John Ambrose Romberger

John A. Romberger, dealer in coal, lumber, grain, seeds, and potatoes, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, was born on the old homestead, in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 21 April 1850, the son of Daniel Romberger and Hannah [Bergstresser] Romberger. When he was six years old his parents removed to Washington Township, Dauphin County, where he attended the common schools during the winter months. When old enough to labor he assisted his father in the farm work, and at sixteen years of age entered the Freeburg Academy in Snyder County, and remained for two terms, after which he taught school, one term in Lykens Township, and two terms in Washington Township. One of these terms he taught after his marriage. After school closed he went to housekeeping on the home farm, and cultivated the place on shares with his father until 1881. During the following two years he was employed in the creamery at Elizabethville, and in December 1883, with his brother, Cyrus Romberger, opened a flour and feed store, and shortly afterwards erected a building to accommodate the increasing trade. The firm continued to be C. and J. A. Romberger until December 1894, when he bought his brother’s interest and has since continued the business alone.

Mr. John A. Romberger was first married, 23 November 1871, at Berrysburg, Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Row, a native of Lykens Township, daughter of George Row and Elizabeth [Kissinger] Row. She fell a victim to the dread disease of consumption and died, after an illness of three years, 23 October 1881, only three days after the family had removed from the home farm to Elizabethville, and is interred at Berrysburg. She was a member of the Evangelical Association. The children are:

Laura A. Romberger, a graduate of Bloomsburg Normal School, who has taught two terms, one at Lykens and one at Elizabethville; and

Annie Romberger, studied music at Fredericksburg Academy, and also studied painting.

He was married secondly, 2 May 1882, at Herndon, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, to Miss Emma Troutman, a native of Snyder County, Pennsylvania, born in 1857, a daughter of Samuel Troutman and Catherine [Hepler] Troutman. The latter died in 1888. The children of the second marriage are:

Clair F. Romberger, attending school, at home;

Nettie Estelle Romberger, at home; and

Floyd T. Romberger, at home.

Mr. John A. Romberger attends the Evangelical church at Elizabethville, of which he is a trustee, and is the superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a staunch Republican, and has served on the school board for two years, has been notary public four years, appointed by Governor James A. Beaver, and also served as school director and assessor while living in the township