Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....Sick, Charles S. 1841 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2008, 12:51 am Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899) CHARLES S. SICK. - When the record of Sullivan county is written the history of Charles S. Sick should occupy a prominent place on its pages, for he is one of the leading business men. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution; and his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his. As farmer, merchant and postmaster of Cherry Mills, he is widely known, and the community regards him not only as a prosperous business man, but also as one of the most progressive and valued citizens of the locality, for his support is ever given to the measures which are calculated to promote the general welfare. Mr. Sick has spent his entire life in Sullivan county, his birth having occurred about a half mile from his present home, on the 13th of February, 1841. The family is of German origin, and the ancestry can be traced back to the great-grandfather, who was a native of Prussia. The grandfather, Joseph Sick, was born in Baden, Germany, and there spent his entire life, following farming and shoemaking. He married a Miss Reinbold, and died in 1832, at the age of fifty-one years. The record of their family is not complete. One of their sons, Joseph, died in Baden, while Charles, the father of our subject came to America. A daughter, Frances, married a Mr. Seifred and came to the United States, locating in Philadelphia, where she died soon afterward. There were several other daughters of the family, but all account of them has been lost. Charles Sick, father of our subject, was born in Baden, Germany, in October, 1815, and in the land of his birth learned the shoemaker's trade, which he there followed for seven years. Hoping to benefit his financial condition, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, in 1836, and located in Camden, New Jersey, where he worked at his trade for a year, receiving seven dollars per month in compensation for his services. He then purchased a shop, which he conducted two years, after which he sold out and came to Cherry township, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania. That was in 1839, and Sullivan was then a part of Lycoming county. Here he purchased seventy-one acres of land, at three dollars per acre, and in connection with agricultural pursuits he carried on his trade until his death, which occurred July 22, 1877.He was a man of considerable prominence in the community, and held a number of township offices, discharging his duties in a prompt and able manner. In 1840 he married Miss Hannah Reinfried, who was born in Germany and was brought by her parents to America in infancy. She died in April, 1863, at the age of forty-four years, and with her husband lies buried in the Germany cemetery at Dushore, Pennsylvania. They were both members of the Catholic church, and in his political views Mr. Sick was a Democrat. They reared a large family of children: Charles; Caroline, who was born August 30, 1842, and is the wife of Henry Stohl, a resident of Cherry township; Joseph, of Cherry township, who was born July 25, 1844, and married Emma Gravely; Leo, who was born February 18, 1846, and died, leaving a widow, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Elizabeth Younkin; Lydia, who was born January 23, 1848, and is the wife of Ralph Litzelman, a farmer of Cherry township; Wendell, a farmer of the same township, who was born September 11, 1849, and married Sarah McDonald; Mary, who was born June 16, 1851, and is the wife of John Litzelman, an agriculturist of Cherry township; Hannah, who was born May 10, 1853, and is the widow of Joseph Cook, of Dushore, Pennsylvania; Augustine, who was born in March, 1855, and died in November, 1857; Rosina, who was born March 15, 1857, and is the wife of Edward J. Weisbrod, a farmer of Cherry township; Julius, a farmer of Nordmont, who was born December 30, 1861, and married Dora Sperry; William, who was born November 28, 1863, and married Kate Kelly, of Overton, Pennsylvania. Charles S. Sick, whose name introduces this review, was reared on his father's farm in Cherry township until twenty-two years of age, and assisted in the development and cultivation of the fields. He then went to the lumber woods, where he worked for four years, at the expiration of which period he returned home with a capital of one thousand dollars, as the result of his industry and economy. He then purchased a gristmill of Benjamin Sylvarie, for which he paid thirty-five hundred dollars, and operated the mill for eleven years, when he traded it to John Dado for the place which he now owns. The mill is now carried on by his brother Joseph. After his retirement from milling, Charles S. Sick turned his attention to farming, and his richly cultivated fields well indicate his careful supervision and progressive methods. In 1882 he also embarked in merchandising which he has since followed, and for some years he has engaged in loaning money and discounting notes. He is a man of splendid business ability and sound judgement, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. For the past twenty years he has served as postmaster of Cherry Mills, and in the discharge of his duties has been most faithful. On the 29th of June, 1866, at Cherry Mills, Mr. Sick married Miss Hannah Yonkin, who was born in Cherry township March 26, 1846, a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Suber) Yonkin. The latter was a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Frowndelder) Suber, of Schuylkill county, whence they removed to Sullivan county. Peter Yonkin was born in this county, December 2, 1823, and died in Cherry township, June 9, 1897, his remains being interred in Germany cemetery. He was a farmer throughout his entire life and was a leading and influential citizen, who held a number of local offices, including that of justice of the peace, in which capacity he served for ten years. His wife, who was born in Schuylkill county, March 15, 1824, is still living on the old homestead in Sullivan county. She is a member of the Reformed church, while her husband belonged to the Lutheran church, and was a Democrat in his political affiliations. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Caroline, wife of John K. Bird, an extensive farmer of Millview, Pennsylvania; Hannah, the honored wife of our subject; Adam, who died at the age of four years; Joseph H., who married Hannah Mosier, and is living on the old family homestead; Elizabeth, widow of Leo Sick, of Cherry township; Emma M., a resident of Elmira, New York; and Levi, who married Orilla Wentzel, and is a farmer of Cherry township. Mrs. Sick has spent her entire life in Sullivan county, and is most widely and favorably known, her many excellencies of character bringing her the high regard of all. She has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmeet during the thirty-two years in which they have traveled life's journey together, sharing with him in the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity, which checker the lives of all. They have become the parents of four children: Cora, wife of John Gross, proprietor of the hotel at Cherry Mills; Allie, wife of Morris Baumgardener, a railroad man of Sunbury, Pennsylvania; Blanche and Edna, twins, at home. The members of the family have many friends in the community and the household is noted for its hospitality. The parents are members of the Reformed church, and Mr. Sick exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party. In business circles he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and his success has resulted from his own well directed and honorable efforts. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania by Thomas J. Ingham Compendium of Biography The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago: 1899 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 8.4 Kb