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 76
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Mr. Faust married Rebecca Elizabeth Lorah, who was born March 26, 1865, in East Union township, where she attended the Lorah school. She remained at home until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Faust were born the following children :
(1) James Walter Faust, born March 5, 1883, attended the township schools, and also took a course in the Scranton Correspondence School. He is now engaged in railroad work, making his home at Tamaqua. He is married to Priscilla Barron, and they have two children, James and Allen. Formerly Mr. Faust served as superintendent of St. John's Reformed Sunday school in East Union township.
(2) Harriet Elizabeth Faust, born Aug. 19, 1885, was formerly organist of the Reformed church and Sunday school, and a teacher in the Sunday school. She is now the wife of Lewis Kostenbauder, and has had six chil- dren, Helen May, Elizabeth (deceased), Marian, James, Ruth and Allen. Mr. Kostenbauder conducts a hotel and a wholesale and retail stand for the Home Brewing Company at Aristes, Columbia Co., Pennsylvania.
(3) William Andrew Faust, born Sept. 27, 1887, at Green Mountain, was educated in the township schools and at the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1906. While at school he was an enthusiastic football player, and also greatly interested in baseball
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and basket-ball. He has served six years in the United States army under two enlistments. On Sept. 27, 1907, he applied for enlistment at the Phil- adelphia recruiting station, for service in the cavalry, foreign service pre- ferred, passed the preliminary examination, and was forwarded to recruiting barracks at Fort Slocum, N. Y., Sept. 28th, the next day passing the final examination and being duly enlisted. Thence, after a few weeks spent in preliminary recruit drill, dismounted, he was detailed in the latter part of October as one of a detachment to be sent to Fort Clark, Texas, to augment the ranks of the Ist Cavalry, then under orders to sail for the Philippines, early in November joining the regiment, Mr. Faust being assigned to Troop B. The succeeding month proved rather trying, as they were given their first mounted drill. The Ist Cavalry left Fort Clark Dec. 1, 1907, for a seven- mile march to Spofford, where they entrained for San Francisco, Cal., arriv- ing Dec. 3d, and immediately detraining and marching to the U. S. transport "Thomas," on which they took quarters. They sailed Dec. 5th, and as they passed through the Golden Gate the old-timers of the regiment related the thrilling scenes which marked their departure in 1898, during the Spanish- American war. The first port of call was Honolulu (Dec. 11th), the next the island of Guam, where mail and supplies were discharged for the naval detach- ment stationed there. On Jan. 2, 1908, they entered Manila bay, where the masts of several sunken Spanish gunboats protruding above the waters served as grim testimony to Yankee naval marksmanship. Disembarking at Manila, they entrained the same day for their station at Camp Stotsenburg, on Luzon island, about eighty-five miles north of Manila, where they received a cordial reception from the 3d Cavalry, whose tour of foreign service was terminated by the arrival of the Ist. The two years of service in the islands proved very interesting, there being plenty to relieve the monotony of barracks life- weekly practice marches, and every few months an extended march to differ- ent parts of the islands, in the nature of a reconnaissance. Mr. Faust's troop was sent out on several expeditions against the hostile Igorrote or hill tribes, and had several clashes of minor importance. During his second year in the islands he was detailed for several months on topographical duty in con- nection with the progressive military map of the islands, the detachment ope- rating mainly along the northern coast of the island of Luzon. It was a happy day for the boys when the 14th Cavalry marched into camp to relieve them. They sailed from Manila Jan. 15, 1910, on the transport "Logan," reached Nagasaki. Japan. Jan. 20th (where they coaled and every man avail- able was given an opportunity to go ashore), and two days out of Nagasaki encountered a typhoon which took two days to pass. In the meantime they were below bolted hatches, and Mr. Faust thinks they were the longest days in his life. Stopping at Honolulu Feb. 5th, they reached San Francisco Feb. 12th. The regiment was divided and given different stations, one squadron, including Troop B, being stationed at the Presidio, San Francisco. Mr. Faust was appointed corporal April 11, 1910, and sergeant Sept. 17, 1910, holding the latter rank during all the remainder of his service. In 1908 he qualified as a marksman, in 1909 as a sharpshooter, and in 1911 as an expert rifleman. He was honorably discharged, as sergeant, at the Presidio, Sept. 28. 1910, and reenlisted the next day in the same troop, his warrant as sergeant being con- tinued on reenlistment. On the afternoon of Feb. 3, 1911, they received telegraphic orders from Washington, D. C., to leave at once for the Mexican border, to preserve the neutrality of the United States, and left on special
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trains fully equipped for field service. Stationed at Nogales, Ariz., the next few months were spent in patroling the international boundary line in the vicinity, until ordered in July to Yuma, Ariz., where danger threatened due to an impending battle near the line between the warring Mexican factions. The patroling there was over desert country, with the thermometer 128 degrees in the shade. They were next at General Grant National Park for several weeks to recuperate before returning to their station. The summer of 1912 Troop B spent doing patrol duty in Sequoia National Park (it is cus- tomary to have cavalry commands in the national parks during the summer months to help enforce park regulations and guard against forest fires). After his return from that place Mr. Faust was married Oct. 13, 1912, to Edith M. Bingham, of Oakland, Cal., who was born March 19, 1893, at Red- ding, Shasta Co., Cal., and attended school at Redding, taking a course in domestic science. In the summer of 1913 Troop B was again assigned to park duty, in Yosemite National Park, their camp being within two hundred yards of the foot of the famous Yosemite falls, and the boys had a hard time at first, as the roar of the water disturbed their sleep. During Mr. Faust's stay there his son William Lewis was born, July 8, 1913. He was honorably discharged as sergeant at Yosemite Valley, Cal., Sept. 28, 1913, and imme- diately left to join his family, taking quarters at Oakland, Cal. He secured a position with the Western Electric Company on Oct. 7th, and has remained in the employ of that concern to the present time, in various capacities in the warehouse and also as shop stock keeper, at present being assistant ship- ping clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Faust have another son, Edward Andrew, born June 17, 1915.
(4) Margaret Caroline Faust, born July 6, 1889, at Green Mountain, in East Union township, was educated in the township schools and at the Key- stone State Normal School, and taught school for three years in East Union township before her marriage to Fred Steimling, who is a telegrapher at Grier City, Schuylkill county. They have one child, Beatrice Caroline. Mrs. Steimling was formerly superintendent of St. John's Reformed Sunday school, and for a number of years she served as organist of the church and Sunday school.
(5) Joshua Franklin Faust, born Nov. 22, 1890, at Green Mountain, was educated in the home township and at the Keystone State Normal School, taught school in East Union township, and is now employed as a telegraph operator at Grovania, Montour Co., Pa. He married Rhoda Powell, and they have had two children, Robert Franklin and William Arthur, the latter deceased.
(6) Lillie May Faust, born June 8, 1892, died when six weeks old.
(7) Hannah Esther Faust, born Feb. 1, 1894, was educated in the town- ship schools and at the Keystone State Normal School, and is now at home.
(8) Daniel Allen Faust, born Nov. 5. 1895, obtained his education in the public schools of East Union township, and is now engaged as telegrapher for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company at Mausdale. Montour Co., Pennsylvania.
(9) Lulu Faust, born June 23. 1897, died at birth.
Mrs. Andrew B. Faust holds membership in St. Paul's Reformed Church in East Union township, was a Sunday school teacher, and was a charter member of the Brandonville Sunday school. All her children were confirmed in St. John's Reformed Church. At the administrators' sale she bought the
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lumber business Mr. Faust was carrying on at the time of his death, and for the next nine years continued the same in partnership with her brother, James Lorah, under the name of Mrs. Andrew Faust & Brother. At the end of that time they sold out. Mrs. Faust is one of the original stockholders of the First National Bank of Ringtown, established in 1904, and she has proved herself a capable business woman in the handling of various transactions. She belonged to the Rebekah Lodge of Ringtown and Pocahontas of Hazle- ton.
The Lorahs are an old family of this section of Schuylkill county, Michael Lorah, the grandfather of Mrs. Faust, having been born here May 18, 1788, in Union township. He was of French descent. His education was acquired in the local subscription schools, and he followed farming and shoemaking, owning a farm of 115 acres, which included the property where his grandson James Lorah now lives, in what is now East Union township. It was all Union then. He died on his farm May 6, 1852, and is buried with his wife at St. John's German Reformed Church, of which he was a member. It is supposed that Michael Lorah was twice married, first to Hannah Frye, and the maiden name of his second wife, born Dec. 23, 1793, died March 6, 1837, was Houser. His children were: Emmanuel, who married Mary Houser ; Henry, deceased; Lafayette, deceased ; Daniel, who married Polly Schappell, both now deceased; Joshua, deceased; John, who married Catherine John- son (she is deceased) ; Susanna, who married Aaron Gross; Hannah, wife of Samuel Beaver ; and Lucy, who died young.
Joshua Lorah, son of Michael, was born July 11, 1830, in Union township, that part now included in East Union, and there grew to manhood, meantime receiving his education in the local district schools. During his younger days he worked for his father on the home place, and after his marriage he lived as a tenant on various farms, continuing thus for a number of years. When Michael Lorah died his son Emmanuel bought the homestead, which he operated until his death, when it was sold by the administrators to Elias Peifer, who subsequently sold sixty-three acres of the original tract to Joshua Lorah. He carried on general farming there for a considerable period. By trade he was a carpenter. In his later life he cut up thirteen acres of this property in building lots and laid out the town of Phinny, including 180 lots. As he died before they were all sold his son James, as administrator of the estate, continued to dispose of them, buying two of them himself, upon which he built his present home. . That part of Joshua Lorah's farm remain- ing undivided was bought by his son Michael upon the mother's death, and is now owned by Jacob Landauhl.
Mr. Lorah married Elizabeth Johnson, who was born Sept. 3, 1831, in Northumberland county, Pa., daughter of Henry Johnson, and was of English ancestry. Mrs. Lorah survived her husband, his death occurring Feb. 4, 1895, hers Feb. 9, 1899, and they are buried at St. John's Reformed Church in East Union township. He was a prominent member of that church, in which he held the highest offices, serving many years as elder and deacon, and also acting as treasurer. Politically he was a Republican, and kept up an interest in local public affairs ; he served as one of the directors of the inde- pendent school district and as treasurer of same. To Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Lorah were born the following children: Hannah married John Deeble, and both are deceased ; Michael, deceased, married Sarah Huntsinger, who now resides at Mountain Grove, Luzerne Co., Pa .; Thomas, a resident of East
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Union township, married Missouri Applegate; Emma died in infancy; Mary died in infancy ; Albert, deceased, married Anna Irwin, who lives at Allen- town, Pa .; James, born May 18, 1860, lives in East Union township; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of William Schaeffer, who lives in Alabama; Rebecca Elizabeth is the widow of Andrew B. Faust, and lives next door to her brother James; Oscar, of McAdoo, Schuylkill county, married Clara Apple- gate; Ida is married to John Wilhelm, of Williamsport, Pa .; Jacob married Jennie Davis, of Cleveland, Ohio.
REV. DAVID IVOR EVANS, of Shenandoah, has just entered upon his twenty-sixth year as pastor of the First Baptist Church in that borough, where he has long been counted among the leading influences for social better- ment. His association with various organizations looking to that end show how wide and strong his sympathies are, and he may always be relied upon for practical assistance in any undertaking whose object is to uplift men or broaden their lives. Much of his labor has been directed to the training of the young, which he regards as a very important part of his service.
Mr. Evans is a native of Wales, born Jan. 25, 1849, at Llanfyrnach, Pem- brokeshire, South Wales, son of David and Hannah ( Jenkins) Evans. His education for the ministry was received at Pontypool College, which is now a part of the University of Cardiff, Wales, and upon completing his course there he received his license. Subsequently for three years he was pastor of a church at Cardiff before coming to this country, in April, 1882. He has lived in Pennsylvania ever since, having first been located at Oliphant, near Scran- ton, where he was pastor of a Baptist Church for five years. Thence he changed to Lansford, where he was pastor for two years, at the end of that time being assigned to a charge in Jackson township, Susquehanna county. In January, 1891, he came to Shenandoah, where he has since been pastor of the First Baptist Church. The length of his pastorate indicates how suc- cessful he has been in holding the esteem and confidence of his congregation. But in fact his own church has been only the center of his activities, and not the limit of their extent. His gifts as a speaker have made him popular in the borough and vicinity, and he has occupied every Protestant pulpit in Shenandoah. His energy has carried him into other work as well, and the curfew law is one of the numerous good results of his efforts in behalf of proper regulations for the young, for he was one of its most vigorous and effective advocates. He has also done good work in the temperance cause. For the last twenty years he has been president of the board of trustees of the local library, and he is also president of the selecting committee. When the Bureau of Mine Inspectors and Surface Support was established, in 1913, he became president of that body, whose services to the workers in the coal fields are so important, and he has remained at its head to the present writing. As a student of history and believer in true patriotism, he has lent his voice and counsel to bringing the best ideas on that subject before his fellow citizens, and his advice in civic affairs has been productive of much real public spirit among his townsmen. Being frequently called upon for public speaking, he has never failed to impress his audiences with his respect for law and order, as well as his own high estimate of the rights of the people, and his Decoration day addresses especially have won him much local renown. On many occa- sions he has been asked to make speeches before assemblages of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which fraternity he holds membership. The
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energy which characterized his early years, and which during his college days kept him at the head of his classes, has never diminished in intensity. What he does, he does with all his might. He is a Republican in politics, and has often exerted himself in the party's interest. He was one of the organizers of the Shenandoah ministerial association, and for twelve years filled the office of president.
Mr. Evans was married, in Wales, to Eliza Bethia Tilley, who died at Shenandoah in January, 1892. The only child of this union, a daughter, died at Oliphant about a year after the family came to the United States. Mrs. Evans was an accomplished woman, and translated many Welsh hymns into English. On April 12, 1893, Mr. Evans married (second) Mary Davis, who had been a co-worker in the Sunday school at Cowbridge, Wales. where he was formerly pastor. They have had two children: Vivian Ivor and Blodwen Mary. The son graduated from the Shenandoah high school in 1913, as valedictorian of his class, and is at present a student in the Millers- ville State Normal College.
Mr. Evans's parents came to America in 1883, settling at Nanticoke, Pa., where the father died Feb. 9, 1892. The mother survived him a number of years, and when eighty-three years old, in 1907, had the honor of being the oldest member of the Baptist denomination in this country, so far as known, having been received into the church by baptism when ten years old, in Wales. Of the children born to David and Hannah (Jenkins) Evans, John and Mrs. Ann Davis remained in Wales; Daniel E. is a practicing physician at New- castle, Pa .; William and Arthur D. are residents of Nanticoke, Pa., and interested in mining, Arthur D. as a mine foreman.
HIRAM PEIFER, of Sheppton, Schuylkill county, is one of the leading business men of that region, principally engaged in the cutting and produc- tion of mine timber, in which line he has built up a large trade. He was born near Brandonville, in Union township, this county (that part now known as East Union township), June 7, 1865, and the family has been located in that section since his grandfather's day.
Solomon Peifer, the grandfather, was a wood chopper and lumberman near Mountain Grove, Luzerne Co., Pa., before his removal to Schuylkill county. He owned a timber tract and farm, but lost this property, and moved to Union township, Schuylkill county, where he tenanted what is now known as No. 3 farm, owned by the Girard Estate. When he retired he went to live with his son Levi, at Brandonville, this county, and he died at the age of seventy-one years. He was a member of the Reformed Church, and is buried at the Old White Church near Ringtown. Politically he was a Democrat. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Remaly, Mr. Peifer had the following children: Daniel; George, who married Mary Long; Levi, who married Elizabeth Shaeffer; Elias; Hester, who married Jacob Hartley; and three who died young. For his second wife Mr. Peifer married Maria Moyer, and to them were born two children: Jacob married Amanda Rupert ; Solomon married Sarah Applegate.
Elias Peifer, father of John Peifer, was born April 17, 1831, near Moun- tain Grove, Luzerne Co., Pa., and died Nov. 27, 1912, aged eighty-one years. seven months, ten days. He received his education in his native county, and worked for his father on the farm and in the woods, until he reached legal age. He gained considerable experiences as a sawyer. The first farm he
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bought (the place later owned by Samuel Deebel) consisted of 120 acres, sixty of which he had under cultivation, and he operated it for twenty- seven years, eventually trading it for a farm owned by Sheep & Co., now the property of his son John Peifer. It was a tract of one hundred acres, sixty cleared, and he followed general farming there very successfully, building the dwelling which is still standing on the property, occupied by his son John. Elias Peifer continued to carry on the lumber business along with farming, and he was the owner of a hotel property at Ringtown which he rented out, later selling it to Daniel Ellis, of Shenandoah; it is now one of the principal hotels at Ringtown. Mr. Peifer served his township many years as super- visor and tax collector. He was a Democrat in political faith, and during the Civil war a Union sympathizer, enlisting at Tamaqua in October, 1864, as a member of Company A, 173d Pennsylvania Regiment, for nine months or during the war. He was mustered in at Harrisburg, and was engaged principally in guard duty. In religion he held to the Reformed faith, belong- ing to St. John's Church in East Union township, at which church he and his wife are buried.
Mr. Peifer married Emaline Charlotte Nungesser, who was born Sept. 13, 1840, in Mifflin township, Columbia Co., Pa., daughter of Jacob and Anna (Reinhold) Nungesser, who moved thence to East Union township, Schuyl- kill county. Mr. Nungesser followed farming and lumbering there the best part of his life, dying at the age of forty-nine years. He was a native of Mifflin township, Columbia county, and his wife was born near Easton, Northampton Co., Pa. She lived to be over eighty. Their children were: Benjamin, deceased, married Elizabeth Applegate, who now lives at Straw- bridge, Lycoming Co., Pa .; Isaac married Susanna Hoffman, and they live at Berwick, Columbia county ; Emaline Charlotte married Elias Peifer ; George died unmarried. after his return from the army; Hannah, widow of John Schucker, lives at Taylorsville, Schuylkill county. The parents are buried at the Old White Church near Ringtown. Mr. Nungesser had no church con- nections. He was a Democrat in political opinion.
Mrs. Elias Peifer died in March, 1905, several years before her husband. They had the following family: John, born Oct. 22, 1857, lives on the old homestead in East Union township; Isaac, born July 28, 1862, died aged forty years, ten months, and his widow, Emma (Fritz), lives in Tamaqua (they had children, Robert. Frank, Irwin, Maurice, Monroe, Ralph, Clarence, Clara, deceased, and Cora) ; Hiram, born June 7, 1865, is mentioned below ; Joanna died when three months old; Mary Elizabeth, born May 28, 1872, married Harry McClintock, of Muncy Valley, Sullivan Co., Pa., and has children, Ezra, Ruth, Joanna, Margaret, Elias, Mary, Leah and Orpha.
Hiram Peifer began his education in the public school near home, attend- ing the Peifer school (also called the Lorah school ), and later he studied at the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Pa. He worked for his father until he reached his majority, on the farm and at lumbering, and he has since been lumbering on his own account, at present owning 322 acres of timber land, and also operating a leased tract of 450 acres on which he has the timber rights. Mr. Peifer has his own portable sawmill, with a daily capacity of five thousand feet, and all the other facilities for turning out timber expeditiously, filling orders promptly. He deals mostly in mine timber, props, ties, etc., for which he finds a steady demand, and his strict adherence to every obligation has given him a reputation for reliability which he well
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deserves. In the course of his active career he has acquired a number of important interests, the property he has accumulated being principally in Hazleton and Sheppton, his home town. He is a stockholder in the People's Savings & Trust Company of Hazleton, and in the Miners' National Bank of West Hazleton; owns a block of houses in Hazleton; and a block of houses and three lots in Sheppton. Naturally he has taken a keen interest in the promotion of local enterprises, and he has himself contributed much to the material development of his town as well as to the betterment of local living and social conditions. He is particularly interested in the welfare of the public schools, and is now serving his second term as school director. He was formerly district assessor, and for a number of years acted as election inspector. Like his father and brother he has taken an active part in the work of St. John's Reformed Church in East Union township, which he is serving at present as elder, and he has also been deacon and superintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. Peifer married Mary Elizabeth Borlace, who was born Jan. 4, 1866, at St. Anestell, Cornwall, England, on the estate of her grandfather Roberts, daughter of John and Sophia (Roberts) Borlace. No children have been born to this marriage.
Mrs. Peifer was between four and five years old when she came to America with her mother and eldest brother, landing at New York, where they were met by her father, who had come to this country previously. They then pro- ceeded to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and from there to Boston Run, this county, where they remained seven years. She received her education in the schools of Boston Run, Mahanoy City and Yatesville, all in Schuylkill county. The family eventually settled in the Catawissa valley, in East Union township. Mrs. Peifer remained at home until her marriage. She is a member of St. John's Reformed Church, and was associated with its activities while living in that neighborhood, singing in the choir and teaching in the Sunday school. She now attends St. James Reformed Church at Sheppton and teaches in its Sunday school, having the Ladies' Bible Class.
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