they
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remained until the close of the war, without having taken any direct part in the struggle, but suffering from sickness and poor food. At the close of the war the company was mustered out at Augusta, and Mr. Monaghan returned to Girardville.
For a few years Mr. Monaghan was engaged in the wholesale business, in 1902 opening his present saloon in Girardville. In 1908 Mr. Monaghan was elected from Schuylkill county to the State Legislature, and served until 1910. In 1914 he was again nominated on the Democratic ticket for the same . position.
In 1900 Charles J. Monaghan was married to Mary Tierney, daughter of Patrick and Ann (Ryan) Tierney, natives of Ireland and early settlers of Girardville, where they are yet living. The father was for some years a miner there. To Mr. and Mrs. Monaghan were born seven children : Harold, John, Anna, Mary, Leo, Charles and William. Mr. Monaghan is a member of Ashland Lodge, No. 284, B. P. O. Elks; was the first president of Aerie No. 446, Fraternal Order of Eagles; belongs to The Foresters of America ; to Division No. 4, Ancient Order of Hibernians, of Girardville; the Girard Hose Company No. 1, and the Catholic Legion. All of Mr. Monaghan's family, as well as himself, are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, of Girardville.
IRWIN DEWALD, who is engaged in the bakery business in Auburn, Schuylkill county, was born in that town Sept. 2, 1875, son of Samuel Dewald. His grandfather, Edward Dewald, who was of German descent, was a resident of Schuylkill county in the days of its early development. He was a farmer by training, but spent many years as a boatman on the Schuyl- kill Navigation Company's canal. While chopping wood upon the farm of his son-in-law, Benjamin Dewald, he was suddenly stricken with a fatal illness, his body being found later. He was married to Catherine Steinbach, who was born Jan. 1. 1823, daughter of Philip Steinbach, and was killed on the railroad April 25, 1895. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dewald were: Sarah (deceased) married Benjamin Dewald; Abraham married Kate Schoener ; Benjamin married Hannah Becker; Samuel is mentioned below; Mildred married Amandus Miller; Edward married Ida Rollman; George married Emma Miller; John married Mary Bartlett. Mr. and Mrs. Dewald were members of the Summerhill Lutheran Church, and both are buried in St. John's cemetery, at Auburn, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Dewald was educated in the schools of South and North Manheim townships, and became a boatman on the Schuylkill canal, first as a station driver. When the telegraph was introduced into the canal service he became an operator. Later he worked on the Schuylkill & Susquehanna railroad as a brakeman on the Broad Mountain division, putting in the empty cars and taking away the loaded ones. Then he went to Auburn to work on the main line of the Reading road. The total time he served as a railroader was twen- ty-seven years, divided as follows: Brakeman, eight years; conductor on coal trains, four years; fireman, four years, engineer, eleven years. When he retired from the railroad work he opened a bakery at Auburn, conducting it for twelve years, and in 1909 selling out to his son Irwin. Mr. Dewald is now serving the borough of Auburn as tax collector and supervisor, having held the former office for fourteen years, and the latter office for four years.
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He previously served three years as school director of Auburn. Politically he is a Republican.
Samuel Dewald was married to Emmaline Bachert, who was born July II, 1852, in Drehersville, Schuylkill county, daughter of Nicholas and Sarah ( Kramer ) Bachert. By this union there were born three children: Morris, born Sept. 17, 1872; Irwin, born Sept. 2, 1875; and Carrie, born Feb. 28, 1878, who married Charles Huntzinger, a railroader, of Auburn. Mrs. Dewald died at the age of forty-three years and is buried in St. John's cemetery, Auburn. Mr. De- wald later married (second) Sabina Bachert, born Oct. 27, 1868, in Pine Grove township, a sister of his first wife, and to this union have been born four chil- dren: Leroy Samuel, born Oct. 18, 1894; Frederick, born Nov. 17, 1890, who died Oct. 29, 1906; Edith Catherine, born Jan. 9, 1893, who died Sept. 22, 1893; and Raymond Edward, born Jan. 21, 1900, who died Aug. 9, 1900. Mr. Dewald is a member of Washington Camp No. 45, P. O. S. of A., of Auburn, and of Auburn Castle, No. 168, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and is now a past chief and keeper of the exchequer, having filled the latter position for the last twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Dewald are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Auburn.
Irwin Dewald was educated in the schools of Auburn, Pa., and upon com- pleting his studies entered the employ of Jones & Moyer, brick manufacturers, for a time. He next went to work for D. J. Driscoll, in the bolt and nut works at Auburn, where he labored at various occupations until he was twenty- one years of age, finally becoming a rougher on the rolls. He then entered the bakery conducted by his father, continuing with him until July, 1909, when he acquired the business by purchase. He has a store in connection with the bakery, in which he carries a good stock of confectionery, and he commands a fine trade. Mr. Dewald married Estella Augusta Meck, who was born in July, 1877, at Harrisburg, Pa., daughter of John and Sarah ( Luckenbill) Meck. The following children have been born to this union : Floyd Irwin, born Aug. 28, 1898, graduated from the Auburn high school before he was fourteen years of age, subsequently taking the course in the Pottsville high school; Faye Estella, born Sept. 30, 1903, is a student in the public schools.
Mr. Dewald is a Republican in his political affiliation, and has served the borough as school director for five years, and as auditor and clerk of elections. He is a member of Washington Camp No. 45, P. O. S. of A., which he has served for a number of years as financial secretary ; of Auburn Castle, No. 168, Knights of the Golden Eagle, of which he is a past chief, and has been master of records for the last sixteen years; and of Black Diamond Command- ery, No. 466, Knights of Malta, of Pottsville. Mr. Dewald is a member of the First Reformed Church of Auburn, which he is now serving as deacon.
Mrs. Estella Augusta ( Meck) Dewald was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and was educated in the public schools of Auburn, Pa., after the death of her mother living with her aunt, Mrs. John Berger, until her marriage.
John Meck, the grandfather of Mrs. Dewald, was a resident of Pinedale, West Brunswick township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he lived to an honored age, and is there buried beside his wife. They had the following children : William, Samuel, David, John, Hiram, Levi, Daniel and Missouri.
John Meck, father of Mrs. Dewald, was born in West Brunswick township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., in 1853, and attended the township schools while assist- ing his father on the farm. When he was eighteen years of age he entered the employ of the Susquehanna & Schuylkill Railroad Company, as freight brake-
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man between Harrisburg and Auburn. After two years he moved to Harris- burg, where his wife died. He then went to Bethlehem, Pa., and became a conductor for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, between Bethle- hem and Philadelphia. Later he was made yardmaster at the Reading Termi- nal Station, Philadelphia, and finally transferred to the Third and Berks street station of the same company, as assistant trainmaster, holding the position for twenty-five years, only relinquishing it when ill health interfered seriously with the performance of his duties. He was then retired and pensioned by the company.
Mr. Meck was first married to Sarah Luckenbill, born in 1858, a daughter of Emanuel Luckenbill, and they had these children : Carrie Rebecca, who died at the age of three; and Estella Augusta, Mrs. Dewald. Mrs. Meck died in May, 1882, at the age of twenty-four years, and is buried at Auburn, Pa. Mr. Meck married for his second wife Euphemia Hoffman, who was born at Norristown, Pa., and they have had two children: Irwin, a student at Mount Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary, ordained in 1915; and Marian, who mar- ried William Frederick and lives in Philadelphia. Mr. Meck is a Republican, a member of Lulu Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Philadelphia, and an attend- ant of the English Lutheran Churchi.
WILLIAM P. EIFERT, a prosperous and progressive farmer of North Manheim township, Schuylkill county, was born June 5, 1865, in Danville, Montour Co., Pa., son of John Henry Eifert, Jr., of Grovania, that county, and grandson of John Henry Eifert, a native of Germany.
John Henry Eifert, the founder of the American branch of the family, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, as was also his wife, Mary Rausch. Mr. Eifert became involved in an insurrection against the reigning grand duke and was compelled to leave suddenly, coming to America. With him came his sons, John Henry and Peter, and they landed at Baltimore, where they made their home, the father residing there until his death.
John Henry Eifert, Jr., became infatuated with the life of a sailor and enlisted as a landsman in the United States navy in 1862, when but sixteen years of age. To do so he had to run away from home, owing to parental opposition. He was assigned to the steam sloop-of-war "Maratansas," which was detailed to shell the intrenchments of the Confederates along the James, York, Rappahannock and Potomac rivers. After this work the vessel sailed along the Atlantic coast down through the Gulf of Mexico to Galveston, participating at various times in some of the lesser engagements of the war on the water. Mr. Eifert's brother Peter enlisted in the famous "Black Horse Cavalry" on the Confederate side. After the close of the war Mr. Eifert returned to the North, going to Columbia county, Pa., where he worked for a time on the old Catawissa railroad, and was promoted to sec- tion foreman. Having amassed a moderate competence he bought a farm in Montour county, near Grovania, where he is now spending his declining years. He still does part of the farm work. Mr. Eifert married Mary Lazarus, a native of Montour county, and they have had the following chil- dren: Ida, now the widow of Daniel Smith, of Shamokin, has ten children ; William P. is mentioned below; John, living in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, has eight children; Thomas is deceased; Mary, widow of George Hartzell, has six children; Phoebe, wife of William Washant, resides at Tamaqua ; Elizabeth, wife of Frank Delsart, of Danville, Montour county, has one
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child; Annie, wife of Charles Knorr, of Danville, Montour county, has five children; Daniel Tobias, also residing in Danville, has three children; Sam- uel, residing on the home farm, married Bertha Knapp, of Danville, and has one child.
William P. Eifert attended the public schools and for two terms was a student at the Bloomsburg State Normal School. He then engaged in rail- road work with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, and was located for a time at Catawissa, Pa., later being transferred to Tamaqua, from there to Gordon, and subsequently to Cressona. He was with this company for a period of nineteen years and nine months, resigning in 1906. Having purchased a farm in Panther valley, near Cressona, consisting of sixty-seven acres, he settled there, and has greatly improved the place. He is engaged in general farming and trucking, attending the markets at Potts- ville. Mr. Eifert was married to Uphaina Hubler, daughter of the late John Hubler, who for twenty-nine years was connected with the Reading Railway Company. To this union have been born nine children: Norman, of Cres- sona; Grace, wife of Robert Brineth, of Tamaqua; Gertrude, wife of Ray Ramsay, of Reading; Carrie; Albert; Lulu; Chester; Emanuel, and Leroy. Mr. Eifert is independent in politics. He is a member of the State Grange and of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He is a consistent member of the Evangelical Church.
ELMER E. ARTZ is outside foreman at the Pine Knot colliery, situated in the Heckscherville valley, where he is widely known and respected. His honorable character, shown in the most conscientious regard for his duties, makes him thoroughly deserving of the esteem in which he is held.
The Artz family came to this country from Germany, and was established in Berks county, Pa., in the vicinity of Womelsdorf, at an early day. A number of the name were prominent farmers in that region. Simon Artz, grandfather of Elmer E. Artz, was an early settler in Hubley township, Schuylkill county, where he followed farming, and died upon his farm there Dec. 6, 1908, aged eighty-nine years. He had two sons, Preston and Daniel E.
Daniel E. Artz, son of Simon, was born and reared on the homestead place in Hubley township, and in his early years was employed at farm work. Later he owned and conducted a store at Sacramento, Hubley township, but even- tually he returned to the home farm and resumed agricultural pursuits. A short time before his death he went to live with his daughter at Gratz, Pa., and there he died June 10, 1913. He and his wife Esther (Umholtz) are buried in the cemetery of the well known Artz Church in Hubley township. They were the parents of eight children: Lillie, a daughter that died in infancy, Elmer E., Edwin, Sidney, Dora, James and Lottie.
Elmer E. Artz was born Oct. 9, 1867, at Pine Valley, in Hubley township, where he grew to manhood, meantime attending public school. When sixteen years old he went to work at the carpenter's trade in the home township, and in 1888 entered the employ of the Reading Company as a carpenter, working thus until January, 1905, when he became foreman in the Kalmia Washery for the Reading Company. In January, 1906, he was transferred to the Anchor Washery, in the same capacity, remaining there until he entered on his duties as outside foreman at the Otto colliery, situated at Branch Dale, in Reilly township, in December, 1909. There he had about two hundred and forty hands under his direction doing outside work at the mine, where employment
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is afforded to a large proportion of the population of the vicinity. On June 8, 1915, he was transferred to the mammoth Pine Knot colliery, owned by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, situated in the Heckscherville valley, where three hundred and twenty men are employed. Mr. Artz's prompt attention to every detail of the work in his care has gained him the appreciation of his employers, and the men under his charge are united in respect for his judgment and loyal personal esteem. He is regarded as a valuable citizen, and is a member in good standing of the Modern Woodmen and the Masonic frater- nity, in the latter connection belonging to Minersville Lodge, No. 222, F. & A. M .; Schuylkill Chapter, No. 159, R. A. M., of Minersville; Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., of Pottsville; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading.
Mr. Artz married Clara Smeltz, by whom he has had six children: Eva, now the wife of George Gottschall; Laura; Harry; Sadie; Edna, who died young ; and a son that died in infancy. The family are of the United Brethren faith.
HENRY E. GABLE, of Hegins township, is a creditable representative of a much respected family of old standing in this section of Schuylkill county.
The first ancestors of this Gable family in America came to the New World from Germany. Daniel Gable, grandfather of Henry E. Gable, was a mason by trade. His son, Charles Gable, was born in Hegins township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and farmed in that township all his life, owning and operating the place where his son Henry now lives. He died on the home farm May 6, 1894. His widow, Ellen (Zerbe), lived to be eighty-eight years old. She was born at Newtown, Schuylkill county, daughter of John Zerbe, who died at Llewellyn, this county. Nine children were born to this couple: Sarah, the eldest, is the wife of Noel Geist, a veteran of the Civil war, and they live in Barry town- ship, Schuylkill county; Charles is a resident of Ashland, Pa .; William is deceased ; Ellen is the wife of Frank Yoder; Mary is married to Charles Miller, of Valley View ; Daniel resides in Hegins township; Henry E. is men- tioned below ; Kate, twin of Henry, is the wife of Elias Buffington, of Ashland; Emma is the wife of Marcus Herb, of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania.
Henry E. Gable was born in 1864 in Hegins township, and spent his boy- hood on the home farm there, receiving his education in the local public schools. For two years he was located at Klingerstown, this county, but with that exception has lived in the township where he was born. Farming is his principal occupation ; but he also works in the collieries, arranging his employ- ment so that he is kept busy all the time. His industry and fidelity to all his obligations have gained him the respect of all who come in contact with him, and he is a citizen of recognized worth. He is a member of the Church of God at Hegins.
On Jan. 19, 1891, Mr. Gable married Amanda Schucker, of Hegins town- ship, who was born at Fountain, Schuylkill county, daughter of and Lucinda Schucker, old residents of the county; both her parents are deceased. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gable: Emma, Elmer, Kate, Maude, Henry, Dorothy and Armer. The eldest son died recently, at the age of twenty-one years.
HARRY J. BRACHMAN, of Brockton, Schuylkill county, has been a resident of that place all his life, having been born there July 10, 1876, and he
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has been closely identified with the administration of its public affairs as well as its business interests from early manhood. He is indeed a representative member of one of the oldest families in the town, where his father, Frederick W. Brachman, settled in the early forties.
Frederick W. Brachman was born in Germany July 13, 1823, and spent his early years in that country, coming to the United States when a young man of nineteen. He was one of the first settlers at Patterson (now Brockton post office), in Schuylkill township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he spent the rest of his life, at first doing mine work there, until 1864. Then he engaged in the hotel business, carrying on the "Schuylkill Valley Hotel," which he con- ducted until his death, Sept. 18, 1888. He is buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Middleport. A man of intelligence and progressive ideas, he took a genuine interest in the welfare of the community and the proper administration of local government, and himself served as tax collector and school director, holding the latter office for many years. He was a Lutheran in religious doctrine. Mrs. Brachman died March 20, 1910, and is buried at Brockton. They were the parents of the following children: Caroline died in infancy ; Kate married Richard McBreen ; John is a resident of Middleport, this county ; Mary is mar- ried to Frank Wadlinger; Sophia married Fred Krantz; Peter is a resident of Tamaqua, this county ; Lena (deceased) was the wife of Peter L. Hoffman, of Brockton, who survived her many years, dying in 1915; Frederick W. is a prominent business man of Tuscarora, this county; Margaret (deceased) was the wife of Lewis Lawrence, district superintendent for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, at Shenandoah, Pa .; Matilda married Michael J. Hoffman ; Emma married Michael Bonenberger ; Harry J. completes the family.
Harry J. Brachman obtained his education in the public schools of Brock- ton. He was quite young when his father died, and he assisted his mother in the operation of the hotel, which was in the family for a period of fifty years altogether. After his mother's death Harry J. Brachman continued it on his own account until 1913. Meantime he had had various other business interests. He was the first postmaster at what is now known as Brockton, taking office March 3, 1899. At that time the post office was known as Harry, so called in his honor, and that name was used for seven years, when it was changed to Brockton-practically a corruption of the family name Brachman, as it was adopted in compliment to the Brachmans. For about ten years Mr. Brachman manufactured cigars at Brockton. Since giving up the hotel busi- ness he has devoted his time to dealing in real estate, and as a broker in that line, and a private banker, he has built up a patronage which now occupies most of his time. He has always taken a keen interest in promoting those things which would have a beneficial effect upon the development of the town, and his own operations have qualified him to judge correctly of the value of local enterprises, regarding which his opinion is sought and valued. For the last nine years Mr. Brachman has held the office of tax collector in Schuylkill township, his comprehensive knowledge of the worth of real estate fitting him particularly well for such duties. His political affiliation is with the Repub- lican party, in which he has been an active worker, having served as dele- gate and committeeman.
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