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/714

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COI.UMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

born at Catawissa, same county. Oct. 20, 1877, son o f Charles P. and A lice (H artzel) Pfahler. V Jam es F. Pfahlcr, grandfather o f Dr. Prahlcr, w as to m ,tt Heidelberg, Germany, and came to the United States at an early day, settling in Columbia county, Pa., near Catawissa. There he became a tanner, and carried on that line o f business throughout the remainder o f his life. Charles P. P fah lcr was to m in Columbia county. Pa., and like his father b<xamc a unn er, conducting an extensive business of that kind at Catawissa until his retirement. H e is now residing at Catawissa. H is wife was a daughter o f Josepli Hartzel. who bc^ longed to a pioneer fam ily o f this county, and was a fan n er all his life. M r. and Mrs. P fah lcr have had two children; Nellie, who is living at home, and Jam es F. Jam es F. P fah ler attended (he common and high schools o f Catawissa, graduating from the latter, following which he entered the U niversity o f Pennsylvania, and after a five years’ course was graduated from the depart­ ment o f medicine o f that institution in 1901. H e then entered (he VN'cst Pennsylvania Hos­ pital at Piit-'burg, where he remained a year, gaining a very valuable experience. In 1903 lie came to Berwick and entered upon general practice, and he is now the busiest physician in his locality, having a steadily increasing ]>atronagc. Dr. P fah lcr is a member of the Columbia County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania State Medical Association, and fraternally belongs to the Masons at Beravick and the Odd F'elTows at the same place. On Sept. 18, 1907. Dr. P fah ler w as m ar­ rieii to Catherine Eyer. a native of Catawissa, Pa., daughter o f Luther and Jan e (C lark) E v er, toth o f whom arc rcsid ii^ at Cata­ wissa : her Lather is a fam ier. Airs. Pfahlcr is one o f four children bom to her parents: WilUam. who is a resident o f Columbia county; David, who is deceased; Mrs. P fah ­ le r; and George, who is living at Catawissa. Dr. and M rs. Pfahlcr have no children. They arc consistent members of the Lutheran O iurch.

great-grandfather founded the fam ily in Am erica, coming from his native Germany, and locating near Easton, Pa., where he be­ came a farm er and rounded out a useful life. Frederick Hess, the grandfather, was bom in the vicinity o f Easton, P a., and while g ro w ­ ing up on the farm and learning agricultural duties was also taught the trade o f a mason, following il until 18 12. In that year he left his early home and came to Columbia county, settling near Lim e Ridge, in Centre township, in the vicinity of the canal lock. Bu yin g a tract o f fifty acres o f timberland, hc bcgan developing a farm from the wilderness, passi i^ through all the incidents and privations o f pioneer life in this section. Upon his land he erected a house and necessary outbuildings, and while operating his bn d followed his trade and conducted the Stotiypoint fe rry, so that his time w as fully occupied. Protobly he overexerted himself, for he lived only eight years after coming to Columbia county, dying in 1820, and was buried in the B rick Church cemetery in Briarcreek township. Frederick H ess married Catherine H enry and (second) Elizabeth Henr>-, who died in Centre township in 1847, and was buried in the H idlay Church cemetery. She bore her husband four children: H e n ry; Susan, who married Samuel Hagenbaugh; Rebecca, who married David Colem an; and Elizabeth, who married Charles Hagenbaugh. H enry H ess, son o f Frederick H ess, w as to m near Easton, Pa., Dec. 12, 1808, so was in his fourth year at the lime of the family migration to Columbia county, and therefore was practically reared within its confines. Growing up in the wilderness, he developed sturdiness o f body and character, and learned early lo work to~some purpose. Losing his father when only twelve years old, his educa­ tional opportunities were limited, especially as he was the only son in the family, and his widowed mother naturally had to depend upon him, although he lived with his father's cousin. John Hess, o f Wapwallopen. L u zcm c C oPa. F o r the seven years following his father’s death Henry Hess remained with this cousin, assisting him in the w'ork of the fann. and V V ILLIA M H. H E S S, a retired farm er, of at the expiration o f that pcrioil returned to Centre township. Columbia Co., Pa., and a Centre township, Columbia county, where he veteran of the C ixil war. was to m in the learned the trade of wheelwright niii! at»o same township in which he still resides, Jan. wagonmaking with Michael Ilagenbani’ Ii, one of the leading wagonmakers o f his day and 14. 1844. The Hesses arc of German extraction, as locality. Completing his apprenticeship, Mr. arc so many of the old and prominent fam ­ Hess settled at Lim e Ridge, in Centre town­ ilies of the Keystone State. The paicmat ship, where he worked at his allied trades,