A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume II, Part 40

Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 560


USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume II > Part 40


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John a Steele


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married Miss Davis; Thomas, married Margaret Zimmerman; Belle, married Samuel G. Steel, no relation : Mariah, died a maiden.


(II) Charles W. Steele, son of John and Elizabeth (Hartsock) Steele, was born May 6, 1834, at Belleville, Mifflin county. He learned the trade of cabinetmaking, which he followed until later on he became a farmer of Union township, Huntingdon county, where he removed and passed the remainder of his life. In politics he was a life-long Democrat, and in his religious affiliations was a member of the Metho- dist Protestant church, to which his wife also belonged. He died August 3, 1895, and was survived by his wife fourteen years. She was Miss Sarah Smith, born September 8, 1837, and died April 23. 1909. Her parents were Dr. Andrew Smith and his wife, who was a Miss Elizabeth Pheasant ; he being a native of Maryland and his wife of Pennsylvania : both were members of the Methodist church. Dr. Smith was also a lifelong farmer of Union township, Huntingdon county. There were eight children in the family: Sarah, who became Mrs. Steele: Rachel, married Jacob Estep; Mary, married James Bow- ser; Susan Jane, married Jacob David; Thompson, married Almira Murry : William Bland, married Mina Saner ; Charles Wesley, married Belle Klippinger: Salina, married W. P. Magsam.


Children of Mr. and Mrs. Steele, who were married December 16, 1855: Jeanette Belle, born January 1. 1857, married T. J. Wright : Mary Elizabeth, born November 16, 1858, married D. C. Wilson : John A., of whom further ; James S., an officer in the Pennsylvania Indus- trial Reformatory, born October 12, 1865, married Mary Prough ; Bruce P., of further mention: William T., a farmer of Huntingdon county, born August 3, 1869, married Luella Deavor : Minnie R., born August 15, 1871. married Harry J. Silknetter, a blacksmith of Altoona, Penn- sylvania ; Sarah D., born March 19, 1877, married James P. Bohner, a bricklayer of .Altoona; Prudence M., born December 6, 1879, married C. H. Haines. a butcher of Cleveland, Ohio; Zellah, born November 16, 1881, married Robert Smith, a carpenter of Altoona ; and a child who died in infancy.


(III) John A., son of Charles W. and Sarah (Smith ) Steele, was born in Union township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1860. His education, which was acquired in the public schools of his native township, was a good and practical one, and upon its completion he was


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apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade witli R. W. Cook, of Bedford county, during the years 1878-80. He followed this calling for the period of one year at Huntingdon, then entered the employ of the Gon- dola Tanning Company, with whom he remained eleven years. He was then appointed to an official position in the Pennsylvania Reformatory, filling the duties of his office ten years, and in 1901 became a candidate for the position of sheriff of the county, on the Republican ticket, but was defeated in this ambition by seventy-eight votes. Removing to Philadelphia, he acted in the capacity of superintendent of the Wolfe Process Leather Company for about seven years, and then returned to Huntingdon. There he erected a plant for the manufacture of ice, and organized a company, of which he became the president and manager, and four other members of his family are holding official positions in it. Mr. Steele has always been a strong supporter of the Republican party in his borough, and has wielded considerable influence in it. He was solicited by his many friends to become a candidate for sheriff in the fall election of 1913, and it is predicted that he will be the next sheriff of Huntingdon county. Mr. Steele and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Order of Moose.


Mr. Steele married, July 17. 1881, Agnes L., daughter of Simeon and Ellen (Eistep) Wright, and they have had children: I. R. Ernest, a trainmaster on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. 2. Albert W., engaged as a machinist with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company : married Margaret Hohman; one child, Frederick Hohman. 3. C. Le- Roy, a fireman on the middle division of the Pennsylvania railroad; married Nannie Carmon.


(III) Dr. Bruce P. Steele, son of Charles W. and Sarah (Smith) Steele, was born September 1, 1867, in Union township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He received his education in the local schools of Huntingdon county and at Juniata College in the city of Huntingdon, be- ing well fitted for the profession of teaching which he then adopted. For six years he taught in the schools, being principal at Huntingdon for a period of three years. In 1895 he turned his attention to the study of medicine, entering the Medico-Chirurgical College at Philadelphia and being graduated therefrom in 1898 after a very successful three years' course. He located at once in Newton Hamilton, Mifflin county, where


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he entered upon the practice of his profession and remained for three years, coming to McVeytown April 1, 1901, and continuing here ever since. His practice has grown very rapidly and he is now one of the leading physicians in this locality, occupying a prominent position in social and business circles as well as in the professional world. He is a bank director here, and is influential in the Democratic party, of which he is a member. Dr. Steele is also interested in fraternal mat- ters, and is a member in good standing of McVeytown Lodge, No. 376, Free and Accepted Masons. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, to which both himself and his wife belong.


On December 4, 1901, after he had established himself in the prac- tice of his profession in McVeytown, he was married to Miss Lorma Postlethwaite, who was born August 28, 1881, daughter of Lambert Postlethwaite and his wife, who was a Miss Sarah Catherine Rhodes. Dr. and Mrs. Steele have two children : Sarah, born December 18, 1902, and Rachel. born January 23. 1908.


STUBER Mary Barbara, daughter of John and Barbara (Mack) Troutman, was born in Germany in September, 1837. She came to the United States with her parents, the fam- ily settling in Spruce Creek township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Her brother Michael, born in Germany in 1834, came to this country at the same time as his sister and spent most of his active life in the employ of the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad Company. Mary Barbara Troutman was educated in the public schools, and in 1858 married Valentine Brown. He was proprietor of a board- ing house until his enlistment, August 16, 1862, in Company F, 125th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving a term of nine months, after which he was mustered out with an honorable discharge. He fought with his regiment in the battle of Antietam, there receiving a severe wound. After the war he worked at house and bridge car- pentering, continuing until his death in 1882. He was a man of in- dustry and good character, a member of the Lutheran church and faith- ful to his obligations : children: William, born January 26, 1861, died aged three years; Harriet, born May 7. 1859. died aged seven years. By a first marriage Valentine Brown had a son, John. After remaining a widow nine years. Mary Barbara (Troutman) Brown married (sec-


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ond) in 1891, Gottfried Stuber, of German parentage. He was an employee of the Pennsylvania railroad for several years, then entered the employ of the J. C. Blair Company of Huntingdon, continuing with them until his death. He was an upright, industrious man, trusted by his employers and respected by all who knew him. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church; no issue by second mar- riage.


Mrs. Stuber continues her residence in Huntingdon and though bereft of children and husband to cheer her declining years, looks upon the bright side of life and is unafraid. She is a member of the Lutheran church and is most highly regarded by her many friends.


This name, originally Reiden, was brought to Pennsyl-


RIDEN vania from Germany by three brothers, who came before the revolutionary war, in which they served. They first settled in New York state, later moving to York. Pennsylvania, where descendants yet reside. The spelling of the name has changed to Riden, but earlier generations retained the German spelling, Reiden.


The early records of the borough of Newport, Mifflin county, Penn- sylvania, show that on the second of April, 1789. David (2) English sold to Paul Reiden one hundred and ninety-nine acres of land, which Eng- fish had bought from his father. David ( 1) English, the original grant dated February 8, 1775, having been made to the latter. By will, dated August 6, 1804, Paul Reiden gave the same tract to his sons : Paul (2). John. Daniel, Abraham and Ephraim. Paul. John and Daniel, after coming into possession of the paternal estate, first laid out and surveyed the town, now Newport, into fifty-four lots, with streets and alleys. The part laid out was south along the Juniata River and Little Buffalo Creek; the north part the heirs retained. The settlement was called Reidenville until the formation of Perry county in 1820. A ferry across the river was established, which was known as Reiden's Ferry, and in the war of 1812 was used by the American troops to cross the river. This ferry was in use until supplanted by the bridge built by the Reiden's Ferry Bridge Company, incorporated April 4, 1838. The Reiden brothers owned a mill and engaged in boating on the Juniata, transporting farm produce and freight for the merchants. After several years they dissolved their partnership and divided their


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property. Paul (1) Reiden married a Miss Closser, and, besides the five sons mentioned, had four daughters.


(Il) John Riden, son of Paul (1) Reiden, was born about 1808. IIe engaged with his brothers in founding the town of Newport, Penn- sylvania, and in their agricultural and boating enterprises until the disso- lution of partnership. He then continued in business alone, principally agricultural. He married Hester Mitchell, and both died in Mifflin county, leaving issue.


(III) John (2), son of John (1) and Hester ( Mitchell) Riden, was born in Dry Valley, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, about 1830. He was a miller by trade, and operated at different points in Mifflin county, including Milroy. He was an active Democrat, and a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. He married Frances Camp, a descendant of John (1) Camp, born in France, came to America in 1828, landing in New York, finally settling in the west end of the Kishacoquillas Val- ley, remaining six years, then moved to Milroy, where he died Septem- ber 18, 1854. Frances Camp was born at Erie, Pennsylvania. Chil- dren: Annie, deceased; Alvaretta, deceased; Margaret, deceased; Sid- ney, deceased; Robert J., of whom further; George B. McClellan ; Harry ; Fannie; William J., deceased.


(IV) Robert J., son of John (2) and Frances (Camp) Riden, was born in Milroy, Pennsylvania. May 24, 1860. He was educated in the public schools and on arriving at manhood engaged in the butcher busi- ness. In 1893 he came to Reedsville, where he established a meat market. This he conducted very successfully until 1911, when it was merged with his department store business. In 1909 Mr. Riden built what is said to be the largest frame store building in the state. It is one hundred by fifty feet on the ground, three stories in height. The third floor is occupied by lodges and societies, the second floor as an opera house, and the first floor by Mr. Riden's department store. He is well estab- lished in business, and is one of the prosperous men of his town. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as school director. He is a member of the Lutheran church, Milroy Lodge, No. 213, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and Reedsville Eyrie, Fraternal Order of Eagles.


He married, in 1883. Ella, born in Reedsville. daughter of Joseph Kelly. Children: Beatrice, Joseph, Frances, Mildred.


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The first settlers of Bucke's Valley, Buffalo township, ALBRIGHT Perry county, Pennsylvania, were Reuben Earl, John Law, George Albright, Samuel Rankin and Martin Waln, who took up lands along the Susquehanna river about 1773. George Albright came to that locality from Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania. At the outbreak of the revolution he entered the patriot army, served throughout the war, leaving at home a wife and several young sons who did the farming. Mrs. Albright and her servant girl took her grain to the banks of the Susquehanna on horseback, loaded it into a canoe and poled down the stream to the nearest mill, which was at Dauphin. After the grain was converted into flour, they poled up the stream to the spot where the horses had been left hitched, when it was again loaded on their backs and all returned to the farm. After the war George Albright returned to the farm in Perry county, and there resided until death. He and his wife are buried in the soil of the valley he helped to defend from foreign and savage foe.


(II) George (2), son of George (1) Albright, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, and there married. Later he moved to Ferguson's Valley, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres, on which he built a stone house that is yet standing. He prospered in his new home and became one of the sub- stantial farmers of the valley. In addition to the homestead, he owned a tract of about one hundred acres on which the village of Yeagertown was built. He donated the land on which the Lutheran church stands and also gave the land for the Lutheran cemetery at Yeagertown, in which he is buried. His wife, Elizabeth, was also born in Lancaster county. Children : 1. Sarah ("Sally"), died unmarried. 2. Eliza, mar- ried Miller Mellvaine, moved west and there died. 3. Peter, died in Nebraska. 4. John, died in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. 5. Daniel, died in Yeagertown. 6. William, died in Kansas. 7. George, died aged twenty years, and was the first person buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Yeagertown. 8. Henry (of whom further).


(III) Henry, son of George and Elizabeth Albright, was born in Lancaster county in 1818, but when a boy was brought by his parents to Ferguson Valley, Mifflin county, where his after life was spent. IIe inherited the homestead farm, on which he lived as owner for forty years, a substantial, contented and respected farmer. In 1897 he moved


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to Yeagertown, where two years later, in 1899, he died. He was a Democrat in politics and served his township as collector of taxes and supervisor. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He married (first) 1834, Mary Miller, born in Juniata county, who left an only child, Joseph, now living in Reedsville. He married (second) Mary Ann McCartney, born in Huntingdon county in 1834, died 1909, daughter of James and Catherine (Collobine) McCartney. James McCartney was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, 1806, where he married and farmed all his active life. Later he moved to Mifflin county, where his wife died on their Ferguson Valley farm. His last years he spent with his sons in Burnham, where he died in 1893. Both he and his wife were Lutherans. Fifteen children: Alfred; John; James, a veteran of the civil war; Jerry; Irvin, died young; Sarah, married John Irvin ; Mary Ann, married Henry Albright ; Ellen, diced young ; Asbury, died young; Anthony, and five who died in infancy. All these children are deceased, except Jerry, who resides in Yeager- town, and Anthony, of Burnham. Children of Henry and Mary Ann Albright : 1. Millard Burns (of whom further). 2. Laura, married Porter Mann and lives in Pottstown. 3. James, resides in Yeagertown. 4. Lizzie, married James Darwin, of Lewistown. 5. Harry, of Yeager- town.


(IV) Millard Burns, son of Henry and Mary Ann (McCartney) Albright, was born in Ferguson Valley, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1859. He was educated in the public school, grew to man- hood at the homestead farm settled by his grandfather, and continued there, engaged in its cultivation, until the year 1900. He then joined in partnership with his brother Harry and established a meat market and butchering business in Yeagertown, which he operated until Jan- uary, 1911, when Millard B. purchased his brother's interest. He con- ducted the business alone until 1912, then sold to Harry Albright, his former partner. Millard B. then moved to Burnham, where he erected a suitable building and again established in the butcher business, which he still continues. He is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Lutheran church, his wife belonging to the Methodist denomination. He is also a Knight of Malta. He married, May 13, 1906, Mrs. Della (Confer) Wallizer, born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Elias C. and Alice (Musser) Confer, both natives of Centre county,


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he now living retired on a small farm in Penn township, but she died July 27, 1905. Children: I. Della, married (first) in 1890, Elmer Wallizer, by whom she had: Bruce, married Alice Way and resides in Yeagertown; Elias, living at home; she married ( second) Millard B. Albright. 2. Carrie, married Asher Confer and lives in Centre county. 3. Franklin, resides at home. 4. John, living in Renovo.


Mrs. Della (Confer-Wallizer) AAlbright is a granddaughter of George and Catherine Confer, who were all residents of Centre county. Four of their sons served in the Union army, one of them, Felta, receiving a wound from which he died. Alice Musser was a daughter of John and Catherine (Stumm) Musser, natives of Centre and Clinton counties, respectively.


The only child of Millard B. and Della Albright is Mary Alice, born April 20, 1909. The family residence is at No. 46 North Main avenue, Yeagertown, which Mr. Albright built in 1906.


The Koughs came to Perry county from York county,


KOUGH Pennsylvania, where Peter Kough lived and died near Hanover. He married a Miss Bosserman, and had three children: Peter, settled in Adams county ; John, of whom further ; and Catharine, who married John Marshall, of Waterloo, New York.


(II) John, son of Peter Kough, was born in York county in 1789, where he resided until his majority. He then came to Perry county, settling on a tract of land inherited from his father. He became one of the early iron men of that section, senior member of the firm of Kough, Everhardt & Loy, operating a foundry and furnace, situated east of Landisburg. The business depression of 1846 caused the failure of the firm. After his failure Mr. Kough engaged in farming until his death in 1869. He was a prominent Whig and a member of the German Baptist (Dunkard) church. Ile married Eleanor, daughter of John Hallopeter, an early settler of Howe township, Perry county, later moved to Ohio, where he and his wife, a Miss Fahnestock, died; children: Mary, married William Bosserman, and died in Newport, Pennsylvania. 2. Margaret, married James Everhardt, who lived and died near Newport, well known and prominent. 3. Sarah, married John Bosserman, of local prominence, died in Newport. 4. Catherine, mar- ried Jesse L. Gantt, a leading hotel proprietor of Newport, where both


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died. 5. Eleanor, married Jacob Sauserman, whom she survives, a resident of Newport. 6. William (of whom further). 7. John, died at his farm near Newport. 8. George, a foundryman, died in East Water- ford, Juniata county.


(III) William, son of John and Eleanor ( Hallopeter ) Kough, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania. in 1813, died in Newport. in 1893. He settled after his marriage in Juniata township. Perry county, where he owned a farm of nearly three hundred acres, which he greatly im- proved and on which he resided for several years. In 1867 he formed a partnership with Mr. Everhart, engaging in the coal, grain and iron business. Later the firm became William Kough & Sons, continuing as such for two years. Mr. Kough then sold to his sons, retiring from business, and they continued dealing in coal, iron, salt, grain, flour, feed, etc. He continued his residence in Newport until his death, at the age of eighty years. He was a Republican in politics, and for one term was county commissioner, also filling many township offices. He married Mary Mckenzie, born in Duncannon, Perry county, in 1815, died in Newport, in 1885. Both were members of the Evangelical Association : children : 1. John W. S., located in Spokane, Washington, died in 1910 in Newport. 2. Sarah, married E. B. Weise, once county treasurer of Perry county, now deceased ; she survives, a resident of Newport. 3. Mary, married John Acker; both are deceased. 4. Mar- garet, married Watson L. Gantt and resides in Newport. 5. William H., a retired grain and coal dealer of Newport, ex-sheriff of Perry county, now living retired in Newport. 6. Katherine, married Rev. H. A. Stoke. an evangelical minister, and resides at York, Pennsylvania. 7. Ambrose. now a retired coal dealer of Newport. 8. Amos W., of whom further. Four other children died in infancy.


Mary Mckenzie Kough, mother of these children, was a daughter of John McKenzie and his wife, a Miss Boyd and a descendant of the emigrant from Inverness, Scotland, who came in 1775. said to have borne the name of Kenneth Mckenzie. He served in the American revo- lution, was captured by the British and never again was heard from. He left issue, including a son John. John McKenzie grew to manhood in Philadelphia, early coming to Duncannon, Perry county, where he bought a farm of three hundred acres, on which he built a home and a blacksmith shop. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. married.


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and reared a family, dying at the age of forty years, from blood poison- ing, the result of a horseshoe nail wound received while shoeing a restless horse.


He had a son, John (2) Mckenzie, born on the Duncannon farm, and followed the trade of blacksmith in addition to his farming opera- tions. He was prosperous, owning considerable property in the neigli- borhood, including one of the hotels of the town. He died in Dun- cannon, about the year 1867. By his first wife, a Miss Boyd, he had two children: Mary, who married William Kough, of previous mention, and John (3), a foundryman, who lived and died in New Bloomfield. By his second wife, a Miss Peacock, he also had issue.


(IV) Amos W., son of William and Mary ( Mckenzie) Kough, was born in Juniata township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1854. He was educated in the public schools of the township, Newport high school, and Silas Wright's select school at Millerstown, Pennsyl- vania. He taught school for one year, then was in business at Carlisle for a year, then for four years taught school and worked at the home farm. In the year 1881 he located in Newport, Pennsylvania, where he bought a stock of groceries from his brother-in-law, Ephraim B. Weise, and began business at the corner of Walnut and Third streets. He has prospered and is still in active business, his being the oldest exclusive grocery house in Newport. Six years after his start he bought his present property, on which two houses and his store are standing. In 1894 he was elected a director of the First National Bank, and in Jan- uary, 1913, was elected vice-president. He is a Republican in politics, serving nine years as school director, eight of these years being presi- dent of the board, and is now a member of the town council. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and in religious faith a Lutheran, having served that church as deacon for many years. Active and interested in all that concerns the welfare of his town, Mr. Kough is one of the men that have been the leaders in Newport's pros- perity. Known as an honorable, upright business man, he is no less esteemed for his many manly qualities and friendliness. He is inter- ested in historical matters and has a well-filled case of relics pertaining to early Pennsylvania history.


He married, January 8, 1880, Annie F., daughter of Abraham K. and Rebecca (Loy) Long ; children: I. Harry M., engaged in the piano


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business. 2. Nellie Mckenzie, graduate of Newport high school, a student at Bucknell, also attended Combs' Conservatory of Music. 3. Ralph Long, a clerk in his father's store. 4. Irene L., a graduate of Westchester Normal School; is a teacher. 5. Jessie M., at home ; grad- uate of Newport high school.


The first of this name in the Juniata Valley of FLICKINGER whom there is record was Henry Flickinger, born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1765, died November 10, 1853. He came to Perry county a young, unmar- ried man. He bought a small farm near Ickesburg, where he remained a number of years, afterward and until his death residing on a farm just north of that village, not far from the Tuscarora mountain. He married Margaret Yohn, born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1779. died April 27, 1853, daughter of Jolm Yohn. Mr. Flickinger and his wife were Lutherans, and are buried at Shuman's Church, Eshcol, Pennsylvania. They had nine sons and five daugh- ters, among whom were: I. John, died at Center, Perry county. 2. Henry, died at Ickesburg. 3. Isaac, died in Juniata county. 4. Jo- seph, of whom further. 5. George, died in Newport. Pennsylvania. 6. Nicholas, died in Ohio. 7. Daniel, killed by a train at Port Royal. Pennsylvania; has son Robert living in Nebraska. 8. Peter, died in Ickesburg. 9. David, deceased. 10. Elizabeth. II. - , married




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