Floyd's Northumberland County Genealogy Pages 320 thru 345 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tony Rebuck. Tar2@psu.edu USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. JACOB STRAUB, a venerable resident of East Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, has spent his life in that section with the exception of the three years he was in the West, and there is no more respected citizen in the district. Born Oct. 19, 1826, in what was then known as Chillisquaque township, he is a grandson of Andrew Straub, the founder of what is now the prosperous borough of Milton. Andrew Straub's father was born along the southern border of Germany, and as his parents desired him to become a priest he attended the Catholic schools of that country until he reached young manhood. However, he did not complete his preparation for the church, but coming to America became a land owner and farmer, settling at Columbia, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he took up land, cleared it and followed farming to the end of his days. He was a good neighbor and true friend, and was on very friendly terms with the Wright brothers, the founders of Columbia and Wrightsville. He married after his arrival in this country, and his children were: Andrew; Valentine, who settled along the Tulpehocken creek in Berks county, Pa.; Mrs. Hougendobler; and Mrs. Merkle. Andrew Straub, son of the emigrant, was born Feb. 14, 1748, on his father's farm just back of the town of Columbia, in what is now Lancaster county. When a boy he was bound out to one Mr. Bashore, near Columbia, to learn the trade of mill wright, but he remained with him only four weeks, his master making him work at the trade during the daytime and split rails at night. This was too hard for the youth, so he returned home, and the Wrights gave him employment in the same line in which, being a natural mechanic, he soon became expert. Before the Revolutionary war Mr. Wright asked young Straub if he thought he could come up along the river to build a mill for the soldiers at Fort Augusta, and he agreed to do it. Making the trip to Sunbury by team, he came up the river above Northumberland to the Chillisquaque creek, where he erected the first mill; the iron for which was poled up the river from Columbia in a canoe. He then built a mill on the White Deer creek, in what is now Union county. Returning to Columbia he enlisted in the Continental troops for service in the Revolution, but when the conflict was over his mind again turned to the new country in which he had worked and in April, 1784, he returned to this section, locating at what is now Milton, and engaging in work at his trade, going, back to his former home, however, in the spring of the following year. On May 1, 1787, he married Mary Eveline Walter, and in 1790 took up his residence at Milton, where he built a log house on the lot now occupied by the Milton National Bank. Two years later he built a house near what is now the intersection of Center and Filbert streets and removed thither with his family. He obtained a large tract of land, and in 1795 had completed a residence upon the eastern part of his farm, at or near the corner of Center street and Turbut avenue, where he resided until his death, Aug. 2, 1806. One Christian Yentzer was originally associated with him in planning what is now the borough of Milton, but he bought Mr. Yentser's interests in 1791 and laid out the town in 1792. An enterprising, farsighted and public-spirited man, his activity in promoting the interests of the new town was effective, and his name will ever be associated with its growth along the most beneficial lines. He made donations of ground for church and school use, established mills, encouraged local business and manufacturing enterprises, and lived to see Milton prosper, one of the most thriving towns in the valley of the West branch. He was kind to the poor, and a liberal supporter of every cause which was good and just, and no one citizen of the community has probably done as much as he did to place its fortunes upon a substantial basis. His children were as follows: Joseph; Andrew; Susanna, Mrs. Rhoads; Esther, Mrs. Lawrence; Rachel, Mrs. Jodon; Mary, Mrs. Smith; Abraham and Isaac, twins, born Dec. 9, 1794; Christian; and three who died young. Abraham Straub, born in Milton, learned the tanning trade and followed the business until 1824, when he sold out and became associated with his twin brother in what was known as the Birchwood Mills, on the island opposite Milton. There they were engaged in milling and lumbering for many years. They invented and introduced into their mill the first reaction water wheel probably ever used in the State. They also had a railroad track to their mill and yard. In 1832 and 1833 they erected the first bridges over the West branch of the Susquehanna at Milton, carried away by the flood of March 17, 1865. In 1834 END OF PAGE 320 Isaac retired from the firm and went to Lewistown, where he engaged in merchandising, leaving that town in 1838 and going to Cincinnati, where he died Dec. 17, 1875. Abraham Straub continued to operate the mills until 1840, when he took down the gristmill and moved it to Muddy Run, two miles above Milton, where he continued the milling business until 1853. He then sold it and built a bridge across the Susquehanna, at Uniontown, after the completion of which work he turned his attention to the invention of a centrifugal pump. Though a self- educated surveyor, he became one of the foremost in that profession in his section of the State. He laid out Harmony cemetery, at Milton. He died Aug. 21, 1864. On Nov. 29, 1821, he married Nancy Balliet, who was born in 1804, and whose father was a native of Lehigh county, Pa., and a settler in Limestone, Montour county. She died Dec. 25, 1861. They had children as follows: John Andrew, Ambrose White (died in infancy), Stephen Daniel, Elizabeth Caroline (married Rev. William Goodrich), Clement Calvin (born Nov. 23, 1833), Ambrose White (2), William Alfred and Mary Louisa. Christian Straub, ninth child of Andrew, taught school and was a merchant in Schuylkill county, served as sheriff of that county, and was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature and in Congress. He died before the expiration of his term as Congressman, and is buried at Washington, D. C., in the Congressional burying ground. Joseph Straub, son of Andrew, was born Feb. 10, 1793, at Milton, and in his early life followed tanning and distilling. He owned considerable land in what is now Chillisquaque township, and followed farming until his death. Like his father, he is buried in the Harmony cemetery at Milton. His first wife, Elizabeth (Follmer), daughter of Henry and Susanna (Stahl) Follmer, was the mother of these children: Susanna, who died unmarried; Mary, widow of Reuben Follmer, residing in Milton; and Jacob. To his second marriage, with Mrs. Maria (Bright) Orwig, widow of Dr. Orwig, were born the following children: Franklin died in Ohio; Joseph served in the Civil war; John was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Charles died young, of smallpox; Barbara married Dr. Koenig; Kate married William Moyer. Jacob Straub, or, as he is familiarly known among his large circle of relations and friends, "Uncle Jake," received such education as the pay schools of the home district afforded. He learned the trade of stonemason, which he followed only a comparatively short time, however. In 1864 he went out to Nebraska where he remained for three years living among the Indians still numerous in that region and following farming. At the end of that time he returned to the homestead where he had been brought up, and bought fifty-three acres of the old farm, upon which he built his present home in 1869. He followed farming and trucking here for forty years, retiring in 1907, since when his son has conducted the farm. Mr. Straub is intelligent, and having a good memory has become well informed, through reading, of which he is fond. He is an entertaining conversationalist, and though in his eighty-fifth year continues to take the deepest interest in all that concerns the community with which he has so long been identified. He has two heirlooms which he values highly, a grandfather clock that was made in the year 1786 and has been in the family for one hundred years, and an old secretary which was made in Milton in 1821, all the work done by hand. On April 19, 1864, Mr. Straub married Araminta Agnes Schlebby, who was born April 21, 1836, and died April 30, 1904. She is buried at Milton. Two children were born to this union: Kate and John L. The daughter, born Aug. 22, 1872, now keeps house for her father. Mr. Straub is a Republican in political preference. JOHN L. STRAUB, now engaged in farming in West Chillisquaque township, was born Sept. 11, 1873, in Chillisquaque township, son of Jacob Straub. He attended the Harrison school in his native township, and when old enough commenced to work with his father, with whom he continued to farm until 1909. He then removed to the old Dougal farm, in the same township, near the borough line of Milton, where he carries on general farming. He married Lois May Balliet, daughter of Charles Henry and Catharine (Hall) Balliet, and they have had two children, Annie Catharine and Andrew Jacob. Mr. Straub is a Republican in politics. PARDOE. The Pardoe family of Northumberland county has long been one of prominence. It was planted here by Thomas Pardoe, a native of London, England, born March 4, 1795, who came to America with his parents in childhood. He settled in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, where he became the owner of a large tract of land. At first his father bound him out, and for a time he lived in Point township. After his location in Chillisquaque township he devoted himself to farming, milling and distilling, and also had a general store. Naturally given to study, he acquired what education he could with the primitive facilities of those early days, and he was called upon to settle up many estates, wrote deeds, and performed similar offices. As justice of the peace he married many couples. He was school director in his district, and also held the office of supervisor. He died April 21, 1873. On March 2, 1824, he married Sarah Hause, born Oct. 13, 1801, who died Nov. 18, 1876. They were members of END OF PAGE 321 the Presbyterian Church. Their children were: Elizabeth, born Nov. 26, 1824, married John Troxel, and died Feb. 23, 1859; William, born Jan. 28, 1826, is mentioned below; Charles, born Jan. 21, 1828, died Jan. 3, 1833; Peter H., born Jan. 25, 1830, died Sept. 5, 1850; Sarah A. born April 19, 1832, married William Fordsman, and died in 1906; Hannah H., born Sept. 6, 1834, married John H. Gotschall, and lived in Michigan (she died in 1910); Franklin C., born Aug. 28, 1836, married Margaret A. Rishel, daughter of Jonathan Rishel, and died in 1909 in Chillisquaque township; Joseph and Mary, twins, born March 15, 1839, died Oct. 16, 1899, and July 28, 1839, respectively; Jeremiah, born June 14, 1842, died Jan. 1, 1844; and Thomas E., born Jan. 25, 1846; died March 24, 1875. Joseph Pardoe, son of Thomas, born March 15, 1839, was a well known man in Northumberland county, making his home in Chillisquaque township. In 1890 he was elected county commissioner; in 1888-89 he served as tax collector. In politics he was a Republican. He married Susan, daughter of Andrew J. Fetzer, in 1860, and she resides at Montandon, this county. Their children were: Mary J., who married Charles Shearer, and has three children, Rupert, Susan P. and Joseph P.; Sarah E., who married Thomas Houpt, of Sunbury, and has a daughter, Grace J.; Thomas H., who married Bertha Kech, lives in Illinois, and has a daughter, Louisa R.; and Emma G., who married Frank Johnson, and lives in Montandon. WILLIAM PARDOE, second child of Thomas and Sarah, born Jan. 28, 1826, attended the eight-cornered schoolhouse in Chillisquaque township which school building is still standing, a famous landmark in the district. He applied himself assiduously to his books, and became fitted for teaching, a profession he followed for twenty-eight years. He then bought a sixty-seven-acre farm in Chillisquaque township, and engaged in farming. He served a long time as school director and for a time was treasurer of the board, and also filled the offices of tax collector and constable. In 1898 he removed to Milton, and amid new surroundings won new friends. Wherever he lived he had high reputation for honesty and square dealing. After his removal to Milton he settled up several estates and filled the office of overseer of the poor. He died April 7, 1901. On Jan. 2, 1849, he married Lucy Louisa Troxel, who was born June 4, 1829, daughter of George Troxel. She now resides at Milton. This union was blessed with the following family of children: Ida, L., born Jan. 13, 1850, died, Feb. 20, 1852; Martha J., born Nov. 27, 1852, married Lee Bellas, who died in Williamsport, and she died July 9, 1890, in Chillisquaque township (she had two children, William and Bertha); Charles Edwin, born Aug. 31, 1855, a butcher at Milton, married Lizzie Newberry; Sarah C., born Sept. 8, 1857, married Joseph Wolfe, of Milton; Thomas E., born Feb. 6, 1860, married Sallie Pfleeger, and lives in Chillisquaque township; Lizzie T., born Oct. 5, 1863, married A. C. Yarger, of Milton; Franklin L., born Nov. 19, 1867, married Lola McClain, daughter of Charles and Maria (Berger) McClain, of Chillisquaque township, and they have two sons, Oscar W. and George W., and an adopted daughter, Nora E. Troxel. Abraham Troxel, grandfather of Mrs. Lucy Louisa (Troxel) Pardoe, was an early settler of Chillisquaque township, where he followed farming. He married Catherine Derr, and both are buried at Lewisburg. Their children were: Jacob, George, Benjamin, Abraham, Andrew, David, Andrew (2), Susan, Mary, Catherine and Elizabeth. George Troxel, son of Abraham, was born in 1797 and died in 1884. He was the owner of a large farm in Chillisquaque township, which he successfully cultivated. He served as school director in his district. In his religious faith he was a Methodist. He married Catharine Kline, daughter of Henry Kline, and she died in 1872. Their children were: Reuben, John, Charles (who died in Chicago), Sarah (who married William Haupt), Lucy Louisa (Mrs. Pardoe), Catharine (who married Lenas Stoudt), Margaret (who married John Hassenplug, and lives in Milton), B. Frank (of East Lewisburg) and Aaron (of East Lewisburg). JOHN F. WILSON, the well known, photographer of Milton, where since 1903 he has been located in the J. R. Smith building, is a native of Lycoming county, Pa., born in October, 1863, son of Ellis B. Wilson and grandson of Joseph Wilson. Joseph Wilson was born in Lycoming county, where he died, and was buried in Mill Creek township. He passed the years of his active life as a farmer. He and his wife had children as follows: Ellis B., William, Seth, Charles and Sarah. Ellis B. Wilson was born in Lycoming county, where he died at the age of sixty-eight years, and was buried in Mill Creek township. For a few years he was engaged in the harness business at Montoursville, later taking up farming. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Hite, daughter of George F. Hite, and their children were: Harry H., living in South Dakota; Ada F., who married Huston Wright, and died aged thirty-three years; and John F. Later Mr. Wilson married (second) Kate Hall, who is also deceased, and to this union was born one son, Rev. Rolland E., an Evangelical minister at Hallstead, Pennsylvania. George F. Hite, father of Mrs. Elizabeth (Hite) Wilson, was a native of Germany, and on coming to America settled in Lycoming county. He married Christian Lipp, also a native of Germany, and they had children: Jacob, Sarah Neff, Fred, Mary, Eliz- END OF PAGE 322 abeth (who married Ellis B. Wilson), Emma Jones, John (died in the Civil war), Christian and George. John F. Wilson attended the public schools of Montoursville, and made his home with J. C. Bryn until he was nineteen years of age, at which time he went to Williamsport, Pa., there attending the Williamsport Commercial College, from which he graduated in 1886. His school days over, he took up photography, for which he had always had a liking, and for a short time was located in Muncy; for several rears he was at different places. In 1899 he came to Milton, and was first located on Lincoln street on Dec. 1, 1903, opening his present studio in the J. R. Smith building, where he has since done a thriving business. He is a man of naturally artistic tastes, and his poses have none of the stiffness which mars so many photographs. Mr. Wilson married Fannie Heddens, daughter of James and Fanny Heddens, of Washingtonville, Montour county, and they have a comfortable home at No. 57 Bound avenue, Milton. Mr. Wilson is a member of the I.O.O.F. and of the State Photographers' Association. His religious connection is with the Methodist Church. He has won many friends since he came to reside in Milton, and the prosperity that has attended his efforts here has been well deserved. MARTIN. The oldest representative of this family living is Alexander Martin, of Montandon, Northumberland county, son of Hugh Martin, who founded the family in this county. Edward Martin, contractor and builder of the borough of Milton, is a grandson of Hugh, being a son of the late Robert Martin. The father of Hugh Martin was born in White Deer township, Union Co., Pa., and his wife, Mary Ambrose, was also a native of that county. Hugh Martin was born April 5, 1810, at Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa., where he was reared, in his youth attending the local pay schools. When seventeen years of age he had earned and saved enough money, by working on the canal, to buy a house and lot at Lewisburg. Later he learned the trade of plasterer, which he followed about twenty-five years. He was a skilled workman, and many of the houses in his district showed his workmanship. In 1848 he moved to Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres of valuable land, which he cultivated for a period of seven years. At the end of that time he removed to Montandon, residing there until his death, Dec. 11, 1893. Mr. Martin's business enterprise had turned out well, and he was a stockholder in the Lewisburg Bank, the First National Bank of Milton, the Lewisburg Nail Company and the Lewisburg Bridge Company. Mr. Martin was a Democrat, and in 1864 he was elected Northumberland county commissioner, serving from 1864 to 1867. He also served as overseer of the poor for seven years, and held almost all the township offices, being a man who inspired the greatest confidence among his fellow citizens. He was a charter member of Lewisburg Lodge, I.O.O.F. Though not connected with any particular denomination he was a liberal supporter of all the churches. In 1831 Mr. Martin married Hannah Maurer, daughter of John Maurer, of Berks county, Pa.; she was born Nov. 11, 1807, and died Aug. 21, 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Martin are buried in Harmony cemetery, Milton. They had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Alexander is living at the old homestead in Montandon, Chillisquaque township; Elizabeth married James Bannen, and had children, Rev. Hugh (a Lutheran minister, now of Illinois), Rev. Robert (a Lutheran minister, of Williamsport Pa.), May (married Fred Swooper), Cora (married Miles Derr; she is now deceased) and Amy; Robert is mentioned below; Fannie is the wife of Elias Bieber and they reside in Chillisquaque township. ALEXANDER MARTIN, son of Hugh, a retired farmer now living at Montandon, was born in Lewisburg, Pa., Aug. 5, 1834. He is the only surviving son of Hugh and Hannah Martin. When a young man he worked for his father on the farm in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, and he has been a resident of that township for sixty-three years, now having the old homestead at Montandon. A man of quiet and unassuming disposition, he has followed the paths of integrity and industry all through his long life, and few men have won greater respect among their fellows for unpretentious but valuable services and solid worth. He has served his township as school director and in other offices. Mr. Martin's first marriage was to Margaret Harper, who died aged fifty- two years, leaving one son, George R. Martin, who married Ellen Krause; they are the parents of two children, Earl and Blanche. On April 19, 1894, Alexander Martin married Mrs. Anna Wagley, widow of Allonza Wagley, and by this union had one daughter, Edna, now the wife of Curtis Slack, of Lock Haven; they have one daughter, Helen Elizabeth. Robert Martin, son of Hugh, was born at Lewisburg March 4, 1842, and died Jan. 22, 1880. He is buried at Milton. In early life he assisted his father at farming, later coming to Milton, where he was employed by Lenas Stout who was in the grain and coal business. There he remained till his death, which was caused by falling from a tree. His wife, Elizabeth P. (Hause), was born Aug. 3, 1840, and died Aug. 11, 1898. Her father, George Hause, was a native of Northumberland county, and was a merchant at Chillisquaque creek for several years, later engaging in farming. He died END OF PAGE 323 upon his farm, and he and his wife are buried in Harmony cemetery at Milton. He married Mary Keefer, and they had the following family: Elizabeth P. married Robert Martin; Mary A. married William B. Gailbraith; Lydia died in Michigan; George is living in California; Peter is living in New Columbia, Pa.; Frank lives in Corning, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin had these children: Alfred; Fannie, who married James Stiver, of Montandon, Pa.; William; Edward; Catharine, who married Cyrus Trate, of Milton; Mary, married to John Neiler and residing in Philadelphia; and Melvin. EDWARD MARTIN was born April 11, 1868, at Milton, and there began his education. When eleven years old he went to live with his uncle, James Bannen, near Turbutville, remaining with him till sixteen years of age. He was seventeen when he came to Milton, where he was employed as a nail feeder for three years, after which he learned the slating business, at which he was engaged four years. In 1892 he went to the carpenter's trade and followed it until 1897, when he engaged in the contracting and building business. He is now one of the largest contractors in the borough, employing from six to eight men, and has established a business which does credit to his executive ability as well as to his standing as a reliable workman. Mr. Martin married Mary Catharine Murphy, daughter of James Murphy, of Milton, and they have a large family: William J., Edna M., Luther H., Robert B., Amy E., Elmer A., Mildred E., Catherine, Grace and Harold. The family reside at No. 25 Stanton avenue, Milton. Mr. Martin is an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, which he has served as member of the council, and he has been a teacher in the Sunday school since 1905. Fraternally he belongs to the Royal Arcanum. JOSEPH C. KNITTLE, an engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad who makes his home at Sunbury, was born May 24, 1854. This family is of the same origin as the Knittles of Berks county, Pa. The history of the family in Pennsylvania begins back in the middle of the eighteenth century. The only one of the name recorded in the Pennsylvania archives up to Sept. 17, 1753, was, Joseph Knittle, who came to America on the ship "Patience," which landed him at Philadelphia on the date named. Michael Knittle, probably a son of Joseph, was a resident of Richmond township, Berks county. He made his will May 9, 1789, and it was entered June 13th of the same year. It is evident that he died between these two dates, and his sons, Michael and Daniel, were the executors. His children are given as follows: Frederick, John Adam, Michael, Daniel, Rosina and Catharine. John Adam was a resident of Richmond township in 1785 and that year paid 18s., 9d., tax. In 1758 Michael Knittle was a resident in Maxatawny township, and in that year he paid £1, 1s., 6d., tax. In 1775 he is registered as taxable in Richmond township when he paid £5 tax. In 1815 Michael Knittle, Jr., was a tax-payer in Richmond township, paying 44s. tax. Aaron Shultz Knittle, father of Joseph C. Knittle, lived in, the vicinity of Catawissa, Columbia Co., Pa., and was extensively engaged in farming. He married Sarah Campbell, daughter of Obediah Campbell, and they had children as follows: Daniel, who is a merchant of Catawissa; Dallas of Reading, Pa.; John, of New Mexico; Jennie, wife of John Frederick, of Pottsville, Pa.; Laura widow of Silas Everet, of Mount Carmel; Mary, wife of Franklin Maurer, a carpenter, of Shamokin; and Joseph C. Joseph C. Knittle has been engaged in railroad work since 1876, and throughout that period has been a resident of the borough of Sunbury. He has been an engineer since 1892, and is a member of the Engineers Brotherhood and of the Veterans Association, in both of which organizations he is well known, and he is highly respected by all his acquaintances. A man of steady habits and faithful to his duties, he has been a reliable employee throughout his connection with the railroad service. Mr. Knittle's first wife, Celesta (Yeager), died in August, 1896, at the age of forty-two years. She was the mother of five children, of whom, Miss Mabel now lives in New York; William is a druggist in Philadelphia; Clark is a carpenter at Sunbury, Pa.; and two died young. On April 19, 1906, Mr. Knittle married (second) Mrs. Annie (Fenstermacher) Bowen, widow of Joseph Bowen, who lived and died in Sunbury, passing away Nov. 15, 1897, at the age of thirty- seven years. Mr. Knittle and his family are Lutherans in religious faith. The Fenstermacher family, to which Mrs. Knittle belongs, was founded in Berks county, Pa., by one Matthias Fenstermacher, a native of the German Palatinate, who crossed the sea on the good ship "Glasgow," which arrived at Philadelphia Sept. 9, 1738. On the original list of passengers his age is given as sixty years, and he was born in 1678. He was accompanied to America by his two sons: Jacob, who was then 29 years old, and Wilhelm, twenty-five years old. These three were preceded to the New World by a third son, Philip, who qualified at Philadelphia Aug. 30, 1737. He was then twenty years of age. He settled in Longswamp township, Berks county, and in 1759 he paid a federal tax of ten pounds in that district. His father and two brothers also lived in Longswamp township for some time. Tradition holds that one of the sons, probably Jacob, located near END OF PAGE 324 Philadelphia. The name is also spelled Fenstermaker. Philip Fenstermacher, son of Matthias, was a large property owner in Longswamp township and owned valuable land on which in later years was found iron ore in large quantities. Some of this land is still in the possession of his posterity. He died in 1790, and his will was probated July 9th of that year, his widow Elizabeth being the executor. The names of his sons John and Christopher were mentioned in his last will, and he also had a son Philip, Jr., a son Michael, and one named Joseph. From this source probably came the family to which Mrs. Knittle belongs. Her grandfather, Joseph Fenstermacher, born March 28, 1798, died Oct. 18, 1875. He lived at Dalmatia, in Lower Mahanoy township, and followed the trade of cabinetmaker. His children were: Joseph; Augustus, who lived and died at Dalmatia; Annie, who married William Negley; Sarah, who was twice married, her second husband being Isaac Fetherolf; and Mary, who died unmarried. Joseph Fenstermacher, son of Joseph, was a farmer by occupation. He moved to Sunbury in August, 1874. He married Barbara Kobel, and they had children: Charles, James, Milton, Alice, Annie and Howard. Of these, Annie, now the wife of Joseph C. Knittle, was born at Urban, in Jordan township, Northumberland county. John Fenstermacher, brother of Joseph, above, was born Aug. 4, 1800, in Lynn township, Lehigh county, and came to Northumberland county before his marriage, settling in Lower Mahanoy township. He owned and cultivated a small farm at Georgetown, and owned a home in that village. He died April 3, 1869, and his wife Catharine (Michael), born June 15, 1802, died at Georgetown March 1, 1867, both being buried at that place. He and his family worshipped in the Lutheran Church there. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters, viz.: Isaac; Katie, Mrs. Philip Spotts; Anna Eliza (1838-1862), Mrs. Abraham Hetrick; Michael, born July 26, 1830, died March 12, 1891, who married Rebecca Snyder (1839-1894); and another daughter whose name is not given. Isaac Fenstermacher, son of John, was born at Dalmatia,, and there passed all his long life, dying March 23, 1904, aged seventy-seven years, four months, two days. In his earlier life he followed boating, until he became a partner of John Bingaman under the firm name of J. Bingaman & Co., the firm establishing a large business at Dalmatia in the coal, grain, lumber and railroad ties trade. In time Mr. Fenstermacher became sole owner of the business, in which he was engaged for many years, at his death being succeeded by his son John A. He was a much esteemed man of his section, served as school director, and was one of the active members of the Union Church at Dalmatia, in which he and his family held membership. He helped to build the present church edifice, held offices in the church for many years, and at the time of his death was treasurer. For many years he was superintendent of the Union Sunday school. Politically he was a Republican. His wife, Lenah (Reitz), died in December, 1909, aged eighty-one years, and they are buried at Dalmatia. Their children were as follows: Marietta, wife of D. F. Batdorf; Anna, wife of A. Moeschlin; Milton R.; John A.; Eliza Catharine, wife of John Otto; and Lizzie A., wife of William D. Witmer. All of this family are living, and all have families but John A., who has never married. MILTON R. FENSTERMACHER, passenger, freight and baggage agent at Dalmatia for the Northern Central Railroad Company, was born in that town Dec. 14, 1861. He was educated in the public schools there, and when eighteen began to serve his apprenticeship as telegraph operator, at that point. On July 22, 1882, he entered the employ of the Northern Central Railroad Company as operator at Selinsgrove Junction, whence after about nine months he was transferred to his native place. There he has since been stationed, and he is also agent at that point for the Adams Express Company. He has taught telegraphy to many young men and started them out in the service of the company. His satisfactory work has earned him the reputation of being one of the most reliable, as he is one of the oldest, employees in the Northern Central service. Painstaking, efficient and industrious, he deserves the high standing he enjoys. On Jan. 8, 1885, Mr. Fenstermacher married Sarah E. Lenker, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Lenker, and they have had one child, Stella T., who died in her ninth year. Mr. and Mrs. Fenstermacher are Lutheran members of the church at Dalmatia, where he is at present serving as leader of the choir. He has been active in the life of the church in various ways. Mr. Fenstermacher occupies a home of his own at Dalmatia, and he also owns his father's old farm of forty acres, located near the town. DANIEL K. RUCH, a veteran of the Civil war, and now engaged in business at Milton, Pa., as a dealer in wall paper and paints, was born in Augusta township, this county, in 1834, son of Abraham Ruch, and is of German ancestry. Jacob Ruch, grandfather of Daniel K., was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America, and on coming to Pennsylvania settled in Augusta township, Northumberland county. He was a stone mason by trade, and this he followed in connection with farming. He became the owner of a large farm in Augusta township. In 1844 he END OF PAGE 325 and his family started for what was then the Far West, their destination being Whitley county, Indiana, fourteen miles west of Fort Wayne. The journey was made by team and much of it was along scarcely formed wagon roads. Mr. Ruch bought a farm there, and was engaged in its cultivation as long as he lived. He is buried there. After his death his widow returned to Northumberland county, and here died and was buried. Mr. Ruch was a man of large proportions, weighing 347 pounds. To him and his wife were born eight children, namely Abraham, Margaret, David, Charles, Susanna, Maria, Julia and Louisa. Abraham Ruch, son of Jacob, was born in Augusta township, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana. In 1848 he returned to Pennsylvania, and settled in Augusta township, near the old homestead, and engaged in farming. He was a tanner by trade, but all his later years were given over to agricultural pursuits. He is buried in the old graveyard at Sunbury, his death having taken place in 1849. He married Elizabeth Keefer, daughter of Daniel, who died in 1887, aged seventy-four years, and is also buried at Sunbury. Their children were: Peter B., of Nebraska; Daniel K.; Louisa; Charles; Catharine; Samuel, of Sunbury; and Elizabeth. Daniel K. Ruch received the education afforded by the district schools in the neighborhood of his home. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1855 came to Milton, and here engaged in planing mill work and carpentering. In 1867 he added painting and this he followed until 1897, when he engaged in the wall paper and paper hanging business. He also does some graining. His place of business is at No. 177 South Front street. He has won his own way in the world, and has gained a big place in the estimation of the business men with whom he has had dealings. He is honest and upright, and gives conscientious attention to the work entrusted to him. Mr. Ruch has an enviable record for service in the Civil war. There are three enlistments to his credit. He first served in Company B, 4th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and second in Company A, 3d Regiment of Emergency Men, and third in the Pennsylvania Veteran Heavy Artillery. He suffered from a few minor flesh wounds but nothing very serious, and after two years of hard service received his honorable discharge. He has a keen sense of humor and with the intervening years to soften the recollection of suffering and privation he can relate many interesting and amusing stories. He delights in meeting with his comrades at arms, and is a popular member of the Henry Wilson Post No. 129, G.A.R. at Milton. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Ruch married Louisa Burnman, daughter of William and Eliza (Corey) Burnman, of Easton, Pa., but later of Milton. To this union has been born a son, James P., who is associated with his father in business, and who married Cora Holter, and has two children, Catherine and Harriet. Mr. Ruch resides at No. 165 Elm street. EDWARD M. LEADER, senior member of the firm of Leader, Hamilton & Co., one of the oldest established clothing houses in Shamokin, has for many years been recognized as one of the successful and progressive business men of the city. His parents, Edward and Hettie (Wanner) Leader, were residents of Berks county, near Reading, Pa., where Edward M. was born June 2, 1859. At the age of nine he made his home with his brother, C. C. Leader, at Schuylkill Haven, Pa., being educated in the public schools of that town, and in the year 1875 accompanied his brother to Shamokin; being employed for several years by the firm of Leader, Muir & Co. After this he conducted successfully a dry goods and notion business on his own account on Sunbury street, later purchasing part of the interest of R. G. Eisenhart, of the firm of Leader & Eisenhart, and under the firm name of C. C. Leader & Bro. continuing the manufacture and sale of clothing, dry goods and ladies wear, on Independence street, until the year 1889. The association was then dissolved by division of the stock, the dry goods being removed to a new building erected by C. C. Leader, while E. M. Leader remained in the old location, and occupied the entire building in the manufacturing of clothing and sale of men's wear. In 1899 Mr. I. Spencer Hamilton, a brother-in-law of B. M. Leader, became associated with him under the firm name of Leader & Hamilton, and in 1909 Mr. W. J. Salter became a member of the present firm of Leader, Hamilton & Co. This enterprising firm have few if any real competitors within the borough of Shamokin, occupying a store room 38 by 110 feet in dimensions on the first floor, stocked with men's clothing, furnishings, hats, shoes and ladies garments, while the second and third floors are occupied by the merchants tailoring department, trunks, bags and surplus stock. Mr. Leader has not confined his attention wholly to the mercantile business, but has been active in various enterprises that have been essential to the growth and advancement of the community, being a member of the Board of Trade, as also the Business Men's Association. Always active in the welfare of the town and the success of its industries, he was president of the Shamokin and Coal Township Light & Power Company from its inception, this company absorbing and consolidating all the light and gas companies of the town, later sold to a New York and Philadelphia syndicate now known as The Pennsylvania Lighting Company, of which Mr. Leader remains a director. He END OF PAGE 326 was also president of the Middlecreek Electric Company, of Sunbury, Pa., who are operating plants at Sunbury, Selinsgrove and Northumberland, Pa.; is a director of the United Telephone Company and of a number of local telephone companies; secretary and director of the Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Company, treasurer and director of the Penn Mining Company of New Mexico; director of the W. P. Zartman Lumber Company; director of the Greenough Coal and Coke Company, of Kentucky, and interested in other industries. Fraternally Mr. Leader is a Mason, a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, Royal Arch Chapter No. 264, and Shamokin Commandery, No. 77; of Rajah Temple, of Reading; and a thirty-second-degree member of Williamsport Consistory. He is also a member of Camp No. 149, P.O.S. of A., of Shamokin. Mr. Leader is and has been for many years an elder and trustee of the Presbyterian Church of Shamokin. On Oct. 10, 1888, Mr. Leader was united in marriage with Carrie I. Hamilton, daughter of George Hamilton, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. ZIEGLER. The Federal census report of 1790 records Dillman, Andrew and Jacob Ziegler as residents and heads of families in upper Montgomery county, Pa., Dillman with one son above sixteen years of age, one son under sixteen, and two daughters; Andrew with two sons above sixteen, two sons under sixteen, and one daughter; Jacob with two sons above sixteen, one son under sixteen, and three daughters. A number of Montgomery county families came in a sort of colony into Northumberland county, among them the Zieglers, Walts and Weisses; later came the Hallmans, who were from Skippackville, and the Fabingers also came from that county, but after the others named. Eli Neiman moved thence in 1896. There are a number of Zieglers now living in Herndon and the surrounding territory, Jackson township, people of high respectability and substantial worth, who are counted among the best citizens of their communities and do honor to a name long respected in this locality. Peter Ziegler, the common ancestor of the Zieglers referred to in this article, was a native of Frederick township, Montgomery county, born Dec. 2, 1778. He was a stonemason, and owned a tract of land, living near Ziegler's church. He died June 2, 1856, three miles from Liverpool, in Wildcat Valley, Perry county, and is buried in that county, at St James' church. His wife, Polly (Kehler), a member of an old Montgomery county family, died Nov. 10, 1876, aged ninety-two years, eleven months, six days. They had children as follows: Andraes or Andrew, Abraham, Alfred, Nancy (married George Neiman), Eliza (married Isaac Heffelfinger) and Magdalene (married Willoughby Walt). Andrew Ziegler, son of Peter, was born Feb. 22, 1810, in Frederick township, Montgomery county, learned the trade of stonemason, and came with his father to Herndon, Northumberland county, where he passed the principal part of his active life. He acquired real estate in that town, where he died April 14, 1891, at the age of eighty-one years, and he is buried there. He and his wife, Catharine (Harner), were Lutherans in religious faith. She died when about forty-five years of age. They had a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters: Mary (deceased) married Samuel McKinny, of Herndon; Peter died at Herndon June 25, 1891, aged fifty-four years, twenty-two days; Alfred lives in Kansas (he visited Herndon in 1909); Andrew is a resident of Dalmatia, this county; Absalom is mentioned below; Catharine married William Brown, of Sunbury; Charles lives in the state of Washington. ABSALOM ZIEGLER, son of Andrew, was born Jan. 12, 1849, below Dalmatia, in Lower Mahanoy township, this county, and in his seventeenth year began to learn the trade of stonemason in his native county. His parents moved to Herndon at that time and there he still resides. He followed his trade until 1907, when he became proprietor of the "Hotel Parrish," in that borough, the owner of the property being his nephew, S. H. McKinny, burgess of Sunbury. Mr. Ziegler has been twice married. His first marriage, which took place in 1875, was to Maria Rebuck, daughter of Isaac Rebuck. She died in 1891, aged thirty-nine years, the mother of children as follows: Isaac I., Lizzie M., Edward, and Alfred N. and Henry B., twins. In 1904 Mr. Ziegler married (second) Malicca Ermogast Willard, widow of Daniel Willard, of Northumberland county, by whom she had three children: Annie, Edward and Milton. The Zieglers are members of the Reformed Church. Abraham Ziegler, son of Peter, was born in Montgomery county, and came to Northumberland county about 1840. He was a stonemason and farmer, and operated a sawmill at Herndon. It burned down in 1871 or 1872, entailing a heavy loss, and he then moved out to Missouri with his wife, four sons and one daughter. In the new location he settled down to farming and prospered, retiring several years before his death, which occurred at Piedmont, Wayne Co., Mo., when he was ninety-two years old. He is buried out there. He married Catharine Walt daughter of Solomon Walt of Montgomery county, Pa., and they had a family of ten children, that reached maturity, namely: Henry, who went west; Peter; Andrew, who died at Herndon, Pa.; Catharine, who went West; Solomon and David, who went West; Dan- END OF PAGE 327 iel, who died out West; Benjamin and William, both of whom went West; and Sallie, of Sunbury, wife of Fred Flemming. Two others died young. Peter Ziegler, son of Abraham, was born June 21, 1839, was a farmer during his active years, and died Nov. 4, 1907, at Herndon, where he is buried. He married Charlotte Snyder, daughter of George Snyder, of Jackson township, who is now living at Herndon beside her son George E., the only child of this marriage. GEORGE E. ZIEGLER, only child of Peter and Charlotte (Snyder) Ziegler, was born March 13, 1862, in Jackson township, Northumberland county, and was reared to farm life, following agricultural pursuits in his native township until 1897. In the year 1890 he built a nice residence on River street, in the borough of Herndon, where he has since resided. He still owns considerable farm land, owning half of White island, in the Susquehanna river, and a small farm in Jackson township. Mr. Ziegler has been a useful citizen of the borough, served as one of its first councilmen, and is especially well known for his activity in church and Sunday School work. He is a zealous member of the Reformed Church, has held all the church offices, has served as Sunday school superintendent, and since 1897 has been organist of the church. His wife is a Lutheran. In 1882 Mr. Ziegler married Alice Tressler, daughter of Joseph and Polly (Peiffer) Tressler, who died in December, 1908, aged seventy-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler have been born one son and two daughters: Tama married Nelson Wentzel, who is employed in the post office department at Washington, D. C., where they reside; Calvin graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1903 and is now in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Philadelphia; Jennie married Lloyd J. Tressler, of Herndon (died Oct. 18, 1910). Alfred Ziegler, son of Peter and Polly (Kehler) Ziegler, was born May 6, 1825, in Frederick township, Montgomery county, was a stonemason and farmer, and lived at Herndon, where he owned his home. He died Jan. 20, 1897, and is buried at Herndon. Mr. Ziegler was a member of the Reformed Church, and in political matters was a Republican. His wife, Harriet (Batdorf), daughter of John Batdorf, was born Oct. 5, 1824, and died April 16, 1878, aged fifty-three years. She was first buried at Liverpool, Pa., but her remains have since been moved to Herndon. Ten children were born to their union, all of whom survive at the present writing (1911), the youngest now forty-two years old: Polly married John Zaring; Edward is mentioned below; William has been a railroad conductor for thirty-five years on the Philadelphia & Reading road; Elias and Samuel are residents of Herndon; John lives in Harrisburg; J. Monroe is mentioned below; Henry lives at Dalmatia, this county; Alice married Albert Shuler, of Liverpool; Jennie married Cyrus Hornberger, of Philadelphia. EDWARD ZIEGLER, son of Alfred, was born Feb. 3, 1849, in Lower Mahanoy, Northumberland county, and passed his early years in farming, to which occupation he was trained from boyhood. When twenty-one he commenced to learn cabinet-making, and when competent engaged in business as a cabinetmaker and undertaker, first at Shenandoah, in Schuylkill county, later at Liverpool, in Perry county, and at Watsontown, in Northumberland county. From Watsontown he removed in 1874 to Shamokin, where he remained for three years, with R. S. Aucker, in 1877 settling at Herndon. There he carried on the business successfully for a period of twenty-five years, during which time he had charge of about three hundred funerals and did a thriving furniture business. He also built seven houses in the borough, where he has long been regarded as an intelligent, enterprising man, of good judgment and substantial qualities. He built his own nice residence on Main street in 1908. Mr. Ziegler is well thought of in the community, and has refused the candidacy for chief burgess. He is a Republican in polities, and with his family holds membership in the Reformed Church, which he served as deacon for twelve years. In 1871 Mr. Ziegler married Luzetta Arnold, daughter of Augustus and Leah (Rine) Arnold, of Snyder county, the latter a daughter of Jacob and Catharine Rine. They have no children. J. MONROE ZIEGLER, son of Alfred, was born Oct. 8, 1858, at Port Trevorton, Snyder Co., Pa., and received his education in the schools of Perry county. When twenty-two years old he commenced to learn the trade of cabinetmaker, which he followed as a journeyman some years, working at that calling in his brother Edward's employ five years. He was also engaged as a house carpenter at Shamokin several years. For sixteen years he was porter at the "Herndon House" in Herndon. On Oct. 8, 1903, he purchased the building, stock, good will and fixtures of his brother Edward at Herndon, and has since continued the old established furniture business, carrying a full line. In connection with the store he has a repair shop, doing general repairing. He has managed the business with success, commanding an extensive patronage, and is one of the thriving merchants of the borough. On Jan. 28, 1887, Mr. Ziegler married Laura Zimmerman, daughter of Peter and Rachel (Kebach) Zimmerman, of Herndon, and they have had two sons: Harry E. and Cloyd E., the latter still at school. Harry E. Ziegler is engaged as a printer at Herndon, employed on the Star; he married Mame E. Messner, daughter of Jacob and Emma Messner, of Millersburg. Pennsylvania. END OF PAGE 328 Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler and their family are members of the Reformed Church. Politically he is a Republican, and interested in the local welfare, although he has not taken any active part in public affairs. FREDERICK. The Fredericks have long been established in Pennsylvania, and Philip Frederick, the ancestor of those of the name with which this sketch is concerned, was born in Union county Feb. 18, 1788, in the early days of the settlement of that region. He was a well known man in the district in his time. His wife, Christian (Brown), born Aug. 6, 1786, died March 28, 1864, and he died Feb. 19, 1852. They are buried at the Dreisbach Church in Union county. In religion they were members of the Reformed denomination. Their children were born as follows: George, Aug. 10, 1809; Elizabeth, May 18, 1812; Joseph, March 11, 1814; Isaac, Feb. 3, 1816; John, Jan. 20, 1819; Jacob, Jan. 19, 1822; Abram, March 3, 1824; Ellis, June 19, 1826; Philip, June 5, 1829. Joseph Frederick, son of Philip, remained at the old home in Union county until after he had attained his majority. His education was obtained in the pay schools in vogue in the neighborhood in his youth. About seventy-five years ago, with his brothers Isaac and George, he came to what was then Chillisquaque (now East Chillisquaque) township and purchased over three hundred acres of land, which at that time was low and swampy and covered with timber. They improved this tract greatly, clearing away the forest and draining the low places thoroughly, putting in seven miles of underdrains, with the result that the land is now equal to the best in the vicinity. The brothers burned brick, and each built a house and barn, two of the houses remaining to this day, monuments to their energy and skill. For some time they lived together in one house, as one family, and there were no quarrels or ill feeling to mar the pleasant relations for which these brothers were noted, for they were not only brothers in name but much more in the kindliness which marked their association. No jealousy came up between them, though they were always intimately connected in business and home affairs. Each labored for the welfare of the other, and the happiness of their lives was proverbial among all who knew them. Joseph Frederick died March 11, 1892. His wife, Matilda (Myers), born April 18, 1819, died Sept. 18, 1866. They had two sons and one daughter: Samuel; Clara A. E., who married Rev. Aaron Hottenstein and (second) Franklin F. Drumm, and died in January, 1909; and David P. DAVID P. FREDERICK was born Oct. 3, 1843, in what is now East Chillisquaque township, and there followed farming until his untimely death, Feb. 16, 1876, when he was but thirty-two years old, cut short what promised to be a busy and useful career. He was a faithful member and conscientious worker of the Reformed Church of Lewisburg, and in politics adhered to the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. Frederick married Emma Caroline Kelly, daughter of David H. and Mary (Baker) Kelly, of Union county, Pa., and their union was blessed with four sons: (1) Joseph H., who lives at Montandon, married Emma M. Bellas and has children, William B. and Caroline E. (2) John Kelly, of Atlantic City, married Jennie Giffen, daughter of James Giffen, and their children are Watson K., Martha G. and Jackson B. (3) W. H. died in 1906. (4) David P., who resides, in the old home, married Helen G. Lesher, daughter of Robert Lesher, and has one son, John L. After her husband's death Mrs. David P. Frederick continued to live in the old home with his father, with whose kind and generous assistance she reared her family. In turn, she was permitted to soothe and comfort his last years, for he lived to the advanced age of seventy-eight, honored and beloved by all who knew him. The farm is now conducted by David P. Frederick, and the property is up-to- date in every respect, the house and barn supplied with pure spring water and lighted by gas, and all the surroundings bespeaking intelligent and thrifty supervision. Isaac Frederick, son of Philip, was born Feb. 3, 1816, in Union county, and during his boyhood attended the local pay schools, in the summer seasons assisting his father at home. Upon reaching his majority he came with his two older brothers to Northumberland county, purchasing over three hundred acres of land, which they improved as previously related, converting a low, swampy and useless tract into valuable, fertile farm land by their energetic and well directed labors. When their work had progressed sufficiently to give them time for other things, they burned brick and built houses for each family and divided the land, Isaac, the youngest of the three, taking the middle portion. They were neighbors and remained upon the best of terms all their lives. Like his brothers, Isaac Frederick was a fine example of Christian manhood. His home was always open to strangers as well as friends, he had a kind and cheering word for those who were struggling to make their way, and whenever possible assisted those in need. He and his good wife will long be remembered and missed in the community. Mr. Frederick died Sept. 27, 1892. He married Julian Wolfe, born Jan. 18, 1817, who died Jan. 3, 1909, and they were the parents of five children, namely: Christian, born Sept. 29, 1839, married Hiram Dunkell (1837- 1905), and died Dec. 9, 1906; they reared a large family. Catharine, born Aug. 5, 1841, married W. H. Mack and reared a large family. Sarah J., born July 11, 1847, married Joseph C. Rishel, who is mentioned elsewhere. Ada L., born Sept. END OF PAGE 329 15, 1850, married Ephraim Datesman. John W is deceased. JOHN W FREDERICK, son of Isaac; was born Sept. 29, 1853, in Chillisquaque (now East Chillisquaque) township, and died Jan. 29, 1904, in the prime of a useful and well spent life. He was diligent in looking after his business affairs, and active in the administration of local public matters, having served on the school board and in other township offices. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a Presbyterian, belonging to the church at Pottsgrove. Possessed of a kind and jovial disposition, he was loved and respected by all who knew him. No one in need ever left his door unaided, and he was never happier than when engaged in kind service. On Nov. 20, 1873, he married Jane E. Kelly, daughter of David H. Kelly, of Union county, Pa., and they had one daughter, Mary E., now the wife of Jonas E. Koch. Mrs. Frederick lives with her daughter in the old home which her husband purchased from the estate upon the death of his father. She is a member of the Pottsgrove Presbyterian Church. With the same kindly and charitable inclinations which made Mr. Frederick so widely beloved, she is an esteemed member of the community, commanding the respect of all who know her. Col. John Kelly, grandfather of Mrs. David P. Frederick and Mrs. John W, Frederick, was a noted character of Revolutionary days. Born in February, 1744, in Lancaster county, Pa., this honored pioneer was in the full vigor of manhood at the time the oppressed Colonies decided to throw off the English yoke, and his quick intelligence and dauntless courage brought him into prominence from the first. He had already established a home in the wilderness in Buffalo Valley, then a part of Northumberland county, having settled there immediately after the purchase from the Indians in 1768, and before the opening of the land office in 1769. He was about six feet, two inches in height, with a vigorous, muscular frame, which easily endured the labors and hardships of pioneer life. He took an active part in the discussion of the wrongs of the Colonists, which led to the attempt at separation from the mother country, and in 1776 was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of the new State of Pennsylvania. He had had considerable experience as a member of the militia, and at twenty- seven had been appointed major in that service, and he was thus well prepared to assist in the tremendous tasks that confronted the Patriot forces. The fall of 1776 was a dark period. The loss of Forts Washington and Lee with their stores, and the defeat on Long Island, had brought the hopes of the Colonists low, but it was at this critical juncture that the rally was made to drive the British from New Jersey, the wrongs of that Colony being felt by the others as their own. A large force went from Pennsylvania, Colonel Kelly being Conspicuous among the number for his ability. Of the brave deeds performed history has a scant but significant record and to the ordinary dangers of war there was added the prospect of an ignominious death as a rebel, belligerent rights not being acknowledged. We quote from an address made on the occasion of the unveiling of a monument to Colonel Kelly on April 8, 1835: "For three days at a time there was no regular service of provisions, and for more than thirty-six hours, at another time, they were constantly on the march, or in action, without a moment's sleep or giving up their arms. In the course of one of their retreats, the commander-in-chief, through Colonel Potter, sent an order to Major Kelly to have a certain bridge cut down to prevent the advance of the British, who were then in sight. The Major sent for an axe, but represented that the enterprise would be very hazardous. Still the British advance must be stopped and the order was not withdrawn. He said he could not order another to do what some might say he was afraid to do himself; he would cut down the bridge. Before all the logs on which the bridge lay were cut off, he was completely within the range of the British fire, and several balls struck the log on which he stood. The last log broke down sooner than he expected, and he fell with it into the swollen stream. Our soldiers moved on, not believing it possible for him to escape. He, however, by great exertions, reached the shore through the high water and the floating timber, and followed the troops. Encumbered, as he must have been, with his wet and frozen clothes, he, on his road, made a prisoner of a British scout, an armed soldier, and took him into camp. What did Curtius do more than this? If such an instance of devoted heroism had happened in Greece or Rome, the day would have been distinguished from all other days. A medal would have been struck, and every means used to secure the everlasting remembrance of such a deed. In England such a man would have been made a knight or a lord, with the thanks of Parliament. In our poor devoted land such instances were too common to receive especial notice. History mentions that our army was preserved by the destruction of that bridge; but the manner in which it was done, or the name of the person who did it, is not mentioned. It was but one of a series of heroic acts, which happened every day, and our soldiers then were more familiar with the sword than with the pen. "Major Kelly was present at Trenton, when the Hessians surrendered, and assisted in that most masterly movement on Princeton, by which the chain of communications of the enemy was broken, all their plans deranged and their army compelled to return to New York. After his discharge he returned to his farm and family, and during the three succeeding years the Indians were trouble- END OF PAGE 330 some neighbors to this then frontier settlement. He became colonel of the regiment, and it was his duty to keep watch and ward against the incursions of hostile Indians through our mountain passes. At one time our people were too weak to resist, and our whole beautiful country was abandoned. Colonel Kelly was among the first to return - for at least two harvests reapers took their rifles to the fields, and some of the company watched while others wrought. Colonel Kelly had the principal command of the scouting parties in this valley, and very often he was out in person. Many and many nights has he lain among the limbs of a fallen tree to keep himself out of the mud, without a fire, because a fire would indicate his position to the enemy. He had become well skilled in their mode of warfare. One circumstance deserves particular notice. The Indians seem to have resolved on his death, without choosing to attack him openly. One night he had reason to apprehend they were near. He rose in the morning, and, by looking through the crevices of his log house, he ascertained that two, at least, if not more, were lying with their arms, so as to shoot him when he should open his door. He fixed his own rifle and took his position so that by a string he could open the door and watch the Indians. The moment he pulled the door open two balls came into the house, and the Indians rose to advance. He fired and wounded one, and both retreated. After waiting to satisfy himself that no others remained he followed them by the blood, but they escaped. "For many years Colonel Kelly held the office of a magistrate of the county. In the administration of justice, he exhibited the same anxiety to do right, and the same disregard of selfish gain, which had characterized him in the military service of the country. He would at any time forego his own fees, and if the parties were poor pay the constable's cost, to procure a compromise; while, by industry and economy, his own pecuniary circumstances were comfortable and easy, he seemed to desire the prosperity of all men, and most anxiously to desire that all neighbors should be friends. No man ever in vain sought his interposition to reconcile conflicting interests, to soothe angry passions, to stand as the defender and protector of the poor man, the widow and the orphan. He obeyed the injunction, 'be given to hospitality.' It is true that so general is the hospitality of his neighborhood that the want of it would be considered a great vice; but in him it was a part of the same character, indicating a freedom from selfishness, an inability to enjoy fully God's bounties alone; a feeling that a good thing is rendered far more valuable by participation; and a conviction that the diffusion of happiness is not merely right in itself, but the source of great joy to every well regulated mind. Colonel Kelly was an affectionate husband and a kind and judicious father, as well as a friendly and hospitable neighbor. He was a sincere and an exemplary Christian, and adorned all his other virtues by exhibiting a pattern of humility well worthy of imitation. Having no anxieties who should be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, he had no striving who should be greatest in the Church on earth; his profession of religion was well sustained by his practice. He had that true characteristic of bravery, an indisposition to fight his battles over again, and that feeling of humility, that where a man has only done his duty, boasting has no place. It is in some measure owing to this reserve that our notice of his life must be so brief and so imperfect. He seemed not to know that other men would have done differently from him; but to believe that whatever distinguished him from others arose mainly from the circumstances under which he acted. We are of another generation, and his contemporaries have either gone down to the grave, or through lapse of time and failing faculties are unable to give particular details. From himself, but a few gleanings from a life long and full of incidents, have been obtained. "His last end proved his character to be consistent. He met the grim messenger calmly; 'for he knew in whom he had trusted'; and he could 'walk through the valley and shadow of death, fearing no evil.' The frame was bent, and the muscles relaxed; but the mind - the immortal mind - could not be obscured. It brightened more and more 'unto the perfect day.' At the age of eighty-eight years he departed, leaving his memory to our care and his virtues for our imitation." Colonel Kelly's death occurred Feb. 18, 1832. Colonel Kelly married Sarah Polk, who died Jan. 2, 1831, aged seventy- seven years, and they reared a numerous family, of whom David H. was the youngest; John, the eldest son, who settled in Penn's Valley, was the father of Hon. James K. Kelly, United States senator, of Portland, Oregon; James also made his home in Penn's Valley; William, who married a daughter of Archibald Allison, of Center county, died Jan. 27, 1830; Andrew, born Oct. 30, 1783, died Sept. 25, 1867, unmarried; Samuel settled in Armstrong county, Pa.; Elizabeth married Simeon Howe; Mary married John Campbell, of Lewisburg; Robert died April 12, 1865, aged seventy-seven; Joseph died March 2, 1860, aged sixty-six. David H. Kelly was born Nov. 5, 1798, on the old homestead, in a house built by Colonel Kelly before the Revolutionary war. He was reared as a farmer boy, his father's extensive estates affording him plenty of work as his strength developed, and his education was obtained in the subscription schools of that time. His mind was of a high order, and the limited instruction of his early days was so supplemented by study and ob- END OF PAGE 331 servation that he became well informed upon several topics, and his opinions were held in high respect by his associates. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, and held every office in Kelly township except that of justice of the peace. In 1859 he was elected county commissioner. In religious matters he was also active, adhering to the doctrines of the Reformed Church and attending regularly the Union Church at Mazeppa, in which he served many years as an official. He followed farming exclusively, and although he owned a gristmill at Kelly Cross Roads he did not operate it. He was six feet tall, and weighed 180 pounds, and his robust and well built frame enabled him to do much hard work as well as to perform some notable feats in hunting and fishing, of which sports he was very fond. His home life was pleasant, and he delighted in gathering about him a gay company of neighbors for whom he would evoke sweet strains from his violin, visitors often gathering at his house to dance an evening through. On Feb. 10, 1831, he married Mary Baker, who was born Feb. 8, 1812, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Rockey) Baker, and resided until her marriage upon the same farm. Their first home was upon an estate in Kelly township given to David H. Kelly by his father, but in the spring of 1858 he bought another farm in Buffalo township which was at one time owned by Wendell Baker, a well known pioneer of Buffalo Valley. Both these farms descended to the heirs together with a large tract of mountain land. David H. Kelly died Feb. 11, 1875, and was buried in Baker's cemetery, where all the deceased members of the family have been interred except his son David S. Mrs. David H. Kelly, who survived her husband and reached an advanced age, died in her ninety-third year. We have the following record of the large family of children born to David H. and Mary (Baker) Kelly: John A., born in Kelly township Nov. 21, 1831, occupies the farm in Buffalo township, Union county, upon which his father spent his last years; Catherine R., born April 18, 1833, married Dr. L. B. Meyers, of Fremont, Ohio, who died Dec. 24, 1896; Jacob B., born Sept. 6, 1834, died June 7, 1891, in Kelly township; Sarah E., born June 14, 1836, is the widow of Joseph Kleckner, of Buffalo township; Robert H., born Feb. 14, 1838, was a student of pharmacy, and died Nov. 26, 1860, at Elmore, Ohio; William W., born Dec. 29, 1839, is a druggist at Ottawa, Ohio; Mary A., born Dec. 3, 1841, married J. S. McCreight, of Lewisburg, Pa.; James B., born June 28, 1844, died Feb. 8, 1884, in Buffalo township; Emma Caroline, born April 1, 1846, is the widow of David P. Frederick; David S., born Dec. 21, 1847, was a merchant of Fremont, Ohio, and died Sept. 10, 1887, at San Jacinto, Cal., while traveling for his health, and was buried at Ottawa, Ohio, where his widow, Mrs. Annie (Hauk) Kelly, is living; Jane E born Nov. 29, 1849, is the widow of John W. Frederick; H. Brady, born Oct. 17, 1851, resides in Buffalo township, Union county; Clara M., born July 25, 1854, died April 22, 1856; a son, born Feb. 27, 1858, died in infancy. BECK. The brothers William H. and John A. Beck, of Milton, Northumberland county, both identified with the manufacturing concern of S. J. Shimer & Sons, in that borough, the former as secretary, and the latter also in business for himself as a florist, are descendants of a family which has been established in Pennsylvania for a century and a half. 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. Of these, John Beck married Elizabeth Snyder, a native of Northampton county, and later they settled in Center county, where they reared their family, which comprised the following children: Daniel, John G., Sarah, Mary, Charles Simon, Catharine, Henry, Joseph, Margaret, Elizabeth and Susan. 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 is mentioned below;. 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. 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 he 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 close 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. END OF PAGE 332 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.; Catharine, who married William R. Miller; George A.; William H.; Ella, who married Charles Weinland and John A. 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 was 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 is 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 Colombia 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. 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. RAKER. The Raker family, to which the late Cornelius Raker, of Shamokin, belonged, is of German extraction, the founder of the name in America coming from Baden, near Wurtemberg, Germany, and settling in Montgomery county, Pa., where he lived and died. Conrad Raker, son of the emigrant ancestor, was born in Montgomery county and came to Northumberland county among the pioneers. After his marriage he settled at Augustaville, in Rockefeller township, whence he moved two years later to Little Mahanoy township, following farming there until his death. He is buried at Raker. He was a prominent man in his day in public and church affairs, serving as county commissioner in 1837 and 1838, and helping to build two churches, the Emanuel's Lutheran in Little Mahanoy township END OF PAGE 333 and the Stone Church at Augustaville. In politics he was a Democrat. Conrad Raker married Rebecca Dunkelberger, of Northumberland county, daughter of Frederick, and they had children as follows: John, who died in Ashland county, Ohio; Kate; Frederick; Jacob, who died in Little Mahanoy township; William, who died in Little Mahanoy township; Enoch D., who died in Little Mahanoy township June 23, 1888, aged sixty-six years, sixteen days, and is buried at Little Mahanoy Church (his wife died Sept 25, 1903, aged seventy-six years, five months, twenty-one days); Isaac D., born Dec. 6, 1825, who lived at Shamokin and died March 11, 1907 (his wife, Phoebe A., born Dec. 6, 1834, died April 5, 1890); Barbara, who married George Sordogn and died in Upper Augusta township; Maria, who married Joseph Gass and died in Upper Augusta township; Esther, who married Daniel Zartman and died in Lower Augusta township; and Mary, who married Elias Peiffer and died at Raker. (N. B.: Conrad's wife's name is given Rebecca here, while in another account it appears as Barbara; if it was Barbara, then the following dates, from Little Mahanoy cemetery, apply to Conrad and wife: Conrad Raker, born in Montgomery county, Pa., June 7, 1778, died Sept. 4, 1849; his wife Barbara, nee Dunckel, born April 5, 1779, died Dec. 17, 1838.) Frederick Raker, son of Conrad, was born Dec. 21, 1804, in what is now Rockefeller township, and spent all but three or four years of his life in his native county. He went to Lycoming county after his marriage and returning to Northumberland settled in Little Mahanoy township. He was a blacksmith by trade, and also followed carpentering and farming. He died in Little Mahanoy Aug. 4, 1844, and is buried at Raker. Like his father he was a well known and active citizen of his Section, serving as justice of the peace and taking a prominent part in the work of the Lutheran Church. He was a Democrat in politics. In 1825 Mr. Raker married Elizabeth Hoffman, daughter of John and Susanna (Drumheller) Hoffman, who settled in Washington township, this county, in 1813. Mrs. Raker was born in District township, Berks county, in 1806, and survived her husband, dying at the age of eighty-seven. She is buried at Raker. The following children were born to this union: Conrad H. is mentioned below; Susanna died young; Jeremiah married Jane Martin; Harriet married (first) Israel Dunkelberger and (second) Samuel Dornsife, whom she also survived; Catharine married Samuel Frederick; John H. died Jan. 14, 1862, while serving in the Civil war, at Rolls, Missouri. Conrad H. Raker was born Nov. 8, 1828, and was about three years old when his parents returned to Northumberland county. He attended the local schools and was reared to farming, at which he assisted his father for a time, until he commenced to learn the gunsmith's trade. He followed that in connection with farming in Little Mahanoy township, where with the exception of four years spent in the Western States, he always lived. In 1899 Mr. Raker removed to Shamokin, where he has since lived in retirement. He was quite active in local affairs while a resident of Little Mahanoy, serving as school director and auditor of the township, and was the first postmaster at Raker, holding the office seven years. Raker station and postoffice were named in his honor. He is a Democrat in politics and, like the members of the family generally, a member of the Lutheran Church, which he served as trustee. On April 27, 1856, Mr. Raker married Susan Dornsife, who was born March 22, 1832, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Herb) Dornsife, and died Nov. 5, 19O-; she is buried at Raker. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Raker, as follows: Dr. Frederick Daniel is a resident of Shamokin; Mary Elizabeth married Alvin Raker, of Shamokin, and they have three children, Florence, Helen and Walter; Rev. John Henry, a graduate of Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, is a Lutheran minister now stationed, at Allentown, Pa. (he is married and has two children, Ruth and Reberta); Lydia J. married John Schlegel, of Shamokin, and has one child, Clarence; Ida married John Hilbush, lives in Shamokin, and has two children, Edward and Susan; Hattie, who married Samuel Moyer and lives in Shamokin, has two children, Francis and Lydia; Albert is living on the old homestead at Raker; Susan died in infancy; Conrad, twin of Susan, lives in Lower Mahanoy township, is married, and has one son, Frederick; Edward, who studied at Muhlenberg College, now an attorney at law of Shamokin, is married and has two children, Marion and Grace; one son died in infancy. Jacob Raker, son of Conrad and grandson of the emigrant, was born April 26, 1808, in Little Mahanoy township, and was one of the well known citizens of that locality in his day. He followed farming, and died in Little Mahanoy Dec. 28, 1859, aged fifty-one years. His wife, Rebecca (Zartman), born Jan. 4, 1813, died June 12, 1883. They had children as follows: Lucinda, Harry, William, Enoch, Daniel Z. (died July 13, 1898, aged sixty-two years, two months, twenty- four days; his wife, Annie, died Aug. 20, 1905, aged seventy years, ten months, fourteen days), Abbie, Rebecca, Conrad, Samuel (deceased), Cornelius, Alice, and Joseph, the last named deceased. CORNELIUS RAKER, son of Jacob, was born March 14, 1838, in Little Mahanoy, near Raker, and was reared upon the farm in his native township. When a young man he went to Washington D. C., and there learned photography, in the END OF PAGE 334 fall of 1865 locating in Shamokin, where he was the pioneer in his line of work. He followed it until his retirement in 1890, enjoying a steady and profitable patronage, and naturally was widely known in the borough and vicinity, where he had a high reputation for first-class work and courtesy to patrons which was his best advertisement in all the long years of his business career. Though a man of unassuming life and quiet habits he was considered a most useful and desirable citizen, and his death, which occurred June 1, 1901, was regarded as a loss throughout Shamokin, where he had many friends and well wishers. He is buried in Shamokin cemetery. Mr. Raker accumulated considerable valuable real estate; he bought his first lot, on Independence street, for $55, and the advance in values is well illustrated by the statement that it is now among the most valuable property in the borough. Mr. Raker was a member of the Methodist Church. On July 26, 1865, Mr. Raker married Mary E. Machamer, daughter of Israel Machamer, and three children were born to them: Emma, who married (first) Thaddeus B. Strine, by whom she had one son, Harry C., and (second) L. W. Smith, a druggist of Shamokin; Elizabeth, deceased; and Elmer, E., who died April 26, 1911. Mrs. Raker resides at the old home, No. 148 East Independence street. John Machamer, Mrs. Raker's grandfather, was a tailor, and followed his trade at Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa. Later he went West, where he died. His children were: Eli, an attorney, who died at Leavenworth, Kans.; Israel; John, who died in the West; Mary, and Julia. Israel Machamer, father of Mrs. Raker, was born at Lewisburg, Pa., and learned the trade of his father, which he followed for many years. For a long time he was located at White Deer, Union county, removing thence to Trevorton, where he died in 1880; he is buried at Shamokin. Mr. Machamer married Susan Knauss, daughter of Benjamin Knauss, who died at the age of ninety-four years. Mrs. Machamer, born Oct. 16, 1820, is now the oldest resident of Shamokin. She enjoys good health and a clear, bright mind, discussing the topics of the day with interest and intelligence, and enjoying life as she deserves to do. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Machamer: Margaret married Peter Metz and died in Shamokin; Mary E. is the widow of Cornelius Raker; Clara became the wife of Herbert Ward, of Trevorton, where she died; Benjamin lives in Trevorton; Katie was the wife of John Smith, of Trevorton, where she died; John, Emma and Matilda all died young. HENRY M. EMERICK, M.D., physician and surgeon, and a leading citizen of the borough of Milton in his private as well as his professional capacity has been settled there since 1892. He has established an extensive practice, and for real worth as a member of the community he ranks among the residents of the borough who have worked steadily along lines for its advancement. Dr. Emerick's grandfather, John George Emerick, was the first of the family in Northumberland county, whither he came from Schuylkill county, Pa., with his brother Michael. They settled in Lower Mahanoy township, on adjoining farms. Michael married, but had no children. John George Emerick, besides following farming, built a tannery on his place and conducted it for many years, becoming particularly well known in that connection. He and his wife, Magadela (Zartman), died on the farm and are buried at the old Stone Valley church near Hickory Corners, in Lower Mahanoy township. Their children were: George died in Uniontown, Pa.; John died in Illinois; Elias was the father of Dr. Emerick; Michael died in Jordan township; Joseph, born in 1834, now living in Sunbury, married (first) Sarah Wert and had six children, Henry M., Charles L., George W., Sarah J., Mary M. and Minnie Alice, and (second) Sophrona Elizabeth Krosteder, by whom he had no children. Elias Emerick, son of John George, was born in 1826 at the old home in Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland county. In 1852 he moved to Lower Augusta township, this county, where he purchased the old Clark farm, upon which was the hotel called the "Lower Augusta Inn," or during his day more commonly known as "Emerick's Hotel," situated on the old Tulpehocken road. He conducted the farm and hotel until 1867, after which he gave all his time to farming for three years, at the end of that time engaging in the mercantile business, which he continued until he sold out, in 1875. He then moved to Selinsgrove, Pa., and engaged in the coal business, which he followed until his death, which occurred at Selinsgrove in 1892; he is buried at the Stone Church in Lower Augusta township. Mr. Emerick married Anna Mary Stine, a native of Pine Grove, Schuylkill county, daughter of John Stine. Mrs. Emerick died in 1880, at the age of fifty- two years. She was the mother of eight children: Louisa J., who married John M. Boyer, their home being at Selinsgrove, Pa.; Henry M.; Benjamin Franklin, a well known druggist and leading business man of Carlisle, Pa., who died in 1910; Martin L., a physician, also of Carlisle, and four children who died young. Henry M. Emerick, son of Elias, was born in 1854 in Lower Augusta township, and received his early education in the public schools near his boyhood home. Later he attended Susquehanna University, at Selinsgrove, and there also he began reading medicine, under the well known Dr. J. W. Sheets, who was then located at Selinsgrove. END OF PAGE 335 Entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., he graduated in 1880, since which time he has been in continuous practice. He made his first location after graduating at Pottsgrove, Pa., where he remained twelve years, in 1892 removing to Milton, which has since been his home and field of practice. Dr. Emerick has won the confidence of his fellow citizens as much by his personal merits as by his medical skill, and his standing among his fellow practitioners is equally high. He holds membership in the Lycoming County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His time has naturally been almost entirely absorbed by his professional duties, but he has served as school director at Milton, his interest in the cause of education and his high standards making him a valuable member of the board. In politics he is a Republican. Dr. Emerick married Feb. 23, 1882, Anna M. Voris, daughter of Gilbert and Harriet (McWilliams) Voris, and granddaughter of John Voris. They have, one daughter, Harriet A., who graduated from Bucknell Seminary in 1903, and subsequently attended Lasell Seminary, at Auburndale, Massachusetts. COLEMAN K. SOBER, of Lewisburg, Pa., is as much a citizen of Northumberland county as he is of the former place. He belongs to a family which has been settled in this county for a hundred and fifty years, since pioneer times; he himself is a native of the county, and the care of the extensive landed interests he retains here has kept him in touch with the affairs of the locality, where his value to the community is universally recognized. Mr. Sober has been a successful man from the worldly standpoint. His profitable operations in lumber, covering many years of an unusually energetic career, would alone entitle him to that distinction. But he has led a life useful to others as well as to himself. His active intellect has enabled him to discover more than mere business opportunities in the pursuit of his various ventures; and his inquiring mind has led him into investigations which have yielded much of real utility and added definitely to the sum total of serviceable knowledge. In practical illustration of this tendency of Mr. Sober's may be mentioned his chief interest in Northumberland county, the extensive chestnut groves on the mountainsides that inclose the beautiful Irish Valley, the outgrowth of an experiment which has attracted attention all over the country. It is the only commercial chestnut grove in a sufficiently advanced stage of development to permit an estimate to be formed of the possibilities of such an enterprise. Mr. Sober is a native of this region, born Nov. 24, 1842, at the old homestead of his parents in Northumberland county, seven miles from Shamokin. His ancestors were among the pioneers of the county, where the family has been settled for a hundred and fifty years. His grandparents were Samuel and Isabella (Moore) Sober. Isaac Sober, father of Coleman K. Sober, was a native and lifelong resident of Northumberland county, where he was a wealthy and influential agriculturist. He was born Feb. 23, 1814, and died June 12, 1882. His wife, Mary (Krighbaum), daughter of George and Barbara (Reed) Krighbaum, was also of Northumberland county birth, and ten children were born to their union, namely: Freeman W., who was a farmer in Virginia, where he died; Harriet, wife of Samuel Swinehart, of Northumberland county, Pa.; Coleman K.; Clinton D., a farmer and dairyman of Northumberland county (he is a great shot with the gun); Isabella, widow of F. W. Gilder, who died in Philadelphia, Pa.; Barbara Ann, widow of Mahlon C. Moyer, who died in Shamokin; Amanda, deceased, who was the wife of George Startzel, of Shamokin; Adeline, deceased, wife of A. J. Campbell; Martin Luther (another phenomenal shot in the family, and in whom Mr. Sober says he finds the nearest approach to a rival in game shooting); and Clara, wife of ex- County Treasurer D. S. Hollibaugh, M. D., a prominent physician of Shamokin. Mrs. Sober was not only an excellent rifle shot, but also an expert mechanic. She was the only child of a famous gunmaker of the Susquehanna Valley in his day - the latter part of the eighteenth and the early part of the nineteenth century - and many a time in her girlhood she assisted her father in his shop. Her skill in shooting was acquired in testing the guns turned out in the shop, and so adept was she that with her own hands she manufactured a gun that became the property of her future husband. Coleman K. Sober remained at home up to the age of eighteen, his summers being spent in farm work, and his winters in study at the neighboring schools. So well did he improve these educational opportunities that he prepared himself for teaching, and on leaving home in 1860 he engaged in that profession with such success that he continued it for eighteen terms with increasing reputation. His vacations were spent in study at higher schools, or in various occupations, such as pumping oil in the oil regions of the State, working in a sawmill, in blast furnaces, or in the rolling mills at Danville, Pa. His industry knew no bounds, and when he had a "night turn" he would take contracts to unload coal boats or draw board rafts during the day. Among the higher schools he attended was the Danville Academy. In 1854, at the close of his term there, he found himself obliged to look around for work of some kind, his circumstances, END OF PAGE 336 financially, not being the best, and he was too proud to accept any assistance from his father. It so happened that one of his schoolmates, a lad by the name of C. B. Savidge (now judge of Northumberland county), having exhausted all his means, was obliged to seek some kind of employment before the term of school came to a close, and procured work at corn husking for a farmer named William Fox. Through this old school "chum" young Sober, now twenty-two years old, and of slight build, made application to William Fox for similar work. The latter, however, having "sized up" the youthful applicant, remarked that he was too light for such a task, and that his earnings thereat would be very meagre (the corn shocks were cut 7x9, or sixty-three hills). Nevertheless, the lad's application being favorably received, he began work on the following morning, at five cents a shock, and when night came it was found that he had husked no less than eighty-six shocks. Mr. Fox having left the farm for a few days, a report was made to Mrs. Fox by some of the hands of the rapid work done by the new man, whereupon she immediately sent for Mr. Sober and informed him that he was discharged for the reason that he "would break her husband up!"; his commissions amounted to $4.30 for this day's work. He thereupon demanded settlement and his pay; but Mrs. Fox being unprovided with necessary funds, young Sober was permitted to remain at work until her husband's return. On the latter's arrival home, and on his learning of this phenomenal record in husking, he at once set about to investigate whether or not the work was well done. In his examination he failed to find a single stalk with an ear remaining unhusked. All this might be counted a mystery were it not explained away by the fact that Mr. Sober accomplished with two motions what others required four to do. Another anecdote, bearing on Mr. Sober's innate skill and natural adaptability to existing circumstances, is recorded of him in quite a different trend. "The hammer in the hand above all the arts doth stand" is a well known adage, and Mr. Sober's present expertness with the anvil is better known than is his boyhood experience with one, as here related. When he was a sixteen-year-old lad he had a long distance to tramp to school, and about midway between his home and the schoolhouse was a blacksmith shop or "smithy," where on cold days he would stop to warm himself and watch the smith forging horseshoe nails, etc. One day young Sober asked permission of this son of Vulcan to make a horseshoe nail, whereupon the latter laughingly asked the lad if he was aware that to learn to do such a job properly required usually a full year's apprenticeship. Nevertheless, the undaunted stripling insisted upon being allowed to try his hand, at least, and after but five attempts he presented to the astonished blacksmith a perfect nail ready for use. In 1880 Mr. Sober became employed by the day by Beecher & Zimmerman, lumbermen, who, quickly realizing his ability, at the end of the month offered to receive him into the firm. He accordingly purchased a one-third interest and at the death of Mr. Zimmerman, a year or two later, he bought half of the deceased's interest, thus becoming half owner of the entire business. The firm, the Glen Union Lumber Company, which is one of the largest lumber concerns in the State, its offices and freight depot being situated at Glen Union, in Clinton county, now owns over 45,000 acres of the best timberland in the State of Pennsylvania, employment being given to a small army of one hundred men. The sawmills turn out each month one and a half million feet of sawed lumber, and at least 125 carloads of prop timber per month. In this connection it might not be out of place to cite an illustration of Mr. Sober's business acumen and foresight. His first purchase of prop timber was 1,100 acres bought "on the stump," and by the ton, at fifty cents per ton, and he immediately arranged for its transportation by rail, securing a reduction of fifty cents per ton (just the sum the timber cost him) from the regular rate; thus his purchase in reality cost him nothing, while at the same time he was the first in the United States to buy, sell and transport timber by the pound. Mr. Sober became the head and front of this concern, everything being under his supervision, he giving his attention mainly to the field work of the company, his special province being the examination of timberland and the direction of operations in the woods. Independent of the Glen Union plant, he conducts an extensive personal business; his shipments for the fourteen years beginning Jan. 1, 1897, to Jan. 1, 1911, being 18,140 carloads, or an average of 1,295 carloads per year, of prop timber, pulpwood, lumber and hay. His administrative and executive ability is well exemplified in the generalship he displays in handling and controlling his many employees, something that in the lumber woods requires no little tact and discretion. He is a master of every detail of his business, and has never had a mechanic in his employ to whom he could not teach something, while he often finds points in the machinery of his plant upon which, perfect though it may seem, he could suggest some improvement. This comprehensive grasp of detail is characteristic of the man; and it is also said of him that wherever and whenever he sees an effect he is sure to find the cause - that is, in anything that may interest him. He is so thorough a business man, and so prominent as a citizen, that it would be injustice to him to give undue prominence even to his marvelous feats with the shotgun, which will be fully END OF PAGE 337 spoken of farther on. He has made his own way in the world with clear-eyed singleness of purpose which reminds one of his unerring aim at a target. In all has enterprises, great and small, he is precise and painstaking, and the strictest integrity marks his business dealings, every obligation being met promptly and fully. While he would not take an unfair advantage of an opponent in a shooting-contest or an athletic game, and would not accept a penny that he did not consider his due, neither would he smother his sense of right and yield tamely to an infringement upon his own just claims. Thoroughness in everything is one of his strong points, and he will never allow himself to he excelled in any respect, if earnest, persistent thought and labor will win. Mr. Sober is not only a marvel of ambidexterity with the shotgun, as the reader will presently discover, and an expert in work on the anvil, as above recorded, but he is also highly skilled in taxidermy, an art that cannot be learned in a day, yet one that came to him naturally and without any instruction. Some fine specimens of his skill in mounting birds, etc., including an eagle shot by N. B. Grugan, of Glen Union, and which measured seven feet from tip to tip of wings (prepared for Dr. B. H. Warren, the State zoologist), were exhibited at the World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893, and attracted much attention, winning many encomiums; while among other specimens he has in his possession some five deer heads, taken from noble animals of his own slaying, and mounted by himself. On his fifty-eighth birthday Mr. Sober shot a pheasant on wing, with a weasel attached to its neck taking its life blood, and he has same mounted; it is a question if this is not the only specimen of its kind in the world. Then, also, as an engraver on gold and other metals, he excels, in this respect being not one whit behind professionals, though he never received instruction in the art, his designing and engraving of horses, dogs, violins, locomotives, on a ten-cent piece, etc. (from tools of his own making), being surprisingly clever. Socially Mr. Sober is looked upon as a prince among men, exceedingly pleasant and affable, and he is a perfect gentlemen, hospitable and liberal - in short, a royal good fellow, as he is called by his closest acquaintances; and he always carries under his vest a big heart. He is a man of fine physical proportions, active, strong and quick, in height about five feet, ten inches, and weighing some 175 pounds; his complexion is somewhat sandy, much tanned by his outdoor life. Possessed of the bright blue eyes of a sure shot, he is in fact what might be expected in the makeup of a sportsman; and although in age he is now nearing the three score and ten mark, he only shows a better developed maturity of vigorous manhood. In his habits he is very abstemious, using neither tobacco nor liquor in any shape. In his political predilections he had always been a Democrat, until the campaign of Gov. D. H. Hastings (now deceased), and since that time has been a stanch Republican; but he has never found time to seek official preferment or recognition, save that in May, 1884, he was commissioned by Postmaster Walter Q. Gresham postmaster at Sober (Center county), which office was named in his honor, and of which he was first postmaster. He also was postmaster at Glen Union, Clinton county, from 1892 to 1897. In 1870 he was appointed by Gov. John W. Geary coal and iron policeman for the State of Pennsylvania, he being one of the six first commissioned in Pennsylvania, and clothed with all the authority of the city police. In 1878 he was appointed mercantile appraiser of Northumberland county, Pa., being chosen from among twelve. He long ago received his first appointment as State game commissioner, and was reappointed in 1892. On Nov. 17, 1896, he was again appointed by Gov. D. H. Hastings, and he has held the office continuously to the present, by successive re-appointments. This is not a salaried position, but its duties, the propagation and conservation of game, are so thoroughly to Mr. Sober's liking and in accord with his principles that he takes pride and pleasure in their performance. In 1864 Mr. Sober was united in marriage with Bernetta Anderson, of Northumberland county, a daughter of Jacob and Phebe Anderson. She died Jan. 4, 1906, and is buried at Lewisburg, Pa. Four children blessed their union, two of whom are deceased. (1) Mary B. has been twice married, first to Harry Grove, by whom she had one child, Helen Mary. After Mr. Grove's decease she married, Oct. 14, 1896, Martin H. Lesher, of Shamokin Dam, Pa, and they have five children, Bernetta Edna, Isabelle M., Martha S., Coleman K. and Thornton S. Mrs. Lesher is skilled in oil, pastel and crayon work, and excels in free-hand drawing. (2) Oswell Coleman; and (3) Hudson Atwood both died young. (4) Waldron Bland married R. Elizabeth Bright, daughter of William H. Bright, and they have four children, Bernetta E.; Mary B., Coleman K., Jr., and William Bright; the last named, born Sept. 6, 1908, celebrates the anniversary of his birth on the same date as his father and his grandfather Bright. While still a youth W. Bland Sober acquired marvelous skill as a trap-shooter, and as a sportsman few of the old hunters can bag more game in a day than he. On Dec. 27, 1906, Mr. Sober married (second) Hannah Alvirda Cummings, daughter of James and Mary Rebecca (Stover) Cummings. Mr. C. K. Sober maintains his residence at Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa, where he has a pleasant home, whose perfect appointments show his END OF PAGE 338 attention to detail. Every part of the premises gives evidence of his careful management, and his stables, in which he keeps some fine horses, some of them being fast trotters, are sufficiently neat and comfortable for the habitation of human beings. He has a beautiful summer home on the large estate in Irish Valley upon which his wonderful chestnut groves are located. The story of Mr. Sober's interest in chestnut growing begins in his boyhood. Brought up on a farm, he was but twelve years old when he persuaded his father, who was grafting fruit trees, to let him graft small chestnut trees. His father treated the matter as a joke, but the boy clung to it, and though it was not until forty-two years later that he put his ideas to practical test he never lost faith in them. Nor were his theories vain. The result of his experiments, the Sober Paragon chestnut has attained such a degree of perfection that it is in demand everywhere that chestnuts find a market, and thousands of scions and trees from Mr. Sober's trees and nursery stock are sold yearly. Their pedigree is of interest as showing the beginnings of an industry that has already attained notable proportions, and that promises to be more generally engaged in as its advantages become known. Almost thirty years ago Mr. W. L. Shaffer, of Germantown, near Philadelphia, discovered a tree growing in his lot from an unknown source. It may have been from a foreign nut, which produced the Paragon chestnuts, about five times the size of the average American chestnut. Crisp and sweet, it differed from the Italian chestnut, which is either coarse and tasteless or possesses an unpleasant acorn favor. The first scions used in grafting the Sober trees were of Paragon trees obtained from W. H. Engle, of Marietta, Pa. In the Irish Valley, six miles from Paxinos, and seven miles west of Shamokin, Mr. Sober has a property comprising about eight hundred acres. It is a beautiful and fertile depression, walled in on the east and west by parallel spurs of the Alleghenies; whose sloping, rocky Sides were originally covered with oak, sap pine and chestnut timber. About half of this is now under chestnut cultivation. The pine and oak were cut down years ago, and subsequently some of the chestnut was marketed. A second growth of chestnut later sprang up. Such were the conditions on about half of Mr. Sober's large estate. Ordinarily this would be waste mountain land, soil that could not be utilized profitably even as sheep pasture. In the fall of 1896 he cut down the standing trees on the land where his first attempts at chestnut culture were to be made. By spring young shoots had appeared around the stumps of the fallen trees. These shoots were grafted with the scions of the Sober Paragon nut, before mentioned, which had been cut in February and laid away in sand until needed. The grafting was begun early in the spring, and Mr. Sober, with the assistance of a farm hand or two, looked after all the work himself the first year. From this modest beginning has been developed an industry which requires a considerable working force and promises to make the land as profitable as it would be under ordinary agricultural conditions. The principal grove stretches along the bordering mountainside - for over a mile on one side of the mountain, and comprises about 300 acres, the southern part of the farm. The hillside to the north is crowned with a two-acre grove. Then there are three hundred thousand Sober Paragon Registered seedlings and grafted trees, from one to three years old, grown from the Sober Paragon nut ingrafted with the scions from the true Sober Paragon tree in bearing. Over two hundred bushels of Sober Paragon chestnuts were planted in the spring of 1911, thus adding more than a quarter of a million seedlings, which will be grafted at two years onto young chestnut seedlings growing on what would be waste land. The process of establishing a grove by planting nuts would be too slow, hence Mr. Sober has adopted this method of gaining time in the production of valuable trees. In this country the popularity of the chestnut as a food is still in its initial stages. However, it is gaining recognition daily, so much so that arboriculturists are interesting themselves in its culture, with the view of presenting its attractions to owners of available land. The fact that chestnut trees may be cultivated successfully on land valueless for other purposes will undoubtedly influence many to attempt their cultivation. The interest has become so widespread that the national government through the United States Department of Agriculture, and the State government through the Department of Forestry, and Chestnut Tree Blight Commission, have seen fit to investigate his experiments and results thoroughly. Commission President Winthrop Sargent, of Philadelphia; Commission Secretary Harold Pierce, also of Philadelphia, of the Chestnut Tree Blight Commission; Hon. I. C. Williams, deputy State forestry commissioner; S. B. Detwiler, executive officer of the Chestnut Tree Blight Commission; Dr. J. W. Harshberger, professor of botany of the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Haven Metcalf and Professor Collins, of the United States Department of Agriculture, visited the farms and chestnut groves Sept. 7, 1911. Mr. C. A. Reed, special agent of United States Department of Agriculture, visited the farms and chestnut groves on Sept. 8, 1911. Not long after commencing this work Mr. Sober realized that a nursery branch of his business would be almost a necessity if others were to profit by his experiences, and the demand for nuts and young trees has far exceeded the supply. Rows END OF PAGE 339 of young trees have been grafted to the Sober Paragon nut, and heavy shipments are made each season. At first the orders were mainly from the New England States, but now they come from all parts of this country and even from Europe. In 1908 a solid carload of the Sober Paragon nut went to Seattle, Wash. In the summer of 1910 a Seattle man who had an ambition to enter the business on a large scale offered to buy Mr. Sober's entire yield for that year. Several carloads of young trees are sold every spring. In 1910 Mr. Sober shipped and sold to one concern, Glen Brothers, of Rochester, N. Y., seven carloads of bearing trees, and in addition to this shipment sold to various other concerns over five thousand grafted trees (nursery stock, two and a half to three feet high). In 1911 he shipped to Glen Brothers two carloads (one shipment) of bearing trees, eight to twelve feet in height, and in addition to the same concern at various times over ten thousand trees. So much for Mr. Sober's success in chestnut growing as a business proposition. As a benefit to those who have waste land to convert into paying property the value of his enterprise is inestimable. His idea for the reclaiming of waste land, of which there are hundreds of thousands of acres in Pennsylvania alone, is the transplanting thereon of young chestnut seedlings. The grafted trees begin bearing the second or third year, the yield increasing annually. There is comparatively little expense beyond the initial cost of grafting, but care expended in keeping a grove in apple-pie order is more than repaid in results. In the case of the Sober groves, scientific management prevails even in attention to apparently unimportant details. Every experiment is closely watched, and such reliable statistics have been kept that the Sober Chestnut plantation has become the object of observation by government experts, who have invited Mr. Sober to contribute to the department such advice and instruction as he thinks necessary for the guidance of those about to undertake chestnut culture. He is always ready to give others the benefits of the knowledge he has acquired. Special devices which he has developed or invented in the course of his work have been patented, but he is willing to explain his methods in any branch of the business, to share his ideas, to assist any who are earnestly interested in the subject. He invented a wax for holding in place the "tongue" or "whip" graft, which on his place has entirely superseded the old wedge graft, and has published the formula. Mr. Sober has this wax colored, arranging to have each man he employs at grafting use a different color, thus enabling him to follow up the work of any one man, when necessary. Mr. Sober's early experiences with the wedge graft were so discouraging, in spite of the fact that he engaged professionals to do the work, that he determined to give the whip graft a thorough trial, and the process has been so improved that 90 per cent of the grafts are now successful. Mr. Sober has devised an insect trap for night use that does notable work. He has made a close study of the various insects that blight or destroy chestnut trees, and has originated ways of exterminating them or protecting the trees against their ravages. He himself keeps a large flock of game chickens which, he allows to ran about in the groves to help make away with insect pests, and sheep are turned to pasture in the groves to keep the grass and undergrowth cropped close. The groves are protected against fire on two sides by fire roads, wide avenues denuded of timber and then burned over. Brush and debris of all kinds are gathered and burned to prevent accumulation of any waste matter that might endanger the trees in case of fire; and the employees on the property are fully instructed as to their duties. It is not always smooth sailing. In 1906 the crop was almost ruined by locusts, but one of the results of the calamity was that Mr. Sober applied himself more earnestly than ever to the study of this and other pests, their habits, etc., until his investigations covered the field thoroughly and yielded valuable information. There are other enemies of the chestnut, thieves for instance, which have to be guarded against, but with all these drawbacks the venture has paid and the profits are increasing steadily. Chestnut Grove Stock Farm, the beautiful model farm of which the chestnut groves are a leading feature, has been described as "destined to be one of the most famous farms in the United States." There is an abundant water supply from never failing springs located on the tract, twenty-five of them, and one situated 160 feet above the house feeds a large reservoir from which the dwelling and buildings are supplied with running water. The main house, a beautiful three-story frame residence, is situated to the north of the main road leading to Sunbury, and there are four modern tenement houses. The big barn, 50 by 125 feet in dimensions, and 75 feet from the ground to the top of the cupola, is a model of convenience. Underneath are twenty box stalls of the most approved type. There is a hay shed of 100 tons capacity, corncribs lined with galvanized wire netting and granaries lined with iron, practically rat-proof. Farm machinery in almost endless variety, for performing and facilitating the work, is at hand, and there is perhaps no better equipped blacksmith shop in the region than the one on this place. There is a large acetylene gas generator, of Mr. Sober's own manufacture, which lights the house and barn, and all the other buildings in which artificial light is useful. The chestnut groves border that part of the estate devoted to ordinary agricultural purposes, and be- END OF PAGE 340 sides there are thousands of bearing fruit trees on the land, ranged along the public and private thoroughfares which intersect the property, apple, cherry, peach, pear and other fruits, all 40 feet apart, stretching along three miles of highway. These include over two thousand grafted cherry trees. Mr. Sober has made a specialty of raising high-bred horses, and has a number of fine pedigreed horses, some with excellent track records. There is a full half-mile race course on the farm, uniquely located on a knoll a short distance south of the road. Mr. Sober has made numerous experiments on his land, and he was one of the first in the State to become interested in alfalfa. He has also tried Alaska wheat, having put five acres under cultivation in the latter crop one season to test its possibilities in the neighborhood. He grows the finest cantaloupes raised in this region. He has demonstrated in numerous ways the possibilities of a well managed farm property. The working force on this extensive domain has naturally been added to meet requirements as the property has been developed, and in the month of October, 1910, when the chestnuts were being gathered, Mr. Sober had 115 helpers on his farm payroll. Ordinarily, twenty-five men are employed on the estate, and five teams of horses and mule's are required to carry on the work. As previously stated, when Mr. Sober began grafting chestnuts he did all the work himself, having one or two farm hands to help him. From twenty to forty nurserymen, who graft on an average 300 to 500 trees per day each, are now engaged for several weeks in the spring. The property is under the management of Mr. Sober's son. The farm has been the object of wide attention and many prominent men have visited the property, particularly to investigate the chestnut proposition, a number of the States having mentioned the Sober groves in their annual agricultural reports. Frequent mention is made in the National reports. A trip to this place is not only interesting, but instructive in the highest degree. There have been many press notices regarding it in the papers and magazines. A writer who visited the estate early in September, 1911, a man widely traveled and familiar with the beauties of art and nature in many parts of the world, after a drive over the four hundred acres of bending, bearing trees spoke of the scene as one passing description. At the season when the green of the chestnut buns was changing to autumn tints, it was a picture which defied the best efforts of brush or pen. Mr. Sober is the inventor, patentee and manufacturer of acetylene gas generators, conducting this business at Lewisburg, Pa. He has done much to popularize this method of lighting, and the gas being also usable for cooking purposes, clean, economical, convenient, the business is in thriving condition. Mr. Sober has always been a public-spirited citizen, ready to give aid and encouragement to worthy enterprises affecting the welfare of his community. He has been active in promoting agricultural fairs, and has been a prominent figure at such gatherings for years, not only as a land owner and stock breeder, but also as a "drawing card" in his capacity of expert marksman. This brings us to another side of his remarkable career. A fine shot and an enthusiastic huntsman from his youth, Mr. Sober has gone into the field of sport with the same zeal and keen intelligence that he brings to bear in all his other interests. So he has not only become an expert, but he has made it possible for others to enjoy hunting and similar pastimes under the most favorable conditions. In the pursuit of his lumbering operations, covering a period of forty years, Mr. Sober has found great opportunities to familiarize himself with the habits and habitat of game, and his keen powers of observation, together with his natural inclination for systematizing his knowledge on any subject, have made him a recognized authority on such matters. He took the position of game commissioner with an object. In this official capacity he has been able to influence the enactment of many of the wisest provisions now embraced in the game laws of Pennsylvania. The preservation and propagation of game have been guarded carefully, with the result that conditions are improving steadily, and hunting facilities are increasing yearly, adding much to the enjoyment of those who indulge in this recreation. Mr. Sober himself has purchased large numbers of birds, particularly quail, and liberated them in different localities in the various fertile valleys of the Susquehanna. His love for trout fishing has led him to stock numerous streams in Center, Clinton and Lycoming counties with brook and other varieties of trout. He is noted as a hunter throughout central Pennsylvania; in whose remotest recesses large numbers of bear, deer and wildcats are still to be found. For weeks during the open season he will desert his office, abandon the industries with which he is connected, and seeking the seclusion of the forests or mountains, accompanied usually by another noted sportsman, will spend a large portion of the hunting season in rudely constructed camps far from the haunts of men. A number of years ago his love for field sports led him to join a syndicate composed of prominent Pennsylvania capitalists in the purchase of a large game preserve, which is probably unequaled in the many advantages it possesses for the purpose. The syndicate purchased Wallop's island on the eastern shore of Accomac county, Va., just END OF PAGE 341 south of Chincoteague island. Wallop's island has an area of twenty-five hundred acres and is said to shelter more game than any similar spot in the south - a section of this country which is highly favored with game and the island has one of the finest sea beaches on the Atlantic coast, six miles in length. The men have on the island a clubhouse of thirty rooms and a good wharf; and with the oysters, fish, all varieties of shore birds, waterfowl, and the delightful climate for which Wallop's island is noted, they have every facility for enjoyable outings. Mr. Sober sold his interests in this property in 1911. Mr. Sober's record as champion gunshot of the world, as "wizard of the gun," deserves more than passing notice, though it is only in a somewhat limited manner that we can speak of his marvelous skill, for his wonderful gun feats number over two hundred, and he can entertain a multitude of spectators three full hours with his fancy shooting alone. It is but just to say of him that he is not only the champion trick (or trap) shot of the world, but the champion all-round shot of the universe. We have here used the word "trick" as a sort of colloquialism, but it is not the correct term, as, in truth, Mr. Sober's feats with the gun are not mere "tricks," but the effect or result of scientific and skillful calculation. He says he does not know how he acquired his experience, but "guesses it was born in him." Indeed, inheritance, as has already been mentioned, has no little to do with this astounding skill of his, in which he has no rival the world over, and this same inheritance has clung to him from early boyhood, through every change in occupation and fortune. His expertness in the use of the gun has been acquired through pure love of the sport. When, as a boy, he began to handle a gun, he determined to excel in its use, and often he would do his farm work at night in order to gain time for practice in the woods by daylight. Many an hour he has also spent at night in practicing some difficult feat or some new method of handling his weapon. With such persistent exercise in rapid and accurate use it is no wonder that he does marvels, and his constant travel in the forest in connection with the business enables him to continue his favorite sport almost constantly. It will be seen that in 1875 he was but little more than a boy, and, to show that he has from early boyhood been a prodigy, we cite some remarkable local sweepstake exhibitions given by him between September, 1875, and August, 1877. During this time he participated in various contests - shooting at 481 live pigeons, and killing 440, an astounding record of more than 91 per cent! It must be remembered, also, that these birds were killed at twenty-one yards rise - and with the use of only one barrel; excepting that out of this number he shot nineteen doubles, standing midway between the traps forty-one yards apart, shooting one pigeon from the left shoulder, the other from the right shoulder. For several years past Mr. Sober has hunted ruffed grouse only, as that is the quickest bird in America to get in full flight upon discovery, and gives him the rapid work which he enjoys. During the fall of 1890 he shot thirty-two of these birds without a miss, and in the last fifty that he killed that year he shot at fifty-five only. The press of this and other States has often made extended mention of his wonderful feats, and from the "American Field" of Jan. 9, 1892, we glean the following: "In the spring of 1880, he shot 537 wild pigeons in three days at Kane, Pa., while the birds were flying to and from their feeding grounds, and at no time did he kill more than one bird at a shot. For a number of years, however, the increased pressure of business cares has prevented Mr. Sober from attending trap shoots, from which fact some people think he cannot shoot over a trap, but his scores on record show he had no difficulty in winning when he did attend. He broke 452 King-birds straight, at the York fair. He has never killed 100 live pigeons straight, but he killed ninety-six out of 100, at twenty-one yards rise, using one barrel only. At a match at twelve live bats to each man, in which seventeen shooters contested, Mr. Sober won with a score of eleven killed, it being the only match at bats in which he had contested. "When he attended trap shoots he often made clean scores at glass balls, King-birds and live pigeons, often making from fourteen to thirty straight kills, and readily defeated all who shot against him. The most remarkable exhibitions of Mr. Sober's skill, however, are in trick shooting, or as he terms it 'rough and tumble shooting,' in which he handicaps himself in many different ways, shooting from all sorts of positions at King-birds, glass balls or live pigeons sprung from a trap, in which his scores are fully equal to those made by many trap shooters who shoot from the shoulder and are not in any way handicapped. Through long practice of these feats - many of which he originated - Mr. Sober has become so expert that he can perform more unique shots with the double-barreled shotgun than any other living man. He performs over two hundred feats, each shot being more marvelous than the preceding one, all from different positions or under new forms of handicap. He breaks glass balls or King-birds from either shoulder, with handkerchiefs tied around both barrels of his gun, with the barrels thrust through objects of different sizes varying from a cigar- box up to a flour barrel, with his gun either side up, and in many other ways, with wonderful accuracy. He even springs his own target (single or double), and then breaks END OF PAGE 342 the targets. He shoots from almost every conceivable position, standing or lying, holding the gun over his head, between his legs, at his neck or breast, etc. "Mr. Sober commences with simple shots, single and double, and goes from one feat to another, handicapping himself not only as we have described, but in many other ways. At Lewisburg, Pa., in the fall of 1886, he gave his fourth public exhibition, when he shot at 130 glass balls from fifty-one different positions, and missed but eight. At the tournament of the Elmira (N. Y.) Gun Club, in July, 1887, Mr. Sober made a phenomenal record. He shot at 108 glass balls, from seventy-nine difficult positions, and missed but fourteen. "The most difficult of Mr. Sober's shooting feats cannot be photographed for the purpose of illustration, such as placing his gun on the ground at a distance of eighteen feet, springing his own trap, then, after running and picking up his gun, breaking single or double targets - King-birds or glass balls. In many of the feats which he performs Mr. Sober can turn back to the trap, call 'pull,' pick up his gun with the box, keg or barrel on it, as the case may be, turn around and score 'dead bird' on either single or doubles. "He can break double King-birds, one with his gun overhead and the other from his shoulder, or one from between his legs and the other from the shoulder. Scoring doubles, one from each shoulder, is to him but a simple pastime. The feats Mr. Sober performs in shooting with boxes, barrels, tables and similar obstructions around his gun barrels are rendered successful only by reason of the nicety of calculation which he has acquired by long practice. Many who see the King-birds, glass balls or live pigeons fall before his unerring aim wonder how he had got sight over or under such obstructions. He does not take sight, for that would be impossible. His success is due to remarkably accurate calculations. When it is remembered that there are at least two hundred different trick shots on his list, many of them more difficult than we have described, and the fact is considered that Mr. Sober's challenge to the world in his line of shootings remained open two years, and that he has never been defeated in that line in a match, it is not strange that he is called the champion of the world by many admirers in his native State." There is hardly a sportsman in the State of Pennsylvania who has not seen him shoot, and few in the United States who have not read of his accomplishments with the gun. He takes pleasure in showing the world what perfection can be attained in the handling of the shotgun, and there is scarcely an exhibition of importance in the State to which he is not invited. To give a full detailed account of his exhibitions would be unnecessary in this article; but his achievements cannot by any means be passed lightly over. Mr. Sober has proved himself to be, beyond a peradventure, the champion all-round shotgun shot of the world, a title he does not assume, but which belongs to him by right, and by virtue of his challenge to the whole world to enter the lists with him. This challenge has never been accepted; but a critical view of Mr. Sober's marvelous shots will remove all doubts as to his ability to vanquish any other specialist in his line. The case stands as follows: In the "American Field" of Feb. 23, 1889, Mr. Sober "issued a challenge to any man in the world - Dr. W. F. Carver preferred - to shoot an exhibition match against him with a double-barrel shotgun for a stake of five hundred dollars a side; and he offered to pay the expenses of any one who would meet him and shoot at Sunbury, Pa., the following May." Previously Mr. Sober and Dr. Carver had correspondence through the columns of he "American Field" and the former had deposited fifty dollars forfeit as an earnest of his sincerity. Subsequently H. C. Fuller and Mr. Sober had some correspondence through the same medium, but in neither case was a match made, and Mr. Sober's money was returned to him after the lapse of a couple of years. In this connection it must be borne in mind that he is not a professional shot nor has he ever posed as such, not withstanding his well known ability; and, moreover, he never performs for money, his public exhibitions being for the benefit of some public charity, or to aid in the attraction to State and county fairs, Grange picnics, Grand Army reunions, or similar affairs, and he is always sure to be a "drawing-card" as the wonder-shot of the world, thousands of delighted spectators witnessing with interest his bewildering feats. What adds a charm to the occasion is his modest, unassuming manner. He comes on the scene with a calmness and unobtrusiveness that at once win the attention of the spectators, then what he does is square business, with nothing to attract but the merits of the very fine work he does with the shotgun. An article in the Meadville Republican of September 10, 1894, written by an eyewitness of one of these exhibitions, covers in a few words what might be said of all Mr. Sober's performances, and we quote therefrom in part: "The members of the Gun Club visited him in large numbers, and got from him many points of instruction, which he seemed very much pleased to impart. His skill with the gun was even more than advertised. He shot with effect in almost every conceivable position, and the gun in every variety of grasp - under him, over him, to right, to left sitting, standing, lying, with gun above his head, between his feet, upside down, thrust through barrels, boxes, tables, and in every position, ex- END OF PAGE 343 cept with the muzzle in his hands. Loud applause greeted his numerous, wonderful shots." Indeed, we might quote page after page of similar encomiums, did space permit; yet a just tribute to "creation's greatest shot" we plead as excuse, were such necessary, for dwelling longer on this highly interesting subject. In addition to newspaper and other extracts in this article we quote the following: "At Center Hall, in 1889, Mr. Sober commenced shooting. The wind was blowing a regular gale, and no one of the ten thousand visitors expected to see more than a few plain shots. But Mr. Sober is not built that way. He believes in giving every piece on the program, gale or no gale. All the fancy shots were made, and in all his shooting he missed but one King-bird, which was caught by the wind, and darted down in such a manner as to make it impossible to hit it. Everybody expressed astonishment at the remarkable work, no one having any idea that it was possible under the circumstances; and no one will believe hereafter that there is a man on the face of the earth that can compete with C. K. Sober, when it comes to fancy wing shooting."- Mifflinburg Telegram. "Dr. Carver, Buffalo Bill, Captain Bogardus, and many other renowned marksmen have given exhibitions, but none have excelled Mr. Sober's." - Elmira Daily Advertiser, July 2, 1887. "He handles a shotgun as a boy would a tin rattle - is as quick as lightning and as sure as fate. He accomplishes all - even the most difficult - shots with the greatest ease and grace, and by the time the ordinary marksmen get through aiming Mr. Sober will have broken a barrel of King-birds." - Middleburg (Snyder County) Post, Sept. 24, 1891. "But the greatest feature of the day was the shooting of Mr. Sober and his son. This was a revelation to the visitors to the fair. Mr. Sober is a wonderful marksman. He shot at 147 targets yesterday, from a great number of different positions, and at all sorts of disadvantages, yet he did not miss a single one. This is, perhaps, the greatest exhibition Mr. Sober ever gave and this is equivalent to saying that the York county fair grounds have been the scene of the greatest shooting ever done in the world. Nothing can prevent him from scoring. He shoots just as accurately with the gun turned upside down and thrust through a flour barrel as he does in the usual position." - York Gazette, October, 1894. We will conclude our description of Mr. Sober's trap shooting with an account of a couple of amazing and almost incredible shots that he made: A bird is thrown from the trap thirty yards away from the shooter, who stands with his side toward the trap, with inverted gun, the barrel of which is passed right through a wooden box, 14X16 inches in size, the gun (with barrel in the box as described) held at arm's length directly above his head. Thus handicapped, the marksman pulls the trigger and the bird drops to the ground. This feat has been accomplished by no other being, and reads like one of Baron Munchausen's fictions, but it is nevertheless true in every particular. Another remarkable feat Mr. Sober accomplishes with ease is to spring two King-birds from a trap, shoot one of them from between his legs while standing with his back toward the trap, then turn quickly and drop the second King-bird. We cannot avoid giving special emphasis to the four exhibitions given by Mr. Sober at the York county fair before a multitude of fifty thousand people, where he shot at 588 targets with but five misses, two of which were made on his first day's trial, three being lost on the fourth day toward the close of his final exhibition. At one of Mr. Sober's shooting entertainments given at Brook Park (Lewisburg), in October, 1897, he killed 65 pigeons without a miss and broke 200 targets without an error. And it must be borne in mind that not a shot was made without some form of handicap - shooting from both shoulders, gun inverted, and above his head; with gun thrust through powder kegs, flour barrels, boxes, etc. - yet he seemed to experience neither hindrance nor inconvenience. It was like the legerdemain of some great wizard. For several years past Mr. Sober has passed most of his time in the forest, hunting out timberlands, and superintending lumber operations. These pursuits have rendered it possible for him to follow his favorite sport of shooting ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) almost uninterruptedly during the proper season, and a gentleman who has accompanied him on such expeditions says that, although he has hunted with many expert wing shots, it has never been his privilege to meet any one in field or cover who was able to demonstrate the phenomenal skill which Mr. Sober displays at different times when grouse shooting in the wilds of Pennsylvania. Mr. Sober, it would seem, shoots by instinct rather than by sight. The number of ruffed grouse, alone, killed by him during the last few years is astonishing. In 1884 he shot 95; in 1885, 87; in 1886, 108; in 1887, 40; in 1888, 117; in 1889, 116; to Dec. 15, 1890, 148; to Dec. 21,1891, 103; in 1892, 105; in 1893, 79; in 1894, 97; in 1895, 84; in 1896, 92; and in 1897, 106 - a total for the fourteen years of 1,377 birds, or an average of over 98 each season. On Nov. 5, 1897, he killed seven ruffed grouse out of eight fired at and many a day he shot at and killed every grouse he would see. In a two days hunt in December, 1880, at the foot of Shade Mountain, near Adamsburg, Pa., he shot sixteen pheasants (ruffed grouse), twelve rabbits, four wild turkeys, and one gray squirrel. END OF PAGE 344 Mr. Sober says that most of his birds were killed on his own lands during his business tramps and that one of his best shots he ever made at ruffed grouse was as follows: He had been on the mountains chestnutting and was returning home with a bag of chestnuts on one shoulder, his gun with a basket hanging from the barrels slung over the same shoulder, with an ax in the other hand; while walking along a lumber road a ruffed grouse suddenly flushed from the side of the road. Mr. Sober dropped the ax, bag and basket in time to shoot the bird. He has never met any one who had the requisite endurance to stay with him an entire day in field or cover shooting when he traveled at the gait he usually takes while hunting alone. To still more fully set forth the wonderful ingenuity of our subject, it is proper here to speak of a simple device he invented and always carries with him on his hunting expeditions. It is an implement for eviscerating game birds, and whenever he kills one he immediately, or as soon after as he may have opportunity, uses the little instrument. It is very simple, merely a little twig, sharpened at one end, with a small spur near the pointed end. This he inserts under the tail of the bird, then gives a twist of the arm and the entrails are at once ejected. The larger part of the game he kills goes to the tables of his friends and the bedside of the sick. In hunting the ruffed grouse (which, by the way, he claims is the gamest bird in America) he uses pointer dogs trained by himself to such a marvelous degree of perfection that their intelligence seems almost human. He has no use for setters in that pursuit for, as he says, they are too headstrong and fast and not sufficiently cautious. About his guns we must also say something. The first one he used was, when he was a lad, an old "flint-lock" owned by an elder brother, and with that the boy killed squirrels and rabbits by the hundreds (game was plentiful in Pennsylvania then), and with it he downed quails, occasionally on the wing, as well. The first gun he owned he bought for $1.50 and it was a 28-inch, 20-gauge, single barrel, which he says was made from pot metal for all he knows; but with it he did great work on quails and pheasants (ruffed grouse) on the wing and he still has that old gun. Next he had another single 28-inch; 14-gauge gun made to order, with which he did fine shooting also. His third gun was a double barreled (30-inch barrels), 14-gauge, that weighed six pounds, and with it he defeated the best shots in Pennsylvania, at the trap in pigeon shooting. The next gun he bought was a Parker Brothers make. He still uses their guns, and says he will do so until he finds a better arm; for shooting game he uses a cylinder-bore, 28-inch barrels, of either 10-gauge or 12-gauge. In his "den," as he calls it, a room which he has appropriated to his exclusive use in his beautiful home in Lewisburg, there are suggestions, from the number and variety of guns, of a small arsenal. But after long experience with various makes of shotguns he has arrived at the conclusion that American-made arms are equally as good as and he believes superior to, those of foreign manufacture, for shooting in the field and cover.