USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume III > Part 6
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He married (first), in June, 1895, Eva Shedd, of Boston, who died July 19, 1896. He married (second), March 15, 1901, Anne Rea, born in Danville, Pennsylvania, daughter of Alexander and Anne Rea.
Among the prominent old families of Dickinson township.
WOODS Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, was the Woods family.
There was a large family of that name in the central part of the township, owning in the aggregate about one thousand acres "square." Richard Woods was prominent in his day, as was Captain Samuel Woods, who was a large man, weighing over two hundred pounds, always walked with a stoop, was quiet and almost forbidding
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in his manner, but in reality was one of the kindest and most benevolent of men. He is said to have been the determined juror who held out for the acquittal of Professor Mcclintock, who was tried for inciting the riots in Carlisle.
(I) Rev. James Sterrett Woods, D.D., the first of whom definite record can be given, was born in Dickinson township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1792. He obtained his literary and collegiate education at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. then entered Princeton Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, where he pursued studies in divinity and was graduated. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, New Jersey, in October, 1818, and was received as a licentiate by the Presbytery of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1819, having accepted a call from the Presbyterian congregation at Waynesburg ( now McVey- town) for one-half his time at a salary of $400 annually. He was ordained and installed as pastor April 5, 1820. In April, 1823. he was appointed stated supply to the congregation at Lewistown, and was installed pastor there for one-half his time, April 28, 1824, at a salary of $300 yearly. He served these congregations jointly until 1837, when bothi gave him a call for his full time. He accepted the call of the First Presbyterian Church of Lewistown at a salary of $600 and continued the faithful pastor of that church until his sudden death, June 29, 1862. In 1850 the College of New Jersey ( Princeton College, now University) conferred upon him the degree of D.D. His term of service at McVey- town and Lewistown covered a period of forty-two years. For thirty- eight years he served Lewistown church and for thirty-five years gave the First Church his entire time. Dr. Woods was a sound, clear and practical preacher : his ministry was a successful one, and he built up a strong, useful church in Lewistown. He excelled in pastoral work, and was deeply interested in young people, not alone those of his own church, but of the whole community. He was very fond of children, with whom he was very popular, and was careful with their religious training. He was very hospitable and generous, and to all who knew him he was a valued friend. He was entirely honored by the entire citizenship of Lewiston for his holy, zealous, christian life and sterling, manly qualities. On the day of his funeral, as a mark of respect to his mem- ory, all business places in the town were closed. Rev. Woods married
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Marianne Witherspoon, of Princeton, New Jersey, who died July 10, 1846; she was a daughter of Rev. John Witherspoon, a president of the College of New Jersey (Princeton University), and one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. A clock pre- served as a priceless heirloom in the Woods family was brought from Scotland by a Witherspoon in 1768, was formerly the property of John Knox, and is now over three hundred years old. Children of Rev. James S. Woods: I. John Witherspoon, died January 7, 1839. 2. Sam- uel S., president judge of the twentieth judicial district of Pennsylvania, died February 5, 1873. 3. David W., a lawyer. 4. James S. (2), a lieutenant in the United States regular army, killed in the Mexican war, at the battle of Monterey, September 21, 1846. 5. William H., a grad- uate of Princeton, class of 1848, principal of Lewistown Academy, and from 1851 to 1855 with his brother Alexander M. was in charge of the. preparatory department of Lafayette College, then principal at Miln- wood Academy until 1862, then entered the law, for which he had pre- viously prepared, moving to Huntingdon in 1863, and there continued in practice for many years; married Frances T. Williamson. 6. Alex- ander M., of whom further.
(II) Rev. Alexander M. Woods, son of Rev. James S. and Marianne (Witherspoon) Woods, was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1831, died in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, in 1897. He was a graduate of Princeton College and of Princeton Theological Seminary, becoming a regularly ordained minister of the Presbyterian church. After leaving college and before entering regular ministerial work, he was with his brother, William H., in charge of the preparatory department of Lafay- ette College, at Easton, Pennsylvania, 1851 to 1855. His first pastorate was at Hartsville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1869. He then accepted a call from the church at Mahanoy City, Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, where he labored faithfully until his death in 1897, a period of twenty-nine years. He was a man of holy life, a devoted minister of the gospel, held in high esteem by his brethren of the ministry and by the congregations he served. His talents were of a high order, and his work for the cause of christian living productive of abundant results. He married, in Washington, D. C., Mary D. Ritten- house, born in that city, daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Henrietta (Davidson) Rittenhouse, both of whom died in Washington. Benjamin
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F. Rittenhouse entered the service of the register of the treasury of the United States as a clerk at the age of fourteen years, and was contin- uously an employee of that office for sixty-two years, retiring the last two years of his life, which covered the long period of seventy-eight years.
Children of Rev. Alexander M. Woods: Henrietta, a resident of Washington, D. C., unmarried; James Sterrett, of further mention; Franklin Rittenhouse, a civil engineer, now of New Castle, Pennsyl- vania : and two who died in infancy.
(III) James Sterrett (2), son of Rev. Alexander M. and Mary D. (Rittenhouse) Woods, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1863. He was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies in Mahanoy City high school. He then began the study of law, and from 1883 until 1885 was a student in the law offices of William H. Woods, of Huntingdon, his paternal uncle. In December, 1885, he was admitted to the Huntingdon county bar, and at once became a partner of his preceptor, then practicing as W. H. & J. S. Woods, and so continuing until 1910; since that year Mr. Woods has practiced alone. He has been successful in his profession, and ranks with the leaders of the Huntingdon county bar. He is a member of the state and county bar associations, and since February 19, 1891, has served as secretary of the county organization. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons: Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, Royal Arch Masons; and Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, Knights Templar. His other orders are the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and the Royal Arcanum. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
He married, January 18, 1899, Lenore, daughter of Joseph G. and Lucretia (Duffey) Isenberg-he an ex-sheriff of Huntingdon county; child : Joseph Blair, born October 31, 1899.
READ The Read family of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, herein re- corded, date in the United States from the year 1818, the first American residence being in Philadelphia, where the first American born child of the family first saw the light. The founder of this branch was Thomas Read, born in county Armagh, Ireland. He married in his native land, in the year 1818, and at once set sail
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for the United States with his bride. They settled in Philadelphia, where their first child, a son, was born. A few years later Thomas Read located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where he established a gen- eral store. In 1829 he engaged in the drug business, at what is now No. 410 Penn street, a location occupied by his grandson, Harry W. Read, also a druggist. This site from time immemorial has been occu- pied as a drug store. Two years before Thomas Read opened his drug store Kitty Westbrook there sold "yarbs" and told fortunes. After her came Dr. Hoffman, who continued in business until 1829, when he sold out to Thomas Read. Dr. Hoffman, a professor of the University of Pennsylvania, was a pioneer in the field, and one of the successful men of his profession. On this old site Thomas Read continued in successful business until his death in 1855, well and favorably known in business and public life. He ever cherished the warmest affection for the "old sod," and every Irishman was a welcome guest at his home. He was prominent in public affairs, and was one of the commis- sioners appointed by the government to represent the United States at the Crystal Palace Exposition, held in London, England. In religious faith he was a devoted member of the Episcopal church. His wife was a woman of spirit, active in the church and helpful in all forms of village life; children : John, of whom further ; James S., died in Texas, a schoolmaster ; Richardson, died in Iowa, a farmer; Thomas (2), died in Salem, Ohio, an optician and jeweler; Anna Mary, deceased, mar- ried Miles J. Saunders. None of these five children died in bed; all died suddenly of heart failure.
(II) John, eldest son of Thomas Read, the emigrant, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1819, died in Huntingdon, Penn- sylvania, January 19, 1890. When a boy he was brought to Huntingdon by his parents. He was educated for the ministry of the Episcopal church, and was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, one of his classmates being the later famous statesman, James G. Blaine. On his return from college he decided that his duty lay at home as his father's business assistant. Abandoning his ministerial ambition, he at once entered heartily into the drug business, which with his advent entered upon a new era of expansion and prosperity. The building was enlarged, new departments added, and, although temporarily retarded by a fire in the building, great advancement was made. During the latter
John Read
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years of the father's life the greater burden fell upon the son, who later became sole owner. In 1865 he erected a new building especially adapted to his business, the first modern store building in Huntingdon. He continued in successful business until his death, and then passed to his son a business founded upon the solid basis of fair dealing. He was a man of culture and, although engrossed in business, never lost his love of scholarly pursuits, but kept in close touch with the world of learning. He was a member of the Presbyteran church, which he served for several years as trustee. He served in the Home Guard during the war between the states, and was called out to repel invasion. In political faith he was a Republican. John Read married Anna M. Hagey, born in 1820, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, the family home being on the Raystown branch of the Juniata river. She died in Huntingdon July 28, 1912, a devoted member of the Presbyterian church; children : Charles, died at Huntingdon, a druggist; Thomas R., now a retired druggist, living in New York City : James, Bessie and Chalmers, died in childhood, their deaths all occurring within the same week; Harry Wil- cox, of whom further; Margaret, now residing in Huntingdon, un- married; two other children died in infancy.
(III) Harry Wilcox, son of John and Anna M. (Hagey) Read, was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1855. He was educated in private schools at Huntingdon and at the Iron City Business College, Pittsburgh, whence he was graduated, class of 1876. The latter course was taken after a course of law study continuing one year and a short experience in the insurance business. During the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876 he was in charge of an exhibit, and after the close of the exposition remained in Philadelphia as a bookkeeper. On account of his brother Charles' illness, he returned home in 1877, and on his recovery became manager of the drug business founded by his grandfather and continued by his father. Later he purchased the in- terests of the other heirs, and became sole owner of the old business and of the branch store in Huntingdon, established several years prior to the death of John Read. This business, the oldest in Huntingdon under one name, he continues under the same prosperous conditions that have ever attended the Read fortunes. He was one of the organizers, direc- tor and present vice-president of the Grange Trust Company of Hunt- ingdon, a prominent and prosperous financial institution of Huntingdon.
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Mr. Read is prominent in the Masonic order, being a past master of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, Royal Arch Masons; past eminent commander of Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, Knights Templar; and a thirty-second degree Mason of Philadelphia Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is a member of Syria Temple (Pittsburgh), Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Read married Isabella McCormick Cunningham, born in Hunt- ingdon county, daughter of Robert and Agnes (Oaks) Cunningham. Robert Cunningham died in Philadelphia in 1876. Children: I. Dr. John, a graduate of the medical department, University of Pennsylvania, now a practicing physician of Mckeesport, Pennsylvania. 2. Agnes C., residing at home. $ 3. Robert James, a graduate of Princeton University, now engaged in the drug business with his father, the fourth generation in that business in the same town and on the same site. 4. Thomas Preston, graduate of University of Pennsylvania, A. B .; graduate of School of Pharmacy, at Philadelphia, M. D. He is also engaged in the drug business with his father, and is pharmacist at Blair Hospital. 5. Isabella, residing at home. 6. Harry Wilcox (2), a graduate of Hunt- ingdon high school and Mercersburg Academy ; died at age of nineteen years. 7. Richard, died in infancy. 8. Margaretta, graduate of Hunt- ingdon high school, class of 1913.
The Waite family, originally settled in Berks county, Penn- IVAITE sylvania, moved at an early day to that part of Bedford county later set off as Blair county. The earliest record is of Jacob and Mary Waite, who lived in Tyrone township, Blair county, until late in life, when they moved to Franklin township, Huntingdon county, where both died. He was a stone mason, a trade he followed all his active life. Both were members of the Presbyterian church ; Jacob, a Whig in politics; children: I. Joseph H. (of whom further). 2. John, died in Ohio. 3. Benjamin, died in Ohio. 4. Caspar, died in Blair county, Pennsylvania. 5. Rebecca, last survivor of the family, now living in York county, Pennsylvania, aged over ninety-four years, widow of James Fisher. 6. Mary, died unmarried at age of forty. 7. Abraham, died in Ohio. 8. Catherine, married Andrew McKee, and
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died in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. With the exception of Mary, all of them lived to be over eighty-five years of age.
(II) Joseph H., son of Jacob and Mary Waite, was born in Tyrone township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, died in Warriors Mark township, Huntingdon county, in January, 1908. He spent his early years in Blair county, but in 1869 purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Warrior's Mark township, on which he resided until his death. He was a successful farmer and a well-known auctioneer, hav- ing cried at public sale many thousands of dollars worth of farm land and farm property in that section. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church ; his wife a Methodist. He mar- ried Elizabeth Keith, born in Spruce Creek township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, died in Warriors Mark township, in 1893, daughter of Andrew and Mary ( McPherran) Keith, of Scotch- Irish descent, early settlers in Lancaster county, later of Spruce Creek township, Huntingdon county, where they died; both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church ; children: I. Elizabeth, married Joseph H. Waite. 2. John, died in Blair county, Pennsylvania. 3. Samuel E., died in Iowa, a real estate dealer. 4. Mary, married Dr. Wishart, and died in Martinsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania. 5. Andrew, died in Spruce Creek township, a teacher. 6. Adam, died in Huntingdon county, a mine manager. Children of Joseph H. Waite: I. Theodore, a mer- chant of Huntingdon county, died in 1908. 2. Alvin, accidentally killed at age of twelve. 3. Andrew, resides in Warrior's Mark, a clerk. 4. Mary, married J. H. Mattern, and resides in Warrior's Mark. 5. Hayes H., of whom further. 6. George, resides in Tyrone, Pennsyl- vania, an auctioneer. 7. S. Blair, resides in Tyrone township, a farmer. 8. Joseph L., now superintendent of mines in Georgia. 9. Lillie, mar- ried I. S. Buck, and resides in Warrior's Mark.
(III) Hayes H., son of Joseph H. and Elizabeth (Keith) Waite. was born in Tyrone township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1852. He obtained a good education in the public schools and in private schools of Warrior's Mark, and from 1874 until 1879 taught in the public schools. Deciding upon the legal profession, he pursued the study of law under Hon. George B. Orlady, and was admitted to the Huntingdon county bar at the January term, 1883. He at once began practice in Huntingdon, where he is well established in general court
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practice, largely civil. In 1893 he was elected district attorney of Huntingdon county, serving with credit a term of three years. He is a member of the Huntingdon County Bar Association; Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons; Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, Royal Arch Masons; Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, Knights Templar; the Patriotic Order Sons of America; and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He married, in 1874, Jennie Burkett, born in Warrior's Mark town- ship, daughter of Peter H. Burkett, deceased. Children: I. Alvin Burkett, graduate of Huntingdon high school, Dickinson College and Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, a graduate M.D. of the latter institution, class of 1902; now physician in charge at the Penn- sylvania Industrial Reformatory of Huntingdon; married Kate Wil- loughby ; children: Maurice and Kenneth. 2. Clarence, educated in the public schools; married Dorothy Kauffman, and resides in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. 3. Adeline, residing at home.
BAYER This branch of the Bayer family came to the Juniata Val- ley of Pennsylvania from Maryland, from whence came John Bayer when a young unmarried man. He was born in Washington county, Maryland, where he grew to youthful manhood, learning the trade of miller. He later settled in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, married, and there resided until his death, February 27, 1875. He was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the German Reformed church. He married Mary Ann Miller, born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, died May 25, 1880; children: John, died aged four years; Sarah Ann, died aged sixteen years; David B., now a tile manufacturer of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Joseph M., died at Tyrone, Pennsylvania, 1911; Adam, now a farmer of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Henry, now a farmer of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania; Mar- garet J., now proprietor of a ladies' notion store in Huntingdon, un- married; Theodore F., of further mention.
(II) Theodore Franklin, youngest child of John and Mary Ann (Miller) Bayer, was born in Antrim township, Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, April 1, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of Antrim, and began business life as a clerk in a store at Hagerstown, Maryland. After five years spent as clerk his ability was recognized
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and his service rated so highly that he was admitted to a partnership in the business. He continued as such five additional years, then in partnership with his cousin, B. F. Greenawalt, established the Cumber- land Dry Goods House at Cumberland, Maryland. Later Mr. Bayer sold his interest and returned to Hagerstown, where for two years he was engaged in business with Abner W. Barnhart. In 1894 he located in Huntingdon and in partnership with L. M. Keplar established the wholesale grocery house of Bayer & Keplar. In 1896 Mr. Keplar sold his interest to John G. Beaver, and the firm became Bayer & Beaver. The business prospered to such an extent under the wise guidance of its owners and so expanded that in 1903 it was incorporated as the Bayer-Beaver Company, with a capital stock of $125,000. Started originally in a store in the opera house block on Washington street, the firm moved in 1900 to a three-story building, Third and Allegheny streets, which has since been enlarged to one of five stories and base- ment, with a ground area seventy by eighty feet. A force of sixteen men is kept constantly employed, four of these being traveling salesmen, covering the retail grocery trade in the counties of Huntingdon, Bed- ford, Blair, Mifflin, Juniata, and a part of Fulton. This most satisfac- tory business has been built up since 1894, when Messrs. Bayer & Kep- lar first began in a modest way, acting as their own traveling salesmen. The progress has been gradual but continuous, the conservative and honorable course the house has always followed winning and holding the trade that appreciates, supports and stays. The officers of the cor- poration are : T. Frank Bayer, president ; Edwin A. Beaver, vice-presi- dent; M. W. Isenberg, secretary; Fred D. Bayer, treasurer. Mr. Bayer is also a director of the Grange Trust Company of Huntingdon. His nearly twenty years of successful business life in Huntingdon mark him as a merchant of ability and progress, while his merits as a citizen have been also recognized by his selection to civic posts of honor and trust. For six years he has served as a member of the city council, and in 1908 he was chosen delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, belonging to Mount Moriah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Hunt- ingdon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons: Standing Stone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Commandery of Huntingdon, Knights Templar; and to Java Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Altoona, Pennsylvania.
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Other fraternal orders with which Mr. Bayer is connected are the Royal Arcanum and the Heptasophs. In religious faith both he and his wife are members of the Reformed church.
He married (first), December 2, 1885, May Elizabeth Barnhart, born in Washington county, Maryland, died in 1889; children: I. Fred B., now treasurer of Bayer-Beaver Company; married Cora E. Steele. 2. Elizabeth, a teacher in the William Penn Girls' High School of Phila- delphia. Mr. Bayer married (second), in 1892, Miss Mary E. Shaffer, of Cumberland, Maryland.
SMUCKER There is little or no connected record of the Smucker family in Pennsylvania before Jacob Smucker, a far- mer, landowner and pump maker of Mifflin county, famous for his skill in the manufacture of the wooden hand pumps, which were the forerunners of our present metal and power pumps. He was a member of the Lutheran church; in politics he was a Republican. He married Catherine Lee, a native of Mifflin county, and resided near Belleville, Mifflin county. Children: Barbara, married Jacob Focht; Margaret, married John Ealy; Jemima, married David Long; Felix, a farmer, died at Lewistown; Amos (of further mention).
(II) Amos, son of Jacob and Catherine (Lee) Smucker, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, died at Ardenheim, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1898. He obtained an education in the public schools, and early in life learned his father's trade, which he followed for many years, main- taining the reputation for high excellence and efficiency gained by his father's work. He purchased a farm in Brady township, Huntingdon county, of about eighty acres, on which he resided, later moving to Ardenheim, where both he and his wife died. Both were members of the Lutheran church, while in political belief he was a Republican. He married Elizabeth Focht, a native of Germany, who came to this country with her parents when a child, died at Ardenheim, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1893, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Focht, born in Germany, who settled in Huntingdon county, where both died; they had two children-Jacob, died in Allensville, Pennsylvania; and Elizabeth (of previous mention), married Amos Smucker. Children of Amos and Elizabeth Smucker: I. Infant, died unnamed. 2. Infant, died unnamed. 3. Louisa, died young. 4. Miles, died young. 5. Jacob, a drayman,
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