USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume III > Part 4
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
Mr. Jacobs is a Republican in politics, since 1908 has been chief burgess of Huntingdon, and it is generally conceded by his constituents that his has been the most efficient administration in the history of the borough. Outside his business associations, he is regarded as the most liberal and public-spirited citizen the borough has ever had, and as an evidence is presented the fact that at the present time (1913) he is offering free a tract of fifty acres to be used for manufacturing purposes.
Mr. Jacobs married (first) in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Kate, daughter of Rev. J. H. Bradford, of Baltimore, Maryland, who only survived her wedding day about two and a half months. He married (second) in 1891, Emma Gipple, of Huntingdon, who died in 1892. He married (third) in 1897, Minnie G. Taylor. Children by third wife are Roy Warren, Walter T., and Robert S. Jacobs. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Order of Heptasophs.
There is no record found that positively identifies the Sears SEARS family of Maryland with the early New England settler, but the belief is well founded that Robert Sears, the revo- lutionary soldier of Fauquier and Loudon counties, Virginia, was a descendant of Richard Sares, who died in Plymouth colony, and was
976
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
buried August 26, 1676. He was survived by his wife Dorothy and sons Paul and Silas. There were, however, several families of the name Sears found in Virginia about the year 1750, all claiming English origin, except the family of Sears in Prince George county, Virginia, who claimed French descent.
(I) The earliest definite record of this branch is of Robert Sears, of Fauquier and Loudon counties, Virginia, who was a soldier in the revolutionary army for seven years. About the year 1812 he emigrated to Ohio, where he died. He married Eleanor Dallas, said to have been a relative of Vice-president Dallas, and had issue : John, born in Loudon county, Virginia, September 27, 1764; Robert (2), of whom further; Sarah, married Presby Harding; Elizabeth, married John Luke; Mar- garet, married Henry Harding; Thomas; Samuel, settled in Kentucky ; Mildred, died in Ohio.
(II) Robert (2), son of Robert and Eleanor (Dallas) Sears, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, in 1766. He inherited lands from his father in the state of Maryland and moved to that state, where for several years he was a resident of the city of Baltimore. He married and left male issue.
(III) Thomas, son of Robert (2) Sears, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was educated, married, lived and died. His busi- ness life was spent in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in a clerical capacity. He was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he served as trustee. He married Violet Lilly, also of Maryland birth. They had sons: George, Samuel Wesley, William; and three other children, whose names are not recorded.
(IV) Rev. Samuel Wesley Sears, son of Thomas and Violet (Lilly) Sears, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, died in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, June 3, 1896. He was educated in divinity, and became an or- dained minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, a profession fore- shadowed by his good Methodist name, bestowed by a Methodist father in honor of the great founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Rev. Sam- uel W. Sears was a member of the old Baltimore Conference that had jurisdiction over a large number of churches in southern and central Pennsylvania. Later the conference was divided, and the East Balti- more and Central Pennsylvania conferences created. Rev. Sears joined the Central Pennsylvania body, and thereafter spent his life in the ser-
977
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
vice of several of the churches governed by that conference. Under the itinerant system employed by the Methodist church, his removals were frequent, but in all his charges he was deeply appreciated and beloved. He was pastor of churches at Bedford, Lewistown, Altoona, Harrisburg, Chambersburg, Bloomsburg in Pennsylvania, and at Cumberland, Fred- erick and Hagerstown in Maryland. In the spring of 1896 he retired from active work in the ministry and three months later was called to his reward. His work as a minister of the Gospel covered a continuous period of forty-four years, and they were years of earnest, faithful ser- vice for the cause he loved. He is remembered with affection and re- spect in the many churches he served and many men and women now bearing honors in both church and state date their christian experience from his teachings or kindly words of advice. He was also an honored member of the Masonic order. Rev. Sears married Elizabeth R. McCa- han, died in December, 1891, daughter of John McCahan, a farmer of the Juniata Valley, well-to-do landowner, and devoted Methodist. Chil- dren of Rev. Samuel W. Sears: I. George, died in childhood. 2. Eliza- beth Sarah, died aged twenty-three years, of yellow fever, in the city of Panama, where she was a teacher in the American College. 3. Margaret A., now residing in Huntingdon county, unmarried. 4. Dr. William Hardin, of whom further. 5. Edgar R., now residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, a clerk in the offices of Baltimore & Ohio railroad. 6. Irene L., married J. W. Barbour, and resides in Chambersburg. 7. Samuel Wes- ley (2), now organist, choirmaster and director of the choir school of St. James Protestant Episcopal Church, Philadelphia. 8. Murray C., now a jeweler, of Walla Walla, Washington.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. (McCahan) Sears was a descendant of Patrick McCahan, who came from Ireland, settling in Juniata county, where he married a Quakeress and had issue. John, son of Patrick McCahan, was born in Juniata county, where he resided until 1856, then moved to Huntingdon county, where he resided until death, a farmer in both counties. He married Sarah Reynolds, also born in Juniata county, daughter of Stephen Reynolds, of English ancestry, granddaughter of Benjamin Reynolds, one of the twelve sons of Henry Reynolds, a preacher of the Society of Friends, who came from Nottingham, Eng- land, at an early date, settling in Cecil county, Maryland. He was twice married and besides his twelve sons had two daughters. Benjamin
978
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
Reynolds married May Job, and had six sons, of whom Stephen was the eldest. A grandson of Benjamin, Dr. John Reynolds, was one of the heroes of the Alamo, who perished at its capture, March 6, 1836. Stephen Reynolds had three wives and sixteen children. His second wife, Elizabeth Ricketts, bore him six, of whom Sarah was the fifth; she married John McCahan. Their children were: Jacob S., a farmer ; Stephen R., a freight conductor, killed in a collision on the Huntingdon & Broad Top railroad; Jane A., married E. B. Crum, a one-time editor of the Altoona Tribune; Elizabeth R., of previous mention, married Rev Samuel W. Sears, and died in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; Mary, who became second wife of her brother-in-law, E. B. Crum; J. Fletcher, died in the Union army during the siege of Vicksburg: Deborah, married George A. Black; and David, the last survivor, born January 27, 1830, and from 1856 in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad.
(V) Dr. William Hardin Sears, son of Rev. Samuel W. and Eliza- beth R. (McCahan) Sears, was born in Cumberland, Maryland. He was educated in the public schools of the different towns his father served as pastor, including the Bedford high school and Lewistown Academy, being a graduate of both. Deciding upon a medical profession, he en- tered Medico-Chirurgical Medical College at Philadelphia, from whence he was graduated M.D., class of 1898. For two years thereafter he was resident surgeon at Philadelphia General Hospital, and in 1900 did post-graduate work at the Polyclinic and other hospitals of Phila- delphia. In that year he located in Huntingdon, where he is now well established in practice as a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Well equipped and thoroughly prepared as he was before beginning practice as a specialist in these diseases, Dr. Sears has not depended upon past learning, but for at least two months in each year studies the different phases presented in large hospitals of the country, particularly Philadelphia, and thus keeps in touch with all modern discovery, thought or treatment. He is a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association, the Pennsylvania State Medical and Hunting- don County medical societies, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Laryngology, taking an active interest in the work of all. He is a member of the staff of Blair Memorial Hospital, and surgeon in charge of the eye, ear, nose and throat department ; also is ophthalmolo- gist at the Lewistown Hospital. He has served as trustee of Blair
979
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
Memorial Hospital since its organization, and with Drs. Frontz and Chisolm formed the medical representation on the building commission in charge of its erection and equipment. He is highly regarded by his brethren of the profession, who recognize his ability in his specialties, while as a man and citizen he is held in high esteem wherever known. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
Dr. Sears married, May 3, 1893, Ethel Maude Odiorne, also born in Maryland; children: William Odiorne; Walter Coffin, died aged seven years; and Philips Shirley.
CULBERTSON The Culbertson family of Pennsylvania, of which William Wilson Culbertson, of Huntingdon, Penn- sylvania, is a member, is of Scotch-Irish origin, and came to this country a number of generations ago.
(I) William Culbertson, grandfather of William Wilson Culbertson, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania ; most of his life was spent in Mifflin county. He was occupied as a laborer and a farmer, and was a member of the Lutheran church. He married Rebecca Kohill, and had children: Joel, a carpenter, who resided in Allenville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania ; Samuel, a laborer ; Nancy, married David John- son ; Ezra, a farmer in Clarion county, Pennsylvania ; John, a saddler by trade; James, see forward ; William, a farmer of Clarion county, Penn- sylvania; Polly, married Edward Wheaton; Patty, married Charles Crownover ; one child died in childhood and another died in infancy.
(II) James, son of William and Rebecca ( Kohill) Culbertson, died in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1903. His education was acquired in the common schools, and his entire life was passed in Mif- flin county, where he was occupied as a farmer and laborer. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and a devout member of the Lutheran church. He married Rachel Jenkins, of Stone Valley, Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, also a member of the Lutheran church, who had brothers: Ira, engaged in track contract work for the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company ; John, deceased; and Matthias, who died in 1878; her sister, Harriet, married Joel Culbertson. Mr. and Mrs. Cul- bertson had children: William Wilson, see forward; Oliver, born in 1849, was a carpenter by trade, and died unmarried; Miles, born in 1852, was a farmer, married Mary Steely, and had: Mary and Emma :
980
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
Oscar; William, a farmer; James, a farmer; Harry, a farmer; Rachel, died in infancy.
(III) William Wilson, son of James and Rachel (Jenkins) Culbert- son, was born in Allenville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1847. The public schools of his native town afforded him the oppor- tunity of gaining a sound, practical education, and upon its completion he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. He followed this occupation for a number of years, then engaged with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, March 12, 1872, contracting to do their carpenter bridge work, and this connection has now been in force for about forty years. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
. He married, 1869, Sarah, born February 10, 1850, daughter of Henry and Chestina (Hufford) Brindle, of Belleville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Brindle followed his calling of coopering. They have had children: I. Anna Tawanda, born October 30, 1870; married James B. Sleeman, a mechanic in the employ of the J. C. Blair Company, and they have had children: Sarah, born in May, 1893; Elizabeth, December 6, 1894; Helen, January, 1896. 2. Harry James, born March 10, 1873, died in 1910, was a carpenter by trade. 3. Rachel, born April 18, 1876; married William King, and had children: Cleo; Frederick; William, died in infancy. 4. Chestina, born December 8, 1879; married Stewart Lynton, and has one son: William Richard. 5. William John, born August 8, 1889, is a tinner in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; unmarried.
The name of Harshbarger is of German origin, HARSHBARGER and the family now bearing it in the state of Pennsylvania has been richly endowed with the admirable traits which were so characteristic of their forbears who were among the early settlers of the state. Horatio C. Harshbarger, of Hunt- ingdon, Pennsylvania, who has filled a number of public positions, is a representative of this family.
(I) Jacob Harshbarger, his grandfather, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and was occupied as a cooper during all the active years of his life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Hannah --; children: Abram, de- ceased: David, also deceased, was a well-known physician; Bud, see
981
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
forward; William, engaged in farming; Sarah, married Nicholas Con- roy ; Mary, died unmarried.
(II) Bud, son of Jacob and Hannah Harshbarger, was born May 7, 1826, and died February 7, 1911. He was educated in the public schools and at a suitable age was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, an occupation he followed for some time and then abandoned in favor of a farming life. Prior to the civil war he had enlisted as a member of Jackson's Artillery. His political affiliations were with the Demo- . cratic party, and he held a number of public offices, among them being those of supervisor and school director. He and his wife were members of the Brethren church. Mr. Harshbarger married, August 29, 1848, Martha, born October 3, 1825, died January 23, 1869, daughter of Stephen and Hannah Curwin. Mr. Curwin, who was born in America of German parentage, was a shoemaker by trade. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had children : Isabella, married David Barree; Martha, mentioned above; Lettie, mar- ried William Fagen; Joseph, in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company; Stephen, engaged as a drayman in the west; James, with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mr. and Mrs. Harshbarger have had children : Jacob, born November 4, 1849, is a farmer and carpenter ; Horatio C., see forward; Joshua, born May 5, 1854, is a car- penter and cabinetmaker; Agnes Mary, born June 26, 1856, married Miller Graffie ; William, born June 15, 1858; George, born July 15, 1859, died August 23, 1861 ; Winfield, born July 25, 1861, has been a farmer all his life; Henry, born January 17, 1863, is a miller; James, born August 9, 1868, is a farmer and also a fruit agent of Mifflin county.
(III) Horatio C., son of Bud and Martha (Curwin) Harshbarger, was born at McAlevys Fort, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October II, 1853. He was educated in the public schools of his township, and for twenty years was closely identified with farming, and then engaged in wagon building and blacksmith work. In 1883 he established himself in business as a carpenter and general contractor, and has continued in this up to the present time. He has been a strong supporter of Demo- cratic principles, and has served the public as township supervisor two terms, as postmaster, and as steward of Juniata College.
He married (first), 1876, Hannah, who died August 10, 1889, daughter of William and Leah Miller, the former being a miller by
982
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
occupation; (second), 1901, Effie L., daughter of James and Adeline (Shipton) Hoover, the former a cabinetmaker and lumberman in Clearfield. Children by the first marriage: I. Bud, born March 17, 1877; educated in public schools and at Juniata College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer, and is now engaged in the practice of that profession; married Dora Heffright. 2. Mary, born January 24, 1881, died in infancy.
The family which bears the name of Africa is well repre-
AFRICA sented in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and it has been connected with important public matters for several generations. The name is of German origin, and the spelling is almost identical with the German form.
(I) Andrew Jackson Africa, a lineal descendant of the emigrant ancestor, Christopher Africa, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, 1822, and died March 2, 1904. During the earlier portion of his life he was engaged in the trade of shoemaking, but later became the railway agent at Cove Station, a post he occupied for a period of thir- teen years. Returning to Huntingdon, he was made a car inspector, in which position he served very efficiently until he lost one of his arms, when he was appointed to the position of night caller, in which he served until incapacitated by old age. He was retired, and was "on relief" for a period of twelve years. He was Republican in his political views, and a member of the Baptist church. He was married by the Rev. Jesse Williams, October 28, 1852, to Maria Duffield Peebles King, born Jan- uary 19, 1827, died January 28, 1892 (see King line forward). Chil- dren: I. Martha Belle, married, April 13, 1875, William C. Bartol; children : Mary, married, June 5, 1903, Lewis E. Theiss ; Belle ; William A .; Helen King; they live in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. 2. William Carey, resides in Huntingdon, where he is a hardware merchant and also manager and part proprietor of the store operated by Africa Brothers. 3. Thomas Edgar, see forward. 4. Vinton Zimmerman, hardware mer- chant.
(II) Thomas Edgar, son of Andrew Jackson and Maria Duffield Peebles (King) Africa, was born at Cove Station, Perry county, Penn- sylvania, February 3, 1858. He acquired a sound, practical education in the public schools of his township, and supplemented this by assidu-
MA
Hos E. Africa
983
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
ous study at home, so that he was easily enabled to pass the necessary examination for admission to the eligible list of those who desired to become members of the clerical force of the postoffice. May II, 1874, he entered upon the duties of his position as a clerk in the Huntingdon postoffice, and the following October he was appointed assistant post- master. He was railway postal clerk from 1879 to 1882 on the trip from New York City to Pittsburgh, a very important section of the road. He resigned from this position, returning to Huntingdon, and assuming the duties of his former position as assistant postmaster, and is still engaged in this at the present time (1913). During his tenure of these various offices Mr. Africa has seen a great revolution in post- office methods. The local postoffice has been brought up to a high state of efficiency. Rural Free Delivery has been added to the service, and the parcels post and the postal savings have been introduced. Mr. Africa takes an active part in a number of other business enterprises, among them being: Director in the Union National Bank and the Franklin Building and Loan Association. He is also the junior partner in the firm of Africa Brothers. He affiliates with the Republican party in politics, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Heptasophs. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
Mr. Africa married, May 15, 1884, Anna E., daughter of Henry Snare, of Huntingdon. Children: 1. Henry, graduated from Bucknell College, took a post-graduate course at Columbia University, New York City, and is now studying sociology in Berlin, Germany; he is a very fine musician, and is considered an artist in his performances on the pipe organ and piano. 2. Walter T., educated at Bucknell College and the Banks Business College of Philadelphia; he is now bookkeeper for the Colonial Pine Lumber Company, Wilson, North Carolina.
(The King Line).
(I) Alexander King, from whom the Kings of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, trace their descent, is described by those who knew him as a Scotch-Irishman, a strict Scotch Presbyterian, in personal appear- ance a man of medium height and weight. He came from Ireland to America in 1773 or 1774. On January 10, 1776, he enlisted at New London Crossroads, Chester county, Pennsylvania, as a soldier of the
984
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
revolutionary war, under Captain Henry Darby, in the Delaware regi- ment commanded by Colonel Haslett. He was then a young man, pre- sumably twenty-five years of age, and served under these officers for one year, during which time he was in the disastrous battle of Long Island, after which, retreating with his regiment, he fought at White Plains, under Washington. Here he received a slight wound in the hand from a Hessian's bayonet. He continued with his regiment in the peril- ous flight through New Jersey, and was at the taking of the Hessians at Trenton, after the famous crossing of the ice-filled Delaware river. The time of his enlistment having expired, Alexander King remained at home for one month, and then, February 10, 1777, re-enlisted in Cap- tain Benjamin Fishborne's company of the Fourth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, commanded by Colonel William Butler. Under Fishborne and under Captain Thomas Church, in whose company in the Fourth Penn- sylvania he also fought, he served with some distinction, being promoted, February II, 1780, from corporal to sergeant of his company. He fought in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and afterward at Monmouth on the memorable sultry day in June. Marching with his regiment to Schoharie, New York, where the winter was passed, he was ordered the following summer to join the expedition under General Sullivan against the Indians in Genesee county, same state, and upon his return he, together with his company, joined the main army. He remained in the service until the month of January, 1781, when he was discharged by Colonel Butler on account of sickness, and returned to his home. His application for a pension states that he had been wounded in the hand by a Hessian bayonet and was afterward injured in the foot. He made his application for a pension April 14, 1818, at which time he was residing in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and was sixty-four years of age. His pension was allowed for five years' actual service as corporal and sergeant during the period of the revolu- tionary war.
Family tradition says that he came to America from the north of Ireland, where he and his wife, Nancy Jackson, were married. In the first United States census, taken in 1790, Alexander King is listed as living in New London township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He came to Huntingdon not later than 1796, a proof of this being an entry on the county records which gives Alexander King, of Huntingdon, as
985
HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY
the purchaser of Lot No. 181, on January 30, 1797. He probably re- moved directly from Chester county to Huntingdon county. He died August 8, 1826, and was buried in the Riverview cemetery, Huntingdon, his younger son, Thomas, being buried in the plot with him. The graves are unmarked at the present time, but the exact location is known to members of the family. Alexander King's watch fob, his cane, and a thimble which had belonged to Thomas are in the posses- sion of members of the King family. Alexander King was admitted to membership in Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania June 24, 1800, and was buried with the usual Masonic honors. Alexander King married, in Ireland, Nancy Jackson, who died in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1825, and is buried beside her husband. They had sons: I. John, probably born at London Crossroads, Chester county, Pennsylvania, settled in Bedford county, Pennsylvania : married Christine Berkstresser ; children: Wil- liam R., James. Harry S., Caroline, John, Margaret, Thomas, Nancy, Alexander and Elizabeth. 2. Thomas, see forward.
(II) Thomas Sr., son of Alexander and Nancy (Jackson) King, was probably born at London Crossroads, Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1779. He removed to Huntingdon county with his father and spent the remainder of his life there. Like his father, he was a tailor by occupa- tion, and was also a member of the Presbyterian church and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He served a short three months' time in the War of 1812, under Captain Robert Allison. Thomas King was married in Huntingdon, 1803. to Martha Norris, by the Rev. John Johnston, and their children were: 1. William Henderson, born August 22. 1803, married Mary Ann Dobbins. 2. Ann, born March 29, 1806, died October 17, 1871 ; married George Glazier. 3. Margaret, born May 14, 1808, died July, 1878; married Joseph Hayes, of Wilmington, Dela- ware. 4. John, born July 1, 1810, died May 8, 1818. 5. Mary, born August 5, 1818, died August, 1880 ; married Christian Long. 6. Martha, died December, 1822, in childhood. 7. Elizabeth, born November 6, 1820, died January 28, 1896; married William Johnston. 8. Sarah, born July 18. 1823; married Peter Shaver. 9. Maria Duffield Peebles, see forward.
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.