Floyd's Northumberland County Genealogy Pages 782 thru 804

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	FRED C. LINDERMAN, one of the proprietors of the well known Antlers 
Cafe, in Shamokin, Pa., is of German origin, his ancestors first 
settling in Bucks county, Pa., upon coming to America.
	John Linderman, the great-grandfather of Fred C., was born in Bucks 
county, Pa., and removed to Berks county, near Douglassville, where he 
purchased a farm. In addition to farming he was a charcoal burner and 
also did weaving.  He died upon his farm in Berks county.  His children 
were:  Conrad; William; Jacob; John; Martha, and Frederick.
	Frederick Linderman, grandfather of Fred C., was born in Berks 
county, near Douglassville, and also followed charcoal burning.  He also 
learned the trade of ship carpenter, which he followed for some time. In 
1861 he removed to Schuylkill county, Pa., and in 1868 came to Shamokin, 
where he was employed in and around the mines.  His death occurred in 
Shamokin.  Mr. Linderman married Anna Rhoads, also of Berks county, and 
they had issue: Mary, who married Eli Mengel; Valina, who married Daniel 
Christ; William R.; John, of Shamokin; Martha A., who died young; 
George, deceased; Margaret, who died young; and Isaac of Shamokin, 
Pennsylvania.
	William R. Linderman, father of Fred C., was born at Pine Grove, 
Schuylkill Co., Pa., Sept. 16, 1845.  At the early age of twelve he 
began to work as a boatman on the canal and he followed this work until 
he enlisted in the Civil war, in the spring of 1862, in Company F, 52d 
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.  He saw active service in the Army of 
the Potomac was twice wounded, was taken prisoner at Charleston, S. C., 
and was taken to Andersonville prison, where he was held for seven 
months; he was exchanged in February, 1864, at which time he returned 
home on a furlough.  Later he joined his company and regiment and 
remained in service until the close of the war, returning home in July, 
1865, to Schuylkill Haven, Pa. He followed boating till the fall of 
1868, at which time he came to Shamokin, and was employed for three 
years in the mines. He then spent twenty years with the Pennsylvania 
Railway Company, in different positions. He is now employed at the 
Hickory Swamp colliery, at outside work. Mr. Linderman was commander of 
Lincoln Post, G.A.R., in 1895. He married Phoebe Reed, daughter of Moses 
and Maria (Kantner) Heed, and they had children as follows: Minnie H., 
who married John Schmick; Martha A., who is at home; Fred C.; Clarence 
H. and Herbert W., twins; Frank; Leona, who married Ray Vought, of 
Shamokin; and Harry B.
	Fred C. Linderman, son of William B., was born in Shamokin May 22, 
1873.  He attended the local schools of Shamokin and when quite young 
began work as a slate picker at the Green Ridge colliery.  This he 
followed until he was 
	
	END OF PAGE 782
	
fifteen years of age, at which time he became 
employed at other work around the collieries, continuing in various 
positions until he reached the age of twenty-two.  He then became a 
lineman for the Pennsylvania Valley Telephone Company (now the 
Pennsylvania Telephone Company), by whom he was employed for about four 
years. He next worked for the Bell Telephone Company for one year, when 
he became a clerk for Lafayette Trometter, in the hotel business, 
remaining with him six and a half years.  In 1906, in company with 
Joseph P. Schmidt, he bought out Mr. Trometter's business, which is 
located at the corner of Washington and Independence streets, in the 
Elks building, and the place is now known as the Antlers Cafe. It is up-
to-date in all things, being among the leading places of its kind in the 
community.
	On March 20, 1901, Mr. Linderman married Maggie R Thompson, of 
Danville, Pa., daughter of John Thompson, and they have one son, John H.  
Socially he is a member of the local lodge of Elks (No. 355), the Order 
of Eagles and the Sons of Veterans.

	JOHN H. RABUCK, stonemason and farmer of Upper Mahanoy township, 
Northumberland county, was born Sept. 27, 1862, in Washington township, 
this county, son of Harrison W. and Eliza (Paul) Rabuck. The family 
name, usually spelled Rebuck, has been perpetuated in this region in the 
post office Rebuck, named after a member of this well known family, 
which is especially numerous in Washington township and the surrounding 
territory.
	According to tradition the first ancestor of the family in this 
country was from the German Palatinate and came to America to avoid 
service in the war then being waged in his native land.  The older 
members of the family say that his name was Schaffer, but that he 
assumed the name Rebuck to prevent his being traced and taken back to 
the Fatherland, where punishment for such an offense as his was severe. 
This pioneer ancestor was known in the New World by the name John Adam 
Rebuck.  He first located in Berks county, whence he came to 
Northumberland county, settling in Jackson township, in that part now 
embraced in Washington township. There is the old-established business 
stand, now for many years conducted and owned by the Kehres family, 
where the post office and hamlet of Rebuck are located. The hamlet 
contains about a dozen dwellings. The pioneer was a farmer. Among his 
children were Valentine, John Adam, Jr., and Michael.  Of these, 
Valentine Rebuck in 1778 was among the taxables of Mahanoy township, 
which then included considerable territory in the lower end of the 
county. 
	Michael Rebuck, son of John Adam, the pioneer, was born July 14, 
1769, and died Oct. 7, 1852, when over eighty-three years of age.  He 
lived on Greenbrier creek, in Washington township, and was an extensive 
farmer, following agricultural pursuits all his life.  He had a tract of 
162 acres which is still in the family name, being now owned by his 
grandson, John Rebuck.  He built the barn still standing on that 
property, and also a small dwelling house. He was a Reformed member of 
the Himmel Church. His wife, Catharine (Reis), born Aug. 21, 1775, died 
Nov. 7, 1858. Their children were: Bevvy, who married Peter Ferster; and 
Godfried, called "Big Godfried." 
	Godfried Rebuck, Son of Michael, was born July 28, 1798, and died 
May 29, 1875. He was a tall heavy man, with dark hair, was a farmer by 
occupation, and owned much land, living on the Greenbrier homestead of 
the Rebuck family. He and his family worshipped with the Reformed 
congregation at the Himmel Church, and they are buried there.  His wife, 
Catharine (Wagner), born March 26, 1801, died June 30, 1860. They had 
children as follows: Salome married John Schreffler; Daniel W. married 
Lydia Delp; Catharine married Harry Rebuck; Hannah married John Wentzel; 
Polly married Peter Snyder and (second) Henry Herb; Lydia married Philip 
Reitz; Harrison W. is mentioned below; Jacob, born in 1837, died 
unmarried; John, born in 1839 died unmarried, in 1861; Sarah married 
John Kieffer and (second) Jacob Reber.  There were three Godfried 
Rebucks, known as "Big Godfried," "Little Godfried" and "Red Godfried." 
The latter, Godfried B. Rebuck, kept the store and post office at 
Rebuck.
	Harrison W. Rebuck, son of Godfried, was born July 12, 1834, and 
was a farmer during his active years.  He moved from Washington township 
to Eldred township, Schuylkill county, thence to Jordan township, this 
county, and then to Mifflin township, Dauphin Co., Pa., in 1881 
returning thence to Northumberland county and locating in Jordan 
township again. From there he returned to Dauphin county, settling near 
Gratztown, in Lykens township. He now lives at Herndon, Pa., with his 
son J. Wilson Rebuck. During the Civil war he was in the Union service 
as a member of Company K, 172d Regiment for nine months. He married 
Elizabeth Paul, who died in September, 1904, in her seventy-second year, 
and they had children: John H., James, Elmira L., Augustus, J., Wilson 
and Reilly. 
	John H. Rabuck attended the common schools of Jordan township and 
later those of Mifflin township, Dauphin county.  But he was obliged to 
begin work early, leaving school during the panic of 1873 and beginning 
to learn the trade of stone mason. As the hard times did not seem to 
lessen in severity be left Dauphin county, where his parents were then 
living, for a time.  
	
	END OF PAGE 783 
	
	In 1888 he first came to the farm where he now lives, in Upper 
Mahanoy township, a tract of sixty-six acres which formerly belonged to 
Andrew Snyder, who built the present house there. In the earlier days it 
was owned by Heinrich Schadel, whose son William succeeded him, and 
during William Schadel's ownership of the place all the buildings on the 
premises were destroyed by fire. Mr. Rabuck and his father built the 
barn. John H. Rabuck has owned this farm since 1904.  He is a thrifty 
and successful farmer, and he has become one of the substantial and. 
respected citizens of his neighborhood, where he is very popular, being 
a man of intelligence and well read, with an interesting personality 
which draws many friends to him. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., 
belonging to Lodge No. 637, of Klingerstown, and in religion is a 
Lutheran; holding membership in the Hebe Church. Politically he is 
identified with the Republican party. Mr. Rabuck's travels and varied 
experiences have given him a broad out look on affairs affecting the 
general welfare, in which he is much interested. He retains many traits 
developed during his roving life, and he is one of the best climbers 
anywhere in his section.
	Elias F. Rebuck; a farmer in Upper Mahanoy township, was born there 
Feb. 23, 1842, son of Samuel Rebuck and grandson of John Rebuck. The 
latter was a farmer in the same township, owning what is now the 
property of David Paul. He is buried at the Himmel Church. By his first 
wife, Catharine Brosius; he had seven children: Samuel, David, 
Catharine, Godlieb, Gabriel, Polly and John. His second marriage was to 
Catharine Thomas, by whom he. had three children, Elias, Daniel and 
Anna. By his third wife, Elizabeth (Druckenmiller), there were no 
children. His three wives are buried at the Himmel Church.
	Samuel Rebuck, son of John, was born June 17, 1810, and died March 
30, 1882, where his son Elias now lives. He is buried at the Salem 
Church, of which he was a Reformed member, and served as deacon and 
elder of his congregation.  He followed farming during his active years 
where David S. Paul now lives, in Upper Mahanoy township, and in his 
earlier life also engaged in shoemaking.  He owned a tract of land at 
Seven Points. He was a public-spirited man, and served his township as 
school director and supervisor.  His wife, whose maiden name was 
Brosius, was born March 5, 1809, and died Feb. 23, 1894. To them were 
born children as follows: Rosina married William Heim; Lydia married 
Elias Ochs; Mary died unmarried; John married Elizabeth Ossman; Samuel 
married Lovina Kehres; Elias F. is mentioned below; Polly married Daniel 
Schlegel; Kate married Nathan Steely; Amelia married William Kutz. 
	Elias F. Rebuck had limited advantages for securing an education in 
the subscription schools conducted in the vicinity of his early home. He 
was reared to farm life, and began farming for himself in the spring of 
1877 at the place where he has since continued to reside, a farm of 114 
acres in Upper Mahanoy township, originally an Orendorf homestead, later 
owned by John Eisenhart, Heinrich Fetter and Samuel Rebuck, 
successively, before it passed into the present ownership. A fine frame 
dwelling Mr. Rebuck erected in 1906 replaced an old log house which had 
stood for over one hundred years. 
	In 1879 Mr. Rebuck married Sarah Snyder, daughter of Levi Snyder, 
now the oldest resident of Upper Mahanoy township, and they have had 
children as follows: Meda C. (Mrs. John Baum), Mary A., Samuel Henry, 
Rosa C., Katie C., Charles Elias and Lulu E.  Mr. Rebuck is a member of 
the Salem (Herb) Church, of which he was an elder for six years; his 
wife belongs to the Lutheran congregation of that church.  Politically 
Mr. Rebuck is a Democrat. 

	BERTRAM GALBRAITH, business man of Milton and present tax receiver 
for that borough, is a native of that place and a member of the third 
generation of Galbraiths to live there. The members of this family have 
borne high reputation for integrity and ability. in the conduct of all 
their enterprises, and in his active and many-sided life he has proved a 
typical representative of the name he bears.
	The family of Galbraith has long been established in America, and 
in the old country dates back to the remote antiquity of Scotland.  The 
name is derived from the Celtic and originally belonged to the Lennox in 
that country. The Galbraith chiefs had their residence in the parish of 
Baldernoch. The Galbraiths of the isle of Ghiga descended from those of 
Baldernoch, as may be traced in the ancient records, having fled thither 
with Lord James Stewart, youngest son of Murdoch, Duke of Albany, from 
the Lennox, after burning Dumbarton, in the reign of James I. of 
Scotland. They continued to hold that island until after 1500.  The 
following lines from the Scotch show the estimate in which the name was 
held: 
	Galbraiths from the Red Tower,
	Noblest of Scottish surnames.

There is now a small island in Scotland called "Inch (Island) 
Galbraith."  Upon it are many ruins of castles and villages, the 
strongholds built by the clan when war was the rule.
	When Hon. W. A. Galbraith, of Erie, Pa., was traveling in Scotland, 
hearing that a family by the same name lived close to where he stopped, 
he went to call on them. He had with him a coat of arms preserved by the 
family in America, which he showed them, and they immediately produced 
	
	END OF PAGE 784 
	
a precise counterpart, the arms showing three bears heads, muzzled, on a 
shield surmounted by a knight's helmet and crest with the motto, which, 
translated, is, "Stronger from opposition." Thus the origin of the 
family is established without doubt.
	James Galbraith, the first of the line under consideration to 
settle in America, was born in 1650 in the North of Ireland, son of John 
Galbraith, and emigrated in 1718 with his family, settling in Donegal, 
Lancaster Co., Pa. He was a man of influence and prominence in his day, 
and was among the founders of the old Derry Church, in what is now 
Dauphin county, Pa., near Derry station, and is buried in the old 
graveyard of that church. He died Aug. 23, 1744. The first regular 
pastor of this church, Rev. William Bertram, died May 2, 1746, and is 
buried near the church.  Rebecca (Chambers), wife of James Galbraith, 
was a daughter of Arthur Chambers, who with the Allen, Allison, 
Armstrong, Boyd, Berryhill, Barnet, Bell, Black, Campbell, Clark, 
Carother, Cram, Carson, Calhoun, Craig, Caldwell, Cunningham, Cochran, 
Dixon, Dickey, Dougherty, Elder, Espy, Foster, Ferguson, Gilmore, Goven, 
Gray, Graham, Galbraith, Henderson, Hays, Hampton, Jones, Johnson, 
Kelley, Laird, McCormick, McClure, MeNair, McKeehan, Mitchel, Murray, 
McKee, McCreight, McDonald, McArthur, McMurriay, McKnight, Montgomery, 
Ramsey, Rogers, Rutherford, Reed, Sloan, Sterrett, Snedgrass, Strain, 
Stewart, Smith, Simpson, Sturgeon, Todd, Wilson, Wallace and McMahan 
families settled in the district just referred to between 1720 and 1730. 
Five children were born to James and Rebecca (Chambers) Galbraith, viz.: 
John, Andrew, James, Jr., Elenor (married Patrick McKinley) and Rebecca 
(married a Stewart).
	John Galbraith, son of James, born in 1690, resided where the Mount 
Joy and Marietta turnpikes cross Donegal run; he owned a large tract of 
land. He was elected sheriff of Lancaster county in 1731 and was a 
prominent man in his locality. He died in 1754. In 1757 Janet, his 
widow, and James Galbraith, sold the mill which he built to John Baley.
	Andrew Galbraith, son of James, born in 1692, lived near his 
brother John; his home being on the Little Chicques creek. When 
Lancaster county was organized he was appointed the first coroner and he 
and his brother John were members of the first jury drawn. In 1730 he 
was appointed one of the justices of the peace and of the Common Pleas 
court, which position he filled with honor until 1745. In 1732 he was 
elected a member of the Assembly in a spirited contest, in which his 
wife took an active part.  Mounting her mare "Nelly" she rode around 
among the Scotch-Irish who followed her to Lancaster, to the polls, 
where she addressed them most effectually. He was afterward reelected 
without opposition, serving several terms in succession.
	James Galbraith, Jr., was born in the North of Ireland in 1703, and 
died June 11, 1785, in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county; he is 
buried in the Derry graveyard. He took up a tract of land in what is now 
Derry township, Dauphin county, on Spring creek, not far from the Church 
Oleon, the warrant therefore being granted him March 13, 1737. The early 
Provincial records of Pennsylvania speak frequently of him, for he was 
prominent in military circles and served in 1742-43 as sheriff of 
Lancaster county, where he was also justice of the peace for many years. 
He took an active part in the French and Indian war, serving as an 
officer from 1755 to 1763, and during the Revolutionary war, in which 
all his sons served, he was appointed lieutenant for Cumberland county, 
being too old for active duty in the field; his long experience as an 
officer gave him considerable prestige and authority, and he was 
frequently consulted during the Revolution on matters pertaining to the 
prosecution of that war.
	On April 6, 1734, James Galbraith married, in Christ Church, 
Philadelphia, Elizabeth Bertram, who was born in 1714 in the North of 
Ireland, only daughter of Rev. William and Elizabeth (Gillispie) 
Bertram. Mrs. Galbraith died Feb. 2, 1799, in Derry township, Dauphin 
county, the mother of the following children: William, Bertram, Robert, 
Doreas, Elizabeth, Thomas, John and Ann.  Robert Galbraith's daughter 
Rebecca married Ephraim Blain, commissary general of purchases during 
the Revolutionary war, who was the grandfather of the late James G. 
Blame.
	Bertram Galbraith, second son of James Galbraith, Jr., was first 
lieutenant in Lancaster county during the Revolution, doing excellent 
service for his country in that capacity. By his first wife, a daughter 
of Josiah Strong, of Donegal, he had nine children, the eldest son being 
Josiah, great-grandfather of the present Bertram Galbraith, of Milton. 
Of the others, Harriet married a Hoffman and died at Williamsport, Pa.; 
Mary Ann married Charles Maus, of Mausdale, Montour Co., Pa. Bertram 
Galbraith's second marriage was to Henrietta Huling, of Benvenue, 
Dauphin Co., Pa., and they had two children: Sarah, who married Samuel 
Morris, of Philadelphia, and Bertram Gillespie, who married Eliza Fagar 
Bell, of Harrisburg.
	Josiah Galbraith, son of Bertram, married and had two sons, one of 
whom was Bertram, grandfather of Bertram Galbraith, of Milton.  Josiah 
Galbraith settled in Clinton county, Iowa, became wealthy, and died 
there, many of his descendants still residing in that section, all of 
his family but Bertram going out to Iowa at an early day. 
	Bertram Galbraith, son of Josiah, was the grand-father of the 
present Bertram Galbraith of 
	
	END OF PAGE 785
	
Milton, Northumberland County. He was born in 1808 in Lancaster county, 
near the Dauphin county line, and when a young man came to 
Northumberland county, being the founder of the family in this locality. 
He settled at Milton, where he passed the remainder of his days. A man 
of large build, six feet, two inches in his stocking feet and weighing 
two hundred pounds, he had a forceful personality, but he was as well 
known for his intelligence and strong character as he was for his 
physical make-up. He was a distiller by trade, but did not follow that 
occupation long, being for many years the owner of three boats on the 
west branch of the canal, and also engaging in other business and 
serving in public office.  He was in the insurance business at Milton 
for many years. He served as constable and tax collector, and was at one 
time a candidate for sheriff of the county. In political sentiment he 
was a Whig.  There were few better known residents of the county in his 
day. He died Sept. 26, 1862, aged fifty-four years, fifteen days, and is 
buried at Milton.
	Mr. Galbraith's first marriage was to Elizabeth Blue, who was born 
in 1812, sister of Sheriff Frederick Blue, of Montour county.  She died 
Oct. 30, 1851, aged thirty-nine years, two months, leaving four 
children: Huling, who served in the Civil war in the 7th Pennsylvania 
Cavalry, and died unmarried (he is buried at Milton, Pa.); Mary Ellen, 
deceased, who married James B. Miller, and resided in Milton; Emma J., 
who married Albert Cooper, of Philadelphia; and William B.  For his 
second wife Mr. Galbraith married his cousin, Mary Rosetta Galbraith, 
who was born Dec. 16, 1824, daughter of James Galbraith, who settled at 
Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa. By this union there were three 
children: Laura, widow of Harry B. Geissinger, who was employed in the 
custom house at Philadelphia (he died in May, 1910); Horace, who died 
young; and Bertram S., who lives at Milton, Pa. The mother died Oct. 9, 
1903.
	William B. Galbraith, son of Bertram and Elizabeth (Blue) 
Galbraith; was born in Milton Sept. 19, 1836, on Lower Market street, 
directly opposite the house in which he resided from 1893 to 1909. He 
attended the public schools and Milton Academy, which in those days was 
taught by Rev. P. T. Bucher, but he began work early, being for three 
years in the employ of W. F. Nagle, for many years the town's leading  
merchant, whose store was on the site now occupied by the "Bartram" 
apartment building (Mr. Galbraith lived in the "Bartram" from 1909 until 
his death). He was still a boy when he took charge of his father's 
boating interests on the canal, along the west branch of the 
Susquehanna.  He continued in this line for a number of years, running 
the business on his own account after his father died, until the fall of 
1866. In 1878 he commenced the insurance business, to which he ever 
afterward gave the greater part of his attention.  He first represented 
the Watertown Company of New York, which was later merged into the Sun 
Company, and he was one of the first agents in this country for the Sun 
Insurance Office, of London. From 1900 Mr. Galbraith had his son Bertram 
as partner in this business, the firm name being William B. Galbraith & 
Son.  He built up a most profitable patronage, which he handled with 
skill and to the satisfaction of his patrons, who extended over a wide 
radius in this section of the county.
	On Jan. 1, 1868, Mr. Galbraith married Mary Ann Hause, daughter of 
George and Mary (Keefer) Hause, and they had five children: Bertram, a 
daughter that died in infancy, Maude, Albert C. (a traveling salesman 
and partner in firm of Bertram Galbraith & Bro.), and Blanch (born in 
1874, who died in 1881). Mr. Galbraith was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church.  His death occurred May 22, 1911, and he was buried in Harmony 
cemetery.
	Bertram Galbraith, eldest son of William B. Galbraith, was born 
Oct. 25, 1864, in Milton, and there received his education in the public 
schools. Shortly after the great fire of 1880 he became a messenger for 
the American Union Telegraph Company, this company later becoming the 
Western Union.  When eighteen years old he commenced business with 
Charles E. Brownell, of Williamsport, their first location being in the 
Cadwallader building, on Broadway. They did business under the name of 
Brownell & Galbraith, and dealt in fruits. They were among the pioneers 
in the daily paper line, the first paper they handled being the 
Philadelphia Record, the second the Williamsport Breakfast Table, and 
gradually they came to handle almost all the leading Philadelphia and 
New York papers, Mr. Galbraith still dealing in this line.  In April, 
1881, Mr. Galbraith accepted the position of night operator at the 
telephone exchange, where he remained for nearly three years, meantime 
also continuing his business and attending high school, and he was very 
well known to his many patrons as Milton's young news agent and rising 
business man.  In 1882 Brownell & Galbraith put up a frame building at 
the corner of Front street and Broadway, where they established their 
business, and shortly after their removal to that location Mr. Brownell 
retired from the association, Mr. Galbraith continuing the business 
alone with the success which has attended all his efforts until 1903, 
when his brother became a partner in the firm, which is now Bertram 
Galbraith & Bro. For many years he was located at the corner of Broadway 
and Front street, on leased ground. When the rent, however, was 
increased ten dollars per month, being raised from twenty-five to 
thirty-five dollars, he would not pay it, and to secure another business 
location 
	
	END OF PAGE 786
	
he purchased the "Globe  Hotel" Property, Corner of Broadway and Arch 
streets.  He moved his frame Structure to the new location bodily 
(leaving the old stand March 22, 1909), without taking any of his goods 
out doing business all the time his building was on the move, and had 
electric lights every night. On each end of the building was a sign, 
"It's cheaper to move than pay the rent." It was located next to his 
apartment house, the "Bartram." He improved both the store and the 
stock, which is now comprehensive, including a fine line of cigars and 
tobacco, sporting goods, newspapers and supplies, for which he holds a 
steady demand. As stated, Mr. Galbraith purchased the valuable property 
at the Corner of Arch and Broadway owned for many years by the Fonda 
estate and occupied by the "Globe Hotel" and he has improved the place 
until it is now one of the best appointed apartment houses of its size 
in Northumberland county. In addition to his other enterprises, Mr. 
Galbraith has been interested in the insurance business for the past ten 
years, having been in partnership with his father, as junior member of 
the firm of William B. Galbraith & Son, now W. B. Galbraith's Sons.
	In 1906 Mr. Galbraith was elected tax receiver of the borough of 
Milton, and was reelected in 1909, without opposition, an honor which is 
sufficient comment on the value of his services and the satisfaction 
they have given to his fellow citizens generally.  He is a Republican in 
political sentiment.
	Mr. Galbraith is widely known socially. He was the first dealer in 
bicycles in this section and became an expert rider, winning many prizes 
in local contests, and he was a well known long distance rider when 
bicycling was at its height, the newspapers having made many of his 
trips famous. He was a member of the old Century Wheelmen of 
Philadelphia.  Athletics generally have always claimed his interest. He 
was the owner and manager of the Milton Base Ball Club from 1902 to 
1904, and in 1905, with a few other citizens of Milton, formed an 
association known as the Milton Athletic Association, which acquired its 
base-ball park through Mr. Galbraith's efforts, it being presented to 
the team. Mr. Galbraith holds membership in Milton Lodge, No. 913, 
B.P.O. Elks (charter member), Lodge No. 84., I.O.O.F.,  the F.O.E., 
Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Arcanum. He attends the Presbyterian 
Church. His numerous relations, social, business, fraternal, etc., make 
him a valued correspondent for various newspapers, including several of 
the leading Philadelphia papers. He makes his home with his parents. 

	REITZ. This is a name now numerously represented in Washington, 
Little Mahanoy and Lower Augusta townships, as well as in various other 
portions of Northumberland county, founded in that section in the middle 
of the eighteenth century by one George Reitz, who settled in Washington 
township among the earliest pioneers of that region.  The members of the 
family from that time to the present have been ranked among the 
substantial, respected, public-spirited and altogether desirable 
citizens of this favored community, prospering by industry, supporting 
the churches and all enterprises which have for their object the 
uplifting of their fellow men and the advancement of the general 
welfare, and in their individual lives upholding the best traditions of 
their forefathers who helped to found the best institutions of this part 
of Pennsylvania.
	George Reitz, the pioneer of this family in Northumberland county, 
settled in Washington township among its earliest residents and was a 
large landowner there, his original tract including the land now 
embraced in the farms of Luther Rebuck, William Rebuck, Harvey 
Rothermel, Charles B. Hetrich and A. C. Adams. He is buried in an 
unmarked grave near a fence, in the orchard on the farm now owned by C. 
B. Hetrich. Among his children were sons Andraes and Michael,
	Andraes (Andrew) Reitz, son of George, was born at Swabian Creek, 
in Washington township, Jan. 1, 1755, and there passed his life, owning 
and occupying the original homestead of his father, the place where 
George Reitz lived, died and found his resting place.  He followed 
farming. He married Maria Margaretha Brosius, born May 17, 1761, who 
died Oct. 20, 1826, and his death occurred March 16, 1837. They are 
buried at Himmel's Church. Among their children were: George, Jacob, 
Johan Nicholas, Philip, John, Margaret (married Daniel Hoch), Lydia 
(married Michael Smith), Susan (married George Tryon or Treon), and two 
other daughters whose names are not given.
	Philip Reitz, son of Andraes, was born Feb. 4, 1805, in Washington 
township, and died Sept. 1, 1875. He owned and lived upon the farm which 
is now the property of Cornelius Adams, and there all his children were 
born and reared and there his death occurred. He married Anna Wagner, 
who was born Oct. 5, 1807, and died Feb. 22, 1866. They are buried at 
Himmel's Church, of which church both were Lutheran members. Their 
children were as follows: Daniel lived and died at Tower City, 
Schuylkill county; Jacob lived and died at Watsontown, this county; 
Harrison is mentioned below; Peter was killed while serving in the Civil 
war, at the fall of Richmond; Andrew lives in Oklahoma; Elias died 
young; Eliza married Samuel Reitz; Mary married Frank Rebuck; Susan 
married Emanuel Conrad; Lydia died young.
	Harrison Reitz, son of Philip, was born Jan. 18, 1835, in Swabian 
Creek, and lived in his native 
	
	END OF PAGE 787 
	
township until after his marriage, moving across the Mahanoy mountain 
into Lower Augusta township when he was about thirty-five years old. 
Here he has since made his home, following farming. He owns two tracts 
in the township, one of thirty-seven acres (upon which he resides) and 
one of eighteen acres, with a substantial set of buildings upon his home 
tract.  Mr. Reitz is a Democrat and has served his township two years as 
supervisor.  In religion he is a Lutheran, and he has taken his share of 
the church work, having served as deacon, elder and trustee.
	In 1867 Mr. Reitz married Sarah Reitz, daughter of Henry Reitz and 
his second wife, Polly (Dunkelberger), and they became the parents of 
seven children, viz.:  Edward died in infancy; Jane is the widow of 
Wilson Raker; Joseph is unmarried; Henry I. is mentioned below; Abia 
married Herman Drumheller; one son died in infancy; William, unmarried, 
lives with his parents.
	HENRY I. REITZ, who is now engaged in farming in Lower Augusta 
township, was born in that township May 11, 1875, and received his 
education in the local public schools and at Selinsgrove Academy, which 
he attended during several spring terms.  He received his first license 
to teach in Northumberland county from Prof. Ira Shipman, his second 
from Benjamin Apple, and began his work as teacher at Malick's 
schoolhouse, in Washington township. He taught in all five terms, one in 
Washington township, two in Upper Mahanoy and two in Little Mahanoy. 
From 1900 to 1910 Mr. Reitz was employed in the silk mill at Sunbury, in 
the spring of 1910 settling on the farm in Lower Augusta township which 
he had purchased in 1906. This tract of sixty-seven acres was formerly 
the homestead of Samuel Renn, whose father, Jacob Renn, owned it first.  
Mr. Reitz intends to devote his attention principally to farming, and if 
his former success is any indication of what his future may be he will 
soon be ranked among the intelligent agriculturists of his locality. The 
year of his location in this district -1910- he was appointed a justice 
of the peace. He is a Democrat in politics
	On Sept. 5, 1897, Mr. Reitz married Allie Raker, daughter of Daniel 
and Annie (Dornsife) Raker, of Little Mahanoy township, and they have 
one son, Clyde Emerson.  The family are active in church life as members 
of St. Elias Lutheran Church in Lower Augusta township.
	Michael Reitz, the other son of George Reitz (the pioneer in 
Northumberland county of this name) mentioned, was born in January, 
1757, and owned a place of 125 acres in Washington township (where 
Luther Rebuck now lives) where he died Dec. 17, 1825.  His wife, whose 
maiden name was Elizabeth Schnock, was a native of Berks county, Pa., 
born about 1766, and made the trip to Northumberland county on 
horseback.  She died Dec. 18, 1853, and she and her husband are buried 
at Himmel's Church, of which they were pioneer members, belonging to the 
Lutheran congregation. All the family were active in the official work 
of this church, in which Michael Reitz held all the offices, and in 
1818, when the old stone church was erected, he acted as building 
master.  He was an all-around useful and prominent member of his 
community, and respected accordingly.  His children were: Michael lived 
in Jackson (now Washington) township; George settled at Red Bank, Pa.; 
John settled at Red Bank, Pa.; Jonas lived in Washington township (where 
William Rebuck now lives); William settled at Red Bank, Pa.; Peter lived 
at Richfield, Pa.; Daniel is mentioned later; Bevvy married Johan Georg 
Reed; Christina married Michael Hetrich.
	(Johann) Michael Reitz, son of Michael, was born Aug. 12, 1785, in 
Washington township, and died July 28, 1874. He married Magdalena Eister 
(also spelled Eyster and Oyster), who was born Feb. 27, 1788, a member 
of an early family of the Mahantango valley, and died Oct. 12, 1846. 
They owned and lived upon the farm which is now the property of Harvey 
Rothermel (who has a tract of about ninety-eight acres), and Michael 
Reitz built the dwelling which still stands on this place. Like the 
other members of the family he and his wife worshipped at Himmel's 
Church, being members of the Lutheran congregation, which be served in 
an official capacity. Their children were: Peter, who was a farmer in 
what is now Rockefeller township; Abraham, who lived in Little Mahanoy 
township; Christiana, who married Michael Hoch, after whose death she 
moved with her daughter Sarah, wife of Killian Snyder, and family to 
Missouri, during the seventies; David, who lived in Washington township; 
Leonard, who lived in Washington township; and Jonas.
	Daniel Reitz, son of Michael and brother of Michael recorded in the 
above paragraph, was born Aug. 11, 1804, in Washington township, on the 
farm now owned by Luther Rebuck, which was the homestead of his father. 
He was a lifelong farmer, held township office, and was a useful and 
respected man of his neighborhood. He and his family were Lutheran 
members of Himmel's Church, in the graveyard of which many generations 
of the Reitz family are buried, and there he and his wife rest. He died 
Jan. 9, 1886, and his wife Susanna (Borrell spelled "Boorel" on the 
tombstone), born June 26, 1810, died Jan. 12, 1881. They had fourteen 
children: Mary married Elias Rebuck; Jonas married Ellemina Snyder; 
Samuel married Eliza Reitz; Catharine married (first) Godfried Rebuck 
and (second) Andrew Rebuck; Christiana  died young; John married Polly 
Herb; Susanna  died young; Salome married Milton Drumheller; one son 
died in infancy; Elizabeth married Jared 
	
	END OF PAGE 788 
	
Snyder; Michael married Alice Raker; Harriet died in infancy; Leonard 
married Ellemina Shaffer; Daniel married Mary Billman.
	Leonard Reitz, son of Michael and Magdalena (Eister), was born Oct. 
18, 1822, on his father's farm in Washington township, and was a 
lifelong farmer there. He worked for his father until he was several 
years past his majority, and then purchased the homestead, which he 
farmed for several years before he sold it and purchased the property 
now owned by his son Emanuel. This tract consists of three parts, one of 
thirty-three acres, one of thirty-five acres and one of fifteen acres, 
and there is a fourth tract of fifty acres of woodland, making a total 
of 133 acres. Leonard Reitz died May 6, 1903, at the advanced age of 
eighty years, and during his long life he was not only a thrifty farmer 
but also an active citizen of his township, serving many years as 
supervisor and as deacon, elder and trustee of Himmel's Church, of which 
he was a Lutheran member. He was a Democrat in political sentiment. To 
him and his wife Susanna, who was a daughter of John Snyder and his wife 
(who was a Schollenberger), were born six children:  One son that died 
in infancy; Lydia, who married John Brosius; Emanuel; one daughter that 
died in infancy; John, of Washington township; and Edward, of Washington 
township.
	EMANUEL REITZ, son of Leonard, was born Jan. 11, 1860, in, 
Washington township, attended the local district schools and spent his 
youthful days on the home place, working for his parents until he was 
twenty one. After he attained his majority he learned the carpenter's 
trade, which he followed for fifteen years, in 1896 settling down to 
farming upon the place where he, now lives, in his native township. He 
takes his produce to Shamokin. Mr. Reitz is a thoroughly progressive 
farmer and interested in the public affairs of his locality as well as 
in furthering his own prosperity. For twelve years he served as auditor 
of his township, elected to that office on the Democratic ticket. He is 
well informed on the early history of his family.
	On Jan. 9, 1896, Mr. Reitz married Jane Drumheller, daughter of 
Milton and Salome (Reitz) Drumheller, and they have become the parents 
of five children: One daughter that died in infancy; Harry Milton; Katie 
Susanna and Annie Salome, twins; and Walter Daniel.
	Jonas Reitz, son of Michael and Magdalena (Eister), was born June 
30, 1825, in Washington township, on his father's homestead, and died 
April 5, 1902, at Greenbrier, to which place he had moved upon his 
retirement from active life. He long owned and operated a tannery upon 
the farm now owned by Frank Adam, and was a thrifty and prosperous man, 
standing high among his fellow citizens for his upright and 
conscientious walk in life.  He married Luzetta Smith, daughter of 
Michael Smith, and she preceded him to the grave, dying Aug. 13, 1874, 
aged fifty-one years, five months, fifteen days. They are buried at 
Himmel's Church, which Mr. Reitz served as deacon. Their family 
consisted of three children: Elizabeth married D. S. Reitz and they 
made their home at White Church, Wyandotte Co., Kans.; Emma married 
Tobias Snyder and they are prosperous farming people of Upper Mahanoy 
township; James S. married Sarah Snyder.
	JAMES S. REITZ, son of Jonas, merchant and postmaster at 
Greenbrier, Northumberland county, was born June 10, 1860, in Washington 
township, was educated in the public schools there and spent his boyhood 
and youth assisting his father about the tannery. In the spring of 1874 
he began farming in Washington township, following that pursuit for 
seventeen years in his native locality, for two years cultivating his 
grandfather's homestead and for fifteen years living on the farm now 
owned by Lewis Snyder in Upper Mahanoy township. In 1902 he engaged in 
the mercantile business at Greenbrier, succeeding S. S. Smith, and he 
has since operated his general store and also a weekly huckster route to 
Shamokin, where he markets his produce. This mercantile stand is one of 
the oldest established in the lower section of the county, and under Mr. 
Reitz's management its patronage has grown steadily, his affability and 
obliging disposition winning him customers and friends from near and 
far. He has been postmaster since 1902.  For six years he served as 
school director of Upper Mahanoy township, and for three years as 
assessor of the same township, and he has long been prominent in the 
local activities of the Democratic party, having served as delegate to 
various county conventions. He and his family are Lutheran members of 
Himmel's Church, which he has served as deacon and trustee. During the 
residence of the family in Upper Mahanoy township he was for fifteen 
years connected with St. John's Church, there, and served as deacon, 
taking part in the various enterprises and movements of the church.  In 
fact, he has been thoroughly identified with all the phases of the life 
of the community as a citizen who is willing to give of his time and 
effort for the general good.
	In 1880 Mr. Reitz married Sarah Snyder daughter of John and Judith 
(Diehl) Snyder, of Upper Mahanoy township, and five children have been 
born to them: Alice, wife of Jesse E. Geist; John H., who married Minnie 
A. Falck; Charles E., as assistant postmaster at Greenbrier and also his 
father's assistant in the mercantile business; James W.; and Flossie J.
	Peter Reitz, son of Michael and Magdalena (Eister), was the 
grandfather of Daniel N. Reitz of lower Augusta township. He was a 
native of Schwaban Creek, Washington township, spent his 
	
	END OF PAGE 789
	
earlier manhood in Upper Mahanoy township, and later moved to Richfield, 
Snyder county, where he died and is buried. He owned a farm and devoted 
himself to agriculture. Like the family generally, he was a Lutheran in 
religious faith. Mr. Reitz was twice married, and by his first wife had 
children as follows: William; Mrs. William Billig, of Forreston, Ogle 
Co., Ill.; Ellen, wife of Daniel Crelig (they moved out to Ohio by 
wagon, and still live in that State); Mrs. Michael Schollenberger, who 
lived in Snyder county; Mrs. Jacob Bohner, of Uniontown; Mrs. Isaac 
Fenstermacher, of Georgetown; Benneville, of Ohio; and Peter M. To the 
second marriage were born four children: Elias, late of Sunbury; Mrs. 
Solomon Banner, of Snyder county; Tobias, of Adamsburg, Pa.; and Mrs. 
Simon Schollenberger, late of Snyder county, Pa.  All this family were 
born at Swabian Creek.
	Peter M. Reitz, son of Peter, learned the trade of miller in the 
original old log mill at Sunbury, this county, commencing that work when 
he was sixteen and following it until he was about thirty eight years 
old. During all this time he was at Sunbury, operating what is now known 
as the Haas mill, one of the early mills of the section. Then he took to 
farming, owning. a place of 100 acres in Rockefeller township, where he 
was a substantial and respected citizen, deacon, elder and trustee of 
the Lutheran Church there. He is buried at Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran 
Church, known as the Wolfs Cross Road Church.
	Mr. Reitz was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Deppen, 
who is buried at the Lantz Church in Rockefeller township.  Two children 
were born to this union: William Morris, of Irish Valley; and Elizabeth, 
who married George Dunkelberger. By his second union, to Catharine J. 
Weiser, daughter of Peter Weiser, of McKees Half Falls, Pa., he had 
seven children  Urias P., now of Rockefeller township; David C., of 
Sioux City, Iowa; Jonathan E., of Rockefeller township; Daniel N.; Annie 
R., married to Frazer Wolf; Katie J., married to H. E. Miller; and Laura 
A., married to Bert Witmer. The mother of this family, born April 18, 
1837, died Oct. 19, 1909.
	DANIEL N. REITZ, son of Peter M., was born Nov. 21, 1864, in 
Rockefeller (then Lower Augusta) township. Until he attained his 
majority he worked for his parents on the farm in his native township, 
and then learned the carpenter's trade with Daniel Fasold, following 
that line of work for about fifteen years, in Sunbury, Shamokin, and the 
adjacent portions of Northumberland county. In the spring of 1901 he 
began to farm in Lower Augusta township, working his own place until 
1910, when he sold it and became farmer for Dr. B. E. Wilkinson, who has 
one of the best farms in Lower Augusta township. As may be judged from 
his present responsibilities, Mr. Reitz is an intelligent, modern 
farmer, enterprising and up-to-date in all his methods and thrifty in 
all his undertakings.
	On June 26, 1886, Mr. Reitz was married to Clara A. Gass, daughter 
of Samuel and Sarah (Dunkelberger) Gass and granddaughter of Peter 
Dunkelberger, of Little Mahanoy township. They have had three children:  
Dorner A., Clan A. and Ora M.  Mr. Reitz and his family are Lutheran 
members of the Wolfs Cross Road Church in Rockefeller township.  In 
political sentiment he is a Republican.
	Michael Reitz, great-grandfather of Alvin P. Reitz, of Shamokin 
borough, and of William H. Reitz, of Little Mahanoy township, was a 
native of Berks county, Pa., and settled in Washington township, 
Northumberland county, in 1790. He died there. Among his children were: 
Daniel, Jonathan, Michael, Peter, Henry and Samuel.
	Henry Reitz, son of Michael, was born in Swabian Creek, Washington 
township, and there passed his earlier life, later moving to Lower 
Augusta township, where he owned a large farm. After a residence of 
twenty-two years in that township he returned to Swabian Creek, where he 
had a small farm, and there he remained until his death, which occurred 
when he was past ninety. He was a gunsmith as well as farmer and well 
known in his time. He was a member of the Lutheran congregation of 
Himmel's Church, and is buried at that church. One of the progressive 
citizens of his day, he served as member of the township school board 
and took an active part in all movements intended for the advancement of 
the general good.
	Mr. Reitz was married four times, his first wife being a Bechtel, 
his second Maria Dunkelberger (born Dec. 23, 1803, died Jan. 3, 1863), 
his third a Tschupp and his fourth an Engel (from Georgetown, this 
county). One daughter was born to the first union, Lovina, who first 
married a Mr. Eister, later a Mr. Hayes.  By his second union there were 
three children: Sarah, Adam D. and Joseph. There were no children of the 
third and fourth marriages.
	Adam D. Reitz, son of Henry, was born May 6, 1836, in Lower Augusta 
township, and died March 22, 1885. He is buried at the Union Church in 
Hollowing Run, in Lower Augusta township. The greater part of the time 
he was engaged as a laborer, though he owned a tract of land for some 
years. He married Mary Raker, daughter of William and Kate (Zartman) 
Raker, and she survives him, now making her home at Trevorton.  She has 
reached the age of sixty-nine years (1910). Three children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Adam D. Reitz: William H., Dennis and Galen.
	WILLIAM H. REITZ, a resident of Little Mahanoy township, was born 
March 12, 1862, in Lower Augusta township, where he was reared, living 
there 
	
	END OF PAGE 790 
	
until he reached the age of sixteen.  Coming to Little Mahanoy, he 
worked among farmers until he was twenty-one years old, when he was 
married and went to Shamokin.  There he drove a wagon for Seiler, 
Zimmerman & Co., for whom he worked seven years and three months.  For 
some months he was fireman for an electric light company, then drove a 
team for Acker, Schleyman & Co., until his return to Little Mahanoy 
township, where he purchased a tract of ten acres upon which he built a 
house and settled. He raised garden truck and huckstered to Shamokin for 
eight years, at the end of which time he began working for the Trevorton 
Coal Land Company, in whose employ he has since continued. He sold his 
property just mentioned to that company and has since purchased a 126 
acre tract near by. 
	On Feb. 11, 1883, Mr. Reitz married Miranda Peifer, daughter of 
George Peifer, and they have three children: Sylvan, Victor and Jennie.  
He and his family are members of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Little 
Mahanoy. Mr. Reitz has served some years as a school director of that 
township. He is a Democrat in political faith.
	Joseph Reitz, son of Henry and brother of Adam D., was born in 1843 
at Fisher's Ferry, and died Jan. 21, 1908.  He is buried at Emanuel 
Lutheran Church in Little Mahanoy township. Mr. Reitz was a prominent 
citizen of that township. He was engaged in business as a merchant at 
Dornsife, and also followed farming, retiring from active work a few 
years before his death. His efficient service in various township 
offices made him a well known figure in local public affairs, he having 
served as member of the school board, overseer of the poor and 
supervisor. In religious matters he was a Lutheran.  He married 
Catharine Peifer, daughter of George Peifer, of Little Mahanoy township, 
and she still survives, making her home at Dornsife. Six children were 
born to this marriage: Daniel P. (who died Aug. 29, 1900, aged thirty-
six years, one month), Alvin P., George (of Dornsife), Edward (of 
Dornsife), Joseph (who is connected with the East End Lumber Company, of 
Shamokin) and Gertrude (at home).
	ALVIN P. REITZ, general manager of the East End Lumber Company of 
Shamokin, was born in 1867 at Mine Run, in Lower Augusta township, and 
obtained his early education in the schools of the home locality.  Later 
he studied at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. He has since made his 
home in Shamokin.  For a time he was employed as brakeman on a passenger 
train, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which was the beginning 
of his present interest in the contracting and building line.  In 1892 
he commenced contracting, and in 1903 formed a partnership with John D. 
Hilbush, with whom he is still associated. They did a prosperous 
business under the firm name of Reitz & Hilbush until 1906, when they 
formed what is now know as the East End Lumber Company, incorporating 
with a capital of $75,000. In addition to contracting and building they 
conduct an extensive planing mill business and retail lumber, giving 
employment in these various lines to a force of eighty men. The company 
has its office and business headquarters at No. 301 Franklin street 
Shamokin, and is one of the leading concerns of the kind in this section 
of Pennsylvania.  Its reputation for high class and thoroughly up-to-
date work is firmly established, and the standing of the individual 
members of the company is sufficient guarantee for its standards and 
responsibility.  The officers of the company are: F. D. Raker, 
president; E. Raker, secretary; J. D. Hilbush, treasurer; and A. P. 
Reitz, general manager.  Mr. Reitz devotes the greater part of his time 
and attention to the business of the company, but be is interested in 
the general business prosperity of the borough, and is a member of the 
Merchants' Association.  Socially he unites with the local lodge of Elks 
and with the Red Men.
	Mr. Reitz married a daughter of Jacob Zartman, of Shamokin, and 
they have one son, Harry Elwood, who was born in 1901.
	David Reitz, son of (Johann) Michael, grandson of Michael, and 
great-grandson of George, the pioneer of the family in Northumberland 
county, was the grandfather of John L., David W. and Charles J. Reitz, 
brothers, the first named a business man of Mount Carmel, the second a 
resident of Pillow, near Lower Mahanoy township, the last named a 
resident of Little Mahanoy township.
	William Reitz, son of David, has always lived at Greenbrier, in 
Washington township, in which township his father also lived. William 
Reitz was a well known merchant or that place during his active years, 
and is now living retired. He married Susanna Raker, and to them were 
born four children: Katie, John L., David W. and Charles J.
	JOHN L. REITZ, son of William and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, was born 
in 1876 near Greenbrier and received his education in the schools of 
that locality.  He was engaged with his father until he came to Mount 
Carmel, driving a huckster wagon for some time.  On March 15, 1900, he 
settled in Mount Carmel, which has since been his home.  Several years 
later he engaged in the produce business there in partnership with E. R. 
Reitz, under the firm name of E. R. & J. L. Reitz, later buying out his 
partner's interest.  He has since continued the business on his own 
account as a wholesale produce dealer, having now the leading trade of 
the kind in the borough. Mr. Reitz is located in a fine building near 
the Reading station, which he erected in 1902. He is one of the 
substantial and respected young business men of the place, where he has 
gained high standing and 
	
	END OF PAGE 791
	
the esteem of his fellow citizens by his upright methods and earnest 
efforts to cater to the wants of a large and growing patronage. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows and K. of M. 
	Mr. Reitz married Elizabeth Swalm (also written Schwalm), and to 
them have been born five children: William, Charles, Grace, Katie and 
Bessie. The family are identified with the Reformed Church.
	DAVID W. REITZ, son of William and Susanna (Raker) Reitz, was born 
May 23, 1880. He was reared in the vicinity of Rebuck, and received his 
education in the schools of that locality.  After his service in the 
Spanish war he began work as a clerk in the store of E. R. Reitz, who 
was then doing business at Rebuck, remaining with him for six years. He 
then married and moved to Mount Carmel, where for one year he was 
employed by his brother John L. Reitz, in the produce business. The next 
year he and his younger brother, Charles J. Reitz, bought the stock, 
fixtures and good-will of his former employer, E. R. Reitz, continuing 
the business at Rebuck for about three years. David W. Reitz was next 
engaged as proprietor of the "Glenn House," at Lykens, which he bought 
from Galen & Bingaman, conducting that place for two years, at the end 
of which time he settled in Uniontown (Pillow), which is just across the 
Northumberland county line in Dauphin county. Here he became proprietor 
of the "National Hotel," buying the stock and fixtures from his brother, 
Charles S. Reitz, and the hotel from William H. Deibler. It is one of 
the old established stands in this section, and draws an excellent 
patronage from the surrounding territory. Mr. Reitz has gained the 
confidence and respect of his neighbors and patrons by obliging service 
and upright business methods. During his residence in Washington 
township he took considerable interest in public affairs, serving as 
treasurer of the township and as treasurer for the road supervisors, and 
he was quite active in the work of the Democratic party. He is a member 
of Lafayette Lodge, No. 194, F. & A.M., of Selinsgrove, and of Lodge No. 
551, I.O.O.F., of Mahanoy, Pa., which latter organization he joined May 
30, 1900. He and his family are Lutheran members of Himmel's Church.
	During the Spanish-American war Mr. Reitz enlisted in Company A, 
21st Infantry, Regular Army, July 23, 1898, at Shamokin.  He served for 
a time at Fort McPherson, and was returned to that point after being 
taken ill with typhoid at Lithia Springs, Ga., being eventually granted 
a furlough until his recovery. After regaining his health he reported at 
Fort Monroe, thence went to Plattsburg, to rejoin his command, and in 
February, 1899, received an honorable discharge.
	In 1901 Mr. Reitz married Dora Schreffler, daughter of John and 
Caroline (Keaffer) Schreffler, of Washington township. They have had 
four children: Anna C., Lewis (who died in infancy), Katie S. and Edna 
C.
	CHARLES J. REITZ, of Dornsife, merchant and proprietor of the 
"Dornsife Hotel," was born April 30, 1884, at Rebuck, in Washington. 
township, son of William and Susanna (Raker) Reitz. He was educated in 
the local schools and when fourteen years old began clerking, his first 
position being with Samuel Hetrich, at Leck Kill.  After two years' 
employment there he went to Allentown and clerked in several stores 
there, remaining in that city for several years.  Returning to Rebuck he 
clerked there two years for B. R. Reitz, until he and his brother David 
W. formed a partnership under the firm name of Reitz Brothers, and 
purchased the goodwill, stock and fixtures of E. R. Reitz (the lower 
store). Three years later Charles S. Reitz bought his brother's interest 
and for one year continued the store alone. The next year be was at 
Pillow, where he conducted the "National Hotel" for one year, and then 
purchased the stock, good-will and fixtures of Fred B. Dornsife at 
Dornsife, where he is now doing a thriving mercantile business. He 
carries a comprehensive general stock, and employs two clerks.  His 
hotel business is also prospering, and he is considered one of the 
rising young business men of the place.
	On March 17, 1903, Mr. Reitz married Bertha M. Hetrich, daughter of 
Charles and Alice (Latsha) Hetrich, and they have had one child, Harrold 
W. The family are Lutheran members of Himmel's Church. Mr. Reitz is well 
known in the fraternities as a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 194, F. & 
A.M., of Selinsgrove; of Mahanoy Lodge, No. 55, I.O.O.F.; of Livingston 
Castle, No. 258, K.G.B., of Allentown; and of the State Grange at 
Greenbrier. He is a Democrat in politics and has taken some part in 
local affairs, having served as treasurer for the road supervisors and 
overseers of the poor of Washington township.
	Jacob Reitz, grandfather of Daniel Z. Reitz, of Little Mahanoy 
township, was born in Washington township in the Himmel Church 
neighborhood, son of Andraes Reitz. He lived on the farm now owned by 
Andrew Bucher, near St. Peter's Church, followed agricultural pursuits, 
and died there; he is buried at St. Peter's Church at Mahanoy.  He and 
his wife, Mary (Hepler), had children as follows: Jacob, Benjamin, 
Daniel H., Samuel, Isaac (married Lydia Lenker, born July 18, 1825, died 
March 5, 1852), Joseph, Zetic (1829-1855), Catharine (married John 
Fegley), Maricha (married George Miller), Lydia (married Henry Dressler) 
and Mrs. Seiler.
	Daniel H. Reitz, son of Jacob, was born in Washington township, and 
lived on the place in Little Mahanoy now owned and occupied by his son 
Daniel.  He cultivated that place, a tract of 100 acres, but he was best 
known as a carpenter, 
	
	END OF PAGE 792
	
which trade he followed practically all his life. In this capacity he 
built many houses and barns in his earlier manhood, later doing shop 
work, making chairs and other furniture, and as he was a very skillful 
workman be also made coffins, which was a great advantage, as he had 
considerable business in the undertaking line; he was called upon to 
bury many people. He was also active in local public matters, serving as 
supervisor and as overseer of the poor, and he and his family were 
leading members of St. John's United Evangelical Church in Little 
Mahanoy township, which he served as class leader and exhorter. In 
politics he was a Democrat until the breaking out of the Civil war, 
after which he joined the Republican party.
	Mr. Reitz married Harriet Zartman, daughter of William Zartman 
(whose wife was a Herb), and she survived him, dying Jan. 21, 1899, aged 
eighty-three years, four months, nineteen days.  Mr. Reitz died May 13, 
1889, aged seventy-five years, nine months, twelve days, and they are 
buried at the church above mentioned.  They were the parents of thirteen 
children:  One son died in infancy; Amanda died young; Eliza died young; 
Elemina is unmarried; Harriet married Jeremiah Wagner; Isaac is a 
resident of Uniontown, Pa.; Sarah married Isaac Baddorf; Abby married 
Jeremiah Weaver; Daniel Z. is mentioned below; Lucinda married Reily 
Heckert; Mary Ann died aged thirteen years; Rebecca married Alfred 
Baker; one son died in infancy.
	DANIEL Z. Reitz was born Nov. 28, 1851, on the farm in Little 
Mahanoy township where he still makes his home. He received his 
education in the local schools and was reared to farming, after he was 
twenty-one receiving pay for his services until he reached the age of 
twenty-six, when he took charge of the place, running it ten years for 
his father.  After his father's death he cultivated it ten years for his 
widowed mother, and since about 1899 he has farmed it on his own account 
being now the owner of the property. He is a progressive agriculturist, 
and has made a number of improvements on the place, which is in 
excellent condition.  Mr. Reitz has proved himself an intelligent and 
useful citizen, and has served in the various offices of school 
director, supervisor and auditor with satisfaction to all concerned.
	On May 17, 1879, Mr. Reitz married Laura F. Raker, daughter of 
Isaac D. and Phoebe Ann (Witmer) Raker, of Little Mahanoy, who died in 
Shamokin. Mr. and Mrs. Reitz have a family of four children: Herbert N. 
married Maggie Miller and has two children, Laura M. and Casaline L.; 
Landis L. married Amelia M. Peifer and has a daughter, Alma A.; Edwin 
R.; has been an invalid since 1904; D. Elmer is a clerk at Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania.
	Mr. and Mrs. Reitz were among the last members of St. John's U. E. 
Church in Little Mahanoy. No services have been had there since 1905. 
Rev. Ralph Deibert was the last pastor.

	SHAFFER or SCHAFFER. The Northumberland county family bearing this 
name, in the Mahanoy region and in Jordan township, was established in 
that section before the organization of the county, in 1772, and  was 
founded in America by Frantz Schaffer. The first two or three 
generations in this country lived about the Stone Valley Church, and the 
valley to this day is known to the older residents as "Schaffersdale." 
Nearly all the land in one section of Lower Mahanoy township was owned 
by members of this family. The name is found with various spellings,  
the most common forms being Shaffer, Shafer. and Schafer.  This family 
has no connection, so far as is known, with the Schaeffer family of 
Berks county, Pa. of which Rev. Nathan C. Schaeffer, Ph. D., D. D., 
Superintendent of public instruction of Pennsylvania, is a member; nor 
with the Schaffers  well  represented across the Susquehanna river, in 
Snyder county. 
	Frantz Schaffer and his wife Elisabetha, of Germany,  had two sons, 
Jacob Conrad and Wilhelm. Frantz Schaffer determined to try his fortunes 
in America, but his wife was steadfastly resolved to remain in the 
Fatherland.  So settled was each in the conviction of right that they 
divided their worldly effects with the idea of separating, the father 
to have the elder son to accompany him to the New World, the mother to 
keep the younger boy, Wilhelm. The wife and son Wilhelm accompanied the 
father and elder son to the port of embarkation.  The vessel was 
receiving its passengers.  But when the time came to say qoodby the 
wife weakened. The memories of happy and pleasant days in the past 
could not be shaken off so easily. She concluded that if her husband 
could support himself and one son he could also support her and the 
other son, with her help, and she joined him in the journey at the  
last moment. They landed at Philadelphia, before the opening of the 
Revolutionary War, and before 1800 they were settled in what is now 
Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland Co., Pa. in the vicinity of 
Zion's Church in Stone Valley, in the graveyard of which church, at the 
old west end, rest the remains of these pioneers, who were the founders 
of a large and respected posterity.  Their names appear upon  the 
tombstone of their son, Jacob Conrad Shaffer, who was born Aug. 7, 
1762; their other son, Wilhelm,  was born May 28, 1764.  The Schaffers 
were called "Swopes," as many natives of Würtemberg were known 
apparently a Pennsylvania German corruption of the German "Schwab. " 
Descendants of both of the sons of these early settlers are still 
numerous in the region where they made their home. 
	Jacob Conrad Schaffer, son of Frantz and  Elis-
	
	END OF PAGE 793
	
abetha, was born Aug. 7, 1762, and died Sept. 11, 1822, in Lower 
Mahanoy township, where he is buried, at Zion's (Stone Valley) Church. 
He lived in that township, where he owned land and followed farming.  
Among his children were two sons: Jacob, of whom we have no records; 
and Michael.  
	Michael Schaffer, son of Jacob Conrad, was born and reared near 
Stone Valley Church, and lived there for some years. Then he moved to 
Jordan township, where he lived on a farm now owned by a Walborn, a 
large tract near Uniontown (Pillow). He lived there, and was buried at 
the Stone Valley Church, where so many of the family have found their 
final resting place.  A number of the later generations, however, are 
buried at Hebe and other churches in the surrounding townships. Michael  
Schaffer was married three times.  His first wife, Rosanna Witmer, who 
died April 24, 1836, bore him children as  follows: Jacob, Michael, 
Joseph, Samuel and Daniel.  By his second marriage, to Elizabeth Wert,  
he had three children  Philip, Elizabeth (married Joseph Seiler) and  
Susanna (married  William  Deppen).  By  the third wife,  Susanna Reed,  
there were no children.  (Another account says Elizabeth was born to the 
first marriage and Daniel to  the second.)  All of Mr. Michael 
Schaeffer's family lived in the Mahantango Valley.
	Jacob C. Schaffer, grandfather of Elias Z. Shaffer, a farmer and 
lumber merchant of Jordan township, was born Feb. 23, 1793, in Lower 
Mahanoy township, near Pillow, and died at Georgetown (Dalmatia) in 
1832.  He was a cooper by trade, but also farmed and dealt in lumber, 
being an active and enterprising man and successful in his undertakings.  
To him and his wife, Lydia (Lahr), were born the following children: 
William L., Elizabeth (married Simon Lenker) and Sarah (married George 
Seiler).
	William L. Schafer, son of Jacob C. Schafer, was born in Lower 
Mahanoy township, where he passed all his life, dying in 1906.  He is 
buried at St Paul's Church, at Urban, and was a Lutheran member of that 
church.  He was a man of medium size, a shoemaker by trade, which he 
followed until his retirement, and also farmed, owning a tract of 
twenty-five acres which he cultivated industriously and profitably.  He 
served as supervisor of his township and held other public positions, 
being identified with official affairs in his locality for many years.  
On April 30, 1857, he married, at Lykens Valley, Catharine Zerbe, 
daughter of Joseph Zerbe, of Lower Mahanoy, and she survives him, now 
making her home at Mount Carmel.  She is now (1910) sixty-nine years of 
age Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William L. Schafer, three 
of whom died young, the others being:  Mary, who married Thomas 
Hunsicker and (second) James McArdle; Sarah, who married George Blanche; 
Elias Z.; Rebecca, who married Jonas Zerbe; and Jacob, of Jordan 
township.
	ELIAS Z. SHAFFER, farmer and lumber merchant of Jordan township, 
Northumberland county, was born Aug. 14, 1862, in Lower Mahanoy 
township, son of William L. Schafer. He was reared and educated in his 
native locality, receiving a practical common school training, and in 
1882 began farming independently in Jordan township, where he was a 
tenant for the following ten years. At the end of that period he 
purchased the place where he has since resided, having 167 acres which 
he has cultivated successfully.  It was formerly the homestead of John 
Daniel, who owned it for many years, and before whose day one Rubendall 
was the owner. He owns also a small tract of farm land in Jordan 
township, on which there is a house, and which he rents. Since 1900 Mr. 
Shaffer has also been interested in lumbering, in which line he has made 
good by strict attention to business and good judgment in both the 
acquisition of desirable holdings and the handling of his product. He 
has seventy-six acres of timberland in his home township (besides his 
farm properties) eighty acres of timberland in Schuylkill county, and 
fifty-four acres in Dauphin county.  He has employed as many as twenty 
men in his lumbering operations, and ships most of his lumber into the 
coal regions of this State. A self-made man in the most creditable sense 
of that term, he is not only known as a successful farmer and business 
man but also one of the influential public citizens of his district, 
having served as supervisor and being at present a member of the school 
board of his township, though he is a Republican in a Democratic 
community.  He is Republican committeeman of Jordan township.
	On Aug. 18, 1880 Mr. Shafer married Sarah E. Host, who was born 
Aug. 14, 1862 (on the same day as her husband), daughter of George S. 
and Rebecca (Dockey) Host and died March 13, 1910. She is buried at 
Urban. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer became the parents of six children: Foster; 
of Urban, who married Minnie Wenkel; George, who resides at home; Carrie 
M., wife of Charles Klock; John Jacob, Mary C. and Elias A., all at 
home. Mr. Shafer and his family are Lutheran members of St. Paul's 
Church at Urban, in whose work he has been very active, having served as 
deacon for six years and as elder eight years.
	We have the following record of the sons of Michael Schafer, son of 
Jacob Conrad and grandson of Frantz, the emigrant.
	Michael was a farmer near Stone Valley Church, his farm there being 
still owned by his estate. To him and his wife Rebecca (Bohner) were 
born children: Henry, Levi, Michael, Benjamin, Sarah and Lydia. 
	
	END OF PAGE 794
	
	 Joseph was also a farmer, and lived near Vera Cruz, where he is 
buried. He was twice married, and had an only son George, who died when 
young.
	Daniel  lived in Jordan township, where he was a shoemaker and 
owned a small farm. He is buried at Hebe.  His wife was Polly Bohner, 
and among their children were Sarah, Sevilla and Emma. (There is a 
Daniel W. Schaffer buried at Hebe, who died July 18, 1905,  aged 
seventy-eight years, four months, twenty days. "Frany,"  his wife,  died 
Aug. 16, 1906,  aged sixty-one years, two months, twenty-three days.)
	Philip was a carpenter and lived and died at Millersburg, Pa. He 
was married twice and had children.
	Samuel was a native of Lower Mahanoy township, where he also died, 
but he passed the greater part of his life in Jordan township, whither 
he came when fifteen years old. He owned a small farm. His wife, 
Elizabeth (Rubendall), died before him, and is buried at Uniontown, his 
grave being at Stone Valley Church. He was a Republican, served as 
supervisor of Jordan township, and was active in church, holding many 
offices, deacon, elder, trustee, etc. To him and his wife were born ten 
children, viz.: Sarah, Michael, Frank, Elizabeth, Catharine, Malinda, 
Emma, Samuel Isaac, and a daughter that died young. Of this family
	Samuel Schaffer, born Aug. 29, 1843, settled in Lower Mahanoy in 
1888, and has since lived there, on a tract of twenty-two acres. He is a 
Republican, and has held the offices of constable and school director.  
In about 1870 he married Jestina Bohner, daughter of Nicholas Bohner, 
and they have had ten children:  A son that died in infancy, Ida, 
Harvey, Emma, Sevilla, Kate, Maud, Daniel, Edwin and Annie.
	Wilhelm Shaffer, younger son of Frantz, the emigrant, was born in 
the Fatherland May 28, 1764, and died March 29, 1835, in Lower Mahanoy 
township, Northumberland county. He and his wife Sarah (Witmer) are 
buried at the Stone Valley Church.  She was born Aug. 24, 1767, daughter 
of Christophel and Christina Witmer, and died on her eighty-fifth 
birthday, in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Schaffer were farming people, living 
upon and owning the tract which now belongs to Monroe Kiehl.  Their 
children were: John, Jacob, George, William, Daniel, Sarah (married 
Jacob Carl) and Catharine (married Heinrich Lentz). Of this family, 
John, Jacob and George are more fully mentioned below.  William (son of 
Wilhelm) married a Lenker and had children: William, Isaac (who lived 
near Vera Cruz), Sarah,  Polly (Mrs. Josiah Schwartz) and Elizabeth (who 
first married a Lahr and later became the wife of Reuben Lauer). Daniel 
married Sarah Dopse and their children were:  Moses, Harry, David, Mary 
(married Aaron Seiler) and Polly (who married Joseph Loner).
	John Schaffer, son of Wilhelm, was a farmer in Lower Mahanoy 
township.  He married Christina Lenker, who lived to be nearly ninety-
three years old, and they are buried at the Stone Valley Church.  Their 
children, all born near Byerly's hotel, were as follows: John (married 
Jane Mantilles), Josiah, David (who died aged nineteen years), Catharine 
(married Frederick Kissling), Sarah (married Samuel Byerly) and Anna 
(married Abraham Troutman).
	Josiah Schaffer, son of John, was born Nov. 12, 1827, in Lower 
Mahanoy township, where he also died. From 1860 he lived on the farm 
where his death occurred Oct. 24, 1909, the result of a fall from a 
second story window; he was ill at the time. During his active years he 
followed farming, and he was a well known citizen of his locality, 
having served as deacon, elder and trustee of the Stone Valley Church, 
where he is buried.  In 1857 he married Harriet Otto, daughter of John 
and Rebecca (Grow) Otto, and she survives him. They became the parents 
of four children: Washington, now of Lykens, Pa.; Lillie R.; C. Anna; 
and Landis J., of Sunbury.
	Jacob Schaffer, son of Wilhelm, lived At Hickory Corners. He had 
children: Elizabeth, Sallie (Mrs. Isaac Deppen), Magdalena (Mrs. James 
Finkbone), Catharine, William, Susanna (Mrs. William Reed), Abraham and 
Solomon.  Mrs. William Reed, who lives somewhere in Dakota, is now the 
only survivor of this family.
	Solomon Schaffer, son of Jacob, was born in Lower Mahanoy Dec. 29, 
1821; and died July 14, 1891, in his seventieth year. He is buried at 
the Stone Valley Church. He was a stonemason, and followed his trade at 
Hickory Corners, where he lived for a number of years, thence moving to 
Lykens Valley, in Dauphin county, where he owned a place of 100 acres 
which he farmed for six years. At the end of that time he sold the farm 
for $11,000, at a profit of $1,000, and it is now, owned by Charles 
Phillips.  Moving back into the Mahantango Valley, he passed the 
remainder of his life on the Wert farm, where he died. He was an 
influential man in the community in his day, serving as school director, 
overseer of the poor, etc., and was prominent in church work even in his 
old age, serving as deacon, elder, etc., at the Stone Valley Church.  
His wife, Susanna (Hepner), daughter of Peter and Magdalena (Lenker) 
Hepner, was born Aug. 26, 1832, and died Oct. 19, 1904.  To Mr. and Mrs. 
Solomon Schaffer were born the following children: Daniel C., twin sons 
who died in infancy, Sarah F., William H. (deceased), Peter M., Jacob 
H., Mary Magdalena, Emma J., Solomon G. and Jonathan D.  
	
	END OF PAGE 795
	
	JACOB H. SCHAFFER, son of Solomon,  is a farmer in Lower Mahanoy 
township, where he was born, at Hickory Corners, Dec. 12, 1855. He was 
reared to farming, and continued to work for his parents until he 
reached the age of twenty-four years. He then left home to work in the 
lumber district, where he was engaged in assorting lumber, at 
Williamsport, for six years, during which time he was associated with F. 
H. Seaman, with whom he worked daily while away from home. Returning to 
his native place, he labored for several years before he bought his farm 
of 100 acres, which was originally a Wertz homestead, later owned by the 
Lenker family and afterward by a Campbell. The present barn on the 
property was built by John Wertz in 1857. Mr. Schaffer is an 
industrious, prosperous and much esteemed citizen of his township, which 
he served as supervisor in 1893 and as school director, being also 
secretary of the board. In politics he is a Republican, in religion a 
Lutheran, belonging to the Stone Valley Church, where he is a well known 
worker, being at present a trustee of his congregation; he was formerly 
a deacon.
	In 1882 Mr. Schaffer married Amelia Fetterolf, and to them was born 
one son, Charles F.  Mrs. Schaffer died May 14, 1900, aged thirty-nine 
years. On Oct. 3, 1903, Mr. Schaffer married (second) Miranda Stepp, who 
died Oct. 5, 1905, and on Oct. 19, 1907, Mr. Schaffer married Sarah Jane 
Schlegel, daughter of Abraham Schlegel.
	CHARLES F. SCHAFFER, only child of Jacob H. Schaffer, was born 
Dec. 10, 1883, in Lower Mahanoy township, and from the time he was two 
years old lived in the home of his maternal grandparents, Daniel and 
Sarah Fetterolf. He is now engaged in farming his grandfather's farm, 
which is near his father's property. He is an industrious and 
enterprising young man, and has a promising outlook.  The affairs of his 
locality have always possessed great interest for him, and in 1907 he 
was elected assessor of Lower Mahanoy township, serving three years in 
that office. Since 1907 he has been superintendent of the Hastings Union 
Sunday school, and he is a past master of Stone Valley Grange, No. 1367, 
P. of H.
	On March 6, 1909, Mr. Schaffer married Annie M. Lenker, and they 
have one son, Raymond.
	George Schaffer, grandfather of George Elmer Shaffer, proprietor of 
the stockyards and of the "National Hotel" at Urban, was born Sept. 4, 
1805, son of Wilhelm and grandson of Frantz. He died Dec. 8, 1891. He 
followed farming, living in what is now Jordan (then Mahanoy) township.  
His wife, Sarah (Ressler), bore him children as follows: Susan, Mrs. 
Lantz; Sarah, Mrs. Isaac Lenker; Catharine, Mrs. Georg Breinighaus; 
Elias, and Joel.
	Elias Schaffer, son of George, was born Oct. 29, 1831, in Mahanoy 
(now Jordan) township, on the farm now owned by Henry Raup, and died 
Oct. 3, 1901, at Urban, where he conducted the hotel for many years, 
becoming one of the best known men in that line in the lower end of 
Northumberland county  Earlier in life he followed farming, to which 
vocation he was reared, and he also drove cattle, during the Civil war 
making considerable money in this business, handling many head of cattle 
and mules.  For a number of years he was one of the leaders of the 
Democratic party in the lower end of the county, served as school 
director and supervisor of his township, and as mercantile appraiser of 
the county, was also active in church and Sunday school work, and served 
many years as superintendent of the Sunday school, in his later years, 
when too old for the responsibilities of that position, continuing to be 
a regular attendant at Sunday school services. His wife, Elizabeth 
(Schwartz), survives him, and though she has almost attained the three 
score and ten mark she is fairly well preserved. The following children 
were born to this worthy couple: Lizzie, Mrs. A. M. Snyder; D. Richard, 
of Herndon, Pa.; Sarah J., Mrs. George Baum; Laura, who died young; and 
George Elmer.
	GEORGE ELMER SHAFFER was born Jan. 30, 1867, in Jordan township, 
and obtained his education in the public schools of the home district 
When fifteen years old he commenced selling farm implements, and in 1883 
he began to sell fertilizers, etc., being one of the first in his 
section to engage in that line. He was only seventeen when he began to 
deal in cattle, and he has been interested in this line ever since, 
being now the proprietor of the Urban stockyards, which he established 
in 1895. He handles many hundred head of stock annually, having disposed 
of as many as thirty-five carloads in a single season, and he conducts a 
number of sales every fall, supplying the farmers' in the neighboring 
territory with "shotes" and hogs, and he sells many fat hogs to 
butchers. He commenced buying and selling hogs in 1896, and has handled 
many hundreds every year since. He also sells from four to six carloads 
of range horses annually, and deals largely in poultry; in the fall of 
1909 he had 225 geese on hand at one time, besides many ducks. Mr. 
Shaffer's extensive business has been founded upon his reputation for 
square dealing, for which he is trusted by all who have had transactions 
of any kind with him. He has visited a number of States in the Union in 
the interest of his cattle business, and in one season made five trips 
West to buy stock. In 1906 he became proprietor of the "National Hotel" 
at Urban, which he has since conducted in connection with his other 
business, making a success of that as he has of all his other 
undertakings. He has made a number of improvements on the property, 
inside and outside, since it came into his possession. In 
	
	END OF PAGE 796
	
partnership with A. M. Snyder he owns a farm of thirty-five acres at 
Urban, and he has several lots near Pittsburg, Pa. There are no more 
highly respected people in the locality than Mr. Shaffer and his family, 
who are known for their intelligence and progressive spirit, their 
usefulness in the community and their encouragement of the best 
institutions in modern existence.
	On Feb. 28, 1896, Mr. Shafer married Aletta C. Heckert, daughter of 
Andrew and Mary (Ressler) Heckert, of Lower Mahanoy township, though 
Mrs. Shafer was born in Illinois. Two children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Shafer, Nelson B. and Nevin E.  Mr. Shafer and his family worship 
at the Urban Church, he being a member of the Lutheran congregation, 
while his wife belongs to the Reformed congregation, He served four 
years as deacon. In politics he is a Democrat, with independent 
inclinations.
	John Heckert, Mrs. Shafer's great-grandfather, was one of the 
pioneer settlers in what is now Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland 
county, his name appearing in the list of taxables of what was then 
Mahanoy (now Lower Mahanoy) township, in 1778.  It is said he was a 
farmer and had a number of children. The Heckert family was at one time 
numerous in Lower Mahanoy and a number of representatives of the name 
still reside there. Several generations of Heckerts are buried at Zion's 
Church in Stone Valley.  Among the children of John Heckert were sons 
Friederich and Philip, the latter being Mrs. Shaffer's grandfather. 
Friederich, born Nov. 29, 1788, died Aug. 17, 1858; his wife, Maria, 
born March 24, 1792, died April 3, 1870.
	Philip Heckert, son of John, was born in Lower Mahanoy Dec. 9, 
1796, and had a large farm there, near County Line. He died March 27, 
1872, and his wife Anna Mary (Wert), born March 2, 1805, died Jan. 16, 
1888, aged eighty-two years, ten months, fourteen days. They are buried 
at Stone Valley Church.  They had a large family, viz.: Daniel, Susan, 
Michael, Philip, Mary, Casper (who was a soldier in the Civil war), 
Emanuel, Henry (who was a soldier in the Civil war), Catharine, Andrew 
W., Uriah (who served in the Civil war) and Rachel.
	Andrew W. Heckert, son of Philip, was born near County Line, in 
Lower Mahanoy township, and died at Dalmatia, Pa., where he and his 
family had lived since 1873.  Before his marriage he went out to 
Forreston, Ogle Co., Ill., where he learned the carpenter's trade, but 
after he had resided there a number of years he returned to his native 
place for a wife, marrying Mary Ressler daughter of Solomon and 
Catherine (Haas) Ressler, of Lower Mahanoy.  He returned West with his 
bride and they lived in Illinois until after the birth of their six 
children, coming back to Pennsylvania in 1873 and settling in Lower 
Mahanoy. The children were as follows:  Aletta C.; Mary M., Mrs. Frank 
Bordner, of Nebraska; Susan E. unmarried; Carrie M., Mrs. J. Reitz, of 
Shamokin,  this county; Ida R., Mrs. William Dreibelbies of Lower 
Mahanoy and William N.,  who died in infancy.
	D. RICHARD SHAFFER, son of Elias, was born June 21, 1859, in Jordan 
township, and when fifteen years old commenced to learn cigar-making, 
which trade he has followed ever since.  About 1890 he moved to Herndon, 
where he still makes his home, and he was postmaster at that place 
during Cleveland's second administration.  He is a Democrat, and has 
served the borough as tax collector since 1902.  In 1885 he married 
Emma, a daughter of Samuel Lobe, of Pillow, Pa. They have no children. 
Mr. and Mrs. Shafer are Lutherans in religious connection.
	Daniel Shafer, grandfather of Aaron Shafer, superintendent of the 
Trevorton Coal Land Company, at Dunkelbergers, in Little Mahanoy 
township, lived near Stone Valley Church, his property being the farm 
now owned by Frank Radel. He had about forty acres, and followed farming 
as well as his trade, shoemaking. His wife died long before him. They 
had three children: Isaac, Catharine (married Solomon Radel) and Henry 
H.
	Henry H. Shafer, son of Daniel, is one of the oldest residents of 
Lower Mahanoy township, where he was born April 23, 1833. He learned the 
trade of stonemason, which he followed some years, later engaging in 
farming and lime-burning. For about half a year he was out West, where 
he married Rebecca Dietrich, who was born in the West April 5, 1847, 
daughter of Florin and Sophia (Haupt) Dietrich. Eighteen children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Shafer, six of whom died young, the others being: 
Rebecca, who died unmarried; Daniel, who was killed on the coal banks in 
1887; Lucinda, who died young; Sarah; Ellen, who married Charles Wertz; 
Charles, of Uniontown, PA; Aaron; William, who died when twelve years 
old; Kate, wife of James Wentzel; James M., of Lower Augusta township, 
this county; Ira, who died young; Tama, wife of Jacob Hepner; and Ida S. 
(deceased), who was the wife of Cloyd Massner.
	AARON SHAFFER, son of Henry H., was born March 31, 1874, at 
Georgetown, and until he was twenty-two years old lived with his 
grandfather, Daniel Shafer. His education was received in the public 
schools, and when twenty years old he learned the trade of stonemason, 
which he has continued to follow off and on ever since, working for his 
neighbors principally. Farming has, however, been his principal 
vocation.  He began for himself in 1900, at Hickory Corners, where he 
had ninety acres which he farmed four and a half years. During two years 
of this time he also conducted a dairy business, running a milk team 
daily 
	
	END OF PAGE 797 
	
to Hickory Corners and Dalmatia. In the spring of 1905 he disposed of 
his farm stock by sale and went West to Arkansas, Indian Territory and 
Kansas, he and J. S. Dreibelbies purchasing a load of horses in Kansas 
and shipping them to Georgetown; they were sold  at public vendue at 
Hickory Corners. After that Mr. Shafer did railroad work, being employed 
on the Shamokin branch of the Reading road for about two years, and on 
April 1 1907, he took his present position, being superintendent of the 
Trevorton Coal Land Company's  farm of 100 acres at Dunkelbergers.  He 
is perfectly capable of filling all the requirements of this 
responsibility, and has been a faithful and efficient worker, gaining 
the respect of all his associates.
	In September, 1894, Mr. Shafer married Ada Shafer, daughter of 
Zwingle A. Shafer and his wife Sarah (Dottery), and five children have 
been born to them: Tessie, Herma, Ernest (who died when three years 
old), Curtis and Molly.  Mr. Shaffer and his family are Lutheran members 
of Zion's Church, Stone Valley, and he served for years as deacon of the 
congregation.  Politically he is a Republican.

	Adam (or John Adam) Dietrich, Mr. Shafers great-grandfather on the 
maternal aide, was a Pioneer in the Mahantango Valley in Northumberland 
county, where he took up a large tract of land by warrant from the 
Commonwealth and followed farming. He was the first to settle on what is 
now the farm of the aged Elias Bingaman, Lower Mahanoy township, and 
there he died about 1830; he is buried at Stone Valley Church. His 
children were too young to do such heavy work as plowing when he died, 
and his wife performed the work herself until they were old enough to 
help. Where this pioneer was born is not known.  According to family 
tradition he was a Catholic but William J. Dietrich, secretary of the 
Deitrich Family Association, questions this.  His wife whose maiden name 
was Shafer, died in 1848.  They had children as follows: Solomon, who 
settled in Iowa, where he died; Simon, who lived and died at 
Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., Pa.; Leonard, an invalid, who died 
unmarried and is buried at the Stone Valley Church; Michael, who lived 
in Northumberland county and is buried at Stone Valley Church (he 
married and had children Florin; and Eve, who moved away from the county 
when a young woman, and who married well.
	Florin Dietrich, son of Adam, was born in Lower Mahanoy township. 
He lived on what is now the Elias Bingaman farm, where he followed 
agricultural pursuits for some years, until the forties when he sold out 
and moved to Fulton county, Ind. He owned a large tract of land there 
which he sold after some years, moving into the town of Kewanna, Fulton 
county, where he died in 1866. He is buried there. His wife, Sophia 
(Haupt), was from the vicinity of Mahanoy Church, Northumberland county, 
and died about 1865, at the age of about seventy-five  The following 
children were born to this couple:  Solomon, who died in Indiana; 
Conrad; John, who died in Indiana, unmarried; Elias, who went to serve 
in the Civil war and died while on his way home at the close of his 
service: Salome, wife of Jacob Stepp; Catharine, wife of George Snyder; 
Susan, wife of Richard Sudden; Polly, wife of Andrew Jackson, of 
Indiana; Anne, wife of Isaac Kneiss, of Northumberland county (he is 
deceased); Mary, wife of Samuel Hutkins; and Rebecca, who married Henry 
H. Shafer.

	AUGUSTUS F. WAGNER, late of Shamokin, was a native of Little 
Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, born Jan. 11, 1849.  His 
father, Samuel Wagner, was a tailor, and followed his trade in Little 
Mahanoy township, where he also owned a small farm.  He died there, and 
is buried at Hunter station, in that township; as is also his wife, 
Catharine (Ferster). They were the parents of a large family, viz.:  
Harry; Moses; Levi; Isaac; George; Durella; Augustus F.; Rebecca, wife 
of Samuel Fees; Juda, wife of Jacob Goss; Annie, wife of Benjamin 
Zortman; Mary, wife of Henry Durk.
	Augustus F. Wagner was reared in his native township, and in his 
young manhood learned milling, which trade he followed for three years. 
In 1873 he came to Shamokin, where for about year he was engaged at day 
labor, his next work is being at the coal breakers, where he was 
employed for six years.  After that he was a miner at the  Burnside 
colliery until, on Dec. 22, 1889, he met to with the accident which 
caused his death a few weeks later, Jan. 8, 1890.  He was buried in the 
Shamokin cemetery. Mr. Wagner was a good husband and father, an 
industrious and reliable workman, and had the respect of all who knew 
him. He was a member of the Reformed Church and of the Sunday school and 
socially united with Camp No. 149, P.O.S. of A.  In politics he was a 
Republican.
	On April 4, 1870, Mr. Wagner married Laenda Ferster, daughter of 
Peter and Mary (Swenhart) Ferster, of Little Mahanoy township, and she 
survives him, living in the old home at No. 139 South Third street, 
Shamokin, where they first settled on coming to the borough. Eight 
children were born to their union: Katie died young; Charles E. died 
young; Samuel A., who holds a position in the hosiery mills at Shamokin, 
married Mabel Metz, daughter of Jonas H. Metz, and they have five 
children, Clarence A., Charles T., Sarah L., David H., and Mildred 
Frances; John J. died young; William L., of Collinsville, Pa., married 
Annie Kiehl, and their children are Margaret, William M., Edgar A. and 
Robert; Prof. Thomas J. is a graduate 
	
	END OF PAGE 798 
	
of the Shamokin high school and of Franklin and Marshall College, 
Lancaster, class of 1910; Clarence A., of St. Clair, Pa., in the employ 
of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, married Frances Thomas, of Wilkes-
Barre; George W. died young.

	WIEST. The Wiest family of the southern section of Northumberland 
county had its origin in Berks county, Pa., where one Jacob Wiest 
settled about 1758, in Oley township. The following year (1759), when 
the first tax was collected, he paid a federal tax of four pounds 
sterling, $10.64 (the Pennsylvania pound being reckoned at $2.66). In 
1759 his son Jacob, Jr. was assessed among the "single men."
	According to tradition the Jacob Wiest (1775-1811) who founded the 
family in Northumberland county, settling in that section of Mahanoy 
township now embraced in Jordan township, was in the Third generation 
from (that is, a grandson of) the Jacob who settled in Oley township in 
1758 and the third in direct line to bear the name of Jacob, which has 
always been a favorite family name, there being a fourth and fifth Jacob 
in this line. The family has become a numerous one in Northumberland 
county and its representatives are found in various vocations.
	Jacob Wiest born Jan. 5, 1775, in Oley township, Berks county, died 
Aug. 14, 1811.  He came to Northumberland county with his family from 
Yellow House, Berks county. He married Barbara Fick, born Jan. 29, 1774, 
who long survived him, dying Sept. 11, 1855. She married for her second 
husband Michael Sallende.  To Jacob and Barbara (Fick) Wiest were born 
six children: (1) John is mentioned below.  (2) Samuel, born Aug. 21, 
1795, died Jan. 3, 1867.  He was a butcher by occupation. He married Eve 
Klinger, born Jan. 16, 1794, died Jan. 18, 1870, and they had children 
as follows: John (known as "Oley John") married Lucy Beisel, was a 
farmer and lived in Jordan township (he went to California to hunt for 
gold); Jacob K. is mentioned below Hannah married Isaac Rothermel; 
Jestina (1828-1872) married William W. Shartle; Polly married Peter 
Rebuck; Catharine married Samuel Clark Barbara married Daniel Snyder.  
(3) Jacob is mentioned below.  (4) Daniel, who lived at Sacramento, Pa., 
had children: George, Edward, John and Philip.  (5) Mary married Joseph 
Tobias, (6) Catharine married Peter Klinger.
	John Wiest son of Jacob, was born at Klingerstown Feb. 14, 1794, 
and died Oct. 10, 1881. He was a very substantial business man and 
became one of the leading citizens of his section, being merchant at 
Klingerstown for many years.  He married Catharine Merkel (born Feb. 26, 
1795 died May 2, 1858) and they had children as follows: Moses, Daniel, 
Samuel, Tobias M., Jacob Hannah  (married William Deibert), Barbara 
(married David Minger), Sarah (married William Strohecker), Polly 
(married George Shartle) and Mrs. Harry Hoffa.
	Tobias M. Wiest son of John and grandson of Jacob, was born March 
3, 1829, at Klingerstown, Schuylkill county, and was engaged as a 
merchant there throughout his active life, succeeding his father in the 
business. He also conducted a general store at Gratz, Dauphin county, 
owned land in that village, and also owned several farms.  He served as 
postmaster at Klingerstown, and, all in all, was a man of prominence and 
considerable influence in his day. He died April 25, 1885, and is buried 
at Klingers Church, where many members of this family are interred. 
Tobias M. Wiest was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was 
Baum, bore him three children: Preston, who is a resident of 
Harrisburg; Victor, of Klingerstown; and Emma, married to John Connon, a 
retired resident of Venango county, Pa. His second marriage was to Mary 
Trautman, who survives him, now making her home with her only child, 
Carlos.
	CARLOS WIEST, owner and proprietor of the "Hotel Wiest" the leading 
hotel of Herndon, Northumberland county, was born Dec. 2, 1874, at 
Klingerstown, Schuylkill county, son of Tobias M. and Mary (Trautman) 
Wiest.  He was reared at his native place, and at an early age began to 
assist his father as clerk in the general store.  He was quite young, 
however, when his father died. In 1896 he purchased what was then known 
as the "Union House" at Herndon, and he still carries on the business, 
though the hotel is now known as the "Hotel Wiest." The property has 
been greatly improved during Mr. Wiest's ownership, and he has also 
enlarged the hotel, which is now one of the leading hostelries in the 
Susquehanna valley. There are twenty-two rooms, provided with steam heat 
and every modern convenience, and in connection with the hotel Mr. Wiest 
carries on a first-class livery establishment.
	Mr. Wiest is well known among the fraternities, belonging to the 
I.O.O.F. lodge at Herndon and to various Masonic bodies - Lafayette 
Lodge, No. 194, F. & A.M., of Selinsgrove, Williamsport Lodge of 
Perfection, the Consistory, and Rajah Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.  He lives 
with his mother.

	Jacob Wiest, third son of the Jacob Wiest who founded the family in 
Northumberland county, was born at Uniontown June 11, 1797, and died 
March 5, 1857. He removed to Uniontown from Klingerstown after his 
marriage, and became one of the most substantial and prominent citizens 
of that region. At the time of his death his estate was valued at 
$36,000 - a large fortune for the time and place.  He owned fully three 
hundred a acres of land, for many years operated the grist-
	
	END OF PAGE 799 
	
mill now owned by Mr. Bohner, in Uniontown Gap operated a linseed oil 
mill and also had an old-style sawmill about three hundred yards south 
of the oil mill. He built a barn near the present mill. He helped to 
build the Uniontown Lutheran and Reformed Church and was one of its 
leading members, serving many years as an elder. He married Mary Tobias, 
born Jan. 28, 1796, daughter of Jonas Tobias, and she died June 23, 
1868.  Mr. and Mrs. Wiest are buried in the Uniontown cemetery at 
Pillow.  Their children were:  Harry, Jacob (mentioned below), Rev. 
George, Mary (married John Bingeman), Elias (mentioned below), John 
(called "Philadelphia John"), William, Elizabeth (married Dr. Isaiah 
Schminkey) and Daniel (of Temple, or Yellow House, Berks county).
	Jacob Wiest, son of Jacob and Mary (Tobias) Wiest, was born at 
Uniontown, where he was a merchant for many years, later engaging in 
business, in the same line, at Selinsgrove, and afterward at McKees Half 
Falls, where he met an accidental death Dec. 27, 1871, when he was 
fifty-one years old.  His first wife, Susanna (Bordner), was a daughter 
of Peter Bordner, of Berrysburg, Pa.  Mr. and Mrs. Wiest are buried at 
Uniontown. The children of this marriage were: Mary Jane, who married 
William M. Boyer; James M.; and William, who was killed March 17, 1865, 
when twenty years old, near Fayetteville, N. C. Jacob Wiest married for 
his second wife Catharine Lark, by whom he had three children, all of 
whom died small. His third marriage was to Sarah Nace, and to them were 
born five children: Rev. Edward (of York, Pa.), Cora, Frederick, 
Jonathan (who died in infancy) and Jacob (who died aged seventeen 
years).
	JAMES M. WIEST, son of Jacob and Susanna Wiest, was born in 
Uniontown, Pa., Dec. 25, 1843. His early education was received in the 
local public schools, and later he attended Union Seminary, at New 
Berlin, in 1856-57, and for one term was a pupil at the Freeburg 
Academy. When a mere child he began clerking in his father's store, and 
he also clerked in the store of his uncle Elias, at Hickory Corners, 
with whom he lived for a number of years, he having been but two years 
old when his mother died. When less than eighteen years old, Oct. 16, 
1861, he enlisted for three years service in the Civil war. At the end 
of fourteen months he fell ill of typhoid fever and had to return home, 
remaining with his father one winter. On Christmas Day, 1862, his uncle 
Elias lost all his buildings at Hickory Corners by fire, the calamity 
being a very grievous one for him. Mr. Wiest then rejoined his uncle, 
with whom he continued for two years. During the winter of 1864 he 
assisted his father in butchering and in December, 1864, he was married. 
In the spring of 1865 he moved to Selinsgrove, where he worked for six 
years in a store of which his father was part owner.  In 1871 he moved 
with his father to McKees Half Falls where he worked in the store for 
one year. It was on Dec. 27, 1871, that his father met his death, a log 
rolling on him, and after that James M. Wiest and his brother-in-law, 
William M. Boyer, continued the business for a while, Mr. Boyer 
eventually buying out the business, which he moved farther up the river.  
In 1872 Mr. Wiest began boating on the Susquehanna canal, following that 
business for seven years.  For the next two years he was a clerk in 
Bickel's store, at Georgetown, and then moved to Vera Cruz (Malta), 
where he operated a store for the Farmers Alliance for a period of four 
years. Returning to the employ of his uncle Elias, at Hickory Corners, 
he worked for him another three years, at the end of which time he moved 
to Shamokin, taking a position as clerk etc. with B. S. Aucker, looking 
after his real estate and rents for eighteen years. In the spring of 
1907 he located at Dalmatia, where he had a desirable home on the 
principal street and there he has since lived, enjoying all the comforts 
of his life in his retirement. He owns twenty-nine acres of land near 
the town and rents it out on shares. He served as constable of Lower 
Mahanoy township, and has been always classed among the useful, 
intelligent citizens of his community, held in high esteem by all who 
know him. In politics he is a Democrat, in religion a member of the 
Reformed denomination, he and his family belonging to the Reformed 
congregation at the Dalmatia Church.
	On Dec. 11, 1864, Mr. Wiest married Elmira Wald, daughter of David 
and Rebecca (Fegley) Wald, of Montgomery county, Pa., and grand-daughter 
of Solomon and Christine (Underkoffler) Wald; Mrs. Solomon Wald died 
March 3, 1871, just a few days before completing her ninetieth year.  
Five children were born to David and Rebecca Wald, namely:  William, 
Elmira, Joshua, Lizzie and David.  Mr. Wald by his first wife, whose 
maiden name was Harner, had one son, Augustus, who died at Herndon and 
is buried at Dalmatia; he left two children, Clara and Annie.
	Mr. and Mrs. Wiest had seven children: (1) Wilmer W., a railroader, 
died aged forty-five years and is buried at Shamokin. He left a wife, 
Ellen (Spotts), and one daughter, Clara.  (2) Charles H. is mentioned 
below.  (3) John Augustus died aged seventeen years and is buried at 
Dalmatia. (4) Benton E., a carpenter, lives at Shamokin. He married 
Katie Kulp and they have children, Catharine and Allen.  (5) Mary E. 
married Milton B. Keeler, who is purchasing agent for the Kingston Coal 
Company, and their home is at Kingston, Pa. They have one child, Frances 
Ruth. (6) Selin M., baggage master for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company 
at Shamokin, lives in that borough.  He is unmarried. (7) Annie L. 
married 
	
	END OF PAGE 800 
	
Thomas Spears, an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and 
they live at Shamokin. They have had two children, Elmira and Vivian, 
twins.
	Charles H. Wiest, son of James M. Wiest, was born July 29, 1867, at 
Selinsgrove, Pa.  He received his education in the public schools. After 
working on the farm in Lower Mahanoy township for five years he began 
learning the carpenter's trade at the age of twenty, and that has since 
been his vocation. For some years he worked in Shamokin and 
Philadelphia, in 1907 locating in Sunbury and becoming a member of the 
contracting firm of C. H. Brosius & Co., contractors and builders. There 
was another member of the firm, F. R. Yeager, who withdrew one year 
after the organization of the firm.  C. H. Brosius & Co. enjoy a fine 
reputation for high-grade work, and as the work demands employ as many 
as forty-five men. Among the buildings of their construction are the W. 
A. Shipman residence on Market street; the Sunbury Daily printing 
office; the No. 3 Lythia Springs school building in Point township, 
where they also remodeled the No. 2 building; the Catawissa avenue M. E. 
Church, which they erected in 1910; and many other business buildings, 
residences and schoolhouses. Mr. Wiest is a member of Local No. 37, 
Carpenters & Joiners Union, of Shamokin, and socially belongs to 
Shamokin Camp, No. 72, Sons of Veterans, and Camp No. 30, P.O.S. of A., 
of Shamokin.  He and his family are members of the Reformed Church. In 
1893 he married Ida Witmer, daughter of Ephraim Witmer, of Lower Mahanoy 
township, and they have had four children: Stella May, Alvin Monroe, 
Madeline Elmira and a son that died in infancy.

	Elias Wiest, son of Jacob and Mary (Tobias) Wiest, was born May 8, 
1825, in Uniontown, Pa., and died July 29, 1890.  He lived at Hickory 
Corners, where he conducted the store, hotel and farm, his establishment 
being the nucleus in which all the life of the place centered. He built 
up this village during the forties, and it thrived until on Christmas 
Day, 1862, the store, hotel, a private dwelling, sheds, etc., were 
destroyed by fire; the loss being very heavy. Mr. Wiest at once 
undertook the rebuilding of the place, which to this day has continued 
to be a business center. He was a thorough business man, influential 
because of his high character as much as on account of his success, and 
though the Baker silver mine affair, in Colorado, caused him heavy 
financial loss through the assistance he gave to others, he was a 
leading man in his community to the end of his days. He was in active 
business pursuits until his death. He ran a huckster team to Pottsville, 
hauling considerable produce to that city. As a branch of his 
establishment at Hickory Corners he owned and operated the store at Vera 
Cruz.  He owned a farm at Hickory Corners, now the property of his son-
in-law, Jonathan Spotts, and in the same neighborhood had another tract, 
of thirty-eight acres.  He was the first postmaster at Hickory Corners, 
and was retained in that office until his death. In one winter he killed 
one thousand sheep, which he sold at Pottsville, besides many hogs and 
cattle.  For business enterprise he held the records in his vicinity. 
Though a busy man he found time for activity in the work of the local 
church, he and his family being Reformed members of Zion's (Stone 
Valley) Church, where he took particular interest in the Sunday school, 
being a teacher for many years and superintendent for some years.  His 
wife, Catharine (Bingaman), born April 15, 1828, daughter of Adam 
Bingaman, survived him, dying Aug. 18, 1899. They had a family of six 
children: Emma J., who is the widow of Aaron Mattis; John, deceased; 
Mary, wife of D. J. Keen; Frederick M; Jacob A., deceased; and 
Henrietta, wife of Jonathan Spotts.
	Frederick M. Wiest, son of Elias, was born Jan. 7, 1854, at Hickory 
Corners, where he spent his youth and received his education. For a time 
he was employed in sawmills in Lycoming county and then in the lumber 
regions of Lycoming and Potter counties, still later being at Peale, 
where he drove a mercantile team for the McEntire Coal Company. In 1887 
he returned to Hickory Corners, where he lived until 1889.  That year he 
moved to his present home, owning a tract of ninety-five acres in Lower 
Mahanoy township which was formerly the Dohney homestead and later owned 
by Jacob Peifer, who sold it to William Bingaman (uncle of Frederick M. 
Wiest); he sold it to Levi Kauffman, from whom Mr. Wiest acquired it. He 
has made many improvements upon the place, changing the buildings, 
fertilizing the ground, and in many ways adding to the value of the 
property, which bears evidence of his thrifty care and management. In 
politics he is a Democrat, and he has held various local offices.
	In July, 1876, Mr. Wiest married Sarah Spotts, daughter of Michael 
Spotts, and they have had nine children: William H., now of Millersburg, 
Pa.; Mary E., wife of John Witmer; Frederick M., of Hampton Roads, Va.; 
George, of Millersburg, Pa.; Daniel W.; Michael A.; John E.; Laura C., 
and Sarah E. Mr. Wiest and his family belong to the Reformed 
congregation at Zion's (Stone Valley) Church.
	Jacob A. Wiest, son of Elias, was born in Lower Mahanoy township, 
and became a traveling salesman for Miller, Bain, Beyer & Co., wholesale 
dry goods and notion dealers, of Market and Filbert streets, 
Philadelphia.  He was thus engaged for about twenty-eight years, his 
territory being in central Pennsylvania and including the counties of 
Schuylkill, Dauphin, Northumberland, Center, 
	
	END OF PAGE 801 
	
Snyder, Perry and Juniata.  He had a fine farm of seventy-seven acres in 
Upper Paxton township, Dauphin county, upon which he made his home for 
four years, only superintending its cultivation, which his son Harry 
looked after.  For thirteen years his home was at Dalmatia, whence he 
removed to Millersburg, where he had resided about five years at the 
time of his death. He died while undergoing an operation at 
Philadelphia, Nov. 17, 1905, at the age of forty-nine years, nine 
months, twelve days, and is buried at Zion's Stone Valley Church, in 
Lower Mahanoy township.  Mr. Wiest was an active member of and worker in 
the Reformed Church, and just before his death had been instrumental in 
having the Millersburg Reformed Church frescoed; one of his last acts 
was to collect the money to pay the expense of frescoing. He was always 
a liberal contributor to the support of churches and religious 
enterprises. Mr. Wiest is survived by his wife, Mary J. (Snyder) 
daughter of Jacob and Polly (Messner) Snyder and she makes her home at 
Millersburg. They had one child, Harry, who was born Sept. 30, 1876 at 
Bridgeport, in Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland county.
	Harry Wiest received his early education in the public schools, 
attending at Dalmatia and Millers burg and later taking a course in the 
business college at Collegeville, Pa. In the spring of 1895 he began 
farming, and he has been working on his own account since 1899, his 
place showing the results of good management and intelligent 
cultivation.  It is a very desirable property, lying along the north 
side of the Mahantango creek.  It was once the David Lantz homestead. 
Mr. Wiest is a progressive and industrious farmer, and he is obtaining 
excellent results from his work.  In 1898 he married Annie M. Ossman, 
daughter of Andrew and Sallie (Negley) Ossman, of the Lykens Valley, and 
they have one child, John Elias. He is Republican in politics, and he 
and his family are members of the Reformed Church; Mr. Wiest was a 
Sunday school teacher for some years, and served for a time as 
superintendent of the Sunday school at Malta.

	Jacob K. Wiest, son of Samuel and grandson of Jacob, was born Jan. 
14, 1821, in Jordan township, Northumberland county, and died April 20, 
1877. He was a farmer in Jordan township, owning a tract of 120 acres, 
and during the winter time following butchering and selling meat.  He 
was also engaged in droving, and in buying and selling cattle, to some 
extent.  For eight years before his death he lived retired, making his 
home in Uniontown, where he owned a house and where he died. He and his 
wife, Elizabeth (Trautman) daughter of Peter Trautman (whose wife's name 
was Potteiger), are buried at Klingers Church; she was struck dead by 
lightning, while walking through the kitchen. Their children were Harry, 
John T., Amelia (married Reuben Shade), Frank, Samuel, E. T., Catharine 
(married Edward Witmer, of Allentown, Pa.), Monroe (of Allentown, Pa.), 
Jacob (deceased), Preston and William.
	John T. Wiest, son of Jacob K., has long been a substantial citizen 
of Jordan township, Northumberland county. His present home is at Hebe. 
He was born in the township Oct. 4, 1846, was reared on the farm, and 
worked for his parents until he attained his majority.  For about five 
years following he worked at Klingerstown in the employ of Jacob M. and 
Tobias M. Wiest, merchants at that place, driving their huckster team to 
Pottsville as often as twice a week.  From Klingerstown Mr. Wiest moved 
to Hebe, Northumberland county, where he lived for six years, engaged in 
cattle droving, and then settled on his father's farm of 120 acres near 
that place, which he bought. After a year's ownership of that property, 
however, he sold it at a profit to John Trautman, and moved to another 
place in Jordan township, which he bought, consisting of seventy acres 
near Uniontown. He cultivated this place for seventeen years, at the end 
of that time moving back to Hebe, where he owned a house and where he 
remained for three years before moving to the farm he has since 
occupied.  This place is also close to Hebe, and consists of 125 acres, 
which he and his son Irwin owned for a time in partnership, Mr. Wiest 
finally purchasing his son's interest.  This was at one time the Henry 
Bowman homestead.  It is a fine piece of property, fertile and well 
located, and Mr. Wiest has cultivated it profitably for a number of 
years.  He built the present barn on the place in the nineties.  He is 
an industrious man and an excellent manager, and his fellow citizens 
have so approved of his integrity and ability that they have chosen him 
to serve in several public offices. He was treasurer of Jordan township 
for eight years, school director seven years and supervisor one year.  
He has also been prominent in church affairs as trustee and treasurer of 
the Hebe Church known as David's Church, of which he and his family are 
Reformed members.  He has also served the church as deacon and elder, 
having been one of its prominent workers for years.
	In 1867 Mr. Wiest married Catharine Heim, daughter of Samuel and 
Catharine (Battorf) Heim, of Washington township, Northumberland county, 
born Feb. 24, 1848; Mrs. Wiest died Oct. 12, 1908, and is buried in the 
Wiest family plot at Hebe, where a fine monument marks her grave. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Wiest were born four children Irwin H., mentioned below; Nolan 
H.; Catharine who married Maurice Brosius and they are farming people in 
Jordan township (their children are Mabel, Carlos, Frederick, Harold and 
John); and John E., who died when four years, four months old.
	
	END OF PAGE 802 
	
	IRWIN H. WIEST, son of John T., was born Oct. 21, 1868, in Jordan 
township, where he was reared to farming, working for his father until 
he was nineteen years old. He was married at that time, and then worked 
a year for his father-in-law, Simon Trautman, in the spring of 1890 
commencing. to farm on his own account, in Lower Mahantango township, 
where he rented for a year.  He then lived at Hebe for some years, and 
in the spring of 1907 moved onto his own place, 124 acres in Jordan 
township which was formerly the Henry Miller homestead. This farm lies 
along the road from Dalmatia to Klingerstown. Mr. Wiest is an 
intelligent and ambitious farmer, and is doing well.
	On Feb. 25, 1888, Mr. Wiest married Elizabeth Trautman,  daughter  
of  Simon  and  Sarah (Schadel) Trautman, and they have had three 
children, Maud, Carrie (who died in her fifteenth year) and Nora.  The 
family attend the Hebe Church, of which he is a Reformed member, Mr. 
Wiest belonging to the Lutheran congregation.  Mr. Wiest is a Democrat 
in political faith. 
	E. T. Wiest, son of Jacob K. Wiest was born Feb. 18, 1854, and was 
reared upon the farm working at home until he was grown. When quite 
young he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed at Pillow for 
fully twenty years, for some years being associated with his brother 
Frank in that business. They killed as many as twenty head of cattle 
weekly. Mr. E. T. Wiest then conducted the hotel at Uniontown (Pillow) 
for four years after which he was at Dalmatia for one year, in the same 
line. He next engaged in the mercantile business at Wiconisco, in 
Dauphin county where he remained two years.  After living for several 
years at Pillow he again embarked in the hotel business, at Hickory 
Corners, where he has conducted the "Keystone Hotel" since 1907. Mr. 
Wiest is very well known, as he has a particularly fine reputation for 
the good table he sets, and Dr. Emerick's numerous patients usually 
patronize his table when they come to town.
	On March 28, 1880, Mr. Wiest married Edith Musser, daughter of 
Henry and Annetta (Noblet) Musser, of Millersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Wiest 
have three children: Lizzie married Lane Reeser and they live at 
Wiconisco; Stella May is unmarried and lives at home; Edward H., born 
Sept. 18, 1889, married Beulah Harris, daughter of Walter and Lucy A. 
(Schaffer) Harris. Mr. Wiest and his family are members of the Reformed 
congregation of Zion's Stone Valley Church. On political questions he is 
a Democrat.

	LENTZ.  Andrew Lentz, proprietor of the "Van Kirk House" at 
Northumberland, and John H. Lentz, farmer of Rockefeller township, are 
sons of the late John Lentz, of Rockefeller township, and grandsons of 
Jesse Lentz.  The latter was a native of Dauphin county, living at 
Halifax, that county, where he owned property and followed farming. 
Among his children were: Abbie, who married Jacob Harris (deceased), of 
Richfield, Juniata Co., Pa., and now lives with her daughter at Fremont 
Pa.; Polly, who married Hiram Puntius (they live in Elkhart Ind.); and 
John.
	John Lentz, son of Jesse, was born in 1834 at Halifax, Dauphin Co., 
Pa., and was reared to farm work, which he followed all his life. He was 
married at Halifax and farmed there for some years before his removal to 
Rockefeller township, Northumberland county, purchasing the farm in that 
township now owned by his son John H. Lentz. It comprises seventy-eight 
acres, upon which he built the present barn in the sixties, and there he 
farmed until his death, which occurred March 16, 1892.  He is buried at 
the Cross Road Church,  as it is popularly known, the Emanuel 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he was a member; he served in the 
church council. He was a progressive man, and interested in the Augusta 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he was treasurer. Politically he 
was a Republican.
	Mr. Lentz married Louisa Shade, and they had children as follows: 
Julia died young; Senora married Lewis Hetrich; Andrew is mentioned 
below; Polly married William Eady, of Shamokin; Sevilla married George 
Eckman; David died young; John H. is mentioned below; Permelia married 
George Miller; Emma died young; Charles B. is resident of Herndon, this 
county; Stella died young; Bessie married George Rebuck.
	ANDREW LENTZ, son of John Lentz, was born Aug. 9, 1864, in Lower 
Augusta (now Rockefeller) township, this county, and was there reared. 
He followed farming until twenty-five years old, after which for five 
years he was in Sunbury. Returning to his farm of 120 acres in 
Rockefeller township, he cultivated it for six years, at the end of that 
period going back to Sunbury, where he conducted a hotel, at the same 
time engaging in the lumber business. For six years he was thus 
occupied, in November, 1908, purchasing the stock, good will and 
fixtures of the "Van Kirk House," the leading hotel in Northumberland 
borough, from George Hancock.  He has since carried on this hotel, which 
has thirty rooms, and the steady patronage - old and new - indicates 
that he has improved every opportunity and kept it up to standard. Mr. 
Lentz is an able business man and has shown considerable executive 
ability in the management of his affairs, for besides looking after his 
hotel business he conducts a farm of eighty-six acres which he owns, in 
Upper Augusta township, near Keefer's station, and he is engaged in 
trucking to some extent.  He and his family are members of the Wolfs 
Cross Road Church in Rockefeller township, in which Mr. Lentz has been 
an active worker, and he contributed toward the erection of the church, 
in the welfare of which 
	
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he is deeply interested. He has been particularly concerned in the 
popularity and prosperity of the Sunday school. Socially he is a member 
of Lodge No. 167, B.P.O. Elks, of Sunbury, the Protected Home Circle and 
the Conclave, both also of Sunbury.
	In December, 1889, Mr. Lentz married Laura Gonser, daughter of 
Jesse and Harriet (Houseworth) Gonser, of Snydertown, Pa., and they have 
one child, Jesse F., who assists his father with his business affairs.
	JOHN H. LENTZ, son of John Lentz, was born Feb. 10, 1872, in 
Rockefeller township, on the homestead where he has spent all but four 
months of his life.  He was reared to farming, and in the spring of 1900 
commenced on his own account, having purchased the place in September, 
1899. It is a tract of seventy-eight acres, and Mr. Lentz has made a 
number of improvements on the property since it came into his 
possession.  He has exceptionally fine live stock. Much of his produce 
is sold at the Shamokin markets, which he attends regularly.  Mr. Lentz 
is a progressive citizen, enterprising in the management of his own 
affairs and interested in movements which affect the general welfare, 
and he is vice-president and a director of the Irish Valley & Seven 
Points Telephone Company, in which he is an active spirit. He was a 
school director of his township for three years, and is a Republican in 
political matters.
	On March 8, 1897, Mr. Lentz married Henrietta Kelly, daughter of 
George Kelly, and they have three children: Orpha, Rachel and Myrtle K.