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 67
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James Monroe Hand was born at Tremont in 1849, and had rather limited advantages, being only a young boy when he began to pick slate at the mines. With the exception of about eighteen months during which he was employed in a foundry at Tremont he has been engaged at the mines continuously since, and he is now one of the reliable hands at the Lincoln collicry. He has served many years as member of the borough council, and for three years he was health officer. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and P. O. S. of A. Mr. Hand married Elizabeth Carl, daughter of Elias Carl, and they have had chil- dren as follows: Amelia, Susanna, John F., William Elias, Eleanor (twin of William, deceased in infancy) and James M., Jr.
John F. Hand was born at Tremont Feb. 15, 1881, and received a good education there in the public schools. In his boyhood he started work at the old Lincoln breaker, and he was variously employed about the collieries until he became thoroughly experienced in all the branches of the work. For one year he was engaged as a miner at the Goodspring colliery, returning to the Lincoln for a time. In 1906 he went to the Blackwood colliery as fire boss, remaining there for four years, when he went back to the Lincoln in the same capacity. Later he became assistant inside foreman there, and in July, 1915, he was further promoted, to inside foreman at the No. 2 slope. His long employment at these workings has qualified him amply for the duties of the position, and his dependable personal qualities have been recognized by his immediate associates and superiors alike.
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In 1905 Mr. Hand married Mary M. Wagner, daughter of Joseph Wagner, of Tremont, and they have four children : James, Helen, Paul and Grace. The family are associated with the Evangelical denomination in religion. Mr. Hand is a member of the Tremont Fire Company, No. I, and fraternally he affiliates with the I. O. O. F. and P. O. S. of A.
FRANK D. DIETRICH, whose farm is situated a mile south of Friedens- burg, in Wayne township, is a successful agriculturist and a man of recog- nized personal worth. Reliable in business transactions, and whole-hearted in his sense of responsibility towards all his fellow men, he has a reputation for honesty and good citizenship creditable to himself and beneficial to the locality. His up-to-date farming operations have also assisted in its material betterment.
Mr. Dietrich is a native of Wayne township, Schuylkill county, born Sept. 28, 1875, son of Neri and Catharine (Snyder) Dietrich, now residents of Cressona, this county. His education was obtained entirely in the public schools. With the exception of about one year, during which he was engaged in conducting the "Park Hotel" at Cressona, Mr. Dietrich has carried on farm- ing, in which, by diligence and thrift, he has found profitable occupation. In 1907 he purchased and settled upon the place where he now resides, a seventy- acre property under excellent cultivation, and well improved in every respect. He is noted for his attention to detail, and the condition of the farm bears every evidence of his care in little things as well as the main lines. Modern methods have been adopted wherever practicable, and Mr. Dietrich has proved the value of systematic management by the satisfactory results which have at- tended his efforts. He understands the economy of neatness, and in appear- ance his land bears comparison with any other in the vicinity. In connection with his agricultural work he deals in fertilizers, acting as agent for Lister's fertilizer, which through his enterprise has been well introduced in this part of Schuylkill county. He takes a live interest in politics and other local affairs, has served as election inspector, and is now judge of election ; his connection is with the Republican party. Socially he belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America and to the Independent Order of Americans.
In 1901 Mr. Dietrich was married to Ida Reed, of Wayne township, daugh- ter of L. G. and Lizzie (Womer) Reed. Of the two children born to this marriage one survives, Claud R. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.
MICHAEL MURPHY, who has charge as inside foreman at the Pine Knot colliery, in Cass township, has had the thorough experience necessary to the proper discharge of his duties, having held the position since he himself opened up the colliery ten years ago. Mr. Murphy is a native of Cass town- ship, Schuylkill Co., Pa., born at Heckscherville, in 1868. He is a son of Patrick Murphy and grandson of Michael Murphy, and of Irish extraction in both paternal and maternal lines.
Michael Murphy, the grandfather, lived and died in Ireland. He was en- gaged as a "car man," hauling coal to the towns, where he sold it. After his death his wife brought her family to America, and they lived for a short time at Brooklyn, N. Y., before coming to Pennsylvania, where they located at Heckscherville, in Cass township. Here Patrick Murphy, father of Michael Murphy, began to work in the coal mines at an early age. Intelligent and am-
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bitious beyond the ordinary, he became a skilled operator and undertook mine work on his own account, for many years filling contracts to drive slopes and tunnels for the Reading Coal & Iron Company. Few men in the anthracite regions were more widely known or more highly regarded than Mr. Murphy, and his death, which occurred in 1901, was deeply regretted. He met with an accident at the Big Mountain colliery, near Shamokin, and died in the Fountain Springs hospital, near Ashland. Mr. Murphy served as tax collector of Cass township, but he was not an office seeker and seldom accepted public honors, though well known in the locality and in political circles, and always active in the public affairs of his time. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is buried at Heckscherville. Mr. Murphy married Ann Convile, who was born in Ireland, daughter of Patrick and Catherine ( Foley ) Convile, and came to America with her parents, the family settling at Heckscherville, in Cass township, Schuylkill county. Mrs. Murphy continues to reside at the Murphy homestead in that township. She is the mother of a large family namely: Michael is mentioned below; Catherine married James Sweney ; Patrick, who lives at Shenandoah, was formerly sheriff of Schuylkill county ; John, twin of Patrick, died in March, 1913; Mary married Jeremiah Brennan, and lives in Cass township; James is a resident of Shenandoah, Pa .; Margaret, deceased, was the wife of Joseph O'Donnell; Joseph and William are next in the family; Elizabeth married Frank Elkorn, and they reside at Shamokin, Pa .; Berner died when thirteen years old.
Michael Murphy attended public school in his native township, but his advantages were cut short at an early age, for he was but ten years old when he commenced to pick slate at the breaker. After employment of various kinds about the mines he began to cut coal, and was so engaged for about fifteen years. By that time his competence and steadiness had attracted the attention of his employers and he was made assistant foreman at the Richard- son colliery, where he remained for ten years. Changing to the Glendower colliery he was assistant foreman there for two years, and on March 22, 1905, he came to what is now the Pine Knot colliery, where he has since been inside foreman. Mr. Murphy had charge of the opening of its works, and all of the inside work has been done under his instruction. He is thoroughly familiar with every detail of the operations, and is particularly valuable for that reason, though his long general experience has been by no means a negligible factor in the success he has had since he took charge here. He is well and favorably known in the various parts of Schuylkill county to which his work has called him. Mr. Murphy is a Catholic in religious faith.
By his marriage to Mary Kennedy, of Heckscherville, this county, the fol- lowing children have been born to him: Annie I., now a public school teacher at Heckscherville; Edward E., who is an engineer at the Pine Knot colliery ; Patrick F., also an employe at that colliery ; Daniel J .; Florence ; Bernadetta ; and Mary L., Mary Estella and Bernard, all three deceased.
ROURINDINE PERRY, well known in both Orwigsburg and Schuylkill Haven, is a native of Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county, born Feb. 14, 1882, son of Peter Perry.
Peter Perry was born near Girardville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and was reared upon a farm near Mahanoy City, meantime attending the local schools. His first work was at the mines, and from that vocation he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company as brakeman, continuing in that com-
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pany's employ until he met his death in a railroad accident in the State of New Jersey. Mr. Perry married Mrs. Alice ( Moyer) Eaton, a widow, who had one child, Cora, by her first marriage. By this union Mr. Perry had the following children: Arlington C .; Rourindine; and Annie Mary, wife of Frederick Gruhler, living in Phillipsburg, N. J. Mr. Perry died at the age of forty-two years, and his wife at the age of forty-one years. They are buried in the Reformed Church cemetery at Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.
Rourindine Perry obtained his education in the public and high schools of Orwigsburg. Owing to the death of his father he was obliged to begin work, and he entered the employ of S. R. Kepner, a cigar manufacturer of Orwigs- burg. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship he continued cigarmaking with this employer, with whom he has remained until the present time. In 1909, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Alfred L. Bowen, Mr. Perry built an up-to-date motion picture theatre on Main street, in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., having a seating capacity of 475 people and modern in the highest degree. Here are shown all licensed and big feature reels, and the patronage of the best people of the borough attests to the popularity of this place of amusement. Mr. Perry married Millie May Bowen (born April 29, 1885), daughter of John A. and Josephine (Hohl) Bowen. In political faith Mr. Perry is inde- pendent. He is a member of Washington Camp No. 86, P. O. S. of A., and the Independent Order of Americans, of Orwigsburg, and Conclave No. 1087, Improved Order of Heptasophs, of Schuylkill Haven. He attends the Meth- odist Church at Schuylkill Haven, and has taught in the Sunday school.
Mrs. Millie May ( Bowen) Perry was born in North Manheim township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and educated in the township schools, and in the public and high schools of Schuylkill Haven. She then entered the employ of her father in the underwear mills, where she remained until her marriage.
John Bowen, great-grandfather of Mrs. Perry, during his early working years was a foreman at Port Clinton, Schuylkill county, but later in life farmed in North Manheim township, becoming the owner of a large tract of land there. He built a log house and barn on that tract, the former still standing (1915), and continued to farm until the time of his death, which occurred at the age of fifty-eight years, through injuries received in a runaway accident. Mr. Bowen married a Hartman, and they had the following children : Samuel, John, Martin, Caroline, Hannah, Mrs. Schroeder and Mrs. Ketner. Mr. Bowen and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church, and both are buried in the Union cemetery in Schuylkill Haven.
Martin Bowen, son of John and grandfather of Mrs. Perry, was educated in the North Manheim township schools and assisted his father in the work of the farm. He inherited a third share of the homestead, a tract of sixty-five acres, which he cultivated until his death. Mr. Bowen was married to Mary Kershner and these children were born to them: Charles K. (deceased) mar- ried Mary Staller ; Amanda (deceased) married Jacob Kirk; Matilda died at the age of sixty-nine years; Lewis is unmarried; John A. is mentioned below ; Morris married Mary (Staller), widow of his brother Charles. Martin Bowen was a Democrat in political affiliation, but not active in the party. He was an active member of the German Lutheran Church and was one of the building committee which supervised the erection of the Jerusalem Union Church, then in North Manheim township but now in the limits of the borough of Schuyl- kill Haven, Pa. He and his wife are buried in the cemetery at Schuylkill Haven.
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John A. Bowen, son of Martin and father of Mrs. Perry, was educated in the schools of North Manheim township, where he was born Aug. 29, 1853. In his earlier days he assisted with the work of the farm, but later on learned the trade of painter with Israel Kline, with whom he remained for about five years, next working, as painter with the Schuylkill Navigation Company for four years, in the boat yard. He then took charge of his father's farm, which he operated for sixteen years. Finally he formed a partnership with J. D. Reed in Schuylkill Haven, conducting the Union Knitting Mills, for the manu- facture of underwear. This partnership was dissolved after five years and Mr. Bowen entered the car shops of the Philadelphia & Reading Company at Schuylkill Haven, doing contract work for a time. He next entered the S. Thomas Knitting Mills, where he is employed at the present time. Mr. Bowen was united in marriage to Josephine Hohl, who was born April 30, 1858, and is a daughter of John and Leah ( Berger) Hohl, and to this union were born three children: Alfred L., who married Minnie Honsberger and has two children, Florence and Dorothy; Millie May; and Homer, who died at the age of two years. Mr. Bowen is independent in his political views. He is a member of the First Methodist Church of Schuylkill Haven, of which he is now a trustee; he has served in all its offices and as superintendent of the Sunday school.
THOMAS HARLOR, at present inside foreman at the North Mahanoy colliery, Mahanoy City, has acquitted himself creditably in the various posi- tions he has held in the anthracite regions, where he has worked all his life. Born Aug. 1, 1863, at Thomaston, Schuylkill Co., Pa., he is a son of Joseph Harlor, a native of England, who was reared and married in that country. He and his wife, Sarah ( Miles), came to America with one child and settled in Schuylkill county, Pa. He always followed mining. His death occurred at Hazleton, Pa., when he was seventy-six years old, and his wife had passed away at Mahanoy City when fifty-two years old. Their children were: Emily, Mary, Charles, James, Thomas, Harriet, Elizabeth, Joseph, Lydia, William, Eleanor, and a daughter that died in infancy.
Thomas Harlor attended public school at Raven Run, Schuylkill county, and Centralia, Pa., but he was a mere child of seven when he went to work at Miller's breaker, Shenandoah, picking slate. When nine years old he com- menced inside work, and later ran a cross shift with his father, when seven- teen years old. He continued to follow mining until 1894, after which he was engaged for seventeen years as fire boss, first at Glendon, for J. C. Haden & Co., later at the Primrose mine, near Minersville, Schuylkill county, then at Tunnel Ridge, where he was assistant fire boss for a short time, and after- wards at the Boston Run colliery. Again he mined for one year, was next fire boss at the North Mahanoy colliery, in the Schuylkill section, and once more was at Tunnel Ridge, as assistant inside boss for two years. He has since held the position of inside foreman at the North Mahanoy colliery, Mahanoy City. Mr. Harlor is a man of thorough reliability, and his high character and knowledge of mines and mining work make him absolutely trustworthy. He deserves the confidence he enjoys and the respect which all his associates show him, for he has worked his way up unaided, relying only on his fidelity and honest performance of duty for advancement. He is an Odd Fellow in good standing, belonging to the lodge at Girardville, this
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county, and he is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, which he is serving as trustee. Personally he bears a high reputation.
Mr. Harlor married Sarah Palmer, daughter of William Palmer, of Mahanoy City, and they have three children: Roy, who married Mary Yoe, lives in Mahanoy City, and is employed as clerk at the Boston Run colliery ; Ethyl, a graduate of the Mahanoy City high school, is living at home; Mae is also a graduate of the Mahanoy City high school.
ROBERT J. NESBITT, deceased, was a hotel man at Pottsville for a number of years, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a veteran hotel proprietor of that place.
William Nesbitt, the father, was born in Ireland, and coming to the United States settled at Cumbola, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he followed mining for a number of years. Later he became engaged in the hotel business, which he followed for a period of forty years. He married Mary Brown, and they had one child, Robert J. Both of the parents died in Pottsville.
Robert J. Nesbitt was born Jan. 22, 1850, at Cumbola, Schuylkill county, and received an excellent public school education. He taught school in this county for several terms, and later assisted his father in the conduct of his hotel, being so engaged until his death, which occurred Dec. 9, 1884. He is buried in the No. 2 Catholic cemetery at Pottsville. Though very young dur- ing the Civil war Mr. Nesbitt enlisted at the latter part of that conflict, serv- ing nine months in the Union army.
Mr. Nesbitt married Kate Rosenberger, daughter of Adam and Mary (Krine) Rosenberger, the former of whom came to this country from Ger- many. After a three years' residence at Philadelphia, Pa., he settled at Potts- ville, where he worked by the day. He died at the age of eighty-one years, his wife reaching the age of eighty-six. They are buried at Pottsville. Of the ten children born to them, five still survive: Jacob, Laurence, Elizabeth, Mary and Catharine.
Mrs. Nesbitt continued the hotel business after her husband's death for a period of twenty-five years, conducting his establishment at Fishbach, and the house lost none of its oldtime popularity under her conscientious manage- ment. Several years ago she sold her interest, and she is now making her home at No. 1580 West Market street, Pottsville. Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt had one child, Mary, who is now engaged in teaching school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. All of this family have borne a high reputation for thrift and reliability, and they occupy a most creditable position among the worthy citizens of the borough.
JOHN F. KANE, of Tuscarora, has become a well known citizen of Schuylkill township during the long period he has acted as inside foreman at the Bell colliery there-almost twenty years. He is a man of intelligence and reliable character, conscientious in the fulfillment of his business obliga- tions and helpful in the activities of the community. Mr. Kane is a native of Schuylkill county, born at New Philadelphia, son of John and Mary (Fogarty ) Kane.
John Kane, the father, was born in Ireland, and was brought to America in childhood. When a boy he commenced work at the mines, and always fol- lowed that occupation, becoming very well known among miners and oper- ators in this section, where he filled a number of responsible positions. For
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a time he was superintendent at the Furnace colliery and furnace for Mr. Rhoads, later going to the Pottsville Gap colliery, where he was superintend- ent until the workings were abandoned. He then came to Tuscarora, being engaged at the Swift Creek colliery here, known now as the Maryd, where he was superintendent until its abandonment, after which he was at the Tuscarora colliery, for Shaw & Donahoe, as superintendent, until the boiler explosion in 1876. The colliery was then closed, and he subsequently lived in retire- ment until his death, which occurred in 1882. He is buried at New Philadel- phia. After his demise the family removed to New Boston, this county, where Mrs. Kane passed away in 1893; she, too, is interred at New Philadelphia. To Mr. and Mrs. Kane were born children as follows: Margaret, who is the wife of Dennis Cooney; John F .; William, who lives at Tuscarora; Michael, also of Tuscarora; Edward, living at Maryd; Mary, wife of James Kerns; and Catherine, wife of James Hagerty.
John F. Kane attended public school at Pottsville and Tuscarora, but he started work early, like most boys in this region, picking slate at the New Boston breaker. From time to time he was given other work about the mines, being promoted as opportunity offered until he became assistant inside fore- man at New Boston, where he remained until 1893. In that year he returned to mining, which he followed at the Vulcan, Tunnel Ridge and Morea col- lieries, afterwards becoming assistant inside foreman at the Kaskawilliam col- liery for two years. From there he came to the Bell colliery in 1896, as inside foreman, and has held that position continuously since, to the satisfac- tion of all concerned. This colliery, which is located in Schuylkill township, is operated by Gorman & Campion, and when running at full capacity gives employment to about two hundred men, whose respect Mr. Kane has earned by his strict attention to his own duties.
Mr. Kane has always considered it a privilege to do what is in his power towards promoting good government and upholding proper standards in social conditions, and he has done excellent work as school director in two of the townships in which he has made his home. While in East Mahanoy township he was a member of the school board for three years, and has served the same length of time in that capacity since settling in Schuylkill township.
Mr. Kane married Margaret C. Carr, daughter of Patrick Carr, of Port Carbon, Pa., and they have three daughters: Mary, who is now a public school teacher in Schuylkill township; Catherine, and Margaret. The family home is at Tuscarora.
JOSEPH BREEN, of Jonestown, is at present an official of Cass town- ship, being a member of the board of school directors and vice president of that body. He has been doing business at Jonestown as a hotelkeeper for the last ten years.
Patrick Breen, father of Joseph Breen, was a native of Ireland, and spent his early boyhood in that country, coming to America when thirteen years old. Settling at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., he became engaged at mine work. Subsequently he removed to Jonestown, a small hamlet in Cass town- ship, just beyond the borough line of Minersville, and he became well known among his fellow citizens there, holding several local public positions. He was a school director and for three terms township supervisor. Mr. Breen died at his home in Cass township, and is buried at Minersville. He married Catherine Tobin, daughter of Patrick Tobin, and of the twelve children born
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to them, five still survive: Mary, Julia, Catherine, Joseph and Thomas. The last named is teaching school in Cass township. Mrs. Breen now makes her home with her son Joseph. She is one of the oldest residents of Cass town- ship and she and Mrs. Dolbin, also living there, were schoolmates many years ago.
Patrick Tobin, father of Mrs. Breen, was born in County Kilkenny, Ire- land, and was forty years old when he brought his family to America. They landed in the United States in September, 1849, after a stormy voyage, and were soon settled at Forestville, in Cass township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., being among the pioneer residents of that borough. While in Ireland Mr. Tobin had teams and did hauling, but after coming here was a miner and mine boss, and he spent the remainder of his life at Forestville, dying there in August, 1855. He is buried at Minersville. He married Julia Maley, daughter of Thomas Maley, the latter a farmer of Ireland, and eleven children were born to this union, namely: Catherine (Mrs. Breen), Mary, Laurence, Ellen, Thomas, Margaret (who died young), James, Edward, Bridget, Margaret (2) and Julia. All but the three last named were born in Ireland, they being natives of Cass township.
Joseph Breen was born Nov. 8, 1882, at Minersville, Schuylkill county, and attended the public schools of Cass township. In common with many of the boys living in the neighborhood of the mines, he began to pick slate at the breaker of the Oak Hill colliery when quite young, and continued to be em- ployed around the mines for about ten years, in 1905 turning to his present business. At that time he bought his brother's hotel, located at Jonestown, in Cass township, and he has since 'conducted it, having worked up a profitable trade through attention to customers and careful management. Mr. Breen has always taken an active part in local affairs, has served as township com- mitteeman, and in 1912 was elected a member of the township school board, for a six-year term. He is now vice president of that body. Mr. Breen is un- married, making his home with his mother. Like the rest of the family he is a member of the Catholic Church at Minersville, and fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
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