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 9
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exterior, so that to-day it is without exception the most beautiful rectory in this part of the diocese. Nor has he devoted all his time to the material upbuilding of the parish, the spiritual side receiving still greater attention. He has labored indefatigably for the welfare of his people, administering to their spiritual wants at all times. As evidence of this there are to-day attached to the church a Holy Name Society, large in proportion to the number of parishioners; a Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary ; a branch of the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and an Altar Society-all of which he established; they are now in a prosperous condition.
Father Melley is a native of Schuylkill county, born at Newkirk, near Tamaqua, in 1872. His parents, Dennis and Anna (Campbell) Melley, were natives of County Donegal, Ireland, and they came to this country in 1855, spending the rest of their lives in Schuylkill county, Pa. After some years' residence at Tamaqua they removed to Newkirk, where they made their home for thirty years. Returning to Tamaqua Mr. Melley remained there until his death, which occurred on Christmas Day, 1895. He was engaged in mining. He was a most respected citizen of his section, and was repeatedly elected school director in Schuylkill township, holding the office for sixteen years. His widow now lives with a daughter at Atlantic City, N. J. Of the four- teen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Melley, six are deceased. Of the eight survivors, Rose is a graduate nurse ; Sister Stanislaus belongs to the Order of Notre Dame; Elizabeth, wife of Edward Smith, and Joseph are resi- dents of Philadelphia; the remaining members of the family, except Father Melley, reside in Atlantic City.
Dennis J. Melley was reared in Schuylkill county, attending public school in Schuylkill township. His higher literary education was received at LaSalle College, Philadelphia, and Villanova College, and in 1892 he entered Over- brook Seminary for his theological preparation. In 1902 he received ordina- tion, and for a short time thereafter was at Mount Airy, Pa. Then for a year he was stationed at Ashland, Pa., as assistant; for two years at South Bethlehem, Pa .; at St. Peter's Church, Reading, three months, and for five years he was assistant rector of St. Patrick's, at Pottsville, before coming to Tremont, in 1911. Father Melley is proving a worthy successor to the earn- est workers who have preceded him at St. Mary's, trying to keep this church, as it has been from the beginning, among the potent forces for good in the borough and vicinity.
HENRY CALVIN KEHLER, of Locustdale, is a representative member of a family which has been foremost in the development and progress of this portion of Schuylkill county. For several generations the Kehlers have had extensive and valuable interests in farming in Eldred township, where the town of Kehler and Kehler Run Junction perpetuate the name, and at present the butchering interests which constitute by far the greater part of the business wealth of Locustdale, in the adjoining township of Butler, are held principally by Kehlers, the brothers H. Calvin and Irvin M. Kehler being among these. Their father, Franklin Kehler, was a drover and live stock dealer for over thirty-five years.
John Kehler, grandfather of Henry Calvin Kehler, was born in what is now Eldred (then Mahantongo) township, in Schuylkill county, of German ancestry. By trade he was a tailor, but he eventually settled down to farming and was one of the prosperous farmers there in the Mahantongo valley for
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many years. In the pioneer days he secured a large tract of land in its primi- tive state, which his son Peter later owned, and the latter in turn was suc- ceeded by his son, Felix F. Kehler. It was covered with hardwood timber, and years of hard labor were required to bring it into arable condition. John Kehler first cleared a spot for a cabin, and before the close of his life made a good start in the improvement of the property, though the early results were most discouraging. Thus he laid the foundation for the success of those who came after him, and also continued the work he so bravely began in the face of hardships and trials of which the present generation knows nothing except what the account handed down in history. John Kehler was a devout Christian, an earnest member of the Evangelical Church. His home was the stopping place of the early preachers who visited the region, and the log barn he erected was used for religious assemblages. When the first church building in the com- munity was erected he assisted with the work. By his marriage to Elizabeth Hepler he had eight children, five sons and three daughters.
Franklin Kehler, son of John, was born March 11, 1829, in the Mahan- tongo valley, and died at Kehler Nov. 9, 1904. His death was quite sudden, for although he had reached the age of seventy-five years he was active to the last. He farmed, and kept a store at Kehler, in the upper Mahantongo valley, but his operations in live stock were his most important interests. In the early days he drove cattle from Buffalo to Ashland, this county. He married Lydia Snyder, who was born Nov. 3, 1833, in the Mahantongo valley, daugh- ter of an early settler in that region, and she preceded him to the grave, passing away Jan. 1, 1898. Of the eight children born to them two died in infancy, six surviving the parents, namely : Franklin J., the eldest, is deceased ; Henry Calvin is mentioned below; Charles Robert is engaged in the butcher business at Tremont, this county ; Pruella M. is the wife of Henry H. Geist and they are living on the old Kehler homestead; Johanna, deceased, was the wife of Dr. J. D. Kiefer, of Mount Carmel, Pa .; Irvin M., of Locustdale, is in the wholesale and retail butcher business. The father was a prominent member of the United Evangelical Church, which he served thirty-five years as steward.
Henry Calvin Kehler was born in 1856 in the Mahantongo valley and was brought up there, receiving his education in the local schools. After leaving school for a time he went West, and on his return to Pennsylvania started business with his brother Frank at Locustdalc. Some time later he moved to Centralia, a short distance over the line in Columbia county, where he was located for three years, at the end of that period coming back to Locustdale, where he established his present business thirty-one years ago. During the intervening time he has built up a trade of large proportions, apparently hav- ing the gift for success in this line so characteristic of the family. He has high qualifications for business, combined with a sense of fair dealing which has made him recognized as entirely trustworthy in any transaction. Practically all his attention has been given to his work, his principal interest aside from that being his church association, which is with the denomination supported by the family for several generations. He is a leading member of the United Evangelical Church, is serving on its board of trustees, and is teacher of the Bible class; for about twenty-five years he was superintendent or assistant superintendent of the Sunday school.
On June 26, 1880, Mr. Kehler was married at Locustdale to Mary A. Kepner, who was born Dec. 2, 1862, a native of Deep Creek valley, where her parents, Emanuel and Matilda (Updegraf) Kepner, were early settlers; her
GALattimon
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father was a soldier in the Civil war. They died in Deep Creek valley and are buried there. They had a large family, three sons and eight daughters, of whom John T. is in the meat business at Ashland; George lives at Good- spring station, this county; Addie is the wife of David Jones, of St. Clair, a mine foreman; Katherine is the widow of Elmer Haslin; Louisa is the wife of Paul Karns, of Orwigsburg; Flora is married to Frank Ganglof, of Orwigsburg.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kehler: Victor Frank, born Dec. 29, 1881, now a butcher at Girardville, this county, is married to Martha Keller and has two children, Roy R. and Grace A .; Pruella M., born May 6, 1883, is the wife of Earl Warther, of Locustdale, and has one child, George Henry; Lottie P., born Nov. 6, 1886, is engaged as a nurse in Phila- delphia ; Harry C., born Feb. 23, 1889, is in business at Philadelphia ; Winfield, born Aug. 30, 1890, is deceased; Lydia Matilda, born March 23, 1892, is at home; Robert L., born July 6, 1895, is at Girardville, working for his brother.
HARRY D. LATTIMORE, outside foreman and master mechanic at the Morea colliery in Mahanoy township, operated by Weston Dodson & Co., is a mine worker of long and varied experience and well fitted for the important duties which have been intrusted to him. Mr. Lattimore belongs to a very old Pennsylvania family, founded in this country in 1736 by one John Lattimer, as the earlier generations spelled the name. He was of the Scotch-Irish race which has made so notable a contribution to the best citizenship of the State. He lived in Northampton county, acquired high reputation for his strong character and integrity, and left an excellent family to carry on his name.
Robert Lattimore, son of John, married Nancy King, and among their children was William Lattimore, better known as General Lattimore, who was elected to the State Senate from Northampton county in 1805, his district in- cluding Wayne, Luzerne and Northampton counties. He was born in what is known as the Irish settlement in Northampton county, and lived and died there. His wife, Mary ( Ralston), was the daughter of John and Christiana (King) Ralston, the former of whom took an active part in the Revolutionary war.
James Lattimore, son of Gen. William Lattimore, was for many years connected with the government land offices located at the cities of Lancaster and Harrisburg, Pa. He married Catherine Weaver, daughter of Michael Weaver, of Weaversville, Northampton county, a prominent farmer and lead- ing member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Lattimore had the fol- lowing children: William W .; Ralston, who died in infancy; May, who died in 1902, unmarried; Alvida C., who married James Abbott; John, who mar- ried Nancy Chase ; Lenora N. S., who married Herman B. Graeff ; and Amelia D., Mrs. E. W. Abbott.
William W. Lattimore was born in 1820, and died in 1889. He is buried at Tamaqua, this county. The last twenty years of his life were spent at New Boston, Schuylkill county, where he settled in 1869 and worked for the coal company until his death. He took a keen interest in local affairs, serving as president of the Mahanoy township school board, was a Presbyterian in religious connection, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Pauline L. Dithmar, of Northampton county, daughter of Henri (Hein) Jaques Dithmar, a native of France and of Huguenot ancestry. She still makes her home at New Boston. To Mr. and Mrs. Lattimore were born the following children: Caroline A. is the widow of Dr. Alonzo Amerman, who died at Vol. II-4
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Danville, Pa., Jan. 19, 1886 (they had one son, Alonzo, who died in 1912, at the age of twenty-seven years) ; William A. holds a position with the Coal Company at New Boston ; Harry D. is next in the family; Walter A., of Nor- ristown, Pa., married Nettie Richardson and has one daughter, Joan; Arthur R. married Loretta Cooney, of Canada, and has one son, Arthur William; Catherine W., unmarried, lives at home ; Elizabeth D. is unmarried and living at home; Pauline S. is the wife of William Douden, of Millersburg, Pa., and has three children, William L., Herbert C. and Dorothy.
Harry D. Lattimore was born Nov. 14, 1861, at Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co., Pa. Coming to New Boston with his parents in 1869, he received his educa- tion principally in the schools of Mahanoy township. In 1872 he started work as a clerk in Mahanoy City. Later he was in the employ of the Mill Creek Coal Company for two years, after which he clerked again for a short time. When fifteen years old he went back to school, attending for five months, during which period he was under the capable instruction of the late John J. Dolphin, Esq. He then taught school for one term, clerked in a store at Mahanoy City for one year, loaded coal at the New Boston colliery for one winter, and for two years was engaged in running a mine fan engine and hoisting, until December, 1886, when he was appointed outside foreman, serv- ing in that capacity up to 1889 at the New Boston colliery, following which he was engaged in public work, the driving of the Jeddo tunnel. His next posi- tion was that of master mechanic at the Buck Mountain and Vulcan collieries, operated by the Mill Creek Coal Company, with whom he continued until 1909, when those collieries became the property of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with whom he remained as master mechanic until 1911. His skill and readiness in emergencies made him a valuable factor in the operations at the mammoth Buck Mountain breaker. In February, 1911, Mr. Lattimore became outside foreman and master mechanic at the Morea colliery in Mahanoy township, carried on by Weston Dodson & Co., who employ about five hundred men at these workings, and here he has remained to the present. A man of dependable qualities, thoroughly conversant with all the details of his work, trustworthy in all things and of upright character, he has exerted an appreciable influence in the successful conduct of the colliery and in maintaining satisfactory con- ditions among its employees. Most of this is due to his strong personality.
Mr. Lattimore married Ann D. Hay, daughter of Robert and Ann (Douth- waite) Hay. They have two children, Harry D., Jr., and Robert, the former now associated with his father as chief machinist for the Dodson Coal Com- pany at the Morea colliery ; from 1905 to 1907 he served an apprenticeship in the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, and in 1910 associated himself with the Midvale steel works, first in the engineering department and later in the estimation department, and in 1911 took his present position. Robert Lattimore is engineer in charge of the pumping station at Morea colliery.
The family are Presbyterians in religious association. Socially Mr. Latti- more belongs to Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 357, F. & A. M., and to Mahanoy City Lodge, No. 695, B. P. O. Elks, and is highly esteemed among his fellow members. His eldest son also holds membership in these lodges.
WILLIAM IVY BACHERT, farmer and fruit grower of Walker town- ship, is operating a modern farm noted especially for its fine orchards, to whose development and maintenance he devotes most of his energies. Mr. Bachert is a representative citizen of his section of Schuylkill county, and a
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member of one of its old families, the Bacherts having been settled in East Brunswick township for several generations. There he was born July 25, 1869, son of Elias Bachert, now a prominent farmer and miller of East Brunswick township.
George Bachert, the great-grandfather of William I. Bachert, was a farmer in East Brunswick township, where he owned 100 acres of land, upon which he erected a log barn and stone house. He was a wheelwright as well as farmer. He had the following children: Jacob, John, Henry, Simon, Mag- dalena and Mrs. John Faust. George Bachert died aged eighty years, and is buried with his wife in a private graveyard on the homestead farm. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Frieden's German Lutheran Church.
John Bachert, father of Elias, was reared and educated in East Brunswick township, and during his youth assisted his father. Later he bought a farm of 100 acres near the old homestead, and carried on farming all his life. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religion a Lutheran, he and his wife belonging to the Frieden's Church; they are buried in its cemetery. Mr. Bachert married Elizabeth Zettlemoyer, who was born in Berks county, Pa., and the following children were born to this union: Jacob married Sarah Miller and both are deceased; Emmanuel died unmarried; James, deceased, married Flora Steigerwalt, who resides in West Brunswick township, this county ; Daniel died young; Elias is next in the family; Elizabeth married Jacob Houser, and both are deceased; Laura married Aaron Eckroth ; Mollie died unmarried; Katie died young. The father of this family lived to the age of eighty years, the mother dying at the age of sixty-eight.
Elias Bachert, son of John, was born Aug. 14, 1843, in East Brunswick township, where he now owns and operates a valuable farm and mill property. He married Hannah Merkle, and they have had a large family, namely : Albert Robert, William Ivy, Elizabeth (deceased in infancy), Cordelia, John E., Richard E., Howard J., Luther P., Thomas W. and Oscar P. A fuller account of this family appears in the biography of Elias Bachert.
William Ivy Bachert grew up in East Brunswick township and there ob- tained a good common school education. His business and agricultural train- ing were highly practical, gained in assisting his father with the farm and mill work, and he continued thus until he reached the age of thirty years. Then he settled on his present property in Walker township, having bought the Dennis Leiby farm of fifty-three acres. Four acres are still in timber, the rest under cultivation, partly planted in fine orchards, the balance in gen- eral crops. Mr. Bachert has made fruit growing his particular care, and counts on his orchard products for most of his income, marketing them prin- cipally at Tuscarora and New Philadelphia, to which points he makes two or three trips weekly during the season. He has identified himself with the vari- ous local movements for the improvement of farms and farming conditions, and is an interested worker in the Patrons of Husbandry, being a fourth degree member of the Lewistown Grange. Beyond this, however, he has taken little part in public matters, though he supports good movements when- ever he has the opportunity. He is a Democrat and a Lutheran, being a member and deacon of Zion's Church at Lewistown, Walker township.
When twenty-eight years old Mr. Bachert married Carrie Edith Leiby, who was born Oct. 9, 1879, in Walker township, daughter of Dennis Leiby, received her education in the local schools there, and remained at home until her marriage. She is a member of the Reformed congregation of Zion's
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Church, at Lewistown. Mr. and Mrs. Bachert have had eight children, born as follows: William Dennis, June 27, 1898; Clarence Harvey, Dec. 10, 1899 ; Mamie Victoria, June 17, 1902 (died aged two years, eight months) ; Harry Edwin, Feb. 13, 1903; Verna Elizabeth, Sept. 12, 1905; Beulah May, Feb. 17, 1909; Leon Stanley, Sept. 15, 1911 ; Elva Margarite, June 9, 1913.
Daniel Leiby, grandfather of Mrs. Bachert, was born in West Penn town- ship, this county, and was a shoemaker and a farmer. He was the owner of two farms in West Penn township, and later came to Walker township, where he bought a farm of over one hundred acres, much of which he cleared, hav- ing about eighty acres under cultivation. There he built a fine barn and made other improvements. He died on the farm at the advanced age of almost eighty years. His wife's maiden name was Steigerwalt, and they had children
as follows: Dennis, father of Mrs. Bachert; Sarah, Mrs. John Schaller; Emma, Mrs. Adolph Berner; Amanda, Mrs. Mandus Hunsicker; Mary, Mrs. Thomas Schock; Jonathan, who married Sarah Reinhart; Daniel, who mar- ried Flora Miller ; Israel, who married Lizzie Reiman; Alvena, unmarried ; Elias (his wife was Mamie) ; and Susanna, who died in childhood. The par- ents are buried in the cemetery of Zion's Reformed Church in West Penn township, to which church they belonged. Mr. Leiby was a Republican in politics.
Dennis Leiby was born in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, July 25, 1845, and grew up there and in Walker township, receiving his education in the public schools of those townships. He worked for his father until he was of age, later was stable boss at Reevesdale for a mining company, hold- ing that position two years, and then settled down to farming on his own account in Walker township, buying land which is the farm his son-in-law, Mr. Bachert, now owns. He carried on general farming there until 1906, when he sold the farm to Mr. Bachert, and is now living retired practically. Mr. Leiby has always taken a leading part in township affairs, having held the offices of school director, constable, supervisor and auditor, to the entire satis- faction of his fellow citizens. Like his father he is a Republican and a member of the Reformed Church, belonging to the Zion's congregation at Lewistown, in which he was formerly very active. Socially he holds membership in Washington Camp No. 57, P. O. S. of A., at Tamaqua.
Mr. Leiby married Emmaline Yost, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Merkle) Yost, and four children were born to them, viz .: Carrie Edith, Mrs. William I. Bachert ; Gertrude May, who is married to George Schietman and resides at Tamaqua, Pa .; Harry Preston, who died aged twenty-four years ; and Mamie Elizabeth, who is married to Milton Merkle, and resides at Lewistown, Walker township.
Mrs. Emmaline (Yost) Leiby was born near Frisbie, in West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, and died at the age of fifty-three years. She is buried at Lewistown, in Walker township. Mrs. Leiby was a member of Christ Church at McKeansburg, but after her marriage to Dennis Leiby con- nected herself with Zion's Reformed Church at Lewistown, and was a member there until her death.
Samuel Yost, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. William I. Bachert, was a farmer in West Brunswick township, the owner of a large tract of land, and also conducted a hotel for many years. He married Elizabeth Merkle, and they became the parents of a large family: Kitty married Charles Lurwick, and both are deceased; Eliza married Harry Gerhard; Caroline is the widow
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of John Shutt; Sarah, deceased, married William Bretz; Susanna is the widow of William Leiser; Mary died unmarried; Emmaline was Mrs. Dennis Leiby; Phoebe, deceased, married a Mr. Nagle; Samuel married Sarah Ger- hard; Frank married Kitty -; Lewis completes the family. The par- ents died on the farm and are buried at McKeansburg. Mr. Yost was a member of Christ Reformed Church at that place and a Republican in political conviction.
WALTER E. UPDEGROVE, who is engaged in business as a shoe mer- chant at Muir, Schuylkill county, was born Nov. 28, 1875, at Orwin, Porter township, Schuylkill county, son of Theodore G. and Catherine ( Shadle) Updegrove, grandson of Solomon Updegrove and great-grandson of Conrad Updegrove.
Conrad Updegrove, who was one of the earliest and best known among the pioneers of the Williams Valley, in Dauphin county, Pa., was a great hunter, and many stories are still told of his skill and prowess in this direction. Dur- ing the days when game of all kinds was plentiful, he had many experiences with bears, and at one time would have been killed by one of these beasts had it not been for his faithful dogs. As it was he bore the marks of this encounter up to the day of his death. He was one of the sturdy, energetic, industrious men of his day who laid broad and deep the foundation for ad- vancement and progress, and lived a long, active and useful life, passing away at the advanced age of ninety-four years, three months, fifteen days. His home at that time was on the present site of Williamstown, Dauphin county.
Solomon Updegrove, the grandfather of Walter E. Updegrove, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., and early adopted the trade of shoemaker, which he followed off and on during the greater part of his life, although he also engaged in other occupations. He was a local preacher of the Evangelical Church, and for some years was engaged in farming in Dauphin county, but in later life disposed of his property and moved to a farm in Juniata county, remaining there until he retired from active work. He then sold his farm and went to live at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Long, at Forks, Porter township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he died at the age of seventy-five years. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Williamstown. Mr. Upde- grove was a man highly esteemed in the various communities in which he resided, being possessed of those sterling qualities which command respect. He married Barbara Rickert, who died at Williamstown, Pa., and they became the parents of the following children: John; Jacob; Conrad; Solomon, who fought in a Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers during the Civil war; Charles ; Theodore G .; Catherine, who married Israel Helt; Elizabeth, who married Edward Hand; Elmira, who married John Hockenbrocht; Lucetta, who married Isaac Dressler; Sarah, who married Isaac Brooker; and Mary, who married William Long.
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