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MAINE TOWNSHIP
WILLIAM S. FISHER, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born in what is now Maine Township, Columbia County, March 7, 1836. His parents, John and Judie (KIEFER) FISHER, were born in Berks County, where they were also married. They later removed to Columbia County where they passed the remainder of their lives. About 1851, while coming back from Mainville with a load of planks, etc., the father, while attempting to guide his four-horse team, was run over by a wheel of the wagon and killed. His widow died on the 15th of March, 1885, and both are buried in FISHER's Church Cemetery. William S. was reared in Columbia County and has always made it his home. He remained at work with his father until the latter's death, after which he remained at home one year. He then worked on the farm, etc., until arriving at the age of twenty-five, when he bought a piece of land and settled down to farming for himself. In the meantime he had commenced his education in the common school of his district; then attended Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, one term, and later one term at Millville Seminary. He then taught school five terms before commencing farming and after that two terms more. He married, in this county, in February, 1861, Miss Mary Margaret BREISCH, a native of Columbia County and a daughter of George and Rebecca (WAHL) BREISCH. Her father is dead and is buried at Catawissa, where her mother still resides. Mr. and Mrs. FISHER are the parents of ten children: George Alpheus (a teacher in the common schools for the past three years), Horace M. (a stenographer and telegrapher in the employ of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, at Richmond, Va.), Fannie R. (wife of William C. STEVENSON, who is engaged in manufacturing wollen goods at Nescopeck), John L., Sarah Margaret, Pearles J., Emerson T., Irene E., William Claude and Bertha Maude. Mr. and Mrs. FISHER and family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. FISHER now has 109 acres of land, of which about 100 are in cultivation. He has served as school and election officer, and has held other township offices. He is clerk of the Union Immanuel Lutheran Church, and has been for over twenty years, having been appointed by Rev. W. J. EYER, father of Mr. EYER of Catawissa. Mr. FISHER's brother, Daniel, who lives at Limestone, was clerk of the church a number of years previous to that time.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 506)
F. P. GROVER, farmer P. O. Mainville, was born in Columbia County, Penn., September 10, 1852, a son of Michael and Catherine (MILLER) GROVER, both natives of Columbia County where they spent their lives. The father died April 2, 1876, and is buried in the Mifflin Cemetery. The mother now lives with our subject. The latter was reared in Columbia County, and has always made it his home. He married, in 1876, Miss Sarah HARTZELL, a native of Columbia County, and a daughter of Henry and Sarah (BREISCH) HARTZELL, the latter of whom is dead; the former resides in Maine Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. GROVER were the parents of five children, of whom four are living: Blanche Victoria, Mazy Elmira, Harry Gilbert and Anna Florence. The deceased one was an infant. Mr. GROVER has about 150 acres of land, of which about 120 are under cultivation. The GROVER family were early settlers of Columbia County, having come here nearly three-quarters of a century ago.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 507)
JOSEPH HARTZEL, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born May 9, 1823, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (FISHER) HARTZEL, a native of Germany. The mother was born in Berks County, Penn., and was a daughter of Peter and Sarah (YOCUM) FISHER, the former a native of France and the latter of England. Michael HARTZEL, and wife both came with their families to Columbia County in the early part of the present century, and here they married and spent their lives. The grandparents of Joseph are buried in St. Johns Cemetery at Catawissa. His father died about 1855 and his mother in 1833. The former is buried in FISHER's Church Cemetery, and the latter at Catawissa. Our subject was reared to farm life, and has always made Columbia County his home, now owning and farming the place which his father cleared. Joseph married in Columbia County, November 20, 1845, Miss Matilda JOHN, a native of Columbia County and a daughter of Hiram and Catherine JOHN, both now deceased. Her great-grandfather settled in this county in 1880, being one of the first settlers. Mr. and Mrs. HARTZEL are the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living: Martha Jane, wife of William KEIGER, residing in Mainville, this county; Alvaretta, wife of Charles PHALER, of Catawissa, this county; Fannie, wife of John A. SHUMAN, residing in Maine Township; Margaret Ellen, wife of Anderson SHUMAN, residing in Maine Township; Joseph Albert, married to Jane SHUMAN, residing in Maine Township; Hettie and Charles Franklin. The deceased are Emma, Clara and Harvey. Mr. HARTZEL has ninety-five acres in his home tract, and two other tracts of seventy-five and ten and one-half acres, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. HARTZEL and family are members of Union Immanuel Church. He has held local offices in his township, including that of supervisor, four or five terms.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 507)
MARTIN VAN BUREN KOSTENBAUDER, P. O. Mainville, was born in Mifflin Township, Columbia Co., Penn., August 30, 1839, a son of Henry and Sarah (HARTZELL) KOSTENBAUDER, both of whom died in this county-the former May 10, 1855, aged forty-five years; the latter, March 14, 1848, aged thirty-one years, and they are buried in Union Emanuel Churchyard, near Mainville. Martin V., the eldest of four children, was reared in Mifflin and Maine Township, this county, and has always made this county his home. He married April 27, 1876, Miss Susan L. RHAWN, a native of Catawissa Township, Columbia County, born April 11, 1836, a daughter of Casper and Catherine (CROOK) RHAWN. Her father was born near Halifax, Penn., reared in Liverpool, same State; died March 4, 1883, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Catawissa. Her mother was born in 1819, in Catawissa Township, where she now resides. Our subject and wife are the parents of two children: Catherine E., born October 27, 1878, and Jennie Robbins KOSTENBAUDER, born April 6, 1882. Mr. KOSTENBAUDER enlisted on the 13th of July, 1861, in Company A., Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves, and was assigned to the First Army Corps, Gen. George A. McCAULL of Lancaster commanding, and served in the following engagements: Dranesville, Whitehouse Landing, Savage Station, Seven Pines, Chickahominy Swamps and Malvern Hill. After that came the evacuation of Harrison's Landing by McClellan's forces. Mr. KOSTENBAUDER was discharged December 31, 1863, on account of disability, on papers issued by surgeon in charge, J. SIMMONS, of Davis Island Hospital. On account of the hardships endured in the defense of his country, Mr. KOSTENBAUDER returned to his home greatly reduced in health, and is now totally blind, which is wholly due to the hardships he underwent while in the service. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. KOSTENBAUDER were born in Reading, Berks Co., Penn. Her grandparents were in this State when the Indians were still numerous, and witnessed many stirring events in its early history. William L. KOSTENBAUDER, a brother of our subject, was drowned in Nescopeck Creek, Luzerne County, Penn., September 2, 1850, aged nine years. Our subject and wife are members of the German Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 507)
NATHAN MILLER, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born in what is now Maine Township, Columbia Co., Penn., December 18, 1832, to George and Eve (COCHER) MILLER. The family were originally from Berks county, Penn., and the grandfather of Nathan conducted an apple distillery on his place in the early times. Both grandparents died in this county, the grandfather in the fall of 1862, the grandmother a number of years prior. Both are buried in the Union graveyard at Mifflinville, this county. The parents of Nathan died in this county, his father in Mifflinville about 1878, and his mother about 1863; they are buried in the Union Immanuel Churchyard in Maine Township. Our subject was reared in this township, and has always made Columbia County his home. He commenced working for his father when young, and remained with him until twenty-one years of age. After that he worked for his father one year for pay, that being his first work for compensation. After leaving his father's employ he rented land in Orange Township, this county, where he farmed a place for five years. He then went to Centre Township, but after he had been there three years, his mother dying, at the request of his father he returned and farmed the home place, where he has since resided. The first year he followed agriculture in Centre Township he raised 1,121 bushels of fine wheat on forty acres of land, for which he received from $1.25 to $1.50 per bushel. When Mr. MILLER moved to the place he found very little improvements, the residence at that time being the building which he now uses as a woodshed. He has eighty-two acres on his home place, nearly all which is highly cultivated, and he has put up good and substantial improvements. He also has two other places of 54 and 106 acres respectively. He married in this county, November 30, 1854, Miss Catherine A. NUSS, a native of Columbia County, and a daughter of Charles and Chanty (MILLER) NUSS, both deceased, and buried in the Union Immanuel Churchyard. The former died in 1877, and his funeral sermon was the first one preached in the Union Immanuel Church. Mr. and Mrs. MILLER were the parents of ten children, of whom eight are living: George A., married to Tenie CONSTABLE, residing in Ottawa County, Kas.; Harrison D., married to Mary HENRY, residing in Mifflin Township, this county; Lewis H., married to Dell STEELY, residing in Maine Township, this county; Oscar F., in Nescopeck, Luzerne Co., Penn., learning the tailoring business; Nathan B., learning telegraphy; David Montgomery; Ida Eudora and Ella Catherine; Charles and Alice are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. MILLER are members of the German Reformed Church, the Immanuel Union.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 508)
J. B. NUSS, of the firm of J. M. NUSS& Son, proprietors of the Mainville mills, P. O. Mainville, was born near Mainville, Columbia Co., Penn., October 28, 1850. His parents, John M. and Mary (GEARHART) NUSS, are also natives of this county and reside at Mainville. Our subject has made the county his home, with the exception of four years spent in Philadelphia. He received his education at the common schools of his township and Williamsport; also attended for one year Dickinson Seminary, and later the State Normal School at Bloomsburg for four years. He then taught for five winter and two summer terms in a select school. In 1872 he went to Philadelphia and engaged with John J. LYTLE as accountant, and after that with SMEDLEY Bros., with whom he remained until January, 1876, when he returned to Columbia County and became identified with the milling business, in which he is at present engaged. He married, January 12, 1881, Miss Ada A. SHUMAN, a native of Mifflinville, Columbia County, and a daughter of George SHUMAN; she died December 25, 1885. Three children were born to their union: Gerald Astor, who died at the age of seven months, and two who died in early infancy. Mr. NUSS attends the services of the Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 508)
WILLIAM H. OTT, farmer, P. O. Mainville, was born near Williamsburg, Northampton County, May 10, 1833, a son of David and Mary (EVANS) OTT. The parents were born in Northampton County, and when William H. had reached the age of about seven years they removed to Columbia County, locating in Greenwood Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The mother died February 17, 1866; the father July 2, 1886, and both are buried in DeWITT Cemetery, in Greenwood Township. William H. was reared in Columbia County, where in 1860 he married Miss Henrietta E. BROWN, a native of this county and daughter of Jacob BROWN. She died in 1868. By that marriage there were four children, of whom one is living, Mary Catherine. The deceased are Edwin Brown, Eleanor Fulton and Jacob Luther (twins). Mr. OTT married his present wife in March, 1870. Her maiden name was Susan SCHELL, and she was born in Columbia County, Penn., a daughter of Edmund and Esther SCHELL, both living at Beaver Valley, this county. Mr. OTT enlisted in the latter part of December, 1861, in Battery F. One Hundred and Twelfth P. V. I., Col. ANGEROFF, afterward under Col. GIBSON. They were first assigned to the defenses of Washington; in the summer of 1864 they were sent to the front and detached to the Eighteenth Army Corps, Gen. SMITH. Mr. OTT was with his command in a number of minor engagements, also at the blowing-up of Fort Hell at Petersburg. He was discharged in the winter of 1864-65 at Virginia, and then returned home after three years of service. Politically he is a Republican.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 508)
J. D. BODINE, justice of the peace, Mainville, was born in Catawissa Township, Columbia Co., Penn., November 26, 1849. His parents, Peter and Anna M. (VOUGHT) BODINE, were natives of New Jersey, but removed with their parents to this county when young, and were married at Catawissa by Squire BALDY. The former died in 1865, but the latter is living at the age of seventy-eight years at Catawissa. Our subject, the youngest in a family of ten, was reared in Columbia County and has always made his home here, with the exception of a short time spent at Kingston, Luzerne Co., Penn. He received his education at the common schools of Catawissa, and at the age of fifteen years commenced clerking for the firm of J. K. SHARPLESS & Son, at Catawissa, with whom he remained three years. He then went to Kingston, Luzerne County, where he clerked for about six months, when he came to Centralia, this county, and clerked for William TORRY about the same length of time. He then returned to Catawissa and again entered the employ of SHARPLESS & Son, with whom he remained three years. In 1875 he came to Mainville and engaged in mercantile business until the spring of 1884, when he sold out to W. M. LONGENBERGER. Mr. BODINE was elected school director of Maine Township about 1880, and served for three years as secretary of the board. He was elected justice of the peace of Maine Township in 1880, served his full term, and in 1885 was again elected to the position. At his first election he succeeded W. T. SHUMAN, who had filled the position for twenty-five years. Mr. BODINE married at Renovo, Clinton County, this State, may 1, 1879, Miss Eliza SHARPLESS, a native of Columbia County and a daughter of J. K. and Mary M. (HARDER) SHARPLESS. Both parents are living at Catawissa. Mr. and Mrs. BODINE are the parents of two children; both are living: Ray S. and Anna M. Squire BODINE is a member of the Sons of America, having joined in 1870. He was State Marshall in the State Camp of the order one year, and was first member initiated by the Catawissa Camp, and one of the charter members of Washington Camp, No. 258, at Mainville, in which camp he has filled all the chairs. He is a Democrat politically, and has several times been a delegate to the county conventions of that party. The family attended the services of the Methodist Church.(History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887 pg. 506)
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