Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 1

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 1

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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 2536

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015

https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio01jhbe_0

4.90

COMMEMORATIVE

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

-OF- -

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA,

PLE INCLUDING THE COUNTIES OF

Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion,

CONTAINING

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND) REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: J. H. BEERS & CO. 1898.

1810861

gift W.P Dia 3-18.54 FROM THE PRESS OF WILSON, HUMPHREYS & CO., FOURTH ST., LOGANSPORT, IND.

raantal

PREFACE.

T HE importance of placing in book form biographical history of representative citi- zens-both for its immediate worth and for its value to coming generations-is ad- mitted by all thinking people; and within the past decade there has been a grow- ing interest in this commendable means of perpetuating biography and family genealogy.

That the public is entitled to the privileges afforded by a work of this nature needs no assertion at our hands; for one of our greatest Americans has said that the history of any country resolves itself into the biographies of its stout, earnest and representative citi- zens. This medium, then, serves more than a single purpose; while it perpetuates biogra- phy and family genealogy, it records history, much of which would be preserved in no other way.

In presenting the COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD to its patrons, the pub- lishers have to acknowledge, with gratitude, the encouragement and support their enter- prise has received, and the willing assistance rendered in enabling them to surmount the many unforeseen obstacles to be met with in the production of a work of this character. In nearly every instance the material composing the sketches was gathered from those im- mediately interested, and then submitted in type-written form for correction and revision. The volume, which is one of generous amplitude, is placed in the hands of the public with the belief that it will be found a valuable addition to the library, as well as an invaluable contribution to the historical literature of Central Pennsylvania.

THE PUBLISHERS.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

EAVER, HON. JAMES AD- DAMS, a gallant soldier, states- man, jurist and Christian citi- zen of Bellefonte, Centre coun- ty, is another from that galaxy of great men that noble Belle- fonte-the proud home of gov- ernors and distinguished men- has produced, their names and deeds casting an illustrious halo o'er a finished century.

Although born near Millerstown, Perry Co., Penn., it remained for Gen. Beaver to lay the foundation for his successes in life in Belle- fonte. He has descended on his paternal side from one of the most forceful, industrious and successful families in Pennsylvania. A distin- guished characteristic of the Beaver family through generations is courage, integrity, thrift and industry, and they have figured gallantly in all the wars which have been fought in this con- tinent for over a century and a half. In speak- ing of the remarkable traits of the Beavers, a gentleman of prominence said that he "was well acquainted with the uncles of ex-Gov. Beaver, and in all his intercourse with men he found them to be more successful and having a better knowledge of business than any men he knew." Hon. Thomas Beaver, an uncle of the subject of this sketch, now deceased, and who resided at Danville, Penn., for many years during his life. attained a position among the most prosperous merchants and iron manufacturers of the United States. While Gov. Beaver inherited valuable traits from his father's side, he is also indebted for much of his force, courage and industry to his mother. She was one of God's noble women, wise, generous, industrious, a devout Christian, and was loved and respected by every one that knew her. Those who knew her from childhood regarded her as a most remarkable woman. Her

kind, sweet and generous disposition won the af- fection and confidence of every one. One who for several years resided near her home speaks in the highest terms of the respect, confidence and esteem she enjoyed among her neighbors and friends. It was these influences, coupled with his activity, energy and prominence, that have been the means of elevating this illustrious gen- tleman to the position of high honor and influ- ence he occupies to-day.

. George Beaver, the original founder of the family in this country, arrived here from Ger- many about the year 1740. Tradition says of him that "he was a man of fine physique, marvel- ous endurance, strong mind and untiring indus- try." He devoted himself with characteristic energy to agricultural pursuits. His eldest son, George, was among the first to shoulder a mus- ket in the war of Independence, serving in the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion, commanded by Col. Anthony Wayne. This son, after the close of hostilities, married Catherine Kieffer, the sister of an army comrade, and from this union came Peter Beaver, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Franklin county. Penn., received a good average education for the time, and when of age set up in business for him- self as a tanner in Lebanon county. He soon abandoned this occupation, however, and al- though he afterward engaged in different mercan- tile pursuits, seems to have devoted much of his time to religious work, and he acquired consider- able distinction as a local preacher of the Meth- odist denomination. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Gilbert, who had seen some service in the Revolutionary army, and by her had a large family. All of the six sons were at some period of their lives engaged in general merchandising in Millerstown, on the Juniata. Jacob married Ann Eliza Addams, whose father.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Abraham Addams, had come from Berks to Perry county about 1811. Two sons and two daugh- ters were born to them, and, of these, James Addams Beaver is their third child and first son. The father died in 1840, and the widow in 1844 married the Rev. S. H. McDonald, of Millers- town, and removed with him and her family to Belleville, Mifflin county. Here James began his education at the district school, but not being possessed of a robust constitution, the years 1850-51-52 he spent at home, preparing under the guidance of his stepfather, who was. a fine classical scholar, for an academic course.

In the latter part of 1852 he was entered at the Pine Grove Academy, and in a remarkably short time successfully passed examination for admission to the junior class of Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, Penn., of which he was the youngest member. In 1856 he was graduated from this institution with good standing in a large class. Some years afterward the Rev. James A. Reid, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Ill., in a historical sketch of his class, said: ' James A. Beaver, better known in college days as ' Jim Beaver,' was a little bit of an enthusiastic fellow, full of fun and pun and pluck and frolic, who never did anything bad, but always looked glad. James has been grow- ing bigger and bigger ever since he was born. His usual modesty has prevented him from giv- ing me anything from his own pen, but his war record is so creditable to himself and so well known that there is no trouble in getting at the facts. Gen. Beaver is an active and devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and as en- thusiastic a general in the Sabbath-school work of the State as he was in the army of his coun- try." Here we may add that in 1888 Gen. Beaver was elected by the Presbytery of Huntingdon to represent it in the Centennial meeting of the Gen- eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America. He was appointed, by the moderator of the Assembly, vice-modera- tor, and as such presided at several meetings of the Assembly, being the first layman in the his- tory of the Church who ever.occupied that po- sition.

After leaving college, young Beaver settled in Bellefonte, and entered the law office of Hon. H. N. McAllister, one of the most able and dis- tinguished lawyers in the State, who died while a member of the convention which framed the new constitution of Pennsylvania. He applied himself with such assiduity to his studies, that January 24, 1859, when he had barely reached his majority, he was admitted to the Bar of Cen- tre County. His industry and the painstaking

care he exercised in all his work, the fact that he was so thoroughly grounded in the principles of the law, so ready in speech and argument, at once made an impression, and he was accounted a young lawyer of more than ordinary promise. His preceptor, recognizing his merit, and having need of such assistance as he could render in a large and important practice, took him into partnership. While preparing himself for the Bar he joined the Bellefonte Fencibles, under Capt. Andrew G. Curtin, soon to become famous as "Pennsylvania's War Governor." Like every task he undertook, Beaver put his entire soul into the work, was so attentive and obedient that before long he had attained great proficiency in drill. He gave much attention to the study of tactics, and an opening occurring he was made second lieutenant of the company. Then came the war. The firing on Fort Sumter had aroused the loyal North, but in no instance did the Pres- ident's call for 75,000 volunteers to defend Washington meet with a more prompt response than in the picturesque little Pennsylvania town of Bellefonte. The Fencibles, indeed, had as- sembled, every man equipped for active duty, before the echoes of firing had died away. Writ- ing to his mother at this time, we find Lieut. Beaver saying: "A dispatch from Washington says that hostilities have actually begun. The South Carolinians fired upon the 'Star of the West,' which contained supplies for Major An- derson. If this is true, which God forbid, war has actually commenced. Where will be the end? The nation must be preserved. And who can mistake his duty in this emergency? I have prayed for direction, guidance, and clear revela- tion of duty, and I cannot now doubt where the path of duty lies. If required, I will march in it, trusting in God for the result. There are few men situated as I am. No person dependent up- on me, and a business which I will leave in able hands. If we have a nationality, it must be con- tinued, supported, upheld. If we are ordered to Washington or elsewhere, I will see you before I go. God bless you, my mother." " No hesi- tation here," says Col. Burr, his biographer. "but a sword leaping from its scabbard to do battle for conscience and for country; a noble, ready patriotism, which saw in the country's peril the call of a commanding duty." The young lawyer and lieutenant of militia, who took this bold stand while older men were hesitating, was not yet twenty-four years of age; but he dis- played an appreciation of the situation, a fore- sight of events, and a realization of the mighty issues involved which would have done credit to much older heads.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

. The Bellefonte Fencibles were mustered into

service as Company H, 2d P. V. I., Col. Frederick S. Stumbaugh commanding, on April 21, 1861, and were immediately dispatched by rail to Washington. The Confederates, how- ever, by the burning of the bridge at Cockeys- ville, Md., prevented further progress, and the command was ordered to return to York. ` His regiment joined the column which operated under. the command of Gen. Patterson in the Shenan- doah Valley, being present at the skirmish called the battle of Falling Waters. In July the term of enlistment expired, and the men were duly mustered out at Harrisburg, on the 26th day of that month. Lient. Beaver, however, had, previous to his muster-out, prepared to enter the service again; but this time he determined it would be "for the war." Aided by Thomas Welsh, lieutenant-colonel of the 2d Regi- ment, of Lancaster county, and J. M. Kilbourne, of Potter county, he soon organized the 45th P. V. I., and it was mustered into service on Octo- ber 18, 1861. At the election held for officers, Thomas Welsh was elected colonel, Lieut. Beaver lieutenant-colonel. and J. M. Kilbourne major. On October 2ist the command left camp for Washington, and, shortly after its arrival there, it started for Fortress Monroe, whence, on De- cember 6, it sailed for Port Royal, S. C. Having received orders to occupy the Sea Islands, Col. Welsh divided his regiment, giving Lieut .- Col. Beaver a separate command, and he was sent to relieve the gallant 79th New York, at Fort Walker. In January, 1862, he relieved the 55th P. V. I. and part of the 7th Connecticut, then stationed at Hilton Head Island. Subsequently the regiment was ordered north to join the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous Peninsular campaign, and after a short sojourn at Newport News it was assigned to guard the military rail- road from Acquia Creek to Fredericksburg. Col. Beaver was dispatched with the remainder of the command to Brooks Station.

On September 4, Lieut .- Col. Beaver, at the urgent request of his neighbors at home, and of Gov. Curtin, resigned his commission in the 45th to accept the appointment of colonel of the 148th P. V. I., known also as the Centre County regi- ment, and, with his new command, left Harris- burg on September 8. His regiment was posted along the Northern Central railroad during the Antietam campaign, and remained in that po- sition until December 10, when it was transferred to the Rappahannock, and became part of the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, 2nd Corps. As soon as the regiment arrived at the front, Col. Beaver rode up to Gen. Hancock's headquarters and re-

ported his arrival. "Gen. Hancock, " he said,

" I have been ordered to report to you, sir, for duty." "What is your regiment, Colonel?" "148th P. V. I." was the reply; "and. General, while I would not presume so much as to sug- gest the disposition that is to be made of my regiment, I shall be glad if it could be placed in a brigade of your division, where the men can see a daily exemplification of the good results of the soldiery discipline I have endeavored to teach." The great soldier was, of course. no less surprised than pleased at the enthusiasm displayed by the young colonel, but could only reply: " I regret to say that we have no such brigade. I only wish we had. You will report for duty, sir, to the commander of the Ist Bri- gade of this division." It is said that the request which the young officer had made led Gen. Han- cock to keep a careful watch upon his future course, and it was not long before he observed that in camp and upon parade the regiment which he commanded was a model for all of the others in the brigade. Indeed, so conspicuous was its excellence that long before the army was again prepared for battle, Gen. Joe Hooker had predicted that it would not be long before its colonel would be a major-general. Gen. Han- cock's estimate of him, written twenty years after the incident just mentioned, may be here quoted: "Gen. James A. Beaver joined the first division of the 2nd Army Corps (then com- manded by me) with his regiment, the 148th P. V. I., just after the battle of Fredericksburg, December, 1862, and served constantly under my command in the 2nd Corps (save when ab- sent from wounds received in battle) until the fall of 1864. During that period he was en- gaged in some of the most important campaigns and battles of the Army of the Potomac, and took a conspicuous and distinguished part in many of them. I consider him one of the most intrepid, intelligent. and efficient young officers in our service during the war, and on several oc- casions mentioned him in my official reports for valuable service and distinguished bravery. He was wounded at Chancellorsville, again while gal- lantly leading his fine regiment and brigade in an assault upon the enemy's works at Petersburg, Va .. June 16, 1864, and at Ream's Station, August 25. 1864. On this latter occasion he had just joined his regiment on the battlefield, and taken command of the brigade to which it belonged, after an absence caused by former wounds, when he was struck by a musket ball which shattered his thigh and disabled him for life by the loss of a leg."

Col. Beaver and his regiment were soon mov- ing forward to the battle of Chancellorsville, and

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hardly had the firing on this memorable battle- field commenced ere he fell, hit hard below the waistband. It seemed to all about him that the wound must eventually prove fatal, but he de- clined the services of those who sprang to his assistance, saying: "Go to your places; it will be time enough to bury the dead when the bat- tle is over." An hour later he received the wel- come intelligence from the army surgeon that a gutta-percha pencil, which had been smashed to atoms, had turned the ball from its course, caus- ing it to plow a great track through the fleshy part of the abdomen only, and thus saved injury to the intestines. He was removed to his home at Bellefonte, but before the wound was entirely healed he took command of Camp Curtin, by order of Gen. Couch, and began organizing the troops which were then flocking by the thousands to Harrisburg in response to President Lincoln's . call for 120,000 men for the purpose of defend- ing the State of Pennsylvania against Lee's inva- sion. The satisfactory manner in which he ac- complished this task called forth the following compliment from Maj .- Gen: Couch, which was issued in special order No. 35, July 15, 1863: "The Major-General commanding tenders thanks to Col. Beaver for the important service rendered him in the organization of the troops which were hurried to the capital and placed under his com- mand at Camp Curtin. Notwithstanding he was absent on leave in this department, on account of wounds received in battle, the zeal and energy he manifested in the cause is worthy of emula- tion." Many years after this, Gen. Couch, speaking of Col. Beaver's devotion to duty at the time, said: "He was a soldier who could be trusted morning, noon and night." Col. Beaver now made request to be allowed to rejoin his regiment, and, his request having been granted, he crossed the Potomac with it and participated in Gen. Meade's retrograde movement from Cul- peper Court House, and in the Mine Run cam- paign during the autumn of 1863. Part of the winter and following spring were spent near Stevensburg, Va. On May 13, he was assigned to the command of the 3d Brigade, Ist Division, 2d Corps. He participated in all the battles of the Wilderness campaign, and received the sur- render of Gen. Stuart at Spottsylvania. In the assault of Cold Harbor his regiment especially distinguished itself for its daring and successful actions, and at Petersburg, on June 16, he com- manded a brigade, but was severely wounded in the first assault upon the works. He was sent home, but returned to the army in time to follow his division, and reached it just as it was receiv- ing the terrible assault of the enemy at Ream's

Station on August 25. By direction of Gen. Hancock he immediately assumed command of the brigade, and had scarcely more than relieved the officer in command when he received a wound in the right thigh, in consequence of which it was found necessary to amputate the leg at the hip. The loss of his leg, of course, completely incapacitated him for active service, and at his own request he was honorably mustered out of service on December 22, 1864, on account of wounds received in battle, having previously de- clined a detail for court-martial duty at Wash- ington. Previous to this, however, he had been brevetted brigadier-general "for highly merito- rious and distinguished conduct throughout the campaign, particularly for valuable services at Cold Harbor while commanding a brigade."

General Beaver resumed the practice of his profession with his partner; Hon. H. N. McAl- lister, who had conducted the business during his absence, and who had no superior at the bar in central Pennsylvania. With both members of the firm actively and devotedly engaged in the practice of the profession, the business not only increased but became very exacting in its demands. He did not on this account, however, neglect the duties which devolve upon the indi- vidual citizen. Soon after his return he was in- duced, for the sake of securing harmony within the Republican ranks, to accept the nomination for representative in the State Legislature. Cen- tre county at that time gave an average Demo- cratic majority of about 1,000. There was no expectation that this majority could be overcome, and no special effort was made in the canvass. He was defeated by his Democratic competitor by a majority of less than 150. In the following year he was informally tendered the nomination for Congress in a district which was then largely Re- publican, the conferees of three of the counties (the district being composed of five) offering to support him for the nomination. He declined to allow the use of his name, however, on the ground that the representative of the district who was then serving in Congress had a right to another term. He also refused to allow his name to be used in opposition to that of Gov. Geary for a second term in 1869, although of- fered the support of a powerful faction in Penn- sylvania politics.

In 1878 his name was brought forward by the county convention of Centre county as their choice for the nomination for governor. He did not regard this as a call for his services, and therefore paid no special attention to it, and no effort was made to secure support in other sec- tions of the State. His name was favorably

----------------------------------

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mentioned in the Republican convention of that year, and although he advised his friends to vote for Gen. Hoyt, whose nomination had been de- termined upon, he received a number of votes. This brought his name prominently before the people of the State, and in the campaign which followed he rendered efficient service, particu- larly in the northwestern part of the State, where great dissatisfaction existed. In 1880 he was elected as a district delegate to the Republican National Convention which convened at Chicago in that year, and was unanimously elected the chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation. Not- withstanding the division of the delegation into hostile factions, he held himself so fairly in re- gard to both of them that the vote of the Penn- sylvania delegation was never questioned during the entire period of that exciting convention; and after the nomination of Gen. Garfield he was tendered by his co-delegates the unanimous vote of the delegation for the Vice-Presidency. Several other delegations, North and South, made a like tender, and it was believed at the time that he would have been nominated upon the ticket with Gen. Garfield if he had not per- emptorily declined to allow his name to be used, giving for a reason therefor that it was neither good politics to nominate a candidate for Vice- President from Pennsylvania, nor had he any de- sire to occupy a place in which there was little opportunity for activity. At his suggestion the Pennsylvania delegation decided to support any candidate who might be presented by the ma- jority of the delegation from New York. Gen. Arthur was afterward nominated, and the result is well known.

In January, 1881, a successor to Hon. Will- iam A. Wallace was to be elected by the Legisla- ture to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate. Hon. Henry W. Oliver was the choice of the Republican caucus. A large num- ber of Republicans, however, refused to support the caucus nominee, and a dead-lock ensued which lasted for several weeks. Without any consultation with him, and without his knowledge or consent, the name of Gen. Beaver was pre- sented by a representative of those who opposed the caucus nominee as a compromise candidate. He was named by what was known as the regu- lar caucus, but owing to the manner in which this was done the Independents declined to sup- port him. He went to Harrisburg, assisted to provide a tribunal which should name a candidate to be supported by both elements of the party, and then returned home. The result was the nomination of the Hon. John I. Mitchell, who was elected. By these means, and through his

active participation in the Presidential campaign of 1880, Gen. Beaver was brought prominently before the people of Pennsylvania, and in the preliminary campaign which preceded the nomi- nation for governor in 1882, his name was the only one prominently mentioned for that nomi- nation. No opposition to his nomination was known to exist, and he was the unanimous choice of the convention when it assembled. Dissen- sions arose afterward, however, growing out of alleged abuses of internal management in the Republican party, which resulted in the calling of an independent convention, the nomination of another Republican ticket, and the consequent and inevitable defeat of both. The entire Dem- ocratic State ticket was elected.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 1

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1358

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1358