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 77
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Charles Borlace, Mrs. Peifer's grandfather, lived in Cornwall, England, and died when over eighty years old. He was a porter by calling. His wife, Elizabeth (Stevens), who also lived to be eighty, was well versed in the Bible. and often preached sermons in her church. Mr. and Mrs. Borlace are buried in England. They had the following children: Mary married a Mr. Trevail, and both died in England; John was the father of Mrs. Peifer; William, a stone carver, is living in New Zealand; Annie died unmarried, in England.
John Borlace, father of Mrs. Peifer, was born March 9, 1838, at St. Lees, Cornwall, was reared and educated in his native country, and worked as a teamster there. He traveled considerably, working in different parts of the world, before his family joined him in America, where he was in Newfound- land, Canada, and Oil City, Pa., prior to their arrival. For seven years he was employed as a miner at Boston Run for the Philadelphia & Reading Com- pany, was then at Mahanoy City in the same employ, and subsequently came to East Union township, where he rented what is now No. 3 farm of the Girard Estate. He also conducted a dairy, running a milk route in Shenan- doah. and died on his farm Jan. 3. 1903.
Mr. Borlace and his wife were Methodists, and he united with the First M. E. Church at Shenandoah. He was superintendent of the Sunday school at
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Yatesville, and usually sang in the choir, having a fine bass voice. Socially he belonged to the Order of the Sons of St. George at Shenandoah, and in politics he united with the Republican party.
Mr. Borlace married Sophia Roberts, who was born in October, 1836, at Pendlow, England, was reared and educated there, and died June 8, 1891. She and her husband are buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Tamaqua. Five children were born to them, viz .: William, who died young; Mary E., wife of Hiram Peifer ; John, who conducts a laundry at Philadelphia ( he mar- ried Sarah George) ; Charles, of Philadelphia, who is a conductor on the trolley line (he married Emma Deebel) ; and James, who died young.
William Roberts, father of Mrs. Sophia ( Roberts) Borlace, spent all his life in England. He was born on an inherited estate, and lived to be nearly eighty years old, dying at Demelza, the home of his daughter. He owned tin mines which he operated and was a good business man, and he was a scholarly and talented gentleman intellectually. His wife, Mary, whose maiden name was also Roberts, died at the age of forty-five years, and they are buried in Cornwall. In religion they were Methodists, and active in church work. They had children as follows: Sophia; William, who died in California (he married Rebecca Roberts) ; Sampson, who died in New Zealand; Mary, who married Frank Hicks, a farm owner in Cornwall, England; Annie, widow of Thomas Varcoe, living in England; and Mark, who died in New Zealand.
BENJAMIN F. PARROTT, of Shenandoah, has exercised an appreciable influence among his fellow citizens there for more than a score of years in his connection with the Herald, the principal newspaper of the borough. It was the first paper established there, and has maintained its leadership through a commendable attitude in civic affairs which has held the support of the com- munity. Since he became a member of the Herald Printing Company twenty- one years ago he has been business manager of the paper. That its record is one of constant progress may be set down to his credit, as may also the conspicuous headway he has made in his own career.
Mr. Parrott was born at Thomaston, Cass township, Schuylkill county, and though of English parentage is of French descent, the family moving from France to England several generations ago. John H. Parrott, his father, was born at Manchester, England, and when a young man settled at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa. He was employed at the mines there and at Thomaston, first as a miner, later as outside foreman at the Thomaston, Colo- rado and Parker No. 2 (at Lost Creek) collieries, in turn-all in Schuylkill county. He retired in 1883 and moved to Shenandoah, where he died June 4, 1889, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a man of domestic tastes and devoted to his wife and home. Socially he was a Mason, a charter member of Minersville Lodge, with which he maintained an active connection through- out his life. Mr. Parrott was married at Minersville to Mary A. Morgan, a native of Delaware, who died Nov. 19, 1899, also aged fifty-six years. Her father, Thomas Morgan, was a stonemason by calling. Coming to Phila- delphia, he worked on the foundation walls under what is now a department store at the southeast corner of Ninth and Market streets. Later he came to Minersville, and subsequently lived at the nearby town of Heckscherville, where he continued to follow his trade. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parrott, the first two dying in infancy. Of the six who reached matur- ity, Harry J., a cabinetmaker, of Philadelphia, died in January, 1907; he was
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twice married, his first wife Lidic (Hoffman) dying when her only child, Lidie, was six weeks old, and his second wife, Ida (Copeland), of Steuben- ville, Ohio, lives in Philadelphia with her stepdaughter ; there were no children by the second marriage. John S., a miner, never married, and died Aug. 27, 1888; he was a member of the P. O. S. of A. Elizabeth A. is the wife of Prof. Elmer Wilde, of Shenandoah, a teacher of music, and is herself not only a proficient musician but also a dressmaker and designer of unusual talent ; Mr. and Mrs. Wilde have one child, Bertram, who is in the employ of the Goodyear Tire Company in Scranton, Pa. Benjamin F. is mentioned below. Gertrude and Lulu live together in Philadelphia. The mother was a devout member of the M. E. Church, which her family also attended.
Benjamin F. Parrott was born Sept. 25, 1870, and received his early educa- tion at Lost Creek, after he was eight years old working at the breaker as a slate picker during the summer season, attending school in the winter for the next two years. When the family removed to Shenandoah in 1883 he found work as a laborer and slate picker at the Plank Ridge colliery, belong- ing to the Reading Coal Company, working there and at the Kehley Run colliery until the fall of 1884. Then he became a printer's apprentice in the office of the Shenandoah Herald, under T. J. Foster and H. C. Boyer, where he served four years while learning his trade. Subsequently he went to Wil- liamsport, Pa., and worked on the Williamsport Grit one year, returning to Shenandoah and taking a position as compositor on the Herald, where he soon became foreman. In June, 1895, the office was again destroyed by fire (it had burned down first in 1883), and the paper was printed in Pottsville for two months. On Aug. Ist of that year (1895) the present firm, known as the Herald Printing Company, bought the paper, its members being T. J. Davies, C. T. Straughn and Benjamin F. Parrott. The Herald, the first paper started in Shenandoah, was established in September, 1870, by Thomas J. Foster and Henry C. Boyer, and had a successful career as a weekly publi- cation until 1875, when a daily edition was undertaken. The first number of the daily appeared Aug. 21, 1875. as the Evening Herald, and the daily was continued until Nov. 16, 1878. The weekly edition was immediately resumed, and continued until 1883, when the entire plant, including the Mining Herald, was destroyed by fire. A daily, in addition to the weekly Herald, was again started in 1888 by Mr. Boyer and J. S. Kirkwood, the latter retiring from the business in 1890. For some time afterwards it was owned and pub- lished by H. C. Boyer, as a daily and weekly Republican publication, and the ownership since 1895 has been vested in the Herald Printing Company Daily editions are still issued.
Mr. Parrott has had the remarkable record of having never discharged an employe or had a difficulty with one. Being a practical printer, and thor- oughly familiar with all the details of newspaper publishing, mechanical as well as editorial, a linotype operator as well as an expert hand compositor, he has always been able to help out the "boys" in the shop when necessary, and his business policy has been unimpeachable. He has other traits which have contributed to his popularity. Having worked his way up, he has a keen appreciation of the struggles others must make to win in life, and he has the reputation of taking a delight in giving aid to any worthy person or move- ment. There is every indication that such is the case. He has the greatest possible faith in the power of the press and believes he can best serve his generation through this medium, and the high ideals towards which he has
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striven show that he has no selfish purpose in his ambition. Some years ago he was elected to the office of assessor from the Third ward for a three years" term, at the end of which he was reelected, but he resigned at the close of five years' service with the determination to quit politics forever. He had been nominated without his consent and. was elected without opposition, but he feels that he will be more valuable to the community without the limitations imposed by partisan connections. Mr. Parrott has a sincere affection for the borough of his adoption and the many friends he has made there. Social by nature, he holds membership in Lodge No. 945, B. P. O. Elks, of Shenandoah ; in the Shenandoah lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose; the Devitt Club of Shenandoah; the Shenandoah Druid Society ; Camp No. 112, P. O. S. of A., and the Rescue Hook and Ladder .Company, of which he was president and trustee for a number of years. He has always been one of the most enthusias- tic members of the latter organization, and invariably responds to a fire alarm.
In June, 1901, Mr. Parrott was married to Corrine Tempest, who was born at Reevesdale, Schuylkill county, daughter of Thomas and Bridget (McCarthy) Tempest, whose family of ten children are all yet living, viz. : Kate, Mrs. Charles Haskins, of Philadelphia, Pa .; Mattie, wife of George Seager, of New York City; Hannah, wife of Jesse B. Davis; Lizzie, wife of Charles L. Fowler ; Corrine, Mrs. Parrott ; Thomas, of Coplay, Pa .; Elmer, of New York City; Joseph, William and John, all of Shenandoah. Thomas Tempest was a native of England, whence he came to America when a young man. By occupation he was a miner, working in the Pennsylvania coal fields. He was married in this country to Bridget McCarthy, member of a Catholic family.
Mr. and Mrs. Parrott attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she holds membership.
JOHN H. RICHENDERFER, of North Union township, is one of the most esteemed residents of that section of Schuylkill county, where as car- penter, farmer and miller he has led a busy and useful life. The successful outcome of his business enterprises recommended him to his fellow citizens for public responsibilities, which he has discharged with notable efficiency, so that his active career has been well rounded by his participation in all the affairs of the day in his locality. His high standards and substantial char- acter have made his influence in the neighborhood very acceptable.
The Richenderfers are an old Pennsylvania family. Joseph Richenderfer, grandfather of John H. Richenderfer, lived in Columbia county, this State, moving thither from Berks county, and was a farmer by occupation. His wife's maiden name was Freese, and their children were: Joel, Jacob, John, Amos, Jeremiah, Susan, Abigail and Mary. The parents are buried in Hem- lock township, Columbia county. In religion they adhered to the faith of the German Reformed Church.
Joel Richenderfer, son of Joseph, was born Aug. 18, 1818. in Berks county, where he was reared and educated, and he was eighteen years old before he learned to speak English. In his early life he worked among farmers, and afterwards serving an apprenticeship at the mason's and plasterer's trades, at which he was engaged for about thirty years. Buying a farm of about fifty acres in Mount Pleasant township, Columbia county, he operated it in con- nection with work at his trades, retiring from both agricultural and mechan- Vol. II-34
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ical pursuits a few years before his death and moving to Millville, that county, where he bought a house and lot and spent the remainder of his days, dying aged seventy-three years, three months. He always took an interest in local politics as a member of the Democratic party, often serving on the election board. His religious connection was with the Reformed Church. Mr. and Mrs. Richenderfer are buried at Kitchen's Church in Columbia county. He married Susanna Kline, who was born in June, 1826, daughter of Joseph Kline and his wife, whose maiden name was Crawford; Mr. and Mrs. Kline were natives of Columbia county. Children as follows were born to this marriage: John H .; Joseph, who is married and living in the State of Wash- ington; Harmon, who is married and living in Nebraska; Paul, of Millville, Columbia Co., Pa .; George B. McClellan, who died unmarried; Mary Eliz- abeth, widow of John Eck, living in Colorado; Catherine, who married W. Pierce White and resides at Almedia, in Columbia county, Pa .; Rebecca, wife of Frank Herring, of Bloomsburg, Pa .; Sarah Jane, who died unmarried ; and Hannah Etta, wife of Albert Haycock, who is boss painter for John Eves, wagon manufacturer, of Millville, Pennsylvania.
John H. Richenderfer was born Jan. 16, 1850, in Mount Pleasant township, Columbia Co., Pa., where he passed his early life, receiving such educa- tional advantages as the locality afforded. He served an apprenticeship at the mason's and plasterer's trades with Samuel Jacoby, and later learned the trade of carpenter with Abraham Dildine, working principally at the latter, which he followed for over forty years. Meantime he purchased a tract of forty acres in East Union township, Schuylkill county, which he cultivated while working at his trades, and when he sold that place bought his present home farm from Richard Faust, having 190 acres in North Union township. One hundred acres of this property are under cultivation, in general agriculture, the farm work being carried on by the two sons who live at home. The large gristmill which stands upon the place Mr. Richenderfer himself operates. He also owns a farm in Centre township, Columbia county, comprising 125 acres, all of which is cleared, his son Henry living upon that place and look- ing after its cultivation ; Mr. Richenderfer purchased it from William Schaef- fer. His business affairs are all in thriving condition. The products of his home farm are marketed to Shenandoah and Mahanoy City.
Mr. Richenderfer has held to the principles of the Democratic party, and he has taken a good citizen's part in the promotion of good government. While a resident of East Union township he served faithfully as a member of the school board, of which he was also secretary. He has also acted as election inspector, and was chosen treasurer of his township, a high compliment to both his ability and his integrity. He is an Odd Fellow in fraternal con- nection, belonging to Ringtown Lodge, No. 287. With his family he attends the Reformed Church at Ringtown, of which his wife is a member.
Mr. Richenderfer married Hulda Miller, who was born in 1857 near Brandonville, in East Union township, this county, where she received her education. She lived at home until her marriage. The following children have been born to this union: Henry Joel, born June 17, 1874, who operates his father's farm in Centre township, Columbia county, married Belle Levan ; Hattie May, born Sept. 26, 1879, is married to Harry Hulshofer, of Brandon- ville, Schuylkill county, and has children, John, Claude, Charles and Wallace ; Charles Harm, born Aug. 28, 1883, who lives at home, assisting in the cultiva- tion of the farm, married Mabel Singley, and they have one child, Sadie; Wil-
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liam Homer, born March 14, 1886, who also lives at home on the farm, mar- ried Estella McCarty ; John Franklin, born Aug. 3, 1888, now of Limeridge, Columbia Co., Pa., married Edna Wolford, and they have four children, Robert, Earl, Clarence and Helen; Lloyd Edward, born Aug. 4, 1890, of Limeridge, married Carrie Brenner, and they have two children, Florence and Hervey ; Sallie Lucetta, born Sept. 25, 1892, is the wife of Lloyd Van Blara- zan, of Nuremberg, Schuylkill county, and has one child, Emma; Margaret Sula, born Nov. 12, 1894, is the wife of Oscar Singley, of Zion Grove, this county, and has one child, John ; Florence Catharine, born Dec. 21, 1896, is at home.
Mrs. Richenderfer's grandfather Miller was a farmer in East Union town- ship, Schuylkill county, practically all his life. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Zimmerman, are buried in the cemetery at Nuremberg. Their son, Henry Miller, Mrs. Richenderfer's father, was born in New York State, whither the family had removed with the intention of settling. But as they did not like the location they returned soon to East Union township, where Henry Miller was reared and educated. He followed the work of timber saw- yer as well as farming, but agriculture was always his principal vocation, and he owned the sixty-acre property in East Union township now in the pos- session of Milton Seltzer. After retiring from farming he lived with one of his grandchildren until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-two years old. A man of energetic and progressive disposition, he took a prominent part in the public affairs of the township, which he served in various important offices, being township treasurer and tax collector. He was an ardent Demo- crat and interested in party activities, acting as judge and inspector of elec- tion. Church work also claimed much of his attention, for he was a zealous adherent of the Reformed faith and served his church as elder and deacon. Mr. Miller married Sarah Bittler, who was born in East Union township, daughter of John and Mary (Dager) Bittler, and she lived to be over eighty- two years old. They are buried at the Old White Church near Ringtown. Three children were born to this marriage: Lucetta, who married John Hauck (both deceased) ; Joanna, wife of Lawrence Rumble, of Allentown, Pa. ; and Hulda, wife of John H. Richenderfer.
JOSEPH GROSSKETTLER, of Shenandoah, is one of a notable group of foreign-born residents of Schuylkill county whose prosperity proves that America is still a land of opportunity to men of resource and energy. As su- perintendent of the Home Brewing Company, and a stockholder in that con- cern, he is associated with one of the leading industries of this section of the county. He may properly be called a self-made man, for he commenced life without means or influence, worked hard until he accumulated enough to enable him to start in business on his own account, and owes his present good fortune entirely to his own efforts.
Mr. Grosskettler was born Oct. 21, 1868, at Endorf, near Arnsberg, West- phalia, Germany, son of Eberhardt Grosskettler and grandson of Joseph Grosskettler. The latter was a native of Holtum, near Werl, Westphalia, where there is still a fort which was built at the time of the Roman conquest. He was a country gentleman, owning an estate of two hundred acres which had been in the family for many generations, and there he spent all of his long life, dying at the age of eighty-four years. His wife passed away when seventy-four years old, and is buried in Holtum, near Werl, Germany.
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Eberhardt Grosskettler, father of Joseph Grosskettler, was born at Hol- tum, near Werl, Westphalia, received his education in the local government schools, and served a thorough apprenticeship at the trades of machinist and locksmith, obtaining certificates which entitled him to work as a journeyman, in which capacity he was engaged for several years. He saw considerable service in the Germany army, in the wars waged during 1864, 1866 and 1870, in 1864 acting in the secret service, carrying dispatches through the picket lines. On one occasion during that war he traveled for forty-eight hours to deliver a message to one of the colonels, and being obliged to rest on the ground had his hair frozen to the earth as he slept, which caused the loss of nearly all his hair. During 1866 he served as a corporal in the cavalry. In 1870 he was orderly to a doctor on the medical staff.
Mr. Grosskettler was married at Endorf, Westphalia, and was engaged in the wholesale produce business at that place until he brought his family to America in 1881. Locating at Shenandoah, Schuylkill Co., Pa., Mr. Gross- kettler found employment as a blacksmith at the Plank Ridge colliery, where he remained for two years. Then he traveled down to Alabama, and west- ward to Franklin county, Mo., in search of a suitable place for a permanent home, eventually returning to Shenandoah, where he bought a blacksmith shop, at the corner of Coal street and Pear alley, where he was established in busi- ness for several years. He lived retired for some time before his death, which occurred April 23, 1901. His wife, Anna Maria ( Pott), was born at Endorf, daughter of Anton and Theresa ( Beste) Pott, the former a farmer and black- smith. Mrs. Anna Maria Grosskettler died Oct. 7, 1912. To Mr. and Mrs. Grosskettler were born children as follows: Joseph; Eberhard, fireman at the Home brewery, who married Catherine Frantz, and has one child, Theresa ; John, assistant brewmaster at the Home brewery, who married Catherine E. Schmidt and has three children, Agnes M., Gertrude M. and Mary J .; Anton, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Theresa, who is the wife of Eugene Fretz and has one child, Marguerite ( Mr. Fretz is State agent of the North- western Mutual Life Insurance Company of North and South Dakota, with headquarters at Grand Forks, N. Dak.) ; and Mary Josephine, who is the wife of Christian Frantz, one of the foremen at the Home brewery, and has chil- dren, Anna M., Mary Catherine, Henry G. and John Eugene. All the family belong to the German Catholic Church of the Holy Family, and Mr. Grossket- tler was a member of St. Michael's Society. In politics he was a Democrat.
Joseph Grosskettler received his education at Endorf, where he attended school until the family came to America, when he was thirteen years old. En route they spent four days in Belgium and six days in London, landing at New York Dec. 12, 1881, and arriving at Shenandoah, Pa., Dec. 14th. He soon found work as a slate picker at the Shenandoah City colliery, where he con- tinued for four months, later obtaining employment at Ellangowan, firing boilers, where he remained for nine months. He then learned the trade of blacksmith at the mines, afterwards serving as machinist, running an engine, and taking care of the machinery for five years. Then he went into business, conducting a saloon on Main street, Shenandoah, for a period of five years. He was one of the original stockholders in the Home Brewing Company. which in company with Christian Schmidt and a few others he organized in the year 1900. The foundation for their brewery was started Jan. 2d of that year, and when it was completed Mr. Grosskettler took charge of the opera- tion of the ice plant, also serving as assistant brewer for about sixteen months.
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He is now superintendent of the whole establishment, which is one of the most important business places in the borough, and its increasing prosper- ity may be attributed largely to his executive ability. In March, 1910, Mr. Grosskettler, in company with several other reputable citizens, founded the Shenandoah Building & Loan Association, of which he became a director, and later vice president, and is now president.
Mr. Grosskettler married Ida Beck, who was born Sept. 18, 1873, in Shenandoah, where she received her education in the parochial and public schools. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Grosskettler: Marie, born Nov. 29, 1898; Joseph, born Sept. 11, 1900; Elizabeth, born May 12, 1903; Christian, born March 27, 1905; and Ida, born Dec. 29, 1907. They have had the best advantages afforded by the parochial and public schools of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Grosskettler and their family are members of the German Catholic Church of the Holy Family, and Mr. Grosskettler belongs to the Washington Beneficial Association and to St. Michael's Society. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party.
Peter Beck, father of Mrs. Grosskettler, was born Jan. 26, 1844, in Cumbola, Blythe township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and died Sept. 4. 1903. He was a butcher by trade, and followed that calling for a while, later work- ing at the mines and conducting a grocery store in Shenandoah. He lived retired for about eight years before his death. At New Philadelphia, this county, he married Magdalene Bassler, who was born July 12, 1847, on the farm of her parents at Tumbling Run. She was a daughter of Christian and Mary Bassler, natives of East Brunswick township, this county. Mrs. Beck died March 26, 1890, and is buried with her husband in the cemetery of the Church of the Annunciation, at Shenandoah. They belonged to the Holy Family Catholic Church, and Mr. Beck was a member of St. Michael's Society and of the Washington Beneficial Association; politically he was a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Beck were the parents of the following children : Ida, Mrs. Grosskettler; Caroline, wife of Edward Whalen, a mine foreman at Shenandoah (they have no children) ; Frederick, a traveling salesman for the Home brewery, who married Annie Melusky and lives in Shenandoah (they have no children) ; Elizabeth, who graduated from the Shenandoah high school and subsequently assisted her father in the grocery store, dying at the age of twenty-eight years; Christian, a cigarmaker by trade, who died when twenty-four years old; and Amos, who makes his home in Seattle, Wash., and who is engaged as conductor on a dining car.
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