Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....MAGAREL, Jacob B. 1869 - 
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  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 3:26 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  JACOB B. MAGARGEL. Among the foremost and enterprising merchants of Sullivan
  County, Pa., is the gentleman whose biography we write, who has been engaged in
  the mercantile business in the village of Sonestown since 1891, and who at
  present keeps one of the most complete general stores that can be found in the
  country. He is also recognized as one of the valuable members of the community.
  He was born in Sonestown April 2, 1869, and is a son of Thomas S. and Phoebe E.
  (Houseknecht) Magargel, and grandson of Britten Magargel, who resided in the
  city of Philadelphia during his early manhood, but later moved to Lycoming
  County, Pa., where he conducted a merchandise store and operated a farm.
  
    Thomas S. Magargel was born and reared m the city of Philadelphia, and his
  youthful days were spent attending the district school and assisting his father
  in the cultivation of his father's farm and working in his store. In early
  manhood, Mr. Magargel took up his residence in Sonestown and rented the old
  Taylor Hotel, which he later bought, and rebuilt into a handsome three-story
  house, containing seventeen rooms, which he furnished throughout with the latest
  conveniences. He conducted this hotel until his death, which occurred in 1889;
  the hotel was the most popular stopping-place for the traveling public in the
  community and was classed among the best hotels in its section of the county. He
  was united in marriage with Phoebe E. Houseknecht, a daughter of Jacob and
  Susanna (Sones) Houseknecht, and they became the happy parents of the following
  children: Harry, a farmer by vocation, married Belle Ray and they are the
  parents of four children, —Brewnard, Schuster, Emerson, and Wort; Ella May is
  the wife of Lincoln Sheets; Clara was united in marriage with Charles Starr and
  they are the parents of two children,—Celia and Frank, deceased; Jacob B. is the
  subject of this personal history; Frank is a prominent merchant of Muncy Valley,
  Pa., and his wife is Cora Crawley; Ralph is living at home; and Maude, deceased.
  Our subject's mother is one of a family of ten children, namely:-John, Julian,
  Peter, Betsey, Jacob, Benjamin, Daniel, Charles, Mary Jane, Issachar. and Phoebe
  E. Mrs. Magargel conducted the hotel after the demise of her husband until
  January 2, 1899, and is a lady much respected for her many excellent traits of
  character. Our subject's father was an unwavering Democrat and held the office
  of commissioner and constable; fraternally he was a member and past grand of the
  I. O. O. F.
  
    Jacob B. Magargel attended the district schools and the Muncy Normal and then
  taught some five terms in all in the public schools of Sonestown; his first
  venture into business was -in the year 1891, when he and his brother Frank
  purchased the mercantile store then owned by Jacob Lorah. They also
  
  bought the building which was erected by Jacob Lorah in 1876 and was a two-story
  frame 24 by 60; they carried a complete line of goods such as is carried in a
  general store and succeeded in establishing an enviable trade. Later our subject
  purchased the interests of his brother Frank, who went to Muncy Valley, Pa.,
  where he opened a like store; Mr. Magargel has greatly increased the stock since
  taking full possession of the store and by his honest and straightforward ways
  of dealing has gained the confidence and good-will of the entire community. Mr.
  Magargel also owns a fine and productive farm consisting of 102 acres and has
  men to cultivate the same for him, as his time is too much taken up in his store
  to attend to agricultural work.
  
    Politically, Mr. Magargel is a solid Democrat and takes an active interest in
  any enterprise that tends to promote the interest of his native township and
  county. He was appointed postmaster of Sonestown on April 5, 1893, and held the
  office until February 20, 1896. During his stay in office he gave complete
  satisfaction to the community. Fraternally he is a member and past grand of the
  I. O. O. F. and has passed through all the chairs of the P. O. S. of A.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
    Extracted from:
      
      Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
      Published by 
      Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
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