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 88

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 684

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 88

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JOHN J. CULLEN, of Port Carbon, Schuylkill county, telegrapher for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company.

JAMES FOLEY, a most respected citizen of Shenandoah, is now living in retirement there, having given up active work several years ago, after more than half a century spent in the coal mines of the vicinity. For thirty-four

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years he was at the Indian Ridge colliery, as miner, fire boss and assistant foreman.

Mr. Foley was born on his father's farm near Carlow, Queen's County, Ireland, son of Edward and Margaret (Franey) Foley. The parents were also natives of Queen's County, and with the exception of the year they spent with their son James in Schuylkill county, Pa., passed all their lives there. The father was a farmer and miner, working in the coal mines during the winter months, and he was considered an expert, being employed as a boss. The shafts there were similar to those in the Pennsylvania anthracite, fields, but the lines were run more accurately, by the compass. Edward Foley and his wife lived to a ripe old age. They parted very reluctantly from their son James when he came to America, the bond of affection between them being very strong, and in 1873 they came to visit him at Shenandoah, Schuylkill Co., Pa. They remained a year, but could not stand a longer absence from their old home, to which they returned. Mrs. Foley considered the town a wicked place, and felt that many of the residents did not deserve to be called Christians. She and her husband were devout members of the Catholic Church. Of the children born to them the following lived to maturity : Margaret married Daniel Kilroy, a machinist, and they resided at Dublin, Ireland, where they died; they are survived by one son, who is a missionary priest in Dublin. James is next in the family. Mary married and died in Ireland. Patrick came to Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and followed mining; he married Bridget Welsh, and they had children, Ellen, Eddie, Maizie, James, Katy and Loretta. Timothy, also a miner, settled at Shenandoah; he married Margaret Burns, and they had five children, Annie, Edward, Margaret, Mary and Katy. Bridget mar- ried John Ash, and they live on the old homestead in Ireland; they had a large family. All the family adhered to the faith of their parents.

Andrew Franey, father of Mrs. Edward Foley, was a farmer and store- keeper. His people were prominent in their neighborhood and well-to-do, and he was given a good education. His wife was one of the Elliotts, another .fine old family of Queen's County. All belonged to the Catholic Church.

James Foley attended school in his early boyhood, but he was only eight years old when he began to work as a miner's helper, carrying tools and material, and from that time on he was employed either at the mines or on the farm. In time he became a regular miner. When a young man he married, and in 1860 he and his wife came to the United States, making the voyage in the sailing vessel "Bridgewater," which was seven weeks and four days on the trip from Liverpool to New York, where they arrived July Ist. A few days later they came to Heckscherville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and after a short stay there moved to Minersville, where Mr. Foley soon found work at the mines, being employed in the gangways until he became familiar with the drifts, after which he followed mining. He continued in that line until his retirement, some ten years ago, and there is probably no better known miner in the county.

In May, 1860, Mr. Foley was married, in the Mayo Church about seven miles from Carlow, Queen's County, by Father Burns, to Margaret Tobin, who was born on her father's farm at Queenstown, near her husband's birthplace, daughter of Richard and Nora (Barber) Tobin. Her father was a drover, and also owned a large farm. The men of the Tobin family were large and powerfully built, and remarkable for intelligence; the women were equally notable for their good looks and refinement, all giving evidence of superior

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excellence of character. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Foley : Annie married Frank Dougherty, who died May 16, 1914, she and her son Francis residing in Philadelphia, Pa .; Richard, a contractor and builder, who died Nov. 4, 1914, married Margaret Heaton, and they had children, Harry, Elizabeth, Gertrude, Gerald, James, Thomas, Claire, Mary and Francis (this family resides in Philadelphia) ; Edward, a clerk in the recorder's office at Philadelphia, married Alice Fitzpatrick, and their children are Helen, James, Edward and Paul; Mary Ella is the wife of Martin M. Burke, and they have one son, Clarence, now attending the university at Fordham, N. Y .; Patrick J., a clerk in the Madeira Hill colliery, is unmarried ; Bridget M. is keeping house for her father; John J., a traveling salesman, makes his home at Fresno, Cal. ; William F., who is unmarried, is now engaged as a hotel clerk in Pittsburgh (he was formerly chief clerk at the "Antler" hotel) ; Margaret is a graduate of the normal school at East Stroudsburg and now teaching fourth grade in Shenandoah; Harry J. is engaged as chemist at the Pittsburgh waterworks; four died in infancy. The mother of this family died at the home on West Centre street, Oct. 27, 1914, in her seventy-first year, and is buried in the cemetery of the Annunciation Church. She was active and energetic to the last, appearing much younger than she was, and she was universally respected for her many fine qualities of head and heart. Like all of her family, she was a member of the Church of the Annunciation at Shenandoah and one of the zealous workers in the parish, and she belonged to the Sacred Heart Society.

For years Mr. Foley has been one of the most useful members of the Church of the Annunciation. When the old church site was selected he blasted out the stone back of the property for use in the construction of the church and priest's house. He was a close friend of Father O'Reilly, who had great confidence in him, selecting him to manage many of the church fairs and similar enterprises, and look after the finances of such undertakings. Mr. Foley is the last surviving charter member of the Total Abstinence Benevolent Society of the church, organized Nov. 1, 1870. He has been its treasurer for many years, and was recently reelected to that office in spite of his protests, being chosen while he was urging his fellow members against the choice. In politics he is a Democrat.

RICHARD KRAPF has had a varied experience at mining and mechanical work, his practical knowledge of the latter being of great value in his duties about the colliery. At present he is outside foreman at the Phoenix Park colliery in Branch township, Schuylkill county.

Mr. Krapf was born in 1881 at Lavelle, in Butler township, Schuylkill county, and is of German descent, his father, William Krapf, having been a native of Germany. The latter came to the United States when a young man and settled at Ashland, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he did mine work at the old Keystone colliery. Later he removed to Lavelle, this county, where he died. His wife, Caroline (Peine), like himself a native of Germany, came to America when twelve years old. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Krapf : Adam and Caroline, twins, who died young; Louisa; Anna ; John ; Catherine, and Richard.

Richard Krapf was a pupil at the public schools of Butler township until fifteen years old. Then he went to work as a slate picker, and when a little older became hoisting engineer at the Pott's colliery for one year. He held a similar position at the Locust Spring colliery for two years, after which he

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went to Reading, where he was employed for two years at the machinist's trade. His next change was to New York City, where he worked as a steam- fitter for about a year, following which he was a passenger trainman on the New York Central lines for a short time. Returning to Schuylkill county he located at Ashland, where he resumed work with the Philadelphia & Reading Company, running a steam shovel, for three years, since when he has been engaged on outside work at different collieries. His first position of the kind was at the Goodspring colliery, where he was stationed sixteen months as assistant foreman; then he was transferred to the Pine Knot colliery, in the same capacity, for the same length of time; and in January, 1914, he came to the Phoenix Park colliery, as outside foreman. This mine has a large force employed, six hundred on the inside and one hundred and seventy on the outside, the latter under the direction of Mr. Krapf, who has proved his efficiency in every responsibility. Personally he has high standing, and is well known in the local fraternal organizations, belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M .; Tremont Chapter, No. 221, R. A. M .; the P. O. S. of A., and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Krapf married Gertrude Kehler, daughter of William Kehler. They have one child, Beatrice C., who is attending school.

JOSEPH C. BOSCH has been a lifelong resident of Shenandoah, where he is well known in various associations, business and social. His father, Joseph Bosch, lived at Shenandoah for many years prior to his death.

Joseph Bosch was born in Germany, where he grew to manhood and received his education and business training, learning linen and carpet weaving, which he followed as long as he remained in his native land. Coming to America when about twenty-one years of age, he settled later at Shenandoah, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and was the owner of a lime kiln near the borough, burning lime which he sold in the town. He retired from that business before his death, which occurred when he was aged fifty-one years. Mr. Bosch was married in Germany to Catherine Weaver, the daughter of farming people. She died when about sixty-eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Bosch had five children, of whom two survive, Joseph C. and John, the latter now on the United States battleship "New York"; he is married to Barbara Poff, and they have one child, Margaret. The father was a Catholic, belonging to the Church of the Holy Family, and was a member of St. Michael's Society for years. Politically he was a Democrat.

Joseph C. Bosch was born Jan. 12, 1872, in Shenandoah, and there received his education. He started work as a slate picker at the Shenandoah City colliery, under Frederick Carl, and was later employed in the mines at Indian Ridge, as driver for two years. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, in their locomotive shops at Delano, this county, as blacksmith's helper, remaining there for ten years, at the end of which time he went to Weatherly, Carbon Co., Pa., as steam hammerman. After working there for fifteen months he returned to Shenandoah, and for six or eight months followed different occupations, in July, 1905, becoming an employe of the Home Brewing Company, as shipping clerk. He was after- wards promoted to the position of head shipping clerk, his prompt attention to all his duties making him a valuable man in that capacity.

Mr. Bosch was married to Ellie Symbal, daughter of Frank Symbal, a native of the state of Suwalki, Lithuania. They have one child, Joseph John,

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born Sept. 23, 1910. For many years Mr. Bosch has been a member of the Columbia Hose Company, and he was one of the trustees of that organization for fifteen years; for ten years he was treasurer of the Fire Relief Associa- tion. He also belongs to the Washington Beneficial Society, of which he was a trustee for two years. His religious connection is with the German Catholic Church of the Holy Family at Shenandoah. Mr. Bosch is a Republican on political questions.

GEORGE W. MORGAN, of Minersville, Schuylkill county, paymaster for the Lytle Coal Company, in Cass township, this county.

JOHN J. MILLER, of Shenandoah, has taken his place among the useful citizens of that borough, where he began his independent business career several years ago as a manufacturer. He has succeeded in establishing excellent trade connections, and as his factory affords employment to some fifty hands it is an important unit in the local industrial situation. Mr. Miller is a native of Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county, born Sept. 6, 1869, son of the late John Fred- erick Miller.

John Frederick Miller was of German nativity, born in the kingdom of Wurtemberg. There he spent his childhood and youth, coming to this country when twenty-one years old. He landed at Castle Garden, New York City, came as far as Landingville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., by canalboat, and thence walked to Orwigsburg, where he found work with Reuben Hoy as a farm hand. Some time later he purchased 145 acres of land in West Brunswick township, lying one mile north of Orwigsburg, the old Laymaster farm. Part of it was still covered with brush and timber, and he continued the work of clearing and cultivation until 1895, in which year he removed to the borough of Orwigsburg. The property remained in the Miller family for forty-five years, and is now owned by Fred Beacher. John F. Miller acquired extensive and valuable real estate holdings at Orwigsburg, and exerted himself very effectively in intro- ducing modern conditions of life into that town. The first sewers laid there were of his construction, and he was the original owner of the system, now in the possession of his son, Henry L. Miller. When the borough was ready to provide a public water supply the necessary land was purchased from him, and he assisted the project in every possible way. He was the first to start in the ice business at Orwigsburg, and carried it on successfully, as he did everything else he undertook. Indeed, his fellow citizens had such confidence in his judgment and faith in his disinterested public spirit, that few men of his time were more influential in guiding local affairs, though he took no special part in the administration of public matters. However, he was a zealous mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church at Orwigsburg, having been one of the founders of the church, and he assisted in building the present St. Paul's Church, which he served as trustee. Mr. Miller lived to the age of seventy- eight years, dying in 1909, after several years of retirement. He is buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Orwigsburg.

Mr. Miller married Sophia Dietrich, also a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, who came to America when twenty years old, and died at Orwigsburg at the age of seventy-nine years. They were married at that place, and the following children were born to their union: Elizabeth died young; Mary died young; William F., who lives at McAdoo, this county, is engaged in the ice business and has a farm in the Quakake valley ; Henry L. now lives at Port

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Carbon, this county ; George B. is living at Orwigsburg; John J. is next in the family; Catherine is the wife of John Reidler, of Orwigsburg; Rosie is the wife of Charles H. Hein, who is serving as poor director of Schuylkill county ; Frederick lives at Pottsville. Mr. and Mrs. Miller also reared her sister's son, Jacob Koenig, who was born in Germany and was brought to America when nine months old.

John J. Miller received his education in the Orwigsburg schools, spending his boyhood upon the farm. He was familiar with agricultural work, which he continued to follow until twenty years old, when he went to Girardville, this county, where he was employed with his brother William F. Miller at the butcher business. He was occupied in that line for about five years, at the end of which experience he came to Shenandoah, where he has since had his home. Here he was employed for about ten years as a carpenter foreman at the mines, and for five years held a position with the Kehley Run Ice Company, in 1910 establishing the business to which he has since given all his attention, engag- ing in the manufacture of underwear. His large brick factory is at Nos 213-215 North White street, four stories in height, well lighted and arranged, and all the machinery installed is of modern design. The demand for the output has been so constant that it is operated full time, and fifty people are given steady employment. Mr. Miller has shown versatile ability in the found- ing of this business and its development, for the requirements necessary to insure success have been many, in the line of executive talents as well as thorough understanding of the manufacturing end. He has also become connected with other interests in the borough, having since March, 1915, been one of the directors of the First National Bank of Shenandoah.

Mr. Miller married Joanna Reigel, who died leaving one son, Ralph, now his father's assistant at the mill. For his second wife Mr. Miller married Annie Derr; they have had no children. He is a Lutheran in religious con- nection, while Mrs. Miller belongs to the Evangelical Church.

HAROLD L. LANDENBERGER, of Tremont, was one of the original staff of the Tremont National Bank at the time of its establishment, in 1902, and has risen to the cashiership on his own merits. The influence this institu- tion exerts in local circles is entirely on the side of wholesome, reliable business, and though Mr. Landenberger is conservative enough to be considered thor- oughly dependable he is known as one of the most progressive men in his part of Schuylkill county. With natural foresight, and judgment developing under a varied experience, he is working steadily up to an important place in the commercial world.

Mr. Landenberger's grandfather was an early settler in Pine Grove town- ship, Schuylkill county, where George Landenberger, father of Harold L., was born. The father is a resident of Tremont, and for the last twenty-five years has been an engineer in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, at present engaged on the Tremont & Lebanon division. He mar- ried Isabella Huber, also a native of Pine Grove township and member of an old family there, her father having settled in that section many years ago. She died in 1905.

Harold L. Landenberger was born in 1889 in Pine Grove township, Schuyl- kill county, and there spent his early years, beginning his education in the local public schools. Later he attended school in Tremont. He began work at the time the Tremont National Bank was opened, in 1902, in a modest capacity, and

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becoming familiar with the work as the years passed was advanced steadily, working his way up from clerk to cashier. He was chosen to the latter position in 1912, succeeding Mr. E. J. Power, who had filled the same from the time the bank was started, and whom he assisted for several years, during which time he gained a thorough insight into the responsible duties of the office. Personally he has gained an enviable prestige by his obliging disposition, prompt and courteous attention to all business which passes through his hands, and commendable attitude on every question affecting good business and useful citizenship.

In 1913 Mr. Landenberger married Lillie E. Moore, formerly of Tremont, but then a resident of Philadelphia, where her parents are now living. Mr. Landenberger is a member of the Lutheran Church, and socially he belongs to the Odd Fellows (Tremont Lodge), Knights of the Golden Eagle and Patriotic Order Sons of America (Tremont Camp, No. 74).

The TREMONT NATIONAL BANK was founded in the year 1902, with a capital stock of $25,000, and the following officers: President, William C. Hack (now of Shamokin, Pa.) ; vice president, T. J. Murphy, of Tremont ; cashier, E. J. Power. The present officers are : William C. Hack, of Shamokin, presi- dent ; H. O. Seltzer, of Tremont, vice president ; Harold L. Landenberger, of Tremont, cashier. The deposits have reached the surprising amount of $215,000, and the business of the bank in every other direction shows a pro- portionate increase. The bank building is one of the most up-to-date in the county.

RALPH A. SCHWALM is one of the most enterprising young citizens of Valley View, in which town he is much respected for the progressive and industrious traits of which he has given evidence. He has spent all his life in and around Valley View, and belongs to one of the old families of that section. His great-great-grandparents, John and Tillie Schwalm, came from Germany and settled in Schuylkill county, Pa., among the pioneers in what is now known as Hubley township (then Mahantongo), in the Hegins valley. They were farmers by occupation.

Frederick Schwalm, great-grandfather of Ralph A. Schwalm, was born in what is now Hubley township, and there spent all his life, engaged in farming. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, and a Democrat in politics. He married three times, and by his first wife, Catherine (Stein), also a native of Schuylkill county had a family of thirteen children, all now deceased but Daniel. William was a retired farmer, of Valley View, this county ; Emanuel was postmaster at Hegins; Daniel is a farmer in Hubley township; Peter had a twin sister Catherine, who lived in Indiana; Louisa lived and died in Illinois. For his second wife Frederick Schwalm married Sarah Sufing, who died leav- ing no children, and he subsequently married Harriet Dieter. By the last union there were three children : Otilla and Elizabeth, both now deceased; and Jackson, of Hegins township.

Peter Schwalm, grandfather of Ralph A. Schwalm, was born Aug. 21, 1836, in what is now Hubley (then Lower Mahantongo) township, this county, and there passed his early years, receiving his education in the public and subscrip- tion schools which flourished in the neighborhood during his boyhood. His father was one of the directors of the first free school established in the town- ship. Peter Schwalm remained at home until twenty-five years old, when he took charge of the farm of his brother Samuel, who had entered the army for Vol. II-39

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service in the Civil war, giving three years and one month of his time to the Union cause. He was thus occupied for a year and a half, and then bought the Schrob gristmill, which he carried on for several years ; selling out, he removed to Porter township, where he had acquired property in the meantime, having purchased 129 acres in the Williams valley. Though the land was not all cleared and the buildings were old, he had paid $5,500 for this place, and he set at once about the task of improving it, which was no small matter. Some parts were so wild and overgrown with underbrush that the foxes would come close to the farmhouse in broad daylight and carry off the chickens, and Mr. Schwalm trapped thirty foxes during his first few years there. He con- tinued to reside on that farm until 1895, when he built a home in Muir to which he removed, living in retirement there until his death, which occurred July 25, 1908. His son George then took charge of the home farm. In 1887 Mr. Schwalm had purchased another tract, containing about 118 acres, in Hegins township, which before his death passed into the ownership of his son Ellsworth. The village of Muir is built partly upon his Porter township farm. Mr. Schwalm was a man of active temperament, enterprising in looking out for the welfare of his locality as well as his own interests, and he served his township in the public offices of school director, tax assessor and tax collector. Politically he was a Republican, and his religious connection was with the Reformed Church at Orwin.

On April 23, 1861, Mr. Schwalm married Maria Schrob, who was born Oct. 29, 1843, in Hegins township, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Holdemann) Schrob, who had a family of six children, four of whom attained maturity : Jacob died when sixty-five years old; Amos lives at Valley View, this county ; Catherine lives in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Schrob were among the early settlers in their section of Schuylkill county, and both died there. They were members of the Lutheran Church.

Mrs. Schwalm died April 1, 1911, and is buried with her busband in the Fairview cemetery near Muir. Seven children were born to them: Elizabeth married Alfred Hand, and is deceased; she had two children, Harry H. and Ira W., the former dying when eleven months old; the latter married Elizabeth Jobe and has two sons, Elbert and Ivan. Ellsworth is the father of Ralph A. Schwalm. George M. married Agnes Haertter, and they reside in Porter town- ship. Albert T. is a teacher of long experience in Porter township. William O., who lives near Midland, S. Dak., married Annie Bixler, and has children, Ira and Ray (twins), Merle, Dorothy, Arthur and Ben. Mary E. married Thomas Moser, a teacher of Porter township, and has children, Irma, Clair, Lyle, Glenn, Ruth, Paul, and Jeanette. John P., who has long been carrying on a hardware business at Reinerton, married Catherine Lebo, and they have three children, Beatrice, Harold and Mark.

Ellsworth Schwalm, father of Ralph A. Schwalm, was born near Sacra- mento, this county. He received a public school education, and in his early life worked for a time at the mines, but farming was more to his taste, so he bought a farm of 123 acres, and for a number of years devoted all his energies to its cultivation. He is now living retired. Mr. Schwalm is a Republican in his political convictions, and he has taken an active part in politics and in local public affairs, having served several years as school director and tax collector. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Jane Kessler, and to their union have been born the following children : Elmer, who is married to Gertrude Stutzman and has one daughter, Eva; Ralph A .; Ruth,

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wife of Elmer Miller ; Beulah; Effie, married to Edward Schadler ; Lloyd; and Claude, who did in infancy.

Ralph A. Schwalm was born Aug. 16, 1888, near Valley View, and received most of his education in Hegins township, attending the elementary and high schools. Then he took a course at the Peirce business college in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1908, after which he was employed for a time as bookkeeper in Delaware county, Pa. Returning home, he commenced an apprenticeship to the plumbing and steam heating business, in which he had thorough training before he became interested in that line with his uncle, Mr. J. P. Schwalm, with whom he was associated for a period of three years. He has since been in the business on his own account at Valley View, and besides doing all kinds of plumbing he is prepared to do gas fitting and install steam, vapor and hot water heating plants, as well as residence electric light plants. He also handles a line of stoves, implements, mining tools and oil engines, and has built up a good patronage in both lines. He sells Saxon and Dodge automobiles as local agent. His ambition and energy have carried him forward steadily, and his townsmen have recognized this and chosen him for the responsible position of superintendent of the Valley View Water Company, one of the important public enterprises of the town.

On Dec. 25, 1908, Mr. Schwalm was married to Annie M. Snyder, daughter of William C. and Amanda Snyder, of Valley View, and they have two children, Irene and an infant.

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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 88

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers Number of Pages: 684

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 684