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Page: 121
P. H. FURMANN is recognized as a public spirited citizen
of Shamokin. progressive, highly educated and He is at
the head of one of the largest and most important
pursuits which have so greatly contributed to the
prosperity and advancement of the town as a commercial
and manufacturing center.
Our subject was born in Bavaria in 1863, received a
thorough education and graduated from a college at
Frankenthal, Germany. After leaving college he assumed a
responsible position with Kline, Shanzlein & Becker of
Frankenthal, manufacturers of brewing machinery, thus
gaining extensive and valuable knowledge of the
machinery used in and of the brewing business which he
has well utilized. In 1880 Mr. Furmann came to this
country and accepted the responsible position of
superintendent for the Charles D. Kaie (sic) Brewing
Co., at Mahanoy City. So efficiently did he apply his
knowledge of brewing and so wisely did he manage the
affairs of the concern that the business was
surprisingly increased and he was rewarded by being
taken into the firm in 1892, remaining a member until
his removal to Shamokin.
Mr. Furmann was married to Caroline B. Hahn of
Philadelphia on November 3, 1896, and to them has been
born one son, Harry, born October 3, 1897. Mr. Furmann
is a prominent member of the Benevolent Order of
Protective Elks.
Our subject is to-day at the head of one of the most
modern and most complete brewing plants in the state
which is regarded as a great credit to the commercial
progress of Shamokin, as well as a fitting monument to,
the energy, skill and .integrity of Mr. Furmann. Away
back in 1855, when beer was a new beverage in Shamokin,
the brewery was founded by Gottleib Fritz, being a
comparatively insignificant concern with a small output.
Not until 1871, when Martin Markle secured control of
the plant, were improvements made which were of
significance and
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then the capacity was so increased as to afford an
output of 10,000 barrels per annum. On March 1, 1895,
our subject became the proprietor of the brewery by
purchase and he immediately added improved machinery and
modern methods and infused new life into the enterprise,
doubling the output of beer in a brief time. Being an
astute and progressive man Mr. Furmann determined to
meet the demands of the lower anthracite coal fields and
added to his already large business the manufacture of
ale and porter, the output of which averages about 5,000
barrels per annum. Our subject remained sole proprietor
of the business until October 1, 1896, when Mr. Max
Schmidt joined him. The brewery since has been conducted
under the firm name Furmann & Schmidt. The new firm
erected at Washington and Commerce streets a fine
two-story, brick, cold storage house and bottling works
which is 75 feet square and architecturally handsome. In
this building also are the finely finished offices of
the firm, and adjacent to it the large stables.
Page: 119
ANTHONY GOLEMBIEWSKI, a recent portrait of whom we take
pleasure in presenting on the opposite page, is manager
and stockholder of the Polish Lithuanian Brewing Company
of Danville, Pa., which is one of the largest brewing
companies in Central Pennsylvania and has a reputation
for turning out first-class lager beer, porter and the
purest of ale. Our subject was born in Jejsorki, Poland,
May 12, 1863, and is a son of Thomas Golembiewski.
Thomas Golembiewski, the father of our subject was born
in Poland and resided in his native country all his
life, engaged in the pursuits of an agriculturist. He
was the progenitor of a large family of children, one of
whom was Anthony, the subject of this biographical
sketch.
Anthony Golembiewski was reared and educated in his
native country and at the age of nineteen years
immigrated to the United States and located in New York
City. He moved to Hazleton, Pa., a short time later and
engaged in the brick-making business, and later in
mining in the same town. Moving to Luzerne County, Pa.,
he located in Nanticoke, where he embarked in the hotel
business, which he continued until June 12, 1895, when
he removed to Danville and with P. H. Coyne, Thomas
Butkiewicz, president, John Zukoski, treasurer, and
Simon Savage, charter members, purchased the above-named
brewing company of P. P. Smith, assignee of the
Polish-American Brewing Company. The plant is located at
Nos. 16 to 34 Spring street; the main building is a
four-story structure; the machinery in this building is
set in motion by a large engine which has two boilers,
one a 100 horse-power and the other a 60 horsepower; in
the ice plant is stored a large quantity of barley and
hops; the cold-storage room contains the cooling vats,
twelve in all, which have a capacity of 150 barrels
each. The company manufactures about eighteen thousand
barrels of beer per annum; has a large supply-house at
Scranton, Pa., where
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there is a great demand for its beer; and gives
employment to forty hands, and has sixteen fine teams
which are kept constantly busy delivering throughout the
city.
Mr. Golembiewski was united in marriage to Julia
Uszinski, a daughter of Simon Uszinski of Nanticoke,
Pa., and they are the parents of ten children, as
follows: Stanley, Anthony, Annie, Victoria, Charles,
Vincent, and Mary; and Adam, Joseph, and Frank,
deceased. Our subject and his family are popular members
of the German Catholic Church of Danville. Mr.
Golembiewski is one of the most prominent and hustling
business men of Danville, and is held in high esteem by
his fellow-citizens and acquaintances.
Page: 201
MARTIN I. HENNESSY. Prominent among the influential and
enterprising business men of the town of Bloomsburg, is
the gentleman whose name heads this narrative, who is
proprietor of the Bloomsburg Bottling Works. He was born
in Centralia, Columbia County, Pa., September 17, 1868,
and is a son of John and Catherine (Larkin) Hennessy.
John Hennessy was a native of County Galway, Ireland,
and at the age of twenty-one years he left his native
country, came to the United States and engaged in mining
until his death. His latter days were spent in
Centralia, Columbia County. Mr. Hennessy was united in
the bonds of wedlock to Catherine Larkin and a family of
five children was born to them, namely: Martin I., the
subject of this personal history; John; Mary; Thomas;
and Catherine. His widow now resides in Bloomsburg.
Our subject received his intellectual training in the
public schools of Centralia and at the age of nine years
he began work in the breakers of that town; at the age
of sixteen years he went with his father and engaged in
mining for four years. He then learned the trade of a
plasterer and bricklayer, which occupation he followed
five years. At the age of twenty-five years he purchased
the Bloomsburg Bottling Works, which was established by
Mr. O'Blosser who was succeeded by his wife, she by
Peter Gross and he upon his death by E. P. Cameron, who
was succeeded by our subject in 1894. When Mr. Hennessy
took possession of the establishment it had a small
trade, but by the closest attention and honest dealings
he has succeeded in building up a large and paying
patronage. He handles over 2,000 barrels of beer and
various kinds of carbonated drinks and has an extensive
patronage in Bloomsburg and the surrounding villages.
Mr. Hennessy formed a matrimonial alliance with Clara
Gross, a daughter of Peter and Philopina (Young) Gross.
Peter Gross was born in Swarton, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria,
Germany, June 20, 1825, and during his youthful days he
learned the trade of a stone-
Page: 202
mason. In 1860 he came with his family to the United
States and located in Kingston, Pa., and later moved to
Danville, Pa., where he followed the puddler's trade. In
1871 he migrated to Bloomsburg and purchased the
O'Blosser Bottling Works, which he rebuilt and enlarged,
carrying on the business until his death, November 21,
1890. He wedded Philopina Young and they reared a large
family of children, namely: Jacob, deceased; Philip,
deceased; David; Margaret, the wife of Charles Ball;
Lena, who married John Denniker; Daniel, deceased;
William, a resident of Bloomsburg; Clara, the wife of
our subject; Peter; Elizabeth; and John.
To our subject and wife were born two children: John,
born in Bloomsburg, June 22, 1894; and Frances Clara,
born in Bloomsburg, November 26, 1897. Mrs. Hennessy
departed this life January 3, 1899. Our subject is
interested in local and general matters and politically
votes the straight Democratic ticket. He is a valued
member of the community and by his upright dealings and
habits of thrift and industry has secured the confidence
and esteem of his neighbors.
Page: 296
DAVID FRED REICHERT, wholesale agent, is one of the
representative German-American citizens who are so
prominent and active in the ranks of the responsible
business men of America. Indeed, it is sometimes said
that to be a German-American means to be a better
citizen than the native-born American and in that
respect Mr. Reichert is one of whom any nation might be
proud. Honorable and upright in every way, he takes a
deep interest in the welfare of his county and is ever
ready to forward its interests, either by personal
service, or financially, as seems most desirable. Mr.
Reichert was born in Trevorton, Pa., April 21, 1862. He
is a son of John Charles and Caroline (Yuengling)
Reichert, and grandson of Gottleib Reichert of Rohordorf,
Germany, who spent his entire life in that country.
Not so with the father of our subject who was born in
Rohordorf in 1819 and immigrated to this country when a
lad, starting out in life with less than one dollar,
thus giving an example of the courage and get-ahead
spirit which has so fully descended to his son, the
subject of our sketch. Before leaving his native country
Mr. Reichert had learned the brewer's trade; but not
immediately succeeding in getting work in that line he
at once began to earn his living by hewing timber in and
about the mines of Schuylkill County, Pa., and spent two
years in the mines at West Wood as a laborer. After a
short time spent at that occupation, working at Swatara,
near Tamaqua, Pa., he accepted the position of brewer
with the Yuengling Brewing Company of Pottsville, Pa.,
where he remained for five years. At the expiration of
that time he removed to Northumberland County where he,
in company with Gottleib Fritz, founded a brewery, now
known as the Eagle Run Brewery and operated by Furmann &
Schmidt. After three years of partnership, Messrs.
Reichert and Fritz decided to separate their interests
and that was done, the former selling out to the latter.
Mr. Reichert then removed to Trevorton, Pa., where he
accepted the position of wholesale agent for the
Yuengling Brewing Company in Shamokin and Trevorton,
this being in the year 1857; and at the same time was
united in the bonds of holy matrimony to his present
widow; he retained this position until his death on
September 29, 1883. His wife, who is a daughter of Jacob
Yuengling of Aldingen, Germany, and to whom he was
married in 1857, is still living. Mr. Reichert was one
of the founders of the Lutheran Church in Trevorton,
Pa., and a regular attendant thereof. To his marriage
four children were born: Mary, who is married to Clement
Martz of Williamsport, Pa.; Caroline, who lives at home;
David Fred, our subject; and Clara, the wife of Walter
Grant of Philadelphia, Pa.
David Fred Reichert was educated in the public schools
of his native town, Trevorton, and remained at home with
his father until 1880, when he began to work in the
mines: however, he only remained there for fifteen
months, when he was so seriously injured that he was
compelled to lay off for six months; at the end of that
period he again entered the employ of his father and
retained the position
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until his father's death. That event caused the transfer
of the business to his mother for one year, during which
time he remained as manager. At the expiration of that
period the business was put entirely into Mr. Reichert's
hands, his mother retaining a nominal interest in it. As
a wholesaler of beer and liquor, Mr. Reichert has a
large trade and in connection with that he carries on a
bottling business, putting up sodas, porters and beers.
He is also interested in real estate in the vicinity of
Trevorton. Politically Mr. Reichert is a Democrat and
has filled several offices, showing the esteem in which
he is held by his fellow-townsmen, having been township
auditor for two terms, tax collector for one term,
township treasurer for one term, and at the present
writing he holds the position of township school
director. Following in his father's footsteps, Mr.
Reichert is a devout Lutheran, and was largely
instrumental in obtaining the funds for the erection of
the fine church of the Lutheran congregation which now
adorns the town of Trevorton, and upon which was
expended nearly $6,000, a large sum to be raised in a
small town.
Mr. Reichert was married to Jane Dunkelberger, daughter
of Simon S. Dunkelberger of Trevorton, Pa., June 7,
1887, and their union has been blessed with the birth of
five children: Esther Mabel, born October 20, 1888;
Bertha Clara and Frederick William (twins), born March
26, 1889; Charles S., born May 19, 1890; and Roy R.,
born September 10, 1896. As a good citizen, husband and
father, Mr. Reichert stands among the first of
Trevorton's influential men.
Page: 639
MARTIN MARKLE, formerly proprietor of Eagle Run Brewery,
of Shamokin, Northumberland County, has by his honest
and upright dealings won the respect and confidence of a
large circle of friends among the leading business men
in his section of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Markle was educated in the common schools and
remained on the homestead farm in Germany until he
attained the age of seventeen years. In April, 1852, he
immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York
April 23, 1852, remaining in that city but a short time,
however, and then removing to Slatington, Northumberland
County, Pa., where he entered the employ of the Lehigh
Coal & Navigation Company as lock-tender, which occupied
his attention for nineteen years.
In 1862 our subject engaged in the mercantile business
and conducted a store at the lock, which place is known
to this day as "Markle's Lock." In December, 1871, he
located in Shamokin and purchased the John B. Douty
brewery, now known as Eagle Run Brewery, which he
successfully operated until 1895, when he sold his
business to P. H. Furmann and practically retired from
active business pursuits, reaping the benefits of a
reward commensurate with a life of industry and
frugality.
Our subject was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February
12, 1835, and is a son of George and Barbara (Souter)
Markle, and a grandson of Jacob and Kathrina Souter on
the maternal side. His father held a civil office under
the German government for forty years; he died in
Germany about 1890. Our subject is one of a family of
seven children, most of whom are accounted for as
follows: George Jacob, who came to America two years
after our subject and settled in Greenfield, Mass.,
where he conducted the Germania Hotel for a period of
twenty years,--he died September 22, 1898; Casper, who
immigrated to the United States in 1857 and since 1866
has resided in Greenfield, Mass., a cutler by trade,
having been engaged in that business ever since he left
his native country; and George and Christina, both of
whom reside in Germany.
Martin Markle was married, June 17, 1852, to Helena Eith,
daughter of Casper Eith, a native of Germany. By this
union were born seven children: Hannah, wife of Pius
Schweibenz, who owns a brewery in East Mauch Chunk;
William M., who at the time of his death, August 18,
1898, was proprietor of the Central Hotel in Shamokin;
Amandus, who is in the employ of the Eagle Run Brewery;
Helen, wife of Daniel Stahl, foreman of the same
brewery; George F., a resident of Uniontown,
Northumberland County, and a dairyman by avocation:
Sarah, widow of Charles Tretter, who resides with her
father
Page: 640
in Shamokin; and Cecelia, wife of Francis Rankey, a
manufacturer of paper boxes in South Bethlehem, Pa. Mrs.
Markle died November 9, 1898.
Mr. Markle enjoys the distinction of being one of the
most enterprising and progressive citizens of his
adopted home. He is a director of the First National
Bank of Shamokin and has been treasurer of the bank for
thirteen years; a director of the Shamokin Powder
Manufacturing Company; assisted in organizing the
Shamokin & Mount Carmel Street Railway Company, and is
one of its present board of directors; and also a
director and treasurer of the Shamokin Street Railway
Company. He is a Christian gentleman and a valued member
of the Lutheran Church. In his political views he is
very decided and is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian
stamp. A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Markle is shown on a
preceding page.
Page: 655
WILLIAM B. TAYLOR, one of the bright and energetic young
business men of the town of Bloomsburg, Columbia County,
who is proprietor of the largest bottling establishment
in the county, was born in Roaring Creek township,
Columbia County, in the old log house which stood at the
foot of Cinder Tip of Esther Furnace, and is a son of
Franklin and Elizabeth (Bonawitz) Taylor, and a grandson
of George and Mary (Giger) Taylor.
George Taylor, the grandfather of our subject, was of
sturdy Scotch-Irish descent, born in Virginia, and was a
veteran in the War of 1812. He learned the trade of a
miller at Brandywine, Chester County, Pa., and later
moved to Columbia County, where he was employed for
seven years by John J. Bowman of Catawissa. He followed
the trade of a miller all his active days, and was
considered among the best in his line of business. He
was joined in wedlock to Mary Giger, a daughter of
Conrad Giger, and a family of ten children was the
result of this union, namely: Washington; Franklin, the
father of our subject; Maria; John; Caroline; Harriet;
Sarah; Martha; Margaret J.; and Martin. Mr. Taylor died
at the age of fifty-five years; his wife lived to the
age of eighty-four years.
Franklin Taylor, the father of our subject, was born at
Bowman's Mills, now Ash Mills, in Briarcreek township,
Columbia County, Pa., January 27, 1823, and during his
boyhood days he worked with his father learning the
trade of a miller, and remained in his employ until his
father's death. He then worked for the Esther Charcoal &
Iron Furnace Company for eighteen years, and later
became keeper of the same works. In 1863 he removed to
Bloomsburg, where he found employment in the foundry
works for twenty
Page: 656
years. In 1887 Mr. Taylor was appointed janitor of the
Fifth Street Public School, a position he holds at the
present time. He purchased a home at No. 147 Fourth
street, where he is spending the remainder of his active
days. He was wedded to Elizabeth Bonawitz, who was born
in Dauphin County, Pa., August 3, 1828. They are the
parents of the following children: Jennie, deceased;
Charles, a molder residing in Bloomsburg; George,
deceased; William B., whose name heads this sketch;
Annie and Margaret, deceased; Harry, a merchant by
profession; Franklin, deceased; and Clarence, deceased.
William B. Taylor received his schooling in the public
schools of Bloomsburg. During vacations he worked in a
brickyard, carrying brick and later at scraping castings
for B. F. Sharpless; and next at mixing mortar and
carrying a hod. Later he served an apprenticeship with
J. H. Sterner for several years at the carpenter's
trade. For a year he worked at car building; then was
bartender for his father-in-law for three years, after
which he engaged in contracting with W. H. Rhodomoyer as
partner. Subsequently our subject bought W. H. Gilmore's
bottling works, the largest of the kind in Columbia
County. He has added two buildings, 45 by 80 feet and 25
by 80 feet respectively, to the works. Three teams are
kept constantly busy delivering. Our subject makes a
specialty of bottling ale, porter, carbonated drinks and
Bartholomay lager beer.
Our subject resides in a neat little residence located
at No. 128 Iron street. He formed a matrimonial alliance
with Lillie M. Gilmore, a daughter of W. H. Gilmore, and
granddaughter of William and Hester (Quiger) Gilmore,
both natives of Connecticut.
W. H. Gilmore came to Columbia County in 1852 and
followed farming until 1862, when he enlisted in Company
E., I32d Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., and served gallantly
throughout the war. The most notable battles in which
Mr. Gilmore participated were Antietam, Fredericksburg,
and Chancellorsville. After the close of the war he
conducted a saloon for thirty-three years, and in 1883
he started the bottling business now owned by our
subject. He wedded Emma Wicht, a daughter of William
Wicht, and they reared the following children: Lillian,
William, Charles, Mary and Harry.
Our subject and wife are the parents of eight children,
namely: Emma E.; Charles H.; George F.; Jennie M.;
Lillian M.; Hattie B., deceased; Annia K.; and Willie D.
Mr. Taylor is a stanch Democrat in his political views;
socially he is a member of the O. U. A. M. of
Bloomsburg.
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