Biographies from West Branch, Abbott, & Stewardson Townships, Potter Co., PASubmitted by Barb HydeWEST BRANCH TOWNSHIP WILLIS CONABLE, merchant and lumberman, West Branch,
was born in West Branch township, Potter Co., Penn., May 26, 1849.
He remained at home, working on his father' s farm and in the lumber
camp, until twenty-four years of age, when he bought a farm, which
he has improved. In 1883 he built a store and embarked in general
mercantile business, this being the first commercial enterprise started
in West Branch township. Mr. Conable is a progressive man, and has
been successful in his business ventures, He was married, November
22, 1872, to Miss A. J. Vanhousen, of West Branch, and they have three
children: Blanche I., Ina and Edward D. Mr. Conable is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, Eulalia Lodge, No. 342, Coudersport. ABBOTT TOWNSHIP CHARLES MEINE, physician, Germania, son of Philip Meine,
was born in Hessia, Germany, in 1830. He was reared and educated in
his native country, and graduated from the gymnasium at Rinteln, University
of Marburg. Owing to political and military difficulties, he was compelled
to leave Germany, and so came to America in 1854. He studied medicine
in Germany, and completing his course in this country, graduated at
the Buffalo Medical College, and at Germania (Potter Co., Penn.),
of which village he is the founder, he began the practice of medicine,
and has been its only physician. In early days, as well as now, to
a large extent, all difficulties among the German population were
settled by arbitration, and the Doctor's decision was as binding as
a decision of the supreme court. No citizen of the town is more highly
respected than he. He is a gentleman of rare intellectual abilities,
and one of the ablest of Potter county' s men. As a physician he stands
in the front rank, and has one of the largest practices in the county.
He married Mary Sandbach, and they have four children. The Doctor
is a member of Eulalia Lodge, No. 342, F. & A.M. He is a Democrat
in politics, and has been postmaster of Germania for the past ten
years. LOUIS F. MEISSNER, merchant, Germania, a son of Charles
A. Meissner, was born in Rahway, N.J., in 1853. His parents removed
to Germania in 1858, where his father was engaged in the mercantile
business, and also in farming, being in business there until his death,
February 10, 1889. His mother is still a resident of Germania. Their
children are Charles A., Wilhelmina (Mrs. H. Bach) and Louis F. Louis
F. was reared on a farm in Germania, but at twelve years of age was
associated with his father in the mercantile business, under the firm
name of C.A. Meissner & Son. He is now one of the leading merchants
of the place. He was married, in 1874, to Theodosia Schwarzenbach,
and they have seven children: Wilhelmina, Cecelia, Clementina, Charles
A., Ella, Martha and Louis F., Jr. Mr. Meissner, in politics, is a
Republican. JOHN SCHMID, brewer, Germania, a son of John Martin Schmid,
is a native of Germany, and, although he has lived in Germania only
three years, is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens.
He came to America in 1871, and first located in Philadelphia, where
he lived fifteen years. In 1886 he removed to Germania, Potter county,
and built a brewery, which he has since successfully conducted, and
Schmid's lager has gained a wide reputation as one of the best beers
in the market. Mr. Schmid married Miss Rose Strahley, and they have
a family of three children: John F., Katie and Harry. In politics
Mr. Schmid is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic
party. JOSEPH SCHWARZENBACH, brewer, Germania, a son of Simpertus
Schwarzenbach, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1822. He came to America
in 1851, and located in New York City, where he worked at his trade,
marble carver, for four years. He worked on the capitol building at
Washington, D.C, two years, and then removed to Philadelphia. He was
also employed on the post-office building at Washington, as carver
of marble. He came to Germania, Potter Co., Penn., in 1858. In 1855
he married Louisa Seebalid, in Philadelphia, and their children are
Theodosia, Roland, Herman, August, Virginia, Louisa and Emanuel. Mrs.
Schwarzenbach died in 1884, and he then married Cilia Eberle, in New
York City. Mr. Schwarzenbach began brewing in 1858, has since been
engaged in the manufacture of lager beer, and is now one of the two
licensed brewers in Potter county. He is a radical in politics, has
been postmaster of Germania, and by an act of the legislature was
made a road commissioner. He is one of the popular German citizens
of the county. AUGUST SCHWARZENBACH, P.O. Galeton, a son of Joseph
Schwarzenbach, was born in Germania, Potter Co., Penn., in 1863. In
1882 he went to Galeton, where he has lived for seven years, being
employed in the interest of the Consolidated Lumber Company of Williamsport,
of which he is a stockholder. He buys for them real estate, timber
(standing and lying), and all kinds of lumber, including all hardwoods.
He is a member of Tiadotten Lodge, No. 9811, I.O.O.F., at Gaines,
Tioga Co., Penn., and also of the Encampment. He was married, August
1, 1888, to Isabel Fowler. HENRY THEIS, merchant, Germania, was born in Paterson,
N.J., in 1857, the only son of Henry and Sophia Theis. His parents
removed to Germania in 1859, where his father engaged in the mercantile
business until his death, which occurred in 1874, and since then the
business has been conducted by Henry, under the firm name of S. Theis
& Son. Mr. Theis, as will be seen, was but two years of age when
his parents moved to Germania, and here he was reared and received
his early education. He later attended school at New York City, and
for one year was at Poughkeepsie. He is a young man of good business
ability, fine attainments, and stands high in the community in which
he lives. He was married, in 1880, to Jennie Schwarzenbach, and they
have three children: Otto, Henry and Sophia. Mr. Theis is a member
of Eulalia Lodge, No. 342, F. & A.M. In politics he is a Democrat,
and was elected to the office of justice of the peace in 1880 (a position
he still holds), and a school director, in 1884; he has been president
of the school board ever since. He and his wife are members of the
German Reformed Church. AUGUST J. VOSS, proprietor of the Germania Hotel, Germania,
was born in Germany, in 1858, a son of Frederick and Lydia (Von Senden)
Voss. Frederick Voss died when August was a child, leaving to his
widow the care of two young sons, George and August. In 1863 Mrs.
Lydia Voss came with her children to America and located in Germania,
Potter Co., Penn., where she lived until her death, May 3, 1874. August
J. was reared and educated in Germania, and, since old enough to work,
has been identified with its business interests. He is now the proprietor
of the Germania Hotel, a business for which he seems especially adapted,
making a popular and successful landlord. Mr. Voss was married October
23, 1880, to Lizzie Noelk, and they have one child, Harry J. In politics
Mr. Voss is a Democrat. STEWARDSON TOWNSHIP Back to Top BURT OLSON, proprietor of hotel at Kettle Creek, a
son of Martin and Herminia Olson, was born in Norway in 1845. His
parents came to America in September, 1852, and located at New Bergen,
Potter Co., Penn. Ole Bull wished to form a settlement of his own
countrymen here, and the representations he made induced many to come.
Ole Bull himself made this his home for a year and half, after which
the immigrants were thrown upon their own resources. In the winter
of 1853-54, Martin Olson was killed in the woods, leaving his family
unprovided for, as far as finances were concerned, and Burt and his
widowed mother were compelled to struggle for a living as best they
could. In November, 1855, the town of Germania was laid out, and the
two found employment as housekeepers for a party of surveyors, remaining
there until the spring of 1856, when they removed to the old turnpike
bridge, which was their home until 1870.
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Last Update April 9, 2009