Notes
Matches 101 to 150 of 1,325
| # | Notes | Linked to |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | BIOGRAPHY - Gage Co., NE 1888: JACOB GEHMAN, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Hanover Township, operates 480 acres of land on section 3; it is known as the Sculley land. His career has been marked with ordinary success, and he possesses those traits of character which have made him a man useful in his community, and a leader in these enterprises tending to its advancement socially as well as financially, he is the father of a fine family of children, whom he has educated and fitted for honorable stations in life, and is in the enjoyment of one of the pleasantest and most attractive homes in this region. The subject of this sketch was born in Bucks County, Pa., May 5, 1827, and is the son of Abraham and Mary (Finck) Gehman, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and died at the ripe old age of seventy-six years, in his native State. The mother passed away in 1864, aged seventy-three. Their family consisted of four Sons and three daughters, five of whom lived to mature years, Those surviving are residents of Brooks County, Pa. Jacob Gehman was reared to manhood in his native State, and although receiving but limited educational advantages, trained himself by a course of reading and study for the duties of a teacher, which profession he followed for a period of four years in Bucks County, beginning at the age of twenty. He had likewise become thoroughly familiar with farm pursuits, and at the age of twenty-two was prepared to establish a home of his own. On Oct. 2, 1849, be was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Angeney, a native of his own county, and born Aug. 29, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Gehman after their marriage settled on the farm belonging to the father of our subject, where they lived and labored until 1861. In the meantime they became the parents of six children, and in the spring of that year Mr. Gehman, resolving upon a change of location, disposed of his interests in the Keystone State and removed with his little family to Northern Iowa, where in due time he became an extensive landowner. From Fayette County, Iowa, he removed to Mahaska County, that State, thence to Jefferson, and later to Jefferson County, residing in the latter until 1882. In the spring of that year be took up his residence in Atchison County Mo., and from there came to Nebraska in 1887. He was at once recognized as a valuable addition to the community of Hanover Township, where he is numbered among its most highly esteemed citizens. Wide awake, liberal and public-spirited, he is ever ready to aid in those enterprises set on foot for the best good of the people. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Gehman was completed by the birth of twelve children, namely Abraham, Jacob and Elizabeth, who died when eight and six years old, Menno, Fanny, Rachel, Samuel, Sally, Leah, Emma, Benjamin and Mary. Fanny became the wife of Samuel Horning, a well-to-do farmer of Hanover Township, and is the mother of five children - Benjamin, Lee, Eddy, Jennie and Alice; Mrs. Henry Smith is a resident of Atchison County, Mo., and the mother of one child, a son, Arthur; Abraham is a professor of music at Fremont, Iowa; Menno and Samuel are operating a cattle ranch in Wyoming Territory; Sally married William Grebe, a resident of Atchison County, Mo. In the operations of his farm Mr. Gehman gives employment to two men, and two teams are almost constantly required for the transaction of his business. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket, and with his excellent wife, is a devoted member of the Mennonite Church. The family is one of the most prominent in the county, where their intelligence and worth are estimated at their true value. | GEHMAN, Jacob Funk (I177)
|
| 102 | BIOGRAPHY by Albert Cadwallader Worrell: He was always called just Channing. He operated a country store for some years, but spent most of his life as a farmer. Channing and Clara had only one son, Howard Meredith. Howard remained at home and operated the farm with his father. Channing owned a farm near Rose Tree in Upper Providence from at least 1913. He sold this farm in 1923 and bought a farm near London Grove in Chester County. Howard married Mildred White and they lived in one side of the London Grove farmhouse with Channing and Clara in the other side. Howard and Mildred had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Ellery Channing Worrell died in London Grove, Chester Co., PA. After his death, the farm was sold and Howard, who suffered from asthma, moved to Tuscon, Arizona with his wife, daughter, and mother. Clara Meredith Worrell died there and was buried in the Cumberland Cemetery in the same plot with her husband Channing. | WORRELL, Ellery Channing (I5690)
|
| 103 | Biography by Charles Datesman Weidenhamer, courtesy of Stanley Weidenhamer Nov., 2019: John Adam Weidenhamer, son of Jacob and Susanna (Dreibelbis) Weidenhamer, was born in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, April 5,1836, and when but a baby he was taken by his parents (in 1837) to Limestoneville, Montour County, of the same state where he grew to manhood and where he attended what schools they had in the district and the McEwensville Academy. At the age of fourteen Mr. Weidenhamer clerked in the store of his father and brother Wellington Weidenhamer at Limestoneville, Penna. When sixteen years old he and his brother Daniel farmed the old homestead farm at Limestoneville, Penna. From 1854 to 1857 Mr. Weidenhamer clerked in S.L. Finney's store in Milton, Penna. From 1857 to 1860 he clerked for Jerome and Robert Datesman in West Milton, Penna. On November 1, 1859 Mr. Weidenhamer married Sarah Ann Datesman, a daughter of John Datesman, a prominent merchant and grain dealer of West Milton, Union County, Pennsylvania. After that they commenced housekeeping at Limestoneville, Penna. Mr. Weidenhamer farmed one of his father's farms in that section until 1865. In 1863 John was drafted for nine months service in the Army during the Civil War. On account of his personal financial interests and others for which he was responsible and to which it was advisable and necessary to give his personal attention, at the request of his father, he sent a substitute at a substantial cost. The substitute served loyally for the full nine months after which he was mustered out and returned to his home intact. In 1865 Mr. Weidenhamer was again drafted and had, (at many sacrifices) made all arrangements to serve and had traveled as far as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, when fortunately, peace was declared and the war ended. The father of Mr. Weidenhamer having died in 1863, the farms were sold and the estate therefore was settled in 1865, so he rented and moved to what was then known as the "Caldwell Farm" which was located about two miles north of Limestoneville, Pennsylvania. He lived and farmed until 1866. Early in January of 1867 he purchased from C. B. Reifsnyder a General Merchandising Store, located at Dewart, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, to which place he moved and took possession in February of the year 1867. He later bought the store property as well as the residence in which he lived, which had been the property of Christian Gosh. This residence was a large brick building and was one of the finest in the village. The store property also was a two story brick building and had a frame warehouse attached to it, all well adapted for carrying on the mercantile business. Mr. Weidenhamer continued this business until the spring of 1882, when he sold his residence and the store property as well as the stock of merchandise to Samuel I. Cooner, who clerked in the competing store of Abraham Benner, also of Dewart, PA. After Mr. Weidenhamer had disposed of his holdings in Dewart, Pa., he rented another store with the residence combined on the corner of Third and Main Streets in Watsontown, Penna. This being the same property and location in which Phillip Shay, one of the pioneer merchants of Watsontown, had lived and conducted his business of general merchandising for many years. Here Mr. Weidenhamer purchased an entire new stock of merchandise consisting of dry goods and notions, hats and caps, boots and shoes, ladies' coats, groceries, flour and feed and etc. He opened for business in April of 1882, continuing doing business at that place until 1890. In the fall of 1889 he bought what was then known as the William Dean property, which was located on the corner of Main and Fifth Streets of the same borough. This property consisted of a large ten room house erected on a lot 90 x 160 feet. On the west corner of the lot he had erected a large brick store building with a basement 25 x 120 feet. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Weidenhamer moved into this building and continued to do business at this stand until April 1899, when he sold the stock of merchandise and rented the store building to Jewett C. Fowler and S. Griggs Lantz, who operated the business under the firm name of Lantz and Fowler. In July of 1899 John went on a trip to Sutton, West Virginia to visit his son Charles D. Weidenhamer, who owned and was successfully conducting a General Merchandising business at that place. It was while visiting his son on Monday, August 7, 1889, he was suddenly taken ill with fecal impacting of the bowels. Three physicians, who were called to take care of him, were unable to remove or relieve the problem, which caused his death on Monday evening, August 14, 1899, just at sunset. Mr. Weidenhamer's wife and son, Horace Weidenhamer, had arrived at the home of Charles Weidenhamer, where lay the sick father, on Thursday preceding the day of his death. Charles Weidenhamer and the family was at his bed side at the time of his death. Mr. Weidenhamer's body was taken to Watsontown, Pennsylvania and there buried in the family lot on Thursday August 17, 1899. The services were conducted by the Reverend A. O. Mullen of the First Lutheran Church of Milton, Penna, of which Mr. Weidenhamer had been a member since 1867 and where he had served as a deacon for many years. He had also served as Superintendent of the Sabbath School of that church. Mr. Weidenhamer was a Democrat in politics but not a partisan. He was liberal to the needy and was highly regarded in the community where he lived. After the death of Mr. Weidenhamer his widow lived in the home at Watsontown, Penna., with her son Walter, where they remained until 1903 when the property was sold and the estate settled. She made her home with her son Charles, in West Virginia, and lived there until 1917. Then they moved to Washington D. C. where she continued to live with, her son, Charles until the time of her death, which occurred at the home of her son, Charles Weidenhamer, who was then living at 4606 16th Street N. W. Washington DC, on Friday August 13, 1926, at noon. Short services were held at the Weidenhamer residence in Washington Sunday evening August 15. Her remains were then taken to Watsontown, Penna., on Monday August 16, where further services were held in the Lutheran Church of which she was a member for many years. Interment was made in the Weidenhamer burial lot at Watsontown, Pa. | WEIDENHAMER, John Adam (I5534)
|
| 104 | Biography by Charles Datesman Weidenhamer, courtesy of Stanley Weidenhamer Nov., 2019: Jacob was born in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, Penna. and is buried at the Follmer Lutheran Church Cemetery east of Milton, PA. In 1837 Jacob moved with his family to what is now Limestoneville, Montour County, Penna., where he bought four hundred acres of rich and productive farm land. Jacob was a prosperous farmer and a man of rare judgement and intelligence with deep religious convictions and was noted for his strict adherence to the truth. He divided the land he bought into two large farms on which he built large brick homes and large barns with all the necessary outbuildings, which, to this day are considered models of architecture and completeness. In 1849 Jacob built a large store and residence combined and opened a General Merchandising establishment and took his son, Wellington in this business as a junior partner. Jacob and his son conducted the business which they established until 1854, when they sold it to the Newcomer Brothers. Jacob was one of the largest contributors toward the erection of the church building of the Follmer Lutheran Church. He was a consistent member of the congregation until his death from an attack of typhoid fever. He is buried beside his widow in the cemetery of the church which he helped build, which is located about half way between Limestoneville and Milton,Penna. After his death his widow continued to live in their home for the next eight years with her granddaughter. After the marriage of her granddaughter in1871 she made her home with her youngest daughter, Elizabeth Mauser, in Derry Township, Montour County, Penna. She died from the effect of a frightful accident to her son in-law, Emanuel Mauser, who had his legs and body crushed in a thrashing machine which caused his death. | WEIDENHAMER, Jacob D. (I5519)
|
| 105 | Biography by her son, Albert Cadwallader Worrell: Bertha Cadwallader grew up in a large sixteen-room house at 250 Center Street in Milton. Her father was a successful businessman in groceries and provisions and was active in local politics. The family was not wealthy but lived in comfortable circumstances, which usually included a live-in maid. Bertha was a sociable and active person and made friends easily. She and Lulu Beck and Sarah Datesman remained close personal friends for over eighty years. She apparently had good relations with her parents. "Papa" comes through in the stories as a rather strict head-of-the-house, but she always spoke of him with affection. And although letters from her mother are signed rather formally "Mother", the bodies of the letters suggest a close relationship between them. Bertha graduated from Milton High School in 1900. She went away to a girls finishing school for a short time in 1901, but she was unhappy with the strict discipline and isolation and would not stay for even one year. When she came home, she asked her father let her go to college the next year. He told her she could either complete finishing school or stay home (none of the girls were allowed to go to college). So she returned to a life at home with periodic visits to friends and relatives in other places. Family memory says she was engaged to be married at one point (we do not know the man's name), but broke off the engagement after a disagreement. We assume she went out with other men, but do not know whether any of those relationships were serious. By this time most of her brothers and sisters had left home. Iredell married in 1901 and Kate in 1903. Only her younger brother, Albert, remained at home; he was still in school. Her mother's health was deteriorating and it is possible that Bertha took over part of the management of the house. In March of 1905 her parents moved to Broadway House in Milton. Apparently they had sold their house, but we do not know why (probably to generate enough money for him to build the Milton Realty building the next year). Bertha was in Philadelphia, where all of her sisters were living at that time. Albert Cadwallader had planned to take his wife West to visit their son Austin in Los Angeles. On June 13, Bertha's mother wrote saying they planned to leave "on Friday morning" for their son Iredell's house in Kinzua, Pennsylvania. They arrived there but never got farther on their proposed trip. Annie Cadwallader became seriously ill, went down hill rapidly, and died September 15, 1905. We do not know with any certainty at this point what Bertha did after her mother died. Her sister Mary Louisa rejoined her husband Harry Hill in Milton, but sisters Gertrude and Kate continued to live in Philadelphia. Her brother Albert was a university student in Philadelphia for part of this period. Family memory says that Bertha lived with her father and kept house for him. It also says that they lived in Philadelphia, but we have no real records on this. When Bertha's father wrote his will on August 20, 1909, he included a statement to the effect that although he was temporarily making his abode in Philadelphia, he intended that his residence and domicile should continue to be in Milton. Bertha's father, Albert Cadwallader, remarried in May 1909 to Louisa A. Crawford of Milton. When he died in 1912, he bequeathed Louisa an annuity which his will says was in accordance with an ante-nuptial agreement in which she signed a quit claim against his estate. Apparently it was a marriage of convenience. Bertha refused to live with them, and we do not know where she lived in the following year. On April 27, 1910, Bertha married Pratt Bishop Worrell of Philadelphia. They were married by George B. Bell, Pastor of the Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, but it apparently was not a formal church wedding. Bertha's brother Albert and his wife-to-be Mae Schreyer stood up with them. We do not know whether any other relatives attended or not. We do not know how long Bertha had known Pratt Worrell before they married, nor how she met him. He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Broad Street Station and according to family memory roomed with the family of a fellow railroad employee, William Oberdorf. On their marriage license application, Pratt's address is given as 215 W. Farson St, W. Phila. and Bertha's as 6012 Chestnut St., W. Phila. It is possible that before Bertha's father remarried, he and his daughter lived together near enough to the Oberdorfs, that Bertha and Pratt met as neighbors. Bertha and Pratt took an apartment in West Philadelphia. A letter dated September 20, 1911 shows their address as 48 N. 54th St., W. Phila. Whether they lived at this same address until they bought a house in 1914 we do not know. Sometime during this period they took a train trip to Fargo, North Dakota with Pop and Mom Oberdorf; clearly an exciting experience for people who had never traveled very far and one that was remembered with pleasure years later. Although the Oberdorfs were about ten years older, they continued to be among their best friends. Bertha's sister Gertrude died in Philadelphia in 1909, but her sister Kate and family continued to live in Philadelphia, and her brother Albert lived there for some years after he married Mae Schreyer in 1912. Bertha's father died in Milton on May 2, 1912, but by then she had established her own life in Philadelphia. Bertha and Pratt had one son, who was born on May 14, 1913. They named him Albert Cadwallader after his maternal grandfather. Bertha had some kind of health problems when Albert was a baby, but we do not know whether they prevented her from having other children. In the spring of 1914, Bertha and Pratt bought a new house at 5820 Cedarhurst Street in a new housing development in West Philadelphia. It was one of 52 row houses on a one-block street only a block from Baltimore Avenue, a main east and west street. Trolley cars ran on Baltimore Avenue and 58th Street, and the railroad station on the line from Philadelphia to Baltimore was only two blocks away. Bertha lived in this house for fifty-four years; she reluctantly sold it in 1968. Bertha and Pratt paid $4,000 for their new home. They signed a mortgage for $1,200 of this. We do not at present know the source of the remaining $2,800. Both of them had inherited some money and they probably pooled what they had. It was a nice house with three bedrooms, hardwood floors, hot-water heat, a full finished basement, and a handkerchief-sized back yard. The neighborhood was definitely middle-class. The house was only a short walk from Cobbs Creek Park and only about three blocks from the line between Philadelphia and Delaware County, where conditions were gradually changing from semi-rural to suburban. The children on Cedarhurst Street were not confined to strictly city living. Bertha and Pratt lived comfortably, if modestly. Pratt worked as a clerk, selling tickets in Broad Street Station during their early married years and later as a chief clerk in the ticket accounting office. His salary was always modest, but since, as a railroad employee, he could obtain passes on any railroad, they could travel inexpensively. Bertha visited Milton with her young son at least once a year to see her relatives and old friends. The whole family spent occasional Sundays with Pratt's brothers David and Channing on their respective farms. In the summer, Bertha and Albert would spend a week or two in Wildwood or some other seashore resort and Pratt would join them on Sundays. Bertha joined the Ninth Presbyterian Church, which was within walking distance, and was active in various church groups. Pratt was not a religious person, but occasionally went along. Bertha early joined The 1910 Club, an organization of wives of railroad employees, which was formed in that year. The club met periodically at the homes of members for lunch and conversation. When the members were young, they sometimes brought children along. This amazing informal group stuck together for over fifty years, its membership eventually supplemented by daughters. Bertha recorded the deaths of members over the years; she herself may have been the last survivor of the original group. In the 1920's Bertha joined the Order of the Eastern Star and was active in it for a number of years. Pratt's niece, Emma Longshore Worrell, lived with her uncle and aunt during the two years in the early 1920's when she was a college student in Philadelphia. After she graduated, she continued to room with them off and on while she worked in Philadelphia. Her relationship with her uncle and aunt was close and they considered her almost a daughter. Bertha's son Albert had similar feelings for Emma's parents and from the age of ten until he started college, spent most of his summers on the farm of his Uncle David and Aunt Etta. Bertha would undoubtedly have led a more active social life if she had been married to a different person. Pratt was a quiet man and definitely not an extrovert. They did play bridge frequently with Dr. and Mrs. Mitterling and a small group of other friends. A rather close relationship existed with the family of Bertha's sister Kate Rife. For a number of years the families regularly got together for Christmas and for Thanksgiving. But Bertha largely had to make her own social life. When Bertha's father died in 1912, he left in trust for his children a block of stores and apartments in Milton. The income from this property was paid out regularly to the children. Bertha thus had income of her own, which in the 1950's ranged from $500 to $700 per year and may have been larger in earlier years. Albert Cadwallader included strict provisions in his will that his daughters' husbands should have no claim to or power over the trust incomes of their wives. So when Bertha decided in 1931 that they should have their first automobile, she went ahead and bought one with her own money despite Pratt's strong objections. In 1931, Albert started college and, although he spent his vacations at home until he graduated, he never really lived with his parents again. He did not live very close to them either, and they did not see him for long periods, especially during World War II, when he was on the West Coast. He was faithful in writing almost every week, but after 1935, Bertha and Pratt were for all practical purposes a family of two. Bertha and Pratt apparently enjoyed a happy married life, and the first twenty years were clearly pleasant ones. With the onset of the depression in the 1930's, life became more difficult. Pratt was grimly holding on to his job and after he retired in 1937 he was at loose ends. Things improved when he started to work again in the 1940's, and after he retired from that job life was satisfactory, if unexciting. After the war, Albert and his family lived in Richmond, Virginia, and then Georgia, and finally Connecticut and Bertha and Pratt saw them more frequently. Pratt died suddenly on September 12, 1959 after having been in poor health for several years. If he had lived another seven months, they would have been married for fifty years. Bertha was then 77 years old, but active and in good health and continued to live in the Cedarhurst Street house by herself. In June of 1960, Albert and his family went to Chile for a year and a half and wanted to take Bertha along. But she made the wise decision to remain in Philadelphia where she had friends and relatives. By 1968, Bertha was 86 years old and Albert and his wife Helen were becoming more and more concerned about her living alone. The Cedarhurst Street neighborhood had changed, most of Bertha's friends had died or moved, and she was finally willing to consider moving. Helen made a visit to Philadelphia during which the house was sold, much of the furnishings was sold, and Bertha and her most cherished possessions were moved to Cheshire, Connecticut in the fall of 1968. There she settled into an apartment of her own attached to the house of Helen and Albert. Bertha was a model mother-in-law. She took her meals with the family, but spent much of her time in her own quarters. Helen and Albert were away for the summer of 1969 and for seven months in 1970. Bertha stayed in her apartment. But arrangements were made for people to live in the house and a Mrs. Michalowski was hired to come several times a week and take Bertha for outings. She also visited her niece Emma for part of this time. It was undoubtedly not the happiest period of her life, but she did not complain. Bertha was ill during the latter part of 1971. Tests showed that tuberculosis, which she apparently had had when young, had become active again. She was able to remain in her apartment and to take meals with the family. But she ate at a separate table and was pretty much isolated because of the danger of infecting the other family members. At 2:30 in the morning on January 7, 1972, she awakened Albert and Helen with the warning buzzer from her apartment. They found her coughing up blood and called Dr. Zale who called an ambulance, which took her to Yale-New Haven Hospital. On January 10, Dr. Zale had her transferred to Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. For the next several weeks her condition fluctuated; Helen or Albert would find her feeling good one day and bad the next. On the morning of Tuesday, February 1, 1972, the hospital called to report she had suffered a massive hemmorhage in the lungs and had died. She had received letters from each of her grand-daughters earlier that morning and apparently was pleased. Bertha May Cadwallader Worrell was buried on Friday, February 4, 1972 in Lot 205 in the Sunnyside Section of Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. She was buried beside her husband Pratt, who had purchased that lot for them in 1918. Her funeral was attended by a very small group of relatives and friends; she had outlived many relatives and most of her friends. If she had lived three more months, she would have been ninety years old. | CADWALLADER, Bertha May (I639)
|
| 106 | Biography by his son, Albert Cadwallader Worrell: Pratt Worrell completed all of the schooling that was available to him in Upper Providence, but, so far as we know, did not have any education beyond that. He did not like the life of a farmer and left the farm when he was 21. He started to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad on December 13, 1897. He first worked as station agent in some of the small towns on the railroad line to Baltimore, including a period in Swarthmore. A note in his very skimpy records says "Enter department clerk on June 24, 1901." This may have been the date on which he started working in Broad Street Station in Philadelphia. We know virtually nothing about Pratt's life from the time he left home until he married. His niece, Emma, who was born in 1903, remembers his coming home to the Upper Providence farm frequently (and perhaps regularly) on Sundays. His wife, Bertha, said that he had one close friend during that period, but that the friendship broke up in some conflict over borrowed money. We do not know where he lived, who he associated with, whether he went with any women, or what he did with his free time. He never kept a diary or saved any other records and practically never wrote a letter. While working in Philadelphia, Pratt became well acquainted with a fellow railroad employee, William L. Oberdorf and his wife Gertrude, who were commonly called "Pop" and "Mom", and who were about ten years older than Pratt. Family tradition says that Pratt roomed with the Oberdorfs. [On his application for a marriage license, Pratt gave his address as "215 W. Farson St., W. Phila." We do not know whether that was where the Oberdorfs lived or not.] It was probably through the Oberdorfs that Pratt met Bertha May Cadwallader. We think she was keeping house for her widowed father, Albert Cadwallader, at that time and they may have lived near the Oberdorfs. We do not know exactly when Pratt met Bertha, nor how long they went together - it could have been several years. In May, 1909, Albert Cadwallader married a second wife, Louisa Crawford of Milton. Bertha was not willing to live with them and Pratt probably saw her new freedom as an opportunity to ask her to become his wife. Pratt Bishop Worrell and Bertha May Cadwallader were married on April 27, 1910. The officiating minister was George B. Bell, pastor of the Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church. We do not know whether Bertha and her father attended this church nor any details of the wedding. Bertha's brother Albert and his wife-to-be Mae Schreyer stood up with them, but we do not know whether other members of their families attended. The newlyweds took an apartment in West Philadelphia, probably near the Oberdorfs, who continued to be among their best friends. Their address in September of 1911 was 48 N. 54th St., West Philadelphia. Pratt and Bertha had only one son, Albert Cadwallader, who was born on May 14, 1913 and named after his maternal grandfather. Pratt and his family continued to live in the apartment until 1914 when he bought a new house at 5820 Cedarhurst Street in West Philadelphia. This was in the first block of houses in a new development between Baltimore Avenue and the Pennsylvania Railroad line and only two blocks from the city boundary with Delaware County. Within the next decade, the rest of the open space inside the city limits at this point was filled in with new row houses. Although they lived in one of 52 houses on a city block, Pratt's son Albert, during his youth, had available within easy walking distance Cobbs Creek Park along the city line. Beyond that were semi-rural areas. Pratt did take his young son walking in the park on Sunday mornings, but otherwise appears to have been content with his life as a city dweller. During this period of his life, Pratt worked six days a week and apparently had no annual vacations. Since Pratt could get passes on the railroads, the family was able to travel some. They frequently spend Sundays with one or the other of Pratt's brothers on their farms. In the summer, Bertha and Albert would go to the New Jersey seashore (usually Wildwood) for a week or two and Pratt would join them on Sundays. Bertha also took Albert on visits to her home town of Milton, Pennsylvania, where she had friends and relatives. Occasionally they would visit Pop and Mom Oberdorf, who had moved to New York City. In retrospect it appears that Pratt must have spent some lonely periods in the summers. Pratt Worrell was a quiet, and perhaps shy, man. He was not unfriendly, but was definitely not socially outgoing. He was inclined to be a listener rather than a talker, and most people, with the exception of his niece Emma, had difficulty carrying on a conversation with him. Another niece (by marriage), Louise Rife Eaby remembers her father Norman Rife and Pratt, following joint family dinners, sitting in the living room facing each other, puffing on their cigars, and saying not a word. Part of Pratt's problem was that he had no strong interests, no hobbies, and no close friends. He was not a joiner and not even an active church member. He read nothing but the daily newspapers. But he had very strong opinions and biases, to which he clung obstinately. For reasons unknown, he was a lifelong Republican and confirmed WASP - Jews, Catholics, blacks, orientals, Italians, Poles, and Democrats were people he did not want to associate with, and perhaps felt were his inferiors. Despite this, he was universally considered a nice person by people who met him. Pratt apparently was content - and probably happy - during the 1920's. He and his wife, Bertha, got along well and had few disagreements. He had been promoted to the position of senior clerk in the railroad ticket accounting office, where he must have had a certain amount of responsibility. His niece Emma, whose company he enjoyed, lived with the family part of the time - when she was a college student and later when she was working in Philadelphia. His son was doing well in school and active in the Boy Scouts. Although the family did not own an automobile until 1931 (partly because Pratt could get passes for them to travel anywhere that railroads extended), they owned their home and were in comfortable economic circumstances. Then came 1929 and the Great Depression. Like other companies, the Pennsylvania Railroad cut costs in every way possible. The office in which Pratt had been working was abolished or consolidated with other offices. Because of his long service, Pratt was offered a transfer - back to selling tickets or to working in the information booth. Concerned about the pressures of ticket sales - including the handling of money - Pratt opted for Information. But this job had its pressures too; he was expected to quickly tell a traveller the best schedules and connections from Philadelphia to any train station in the country. During the following years, he spent much of his free time studying a huge book of detailed train schedules. Pratt believed that the railroad company was doing everything it could to find excuses for firing its older employees, who were higher on the pay scale and approaching the age when they could retire and draw a pension from the railroad. He was convinced that some of the people who asked for information were company spies, hired to trap him into mistakes. It was an unhappy period, but he hung on, grimly determined to complete the 40 years required for a pension. At one point, he suffered what amounted to a mental breakdown. His sketchy notes show a period in 1936 when from January to September 12 he was "on relief" and then starting September 19 on "Salary". The time finally passed, and he wrote in his little notebook "Stop Work Sept 8 - 1937". This was followed by "Went on Relief Sept 25 - 1937". This lasted until June 30, 1938 and apparently was some kind of minimum payment to tide him over until the red tape was cleared on his pension. On July 14, 1938, he received a letter from the Railroad Retirement Board informing him that an annuity under the Railroad Retirement Act had been approved and that he would receive the monthly amount of $55.00 during his lifetime. They were magnanimous enough to backdate this to October 9, 1937 and sent him a check for $480.33 to cover the payments he had missed during the paperwork. Since Pratt's time had always been largely filled by working, and since he had no other interests, he was bored and restless in retirement. At the age of 61, he was too young to stop working. But the country was still deep in the Depression in 1937 and it was virtually impossible for a man his age with no scarce skills to find a job. A city row house with a postage-stamp yard requires very little in the way of upkeep. We do not know what he did with his time. His only child, Albert, was working in Ohio and in 1940 moved with his wife to the West Coast. Pratt and Bertha did visit them in Oregon in the spring of 1941 after their first grand-daughter, Kathleen, was born. Then the war started and travel became almost impossible. They did not see their son and his family again until the fall of 1944. By 1944, manpower had become so scarce in the United States that employers were taking anyone they could get. In May of that year, Pratt began working part-time for the Autocar Company, whose plant he could reach by public transportation. On November 27, 1944, he started full-time as a regular employee. The work was not demanding - sorting and delivering mail and other minor clerical duties - and he was happy to have somewhere to go every morning. He continued with Autocar until at least the end of 1946. He was then over 70, television had become available, and he was able to fill his time with little activities. After Pratt left Autocar, he was eligible for Social Security as well as his railroad pension. But in 1953, the two together still amounted to only $50 per month. However, Pratt and Bertha each owned some stocks and bonds and Bertha was receiving about $600 a year from her father's estate. Their house was paid for and they were able to live comfortably Pratt's health had always been good, but when he was 80 he suffered a severe case of shingles and then was quite ill with diabetes. From then on, he was more frail than sick, but limited in his activities. His grand-daughter Nancy visited her grandparents for a few days in early September, 1959, and took what turned out to be the last photograph of him. On the morning of September 12, 1959, Pratt came in from the yard and told Bertha he did not feel good and would lie down on the living room couch for a while. When she went to check on him a half hour later, she found he had passed away. If he had lived two more months, he would have been eighty-three. Pratt Bishop Worrell was buried in Lot 205 in the Sunnyside Section of Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He had purchased this lot for the three members of his family in 1918. | WORRELL, Pratt Bishop (I646)
|
| 107 | BIOGRAPHY: After his marriage, Henry Beck settled upon a farm in Earl township, Berks county, where he followed farming and tanning. In the year 1813 he moved with his family to a farm adjoining (and now a part of) Lewisburg, Union Co., Penn., which place he had previously visited with a view to settlement. Here he built a new tannery, which he carried on in connection with his farm. The large brick house at the upper end of Second street in Lewisburg was built by him in 1823, and was occupied by him and his family. By his wife, Hannah, he had six children, one of whom, named Daniel, died in infancy. The others were Samuel L. Beck, born April 6, 1802; Rebecca L., born November 30, 1807; Isaac L., born May 5, 1811, died May 20, 1856; Mary Ann, born October 19, 1815; Lydia L., born April 12, 1818. Hannah Beck died November 19, 1839, aged fifty-seven years. Henry Beck died January 2, 1846, aged sixty-nine years. Both are buried in the cemetery at Lewisburg, Penn. Henry Beck was a member of the Lutheran Church at Lewisburg, while his wife, Hannah, belonged to the German Reformed Church. He took an active part in town affairs, and in politics was a Democrat. Of the other children of Henry Beck, Rebecca L. married John K. Housel, and died near Freeport, Ill., in 1892; Isaac L. married Mary Dreisbach July 7, 1839, and died at Mifflinburg, Penn., in 1856, leaving two children, Henry and Kate; Mary A. married Thomas Reber, and died at Lewisburg in 1896; Lydia L. married Daniel Zeller, and still resides at Lewisburg. | BECK, Henry (I377)
|
| 108 | BIOGRAPHY: After Emma graduated from high school, she attended Drexel Institute in Philadelphia for two years. During this time she lived with her Uncle Pratt and Aunt Bertha in Philadelphia. The relations between the two brothers' families were close, and Emma's cousin Albert spent his summers on his Uncle David's farm from the time he was ten until he went to college. After graduating from Drexel, Emma worked as a secretary in Philadelphia and lived off and on with her uncle and aunt. Emma married John McCue of Newtown. They lived in a house in Newtown which earlier had belonged to Etta Longshore's family. | WORRELL, Emma Longshore (I6035)
|
| 109 | BIOGRAPHY: Agnes Fretz, born in Bedminster, Bucks Co., Pa., Sept. 13, 1759; died-. Married Abraham Bewighouse. Occupation, farmer. Mennonites. They lived on the farm now owned by John Deihl, near Joseph Sine, in Bedminster Twp. Children: Daniel, Barbara, Christian, John, Mary. | FRETZ, Agnes (I424)
|
| 110 | BIOGRAPHY: Albert Cadwallader was born in Milton, Pennsylvania on October 11, 1841. He was the son of Seth Cadwallader and Elizabeth Hammond, who married on February 3, 1824. During the Civil War, Albert enlisted in Company A of the Third Pennsylvania Militia. He later was appointed agent for the United States Sanitary Commission to distribute supplies to sick and wounded soldiers at the front. Albert's father, Seth Cadwallader, was engaged in the mercantile business in Milton from 1812 to 1854, when he retired. He was a prosperous merchant. Albert may have succeeded to the family business because he was engaged in the grocery and provision business in Milton until 1879. After the great Milton fire, he conducted a grocery business in the Cadwallader block on Broadway for some years. Albert Cadwallader married Annie Louisa Supplee on October 20, 1868 in Germantown, PA. Albert and Annie had eight children. In 1905 he moved out of the family home at 250 Center Street. In May of that year, his youngest daughter Bertha, who was visiting in Philadelphia, received a letter from her mother which indicated that Albert, Annie, and their son James Albert were living in the Broadway House Hotel. Annie had been in poor health and perhaps they had decided it would be better for her not to try to keep up their big house. In June, 1905, Bertha received a letter from her mother saying that she and Albert were leaving for a visit to their son Iredell. It turned out that Albert had planned to take Annie to California to spend the rest of the year with their son Austin in Los Angeles. Their first stop was to be a visit with Iredell and his family in Kinzua, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, before they started, Annie fell on the stairs and injured her side. After she got to Kinzua, she developed an abscess, which got progressively worse. Iredell was a medical doctor so she got the best of care. But nothing helped and Annie died in Kinzua on September 15, 1905. Family tradition says that after her mother died, Bertha, who was still unmarried, lived with her father and kept house for him. Albert Cadwallader remarried in May of 1909 to Louisa A. Crawford, who was a good bit younger than he was. His children were strongly opposed to this marriage. In response to this, Louisa signed an ante-nuptial agreement in which she waived any claim to Albert Cadwallader's estate but was guaranteed an annuity after his death for the rest of her life. Louisa survived Albert by many years and died in 1949. Probably also in response to his children's feelings, Albert wrote a will and signed it on August 20, 1909. This was a ten-page will and went into great detail. Basically it stipulated three things: (1) After Albert's death, all of his lands and real estate, with the exception of real estate located at the corner of Broadway and Front Street in Milton, and all of his personal estate were to be liquidated. After his debts and funeral expenses had been paid, the remainder of the proceeds was to be divided share and share alike among his six surviving children. His daughter Gertrude H. Spindell was specifically not to receive a share of this money. If any of his children died before the will became effective, their share was to be divided share and share alike among any children they might have. If there were no children, the share was to be divided share and share alike among their brothers and sisters. He further directed that "in no event shall either the present or any future husband of either or any of my daughters take any share or interest or benefit from my estate." He apparently did not trust his daughters' husbands. Finally, he said that several of his children were indebted to him for monies that he had advanced to them and that the amounts of their indebtedness, without interest, were to be deducted from their shares in the estate. (2) The lands and real estate at Broadway and Front Street in Milton were to be held in trust for his children. His executors were to distribute the net proceeds from this trust each year share and share alike among his seven children. [In this case, Gertrude was to receive her share.] The property held in this trust was not to be sold until the last of his seven children had died. If any of his children died, their share was to be divided equally among their children. If they did not have children, their share was to be divided share and share alike among their brothers and sisters. (3) Albert's second wife, Louisa A. Cadwallader was to receive out of the income of this trust, before any payments to his children, the sum of sixty dollars each month for the rest of her life, if she did not remarry. Albert Cadwallader lived only three years after he remarried. His obituary said that he had been in ill health for years and that the cause of his death was hardening of the arteries. He and Louisa were living in the Hotel Milton at the time of his death. It would seem that this remarriage was largely one of convenience and that Louisa probably earned her annuity. Albert Cadwallader died on May 2, 1912 and was buried next to his first wife, Annie Louisa, in the Milton Cemetery. He left an estate that was estimated at $100,000. Two notes about Albert Cadwallader's will are interesting: (1) Albert's daughter Gertrude died in 1909 about the same time that Albert wrote his will. She therefore did not miss receiving her share in the first part of her father's estate. Her two children, Hammond and Catherine, started receiving their shares from the trust in 1912. (2) Albert's daughter Bertha lived to be almost ninety and outlived all of her brothers and sisters. The trust was therefore not liquidated until 1972, almost sixty-three years after Albert established it in his will. Albert's grandson, James Albert Cadwallader, Jr., took over from the original trustees, Seth Iredell and Austin Supplee, who died in 1957 and 1960. | CADWALLADER, Albert (I81)
|
| 111 | BIOGRAPHY: ANTHONY ESCHBACH learned the blacksmith trade, which occupation he followed. He was married in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, to Barbara Romig, and their children were: Jonathan; David; Jacob; John; Anthony; Catharine; Sarah, and Elizabeth B. In the fall of 1804 Anthony, Jr., and his father traveled on horseback from Lehigh to Northumberland county, and together purchased a tract of three hundred forty-seven acres of land in Turbut township for twenty-six dollars fifty cents per acre. In the spring of 1805 they moved their families over the mountains and settled upon the same, building a log house sixteen by twenty feet, one story high. They were one of the early families of the county, and endured the privations and hardships of the pioneer. The only child living of Anthony, Jr., is Elizabeth, Mrs. Balliet, of Lockport, New York. Anthony Eschbach was one of the early members of the Paradise Reformed church, helped to organize the same, and served as elder for many years. | ESHBACH, Anthony (I154)
|
| 112 | BIOGRAPHY: BECK FAMILY. Among the German immigrants who left their homes along the Rhine during the great migration of German Protestants to Pennsylvania in the last century was Johann Thomas Beck. He came from the Duchy of Hanau, and embarked from the port of Rotterdam, in Holland, in the year 1752, with his wife Esther, his son Henry and his daughter Margaret. He did not live to see the New World, for he died on the voyage and the Atlantic became his burying place. His widow and children reached Philadelphia, from whence they went to Berks county, Penn., where they settled, and where the widow subsequently married one McMullen. | BECK, Johann Thomas (I168)
|
| 113 | BIOGRAPHY: Benjamin Beck, son of Jacob, was born in 1814 in Northampton county and removed with his father to Lycoming county. In early life he learned stone cutting, which be continued to follow after he took up farming, having purchased a farm in Montour county, about three miles east of Pottsgrove, Pa. He was thus engaged to the those of his life, dying in his prime, April 16, 1863, at the age of forty-nine years. He married Eliza Derter, of Northampton county, born in 1818, who died Dec. 22, 1882, and they are buried at Center Church, in Liberty township, Montour county. They were members of the Center Lutheran Church. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Beck: Matilda, who married William Gaskins, of Danville, Pa.; Catherine, who married William R. Miller; George A.; William H.; Ella, who married Charles Weinland; and John A. | BECK, Benjamin (I261)
|
| 114 | BIOGRAPHY: Charles Koch was born in Northampton county, Pa., and was a boy when his parents moved to Northumberland county, making the journey with Conestoga wagons. He resided upon the home farm until he became of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, continuing to follow it for some years. Later he began contracting and building, in Milton, Pa., and was thus engaged, up to the time of his death. Mr. Koch built many houses still standing in Milton and the surrounding towns. He did a large business and employed a number of men. In politics he was a Democrat and became overseer of the poor while he lived in Turbut township, and when his home was transferred to the borough he was elected overseer of the poor there. He died June 18, 1889, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, as the result of exposure during the great flood of that month. His wife, Sarah (Hill), was a daughter of John K. and Catherine (Beck) Hill, the latter a daughter of Henry Beck. | KOCH, Charles (I140)
|
| 115 | BIOGRAPHY: Christian Fretz, (son of Weaver John) was born in 1734. He married Barbara Oberholtzer in 1757. She was born Nov. 20, 1737. Their married life ran through a course of forty-six years. He died May 1, 1803. His wife survived him twenty years, and died May 8, 1823. It is a noteworthy fact that at the time of her death, she was the mother of twelve children, had a hundred and nine grand children, and a hundred and three great grand children. Previous to his father's death, Christian, and his brother Isaac, lived on what is known as the Isaac Fretz' homestead, situated in Tinicum Twp., now owned by Henry F. Myers. He was one of the executors of his father's estate, and inherited the old homestead in Bedminster under the conditions previously mentioned in the will, and where he subsequently lived and died. To the homestead he added by purchase from his son John, the tract known as the "Poor Fields," in 1793, and which consisted of about 30 acres. He and his wife were members of the Mennonite church, and worshiped in the ever memorable Old Stone Church at Deep Run, which was the oldest Mennonite congregation in Bucks county. In his day the Indians were yet quite numerous, and often quite troublesome. It is related that he had a very fine horse, to which the Indians took a particular fancy, and wanted to buy, but he would not sell it. The Indians however, determining to gain possession of the horse, came by night and stole it. Some time after, he ascertained where the horse was, and went to the Indian camp, arriving at evening, and seeing the horse turned out to pasture, he cencealed himself until slumber had fallen upon the inhabitants of the wigwam. The Indians had a custom of just before retiring for the night, to go outside of their wigwarns and shout and make a great noise to frighten away the wild beasts. Knowing this to be the signal for retiring, be waited until he thought they were sound asleep, and then entered the lot, secured the horse, and returned home with it. It is also related that his son Joseph had a very fine young horse, and that during the Revolutionary war, when Washington's Army was encamped below Newtown, that foraging teams, accompanied by an officer on horseback, came to Christian Fretz's place for hay for the army, that the officer saw the horse, and in conversation with the foragemen, said it was a fine horse, that he would try and buy it, but if he could not buy it, he would have it anyway. The conversation between the officer and men was overheard by one of Christian's daughters, who ran to the house and told her brother, who was sitting at the loom weaving. As the officer was coming to the house by the front way, to see him about the horse, he not wishing to part with it, leaped through the window, ran to the barn by the back way unobserved by the officer, mounted the horse, and rode towards the Haycock Mountain. The officer however saw him as he dashed away with the horse, and followed some distance until he lost track of him. He rode the horse up through the wilderness country, a part of the time fording up the streams to cover his tracks and hid the horse at the place now known as Shellenberger's mill. A few days later the officer came again to Christian's place, and told him that he would have that horse. The next day, however, Christian accompanied by a neighbor went to the Encampment at Newtown, and laid the matter before the General in command. The General gave him a writing of protection, told him not to trouble himself about the horse, and if the officer should come around again, to hand him that paper. In a few days the officer came the second time, and very impudently made demands for the horse, whereupon Christian handed him the paper from the General in command. He looked it over, dropped it and left. Among the relics of Christian Fretz's home is a table now owned by Mrs. Lapp, who lives at the Doylestown Mennonite meeting house, which was used in his family, and on which he, being a wealthy man, counted his money. The table was bought at the public sale of Christian Fretz's effects by Joseph Wisler, and is now in possession of his daughter, Mrs. Lapp. The children of Christian and Barbara Fretz, in the order of their birth are, viz: John, Agnes, Joseph, Henry, Martin, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Barbara, Christian, Mary, Elizabeth. | FRETZ, Christian (I126)
|
| 116 | BIOGRAPHY: DAVID ESCHBACH was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, son of Anthony, and removed with him to Turbut township in 1805. He acquired his education at the schools of the township. In 1824 he married Elizabeth Rishel, of Chillisquaque township, who died in 1844. Their children were: David, deceased; Edward, of Frederick City, Maryland; Clarissa, wife of Benjamin Shaffer, of Kansas, and Elizabeth, wife of William S. Klapp, of Milton. He was again married, in September, 1845, to Sarah, daughter of Philip Eschbach, by whom he had the following children: Seth, a merchant of Milton; I. A., of Turbut township; Henry Clay, a physician of Iowa, and Daniel Elmer, a real estate agent of Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Eschbach became one of the prominent farmers of the township, and was also an extensive lumber manufacturer. He was a member of the Paradise Reformed church, in which he served as elder many years and until his death. Politically he was a Republican, and filled the office of school director a number of terms. He was one of the directors of the Lewisburg Bank, and later a director in the Milton National Bank, which office he held at the time of his death. He died in February, 1879; his wife survives him, and lives near the homestead farm. | ESHBACH, David (I609)
|
| 117 | BIOGRAPHY: From Sarah Alice (Jenkins) Ochs, January 10th, 2006: NOTE: Herbert Leslie Jenkins and his brother and sister were sent to live with their mother's family in Milton, PA after their mother died in 1899. Their father worked as an engineer in the iron and steel industry in Steelton, PA and in Detroit, MI, and was seldom able to see his children. They were raised by their grandmother, Rachel (Angeny) Hill, and by their two aunts, Alice and Bessie Hill. Rachel was a stern religious fanatic, which explains some of the comments below. LH Dad always said his upbringing was like an orphanage. He said the household was long on religion and short on love. He always felt guilty about causing his mother's death (she died less than three weeks after he was born) and later knew he was a disappointment to his father when he didn't continue with his college education. His final parting with his father was in a hospital during David's final illness. David threatened to disinherit my dad and told him to leave. Dad looked back to see his father in tears. He didn't know that he hadn't been written out of the will until after David's death. However, he did not get a lump sum settlement, but received income from a trust set up for the Jenkins children. Dad did farm labor in Missouri until he suffered a heat stroke, then moved to the drier climate of Colorado. He worked driving livestock trucks and eventually married a rancher's daughter. When I was about three, they bought the mountain property in Boulder County that we still own. He found it good more for summer pasture than year around use, so he leased farms and did farm work on shares to get winter feed for our livestock. He also drove school buses for years, then did maintenance work at a high school and finally for the University of Colorado. He remained a Republican until his death. He shared a couple of Milton stories. He said the aunts (Alice and Bessie Hill) kept the boys in short pants until a certain age. Dad was tall and lanky, and mortified to be in short pants. He said he thought they were going to make him wear them until he shaved. Prior to that he told about being dressed to go to church and sent out to play. On a dare, he attempted to ride a hog. He didn't stay on the hog and was too dirty to go to church. One aunt laughed, the others were not amused. | JENKINS, Herbert Leslie (I919)
|
| 118 | BIOGRAPHY: George Beck was married to Mary Greiner, and had the following children: William, Susan, Jeremiah, Henry and Mary Ann; he remained in Berks county until his death in May, 1854. | BECK, George (I382)
|
| 119 | BIOGRAPHY: George C. Stahl, merchant, was born in Paradise, Lewis township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1858 and is a son of George Stahl. He was educated in the common and public schools, and Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1883, and in 1886 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by this institution. He taught in the common and normal schools, and for one term he was principal of the McEwensville public schools. For a time he was connected editorially with one of his home papers, was deputy postmaster at Milton under President Cleveland's administration, and was once a delegate to the Democratic State convention. He is a Democrat and was elected a member of the Milton Council in 1890. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, the I. 0. 0. F., Encampment and Patriarch militant, Masonic order, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and Royal Arcanum. He was married near Turbutville, this county, December 18, 1884, to Lillie B. White, born in Milton, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1859, and is a daughter of James White, born in Kempton, Bedfordshire, England, January 15, 1819, and Isabella (Frymire) White, a native of McEwensville, this county. By this union he has one child, Isabella P., born November 12, 1885. Mr. Stahl belongs to the Reformed church. | STAHL, George Calvin (I600)
|
| 120 | BIOGRAPHY: George Stahl, farmer, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 25, 1814, son of Philip and Elizabeth (Eshbach) Stahl. He received his education in the district schools, and has been a farmer all his life. He has served two terms as school director, and in other township offices. Mr. Stahl was married in 1842 to Elizabeth Deshler, of this county, and to them were born eight children: William J.; Thomas P.; Mary E.; Levi H.; John O.; David F.; Edwin O., and George Calvin. He is a member of the German Reformed church, and politically he has been a life-long Democrat. Mr. Stahl is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of his native township. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and of unimpeachable character, and is a fitting representative of old Northumberland's best and purest citizenship. | STAHL, George (I158)
|
| 121 | BIOGRAPHY: Henry Beck, the son of Johann Thomas Beck, was born in the Duchy of Hanau about the year 1748, and was four years of age when he came to Pennsylvania with his mother. He grew up in Berks county, and in the year 1775 married Margaret Wolfgang. Like almost all the Pennsylvania Germans, he was engaged in farming, which he varied occasionally by superintending the wood-cutting for one of the local furnaces. The Revolutionary war came on shortly after his marriage. In the militia companies which were formed from time to time for short terms as the war progressed, and were composed chiefly of the farming population who attended to their farms in the summer and went into the army in the winter, he went out three different times, first as orderly sergeant and subsequently as lieutenant, and was in one of the commands that failed to cross the Delaware at the time when Washington captured the Hessians at Trenton. He remained upon his farm in Berks county until his removal to a farm near Pottsgrove, in Northumberland county, Penn., where he died in the year 1824. Both he and his wife Margaret are buried in the old Lutheran graveyard at Milton, Pennsylvania. Henry Beck, by his wife, Margaret, had seven children, all of whom were born and reared in Berks county, on their father's farm. They were Henry, George, Thomas, Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary and Catharine. Henry Beck, the eldest son, was born July 10, 1776, and was married to Hannah Ludwig, of Berks county. George Beck was married to Mary Greiner, and had the following children: William, Susan, Jeremiah, Henry and Mary Ann; he remained in Berks county until his death in May, 1854; his son, Henry Beck, with his family, resides at the present time at Pottstown, Berks county. Thomas Beck removed to Fayette, Seneca county, N. Y., where he resided until his death. Sophia married William Gross. Elizabeth married David Kaufman, who settled in Union county, Penn. Mary married Stephen Glaze, who settled in the northern end of Northumberland county, Penn. Catharine married John Hill, and resided upon the homestead near Pottsgrove until her death. After his marriage, Henry Beck (the first son) settled upon a farm in Earl township, Berks county, where he followed farming and tanning. In the year 1813 he removed with his family to a farm adjoining (and now a part of) Lewisburg, Union Co., Penn., which place he had previously visited with a view to settlement. Here he built a new tannery, which he carried on in connection with his farm. The large brick house at the upper end of Second street in Lewisburg was built by him in 1823, and was occupied by him and his family. By his wife, Hannah, he had six children, one of whom, named Daniel, died in infancy. The others were Samuel L. Beck, born April 6, 1802; Rebecca L., born November 30, 1807; Isaac L., born May 5, 1811, died May 20, 1856; Mary Ann, born October 19, 1815; Lydia L., born April 12, 1818. Hannah Beck died November 19, 1839, aged fifty-seven years. Henry Beck died January 2, 1846, aged sixty-nine years. Both are buried in the cemetery at Lewisburg, Penn. Henry Beck was a member of the Lutheran Church at Lewisburg, while his wife, Hannah, belonged to the German Reformed Church. He took an active part in town affairs, and in politics was a Democrat. | BECK, Balthaser Heinrich (I162)
|
| 122 | BIOGRAPHY: Henry C. Hause, grandfather of Charles L., was born in 1796 in Northampton county, Pa., and died July 16, 1871, at Milton. In the spring of 1834 he came to Northumberland county and bought a farm of seventy acres in Chillisquaque township, which he cultivated until 1850. He sold the place that year and moved to Milton, being one of the pioneer builders of Shakespeare, which is now included in Milton. He was a Republican in politics and a Lutheran in religious faith. His wife, Catharine Matilda (Young), daughter of Jacob Young, of Northampton county, died May 22, 1866 at the age of sixty-eight years, two months, seventeen days. Ten children were born to them; (1) Jacob, born Nov. 28, 1818, died at Milton Sept. 29, 1903. He was a soldier in Company D, 112th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He married Anna Haupt, and they had six children, Edward, John, Harry, Catharine, Lovina and Jane. (2) George Henry married Angeline Foust, daughter of Philip, but left no children. He died at Milton in 1864. Farming was his occupation. (3) Hannah married Jacob H. Ernst and is still living in Union county, Pa., in her eighty-seventh year. She had three children, Henry, William and Ida. (4) Sabina, who died at Milton April 11, 1860, married Benjamin Snyder and had William O., Joseph H., Catharine and Ida. (5) Lewis William went West in 1858 and settled at Aledo, Ill., where he died. His family are in the West. He married Elizabeth Clark, daughter of William, and they had a family of six children, Catharine E., Ida M., Elizabeth, Leota, Emery and Clarence. (6) John R. is mentioned below. (7) Conrad P. died in Easton, leaving no children. He married Lydia Pursel. (8) Amandus F. married Mary Follmer, daughter of Henry Follmer, and they left no children. He was killed in 1868 in Bradford county, Pa., by the falling of a tree. (9) David B., born May 31, 1839, died Sept. 1, 1904. He served during the Civil war as a member of Company E, 131st Regiment, P. V. I. He married Katie Strine, daughter of William Strine, and they had one daughter, Jennie, who is married to George C. Chapin, cashier of the First National Bank of Milton. (10) J. Harrison, born Dec. 6, 1842, in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, is now living retired in Milton. He learned coachmaking, and followed that business until his retirement, in 1903. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, 51st Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. J. F. Hartranft, and on Jan. 1, 1864, reenlisted in the same company and regiment. He was captured at Spottsylvania May 12, 1864, and was held prisoner at Andersonville for ten months. He was exchanged May 10, 1805, and mustered out July 28, 1865. He served as second sergeant of his company. He is a member of Henry Wilson Post, No. 129, G. A. R., of Milton, and of Regiment No. 108, Union Veteran Legion; he also holds membership in Lodge No. 84, I. 0. 0. F. On Nov. 28, 1868, he married Hannah S. Hullihen, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Freeze) Hullihen and they have had one son, Edward B., now a dentist of Philadelphia and, married to Catharine Datesman. | HAUSE, Henry C. (I4380)
|
| 123 | BIOGRAPHY: Jacob Beck, son of John and grandson of Johann Thomas, settled in Lycoming county, near Alvira, Pa. He is buried at the Messiah Church near that place. He was a large land owner and followed farming all his life. His family was large, viz.: Charles lived and died in Lycoming county; Henry and Peter lived and died in Lycoming county; Benjamin; Catharine married John Breon; Mary married Mahlon Bower; George and William lived and died in Lycoming county; Hannah married Mr. Wenrick; Thomas lived and died in Lycoming county. NOTE: Johann Thomas Beck died at sea enroute to America in 1752, so could not have been the grandfather of Jacob. Records indicate only a son Henry and daughter Margaret came to America with their parents. John was born in 1758. | BECK, Jacob (I485)
|
| 124 | BIOGRAPHY: Johann Thomas Beck, the common ancestor of this branch of the family, was born in Germany, in what was then the countship of Hanau, In 1752, with his wife Esther and children, he embarked for America, but he never reached the new land, dying at sea. The family landed at Philadelphia, where the widow again married, and the children became scattered. One son, Henry, went to Berks county, Pa., married Margaret Wolfgang, and reared a family of seven children. The other son, John, settled in Northampton county, where he lived and died. Three of his sons, Jacob, John and Henry, settled in White Deer Valley in the early part of the nineteenth century. | BECK, Johann Thomas (I168)
|
| 125 | BIOGRAPHY: JOHN A. BECK, son of Benjamin and brother of William H., was born May 11, 1858, in Montour county, Pa. He received his education in the public schools, but his father dying when he was very young he has had to make his own way from an early age, and his education has been mostly of the practical kind. For several years after commencing to work steadily he was employed on farms in his own county and in Northumberland county, in 1876 locating in the borough of Milton, where he has since made his home. In 1879 he entered the employ of S. J. Shimer & Sons, as clerk, and has served in such position ever since, his long experience in this capacity making his services most valuable. However, he has also had other business interests, having for almost twenty years, since 1891, been conducting a greenhouse at No. 319 Hepburn street, where he also has his home. He makes a specialty of cut flowers and floral designs, and his taste for the work, combined with industry and good management, has made his venture profitable. Mr. Beck married Ella Hill, daughter of Charles and Kate (Hause) Hill, and they have one son, Charles L. The family are Lutherans in religious connection. Mr. Beck has been quite active in borough affairs, having served eleven years as member of the council. He is a Republican in political affiliation, and socially is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. | BECK, John Allen (I187)
|
| 126 | BIOGRAPHY: John Cadwallader (1) was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1676, and was minister among the Society of Friends (Quakers), and was very eminent in the early religious history of the Province of Pennsylvania, He made many trips to other provinces in the United States and abroad to other countries. As the Friends do not have ministers as most protestant denominations know them, his work corresponded with that of a missionary in a protestant denomination. Histories speak of Quaker ministers, but actually they were leaders who "ministered" to a Friends Monthly Meeting. Nothing is definitely known of his parentage nor the name of the ship he came to Pennsylvania on, but several sources give the year of his immigration here as 1697. On May 28, 1701, John Cadwallader married Mary Cassel at Abington MM. She was the mother of his ten children. Mary was the daughter of Johannes Cassel, a Friend, a weaver, and one of the founders of Germantown. He came from Kresheim in the Palatinate, High Germany, Dec. 20, 1686. His children were Arnold, Peter, Elizabeth, Mary, and Sarah, He died Feb. 17, 1691, and was buried at Germantown, Mary died November 8, 1728, and was buried at Horsham where she and John had lived. On April 29, 1730, John Cadwallader married Margaret Peters, a widow of Warminster, and later after John acquired land in Warminster, they lived there until his death in 1742. In 1746 Margaret married Rees Naney and died in 1748 childless. She willed her estate to nephews, nieces, and friends - none to Cadwalladers. John and Mary lived at Horsham, Pa. on a tract of land acquired from Samuel Carpenter December 16, 1702, which was next to the present Horsham Meeting House land. They were members of the Society of Friends at Abington, Pa. In 1714 John was instrumental in helping establish a small log meeting house at Horsham on 50 acres of land granted by the widow of Samuel Carpenter. The Horsham MM was a part of the Abington MM until it became large enough to establish itself as an independent Monthly Meeting. Later as the Horsham MM increased in size, it sponsored the Byberry MM, A Centennial Plate showing the Horsham MH as it is now, says: 1714 - First Meeting House was built of logs on 50 acres of land given by the widow of Samuel Carpenter. 1724 - Second Meeting House was built of stone. 1737 - A school house, and soon afterward, a farm house for the caretaker was built. 1803 - The present Meeting House was erected. Since then renovations have been made with an added lobby, dining room and kitchen. The old carriage house still stands by the meeting house. The minutes of the Abington MM lists that in: 1716 - John Cadwallader was appointed to visit families on a religious visit to New England. 1719 - Certificate to Barbadoes but did not go at this time, 1721 - Certificate to visit Great Britain, 1724 - Certificate to visit Long Island. 1732 - Certificate to visit Great Britain and Ireland. 1740 - Certificate to visit Virginia and North Carolina. 1742 - Certificate to visit the Island of Tortola in the West Indies where he died and was buried September 26, 1742. A Friend settlement had started on Tortola in 1655, and John Pickering, the governor, wrote to Philadelphia for a minister in 1742. Thomas Chalkley answered the call but died shortly after he arrived there. There was another call and John Estaugh and John Cadwallader answered it. John Cadwallader and John Estaugh both died of fever in 1742. All three men were buried there. Many years later hurricanes wiped out practically all traces of the settlement and the graves of the three men. There is a painting at the Friends' Memorial Library, Swarthmore College, made by a descendant of either Chalkley or Estaugh at the site showing the meeting house, tombs, etc., before hurricanes wiped them away. The following Memorial to John Cadwallader was submitted by the Abington MM to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1758. "Our Friend John Cadwallader of Horsham, was convinced of the Principles of Truth when young; had a gift in the ministry bestowed on him in which he was serviceable; underwent many deep baptizing seasons, by which it is believed he was in good degree an over-comer. He travelled much in the exercise of his gift, having visited his Brethren in Truth's service in most, or all, the parts of this continent where Friends reside; and crossed the Seas twice to Europe on the same account; and once to the Island of Barbados; and good accounts and credentials were upon all occasions, communicated to this Monthly Meeting of his acceptable service; and was also serviceable amongst us in the Meetings of Discipline. His last visit was to the Island of Tortola in company with our worthy Friend, John Estaugh, deceased. He was taken indisposed on his passage thither before he landed, yet proceeded on the service he went up for the satisfaction of Friends there, but his distemper increasing upon him. He departed this life in Peace, on said Island of Tortola, on the 26th of the 9th month, 1742, as by accounts sent hither by Friends of said Island; aged near 66 years." The following Memorial to Mary Cadwallader was submitted by the Abington MM to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1758. "On the 8th of the 11th month, 1728, died Mary Cadwallader, the wife of John Cadwallader, deceased. She was appointed an Elder for Horsham Particular Meeting, and died in that station. She was inoffensive in Life and Conversation, discreet and careful in the management of her husband's affairs when he was abroad in Truth's Service; aged near 50 years, was buried at Horsham," Ref. Vol. 9 (1924-26) Genealogical Society Magazine of Pennsylvania. "Tortola, A Quaker experiment of long ago in the Tropics." Issued as a supplement (#13) to the Journal of the Friends' Historical Society, London, 1923, by Charles F. Jenkins. It is a valuable contribution to 18th Century History of the Friends, both as history and literature. "Tortola, the 'Land of the Turtle Dove' is the largest of the Virgin Islands, in the hurricane swept Caribbean. It was first owned by the Dutch, then by other countries, and finally by the English. "In 1741, it claimed the attention of the Friends MM in Philadelphia, by an appeal of the Governor of the Island, John Pickering, a member of the Friends. "Thomas Chalkley, of blessed memory, Whittier's 'Gentlest of Skippers, rare Sea Saint', answered the call at once, But he lived only two weeks to labor on the Island and was rewarded by a great outpouring of saved souls, before he died a victim of the climate. Nothing daunted, John Estaugh and John Cadwallader, who had travelled much in the Ministry, followed in 1742 to the newly established Meeting in Tortola. Here, they too shortly finished their mission on earth, and lay, one on each side of their former collaborer (Chalkley), in the Governor of Tortola's graveyard far from their native home". Ref. "The Friend" (Religious and Literary Journal) pub. Phila. by Robb, Pile & McElroy, 1857, Vol. XXX, Haddonfield, the 15th of the seventh month 1742. "Having obtained the concurrence of his friends at the yearly meeting of Ministers, held seventh month, 1742, John Estaugh and his companion, John Cadwallader left Phila. about the 12th of the eighth month, and sailed for Tortola. "Elizabeth Estaugh says, 'We parted in the abounding love and affection of the occasion'. Two extracts from letters received by Elizabeth, from Friends at Tortola, will give account of the close of "On the 8th day of the ninth month he arrived at the house of John Pickering (at Tortola) with his companion, John Cadwallader where they were received with much love and great joy. Being made to rejoice together in tender mercies and love of God, which was greatly manifested that day to the honor and praise of his great name, and also to the comforting of his poor peoples The testimonies of the servants of the Lord were with life and power, and were as clouds filled with rain upon a thirsty land." "Later Visitors in Tortola", pub. London 1923 -"Tortola" by Charles F. Jenkins. "Joseph John Gurney visited the British Isle of Tortola in 1839. He reached Tortola from St. Thomas after an uncomfortable voyage. He felt intense interest in visiting a British Island peopled with emancipated slaves (negroes) for the freeing of which he and his people had worked. "He spent several days on the Island visiting estates by boat and on horseback. The ancient prosperity of the planters had departed, and the firm of Reid Irving & Co. of London were owners by mortgage tenure of a large part of the Island. At the time of his visit, the condition, due to drought, was unfavorable. The chief industry was growing sugar. He visited Long Look, the ancient home of the Nottinghams, and Fat Hog Bay, coming in contact with the descendants of the slaves they had freed. He still retained the letters which the Nottinghams had sent him regarding the deed to their property. Their land was on the brow of a mountain, and a considerable part was in cultivation. He held a Meeting with them, and went away satisfied with their respectable appearance and behavior. "The following year, 1840, other Pennsylvania Friends visited the Island. They too had an unhappy voyage from St. Thomas to Tortola amid swift currents and tides of the encompassing Islets, and were all day in making the few leagues. They landed in Road Town, Dec. 25, and spent a week in visiting prominent planters and holding Meetings. They spent one day in looking for the traces of the Friends who once were important to the Island. "It was toward the end of their visit that they took a boat to visit Fat Hog Bay. Finding a little girl at the Bay site for a guide, they set off through dense thicket to Long Look, the ancient home of the Nottinghams. Many plantations of Tortola had been abandoned and overgrown, but the Nottingham estate was still producing a comfortable substance to a happy community, eighty persons or sixteen families. The Island in 1837 had been visited by a terrific hurricane, and homes and crops had been destroyed. The visitors held a religious Meeting after which they were conducted by some of the young men to the site of the Old Meeting House. Only the stone foundations remained. Near it were five graves built according to the ancient custom of the Island, of brick about three feet above the ground and covered with mortar. They were not marked and there was no way of telling which were the remains of Thomas Chalkley, John Estaugh, and John Cadwallader. The ravages of time and neglect were everywhere apparent. The prickly acacia spread its branches under the tombs making an almost impenetrable thicket. While nearby as a century plant was blooming luxuriantly - symbolical of the hundred years since the Meeting House had been built, and the itinerant Ministers had so hopefully come to give the light, and laid down their lives in the Service of the Truth. "Seventy years later, Charles F. Jenkins and his son visited the Island. No one remembered the Quakers and the way was a jungle. Burned sugar mills, etc., and houses unroofed by hurricanes. They took a trip to Fat Hog Bay via boat and were carried ashore on the backs of the Captain's crew. No one knew of the Old Quaker Church, but through dense underbrush they followed a crooked cow path, and at last came to the hallowed spot. The outline of the church foundation could be followed and nearby were the ruins of two tombs. The others had disappeared. They had been built of brick with plaster coating, and as all natives need brick to build fireplaces, they helped themselves from time to time, so that the tombs were now level with the ground and the others were crumbling with decay. The brass letters of their names which had been on the brickwork had long ago been carried off by natives to make names on their sailing boats." | CADWALLADER, John (I1)
|
| 127 | BIOGRAPHY: JOHN ESCHBACH was born in Germany, December 15, 1747, immigrated to America, and settled in that part of Northampton county which is now Lehigh county. He married Catharine Bush, who was born in Germany in 1749. Their immediate descendants were John; Anthony; Valentine; Philip; Solomon; Elizabeth; Susanna; Savilla; Mary; and Catharine. | ESHBACH, Johannes (I4844)
|
| 128 | BIOGRAPHY: John Fretz (son of Christian and Barbara) known as Warwick John was born on the "Old Homestead" in Bedminster Township, Bucks Co., Pa., May 24, 1758, and died Dec. 20, 1804, aged 46y-6m-26d. He married Ann Kratz, of Plumstead (daughter of Philip Kratz). She was born Nov. 4, 1764, and died Aug. 4, 1813, aged 48 years and 9 months. John Fretz bought what is called the "Poor fields," 25 acres, for three pounds 19 shillings, and sixpence, by patent from the executive council of Pa., dated June 12, 1787. The warrant for the same having been granted one year previously. This tract is situated in Bedminster Twp., and now occu-pied in part by Jonas Loux. In 1793 he sold this tract to Christian Fretz for the sum of fifty pounds. At the time of this sale he was a resident of Warwick. In 1790 while yet residing in Bedminster Township, he purchased of John Thomas, a tract of 130 acres in New Britain Township, now known as the Curly Mill property. This property he sold to Mark Fretz in 1792. He never resided on this property. In 1792, he bought 299 1/2 acres in Warwick Township, of Richard & Willet Smith for 1200 pounds "in good gold and silver money." In 1794 he built a barn on this property, and the following year, 1795, he built a stone house which is still standing, in good repair and occupied as a dwelling. To this property he added by various purchases, so that at his death he owned a connected tract of 600 acres. In connection with his occupation as farmer, he also distilled whisky. He and his wife were members of the Menno-nite church, and to them were born nine children: Elizabeth, Susan, Rachel, Barbara, Eliza, Mary, John, Anna, Philip. | FRETZ, John (I434)
|
| 129 | BIOGRAPHY: JOHN GAGE came to America 12 Jun 1630 with John Winthrop, Jr. He was the second son of John B. Gage and Penelope Dorsey, widow of Sir George Trenchard. After Anna died, he married Sarah Keyes, widow of Robert Keyes --- though by another account married 2nd, Mary Keyes, Feb 1633 ( She died 20 Dec 1668). He came on the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, lived in Boston, then Ispwich in 1633. He was listed as Sgt. John Gage. He removed to Rowley, MA in 1654 and there died in 1673/4, having been a prominent man and held responsible offices of trust and fidelity, both in Ipswich and Rowley. Of his eight children, seven of whom where sons, the second, Daniel X of who we find the earliest mention among the Gages of that part of "Old Rowley, " which is now Bradford, MA. We learn there from Bradford town, records that he married Sarah Kimball. (The name Kimball figures all through the Gage genealogy as many Kimballs married Gages.) Daniel married Sarah Kimball on 3 May, 1675 and died November 8th, 1705. He had eight children, three sons, of whom Daniel XI, the oldest born 12 Mar 1675 married Martha Burbank, 9 Mar 1697 and about that time settled in the extreme northwest part of Bradford, on the banks of the Merrimac, establishing the well known "Gages on Upper Ferry" on the then main road to Methuen, where the grotesque "Gage House" was built and afterward enlarged, stood in dilapidation, the oldest in the town in 1900. Martha died there 8 Sep 1741 and he died 14 Mar 1747. | GAGE, John (4) (I5075)
|
| 130 | BIOGRAPHY: John Stahl served in the Revolutionary War as quartermaster and captain, and at times was recruiting officer. At the close of the war he came to Northumberland county, and settled on a tract of land containing four hundred acres. He was the father of six children, Philip, father of George, being one of the number. | STAHL, John (I153)
|
| 131 | BIOGRAPHY: Martin Fretz, born on the Old Homestead, in Bedminster Twp., Aug. 9, 1764; died Sept. 26, 1835, 71y., 1m., 19d. Farmer and Linseed Oil manuf'r. He lived in Hilltown Twp., near Yost's Mill, on the farm now occupied by Jacob Smith. He was an honest, upright man, and held in high esteem. As a christian, he endeavored faithfully to discharge his religious duties, in all of which he was conscientiously strict. He never allowed any member of his family to leave the church before the benediction was pronounced. An adage of his was: "Wer naus geht vor dem segen, geht dem fiuch entgegen." Though at times taking a smoke, it was a saying of his, "That he never wanted to be a slave to tobacco or whisky." In the time of the subject of this sketch, many of the luxuries of the present day were not enjoyed. There were no carpets, and no parlor matches in those days. Sometimes they had to go to neighbors for fire, and on one occasion the Fretz' meadow was set on fire by borrowed fire. For the married girls in those days the dry goods outfit was mostly homemade. The spinning wheel was one of the fixtures of the family, and in this family of ten girls there were six spinning wheels going at one time, commencing at 5 o'clock in the morning, and continuing until 10 and 11 P.M. One of the daughters, Mrs. Susanna Funk, generally spun 18 cuts of flax per day, and one day she spun 20 cuts. The reel and the shaving bench were in the same room. Martin Fretz was one of the first to get a Dearborn pleasure wagon. Bows and cover were taken along, and if wanted, in case of rain, were put up. Among the relics of this home is a bar of soap made by his wife in 1816, one of her last acts, now in the possession of a granddaughter, Esther Hunsberger, of Dublin, Pa. Martin Fretz was twice married. His first wife was Anna Kratz, by whom he had fifteen children. She was born Sept. 11, 1768; died June 24, 1816. He married for his second wife Anna Licey. They were members of the Mennonite church at Blooming Glen, where he and his wives lie buried. The children, all by the first wife, are: Barbara, Mary, Agnes, Betsey, Betsey, Nancy, Veronica, Martin, Martin, Susanna, Silas, Veronica, Catharine, Leah, Rachel. | FRETZ, Martin Oberholtzer (I116)
|
| 132 | BIOGRAPHY: Robert W. Correy, machinist and postmaster, was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1833. His father, George Correy, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1786, a son of Robert and Rachel Correy. He came to Milton when a young man, started one of the first wagon maker shops in the town, and was the manufacturer of the old Dearborn wagon a number of years, after which he was engaged in the mercantile business twenty-five years. He was a public spirited man, and was highly esteemed by all. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church, and a member of the same over fifty years. In politics he was a Whig. He married Susan, daughter of John Evans, of Roaring Creek Valley, Columbia County, and reared a family of seven children, four of whom are living: Rachel; Hannah M., wife of E. W. Chapin; John K., of New York, and Robert W. The subject of our sketch received his education at the public schools, and learned the trade of machinist. In 1855 he and his brother John K. engaged in the mercantile business, succeeding their father under the firm name of J. K. Correy & Company, and continued about twenty years. Mr. Correy then engaged in the foundry and machine works under the firm name of Correy, Bailey & Company, and continued until 1873. He then became employed in Shimer's matcher-head factory as machinist, and has since held that position. In 1856 he married Lucretia, daughter of John Murray, by whom he has four children: George, a machinist in Milton, who married Belle Hagenbach; John M., druggist, of Milton; William, and Robert Irwin. Mr. Correy is an active member of the Republican party, and has served as overseer of the poor fifteen years. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. June 26, 1890, he was appointed postmaster at Milton, and August 27th following took possession of the same, with his son, John M., as deputy. | CORREY, Robert W. (I4677)
|
| 133 | BIOGRAPHY: Robert was severely retarded with Downs Syndrome, and was unable to speak or care for himself. His father insisted that he be cared for at home. | RIFE, Robert Norman (I910)
|
| 134 | BIOGRAPHY: SAMUEL H. Koch, son of Charles, was born March 12, 1848, in Chillisquaque township, and was educated in the public schools and in the select school taught by Professor Rhoad, later attending the Academy at Milton. Then he taught school, in 1868. While a young man he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, with whom he began to work in 1869, at the trade, being associated with him up to the time of his retirement, when he began contracting and building for himself. He has been notably successful, having built up a business which entitles him to rank among the substantial men of the borough. In 1871 Mr. Koch married Susan E. Strine, daughter of Henry and Eleanor Strine, and granddaughter of Matthias and Catherine (Welchans) Strine. Henry Strine died Dec. 30, 1892, aged eighty-two years, six months, eighteen days; his wife Eleanor died April 2, 1872, aged fifty-six years. Matthias Strine died Dec. 30, 1861, aged eighty-flve years, seven months, eight days; his wife Catherine (Welchans) died Feb. 23, 1860, aged seventy-seven years, eight months, fifteen days. Mrs. Koch died April 15, 1903, the mother of one child, William A., who died Jan. 12, 1903; he had married Anna Boyle, and they were the parents of one daughter, Miriam Eleanor. Mr. Koch resides with his daughter-in-law and grandchild at No. 309 Hepburn street, Milton. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. In political faith he adheres to the principles of Democracy but he may be classed as an independent voter. | KOCH, Samuel H. (I571)
|
| 135 | BIOGRAPHY: SETH CADWALLADER was one of the pioneer merchants of Milton, in which town he settled about 1812. He was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. October 11, 1796 and after coming to Milton engaged in clerking, but subsequently went into business and followed merchandising until 1854, when he retired. On the 3rd of February, 1824, he married Elizabeth, daughter of George Hammond, and a native of Northumberland county. Her father was one of the first settlers of this part of the State, was captured by the Indians during the Revolutionary War and turned over to the Hessians, and was held a prisoner five years. Eleven children were born to Seth and Elizabeth Cadwallader, only three of whom are living; Hammond, of Juniata county; Albert, of Milton, and Kate, wife of James McConkey, of Philadelphia. The parents died August 24, 1863 and June 3, 1880 respectively. | CADWALLADER, Seth (I77)
|
| 136 | BIOGRAPHY: STAHL. There are two branches of the Stahl family in Northumberland county whose progenitors came hither from Northampton county, the descendants of John and Adam Stahl. As the former lived in Northampton county for some time before removing to this county, and as the latter was a native of that county, it is possible they were related, though the present records do not establish the fact. John Stahl, a native of Germany, born Aug. 18, 1741, came to America when a young man, and lived for some years in Northampton county, Pa. He was one of many signers of a petition addressed to the Honorable Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania relative to conflicting civil and military laws then existing. The petitioners were from Northampton county, which was the early home of John Stahl in this country, as stated, and the same volume of the Pennsylvania Archives in which the foregoing is recorded shows (page 190) that he was captain of the 6th Company of the 2d Battalion from Northampton county; (page 359) that he was captain of the 5th Company, Associators, of Militia of Northampton county, which was part of the 4th Battalion from Sept. 18 to Nov. 18, 1780; (page 29) that he was second lieutenant of Capt. John Roberts' 5th Company, 1st Battalion of Northampton county Militia. In Volume IV, page 349, John Stahl, captain, is mentioned among soldiers of the Continental Line who received depreciation pay; in Volume VI, page 8, he is mentioned in the muster roll of Cumberland county militia, in 1777, as of Capt. Thomas Askey's Company. It is known that he served as quartermaster and recruiting officer, was with the army at Valley Forge during the memorable winter of hardship and at the crossing of the Delaware, Christmas night, 1776. Being a skilled mechanic, a gun and blacksmith, his services were often valuable in repairing implements of war during the Revolution, and he had as many as twenty men working under him at one time, engaged in making guns for use in that war. His son Philip had one of these guns. After the war he (having already married) moved to Northumberland county, Pa., where he took up four hundred acres of land in what is now Lewis (then Turbut) township. He died Feb. 27, 1809, and is buried in the old Follmer Church graveyard. His wife, Elizabeth, born in 1746, died in September, 1832. They were the parents of the following children of whom we have record: Jacob, born Feb. 16, 1776, who died Sept. 3, 1796; Johann Philip, born Dec. 17, 1781, who died March 24, 1832; and John George, born June 11, 1791, who died Aug. 4, 1820. The son John settled in Niagara county, New York. | STAHL, John (I153)
|
| 137 | BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN GLAZE was reared upon the homestead farm, and received his education at the public schools. He began life as a carpenter, and has followed that occupation in connection with farming. In 1848 he married Rachel Raup, who was born in Lewis township, by whom he has had five children, three of whom are living: Mary, wife of John C. Felt, of Watsontown; Gustavus, and Alfred R., a Lutheran minister of Espy. Mr. Glaze again married, November 10, 1881, Mary Annie Yagle. Her parents, Conrad and Margaret (Weber) Yagle, were natives of Berks county, and settled in Lewis township. In politics Mr. Glaze is a Democrat, and has filled several township offices. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Turbutville, and has served as elder and deacon many years. BIOGRAPHY: STEPHEN GLAZE, farmer, was born in Lewis township, August 4, 1816, son of Stephen and Mary (Beck) Glaze, natives of Berks county, who settled in Lewis township at a very early date. The father was a wagon maker by trade, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church. Their family consisted of five children, two of whom are living: Stephen, and Levi, of Michigan. Mr. Glaze was one of the prominent men of Lewis township, and a man of good business ability. Politically he was a Democrat, and served in the various township offices. He died in 1870. | GLAZE, Stephen Jr. (I1628)
|
| 138 | BIOGRAPHY: The brothers John, and Christian Fretz, together with a third brother (name unknown, and who died on the voyage), emigrated from near the City of Manheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, formerly known as the Palatinate, or Rheinish Prussia. They were of German origin, as is quite evident from the fact that they wrote and spoke the German language, and were connected with a distinctively German church. That they were of German origin, is also evident from the fact that on the opposite side of the Rhine, in the province of Alsatia, there are to this day, living where they have lived for the past two or three centuries, many Fretz's of an old Alsatian Stock, who claim they are of German origin, ''as all true Alsatians are". The Province of Alsatia was annexed to France in 1648, prior to that time it was always under German Dominion, and while the French language was exclusively taught in the schools, the language spoken is a German dialect, with decided variations in different localities. At what port the Fretz ancestors landed, or the exact date of their arrival into this country is not known, but may have been between the years of 1710 and 1720. It is said that they came to this country during what was known as "the last persecution." They were given the alternative of connecting themselves with the state church, or leave the country, and they chose rather than to give up their religious liberty to leave the "Fatherland," the land of their birth, and the homes of their kindred and friends, the graves of their ancestors, and all the hallowed associations of the home and country of their nativity, and found for themselves a home in a strange and far-off land where they could worship God "under their own vine and fig tree," according to the dictates of their own conscience without fear of molestation. Undoubtedly they had heard that America afforded a refuge for the oppressed and granted religious liberty to all its subjects, and naturally enough they turned their steps hither, where they too, might enjoy liberty of conscience. And thus are we, as their descendants, citizens of this great liberty loving country. How we, of today, should prize this liberty! Think what our Ancestors sacrificed to enjoy it. How they left their native land, a country established many hundreds of years, to seek a home in the new world, in the wilds of America. They came about thirty-five years after the charter was granted, and the great seal of England, with the signature of Charles II. was affixed, and William Penn became the proprietor of Pennsylvania. They were here about thirty-five years before the French and Indian war, in which George Washington, was a British Colonel. Our first ancestor, John Fretz, slept beneath the sod before the fires of the Revolution were kindled, or about three years before the battle of Lexington. They came when the country was but sparsely settled, when the inconveniences were great, and when the equally dangerous red man infested the land. They were still living during the period when some of the great subjects which eventually led to the war of the Revolution were being agitated, and their children were settled with families during the bloody struggle for Independence, and although being non-combatants, they were true and loyal to the American cause, and aided it as best they could, without compromising their religious faith by bearing arms. Our ancestors and their immediate descendants were Mennonites, who worshiped at Deep Run, Bucks Co., Pa., first in the old log church, which was probably built in 1746, and later in the old stone church, built in 1766, and which stood for over a hundred years. They no doubt aided in erecting this church, both by contributing of their means and labor, and from it they were carried to their last earthly resting place in the cemetery adjoining. There may their ashes rest in peace until the trump of Gabriel shall awake the dead to come forth, and obtain the inheritance of the faithful. Which of the two brothers was the elder is not known as no records of the birth of either have been found. Christian, settled in Tinicum township, Bucks Co., Pa., along the Tinicum Creek, on what is now known as Heaney's Mill. It is not known where John Fretz at first settled. He afterward settled in what was then Plumstead township, but now Bedminster, on what is known as the Old Fretz Homestead, situated about one mile North East of Bedminsterville, now owned by Ely Fretz, and occupied by his son, Mahlon M. Fretz. The homestead originally consisted of 230 acres of land, which John Fretz purchased of Bartholomew Longstreth in 1737 or 1738, for which he paid 106 pounds. The release being given in the latter year in the month of May. The tract when purchased had a house, barn, and other buildings, but was surrounded on all sides by vacant and unimproved wild land. A veritable wilderness. The homestead now includes the whole or part of four farms - viz, Samuel High's 69 acres, Ely Fretz's 57 acres, Isaac L. Fretz's 44 acres, and Reuben Miller's 60 acres. John Fretz was a weaver by trade, and is known as "Weaver John." Of his public services nothing is known of especial interest further than that he was one of the committee to form the new township of Bedminster in 1741. He was twice married, but the maiden name of neither wife is known. By his first wife Barbara, he is known to have had five children, and by his second wife, Maria, three. There may have been more, but if there were they died young. John Fretz died in 1772, probably in February. His last will and testament, was dated January 29, 1772, and was probated on the third day of March of the same year, which shows that he died between the two dates given. The provisions of the will were that his son Christian should have the farm, and pay 800 pounds, and each of the children were to have equal shares, except the sum of 60 pounds which was to be distributed among the children of his first wife, and which came from their Grandfather, (probably on the mother's side.) To the widow was willed a 100 pounds of which she was to receive the interest as long as she remained his widow. She was to have the house in which George White lived at that time. The last Will and Testament of John Fretz, as an old and rather peculiar document, will no doubt be interesting reading, and of sufficient importance to warrant its insertion in the history of the connection. | FRETZ, Johannes (I128)
|
| 139 | BIOGRAPHY: The SUPPLEE FAMILY. The pioneer of the Supplee family in America was Andris Souplis, a Frenchman, born in France, in the year 1634, a man of distinguished parentage, a soldier, an officer in the French army, and also a Huguenot. Andris Souplis left France in 1682 and went to Germany from which he sailed in 1683, and, with a party of German emigrants, came to America, settling in the present Germantown the early part of 1684. He was a man of great intellilgence and ability, and was held in high esteem by William Penn, who was then residing in Philadelphia, and was Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania. They had five children, as follows, in the order of birth: Bartholomew, Margaret, Andrew, Ann and Jacob. In his will dated March 25, 1724, he states that he was aged, but of sound mind and good health. He also states that he was then living upon his plantation in Kingsessing Township, Philadelphia County, in the Province of Pennsylvania. His property was on the west bank of the Schuylkill River south of present day Baltimore Avenue. A part of his property is now in Bartram's Garden, which is located on Elmwood Avenue, west of 54th Street. He died in the early part of the year 1726, aged ninety-two years. His wife survived him. He relocated to Kingsessing Township, Philadelphia County. His property was on the west bank of the Schuylkill River south of present day Baltimore Avenue. Andreas Souplis, by then a widower, moved with his unmarried children to Aronameck in Kingsessing, where he acquired land from the Yocum family. His daughter Ann subsequently married Charles Yocum, son of Peter Petersson Yocum and his wife Judith Jonasdotter. Andreas himself married widow Gertrude Enochson, who saw to it that he was buried at Gloria Dei Church. No tombstone of this burial survives. | SOUPLIS, Andris (I660)
|
| 140 | BIOGRAPHY: They lived on the property known as Angeny's Mill, in Bedminster Twp., Bucks Co., until the spring of 1848, when they moved to New Columbia, Union Co., Pa. In 1859 they moved to Milton, Northumberland Co., Pa., where Mr. Angeny perished in the great fire May 14, 1880, in his 78th year. | ANGENY, Abraham (I103)
|
| 141 | BIOGRAPHY: Thomas Beck removed to Fayette, Seneca county, N. Y., where he resided until his death. | BECK, Thomas (I383)
|
| 142 | BIOGRAPHY: Walter was born in Massachusetts, and came with his father to Danby, Vermont, about 1770. He served in the Revolutionary War. State of Vermont records show that he was with Capt. Gideon Ormsby in June of 1778 to guard the frontiers. During March of 1780, he was in the Militia under Col. Eben Allen. He moved to Vergennes, and purchased 50 acres in the NE corner of Lot 107 on June 5, 1798. Upon Walter's death, his estate was probated, and his son, William, was appointed Administrator. Another son, Orange, purchased Walter's 50 acres. | GAGE, Walter (I353)
|
| 143 | BIOGRAPHY: WILLIAM H. BECK was born April 9, 1852, in Liberty township, Montour county, and there received his early education in the public schools, also attending the Franklin select school for one term, during the period it was taught by Charles Lesher. He was also a student at the Milton high school. For a time he was employed as clerk in the general store of Heinen & Schreyer, after which he took a course at the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and on his return to Milton entered the employ of the Adams Express Company. He was engaged by that company as driver four years, at the end of that time being promoted to the agency, which he held for five years. In 1881 he resigned to accept a position as bookkeeper in the establishment of S. J. Shimer & Sons, with which concern, one of the most important in Milton, he has since been associated. A year after entering the employ of the firm he was sent, upon the death of the father of George and Samuel J. Shimer, to Northampton county to superintend the construction of a new plant, remaining there one year. Upon the completion of the plant he returned to Milton, where he took charge of the order department, in this capacity traveling widely for the firm. In 1903, when a corporation was formed without change of name, Mr. Beck was elected secretary, which position he has since filled. He has proved a valuable member of the corporation, the condition of whose business has a material bearing on the well-being of the borough. In various relations outside of business Mr. Beck has proved a useful citizen, his aid and influence counting for much in the promotion of many desirable local enterprises. For six years he was a member of the Milton borough council, and as an active worker in the councils of his party, the Republican, he has assisted in securing creditable candidates for local offices, having served as committeeman and as borough chairman. For years he was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, which he served as deacon, trustee and financial secretary, superintendent of the Sunday school and teacher of the Bible class, extending his Sunday school work to activity in the County Sunday School Association, of which he was recording and corresponding secretary, and is still a member of the executive committee. He now attends the Presbyterian church where he teaches the men's Bible class. For a number of years Mr. Beck was district president of the Y. M. C. A., his district embracing Northumberland, Union, Snyder, Lycoming, Montour and Columbia counties, and he was also president of the local organization. Fraternally he unites with the Royal Arcanum and for six years was district deputy grand regent. Mr. Beck married Anna M. Angstadt, who was born Nov. 28, 1850, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Eckbert) Angstadt, and died Aug. 23, 1891; she is interred in Harmony cemetery, at Milton. Three daughters were born to this union: Lottie, who is married to Walter J. Nail and has one son, William; Lulu J., who is at home; and Elenora E., now a student at Wilson Seminary. | BECK, William H. (I487)
|
| 144 | BIOGRAPHY: WILLIAM H. BECK, the eldest son, received his education at the University of Lewisburg, Penn., where he graduated in the class of 1862. He entered the army during the Civil war, and was a member of Company C, 131st P.V.I. He was admitted to the Bar as a lawyer in Lewisburg in 1865, and since that time has resided in Winchester and Alexandria, Va., New Orleans, La., and Washington, D. C., which last place is his residence at this writing. | BECK, William H. (I1675)
|
| 145 | Biography: William Shields was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1776, and was married in the Old Country to Mary Thompson, also a native of Ireland, born in the same year. She was a sister of James Thompson, a noted scholar, who was at one time president of Belfast Institution, now known as Queen's College, Belfast. William Shields and his wife crossed the Atlantic in 1805, and settled in Buffalo Valley, Union Co., Penn., where he followed the weaver's trade for many years, his death occurring in 1858. His wife died March 6, 1853. They had a large family, of whom only three survived infancy, viz.: James, Ellen, married to Andrew Magee, who died in 1876; and Catherine, who married Robert Strayhorn, and is at present residing in California. | SHIELDS, William (I5880)
|
| 146 | BIOGRAPHY: Rev. H. U. Rahn Completes Fifty-five Years As Minister (1942) The Rev H. U. Rahn, who was pastor of St. John's Evangelical Church at Casco seven years and four months, preached his farewell sermon last Sunday and this week moved his household goods to Edwardsville, Ill., where he will make his home with his daughter and son-in-law. There are some interesting facts to relate with reference to Rev. Rahn's career as a minister over a period of 55 years. When the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a minister of the Evangelical and Reformed Church was observed at Casco July 18, 1937, it was pointed out that in a half century devoted to serving six congregations, Rev. Rahn missed only one Sunday preaching service on account of Illness, and he was absent from only one annual district conference. In the 55 years, he baptized almost 1,500 children, confirmed over 900 confirmands, married over 635 couples, and conducted over 720 funeral services, besides preaching several thousand sermons. One of Five Generations The Rev. Rahn, who is nearly 79 years old, was born in Gasconade County August 30, 1863. He is one of the fifth generation of the Rahn family, who have continuously carried on the vocation of the ministry for the last 233 years. Three of them served in the cause of Christ's Kingdom in Switzerland, and the last two (missing). Rev. Rahn is one of five children born to his parents. His mother died when he was only ten years old, and at the age of fifteen his father died, the children becoming orphans. After completing his studies in school, he received his preparation for the ministry at Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill., and the Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, being a graduate of both institutions. The Rev. Rahn began preaching at Zion's Evangelical Church at Ursa, Ill., and remained there five years. From there he went to the Evangelical Church at O'FalIon, Ill., and preached nine years. He served next as pastor of Eden Evangelical Church at Edwardsville, Ill., for twenty-four years; at St. John's Church, Evansville, Ill, two years; at St. John's Church, Bellefontaine, St. Louis County, nine years, and at the St. John's Evangelical Church at Casco over seven years. During his ministry he was president of the Illinois Pastoral Conference, member of the first Synodical Sunday School Board, president of the South Illinois District, member of the board of directors of Hoyleton, Ill., Orphanage, member of the Board of Home Missions eight years, member of the Board of Religious Education, and member of the Board of Trustees of Eden Theological Seminary. He was also a delegate to five consecutive general conferences. Came In 1935 Since coming to Casco in April, 1935, Rev. Rahn published several booklets in the interest of the congregation. The first was the history of the congregation after it was decided Nov. 20, 1935, to build a new church. Another was issued when the new church was dedicated Oct. 18, 1936, and when the congregation was 88 years old. Then followed a brochure dealing with the golden anniversary of the minister, July 17, 1937. The fourth publication dealt with the 90th anniversary of the congregation observed on August 14, 1930. Rev. and Mrs. Rahn celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on October 17, 1938. Mrs. Rahn died May10, 1939. On April 23, 1939, the Parsonage occupied by Rev. Rahn at Casco burned to the ground with all its contents. The parsonage was built In 1907 and was 32 years old. Two weeks after the fire, the congregation decided to build a new parsonage and it was dedicated Dec. 10, 1939. Regret His Departure The people of Casco very much regretted to see Rev. Rahn leave, but being left alone at Casco since the death of his wife and the recent marriage of his daughter, who will live at Edwardsville, they readily realized the situation confronting their beloved pastor and peacefully granted his release and wished him God's blessing. Although almost 80 years old, Rev. Rahn is in good health and high in spirit. He has lost no energy and enthusiasm in carrying on his wife's labor of love. His physical fitness has been well preserved, and his mental faculties have been undisturbed. He has a good word for everyone with whom he has come in contact. Trials and tribulations along the pathway of life have left no scars on his genial and pleasing personality. No one has made a more lasting and affectionate friendship than Rev. Rahn. | RAHN, Rev. Herman Ulrich (I5586)
|
| 147 | Biography: Abraham Redcay, son of Daniel, was born Jan. 23, 1847, and in his youth learned the trade of molder at McEwensville. In 1872 he came to Milton and became connected with the American Car & Foundry Company, and in 1889 was made foreman of the foundry department, a position he still holds. During the Civil war he served as a private in Company B, 210th Pennsylvania Volunteers, spending nine months in the service of his country. He is a member of Henry Wilson Post, No. 129, G.A.R. He and his family attend the Lutheran Church. They reside at No. 231 Park Avenue, Milton, in a home Mr. Redcay built and moved into at the time of his marriage. He votes the Prohibitionist ticket, and takes a firm stand for his party's principles. | REDCAY, Abraham (I196)
|
| 148 | BIOGRAPHY: Gertrude married Garnett Spindell against her father's objections. She was 32 years old and what would have been considered an old maid at the time. Her father disowned her and insisted all her siblings do the same. They had two children when Garnett died. The children were sent to foster homes because none of Gertrude's siblings would take them. | CADWALLADER, Gertrude Hammond (I634)
|
| 149 | BIOGRAPHY: Seth Cadwallader was born in Horsham, Bucks County, PA on October 11, 1796. He was the son of Abel and Jane Cadwallader. He moved to Milton, PA as a young man (1812). His first cousin once removed, Mary Cadwallader had married Seth Iredell in 1795. They moved to Milton in the early 1800s where Seth Iredell had a mill and was President of the first Milton Bank. The records say that Seth Cadwallader started in the mercantile business in Milton in 1812. Since he would have been only sixteen years old at that time, it seems likely that he went to Milton to work for his cousin Seth Iredell and that Iredell later helped Seth start his own business. Seth married Elizabeth Hammond of Milton in 1824. They had ten children, but only four of them lived to be adults, and one of those died at 22. Seth Cadwallader did well in business. He was a prosperous merchant. He retired in 1854 after forty-two years in the merchantile business. His son Albert was also a merchant in Milton, but Albert was only thirteen when his father retired and could not have taken over the business from him. Seth Cadwallader died in Milton on August 24, 1863. His wife Elizabeth died June 3, 1880. They are buried together with six of their children in the Milton Cemetery. | CADWALLADER, Seth (I77)
|
| 150 | Biography: Adam played the trumpet and guitar, and enjoyed playing with his son Jimmy, who played guitar and piano. | FREDERICKS, Adam Henry (I214)
|