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 82
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Mr. Birston married Anna Smeltzer, who was born in Verbalis, Lithuania, and the two sons born to them in their native province both died there, in infancy. They were the parents of twelve children in all, seven sons and five Vol. II-36
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daughters, and Pius William is the eldest surviving member of the family. Margaret married William Strolis, a merchant of Shenandoah, and they have five children. Joseph F., who is in the real estate business in Shenandoah, married Bertha Petchock. John R., who is a teamster in Shenandoah, married Pauline Gourley. Mary I. is a graduate of the Medico-Chirurgical Nurses' School, Philadelphia, and is now engaged as a trained nurse in that city, where her mother lives with her. Catherine E. is also in Philadelphia, clerking in the store of Strawbridge & Clothier. Annie E. graduated from the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa., in 1904, and for several years has been teaching public school at Shenandoah. Edward is engaged in the clothing business in New York City. Theresa graduated from the Keystone State Normal School, and was a teacher at Passaic, N. J., at the time of her death, Sept. 5, 1915, when she was twenty-four years old. During the Spanish- American war John and Joseph served in the army, the former in the 21st U. S. Infantry and the latter in the Ist U. S. Artillery.
Pius William Birston was educated in Schuylkill county, attending most of the time in Butler township and at Girardville. He began to earn his own living like many boys in this region, in the humble capacity of slate picker at the mines, and did that and other mine work until 1888. That year he found a position as clerk in a general store in Shenandoah, to which place the family had returned in 1886, and was so engaged for about two and a half years. He was then away from home for fourteen months, part of the time attending school at Columbus, Ohio, the rest traveling over the far West. When he returned to Shenandoah he taught in the business college for about one year, and in the early nineties he started in business on his own account as a real estate dealer. A few years later he became associated with L. M. Kazunas in the drug business, but they dissolved partnership in 1900, after about three years, and Mr. Birston then enlarged the scope of his individual enterprise, adding general insurance to his original line. He has a large patronage in both branches, having gained the confidence of the entire community by his reliability and thorough trustworthiness. Since the year 1895 Mr. Birston has been a notary public, and since 1912 has been serving as justice of the peace. He was originally appointed to that office by the governor in 1896, and was subsequently elected for a full term of five years, but on that occasion did not qualify because of a controversy over the question of jurisdiction. In 1912 he was again honored with election. Mr. Birston' has given notably efficient service in various other public offices, having been secretary of the borough council from 1900 to 1905, and served as treasurer of the school board, in 1896, proving deserving of the support of his constituents in all these incumbencies. In 1893 he was candidate for county recorder, but was defeated. On political questions he has always been associated with the Republican party.
Mr. Birston has been very active in local social organizations, holding membership in Lodge No. 515, I. O. O. F., of Shenandoah, of which he is a past grand ; in General Harmon Lodge, No. 251, Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past chancellor; and in the Lithuanian association, in which he is particularly popular, having been elected president of the Lithuanian Alliance of America at the convention held in Chicago in May, 1906. In religion he is a Catholic, belonging to St. George's Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church.
On Oct. 12, 1910, Mr. Birston was married in St. George's Church, at Shenandoah, to Margaret Griskin, who was born July 19, 1892, daughter of John and Anna ( Pleaczkailis) Griskin, and they have had three children: Ruth
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Marie, born Aug. 5, 1911 ; Alice Dorothy, born Oct. 23, 1913 ; and Grace Anna, born July 10, 1915.
CHARLES A. PORTLAND, Pottsville, Pa., president of the Portland Contracting Company, Inc., rock and tunnel work, shaft sinking, etc. Offices, corner George and East Market streets.
GEORGE BATTEN, deceased, settled at Minersville in 1856 and spent the remainder of his life in that borough, winning the esteem and good will of his fellow citizens there by a life of consistent integrity and industry. Three of his children still reside there and continue to uphold the excellence of the name, his sons George Henry and Shadrach Batten, and his daughter, Mrs. Wintersteen.
George Batten was born in Bristol, England, son of Ernest Batten, who lived and died in that country. When a boy about seven years old he began to work in the mines, and he lived for a time in Wales before coming to America, in 1856. Settling at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., he continued the occupation to which he had been trained so thoroughly, spending in all fifty years in under- ground work, which he gave up when fifty-seven years old. He was a skillful miner, and by hard work and good judgment met with success in his work, and was one of the well known men of his town in his time. His death occurred at Minersville in August, 1886, at the age of fifty-nine years, and he is buried in the Methodist Episcopal cemetery. Mr. Batten married Jane Davis, who was born at Pontypool, Wales, and they had children as follows: Charlotte, who is deceased ; George Henry; Mary ; Ernest ; Harriet, deceased, who was the wife of William Simmons; and Shadrach.
GEORGE HENRY BATTEN, son of George and Jane (Davis) Batten, was born Feb. 26, 1861, at Minersville, where he grew to manhood, meantime obtaining his education in the public schools. Mr. Batten was in business for a number of years as a coal dealer, and also as a general merchant, and at different times has been employed as a skilled workman. For six years he was assessor at Minersville, and is now filling the position of truant officer at that borough. He is a popular citizen and one of the well known men of his community, presi- dent of the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, and a member of the Inde- pendent Americans. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Batten's first marriage was to Annie Morgans, daughter of William and Mary A. Morgans, and she was the mother of one daughter, Edna, who is now the wife of Myron Shellhammer, the young couple residing with her father. Mrs. Batten died in June, 1890, and in 1896 Mr. Batten married (second) Kate Hilbert, of Llewellyn, Schuylkill Co., Pa. Mrs. Kate Batten passed away Dec. 1, 1904, leaving one son, George, at present the only representative of the name in his generation. Mr. Batten resides on Pine street.
SHADRACH BATTEN, youngest son of George and Jane (Davis) Batten, was born March 3, 1866, at Minersville, where he is a prosperous merchant. He attended the schools in his native town and during his young manhood was employed at mining for three years. Subsequently he was with John R. Jones and Winfield Scott in the capacity of clerk, familiarizing himself with business methods and gaining experience which was of great value to him when he started in business on his own account, Dec. 13, 1888. His store and home are at No. 336 New Castle street. By commendable methods and strict atten-
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tion to the wants of his trade he has established a large business, and he has the personal esteem and confidence of all his patrons. He has valuable real estate interests in the borough. His fellow citizens have given substantial evi- dence of their faith in his ability by electing him a member of the school board, on which body he served for some time. Mr. Batten is well known in local fraternal circles, being a member and past officer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Royal Arcanum. He and his family are Methodists in religious affiliation.
Mr. Batten married Christy A. Schopp, daughter of William Schopp, of Minersville, and they have two children, Jessie J., who graduated from the Minersville high school in 1914 and is now at home ; and May, a member of the ' class of 1915 of the Minersville high school, who in a typewriting contest, for speed and accuracy, won a gold medal against many competitors from all over the state.
MRS. MARY (BATTEN) WINTERSTEEN, the only surviving daughter of George and Jane (Davis) Batten, was born at Minersville, where she still resides. She is the wife of John Wintersteen. For over twenty years Mrs. Wintersteen was engaged in the general mercantile business in the borough, and she still has valuable real estate holdings there.
CHARLES E. SMITH, proprietor of the Shenandoah Boiler & Machine Works, at Shenandoah, has established a reputation for reliable machine and blacksmith work which brings a steady patronage to his plant. The varied experience of his early life gave him a thorough insight into the local needs in his line, and his success demonstrates that he is well fitted to conduct the business. Mr. Smith is a native of Schuylkill county, born at West Wood, near Minersville, Feb. 16, 1859, son of William E. Smith and grandson of John Smith.
John Smith, the grandfather, was a native of Scotland, where he lived until long after his marriage, all his children being born there. On coming to this country he settled at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and when the Wiggan slope shaft was sunk three of his sons served as leaders of a shift. Within several years after their arrival in America the family had become scattered to different parts of the country, but we have the following record of the children: John, James and Robert are deceased; Joseph, who went to Ken- tucky, was a stationary engineer; William E. was the father of Charles E. Smith; Sydney went to California; Jane married Michael Welsh, and both are deceased (among their large family were Michael and Thomas) ; Mar- garet married William McKeghney, who served five years in the army, being a member of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil war, as an officer, and is now in the soldiers' home at Washington, D. C. (they had children, Elmer, William, Robert and Adelaide). The family were Presby- terians.
William E. Smith was born in Scotland March 22, 1832, and was about six years old when the family came to America, receiving his education in the public schools at Pottsville. He learned the molder's trade in the shops at Minersville, and was later occupied running the stationary engine at the West Wood mines, for James Lanigan. After a short residence in Minersville he moved in 1865 to Gilberton, this county, where he ran an engine for a Mr. Kendrick for a few years. Then he located at Mahanoy City, and ran engines at the New Boston collieries. For a few years he was in the saloon business
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at Mahanoy City, selling out to John Kating, after which he was engineer at the Hills colliery there, for several years. Returning to Gilberton, he became outside foreman for the Draper Coal Company, holding that position eleven years, was subsequently engineer on the coal slope at Boston Run for two and a half years, and then moving to Shenandoah bought an interest in the Cam- bridge Coal Company, the firm name becoming Pierce, James & Smith. They operated a colliery near Shenandoah, and Mr. Smith at the same time conducted a liquor store. After selling his interests at Shenandoah he was engaged as engineer at the county almshouse for a time, was employed as motorman by the Pottsville Traction Company, and retired because of ill health some time before his death, which occurred in November, 1913. Though he did not aspire to public office Mr. Smith held the position of school director at Gilberton in 1870. He was a Republican in his political convictions, and a Presbyterian in religious connection, he and his wife belonging to the First Church at Pottsville. Mr. Smith joined the Odd Fellows at Frackville, this county, later changing his membership to the lodge at Shenandoah, No. 515. He married Elizabeth Anstey, who was born in England in April, 1832, daughter of John and Sarah Anstey, and died about 1904 at Pottsville. Her father was a miner. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are buried in the Charles Baber cemetery at Pottsville. They were the parents of the following named children: Albert is employed as a stationary engineer, pumpman and boilermaker, and resides at Mahanoy Plane ; he has been twice married, to Rebecca Bayliss and Mrs. Annie Lawler, and by the second union has one child, William, who lives in Philadelphia, Pa. Charles E. is next in the family. Agnes married Frank Kurtz, of Pottsville, and has children, William, Elmer, Ethel, Clara and Mabel. Clara is the widow of Harry Hutchinson, a hatmaker, of New York, and makes her home in Pottsville; she has one son, Hobart. William E., stationary engineer and pumpman, of Shenandoah, married Mary Clifford, and they have had six children, Lizzie, William, Clifford, Charles, Mildred, and a son that died young. Robert, a barber, married a Miss Burns, and both are deceased; they had one child, William, who is serving in the United States marines. Jane is the wife of Richard Reese, a machinist at the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia ; their children are Lillian, Ethel, Jane, Raymond and Bruce. John, deceased, was a barber in Germantown, Pa .; he married and had one son, William. Mame is the widow of Dr. William H. Robinson.
Charles E. Smith grew up at Gilberton, where he received a public school education. When but eight years old he began picking slate at the New Boston colliery, where he was employed for three years, and then for a few years did the same kind of work at the Hills colliery, until the breaker burned down. For a couple of years after that he continued slate picking, at the Silliman colliery near Mahanoy City, for a couple of years more at the Draper colliery (Gilberton), and a short time at the new breaker. He was employed a little while in the blacksmith shop and for a brief period in the engine house, cleaning engines, and then for three and a half years ran wagons from the top of the slope into the breaker. From that he was promoted to caging wagons at the top of the slope, being so engaged two years, and during the two years following ran the fan and tended three boilers for the Draper Coal Company. After his removal to Shenandoah, in 1879, he was employed for eight months running a fan and tending boilers, and then entered the boiler shop of George A. Schimpf & Brother, where he served a term at the trade of boilermaking. He worked some years for the same firm as a journeyman,
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going with them to Pottsville when their works were moved to that place. Returning to Shenandoah, he started business in that line on his own account, under the name of the Shenandoah Boiler & Machine Works. He has a well equipped machine shop, with blacksmith shop attached, and does all kinds of work in both lines, including boiler repairing, steam and hot water fitting, horseshoeing and wagon repairing. His executive ability, comprehensive knowledge of the requirements of his patrons, and mechanical skill, have com- bined well towards making his venture successful. It has proved a convenience to many of the local business houses, to whom Mr. Smith's efficient services have become invaluable. He has been a useful citizen of the borough, where he gave his time as member of the board of health for fifteen years. In politics he is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows (Lodge No. 591, Shenandoah) and P. O. S. of A., having originally joined Washington Camp No. 206, which afterwards merged into No. 112, of Shenandoah. He is a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, and for years sang in the choir. Mrs. Smith also belongs to that church, and formerly sang in the choir.
Mr. Smith married Allison W. Graham, who was born Sept. 5, 1863, in Ohio, and was ten years old when the family moved to Shenandoah, where she received her education. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had three children: Raymond D., born Nov. 13, 1891, attended public school in Shenandoah, and is now a machinist at Glassboro, N. J. Harry P., born Jan. 14, 1893, began his education in the public schools of Shenandoah, and graduated in 1915 from the mechanical engineering department of Lehigh University; he is now mechanical engineering assistant in the laboratory at Annapolis, Md. Charles A., born Sept. 2, 1896, is a graduate of the Deaf and Dumb School at Mount Airy, near Philadelphia, and is a cigarmaker by trade.
William Graham, Mrs. Smith's grandfather, came to this country from Scotland, where he had married, and settled at Hazleton, Luzerne Co., Pa. By occupation he was a miner. He and his wife Elizabeth are buried at Hazleton. They were Presbyterians in religion. They had the following children : John; James, who died young; Marion, deceased, who was the wife of John Johnson, of Hazleton, Pa .; Agnes, who married James Brown, of Hazleton ; and Margaret, deceased, who married John Brown, of Hazleton.
John Graham, son of William, was born March 10, 1838, at Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a young man when he arrived in America. He traveled about the country considerably, spending some time in Ohio, where he worked in the coal mines, and also followed that occupation after settling at Shenan- doah. He retired about fifteen years before his death, which occurred July 5, 1910. He was married at Minersville, this county, to Grace Watson, who was born May 8, 1842, and came to this country when about sixteen years old. They had been sweethearts in the old country. Mrs. Graham died April 26, 1884, and is buried with her husband in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Shenan- doah. They had the following children : William, born June 28, 1861, is clerk in a store at Blackwood, Va .; he married Caroline Brown, and their children are Raymond, Margaret, Bertha and Agnes. Allison W., Mrs. Smith, is next in the order of birth. Elizabeth T., born Aug. 26, 1865, died May 4, 1884. Thomas W., born Feb. 12, 1868, died April 29, 1884. James R., born Jan. 27, 1870, died May 6, 1884. George, born Feb. 7, 1872, died May 7, 1884. John J., born May 12, 1874, is a gold miner in South Dakota. Euphemia, born Sept. 4. 1876, died March 22. 1878. Grace, born June 22, 1881, married Jacob Foose,
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who is a contractor and builder at Shenandoah. The father of this family was a Republican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religious doctrine.
Thomas Watson, Mrs. Smith's maternal grandfather, came from Scotland, where he had been employed as a hostler at the mines. For a time he was located near Pottsville, Pa., where he worked in the mines, later moving to Shenandoah, where he died when about fifty years old. He married Allison Lawson, who lived to the age of about eighty-eight years, and they had a family of seven children : John, deceased, a miner, who married Agnes Adamson (she is now living at Shenandoah) ; James, of Yatesville, Schuylkill county, who married Jane Rammage; George, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Thomas, a mine foreman at Shenandoah, who married Martha Doherty ; Grace, Mrs. Smith's mother; Ellen, who married William Muhr, of Shamokin; and Euphemia, deceased, who was the first wife of Thomas Rammage ( for his second wife he married Mrs. Lawson). The parents are buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Shenandoah. Mr. Watson was a Republican in politics, and in religious connection he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. He was very well versed in the Bible.
JOSEPH L. WARNE, M. D., practicing physician and surgeon, residing at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.
WALTER SCOTT SHEAFER, late of Pottsville, civil and mining engineer, and later engaged in the real estate and insurance business, was born April 5, 1837, at Wiconisco, Dauphin Co., Pa., son of Henry and Mary ( W'enrich ) Sheafer. His father was a prominent pioneer of Dauphin county, president of the Lykens Valley Railroad Company, developed and superin- tended the Lykens Valley coal mines at Wiconisco, and in 1834 introduced anthracite coal into the Susquehanna markets.
After graduation from the Scientific department of Yale College, in 1860, Walter S. Sheafer entered the offices of his brother, P. W. Sheafer, with whom he was associated until the death of the latter, in 1891. After that he acted as one of the executors of the Sheafer Estate and was actively engaged in the management of the same. He was especially interested in the development of the Mahanoy and Shenandoah coal fields. For many years he was the engineer for the Gilbert Estate, owners of property in these several regions. During his professional career as mining engineer he made extensive examina- tions of coal properties in many parts of the United States, and also in Mexico. Mr. Sheafer was interested in the insurance business and was con- nected with the firm of Sheafer & Lowrey for many years. In 1887 Mr. Sheafer was president of the Board of Trade of Pottsville, and through his especial efforts the Tilt Silk Mill. was located there. He was also connected with the installation of the Steam Heat Company, and was its president for many years, until his death, which occurred April 20, 1908, at his home in Pottsville, No. 207 Mahantongo street, after a year's illness. He was buried in the Charles Baber cemetery.
On June 7, 1864. Mr. Sheafer was married to Jane Augusta Camp, a native of New Haven, Conn., born Feb. 2, 1838, and they had two children, Paul and Frances M. (now Mrs. Howell Habberstadt). Mrs. Sheafer survived her husband but a few months, passing away Sept. 22, 1908, at her home in Potts- ville. She, too, is interred in the Charles Baber cemetery.
Mr. Sheafer was a past master of Pulaski Lodge, No. 216, F. & A. M., of
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Pottsville; a past high priest of Mountain City Chapter, No. 196, R. A. M .; a past eminent commander of Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., of Pottsville ; and a Scottish Rite Mason of the thirty-second degree. He assisted in organizing Constantine Commandery and was its first eminent commander.
PAUL SHEAFER, son of Walter Scott Sheafer, is now engaged in the insur- ance business in Pottsville.
JOSEPH GABRIEL SMITH has been associated with business and public affairs in Ashland for a period of forty years, and in the numerous public positions to which he has been chosen has served his fellow citizens well. Some of the most approved ideas in municipal government now in force in the borough are due to his persistent efforts to place the local government upon a sound basis. For thirty-five years he has been a member of the Washington Fire Company, and has been one of the efficient workers in that organization. Mr. Smith is now in business as a blacksmith and wheel- wright.
The Smith family is of German origin, and Frederick Smith, father of Joseph G. Smith, was born in Germany, in which country his parents lived and died. He came to America in 1848 and settled at once in Pottsville, Schuyl- kill Co., Pa., where he became a mine employe, continuing to follow that kind of work the rest of his life. He died in Pottsville at the age of sixty-seven years. He was married at that place to Barbara Lann, like himself a native of Germany, born in Hanmetz. Her parents died in Germany, and after com- ing to America she lived at Pottsville. Five children were born to her marriage, Joseph G. being the eldest of the family; Adam is deceased; Mary is the wife of Peter Heim, of Pottsville; Theresa, the widow of John Better, lives at Yorkville, this county ; Charles L. is deceased.
Joseph G. Smith was born March 17, 1849, at Pottsville, where he was reared, meantime receiving his education in the parochial schools. For two years he was employed at the colliery of Kimball & Sailor, and subsequently spent five years in the shop of John T. Noble, boilermaker. Then he served a three years' apprenticeship at the trade of carriage blacksmith in a shop located on the present site of the Pottsville post office. Coming to Ashland, he worked as a journeyman in the employ of Wesley Manley for three years, until he commenced business on his own account, opening his present shop March 18, 1874. He bought this property and shop from William Mattis, also acquiring his interest in the blacksmith business, which he has carried on con- tinuously since. Mr. Smith is a reliable mechanic and has done well at his trade, but much of his time has been given to his public duties. He was elected assessor of the Third ward, and after completing his term was elected to the town council for three years' service, doing notable work in that body, where he was honored with the chairmanship of various committees. He has been espe- cially active in promoting the interests of the public schools in Ashland, has been school director, and was instrumental in bringing about the election of W. C. Esther as superintendent of the public schools, a service which met with unqualified approval. For three years he held the position of tax collector of the borough, during that time handling a vast amount of money. It was he who made the first deposit with county treasurer Thomas Pepper, of Ashland. Mr. Smith was at one time a candidate for county register.
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