Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 1

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 1

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.

Gc 974.8 C74 pt.2 1810862

M. L

REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 2528

Gc 974 C74 pt. 181

490

COMMEMORATIVE

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

-OF-

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA,

PL.2. 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.

490

1810862

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

585

removed his share of the goods to Ostend, where > carried on a store for four years. In 1868 he erected a store building in Mahaffey, and at this ; uint was an energetic, successful merchant for me the. About 1867 he erected his con- !!! dions and pleasant residence, which is situated on a beautiful building site overlooking the town. About 1886 Mr. Mahaffey sold a tract of land, on which a tannery was constructed, and same year platted a portion of his land and began selling town lots. Mahaffey is now a thriving village of three hundred homes, with some good brick busi- ness houses and four railroads. Mr. Mahaffey owns a good many residences which he rents, and is the owner of a four-story hotel, the " Mahaffey House," which is supplied with all modern con- veniences and improvements, and is at present kept by his daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Ferguson, whose husband, G. M. Ferguson, died December 23, 1897. He also owns a fine gristmill, splen- didly equipped, and a sawmill plant. His realty holdings, in addition to his city property, com- prise about three thousand acres of farm and timber lands, and he superintends the manage- Inent of his lumbering interests, although he takes no active part in the work. His extensive business enterprises furnish employment to large forces of men, and it has been truly said that he who pays wages over his counters to one hundred workmen is more deserving of public gratitude than the commander who leads a company of soldiers. The business activity and prosperity of Bell township is largely due to Mr. Mahaffey, whose resolute purpose and careful management enables him to carry forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes.

Mr. Mahaffey has been twice married. He wedded Mary McGee, daughter of James McGee, Sr., who located on the Susquehanna river in Clearfield county, about 1826, and erected the first grist and saw mills in this section of the county. Mrs. Mahaffey died, leaving three chil- dren, namely: William, a farmer and coal dealer; James, a lumber merchant and the pro- prietor of the "Windsor Hotel " at Clearfield; and Mary, who was married October 19, 1847, to Mr. Byers. For his second wife, Mr. Mahaf- fey wedded Mary C. Johnson, who was born in Centre county, December 29, 1826, daughter of George and Sophia (Barnhart) Johnson, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent. Philip Barnhart served in the Revolutionary war, and became a prominent farmer of Centre county, Penn., where he reared a large family. In about 1818, George Johnson located in Clearfield coun- ty, when it was an almost unbroken wilnerness, and cleared a farm near the present site of Ma-

haffey. He had to go to Bellefonte for supplies, and had his grain ground at a small mill on Clearfield creek. His skill as a hunter supplied the table with meat, for deer and lesser game was plentiful. His children were: Philip; Mrs. Elizabeth Fullerton; James and George, who fol- low farming; and Mrs. Mahaffey. The father was a Democrat, and he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Protestant Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Mahaffey have had nine chil- dren, two of whom died in childhood; those liv- ing are: R. F., who follows lumbering; Enery, a miller; Elizabeth G., wife of G. Ferguson, a hotelman; Nancy J., wife of G. W. Jose, pro- prietor of the "Lajose Hotel" at Lajose; Alice, wife of F. K. Patterson; Harry B., a lumberman and farmer of Mahaffey; and Mrs. Elsie Gallat- tey.

Mr. Mahaffey was reared in the Presbyterian Church, but now holds membership in no re- ligious organization; his wife, however, is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is charitable and benevolent, and the integrity of his business life is above question. His political support is given the Democracy. His life has been one of eminent success, in which persever- ance and enterprise have enabled him to make his way from humble surroundings to a position of affluence.

TOHN HERSH, a lumberman and farmer of Becaria township, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., October 25, 1818, a son of Martin and Catherine (Hays) Hersh. The father was a native of Lancaster county, but the grand- father was born in Germany. Martin Hersh throughout his life followed farming in the place of his nativity, and was called to the home be- yond in 1829. His widow long survived him ,and left a family of five children.

(1) Henry, the eldest, married Mary Rhodes, of Lancaster county, and for a number of years thereafter followed the cooper's trade. His last days were spent in Juniata county, Penn., where he died leaving a large family: Susanna. his first child, is now Mrs. McAtee, of Kansas, and has eight children; Fannie is the wife of Mr. Powell, of Patterson, Penn., and has five chil- dren; Elizabeth married Samuel Farmer, of Har- risburg, and at her death left four children (her husband was a machinist, and was killed by fall- ing from a scaffold when putting up a smoke stack); John married a lady of Harrisburg, and follows railroading (he has two living children); Joseph is married, and with his family resides in Patterson, Penn. ; David, a coal dealer of Patter-

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015

https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio02jhbe_0

586

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

son, is married and has a family; Catherine is the wife of John Steiner, a lumber merchant of Virginia, and they have one child; Henry, who was born in Juniata county in 1848, is now liv- ing with his uncle. John Hersh, on a farm in Clearfield county. (2) Martin Hersh, the second member of the family to which our subject be- longs, was reared in Lancaster county, and then removed to Missouri, where he was married. He now owns a fine farming property near St. Jo, and has three children-George and Henry, who reside in Kansas, and Mrs. Catherine Bell, who is living in Hiawatha, Kans., near her brothers. (3) Katherine spent her girlhood days in Lan- caster county, Penn., and died there at the home of her sister. (4) Fannie is the wife of Michael Musser, and resides on the old liomestead in Lan- caster county. She has two sons-Christian and Henry. (5) John, our subject, completes the family.

John Hersh, whose name introduces this sketch, removed from Lancaster to Huntingdon county, Penn., at the age of nineteen years, and was employed by John Byers for eleven years, after which he spent one year in the service of Thomas Stewart. On March 30, 1848, in Hunt- ingdon, Penn., he was married to Martha E. Wilson, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Peoples, a Presbyterian minister. In April they removed to Glen Hope, Clearfield county, and located on what is now known as the Glasgow property. In the fall of the same year, Mr. Hersh made a "jumper," and with two horses drove to Lancaster county over the snow. In the spring he purchased a wagon with which he returned to Glen Hope, and in that year, 1849, took up his residence on the Smith farm in Be- caria township, where he lived for three years. He then removed to the farm now owned by Clark Patchen, and later spent a year on the Cooper farm, after which he bought one hundred acres of timber land for $6 per acre. On this property he built a little log house, and began clearing the land. From the timber he manu- factured square lumber, which he rafted down the river to Lock Haven and Marietta. . At the same time, as his land was cleared, he developed it into rich field, and now has one of the most desirable farm properties in the county. In 1861 he erected a large barn, 60x 70 feet, and in 1865 built a fine two-story residence with all modern improvements.

Mrs. Hersh has been to her husband a faitli- ful assistant and helpmeet. She is a representa- tive of a respected family of Huntingdon county. where her parents resided on a farm near Peters- burg. There her father died in 1874, while her

mother passed away in 1876. They had eleven children: (1) John S. Wilson, the eldest, mar- ried Eliza Stewart, and removed to Armstrong county, Penn. ; both he and his wife are now de- ceased; they left a family of four children. (2) Robert married Jane Stewart, and resided in Huntingdon county; his family numbers five liv- ing children, as follows-John C., who is mar- ried and with his family resides in Dakota; Mrs. Elizabeth Hamer, of Mckeesport, who has four children living; James R., who resides on the old homestead near Huntingdon, and has one child; Mrs. Mary Dougherty, of Harrisburg, and Mrs. Bertha Glass, of Altoona, Blair Co., Penn., who has one child .: (3) William F. Wilson mar- ried Arietta Warfel, and they died leaving three children, the eldest of whom, Henry, is married and resides in Altoona with his wife and three children. (4) \V. S. Wilson, who was prom- inent as one of the orators of the Mckinley cam- paign, married Gussie Huffman, and resides in Altoona; they have five living children, one of whom, a daughter, is married and lives in Al- toona. (5) Clarissa is now the wife of Mr. Huff- man, a carriage-maker of Tyrone, Penn. (6) Margery became the wife of Mr. Waffel, and died at the age of twenty-two years, leaving a son, who is now an Episcopal minister. 7) Jackson Wilson married Miss Port, and died near Williamsburg, leaving four children, as fol- lows: Foster, who is an engineer on the Broad Top railroad, is married and has one child; Margery, who resides with Foster; Stewart. a traveling salesman; and Mrs. Martha Sheppard, of Toledo, Ohio, who has two children. (9) Louisa, now Mrs. Hamer, resides in Rockford, Ill .. and has a large family. (10) James mar- ried Carrie Cox, of Huntingdon county, Penn .. and has two children -- Howard, who married Miss Porter, of Huntingdon, Penn .. and has three children; and Harry Sheridan, a practicing physician of Smoke Run, who ranks high in his profession. (11) Mrs. Hersh completes the family.

Mr. and Mrs. Hersh have eight children: (1) Margery L., born June 3. 1850, was married in 1866, to B. F. Mechling. They resided on a farm adjoining her father's until 1893, when they removed to Virginia and purchased a large farm of 300 acres near Steubenville. They have had thirteen children-Belle is the wife of Charles Hindman, a saddler, and resides near her parents; Annie is the wife of George Baggett. a native of England, who makes his home m Virginia, but is now studying for the ministry in Ohio; they have three children, Percy, Alice and the baby. The other members of the Mechling

587

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

family are Roberta, John, Harvey, Luella, Les- Le. William, Grace and Wallace, all at home, and three who have departed this life. (2) Cath- erine, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Hersh, was born February 6, 1853, and is the wife of William Semple, who owns and operates a farm in Glen Hope. They have four children-John, Harry D., Oscar and Emma Kittie, all at home. (3) Annie M., born July 25, 1855. was married in 1872, to Robert McMurray, who is engaged in merchandising in Ramey; they had four chil- dren-Louisa and Martha, at home, and Ella and Grace, deceased. (4) Robert M. Hersh. born July 3, 1858, died in December, 1862, aged four years. (5) Martha W., born June 6, 1861, is the wife of John Smith, an enterprising mer- chant of West Moshannon; they had two chil- dren-Blair N. and Ira, who died at the age of seven years. (6) Emma R., born August 9, 1865, is the wife of Samuel Bartlebaugh, a native of Indiana county, Penn., who now follows lum- bering in Coalport; they have one child-John Raymond. (7) Fannie M., born May 8, 1868, is the wife of John H. Moore, of Madera, who fol- lows merchandising, and is justice of the peace; they have two daughters-Grace E. and Pearl. (8) Ella, born November 13, 1872, is with her parents.

Mr. Hersh votes with the Republican party. He served as overseer of the poor for two terms, and was elected assessor, but did not qualify for office, having no ambition to serve in public posi- tions. For many years he has suffered from rheumatism, and for about five years has been forced to go around in a wheeled chair, but he superintends the management of his farm, and notwithstanding his afflictions he controls his business interests with marked success, and is re- garded as one of the substantial and progressive men of the community. His wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

LLIS IRWIN. Years of quiet usefulness and a life in which the old-fashioned virtues of sincerity, industry and integrity are exempli- fied, have a simple beauty that no words can por- tray. Youth has its charms, but an honorable and honored old age, to which the lengthening years have added dignity and sweetness; has a brighter radimce, as it some ray from the life be- yond already rested upon it. To but few is it given to spend ninety-two years in the flesh, as has the subject of this sketch, who, happily, is blessed with mental and physical vigor befitting a man who has not yet reached three-score years. Born June 17, 1805, in Centre county, Penn.,

near Bellefonte, Mr. Irwin has seen great and significant changes in this region, and he inay well take pride in the thought that he has done his share in the work of establishing here the civilization of to-day.

He comes of pioneer stock. His grandfather. John Irwin, was a native of Ireland who crossed the ocean in 1774. his mother and two brothers, Matthew and Nathaniel, coming later, the father having died in Ireland some years before. The other three members of the little band went to Pittsburg and later to Washington county, Penn., but John Irwin settled in Centre county. He was a shoemaker by trade, but quickly took ad- vantage of the opportunity to secure a farm which the sparsely inhabited forests of Centre county then afforded, and his remaining years were spent in agriculture. His death occurred there April 29, 1829. He and his wife, Sarah (Iddings), had four children, whom they reared by precept and example in the serene faith of the Friends Society: William died in Centre county. John, Jr., is mentioned more fully below. Isa- bella, who never married, died at the age of sixty. Sarah died in 1865.

John Irwin, Jr., our subject's father, was born in Chester county, Penn., where he spent some years. As a young man he made his home in Centre county, locating and clearing land for a farm. He also engaged in the manufacture of shoes at Bellefonte, but his later years were spent in retirement. Like his ancestors, he be- longed to the Friends Church, and his death oc- curred in 1879 while attending meeting. His wife, Mary Fisher, was a daughter of William Fisher, an influential citizen and a prominent member of the Society of Friends, who was noted for his inanly deportment and high character. The exact nativity is not known, but he probably came from England. He located in Centre county, and improved and cultivated a large tract of land, accumulating a handsome fortune.

Ellis Irwin spent his youth in Centre county, where he attended Bellefonte Academy, the best school that the section could then boast of. He was a diligent student, and acquired a good prac- tical education which fitted him to fill creditably his position in life. He was trained to habits of industry, working upon his father's farm and in the shoe factory. and for four years of his early manhood he carried the United States mail through the mountains on horseback. In 1827 he married Hannah Iddings, a lady of intelligence and worth, and then engaged in farming on his own account. In 1829 he moved to Clearfield county and purchased a partially-developed farm at Grampian Hills (now Penn township), where

-----

588

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

he spent four years making substantial improve- ments. He then rented the farm and moved to Curwensville to engage in the hotel business, and while there lie was appointed, in 1835, by Gov. Ritner to the combined office of prothonotary, register and recorder, and clerk of the several courts at Clearfield, holding that position for three years. In 1838 he engaged in mercantile business at Clearfield, and continued twelve years. In 1840 he was appointed postmaster at Clearfield, and resigned that office in 1843 to serve three years as sheriff. All these positions he filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people. Honest and capable, he won and retained their entire confidence, and in his work he showed special favors to none.

In 1846 he purchased a tract of land on Lick Run, in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, to which he added until he now owns, 3.000 acres. The property is about five miles north of Clearfield, and is admirably adapted to milling. A mill had been partly built and he completed it, constructing a dam at the Susquehanna river, and carried on an extensive lumber business for many years. Twofarms were opened up on this land, both well improved, with orchards, good residences, barns and other buildings. He.also erected for himself, near the niill, a commodious two-story dwelling and large and convenient barns and farm buildings, making a most desirable home. At various times he has sold portions of his land, but has always reserved the right to the coal which underlies the tract. Through his en- terprise a post office was established there, which was named Lick Run Mills, and he has been in charge of it since 1872.

Mr. Irwin's wife was called from earth in February, 1881, after more than fifty-four years of wedded life. Her quiet, gentle disposition and devoted Christian character made her a living example of the faith which she cherished. Her death was deeply mourned by all who had known her influence. She was a descendant of a pio- neer family of Centre county. Her father, John Iddings, was a prominent farmer there, and lived and died a consistent member of the Friends Society. Her mother, whose maiden name was Ann Carroll, was a relative of Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin had eight children: Lewis died in 1882; John F. is a merchant in Clearfield; Mary and Henrietta are at home: William E. is one of the enterprising business men of Philips- burg; Joseph R. is a druggist at Curwensville; Melissa died in her youth; and James died at the age of eleven years.

Mr. Irwin was reared in the Quaker faith, to

which all his relatives adhere. All Friends were Abolitionists on principle, and his first po- litical record was made upon that question. He was a Whig in early years, but joined the Re- publican party on its organization, and has ever since given it his support. He was active during the war in securing supplies for recruits, and sent forward three sons to fight for the old flag, all of whom returned home safely after their terms of enlistment expired. Time has dealt kindly with Mr. Irwin, and his mental faculties still work with the precision and clearness which made him a power in business life. He is of medium size and physically strong except for his lower limbs, in which he suffers somewhat from the effects of an attack of "la grippe" a few years ago. His eyesight is unimpaired, and he reads, writes and transacts business without glasses.

M ON. ALEXANDER E. PATTON, cashier of the Curwensville Bank, and a leading stockholder in many other important enterprises. is one of the most progressive business men of his section. He seems to possess in a full meas- ure the admirable qualities which, in a man who has been less favored by fortune, are usually at- tributed to years of struggle with adverse circum- stances.

Mr. Patton is a native of Curwensville, Penn .. born October 20, 1852. He attended the public schools of that place, Dickinson Seminary, Ches- ter Military Academy, and Andover, Mass., but at the age of nineteen years failing health com- pelled hin to abandon his studies before gradua- tion. Later he began his business career as a clerk in a store, and in 1873 he went west and spent some time upon a farm west of Lyons and Clinton, Iowa. He then purchased an interest in a nursery business conducted by John E. En- nis, forming the firm of Ennis & Patton, which continued until 1877. This was one of the larg- est enterprises of the kind in the West, 300 acres being kept under cultivation during the contin- uance of the firm. Having purchased his part- ner's interest and closed out the business, Mr. Patton returned to Curwensville and accepted the position of cashier in the Curwensville Bank, which incumbency he has since filled in a highly creditable manner. As stated elsewhere, the bank was organized by his father, Hon. John Patton, as a private institution, with a capital of $50,000. The capital was later increased to $100,000 from surplus account, and then to $200,000, and at present there is a $50,000 sur- plus. It is regarded as one of the strongest

Ne Patton

٠٠٠٠ - -

589

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

financial institutions of the State, and in its suc- cess the ability and energy of A. E. Patton has been a potent factor. Among the financiers of this section he holds an enviable reputation, and his counsel is sought in business enterprises of all kinds. He is president of the First National Bank of Patton, Cambria Co., Penn., which in- cludes among its stockholders Hon. John Patton; George J. Magee, president of the Fall Brook Railroad Company; Dr. D. A. Fetzer; A. G. Palmer, of the Beech Creek Railroad Company; and others.

Mr. Patton is secretary and treasurer of the Chest Creek Land & Improvement Company, with a capital of $600,000; secretary and treas- urer of the Patton Coal Company, with $40,000 capital; and treasurer of the Curwensville Build- ing & Loan Association. The town of Patton was named by him in honor of his father. In connection with Gen. Magee, the Hon. James Kerr, and others, it was organized July 4, 1892, and its growth has been phenomenal, the trans- formation within four years being from a wilder- ness to a busy community of 3, 500 people. It is supported by mining, manufacturing and farming interests, and has every prospect of being perma- nent under the able management of the gentle- man named. Through the influence of Mr. Pat- ton, Hon. James Kerr, Gen. George J. McGee, and others, the Beech Creek railroad was ex- tended to Cambria county, the value of this movement being promptly shown in the develop- ment of the territory thus reached. For some time the opening of the new markets for the coal interests of that section has received special at- tention from Mr. Patton. During the years 1892, 1893 and 1894, Mr. Patton was actively engaged in railroad developments in this section of Pennsylvania, particularly the building of the Clearfield and Mahoning railroad from DuBois to Clearfield, and is now a member of the board of directors of that company, as well as a di- rector in other railroad companies. This was one of the most important connecting railroads in the State, crossing the Alleghany Mountains at a grade, the maximum of which does not exceed one per cent, and is lower than any other point crossed in the State. He is also a member of the firm of Peale, Peacock & Kerr, in New York City, and this firm have a coal yard at Regla, op- posite tlie city of Havana, in Cuba, which they supply with coal from the mines in Cambria county, and others in which they are interested.

While thus prominently identified with busi- ness and financial interests, Mr. Patton finds time to take an active part in all local enterprises which promise to benefit the public in any way.

Educational movements find in him an ardent and intelligent champion, and for seven years he worked effectively for the improvement of the Curwensville school, as the president of the board of education. He was the first president of the School Directors Association of Clearfield county, and presided over the conventions which elected to the office of county superintendent of schools, B. C. Youngman, and G. W. Weaver, the present incumbent. It would be impossible to name all the projects for local improvement which have been materially aided by him, but the part which he took in securing, for Curwens- ville, a good water system, demands special no- tice, as no town in Pennsylvania has a better sys- tem, and particularly for fire protection.

Mr. Patton has frequently declined to be a can- didate for public office, but he is a stanch Repub- lican, and at times has taken an influential part in State and County Conventions as a delegate. and was twice inade a member of the Republic- an State Central Committee. In the campaign of 1896 he was one of the four Electors at Large from the State of Pennsylvania. In 1888 he was an alternate to the National Convention at Chicago, which nominated President Harrison. He is a member of the board of trustees, ap- pointed by Governor Hastings, of the State In- stitution for Feeble Minded, situated at Polk. Venango Co. Penn .; this institution, when com- pleted, will not be surpassed by any similar in- stitution in the world. Among the members of this State board are: ex-State Treasurer Jack- son, Gen. Wiley, ex-Supreme Court Judge Hy- drick, and others.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 1

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1266