Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/479

 COI.UMBIA ANT) MONTOUR COUNTIKS o f Colum bia county. H e was bom in Green­ w ood township on I'eb. 37, 1838, and w as a descendant o f an honored old fam ily o f Gern u n e.xtraction which had emigrated to this cou n ty from New Jerse y, and which w as a branch of the Jkelcr fam ily that had come to A m erica in it< o . Joseph E g glcr (a s the nam e w as then spelled), the grc.it-grandfathcr o f E lija h K . ikeler. upon his arrival in this cou n try settled in Bclvidcrc, N . J . H is occu­ pation w as farm ing, and he died in that Slate. A t the outbreak of the Revolution he promptly enlisted with the Colonists, and throughout that historic conflict unselfishly rendered serv­ ice to his country. A n d rew J . Ikeler, a son o f Joseph, w as united in n u rrlagc to Christina Johnson, and the young couple migrated to Columbia county from New Jerse y, covering the entire dis­ tance on horseback, and likewise bringing with them their ]iersonal effects. T o Andrew J . and Christina Ikclcr, and their exodus to Greenwood township, the Columbia county branch of the Ikeler fam ily ow e their exist­ ence. M r. Ikclcr took over about one thou­ sand acres in the sparsely settled township, which is still owned by their descendants, and on this tract he and his w ife passed the re­ mainder of their days. 'Fhe death o f Andrew J. Ikeler occurred in 1854, at which time he w as eighty years o f age. H is w ife C hris­ tina survived him twelve years, and at the age o f ninety-three passed aw ,iy in 1866. Their bodies were buried in the fam ily plot on (he old homestead property, in a little hallowed burying ground, at a rnnuntic spot. During his day M r. Ikeler attained great prominence as a citizen o f his locality, l i e held many public offices in his community and in the county, among which w as that o f county magistrate in or about the year 1835. For a long time he w as a colonel in the militia, and he raised a r<^m cnt for the w ar o f 18 12 and personally led it to the battlefield. (In another account it is stated that William Ikclcr w as the name of the founder of the Columbia county branch of the Ikclers. W'ill­ iam Ikeler also came from N ew Jersey and settled on a farm that was later occupied by G t»rgc Ikclcr. the date of the lattcr's oc­ cupancy being given as approxinutely one hundred and twenty-five years ago. H is w ife’s fwtmc w as Barnhart, and their issue were four children: .Andrew, W illiam, Eliz.ibcth nnd Barnabas, all but (he last named settling in tircenwood township. Andrew w as Imrn April 18, 177 3. H e m arried Christina Ann Johnson, who w as born in 1774, ami w as (he

3

421

daughter o f Isaac Johnson, who cainc from New Jersey. ".Andrew J . Ikeler and his w ife C hrislina,’’ says this other account, "h ad six children, Elizabeth, W illiam J ., M argaret, Isaac, .Andrew J ., and Johnson II., all o f whom settled in Columbia county.” H e died on N ov. 24. 1850, and she on Dec. 29, 1865. M r. Ikclcr w as a I>cmocrat, served as a coinmis.sioiier and supervisor, held other township offices, w as a colonel of the militia and w as c.illcd out during the war, but returned after ten days' service, as he w as not required. H e was not a member o f any church, but w as a liberal contributor to the sup{K>rt o f religious work.) Isaac Ikeler, son o f Andrew J ., died in 1884 at the age o f eighty ye ars. H e married M ary T aylor, a n.itivc o f N ew Jersey, who sixiy-five years. ■J'lieir bodies were interred in Mount Pleas­ ant township, Columbia county. Isaac Ikeler w as widely known and eminently respected as a sut,*cessful farm er. E lijah R . Ikclcr w as the son o f this worthv couple. H e w as reared in the township o f his nativity and received the common c<lucation which the schools of (hat vicinity afforded. A t the age o f sixteen, he entered Grcemvootl Sem inary, an institu­ tion o f learning located in Millville. When IClijah liccame older he learned the trade of miller, serving his apprenticeship in the place which has Ik c h a milestone on the pathway o f his education. H e eventually purchased this Inisiness. which he conducted until he was almost thirty years of age. In (865 the young man movc<f (o Bloomsburg. A year Col. John G. Freeze, and had registered with him a s a student o f law. On .April 1st of the year that he came (o town he started his association in the office o f Colonel Freeze. T w o years later young Ikeler. who had not yet reached his thirtieth year, w as admitted to the Columbia county bar. T w o years previous to his admission he had purchased the Coluinhia Democrat, and had consolidated that publication with the S ta r of the N orth. designating the allied sheets as the Democrat and S tar. .A year later he sold out his interest ill this publication. During the C ivil w ar Mr. Ikclcr .iclivcly supported the Union cause. In i8fi9. by the suffrage o f his townsmen, and by virtue of the record which had been attained by the com paratively young attomc)'. M r. Ikclcr w as elected to the office o f district attorney o f Columbia county. In his official capacity he fi^ireil prominently in (he notable .Molly M aguire trials. l.atcr. when Hon.
 * »asscd aw ay in 1879,
 * >rior to that date he Iiad approached the late