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/712

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

became the owner of a gristmil). In the lat­ ter years o f his life he moved to Virginia, where his death occurred. H e and his w ife were the parents of eight children. Geotge L . Reagan received a common school education, and as a young man c n g a g ^ in the lumber business with a brother, in Schuylkill county. Deciding upon a medical career, he disposed o f his business interests, and cntcrc<l the Vcnnont Medical College al Burlington. V t., from which he w as g rad ­ uated. I)uring the following eighteen years he practiced his profession at Shcnandoali. Schuylkill county, and in 1878 came 10 Co­ lumbia county and settled at Berwick, where he was engaged in practice for more than thirty-two years. H e had been the first phy­ sician at Shenandoah, and continued to hold many o f his patients even after coming to Berwick, where he built up a large country practice. In connection with his practice he conductc<l drug stores at Shenandoah and Berwick. In his death, which occurred April 7, 1 9 1 1, Columbia county lost one o f its emi­ nent medical men, and a citizen who alw ays held the interests o f his community at heart. H e was an active member of the county and State medical societies; of Knapp Lodge. No. 462, F. & .A. M .. and of Berwick Lodge. No. 246, Odd Fellow s: and with his w ife attended the F irst Sfethodist E p i .s c ^ l Church. Politi­ cally the Doctor was a Republican, and he had been a member of the council for three terms, liaving the honor o f being chosen to the first council of the borougli. On .Aug. 7. 1 866, D r. Reagan w as married to T illie E. Dielrick. who was honi Ju ly 7. i8?9. at Benvick, Pa., daughter o f Jacob and Eliza (Sn yd er) Dictrick. natives of Little Y o rk. Pa., o f German descent. They came to Bervvick at a very early dale, M r. Dietfick establishing himself in business here as proprietor of the only shoe stand in Berwick for a number o f years. Both he and his w ife died here, the parents o f three children: Charles, a resident o f Ocean Grove. N. J .; M ary, the widow o f John L. Freas, living at B en vick : and Tillic I'.. There were several stc|)-brothcrs and step-sisters. M r. Dictrick having been nwrried three times. G E O R G E M IC H A E L BOWF.R. the old­ est living citizen o f Briarcreek township. Co­ lumbia county, was bom at F-vansvillc. that township. Dec. 20, 1822. son o f George Michael and M argaret (Zencr) Bower. John Bower, the grandfather o f G coigc Michael Bower, was born in Germany and

emigrated to America in young manhood, finally Jettling on a farm in Briarcreek town­ ship, where ne passed the remainder o f his life. H e and his w ife, who was a Hill, were members of the German Lutheran Church, and arc buried in Briarcreek township, at Uie old Brick Church. They were the parents of the following children: Jacob, who m a r r i^ Catherine Zimmerman; tolomon, who m ar­ ried M ary E v a n s; Abraham, who married Nellie R em ley; Daniel; Esther, who m arried Bastian K in tc r; Philipcna, who m a r r i^ David W hitm ire; and George .Michael George .Michael Bower, son o f John Bower, and father o f George Michael Bow er ( 2 ), was born on whal is now the lohn Fester farm, in Briarcreek township, Columbia Co., P,a. He received a public school education, and in young manhood learned the trade o f weaver, but subsequently turned his atten­ tion lo farm ing, owning a tract o f fifty-three acres which he devoted to general agriculture. There he raised his own flax, from which he wove carpets and linens. H e spent his en­ tire life at Evansville, and w as actively en­ gaged in work up to within seven years o f his death, which occurred when he was eightyone years old. During the early days, when Montour and Columbia counties were known as Columbia county, he w.is a frequent passencr on the old packet boat which plied to ‘anvillc. He was a Democrat in politics, and served on various occasions as jurym an at Danville. U p lo the age o f sixty years lie was a member of the German Lutheran Cliurch, at that time changing to the United Evangelical Church, in the faith o f which he died. H e and his w ife were buried at E van s­ ville, where they had been so long and so favorably known. M rs. Bow er bore the maiden name of M argaret Zcner. and w as a daughter o f Gcoige and .Annie (Zim m erm an) Zener. .She and her husband Itad the follow­ ing children: Sarah, who married WiUiam W hitm ire: Isaac, who niarricd Elizabeth Hagenbuch; Reuben, who married Sarah D iclterick: Samuel, who married Sarah W 'right; Daniel, who marricil M argaret ReniIcyand (second) M ary Rem ley; Hannah, who marric<l Henry M a n z; George M ichael; Cath­ erine. who married D iaries W hitm ire; Enos, who died at the age o f sixteen y e a rs; and Isaiah, who married Hannah Hagenbuch. George .Michael Bower, son o f George Michael Bower, received his education in the okl jiay schools o f Briarcreek township, and with the exception of one year worked with Ills father until the latter’s death. D uring that

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