Jacob Messner, hotel keeper, Loyalton, Pennsylvania, was born in Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 22 March 1861, the son of Philip Messner and Anna Mary [Dockey] Messner.
The father, Philip Messner, was born in the same township in 1817, and was educated in the subscription schools of his time. He was brought up a farmer, but learned the trade of carpenter when a young man and followed that occupation and bridge building and grading roads and other kinds of contracting. He came to Tower City about 1871 with his family having been engaged there since 1868. He was one of the first builders at Tower City an helped to build up the place, having erected twenty seven houses, and the Pottsville Road and many bridges. In 1873 he located on a farm of fifty acres between the Susquehanna River and the railroad and up to the time of his death gave his attention principally to farming. He died on his farm in 1883 and his wife died in February 1884, and they are buried side by side in the cemetery at Vera Cruz, Northumberland County. Their children were:
Isaac Messner;
Elizabeth Messner;
Rebecca Messner;
David Messner;
John Messner;
John Messner;
Ellen Messner;
Emma Messner;
Julia Messner; and
Jacob Messner.
Jacob Messner attended school in his native place until he was nine years of age when, in 1871, he removed with his parents to Tower City, where he continued in school for two years, after which he was employed in the mines at $3.50 per week. His father allowed him to retain his wages and in one year he saved $90. He completed his education in the schools of Upper Paxton Township, where his parents located on a farm. He remained at home until he reached manhood, when he engaged in farming on his own account. He was married in Lower Paxton Township, to Miss Emma Searer, daughter of George Searer. After marriage he located on the John Loutz place, which he farmed from 1873 to 1889. During 1890 he was engaged in contracting and building houses. The carpenter trade came natural to him, as his father was of that occupation. In 1891 he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in bridge and carpenter work, between Harrisburg and Renovo, and assisted in repairing the bridges after the awful flood of 1891. In 1892 he came to Loyalton and engaged in hotel keeping with Jonathan Zerby and subsequently became proprietor of the Loyalton Hotel.
His children are:
George Messner;
Philip A. Messner;
Mary E. Messner;
Esther S. Messner;
Harry A. Messner; and
Lloyd Messner.
In politics, Mr. Jacob Messner is a Republican and is a member of the Lutheran church, of which he was once a trustee.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
From a local newspaper [probably the Elizabethville Echo] at the time of his death, November 1943:
JACOB MESSNER
Jacob Messner, age 82 years, died at his home in Millersburg, Monday. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Millersburg.
Survivors are three sons and two daughters: Lloyd Messner, Millersburg, R.D.; Harry Messner, Lewisburg; George Messner, of Harrisburg; Mrs. WIlliam Zerbe and Miss Stella Messner, of Millersburg. Thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral Services will be held from the residence at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon. Rev. C. L. Mogel, pastor of the Millerburg Lutheran Church, will officiate, and interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, that place.
See also:
Findagrave Memorial #122634736. Jacob Messner died 29 November 1943 in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery at that place.