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 80
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
Harry Keefer acquired his education in the township schools, and after leaving school assisted his father in the timber business, remaining with him until he engaged in farming on his own account, at the age of twenty-seven years. He also handles all kinds of farm implements and vehicles, wagons, plows, sleighs, etc., as well as fertilizers, being most conveniently located just outside the borough limits of Pine Grove. Besides these interests, he has been prominent in promoting the Pine Grove Township Fire Insurance Com- pany, of which he is president. Public duties have also demanded their share of his time and attention, for he was honored by his fellow citizens with election to the office of township auditor, which he filled from 1907 to 1910. In the fall of 1914 he was elected justice of the peace of Pine Grove town- ship, and he has taken up the responsibilities of the position with his cus- tomary vigor, bidding fair to realize the best expectations of his supporters. Politically he is a Democrat, and he holds membership in various social organizations, having belonged to the Knights of the Golden Eagle for twenty- two years; to the P. O. S. of A. camp at Pine Grove; to the I. O. O. F .; and other bodies.
On Jan. 7. 1893, Mr. Keefer married Mary B. Sigfried, who was born in Pine Grove township, daughter of Frederick and Sophia (Hospul) Sig- fried, natives of Germany who came to this country before their marriage, which took place in Pine Grove. Mr. Sigfried was a stonemason, working for the Philadelphia & Reading Company. He died in Pine Grove Feb. 13, 1907, surviving his wife, who passed away there in October, 1898. Their family consisted of eight children, viz .: Harry, of Lebanon, a brickmason ; David, a resident of Youngstown, Ohio: George, a resident of Elkhart, Ind., a baker of that city: John, deceased; Mrs. Adam Harvey, of Pine Grove (Mr. Harvey is in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company) ; Annie, deceased, at one time a resident of Elkhart, Ind .; Mrs. Keefer; and Augusta, a resident of Los Angeles, California.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keefer: Victor, the eldest, now a resident of Huron, S. Dak., is a baker by trade; Fannie, who lives
1156
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
at home, is the wife of William Heinbach, and they have one child, Walter (Mr. Heinbach is a miner) ; Elma is at home; Clara is deceased; Edna, Laura, Helen, Claude and Mary are at home.
EDWARD A. DOHERTY, of Shenandoalı, bears a most favorable repu- tation in this region, based upon a lifetime of honorable endeavor. He is a thoroughly experienced miner, and as foreman at the Turkey Run colliery for the last seventeen years has given ample evidence of the qualities which gained him promotion to that position. His comprehensive knowledge of con- ditions there, and indeed all over this locality, gives his services a distinct value.
Mr. Doherty was born Sept. 14, 1865, at Silver Creek, Schuylkill county, where his father, Anthony Doherty, settled soon after his arrival in this country. He was a native of the North of Ireland, born at Coleraine, in County Derry, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of black- smith. Coming to the United States in early life, he first settled at Potts- ville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., but soon joined friends at Silver Creek, where he found employment as blacksmith at the colliery. There he remained for a number of years, doing work at his trade for the colliery and on his own account, until 1877, when he removed to Shenandoah. During the rest of his life he was colliery blacksmith at Plank Ridge, holding that position until his death, which occurred about 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. He mar- ried Elizabeth Mairs, like himself a native of County Derry, Ireland, daugh- ter of John Mairs, a farmer and blacksmith near Coleraine, where he died. Mrs. Doherty came to Pottsville with her brother, John Mairs, when a young woman, and was married at that place to Mr. Doherty, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Joseph McCool, the Presbyterian minister. Mr. and Mrs. Doherty were members of the Presbyterian Church at Shenandoah, and all their family have adhered to the same faith. Politically he was a Republican. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Doherty: Edward, the eldest, died young; Martha married Thomas Watson, who is a mine foreman at Indian Ridge, and they have two sons, George and Edward, the former a machinist, the latter a patternmaker; Allieson married John Epply, who is engaged as a telegraph operator by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and they reside in Philadelphia ; Mary (deceased) married James McNeal, of Chester, Pa .. and they had two children, Margaret and Elizabeth; Margaret married New- ton J. Spence, a furniture merchant, connected with Dungan, Fry & Spence, of Atlantic City, N. J., and they have three children, Edward, Charles and John ; Anthony, the youngest of the family, died young.
Edward A. Doherty received his early education at Silver Creek. He began mine work when a boy of twelve or thirteen years, picking slate at first. later driving mules and working up through the various grades of occupation until he became a regular miner. As he showed capacity for responsible duties he was made loader boss, fire boss and foreman in turn, finally becom- ing inside foreman, and seventeen years ago he was assigned to his present position at Turkey Run. He began work at Plank Ridge, and has been employed also at the Shenandoah City, Knickerbocker, Ellen Gowan, Indian Ridge, Kohinoor, West Shenandoah and Turkey Run workings, in fact, with emergency services, his experience may be said to cover all the collieries in the vicinity. He has a name for caution which has been recognized by his superiors in his selection for dangerous work, and which has no doubt
1157
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
saved him and the men working with him from serious injuries on many occasions. His judgment is considered most reliable. Mr. Doherty has many friends who esteem him highly for his sterling personal qualities. Though strict and firm in his business associations, he is absolutely just and has a high sense of his reponsibilities, and his consistent adherence to good prin- ciples and strong convictions of right are so generally known that he has the . confidence and respect of his associates without reservation, whether the officers of the company or the men under his supervision. Though he has worked his way up unaided he is a man of modest and unassuming char- acter, his development being the result of the exercise of solid qualifications and the application of the knowledge acquired in long experience, combined with a keen sense of justice which makes him fair to all with whom he has dealings. He is a director of the First National Bank of Shenandoah.
On Nov. 23, 1888, Mr. Doherty was married at Shenandoah to Jessie Shaw, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Eli Pickersgill, a Methodist Episcopal minister. Mrs. Doherty was born at Shenandoah, daughter of William and Hannah ( Richards) Shaw, the former a native of England, the latter of Wales, whence she came to this country with her parents when a child. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were married in Schuylkill county. He was a mine foreman at Turkey Run for a number of years. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Doherty: E. Grant, now engaged as electrician at the Turkey Run colliery, married Anna Morgan, of Mahanoy City, daughter of Rev. Thomas T. Morgan (they have no children) ; Fred A., who was a clerk at the Indian Ridge colliery, died unmarried, when twenty years old; Ruth and Ralph died in infancy.
Mr. Doherty is well known in the local fraternal organizations, being a member and past councilor of Major Jennings Council, No. 367, Order of Independent Americans ; a past president of the Sons of America ; a member of Washington Camp No. 112, P. O. S. of A. ; and a member of the I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1892. He is the present treasurer of his borough, having been elected in January, 1916.
TRENTON WESLEY RUMBEL, miller and farmer in Union township, was born there Oct. 27, 1855, and is a descendant of an old family of Schuyl- kill county.
Henry Rumbel, his grandfather, was born Oct. 31, 1801, in East Bruns- wick township, this county, where he owned land near Rauschs which he traded for property in Union township, acquiring valuable holdings. He had one tract principally in timber (now owned by Washington Rumbel), cul- tivating the few acres which were cleared, and owned another which he occu- pied and operated, selling the latter eventually to his son Henry. He gave each of his sons a farm. Mr. Rumbel was independent in politics. He was known for his high Christian character, and was a zealous member of the Lutheran congregation of the Old White Church, in which he filled all the official positions. His wife belonged to the Reformed denomination. Her maiden name was Salome Andrews, and she was born Sept. 18. 1807. Mr. Rumbel died Nov. 17, 1869, Mrs. Rumbel on May 20. 1887, and they are buried at the Old White Church. They were the parents of the following children : Henry married Elizabeth Singley ; Daniel is mentioned below ; Jacob served in the Civil war, was wounded, and died from his injuries; Joshua
1158
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
married Lucy Singley ; Rebecca married William Laudig; Mary married Levi Reber.
Daniel Rumbel, son of Henry, was born Dec. 24, 1830, in East Brunswick township, this county, and died at Ringtown June 26, 1891. He was educated partly in his native township, but was still a boy when the family moved to Union township, where he finished his schooling. During most of his early life he helped his father on the farm, continuing thus for some time after his marriage, and he also learned the trade of shoemaker. In time he bought a farm of about 115 acres from his father, nearly all timbered, cut the wood and cleared the land, selling his lumber to the Catawissa Railroad Company, who used it in the construction of bridges along their road. Later he sold fifteen acres to Jacob Laudig, retaining the remainder for himself and carry- ing on general farming for some years. He sold another portion of this tract to the Ringtown Fair Association for fair grounds. Below Ringtown he owned a tract of fifty acres mostly in timber, on which he had a waterpower sawmill, and the timber cut there was used for mining and building purposes. His general farming and lumbering operations were very profitable, and he did well, but he was too good-natured for his own interest about going on others' bonds, and as a consequence he failed financially, his property being disposed of at sheriff's sale. After that he went into the shoe business at Ringtown, conducting a store and working at the trade.
Mr. Rumbel married Sarah M. Seltzer, who was born Sept. 7, 1832, in East Brunswick township, and they had three children: Emmeline, wife of Dr. H. D. Rentschler, of Ringtown ; William H., born Jan. 29, 1854, who mar- ried Louisa Seitz ; and Trenton W. The mother died Sept. 2, 1914, and both parents are buried at the Old White Church. Mr. Rumbel was a Lutheran member of that church, and a Republican in political sentiment.
Jacob Seltzer, father of Mrs. Sarah M. (Seltzer) Rumbel, was a native of East Brunswick township, and farmed there and in Union township, his great-grandson, Richard T. Rumbel, now owning part of his old farm in the latter township, which consisted of 237 acres. He followed general agricul- ture on that place, and died there. By his first wife Sydney (Hart), daugh- ter of William Hart (both natives of Brunswick township), he had a large family, viz .: William married Mary Eisenhart; Benjamin married Barbara Breisch ; John married Caroline Yost; Nathan married Elizabeth Whitner ; Francis married Emma Manbeck; Sarah M. married Daniel Rumbel ; Cather- ine married Henry Schappell; Sydney married Absalom Hubler; Jacob died young. The mother is buried at the Old White Church. All the children born to Mr. Seltzer's second marriage, with Rebecca Petery, died in infancy. He was originally a Lutheran in religious connection, but later became a mem- ber of the United Evangelical denomination, and is buried with his second wife in the U. E. cemetery near Ringtown. Politically he was a Republican.
Trenton W. Rumbel, son of Daniel, grew to manhood in Union town- ship, obtaining his education in the public schools of the home locality. He was trained to farming from boyhood, assisting his father up to the age of twenty years, after which he did farm work for his brother one year and then rented the Benjamin Behm place (the farm now owned by William Houser), which he had for three years. He then joined his father-in-law, John Maurer, a miller and farmer in Union township, for whom he worked two years, for the following five years renting the George Fulmer farm, in Union township. At the end of that time he moved to his present property,
1159
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
buying the farm and gristmill from his father-in-law, subject to judgment and mortgage. There are forty-five acres of good land, all cleared and under cultivation, upon which Mr. Rumbel has made many improvements during his ownership, and he has carried on the milling business as well as farming, doing well in both branches. With his wife he owns another farm in the township, comprising forty-eight acres, of which forty-two acres are tenanted and cultivated by William J. Seltzer, Mr. Rumbel himself farming the other six acres. The house on that place is rented to Oliver Lindermuth. Mr. Rumbel also has property in Ringtown. He is very progressive in busi- ness matters and in advancing the welfare of the community as well as his personal affairs, and he is a director of the Farmers' Independent Telephone & Telegraph Company. In public matters he has worked principally for the good of the local schools, having served three terms as member of the town- ship board of school directors, of which body he is also treasurer. Thoughi a Republican in his views he votes independently. He belongs to Ringtown Lodge, No. 287, I. O. O. F., and to St. John's Lutheran Church at Ringtown, of which he is a deacon.
Mr. Rumbel was united in marriage with Barbara E. Maurer, who was born Dec. 17, 1855, in Union township, where she was educated and remained at home until her marriage. During her younger days she taught Sunday school at the Old White Church, at the Ringtown schoolhouse and in the Ringtown Lutheran Sunday school, when it was first organized. She is now a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in that borough. Mr. and Mrs. Rumbel have had two children, Richard Theodore and Daisy Salome. The daughter, born April 5, 1879, died Dec. 20, 1901.
RICHARD THEODORE RUMBEL, son of Trenton W. Rumbel, was born March 13, 1877, obtained his education in Union township, and is now engaged in farming there on a tract of eighty-two acres, part of the farm of his great- grandfather Seltzer. He carries on general agricultural work, and attends market at Shenandoah. His work is conducted along modern lines, and his fine Jersey cattle, substantial buildings and well kept premises indicate how thoroughly progressive he is by nature. He has served his township as supervisor, and is a deacon of the Lutheran Church at Ringtown, doing his share in the promotion of all local interests. Socially he holds membership in the Knights of the Golden Eagle and Woodmen of the World at Ringtown. In political principle he is a Republican, but he is not partisan in his support of candidates. Mr. Rumbel married Sarah Alice Michael, who was born Jan. 19, 1875, daughter of Stephen and Ellen (Zimmerman) Michael, and they have had seven children, born as follows: Mary Elizabeth, May 29, 1898; Leah Catherine, June 29, 1900; Paul Robert, Aug. 6, 1902; Ruth Agnes, April 18, 1906; Hilda Rebecca, July 19, 1908; Blanche Lillian, June 24, 1910; Henry Allen, July 7, 1912.
John Maurer, grandfather of Mrs. Trenton W. Rumbel, was a farmer and miller, having a mill at Girard Manor, in East Union township, Schuylkill county, and a small tract of land. Later he moved to Orwigsburg, where he had a mill and a very fine farm, and he died there. He and his wife, Sarah (Bittler), are buried at Orwigsburg. They were the parents of fifteen chil- dren, of whom we have the following record: John is mentioned below; Charles married Catherine Kramer; Elizabeth married George Mayberry ; Caroline married Philip Miller; Hannah went West; Nellie married Philip Moyer; Abigail married John Bernheisel; Catherine married George Free-
1
1160
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
hafer; Mary married Solomon Fidler; Rebecca married Josiah Hart. The father was a Democrat and a member of the German Reformed Church.
John Maurer, son of John and Sarah (Bittler) Maurer, was born April 6, 1819, in Union township, received his education in Orwigsburg, and lived there until thirty years of age, assisting his father with the mill and farm work. He was married at Ringtown, and coming to Union township settled where Breisch's sawmill is now located, the old property of Mrs. Maurer's grandfather Breisch. In 1853 he moved to the tract now occupied by his son-in-law, Mr. Rumbel, buying the mill and farm of over forty acres from Jacob Laudig, and after operating the old mill for a while he built a new one. In 1867 he erected the dwelling which now stands upon that place, and there he resided until his death, which occurred May 14, 1898. His wife, Susanna (Breisch), born July 26, 1827, in Union township, died Oct. 26, 1910. They are buried in the cemetery of the Old White Church. Two daughters were born to them: Amanda, widow of D. M. Stauffer, living with Mrs. Rumbel; and Barbara Elizabeth, Mrs. Rumbel. Mr. Maurer was a Democrat, and served his township as school director. He was an active member of the German Reformed Church at Ringtown, in which he held the offices of elder, deacon and trustee.
John Breisch, father of Mrs. Susanna (Breisch) Maurer, was born and reared in Columbia county, Pa., came to this section in an early day, and became the owner of several large farms. By trade he was a stonemason. He married Elizabeth Shuman, also a native of Columbia county, and six children were born to them: Rudolph, who married Missouri Zimmerman; Jacob, who married Fayette Zimmerman ; Susanna, Mrs. Maurer; Adam, who married Mary Rarig; Henry, who married Rebecca Reich; and Josiah, who married Susanna Zimmerman. The father was a Whig and in religion a devout Lutheran, filling all the official positions in his church. Both parents are buried at the Old White Church.
EDWARD J. WHALEN, of Shenandoah, is considered one of the capable workers in the local anthracite fields, where he has proved his worth in long and faithful service, being at present fire boss (or assistant foreman) at the Indian Ridge colliery. He has held this position for about eight years. Mr. Whalen is otherwise well known in this vicinity as the president of the Phoenix Fire Company. He is a member of the third generation of his family in Schuylkill county, his grandfather, Michael Whalen, having lived in Shenan- doah, where he died at the age of ninety years. He had come to America with his family from Ireland, and followed mining here. He was a Democrat and a Catholic, and he and his wife Mary are buried in the Annunciation cemetery at Shenandoah. They had the following children: Patrick, a retired miner, now living in Philadelphia, Pa., married Bridget Lawler; John was the father of Edward J. Whalen ; Mary, widow of Michael Igo, lives in Shenandoah, Pa .; Catherine resides in Brooklyn, New York.
John Whalen was born in Schuylkill county, where he followed mine work all his active years, beginning as a slate picker. He established his home near Heckscherville and was employed in the mines near by until his removal to Shenandoah, shortly after the birth of his son Edward. About fifteen years ago he went West, and shortly afterwards met with an accidental death. He was a member of the Church of the Annunciation at Shenandoah and of the T. A. B. society of that church. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife,
1161
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mary (Nash), was born in County Limerick, Ireland, daughter of Edward and Mary ( Moore) Nash, the former of whom was a coal miner in Ireland. She came to America when eighteen or twenty years old, and is now (1915) living in Shenandoah, aged seventy years. Mr. and Mrs. Whalen had the following family: Michael was burned to death when three years old; Eliza- beth, deceased, was the wife of Noah Benjamin, a miner, of Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Pa., and had children, Stella, Benjamin, Mary, Loretta and Edward; Edward J. is next in the family ; Mary Ann died when eight years old; John, who is a miner of Shenandoah, married Mary Devlin, and has three children, Anna, Mary and Rosetta ; Ellen married Edward M. Thomas (she is his second wife), a miner of Pottsville, Pa., and has four children; Catherine married Thomas Stot, a house builder of Shenandoah, and they have had one child, Mary, deceased; Richard, a miner, lives with his mother at Shenandoah ; Margaret is also at home.
Edward J. Whalen was born April 12, 1874, at Heckscherville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and was reared in Shenandoah, where he was given public school advantages in his early boyhood. But even then he was helping to earn his livelihood, for he was but six years old when first employed at the breaker of the Shenandoah City colliery, as a slate picker. After a short service there he went to Grant's colliery, where he continued to pick slate for six years, after which for four years he drove mules on the dirt bank at the West Shenandoah colliery, for the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company. Then for about one year he was a driver at the Kohinoor colliery, under Thomas Camp- bell, foreman, and when Mr. Campbell was transferred to the Indian Ridge colliery he took young Whalen with him. Mr. Whalen's experience in mine work was quite comprehensive, his duties including those of loader, loader boss, timber repairman, miner, etc., and he was promoted from time to time until he reached his present position, which is one of the most responsible about the colliery. Thomas Watson is inside foreman at the Indian Ridge workings.
Mr. Whalen has been an efficient worker in the Democratic party, and was delegate to the county convention held at Mahanoy City. He is a member of the Church of the Annunciation, and of Shenandoah Council, No. 618, Knights of Columbus. For some years he has been president of the Phoenix Fire Com- pany, of which organization we give below a brief history.
Mr. Whalen married Caroline Agnes Beck, who was born March 14, 1875, in Shenandoah, where she received her education in the parochial school of the Holy Family and the public schools. She is a member of the German Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family. Mr. and Mrs. Whalen have no children.
Peter Beck, father of Mrs. Whalen, 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 working 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 Magda- lene 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 Annuncia- tion, 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
1162
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Beneficial Association ; politically he was a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Beck were the parents of the following children: Ida, Mrs. Joseph Grosskettler; Caroline Agnes, Mrs. Edward J. Whalen; 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.
PHOENIX HOSE COMPANY, of Shenandoah, was organized Aug. 25, 1885, and charter granted Oct. 6, 1885, under the laws of Pennsylvania. Charter members : John M. Mack, John B. Lovett, Thomas J. McKeone, Thomas J. O'Brien, John F. McKernan, John J. Hines, Martin Kelly, John J. Fahey, Martin A. Monaghan, E. J. McGinnis, Bernard J. Duffy. Of these, Martin A. Monaghan and E. J. McGinnis are still members of the company. The first foreman was James Mitchell.
After the fire of Nov. 12, 1883, in which half of the town of Shenandoah was destroyed, it was suggested by Rev. Father O'Reilly that there was not sufficient fire protection for a town the size of Shenandoah, there being only two fire companies there at that time, the Columbia Hose Company and the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company. Father O'Reilly attended all fires in the borough. The people thought the town was large enough to warrant an- other company ; fires at that time were very numerous, and our young men were under the impression that it was their duty to take part in this laudable work. Moreover, the membership of the other companies in Shenandoah were not on very friendly terms with a large portion of the population about that time, and this lack of friendship was probably responsible to some extent for the new organization. Up to that time, there were never more than two or three of the class of people who comprised the original membership of the Phoenix Company that belonged to either of the other companies. The first meeting for the purpose of organizing was held in the parlors of Mr. T. J. McKeone's hotel on Centre street, below White, about where Martin Fahey's place of business is now located. This meeting was held in the early summer of 1885, and the officers elected at this meeting were as follows: President, John M. Mack; secretary, John B. Lovett; treasurer, Thomas J. McKeone. Those were merely temporary officers, whose duty it was to serve until an organization was properly effected. Every member was working incessantly for members, and the enthusiasm displayed by each was a guarantee that the company was to be the success all hoped and prayed for so fervently. At the third meeting which was also held in the parlors of the McKeone hotel, the question of a name for the company was brought up, and as that was but two years after the great fire, and Shenandoah had built up so wonderfully in two years, the expression "Phoenix-like it arose from its ashes" prompted Mr. McKeone to suggest "The Phoenix Fire Company" as the proper title for the new fire-fighters. About August Ist, the company decided to make formal applications for a charter, and J. W. Ryon, Esq., was engaged as solicitor. On Sept. 28, 1885, John J. Hines, J. J. Fahey and John M. Mack were sent to Pottsville to make the necessary affidavit to the signatures on the application.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.