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/616

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and w as nude assistant treasurer, the position he now holds. On March 16, ty io, M r. Bittner w as n u r­ ried to Sophia E. Moore, who w as born Ju ly 2 1 ,1 8 8 2, daughter o f W. W. and Annie (W al­ ton) Moore. M r. Bittner is a Republican, and he and his w ife are memtors of the P res­ byterian Church. M r. Bittner, by his pleasing personality and promptness in all business matters, has won an enviable place among his associates, and is recognized as a rising nun in his chosen field. C H A R L E S E. H O W E R, o f Bloomsburg. plastering contractor, commands the leading business in his line in and around that borough. H e was bom Aug. 13, 1856, in Mount Pleas­ ant township, and the family is an old and honored one in Columbia county. T lic Howers are o f German origin. Michael H ower. great-grandfather o f Charles E. H ower, w as an early resident o f what is now Catawissa township, Colum bu county, where he settled about the latter part o f Ihe eigh­ teenth century, being one of the first pioneers in Ihat section. H e acquired the ownership o f several hundred acres o f land, on which he lived and died, .-mong his children were John, Daniel, Jacoh, Moses. George, and Seto.stian. John H ower, son o f Michael, was bom Ju n e 24. 1700, in Catawissa township, and died Sept. 30. 1870, at Bloomsburg, where he passed his latter years in retirement, having moved to the town in 1858. During most of his active life he w as engaged in farming in Columbia county, in Catawissa. Hemlock and Mount Pleasant toivnships, though he w as a hatter by trade. H e ser^'cd as a soldier in the w ar o f j8 i 2. On A pril 6, 1817, he married Rebecca Davis, who w as bom in .ugust, 1798, daughter o f Jonathan Davis, an earl)* settler near Catawissa, and died May 30. t888. Mr. and Mrs. Hower are buried in Rosemont cemetery, Bloomsburg. T hey were the par­ ents of the following children: Elizabeth, bom Aug. 8, 1818, died M arch 6, 1 8 6 8 : 1.avina died at the age o f eighteen y e a r s; Ruthanna. bom March 1 . 1822, died A pril 7. 1 8 6 1 : Hiram C.. bom in M arch. 1824. had for years the largest dental practice at Bloomsburg and was also engaged in business there; William E.. born A pril 22. 1826, died Jan . 10. 189 9; Ja c k ­ son M. is mentioned to lo w; Phcto torn Ja n . I t . 1831. died N ov. 22. 1889: Rebecca A., to m Nov. 28. 1832. died two years ago: H arriet J .. bom March 25. 1835. died one year .ago; John A., torn Ocl. 15. 1837. died

Aug. 5, 1867, in Bloom sburg; .zima '., born Jan. 1842, now living in Bloomsburg, mar­ ried Ruth Ziegler, and they have three chil­ dren. Gertrude, Jessie and Charles R. Three of the sons serv'cd in the Civil w a r: Jo h n A. enlisted for three years in the 6th Pennsyl­ vania Rcscr-cs, and led the band when they left Bloom sburg; Azima V. served in Comjxmy E. I32d Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in Company B, 103d Pennsylvania Regiment, and saw active service to the end of the w'ar; Jackson M. also served in the 6th Pennsyl­ vania Reserves and was a member of the band. Jackson M. H ow er w as bom Ju n e 6, 1828. in Catawissa township. H e learned the trade o f plasterer, and UTOn his return home after his services in the C ivil w ar engaged in busi­ ness for him self in that fine, at Kloomsburg. continuing thus until his death, which o c c n r r^ Sept. 2 1, 1894. He m arried Rebecca Ann 'andersHce, who died M arch 20, 1904, aged seventy-nine years, three months, sixteen days, and is buried with her husband in Rosemont cemetery, Bloomsburg. T hey had children as follow s: John F ., who died in 1869. at the age o f eighteen ye ars; Catherine A ., w ife of J) t . J . C . K isner, o f Carlisle, P a .: C harles E.. o f Bloomsburg: Elizabeth, lirtng in B e rw ick : Henry W .. o f Bloom sburg; and Dr. H iester ‘., a well known physician o f Mifflinville, Columbia Co., i'a . John Heister Vanderslice. father o f Mrs. Jackson M . H ower, was torn Aug. 9, 1805. and died Oct. 26, 18 7 4; his w ife, Catherine A. (M elick). died Oct. 5, 1865. aged sixty-tw o years, nine months, ten days.'T licir son. Henry V.. w as bom Dec. 22. 1826. died N ov. 22. 1 ^ 7 . Joseph Vanderslice. father o f Jo h n H.. died Feb. 6, 1828, at the age o f forty-seven years, and his w ife, Rebecca (H e iste r), died .ug. 19 .18 6 7, aged eighty-five years, two days. Hts old shotgun, an old style flint-lock weapon, was handed down to his great-grandson. Charles E . Howcr. who had an up-to-date gun nvide from it which he still uses, and which is greatly valued in the family. It is almost seven feet long. T. J. Vanderslice. brother o f John H.. to m in February, t8o8. died Dec 18. i8 8 t. Charles E. H ow cr attended public »cboc.! and worked on the farm until seventeen years old. H e then came to Bloomsburg and learned the trade o f plasterer, which he has ever since followed, engaging in business for him self in 1880. H e and his brother, Hcnr)- W. Howcr, formed a partnership in 1900. under the firm name o f Ilo w cr Brothers, and they became the