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 84
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1184
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Eberhardt Grosskettler, father of Eberhard C. Grosskettler, was born at Holtum, near Werl, Westphalia, received his education in the local govern- ment schools, and served a thorough apprenticeship at the trades of machinist and locksmith, obtaining certificates which entitled him to work as a journey- man, in which capacity he was engaged for several years. He saw considerable service in the German 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 business for several years. He lived retired for some time before his death, which occurred in April, 1901. His wife, Anna Maria (Pott), was born at Endorf, daughter of Anton and Theresa ( Beste) Pott, the former a farmer and blacksmith. Mrs. Grosskettler died Oct. 7, 1912. To Mr. and Mrs. Grosskettler were born children as follows: Joseph, of Shenandoah, who married Ida Beck; Eberhard C .; 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 Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany 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 children, Anna M., Mary Catherine, Henry G. and John Eugene. All the family belong to the German Catholic Church of the Holy Family, and Mr. Grosskettler was a member of St. Michael's Society. In politics he was a Democrat.
Eberhard C. Grosskettler attended the parochial school in Shenandoah conducted by the Sisters, in connection with the Holy Family Church. He began early to assist in the support of the family, being only seven years old when he started to pick slate at the Turkey Run colliery during the summer vacation, working under Foreman Frederick Reese. He was employed there for two years, and for a few years afterwards picked slate at the Kohinoor colliery under Foreman Marshall Ball. Later he found work at the Maple Hill colliery, under Reese Tasker, carrying steel drills, etc., to the tunnel men, remaining there two years in that capacity and then for two years serv- ing as blacksmith's helper in the blacksmith shop at that colliery. Following this he spent a year in Franklin county, Mo., living with his cousin, Casper Radermacher, assisting with farm work and also in the installation of a local telephone line, the connecting link of the Bell system between New York City and Kansas City. On his return to Shenandoah he worked as a laborer with the stonemasons at the mines of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron
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Company under John Senior, boss mason, for a period of seven months, after which he drove mules at the Shenandoah City colliery for two years, during which his foreman was Frederick Carl. Then for a year he was one of the repair gang in the Maple Hill workings, under David Adamson, leaving there to begin work for the Home Brewing Company of Shenandoah. He was first employed on the ice tank, pulling ice, for a time, and then became fireman in the boiler house. After two and a half years' employment at the brew- ery he resumed work with the repair gang at the Maple Hill colliery, working there for another two years, under Mr. Adamson. He has since been engaged in the boiler house of the brewery, where he now has charge, and his strict attention to his important duties shows that he has a proper sense of his responsibilities. He is a member of the Brewery Workers' Local, No. 210, of Shenandoah, and his other social connections are with St. Michael's Society and the Washington Beneficial Society.
Mr. Grosskettler married Catherine Frantz, who was born Aug. 31, 1873. in Alteglashüte, Alsace-Lorraine, and received her education in the parochial school conducted by the Sisters in that parish, of which Father Heinrich Mollinger was priest. Mrs. Grosskettler was fifteen years old when she came to America. Two children have been born to this marriage: Francis Christian, born June 14, 1907, who died Nov. 20, 1910; and Anna Theresa, born July 4, 1904, who attends the parochial school of the Holy Family Church at Shenandoah. Mr. and Mrs. Grosskettler are members of that church. He is a Democrat in political sentiment.
Frank Frantz, Mrs. Grosskettler's grandfather, followed lumbering in Alsace and the Rhine Province during his young manhood, and later learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed until his death, which occurred when he was ninety-three years old. He and his wife, Margaret (Miller), were Catholics in religious faith. They had the following children : Henry was the father of Mrs. Grosskettler: Nicholas, a blacksmith, still living at Alteglas- hüte, has been married twice, having three children-Nicholas, Elizabeth and Frank-by his first wife, Elizabeth (Koenig), and none by his second; Elizabeth married Remisus Gregoria, manager of the Gargon & Wendel Coal Company (known as the Klein Rossel Coal Company) in Alsace-Lorraine, and they had ten children, Desire (he died at the age of nine years), Cathe- rine ( who married George Bradiger and had one child, Catherine), Elizabeth ( Mrs. Arnold, who has a daughter), Mary (who is married and living in Germany), Margaret (married and living in Germany), Virginia (married and living in Germany), and four children who died when infants; Catherine married Joseph Hesse, a stonemason, boss contractor at Alteglashüte, and had children. Nicholas, John, Remisus, Henry, Joseph, Frank, Catherine and Mary ; John, a mine boss at Alteglashüte, married Theresa Klein and had John, Catherine, Jean Baptiste, Margaret, Frank and one younger ; and Mary died aged thirteen years.
Henry Frantz was born at Alteglashüte, and died in Germany in Feb- ruary, 1889, at the age of fifty-eight years. By occupation he was a miner. His wife, Catherine ( Piett), also a native of Alteglashüte, came to Shenan- doah, Schuylkill Co., Pa., the year of his death, and died there Aug. 8, 1907. They were German Catholics, and after coming to this country Mrs. Frantz became a member of the Holy Family Church at Shenandoah. She was the mother of nine children, viz. : Nicholas, John (deceased), Christian (deceased), John (deceased), Christian, Frank, Catherine, Peter and Henry. Vol. II-37
1186
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
GEORGE M. WATSON, of Pottsville, belongs to an old and substantial family of this part of the State of Pennsylvania, in whose honor the borough of Watsontown, Northumberland Co., Pa., was named. His grandfather, George Watson, was a very large landowner and a prosperous farmer in that vicinity. He died at Watsontown, and is buried there. His children were: Robert, Daniel, David, Rebecca, Phebe, Angeline and Elizabeth.
David Watson, son of George, was born at Watsontown, and died at Allenwood, Pa. He was a lifelong farmer and prospered steadily in that call- ing, acquiring the ownership of three farms, at Allenwood, in Union county, Pa., comprising 125, forty and sixty acres, respectively. The well known Hunter mill was also one of his possessions, and he was a prominent man of his day in that section, contributing his full share to the prosperity of the locality. He married Maria Hunter, daughter of John Hunter, of Allenwood, where she still resides, and the following children were born to this union : William H., now a resident of Spokane, Wash .; Lillie, married to W. R. Peoples, a prominent attorney of Williamsport, Pa .; Angeline, who lives at home; George M .; Leon Edward, now engaged in farming at Allenwood (he was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county, but practiced only one year) ; Horatio H., a telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, stationed at Montgomery, Pa .; Lewis D., of Allenwood; David, who is en- gaged in teaching; Isabella, married to Linn Shaeffer; and Maria, twin of Isabella, who died young.
George M. Watson was born Aug. 4, 1868, at Allenwood, Union county, and there grew to manhood. His education was received in the public schools, which he attended during the winter seasons, assisting his father with the farm work during the summer. He remained at home until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he went to Port Carbon, where he worked on the farm of Dr. Brown, who was so well satisfied with his services that he con- tinued with him for a period of fourteen years. Meantime he also became engaged in dealing in horses, but he was ambitious to enter business on his own account, and he located in Philadelphia and embarked in the furniture trade, which he carried on there for a few years. In 1897 he opened his present store at Pottsville, where he is engaged in dealing in new and second- hand furniture, stoves, etc. His establishment is at Nos. 407-409 North Centre street. Mr. Watson has had a thriving custom throughout the period of his location in Pottsville, and as he speaks German, Polish, Slavic and some Italian, as well as English, he has drawn considerable patronage from the foreign population in the vicinity. Mr. Watson has continued to make his home at Port Carbon, and is well and favorably known in both his residence and business locations. He has become quite prominent in politics, and in 1908 was the Republican candidate for the Legislature, for which office he was defeated by only a few votes. He has also been candidate for jury com- missioner, and has always made a good run on his ticket. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, belonging to Lodge No. 411, of Pottsville.
Mr. Watson married Bessie Smith, daughter of Robert Smith, who for forty years was engaged as boss molder at the Allison shops, Port Carbon. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have had the following children: Bessie, who married Harold Sabold and resides at Palo Alto, this county ; David, a machinist, living at home; Robert, who is employed with his father; William, who is engaged as a clerk ; and Horatio H. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church.
1187
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
HARRY E. MASTER, of Shenandoah, has the most up-to-date garage in Schuylkill county, and also acts as agent for the Ford and Jeffery cars in his district. In his successful handling of the automobile business he has shown enterprise and ability which stamp him as a typical member of the family to which he belongs, the Masters having been ranked among the thrifty residents of the community wherever found.
The family is an old one in Berks county, Pas, where David and Catherine (Hunsberger) Master, grandparents of Harry E. Master, were born and spent their lives. David Master was a shoemaker by occupation. They had a fam- ily of ten children, namely: Mary, who married Amos Fryer, of Shimer- ville, Pa .; Henry, a blacksmith, of Macungie, Lehigh county, Pa .; Evan, op- erator of a granite quarry in Berks county; James, similarly engaged at Mertztown, Pa .; John, in the same business at Minersville, Pa .; William, who died in youth; George W., a blacksmith, of Robesonia, Berks county ; David, who died young; Milton H .; and Kate, wife of John Stichter, of Zionsville, Lehigh county.
Milton H. Master was born Sept. 21, 1855, in Berks county, received a common school education there, and learned the trade of marble cutter. His apprenticeship completed, he first established himself in business at Miners- ville, Schuylkill county, where he remained for a period of eight years, remov- ing thence to Shenandoah, where in 1881 he started what became well known as the Shenandoah Steam Marble & Granite Works. His skill and good taste made his work very popular, and the cemeteries of Schuylkill and adjoining counties contain many highly creditable specimens of his handicraft. He built up so large a business that seven or eight skilled stonecutters were employed steadily, and orders were filled promptly and efficiently. Mr. Masters became one of the leading business men of the borough, and was actively engaged until five weeks before his death, which occurred Jan. 6, 1914. He is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Shenandoah. He took an intelligent interest in the welfare of the borough, served as a member of the council and secretary of that body, and in 1895 was the Democratic candidate for county comptroller, but his ticket was defeated that election. Socially he belonged to the P. O. S. of A. On March 21, 1878, Mr. Masters married Lavina Hanich, who survives him and continues to reside at Shenandoah. She is a member of the Reformed Church, to which Mr. Master also belonged. They became the parents of children as follows: Harry E. is mentioned below ; Robert H. died when five years old; Grace married James Ringler, present secretary of the borough council of Shenandoah; Mabel Irene is unmarried; Thomas J., who is employed with his brother Harry E., married Ethel S. Ward, of Jersey City, N. J .; Ruth M. died April 30, 1915, aged twenty-three years.
Henry Hanich, grandfather of Mrs. Lavina (Hanich) Master, lived in Berks county, but died at Minersville. Amos Hanich, her father, was born at Mertztown, Berks county, settled at Minersville, Schuylkill county, and followed his trade of carpenter in work about the collieries. He died at Minersville when eighty-two years old. By his marriage to Christene Bow- man he had children as follows: Amelia, who married Charles Oerther ; Sarah, wife of Henry Oerther; George H., deceased; Emma, wife of Charles Stein ; Lavina, Mrs. Master; and Kate, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Bachman.
Harry E. Master was born Oct. 31, 1878, at Minersville, Schuylkill county, and attended public school at Shenandoah, whither the family removed dur-
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ing his early childhood, when he was but three years old. He learned the marble and granite business with his father, for whom he continued to work until 1910, in which year he engaged in the automobile business, which he has developed steadily by thorough application to its needs. His first garage was at Nos. 122-124 North Pear street, with office at Nos. 14-18 North West street, and in 1916 he moved the business to its present location, at the rear of Nos. 125-127 North Jardin street. The Shenandoah Garage is considered the model establishment of its kind in the county, and Mr. Master not only sells a large number of Ford and Jeffery cars, but also sells accessories and supplies, and has all conveniences for doing general repairing. He is promi- nent in the local social organizations, belonging to the B. P. O. Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles (of which he is a past president) and Rescue Hook & Lad- der Company.
Mr. Master married Mercy Bees, and they have one child, Dorothy H., now attending school. Mrs. Master's parents, John W. and Elizabeth (Ratford) Bees, had the following children : Eliza, Annie, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mattie, William, Mary, Mercy, Charles, Margaret and Harry.
WILLIAM KEISER, assistant inside foreman at the West Brookside colliery, was born at Mahanoy City May 28, 1870, a son of John Keiser. The latter was born in Germany and came to the United States when twenty years old, locating at Mahanoy City, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he followed mining. In 1871 he moved to Porter township, and continued mining at the Kalmia and Brookside collieries. The maiden name of his wife was Eva Filler, and their children were: Catherine married Elmer Heckler, who was superin- tendent of the Girard estate at Shenandoah, where he died, his widow still residing there; John is a resident of Tower City; Lena died young ; Susan died at the age of twenty-two years; William is next in the family; Emma married August Renner. John Keiser and his wife died in Porter township, and are buried at Muir, in that township.
William Keiser was educated in the schools of Porter township and at the age of twelve years began picking slate in the West Brookside colliery, later going to the Kalmia colliery. Close attention to his work, and faith- fulness in the performance of his duties, gained him successive promotions, and he rose to be loader boss. In 1903 he was made assistant inside foreman at the West Brookside colliery, which position he still holds.
Mr. Keiser married Elizabeth Adams, and she is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kuntzelman) Adams. Their children are as follows: Ida who married Frank Myers; Eva, who married F. Knorr; Helen; Esther; Elmer; Raymond ; and John, William and Norman, all three deceased. Mr. Keiser has been for many years superintendent of the Reinerton Sunday school, and is very much interested in its work and development. Frater- nally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men and the Jr. O. U. A. M. For many years he has taken a helpful part as a director of the Williams Valley Building and Loan Association, in the conduct of this organization. In the fall of 1915 he was elected a member of the school board of Porter township, and will doubtless prove himself a valuable addition to that body. A man of strong characteristics, he has forged ahead, and, while advancing himself, has assisted others on their upward climb in life.
ABRAHAM F. RISSINGER, of Shenandoah, has for several years been acting as outside foreman at collieries in Schuylkill county, where he has
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
a high reputation for intelligence and conscientious attention to his duties. Since the summer of 1915 he has been at the West Shenandoah colliery.
The Rissingers are of German extraction, and Karl Gottlieb Reissiger, musical composer, born 1798, died 1859, was a member of the family. Abra- ham Rissinger, grandfather of Abraham F. Rissinger, was probably born in Germany, and was a son of Emanuel Rissinger, who settled at Gratz, Dauphin Co., Pa. After residing for a time in Philadelphia Abraham Rissinger located in Dauphin county, where he followed farming in Lykens township, and he died there in 1879. His wife, whose maiden name was Klinger, preceded him to the grave. They had children as follows: Joseph, Jacob, Daniel, Philip, Catherine (who married Marvin Peterson) and Mary (who married Frank Long and is deceased).
Daniel Rissinger, son of Abraham, was born at Gratz, Pa., and received a public school education there. He was engaged in farming in Dauphin county and was also employed in the mines there, at the Bear Valley workings, Wil- liamstown. He died at Gratz in 1900, at the age of fifty-two years. Mr. Rissinger married Amelia Koppenhafer, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Leidich) Koppenhafer, and she is still living at Gratz. Mr. and Mrs. Ris- singer were members of the Reformed Church, in which he served as deacon and elder. They had eight children who grew to maturity, four of the family born to them dying young; of the others, Abraham F. is mentioned below ; Jacob J. married Mabel Saltzer; Charles M. married Clara Troutman ; William H. married a Miss Shade, and they have two children, Homer and Roy; Andrew married Lottie Kimmel and they have one child, Dorsey ; Har- rison married Ellen Unger; Mary married Elmer Daniels; Sallie married John Morrow and has six children ; Austin is deceased; twins died in infancy.
Abraham F. Rissinger was born Dec. 24, 1873, at Gratz, Dauphin Co., Pa., and spent his boyhood on the farm, meantime receiving common school advan- tages. When twelve years old he began picking slate at the Bear Valley col- liery, Williamstown. Later he went to learn the trade of carpenter with Alexander Klinger, serving a three years' apprenticeship and afterwards working as a journeyman at Shamokin, Pa. Subsequently he was in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Company, building break- ers, and on July 21, 1903, was made carpenter foreman at the East Brookside colliery, receiving the appointment from master carpenter H. E. Muehlhof, of Pottsville. After filling that position satisfactorily a few years he was transferred from the carpenter department to the coal department in the capacity of foreman at the Middle Creek washery, under E. E. Kaercher, general superintendent, Pottsville. He was retained there until June 18, 1908, when he was transferred to the Lincoln colliery as outside foreman. On June 17, 1912, he was changed thence to the Brookside colliery, in the same capacity, remaining in that position until assigned to his present duties at the West Shenandoah workings. His record of service has been highly creditable, and he has an equally enviable character for citizenship at the various places where he has resided. While living at Tower City he was a director of the Lykens Valley Building & Loan Association of that town. He is a Mason in- good standing, belonging to Swatara Lodge, No. 267, F. & A. M., of Tremont, this county ; Tremont Chapter, No. 221, R. A. M. ; Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., of Pottsville ; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading. At Tremont he also holds membership in the Royal Arcanum. His religious connection is with the Reformed Church.
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SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. Rissinger married Carrie Hoffman, daughter of Emanuel and Fietta (Shadle) Hoffman, and they are the parents of five children: James A., Eva M., Florence A., William A. and Ruth I.
JOHN B. FAYHEY, furniture dealer and undertaker, Port Carbon, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.
JACOB J. RISSINGER, who is engaged in farming in Hubley township, near the village of Sacramento, and who is also serving in the capacity of constable, was born Feb. 18, 1876, in Dauphin county, Pa., a son of Daniel and Amelia ( Kopenheffer) Rissinger.
Abraham Rissinger, the paternal grandfather of Jacob J. Rissinger, is the first of the name of whom we have any record. He resided for a time in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., and then removed to Dauphin county, where he became a prosperous farmer. It is probable that he was born in Germany, and that he was the first of the family to emigrate to the United States. He married a Miss Klinger, and they became the parents of six children, namely : Joseph; Jacob; Daniel; Felix; Mary, who married Frank Long; and Kath- erine, who married M. Peters. The father of these children died in 1879. the mother passing away several years earlier.
Daniel Rissinger, the father of Jacob J. Rissinger, was born at Gratz, Dauphin Co., Pa., and was educated in the public schools of that place. He was engaged in various lines of enterprise for several years, but eventually settled down to farming in Dauphin county and continued to be engaged therein during his active years. He died in 1900, firm in the faith of the Reformed Church, which he had served as deacon and elder for several years. Mrs. Rissinger is also a member of that church. Of their twelve children, four died young and eight grew to maturity. We have the following record of the family: Abraham, who married Carrie Hoffman and has had five children, James, William, Eva, Florence and Ruth; Jacob J .; Charles, who married Clara Troutman; Mary, who married Elmer Daniels; William, who married a Miss Shade and has two children, Homer and Roy: Austin, who is deceased; Andrew, who married Lottie Kimmel, and has one child, Dorsey; Sallie, who married John Morrow and has six children ; Harrison, who married Ellen Unger ; and twins who died in infancy.
Jacob J. Rissinger was educated in the public schools of his home com- munity in Dauphin county, and was reared on a farm, on which he worked as his father's assistant from boyhood until he reached manhood. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming for himself, although on the farm belong- ing to his father-in-law, on which he remained until July 2, 1901, at which time he purchased his present property. This is a well-cultivated tract of seventy-three acres, lying in Hubley township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., upon which he has made numerous valuable improvements. His residence is a large brick building, modern in its equipment, and indicates thrift and neatness, while his barns and outbuildings also show substantial construction and are equipped with all devices of a labor-saving character. Mr. Rissinger is known as one of the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of the Valley View district, is considered a man of up-to-date views and tendencies, and has established his reputation for good citizenship by linking his name with every move- ment for the public welfare and advancement. In 1911 he was elected on the Republican ticket as constable, and in 1915 was reelected for another term
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