Daniel Schuckers:

Daniel Schuckers and his family came to Jefferson County in 1852. He was a mine foreman in Schuylkill County and suffered from miner’s asthma. At that time much of western Pennsylvania was covered by large tracts of virgin pine forest and he was told that if he came among the pines he would get well.

Accordingly, Daniel and his wife, Elizabeth, and their several children, including a small baby, and the grandfather, Henry Schuckers, started the long slow trek to Jefferson County in a covered wagon. Finally, they reached their destination; land that they had bought about three miles west of the present town of Reynoldsville. This became the Schuckers homestead.

Sarah Schuckers, the eldest child married Henry Kroh and after the death of her father and mother took over the farm and cared for the younger brothers and sisters. Henry Kroh, my great grandfather, was engaged extensively in the lumber business and it was he who built the large white house which has been home to seven generations.

Sarah and Henry Kroh had seven children but only three grew up because four of the small daughters lay dead at one time of the dreaded “black diphtheria” which spread through the countryside and took so many children. My grandmother, Ida Kroh, was one of the children who survived. She was a teacher in the public schools and also gave piano lessons.

Ida Kroh married Alonzo Haines and after the death of her parents owned the farm. Mr. And Mrs. Haines were members of the Methodist Church and were active in community affairs. Mr. Haines serving on the school board and in different capacities locally. Alonzo and Ida Kroh Haines were the parents of eight children: Floyd, who died in infancy; Fred, of Pittsburgh; Clarence, of Brookville; Mrs. Sra Wise, of Sykesville; Herbert, of Reynoldsville; Arlyne, a teacher, died at the age of twenty; Mrs. Mary Ann Hartz, of Philadelphia; Beryl, of Reynoldsville. Ida Kroh Haines died in 1931 and Alonzo died in 1937. They are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Emerickville.

After attending DuBois Business College, Herbert Haines bought the farm in 1935. He married Miss Helen Burtop, a teacher, in 1936. They have two children: Vera, who married A. J. Matour of Philadelphia and John, who married Miss Myra Engle. Mr. And Mrs. Haines are members of the Reynoldsville Presbyterian Church where he has served as an elder. He is also a member of the John M. Read Lodge F. & A. M., a Past Member, and a member of the Jefferson Royal Arch Chapter in Brookville. Because, like his father and grandfather before him, he was very civic minded and interested in any project that would better serve the community. He served twenty-three years on the school board and six years on the County Board of Education and as president of the County Board for four years. He was instrumental in consolidating our schools.

He was also secretary of the Winslow Township supervisors for twelve years and served as chairman of the Jefferson County A. S. C. program for nine years and helped to organize it in the beginning.

Herbert Haines retired in 1980 at which time his son, John, brought his family consisting of his wife, Myrna, and children, Bradley, Lisa and Robert, from Ohio, and is now residing on the farm making the sixth generation to own the old Schuckers homestead and the seventh generation to live there.

- Submitted by John H. Haines

from “Jefferson County Pa History 1982”, published by the Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. pages 286 - 287.

Transcribed by Steven A. Stahlman