Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 1

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1332

USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 1

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Gc 974.8 C74 pt.3 1810860

M. L.

REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 2510

Gc 974. C74 pt.3 1810

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015

https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio03jhbe_0

490

COMMEMORATIVE

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

- OF- -

CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA,

Pt. 3

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

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1810860

he was a Democrat, but supported Lincoln in 1860. He has been frequently urged to accept the nomination for different offices, but declined to run for sheriff and for member of the Assem- bly at different times. In 1884 he attended the Democratic and Greenback Congressional Con- vention at Kittanning, and after twodays' unsuc- cessful balloting, his name was proposed, and he was triumphantly nominated for representative. Although he received 2, Soo votes more than Grover Cleveland, he was defeated as his district was strongly Republican. At the Labor Con- vention of his Senatorial District, he was nomi- nated for State Senator in 1896, but declined the honor. No man in Jefferson county stands higher in the estimation of his fellow citizens, or is more deserving their regard than Daniel Reitz.

A RTHUR O'DONNEL. Wherever there is pioneer or unusual work to be done, men of energy and ability are required, and success or failure depends upon the degree of those qualities that is possessed. In wresting the land of Wins- low township, Jefferson county, from its native wilderness; in fitting it for the habitation of men; in developing the natural resources of the com- munity in which they live, few, if any, have con- tributed more largely than Arthur O'Donnel, and it is mete and proper that for the arduous and important labor he has performed he should re- ceive his due reward. He is now a wealthy lum- ber manufacturer, and operates two large saw- mills, one of which is located at Camp Run, Jefferson county, on a tract of 1,392 acres of land. owned by Andrews & Son, and by A. O'Donnel & Son; the other at O'Donnel Station, same county, which station was named for our subject.

ied at St. John's Church, Clearfield township. Butler county. Their children were as follows: James, born March 19, 1823, died at the age of two years; Arthur is the subject of this sketch; Mary A., born October 19. 1826, married Thomas Graham, and both are now deceased: John D., born October 21, 1828, died December 24. 1895; Charles, born June 17, 1830, is a inerchant of Bradford, Penn .; Daniel, born May 12. 1832, died in 1864; James, born October 30. 1833. is now living with our subject; Matilda, born May 30, 1835, is the' wife of James Rogers, employed in the glass works at South Pittsburg: Hannah and Marjorie (twins), born February 18, 1837, are both now deceased, Hannah dying unmarried in 1897, and Marjorie as the wife of Samuel Shankle, a molder of Kittanning; Bridget E., born June 8, 1839, died unmarried; Edward, born Septem- ber 6, 1844, is a railroad man of Winslow town- ship, Jefferson county.

Our subject remained on his father's farm until the age of eighteen, but for two winters he assisted his father in working an ore bank at Buffalo Furnace, Armstrong county. The lad then ventured out for himself, engaging cheerfully in whatever employment he could find; for several months he operated an engine at Buffalo Furnace, later running an engine at Pittsburg, and then was similarly engaged in a nail factory until the mill burned, when he returned home. After har- vest he began an apprenticeship of two years with Payne & Bigley, carpenters and contractors in Clarion county. For his first year's services he received six dollars per month. for the second eight dollars, receiving also two-months' school- ing each year. He was now equipped for life and eager to begin business for himself. Payne & Bigley dissolved partnership about this time, and our subject associated himself in business with Mr. Payne. They followed carpentering. and also engaged in shipping iron to Pittsburg by boat on contract. Mr. O'Donnel two years later purchased the business of his partner, and con- tinued it until 1850, when he removed to New Bethlehem, and for eight years leased front Jacob mill at that place. He rented it for two years for $500, and then sold the privilege to another firm for $300 per year, in the meantime carrying on his business of carpentering and contracting.

Mr. O'Donnel was born, December 26, 1824. in Clearfield township, Butler Co., Penn., a son of Arthur and Marjorie (Duffy) O'Donnel. and a grandson of Arthur O'Donnel. Both his paternal and maternal grandparents came from Ireland. The father was a native of Dauphin county, and ! Shankle a dam privilege, building the first saw- the mother of Butler county. They were mar- ried in Butler county, and there Arthur O'Don- nel, the father of our subject, engaged in general farming. He was prosperous in business, and was one of the leading men in that county, serv- On January 27, 1853, at New Bethlehem. Mr. O'Donnel was married to Miss Margaret D). Graham, who was born April 13, 1833, at Centre Furnace, Centre county, a daughter of William and Mary (Adams) Graham, who were of Scotch- Irish extraction, and members of the M. E. and Presbyterian Churches. respectively. Margaret ing as justice of the peace for many years and filling various other local offices. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a Catholic. He died July 30, 1875, aged seventy-seven years, his wife having passed away several years pre- viously, aged seventy-five years. Both are bur- !

A. ODommel

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was only three years old when her mother died, and eight years later she lost her father, who was a teamster. Thrown largely upon her own re- sources, after spending several years with her maternal grandparents, the young girl developed strong habits of self-reliance. The family of William and Mary Graham consisted of the fol- lowing children: Marshall, now living retired in Peoria, Ill .; Samuel, who died aged twenty-one years; Sarah, who married Lot Tetts, and is now deceased; Mary J., who married Isaac Lewis, and is since deceased; Nancy, wife of Joseph Siler, both deceased; Margaret, wife of our sub- ject; and Maria, who died aged six months.

To Arthur and Margaret O'Donnel were born the following children: William, born March 16. 1854, died December 18 of the same year; Ma- tilda, born October 2, 1855, died of scarlet fever May 31, 1861; Flora, born July 27, 1859, died of scarlet fever Jane 9, 1861; John, born November 25, 1861, died December 23 of same year; Charles G., born December 16, 1863, married Mary Heis, and has six children (he is a partner with his father in the mill at Camp Run); Anna, born April 27, 1866, married Alex- ander Best, a tanner of Reynoldsville, and has three children; and Arthur, Jr., born September 15, 1869, married (first) Anna Nulph, and (sec- ond) Cora Swartz, and has two children (he is manager of his father's mill at O'Donnel Station).

In 1858 Arthur O'Donnel built the first steam mill at New Bethlehem, on land which he had previously bought. He leased this mill for three years, but soon after sold it for $3. 500. He con- tinued carpentering, but the black frost of 1859 having killed business in that locality, he aban- doned the trade, and took charge of the " Lafay- ette Hotel " at New Bethlehem, remaining its pro- prietor for fifteen months. Returning to the woods, he took out square timber and built the two bridges across the Clarion river. He was en- gaged in various similar enterprises until June 1. 1866, when he established himself in the wilder- ness in Winslow township, Jefferson county, first engaging as a carpenter and millwright for An- drews, Kitley & Co. He contracted to build the mill for this firm, and subsequently arranged to manufacture and deliver lumber to them at New Bethlehem, floating it down the river. A year later he purchased a third interest in the business for $15,000, his salary as superintendent being fixed at $1,000 per year. He conducted this business until the mill was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1873 at a loss of $12,000. During the three following years, owing to the hard times, the business was suspended, but in 1876 the mill was rebuilt, and has since been operated by Mr.

O'Donnel on a large scale, the O'Donnel mill turning out from 25,000 to 30,000 feet of manu- factured lumber per day. Charles E. Andrews is associated in business with Mr. O'Donnel, and receives a royalty on the lumber cut from one tract of 1,437 acres of land. Mr. O'Donnel's life has been too active to permit him to accept any office. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and he is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Brook- ville. He is pre-eminently a self-made man, possessing a great capacity for hard work and good financial' ability. He has large interests, is highly esteemed for his integrity and honest deal- ings. He is moreover a well-preserved man physically, with steady hand and keen eye, and both he and his estimable wife possess winning and gracious social qualities.

H ENRY BEAM (deceased) was one of the leading pioneers of Henderson township. Jefferson county, and his beautiful farm near Big Run gave evidence of his industry and wise man- agement. Coming to that locality in 1840, he was from the first identified with its best inter- ests, his influence being thrown always on the side of progress, and his death in 1888 was felt as a personal loss by all the members of the com- munity where he had so long resided.

Mr. Beam was born in Dauphin county, Penn., the son of Henry and Nancy Beam, both natives of Lancaster county, this State. On coming to Jefferson county in 1840 he bought 213 acres of woodland which he transformed into a home, clearing it and making improve- ments from time to time as his means permitted. His first residence was a log house, and the barn which he built at the time was of the same prim- itive order of architecture. In 1850 he brought to his home a beloved helpmeet, Miss Mary Paul- ine Best, whose wifely counsel and assistance proved her worth and ability. In 1861 he built a commodions frame residence of modern style. and in 1878 he erected a large bank barn, these and other improvements making the place one of the best in the vicinity. He was a generous supporter of schools, churches, and all charitabi .. movements, and for years was a consistent mem- ber of the M. E. Church. In politics he was a Democrat, but he never turned his attention in the direction of partisan work or sought public office, as he preferred his own quiet yet useful mode of life.

His estimable wife, who survives him shared in his kindly feeling toward all worthy enterprises, and has been especially active in religious work as a member of the Disciple Church. She was

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born July 19, 1830, in Armstrong county, Penn., and is descended from an old Swiss family, her ancestors having come to America in Colonial times. Several of her relatives served in the Revolutionary army under Washington, and her father, William Best, who was born in Northamp- ton county, Penn., settled at an early day in Jef- ferson county, where he and his wife, Mary (Pauline) Smith, were held in the highest esteem for their excellent qualities of character.

Mr. and Mrs. Beam had a large family of children, all of whom are well settled in life and do credit to their parents: (1) Jesse, born Feb- ruary 28. 1853, married Miss Emma Rhoads, of Clearfield county, and after residing on his mother's old homestead for two years moved to Virginia, in 1887. and has since followed lumber- ing there. He has four children -Cyrus, Olonza, Pearl and the baby. (2) Sarah E., born June 16, 1854. married Michael Schucker, of Brady township, Clearfield county. They now reside in Huntingdon county, Penn., on his farm. They have two children-Rachel, who was burned to death at the age of three years; and Henry, who is at home. (3) Maggie, born November 4. 1855, married Mitchil Watson, of Karthaus, Clearfield Co., Penn., and they now reside in Elk county, Penn., where he is engaged in oil boring. They had two children -- Frank Howard and one who died in infancy. (4) Susie, borul October 25, 1857, was educated in the common schools of Henderson township, and in 1881 mar- ried Charles Englie, of Indiana county, Penn. They lived for a time in Penfield, and later in Winterburn, Clearfield county, but in 1884 they located upon a portion of the old homestead where they erected a house and cleared out a small farin. They remained there until 1890, but since that time have lived with Mrs. Beam at their sea home. They had five children-Ida May, Chilsie Leroy, Ira Clair, Effie Lula, and Milo V., all at home. (5) George, born Sep- tember 4, 1859, married Mollie Curry, of Front- ville, and now resides in Sykesville. They have three children -- Harlow, Minnie and Clair. (6) Henry Jefferson, born October 4, 1861, married Etta McQuoiwn, of Big Run, and is working in D. J. Pifer's hardware store. They have no chil- dren. (7) Hannah C., born January 16, 1864, married Harry McQuoiwn, now postmaster of Big Run. They have five children living -- Wy- mard, Lillian, Lucile, Ruth and Pauline; and two -- Wauland and Florence M., are dead. (8) Suvilla, born April 2, 1866, married Canida B. Deemer, of Jefferson county, Penn., and they now reside on a farin in Winslow township. They have two children -- Twila and Alma. (9)

Jacob, born April 16, 1868, married Amanda Graffus, of Big Run, where he is now a clerk in J. A. Campbell's hardware store. They have three children living-Okley. Leanore and Glen. (10) Frank, born February 23, 1871, married to Miss Eunice Anthony, of Jefferson county, now resides at Glen Hazel, Elk county. They have two children-Leone and Joanna.

H ON. W. J. McKNIGHT, M. D. A man who has won his way in the world by sheer force of will and intellect, opposing his honest efforts to adverse fate, cannot fail to hold in a high degree the esteem and confidence of the people among whom his early days of trial were spent. Brookville is proud of Dr. Mcknight as one of her ablest sons, and Jefferson county has three times given him her support for the office of State Senator. In his professional work he has shown an unwavering determination to keep well posted upon the latest discoveries of science, and since Fortune has smiled upon him, he has availed himself of the best opportunities within his reach for extending his knowledge and perfecting his skill.

His family is of Scotch-Irish origin. His great-grandparents, Alexander and Isabella (Mc- Bride) Mcknight, who were natives of County Down, Ireland, emigrated in 1790 to Franklin county, Penn. About 1795 they moved to and settled on a farm in Crooked Creek. Indiana Co .. Penn. They had five daughters and two sons- Alexander, Jr .; and James, the grandfather of our subject, settled in Indiana, Penn., and be- came prominent in local politics, holding several offices. He was married twice, first to Jane Mc- Nutt, by whom he had two sons-Alexander. the father of Dr. Mcknight; and William, who died in 1830, at the age of twenty-three years. The : second wife was Jane McComb, by whom he had one son, James, and one daughter, Jane. now Mrs. Walbridge, both of whom moved to Texas, where James attained distinction. Alexander, Jr., brother of the grandfather of Dr. McKnight, married Susanna Cummins, and had two sons, viz .: Hon. William C., (now deceased), who re- sided in Chambersburg, Penn .. and James (now deceased), who resided on the old Crooked Creek homestead in Indiana county. Alexander, son of James and Jane (McNutt) Mcknight, was married May 10, 1831, to Miss Mary Thompson, daughter of William Thompson, of Indiana county, and sis- ter of Hon. John J. Y. Thompson. She was a granddaughter of Rev. John Jameson, who was born in Ellerslie, Scotland, and whose mother was a Wallace, of Sir William Wallace's clan. Alex-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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ander and Mary McKnight commenced married

sition. He served in the "emergency men " as life in Blairsville, Indiana Co., Penn., and on +private and orderly sergeant in Company G. 57th May 19, 1832, Amor A. Mcknight was born. In Regiment, and later was promoted to quarter- master sergeant, taking part in the campaign against and capture of Morgan. In 1869 he at- tended lectures in Philadelphia, and received the degree of M. D. He supplemented this course by attending two full courses in succes- sion at Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. he received a degree from the School of Anat- omy and Surgery.' He also took a post-gradu- ate course at Jefferson Medical College in 1885. January 9, 1860, he married Miss Penelope G. Clarke, and this union has been blessed with seven children. of whom four are living. November, 1832, they moved to Brookville, Jef- ferson Co., Penn., where Mr. McKnight taught during that winter the first term of school for the new town. In 1833 he was appointed justice of the peace. In 1834 he was appointed county treasurer. He was lieutenant-colonel of the 145th Regiment Penn. Militia, Second Battalion, and graduating in March, 1884. In the same year showed great fondness for military drill. A man of fine presence and much intellectual vigor, he was highly respected by all classes. He died June 15, 1837, aged twenty-seven years, leaving a widow and three children, viz .: Amor A. (late Col. McKnight); Nancy Jane, who died in child- hood; and William J., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Mary McKnight was married to John Tem- pleton, December 28, 1842, and had three sons -Thomas L .; Jesse J. died in the army; and Oscar J. (deceased). John Templeton died De- cember 8, 1850. and Mrs. Mary Templeton passed away February 22, 1860, aged forty-nine years.

Dr. McKnight was born in Brookville, Penn., May 6, 1836, and acquired an elementary educa- tion in the common schools. At the age of eleven, he was thrown upon his own resources, however, and he worked on a farm for four years. At sixteen he was employed by Samuel McEl- hose, of the Jefferson Star, and at seventeen he commenced the double task of setting type with Jerome Powell, Esq., of Ridgway, Penn., and of reading medicine under Dr. A. M. Clark, of Brockwayville. Penn .; in this way during a period of three years, by a species of economy, known best to himself, he saved enough money to enable him to attend during the winter of 1856-7 a single course of medical lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio. In March. 1857, he opened an office in Brookville, Penn., and for two years met with success. In 1859 he joined Dr. Niver, of Brockwayville, and as the junior member of the firm had a large and active practice during the four and one-half years of partnership. In

1863 he returned to Brookville, and established a drug store in connection with his practice, his brother, Thomas L. Templeton, joining him in this enterprise. The Doctor gave personal at- tention to the drug store for six years, and the business is yet successfully conducted by him and his son, under the firm name of Mcknight & Son. In 1864 Gov. Curtin appointed Dr. Mcknight examining surgeon; he was also ap- pointed and served as U. S. Pension Surgeon for seven years, but in order to faithfully perform other duties he was compelled to resign this po-

In his political views the Doctor is an ardent · Republican. In 1876 Jefferson county pre- sented his name for senator, and Indiana county presented Dr. St. Clair, and finally to secure harmony and to save the congressman's election to his party, Dr. McKnight handed to the con- ference the following letter of declination :

Gentlemen: When I received the nomination for sena- tor by the convention of Jefferson county Republicans by a large and flattering vote, I believed then as I still believe to- day, that I, as the choice of Jefferson county, was then and am to-day entitled to the Republican nomination for senator of this district. But I fully realize the fact that we are in an important political campaign, when the utmost harmony and union are required in all our ranks, and that I, as a faithful Republican, should not ask personal preference an- tagonistic to the general welfare of the party, but should act honestly for the people consistent with my Republican prir .- ciples, and be just to myself. I have no personal contes :. 1 am nothing. The success of the party is everything. I therefore withdraw from the contest and hope .my friends and the party may act wisely in the interest of the public good. Thanking my friends from the bottom of my heart for their warm support and their assurance to continue it in: the event of my remaining a candidate, I say here in a .: candor, that I hope I may never be so ungrateful as to for- get their kind assurances. I am, as ever,

Yours truly, (Signed) W. J. MCKNIGHT.

Brookville, Sept. 29, 1876.

In 1880, Jefferson county once more pre- sented Dr. Mcknight for nomination; but In- diana county again claimed it, and after several conferences the State Committee was called on to settle the matter, which they did by pronounc- ing Dr. Mcknight the nominee. He was elected. and served in the Senate from 1881 to 1885. He was a fearless, outspoken member, and was ever found in line battling for right and economy. The Doctor was again (in 1884) nominated by his county; a spirited contest arose in Indiana county, however, and after again calling on the State Committee, Dr. Mcknight was nominated. but this time defeated by Indiana county run- ning in the district an independent candidate. After the contest for nomination for senator in 1884 (already referred to) Hon. M. S. Quay, of

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the National Republican Committee, requested Dr. Mcknight to call on him at Pittsburg. The Doctor replied to himn, through his brother, in these words: "I am the nominee of the Repub- lican party of this district; I carry the Republic- an flag, and no power on earth but the votes of the people or the hand of Almighty God will make me lay it down," thus again showing his fidelity to his party. He has always been loyal and unswerving to his party's interests. Some- times his high spirit and firm adherence to prin- ciple have brought about exciting scenes, as in 1856-57, while he was attending lectures at the Medical Institute in Cincinnati, where nearly three-fourths of the students were Southerners. He boarded in the same house with nineteen of themn; all armed with dirks and pistols. The Doctor says: " From September until Novem- ber politics ran very high-the Southerners be- ing very dictatorial, unreasonable and domineer- ing, and they humiliated many. of the Northern students. Knowing that my time would come I purchased a revolver and put it in my hip pocket. I sat between two of the Southerners at College. Dr. Duhling, of Mississippi, came by while a lect- ure was going on, and deliberately insulted me, and when I resented the rudeness Dr. Duhling rushed at me with a chair, but was met by my revolver pushed against his breast. I then said: . Put that chair down,' and repeated my words, .Now I tell you for the third time put that chair down,' and that was the end of my troubles with those people. I was ever afterward respected by all of them."

Dr. McKnight, as a physician, has been emi- nently successful, and as a business man is ener- getic and useful. He has now ready for the press a compilation entitled .. Pioneer History of Jefferson county, Penn.," which relates many historical facts as they came under his personal notice in the early days. At the earnest solicita- tion of Maj. John McMurray, Dr. McKnight pub- lished, in 1895, a thirty-two-page pamphlet en- titled " My Recollection of Brookville, Penn., in 1840 to 1843." which has proven very interesting reading to the citizens of the county.

H ON. GEORGE A. JENKS. It is an impor- tant duty to honor and perpetuate, as far as possible, the memory of an eminent citizen --- one who by his blameless and honorable life and distinguished career reflects credit not only upon his city and State, but upon the whole country. In our subject we find one of the most prominent and distinguished citizens of Jefferson county, where his entire life has been passed, his birth

occurring March 26, 1836, in Punxsutawney. His father, a physician, was descended from a Quaker family, who were among the early settlers of Philadelphia, His mother was a daughter of Rev. D. Barclay, a Scotch Presbyterian minister.

When a child. Mr. Jenks was asked b; his elder brother, D. B. Jenks, a lawyer, what busi- ness he would follow when he became a mnan, and his reply was, .. Wait till to-morrow morning and I will tell you." During the night his de- termination was formed, and the next morning he announced that he would be a lawyer. The purpose so early formed was unalterably fixed. and to that end he labored and studied. When fourteen years of age his father died, and two years later he entered upon an apprenticeship of two years to the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he followed for a time in connection with school teaching and civil engineering. In the spring of 1855 he assisted in laying ont the city of Omaha, Neb., and in the fall of that year en- tered the junior class at Jefferson College, hav- ing diligently pursued his literary studies morn- ings and evenings while teaching and working. Previous to this time, however, he had taken up the study of law under the direction of Hon. W. P. Jenks, his guardian, who from early boyhood had directed his legal and literary reading. He was graduated from Jefferson College in the class of 1858, and in February, 1859. was ad- mitted to the Bar in Jefferson county, having completed his legal studies under his brother, P. W. Jenks. In the following September he con- ducted his first case in court, which was an ini- portant one to his clients-a widow and her minor children, whose home was their all, and that home dependent upon the result of the case. Although he was opposed by eminent lawyers, in- cluding Hon. I. G. Gordon, Hon. W. P. Jenks and Hon. G. W. Zeigler, he won the case, and was thenceforth employed on most of the important cases in Jefferson county, while his name became familiar in many of the courts in western and central Pennsylvania, where he was often em- ployed.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 1

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1332

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1332