Minerd.com Biography of Henry and Anna (Halfpenny) Schreiner of Rohrsburg and Chester, PA

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Anna (Halfpenny) Schreiner
(1879-1959)

Anna Beatrice (Halfpenny) Schreiner was born on March 10, 1879 in Rohrsburg, Columbia County, PA, the daughter of Calvin and Caroline (Minerd) Halfpenny.

At the age of 21, on Dec. 17, 1900, she married Henry Schreiner (May 8, 1879-1947), a native of Hazelton. Henry was a moulder at the time of marriage. His parents -- Adam and Martha T. (Hill) Schreiner -- were natives of Germany, and their name also has been spelled "Schriner."

Their six known children were Merle Dougherty, Adam H. Schreiner, Caroline McCabe Bramble, Marie B. Webster, Helen Lee and Kenneth Schreiner.

In 1910, when the census was taken, the Schreiners made their home on a farm in Greenwood Township, Columbia County. Anna's 21-year-old unmarried brother Warren Halfpenny boarded in their dwelling that year.

Old covered bridge in Columbia County, PA

Anna was named in the 1924 Bloomsburg Morning Press obituary of her brother Ira, and at the time she lived in Chester, Delaware County, PA.

The 1930 census shows the family in Chester, residing on Kerlin Street. Henry, age 54, was employed there as a moulder for Atlantic Steel Castings Company.

Stricken with pemphigus -- an auto-immune disease where blisters form on the skin -- added to chronic kidney disease, he passed away at age 71 on Nov. 24, 1947.

Anna in 1950 lived in Chester and provided a roof for her separated daughter Marie Chew and granddaughters Linda and Betsy Ann.

She died of a heart attack in Chester on Aug. 31, 1959, at the age of 80. Burial was beside her husband in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Boothwyn, Delaware County. Mrs. Elwood Webster, of Chester, who provided vital information for the death certificate, was unable to furnish the maiden name of Anna's mother.

Sprawling Chester, PA, looking toward the Delaware River

~ Daughter Merle (Schreiner) Dougherty ~

Daughter Merle Schreiner (1904-1988) was born on Oct. 2, 1904 in or near Greenwood Township, Columbia County, PA.

She was joined in wedlock with James F. Dougherty (1906- ? ).

One known son born to the pair was Lawrence James Dougherty.

Grief swept over the family when their son Lawrence, only five months in age, contracted a lung infection and tension headaches. He died two days later on July 21, 1930, with the tender remains lowered under the sod of Lawn Croft Cemetery.

The Doughertys dwelled in Parkside, PA in 1930 with him working as an oven tender for an electric company and in Chester, PA in 1940, at which time James earned a living as an electric utility laborer. They made their home in Swarthmore, PA in the 1970s and '80s.

The grim reaper of death cleaved her away on July 9, 1988. Burial was in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, PA.

The fate of James is not yet known. Research is underway to determine whether he is the same "James F. Dougherty" (Nov. 15, 1905-1993) who died on March 5, 1993 and sleeps for the ages in the same cemetery as Merle.

~ Son Adam H. Schreiner ~

Son Adam H. Schreiner (1906-1996) was born in 1906.

On March 26, 1932, he entered into marriage with Mildred A. Schluster (March 16, 1905-1993). Their wedding ceremony was conducted in Delaware County, PA .

The pair did not reproduce.

Adam earned a living for years as an electrician with Sun Oil Company refinery at Marcus Hook, PA. He held a membership in the Chester Lodge for more than half a century and also belonged to the Penn Forest of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon and the Shriners.

Their longtime home was in Chester, PA, and later in Parkside, PA. Adam retired from Sun Oil in 1968, following a career which had lasted for 35 years.

Sadly, Mildred passed away at the age of 87 on Jan. 17, 1993.

The widowed Adam spent his final years with a niece, Linda Campbell, in Macungie, PA. There, at the age of 89, he died on Feb. 19, 1996. An obituary was published in the Wilmington (DE) News Journal. Interment was in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, PA.

~ Daughter Caroline C. (Schreiner) McCabe Bramble ~

Daughter Caroline C. Schreiner (1909-1979) was born in 1909.

On Sept. 20, 1934, she wed her first husband, Thomas J. McCabe Jr. (Sept. 11, 1907-1952), son of Thomas J. and Emilie (Fischer) McCabe of 504 West Fifth Street, Chester, PA. The pair exchanged vows in the Church of the Immaculate Heart in Chester.

Together they bore a son, Thomas J. McCabe III.

The McCabes dwelled in the 1935-1940 timeframe in Chester, Delaware County, PA. There, in 1940, he was employed as a ship painter in a shipyard and she as a beautician in her own beauty shop.

Then in about 1942, Thomas switched occupations and worked for the city police department in Chester. He held this job for a decade. Their address in 1952 was 508 West Fifth Street. Socially he was a member of the Eagles and Owls and belonged to the Chester Police Association.

The family was plunged into grief on the fateful day of July 9, 1952 when the 44-year-old Thomas suffered a massive heart attack in their kitchen and was pronounced dead on arrival at Chester Hospital. His remains were lowered into eternal repose in Immaculate Heart Cemetery in Linwood, Delaware County. An obituary in the Delaware County Daily Times said that these fellow police officers served as pallbearers -- Sgt. Joseph Bail and Sgt. Howard Winfree and patrolmen Vincent Boles, Edward Spellacy, Joseph Vankoski and Fred Dugan. Detective Joseph Ryan gave remarks representing the Fraternal Order of Police.

In time, by 1972, Caroline married William H. Bramble (Aug. 31, 1916-1994). Their address in the 1970s was 2609 Lincoln Avenue in Claymont, DE.

Sadly, Caroline passed away at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, PA on July 11, 1979. The Wilmington (DE) News Journal printed an obituary. She was survived by three grandchildren. Interment was in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, PA.

William survived his wife by 15 years and remained in Claymont. Death plucked him away on Oct. 27, 1994. Burial was in Lawn Croft. A notice of his death was announced in the Wilmington News Journal.

Son Thomas J. McCabe III (1941- ? ) was born in about 1941. He resided in Chester, PA in 1979.

~ Daughter Marie (Schreiner) Chew Webster ~

Daughter Marie Schreiner (1915-1972) was born on Aug. 3, 1915 in Chester, Delaware County, PA.

In 1942, at the age of about 27, she first wed John William Chew ( ? - ? ). The wedding was held at Elkton, possibly in Maryland.

Their duo of daughters were Linda Campbell and Betsy Ann Watson.

The Chews separated in the latter half of the 1940s. Marie took her daughters and moved back into her mother's home in Chester. She filed for divorce in October 1951 in Delaware County Court. Her address at the time was 922 Kerlin Street.

Later, she entered into the rite of marriage with Ellwood J. "Dick" Webster (July 15, 1901-1981). He had been married previously to Rose Walker ( ? - ? ) brought two stepchildren into the union, Dorothy E. Ransone and Foster C. "Steve" Webster.

At one time, they made a home in Chester, PA at the address of 224 East 22nd Street. Ellwood was employed for 46 years as a welder with Sun Shipyard.

Sun Ship Building's docks along the Delaware River

Then in about 1969 they moved to 30 East Virginia Avenue in Villas, NJ and stayed for good. Marie held memberships in the Penn Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, the auxiliaries of the Penn Forest Tall Cedars and Hanley Hose Fire Company, the First Ward Precinct of the Republican Club and the Villas Fishing Club. Ellwood served as fire chief in Chester and belonged to the Hanley Hose Company and was a life member of the Delaware County Firemen's Association. He also was active in the Lucius H. Scott lodge of the Masons, Lulu Temple of Plymouth Meeting and Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Cape May County Forest. They were members of Trinity Methodist Church of Chester.

After suffering a heart attack, Marie died at the age of 57 in Burdett-Tomlin Hospital in Cape May Court House, NJ on Sept. 25, 1972. Her obituary appeared in the Delaware County Daily Times. Interment of the remains was in Edgewood Memorial Park in Concord/Glen Mills, Delaware County.

Ellwood outlived his wife by nine years and remained in Villas. Death enveloped him at home on Dec. 14, 1981, at the age of 80. An obituary in the Press of Atlantic City reported that the headcount of his survivors was eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Former husband John Chew lived in Chester in 1966 at 1111 Upland Street.

DuPont Building, Delaware Avenue and Washington Street, Wilmington

Daughter Linda C. Chew (1943- ? ) was born in 1943 in the state of Delaware. She was single and resided in 1972 in Swarthmore, PA. Then by 1981, she had married (?) Campbell ( ? - ? ) and moved to Macungie, Lehigh County, PA. Linda's aged uncle Adam Schreiner spent his final years in her home and died on Feb. 19, 1996, with an obituary appearing in the Wilmington (DE) News Journal.

Daughter Betsy Ann Chew (1946- ? ) was born in 1946. She was an alumna of Chester High School and the Regency School of Beauty Culture in Upper Darby, and then accepted employment with a beautician in Eddystone, PA. Circa 1966, she wed William Francis Watson ( ? - ? ), son of Edgar Watson of Eddystone. William was a graduate of St. James High School and the Pennsylvania Military College. They dwelled in nearby Folsom, Ridley Township in 1972. Nothing more is known.

Stepdaughter Dorothy E. Webster ( ? -1973) was born in (?). She was joined in matrimony with Robert G. Ransone Jr. ( ? - ? ) of Media, PA. The couple's two offspring were Robert G. Ransone III and Rose Ann Morrical. Robert was a 1939 graduate of Chester High School and studied mechanical engineering and business administration at Taylor Business College, Philadelphia. He then became employed at the Lester (PA) plant of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He was a World War II veteran who was a member of the 49th Fighter Group of the 5th Army Air Forces, with a two-year deployment to Luzon, the Philippines. He was the recipient of six Bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster and several other commenations. His early career also included terms with Deering Milliken and Proctor Silex Corporation of Puerto Rico, where he served as president and general manager and was president of Associated Electronic Industries of Puerto Rico. Robert was employed for four years as director of industrial development for the State of Maine and in 1967 was hired to be director of economic development for Somerset County, NJ. In 1973 he was elected first vice president of the New Jersey Industrial Development Association and in 1975 was president of the Somerset Valley Chamber of Commerce. During these years he frequently was mentioned and quoted in local news stories. Other of his accomplishments include the presidency of the Rotary Club of Augusta, ME and the Order of Owls of Chester and a membership in the Fiddler's Elbow Country Club. The Ransones' home in the early 1970s was in Somerville, NJ. Sadly, Dorothy died on June 15, 1973. Her obituary was printed in the Bridgewater (NJ) Courier-News. Burial was in Somerset Hills Memorial Park. The widowed Robert wed a second time to Marion "Mae" (Kopf) Brown (1925-2019), daughter of Theodore H. and Emma (Buchman) Kopf and Korean War widow of Capt. Willis Ray Brown (Feb. 27, 1923-1951). Having lost her first husband when she was age 26, she brought three stepchildren into the second union -- Glenn F. Brown, Raymond A. Brown and Cheryl Weeks. Their marriage only lasted for a short time. Sadly, Robert was gathered in by the grim reaper of death at the age of 55 on Dec. 9, 1975. Burial was in Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge, NJ. He was pictured in an obituary in the Courier-Newsin which the family requested that any memorial gifts be made to the American Cancer Society. Mae outlived her second spouse by more than four decades. In November 1976, at a dinner banquet of the Somerset Valley Chamber, she was presented with an oil painting portrait of her late husband. The Courier-News reported that she "was employed with the Somerset Co. Clerk's Office and Somerset Co. Sheriff's Office, where she served three sheriffs. She retired in 1988 and moved to Jupiter, Florida, returning to Bridgewater in 2018." At the age of 94, Mae died in the Eastern Star Home in Bridgewater, NJ on Nov. 1, 2019. In his memory, the Somerset County Business Partnership has named its large fundraiser the "Annual Robert G. Ransone Golf Event." Circa 2007, Robert III and his stepbrother Raymond A. Brown were employed by the Somerset County Park Commission.

Step-grandson Robert G. Ransone III was married and dwelled in Manville in 1970 and in Hillsborough in 1975. They are believed to be the parents of Kellie Ransone, employed in 1993 at Raritan Savings Bank in Martinsville.

Step-granddaughter Rose Ann Ransone ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). She was an alumna of Somerville High School and then studied at the University of Maine and Aroostook State College in Presque Isle, ME. She was employed in young womanhood by Ethicon Inc. On July 11, 1970, Rose Ann was united in wedlock with Sgt. William Morrical ( ? - ? ), nephew of Charles Hatfield of Kempton, IL. Their nuptials ceremony was held at First United Methodist Church of Somerville, presided by Rev. John M. Infanger Jr., and made public with her bridal portrait on the pages of the Bridgewater (NJ) Courier-News. The groom was a graduate of Kempton-Cabrey High School of Kempton and at the time of marriage was serving in the U.S. Air Force, having completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. The newlyweds' first home was at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. By 1975, they had moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Dis she relocate to Lisbon, ME by 1984?

Stepson Foster C. "Steve" Webster (1934-2006) was born in 1934 in Chester, Delaware County, PA. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Foster put down roots in Ashland, Schuylkill County, PA before relocating to Villas, NJ. He first tied the marital cord with Mary ( ? - ? ). One daughter of this marriage was Patricia "Ann" Witt. In time he married again to Betty Neidlinger (1927-1985). Two other offspring in this brood were Holly Ann Sneath and Michael Webster. Sadly, Betty passed away in Ashland State General Hospital on Feb. 2, 1985. Foster eventually returned to Ashland at an address of 206 Walnut Street. He held memberships in the Ashland post of the American Legion and Washington Fire Company and was a life member of the Clover Hose Company of Mount Carmel. He died at the age of 71 on May 14, 2006 as a patient in St. Catherine Medical Center of Fountain Springs. The Pottsville (PA) Republican and Herald printed an obituary. Rev. Rodger Snyder led the funeral services followed by burial in Sunnyside Cemetery in Lavelle, Schuylkill County. Inscribed on the face of his and Betty's grave marker are the words "Eternal love."

Step-granddaughter Patricia "Ann" Webster married Gary J. Witt, son of Albert and Helen Witt of Shamokin, PA. They lived in Danville, PA in 1984 and in Marion Heights in 2006. They are the parents of one known daughter, Jennifer Lauren Witt and perhaps others. At the birth of their daughter Jennifer in 1984, the happy event was announced in the Danville News.

Step-granddaughter Holly Ann Webster wed (?) Sneath and settled in New Jersey.

Step-grandson Michael Webster ( ? - ? ).

~ Daughter Helen (Schreiner) Lee ~

Daughter Helen Schreiner (1917-1995) was born in 1917.

On May 18, 1938, she was united in matrimony with Philip Lee ( ? -1998). The setting for their exchange of vows ws Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Chester, PA. Their union endured the ebbs and flows of a remarkable 57 years.

One daughter borne of this union was Phyllis Bargelski.

Philip served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later was employed by Sun Oil Company as a shift foreman at its refinery at Marcus Hook. They attended St. Jude's Catholic Church in Lewes, DE, and he attained the rank of first degree knight in the Knights of Columbus of Christopher Council in Claymont..

The Lees at one time lived in Claymont and later settled in Lewes, DE. Their address was 202 West Cedar Street. They held a membership in St. Jude's Catholic Church and the Lewes Senior Center.

The Lees celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in May 1988 and were featured in a short article in the Wilmington (DE) News Journal.

Sadly, Helen went into respiratory failure and died in Beebe Medical Center at the age of 77 on Jan. 28, 1995. A mass of Christian burial was sung at St. Edmund's Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, followed by burial of the remains in Henlopen Memorial Park. Her obituary appeared in the News Journal, in which the family asked that any memorial donations be made to Casa San Francisco of Milton, DE, "a Catholic charity providing help to homeless people."

The widowed Philip outlived his spouse by three years and was admitted to Parkvieew Nursing and Convalescent Center. There, he succumbed to the spectre of death at the age of 84 on March 16, 1998. The News Journal printed an obituary.

Daughter Phyllis Lee ( ? - ? ) tied the knot with Joseph "Dickie" Bargelski ( ? - ? ), son of Joseph and Beatrice (Neville) Bargelski and stepson of "Pop" Spitzer. They dwelled in Wilmington, DE in 1988-1995. In more recent years they have lived in Lewes, DE.

~ Son Kenneth L. "Topper" Schreiner ~

Son Kenneth L. "Topper" Schreiner (1924-1997) was born on Oct. 10, 1924.

He is believed to have been twice-married. His first bride was Gertrude Eleanor O'Keefe ( ? -2016).

They became the parents of an only son, Ronald M. Schreiner.

The first marriage dissolved in divorce. Then in 1954, Kenneth tied the marital cord with Kathryn "Kate" Smith ( ? -2013), a native of Wilmington, DE and the daughter of William A. and Alma Smith Sr. and stepdaughteer of James J. Henderson. She was a 1946 graduate of P.S. DuPont High School.

Wilmington, DE and the Christina River

The Schreiners' married years were spent in Claymont/Wilmington, DE. Kenneth generated income as a millwright with the experimental station of DuPont Company. He retired in 1985, capping a 31-year career. He belonged to the Oriental lodge of the Masons, Delaware Consistory, Atglen (PA) Sportsmen's Club and the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chester, PA.

Kathryn was a member of the Cathedral Church of St. John in Wilmington. Said the Wilmington News Journal, "They enjoyed many activities together including fishing, bowling, their summer home in Ocean View, DE and many trips with the Diamond State Life Member Club. She was twice President of the D. S. Telephone Pioneers Life Member Club and a long term member of the Claymont Business & Professional Women's Club. Kate was employed by the Diamond State Telephone Co. for 34 years as an Engineer Management employee [and] was one of the first women to be promoted to a traditional male position."

Stricken with cancer, Kenneth was treated at Christiana Hospital, where the spirit of death swept him away at the age of 72 on Feb. 17, 1997. Burial was in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, PA. An obituary appeared in the News Journal.

Kathryn outlived her husband by 16-plus years. In her later years she began attending Atonement United Methodist Church of Claymont. Toward the end she was admitted to Season's Hospice at Christiana Hospital. She died on Oct. 7, 2013.

Former wife Gertrude married again to Donald W. Milner. They dwelled in Bethany Beach DE and then Winterset Farms in Garnet Valley. She died at the age of 96 on June 3, 2016, with an obituary published in the News Journal.

Son Ronald M. Schreiner first married Marguerite ( ? - ? ). They divorced in New Castle County, DE in 1976. Ronald was employed during this time with DuPont Company. Within the year, he went on to wed co-worker Betty "Bett" (Jackson) Wetzel ( ? - ? ). Their nuptials were held in the First Unitarian Church of Sharpley and announced on the pages of the Wilmington (DE) Morning News. Betty brought two stepchildren into the second union -- Deborah Lee Wetzel and Curtis Wetzel. Their combined family included a total of four children. Circa 1991, they resided in Bethel Township, PA and in 1996 in Boothwyn, PA.

Step-granddaughter Deborah Lee Wetzel ( ? - ? )

Step-grandson Curtis Wetzel ( ? - ? )