Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Croninger, Matthias 1846 - living in 1899

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Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



MATTHIAS CRONINGER, who is recognized and greatly admired by his fellow-citizens

as one of the most enterprising men in Shamokin, is a son of Jacob and Magdalena

(Kretz) Croninger, and was born January 18, 1846, in Germany. With a common

school education Mr. Croninger started out to win success and fortune, beginning

his active career at an early age as a slatepicker in a coal-breaker, then

working as a miner of coal, and by assiduous effort and perseverance he worked

to the top and to-day is one of Shamokin's most prosperous and energetic leaders

in business.



  The father of our subject, Jacob Croninger, was a native of Germany, who came

to the United States when a young man, located at Tremont, Schuylkill County,

and subsequently resided at Trevorton, Northumberland County. He responded

promptly to the call for troops soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion and

was killed at Reams Station, Va. His family subsequently moved to the vicinity

of Shamokin, and his mother is a resident of that town.



  After attending the public schools our subject, when quite young in years,

obtained employment as a slatepicker and later as a miner, working in the mines

in the vicinity of Shamokin for about sixteen years. Determined to be something

more than a miner, Mr. Croninger abandoned the work beneath the hills and

learned the trade of butchering, and eventually went into business on his own

account as a butcher. Then he again followed the bent of his ambition and became

a drover, buying cattle and shipping them to the Eastern markets, continuing as

a buyer and seller of cattle for about thirteen years. In 1892 our subject

resumed business as a butcher and reestablished his individual market, which has

so grown in proportions and trade that it is now one of the largest and leading

commercial interests of Shamokin. In 1893 Mr. Croninger associated himself with

the Shamokin Packing Company, and the firm now consists of Holden Chester and

our subject, who manages the live-stock branch of the immense business. It is

estimated that the business of the company averages about $1,000 per day. In

addition to looking after his department of the packing concern, our subject

also conducts his personal business, which occupies an extensive plant on West

Walnut street, consisting of a slaughter-house, shop and a modern equipment with

which is manufactured artificial ice.



  Our subject is a Democrat and has been active in the interests of the party in

whose principles he is an enthusiastic believer. His popularity was forcibly

demonstrated in 1884 when he was the nominee of his party for county treasurer

and was defeated by a majority of 300 votes. Mr. Croninger frequently has served

as delegate to local conventions and he has been overseer of the poor and a

councilman. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F., and also is

prominent as a member of the local tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men and of

the Knights of the Mystic Chain.



  Twice has our subject entered the matrimonial relation. He first was united to

Amanda Leahmy, who bore him five children, one dying when young. The surviving

children are: Frederick, who is with his father, and three daughters, each

happily married and residing in Shamokin, as follows: Jennie, the wife of Lewis

Erieg: Annie, wife of Roy Bixler; and Sadie, wife of Jesse Bird. Mr. Croninger's

second marriage was to Mrs. Mary Rausch, nee Mary Herrold, and to them have been

born two children, Rosa and Jesse.



  Mr. Croninger's portrait, executed from a recent photograph, taken expressly

for this work, appears on a preceding page.





Additional Comments:

Extracted from:



Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District

Published by 

Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)











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