Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 101

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 101

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Five children brighten his home: Mabel O., Samuel C., Celia V., Tacie H. and Elda R. Mrs. Brungart is a member of the Reformed Church, but our subject is a Lutheran, and is an active worker in the Church, having held office as deacon and treasurer. He takes great interest in all movements for the advancement of the community, and is a prominent inember of the Grange. In politics he has always been a Dem- ocrat, but nothwithstanding his hearty support of the doctrines of his party he never has held office, preferring to devote his time to his own affairs.

M FICHAEL WOODRING, who after the labors of a long and busy life, is spending the evening of life in ease and retirement on his farın on the Philipsburg pike, in Worth township, Centre couny, is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurring in Berks county, August 14, 1820. There his parents, Abraham and Saloma (Sui- der) Woodring, were also born, reared, and mar- ried, later removed to Huntingdon county, and in 1857 came to Centre county, locating in Worth township, where the mother died May 1, 1872, aged seventy-four years, nine months and twenty- seven days. Subsequently the father went to Cambria county, Penn., where his death occurred

in 1886, at the advanced age of ninety years. He buried his family record in the casket with his wife. He was an extensive horse dealer and farmer, and in early life he was a member of the Lutheran Church, but later he became a devout Roman Catholic. His parents, Samuel and Maria (Yorick) Woodring, were natives of Berks county, where their marriage was celebrated, but in 1823 they became residents of Worth town- ship, Centre county. The former was of Ger- man extraction, and a farmer and miller by occu- pation.

Our subject is second in order of birth of the children, the others being as follows: John, who died in Tyrone, Penn .; Samuel, born October 15, 1823, died December 6, 1886, in Philipsburg; Polly, deceased wife of Rank Seek, also deceased; Betsey, wife of Anthony Gill, a farmer of Coal- port, Penn .; Catherine, who died unmarried; and Beckie, deceased wife of Joseph Gill.

Until he had attained his majority, Michael Woodring remained upon the home farm, and then started out empty-handed to make his own way in the world. After working by the month for two years, he and his brother John rented a farm at Huntingdon Furnace, Huntingdon Co., Penn .. which they operated for fifteen years, and then dissolved partnership. For one year our subject then engaged in hauling ore, and in 1860 came to Centre county and located upon his present farm, which was still in its primitive condition, covered with a heavy growth of timber, in which deer and other wild animals abounded. To the cultivation and improvement of the place he at once devoted his time and attention, and con- tinued his labors until he now has one of the most desirable farms in the locality. Politically, he affiilates with the Democratic party, and main- tains his principles in this regard with the same steadfastness which has characterized him in all the relations of life. He is a valued and honored citizen of the community, enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

On September 30, 1845, Mr. Woodring was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Halderman, who was born in Centre county, in 1824, and is a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Wise) Halder- man, who spent their entire lives upon a farm in Centre county. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics her father was a Democrat. Mrs. Woodring was one of their tamily of eleven children, namely: Catherine, deceased wife of John Stover, of Bellefonte, Penn. ; Jane, widow of John Woodring; Eliza- beth, deceased; Lavina, deceased wife of Jamies Bailey, also deceased; Margaret, wife of Aaron Woodring, a farmer of Centre county; George.

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who is a cabinet maker in Ohio; Jacob, who died in the army; Susan, who married Samuel Turner, and after his death wedded Samuel Stine, a farmer of Centre county; and Fannie, who married Samuel Woodring, but both are now deceased.

To Michael Woodring and his estimable wife were born the following children: William, a farmer residing near Port Matilda, Centre county; George W., a lumberman of Virginia; Abraham, a lumberman of Port Matilda; General J., pro- prietor of a hotel at that place; John Q., who was killed in 1892 on the railroad while working at Altoona, Penn .; Mary and Ella, deceased; Harry E., and Matilda, wife of W. W. Thomas, a fariner of Blair county, Pennsylvania.

Harry E. Woodring, of this family, is one of the energetic and progressive young farmers of Worth township, and is engaged in operating the old home farm with good success. There his birth occurred October 2, 1867, and in the usual manner of farmer boys he was reared to habits of industry. He married Miss Sadie Frantz, a native of Centre county, and they have a daugh- ter, Ruth L., born June 4, 1894.

Abel and Nancy E. (Williams) Frantz, par- ents of Mrs. Harry Woodring, were natives of Centre and Blair counties, Penn., respectively. Their children were: Emeline; Mary E., wife of Lawrence Gill, a farmer of Cambria county, Penn .; Sarah (or Sadie) is next in order of birth; Ephraim is farming in Worth township for his uncle, John Frantz; Jennie lives in Port Matilda; and Bradie is a resident of Coalport, Clearfield county. The father of these, who was a farmer and huxter, was born March 10, 1851, and died August 14, 1884. He was a son of Reuben and Katie (Woodring) Frantz, who spent their entire lives in Centre county, following farming. The mother of Mrs. Harry Woodring was born in 1851, a daughter of Caleb and Peggie (Edmon- son) Williams, farming people of Blair county. After the death of her first husband she married James Payscole, and they now reside in Taylor township, Centre county. Two children have been born to them, namely: Pearl and Rhoda, both at home.

W ILLIAM COLYER is one who has risen from the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few. Among the promi- nent citizens of Centre county no one occupies a position of relative greater importance than Mr. Colyer, who has been the promoter of varied enter- prises that have resulted to the material benefit of the community. He has not only won pros-

perity for himself, but his enterprise has been the means of providing labor to many who thereby have achieved success. His career is unparal- leled in Potter township. Reared without edu- cational advantages, ofttimes amid adverse sur- roundings, and without even careful business- training in his youth, he has surmounted obsta- cles that would have utterly disheartened many .. and to-day stands upon the high plane of pros- perity. Such a life cannot fail to contain many valuable lessons, if others will but heed its teachings.

William Colyer was born December 13, IS35, at what is known as The Loop in Potter town- ship, a son of Daniel and Mary (Humel) Colyer. His father was born at The Loop, and the grand- father was a native of New England. He was a farmer in very limited means, and married a lady whose first name was Dolly. She was of German extraction, and lived to be ninety-six years of age.

The father of our subject was a hard work- ing man, yet lacked the executive ability neces- sary to a successful management of his affairs. He never accumulated property, but lived in a rented home, and supported his family by work- ing at the stone mason's trade. His life, how- ever, was honorable, and he had the respect of .all. His political support was given the De- mocracy, and he and his wife were members of the Reformed Church. He died at the age of fifty-six, his wife at the age of forty-seven, and they were buried in Luke Church cemetery. Their children were as follows: John, who died at the age of sixteen years, William: Rachel. who married Jacob Neville, and died in Potter township; Sarah, who married John Miller, and died in Potter township; Mary, wife of Franklin Wright, of Potter township; and Susan, wife of William Burrell, of Pocahontas, Iowa.

William Colyer, as the only surviving son in the family, was his father's assistant, and to him gave the benefit of his services through the sum- mer months until he was nineteen years of age. His educational privileges were extremely limited. but he became familiar with the rudimentary branches of learning in the district schools, which he sometimes attended in the winter. At an early age, however, he began working, and sometimes received only his clothes, and some- times the meager sum of $3 per month, as a compensation for his services. At the age of fifteen he began learning the stone mason's trade with his father, and with him worked for several years. Possessed of executive ability and sagac- ity, which his father lacked, he soon saw that affairs were not properly managed, and conse-

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quently laid plans to conduct the business along different lines. He suffered many hardships, and his possessions were few, his best suit of clothes often being the one in which he worked daily.

When nineteen years of age, Mr. Colyer left his father and started out in life for himself. He rented a house and lot near what is now Colyer post office, and by hard work and economy was enabled to save some money. His first real es- tate consisted of a three-acre lot on which stood a small house, for which property he paid $560, going in debt for the same; but six years later the little home was destroyed by fire after he had spent that length of time in labor to pay for it. With a stout heart and resolute purpose, however, he continued his labor, and later pur- chased a sawmill property in Potter township. His acquaintances prophesied a failure, but that word he did not consider had a place in his vocab- ulary, for he re-constructed the mill and began the manufacture of lumber. In 1862 he was drafted for service in the army, but feeling that he could not leave his business he hired a substi- tute for $300. During the first year in which he engaged in the sawmill business he made $1,000. He continued to prosper, and as he secured capi- tal purchased timber land and extensively en- gaged in the lumber business. He built up and improved the little town of Colyer, which was named in his honor, and its growth and prosper- ity were due to the industries which he there es- tablished. He now owns three large sawmills and two stavemills, and manufactures more than one hundred thousand nail keg heads per month, together with thousands of shingles and much general building material. His landed posses- sions aggregate more than fifteen hundred acres of timber and farmning land. In the spring of 1894 he began the erection of the many substantial buildings which he owns in Centre Hall, and in March, 1896, he removed to the town, where he had previously conducted business. He now owns grain warehouses, extensive coal sheds, and a large handle factory in Centre Hall. all of which he has erected, together with his own home and a good residence which he rents. He personally looks after his extensive lumber inter- ests, and in addition is largely engaged in coal and grain dealing.

iamsburg; Mamie, at home; Reuben W., a farmer of Potter township. Mr. Colver's pres- ent wife was the widow of Daniel Gunder. She is a native of Dauphin county, Penn., and her maiden name was Stiffler. They have one son. William, at home. Mr. Colyer votes with the Democracy at State and National elections, and believes strongly" in Democratic principles, but when no issue is involved supports the man whom he thinks best qualified for office. He is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Society of Centre Hall. It was through his instrumentality that the post office was established at Colyer, and too much credit cannot be given him for his promotion of the material interests of the community. His life has been eminently successful, and it is the success which is the pride of America-that of a self-made man.

R OBERT ARMSTRONG. Industry, frugal- ity, and honesty make an excellent founda- tion for success in life, and the subject of this brief biography, a prosperous citizen of Belle- fonte, Centre county, has shown that he possesses in a high degree all of these desirable character- istics. Like many of the leading citizens of the county, he is of Irish stock. having been born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in July, 1839.

John and Jane (Mullen) Armstrong, parents of our subject, were both natives of that locality and passed their lives there, the father being by occupation a farmer. Neither lived to an ad- vanced age. Of their three sons, our subject was the eldest. John and James, the younger members of the trio, are still living in Ireland, and are engaged in agricultural pursuits. As a boy our subject worked upon his father's farm, at the same time attending the schools of a neigh- boring town. His desire to come to America was not fulfilled until 1867, when he crossed the ocean and speedily found employment and es- tablished his home at Bellefonte. Faithful and diligent in the discharge of any work undertaken. he has won the confidence of all with whom he had any dealings. On June 1, 1877. he took charge of the gas works for the Bellefonte Steam Heat and Light Co., and every day for more than nineteen years he has been at his post of duty. A goodly share of prosperity has rewarded his well-directed efforts, and he owns some val- uable property.

Mr. Colyer married Frances Luse, of Gregg township, daughter of George and Sally (Long) Luse. Their children are: Emma, widow of In 1881, Mr. Armstrong married Miss Sarah Clark, also a native of Ireland, born in 1844. and their home is made bright by three children, John, Walter and Jennie. A typical Irishman. John Cooney, of Punxsutawney, Penn. ; Alnira, wife of George Ishler, of Tusseyville, Penn. ; Anna, wife of James Spiker, of Patton, Centre county; Ida, wife of Ambrose Lambert, of Will- i our subject's warm heart and alert mind bring

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him into sympathy with all phases of progress in his adopted country. In religious faith he in- clines toward the Episcopal Church.

A LFRED WALTER, cashier of the Mill- heim Banking Company, at Millheim, Cen- tre county, has won a high position in the com- munity despite heavy odds. Born of poor, though respectable, parents, left fatherless at the age of ten years, without rich relatives or influential friends, and coming as a stranger to Centre county in his boyhood, he won the confidence and good will of all who met him by his upright conduct, his attention to his business, and his straightforward manner. Among those who were thus attracted to him was J. C. Motz, one of the shrewdest business men of Penn's Valley. and the last person to repose confidence where he was not convinced of the existence of sterling worth and integrity. Judging only by what he had seen of Mr. Walter as a boy clerking in a store, he placed him, in 1872, as cashier in the bank organized then at Millheim by J. C. Motz & Co. No security was asked or offered, as he placed implicit faith in the integrity of his pro- tégé, and the result has demonstrated the sound- ness of his judgment.

Mr. Walter was born at Middleburg, Snyder Co., Penn., February 3, 1850, the son of Isaac and Lucinda (Reninger) Walter, both natives of Snyder county. The father, who was a brick- layer and farmer by occupation, died in 1860, and the mother in 1867. Of five children our subject was the eldest; Emma J. married Mr. Hilbish, of Bristol, Ind .; Thomas died in Phila- delphia; Christian resides in Unioncounty, Penn., and Amelia married W. M. Miller, of Union county.

The little family was scattered at the father's death, and thus it happened that, when only ten years old, Mr. Walter went to live with Chris- tian Walter, of Kreamer, Snyder county, upon whose farm he worked for five years, attending the district school in the meantime. He then began clerking for Walter & Smith, merchants at Kreamer, receiving only his board and clothes. After two years the firm dissolved partnership, and Mr. Walter went to Woodward, Centre county, to clerk for J. W. Snook at $15 per month; when the business changed hands he still retained his situation, remaining three years in all. His salary there was the first money that he had ever earned, and his savings enabled him to take a course at the Eastman Business College, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. On his return to Centre county, he went to Millheim to enter the store of

J. W. Snook as a clerk; six months later, at the organization of the banking firm of J. C. Motz & Co., he became cashier of the institution, and has since continued in that capacity. In 1878, six years after its foundation, the firm was re- organized under the name of the Millheim Bank- ing Company, as at present known.

Mr. Walter is a safe and trusty counselor in financial matters and in local affairs, and although he is unostentatious in manner and retiring in dis- position, he wields an influence in the community that is difficult to measure. He is ever ready to encourage any enterprise which will promote the interests of his locality, and his substantial sup- port is freely given when required.

In May, 1877, Mr. Walter was united in mar- riage with Miss Junie A. Musser, who was born in Millheim, August 5, 1855, the daughter of D. A. and Lydia A. (Shreffler) Musser. No children were born of this union. Mr. Walter and his wife are prominent socially, and he is a member of the Masonic order. He is also a leading worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, hav- ing held the office of trustee for some time.

In politics, Mr. Walter is a Randall Democrat. He does not endorse any Democratic platform in every part. In this respect he shows the same conservatism which governs his business transac- tions, and no issue is fully accepted until he thor- oughly understands it as a result of careful study and research.

A A. REDELIN, M. D., a leading physician of Boalsburg, whose professional reputation and social acquaintance extend beyond the bounds of Centre county, was born in Philadelphia, Feb- ruary 28, 1869, a son of Charles and Ella (Bishop) Redelin. The father was a native of Sweden, born in Tidhola, near Stockholm, and for twenty years was a sea captain.

In 1865 he emigrated to the United States. and was employed in rigging vessels in Philadel- phia, when he met Miss Ella Bishop, who be- came his wife January 1, 1867. She was a daughter of an Adams county (Penn. ) farmer. In 1871 the parents removed to Mifflin county. this State, where the father became foreman of the Burnham Steel Works, but was killed by a fall from some rigging, in 1882. The family cir- cle included seven children, namely: Louisa, born in September, 1868, died in infancy; A. A. is the second; J. S., born in 1872, is a machinist in Mifflin county; Sarah M., born in 1874, is at home; Anna, born in 1876, is also with her mother; Charles, born in 1878, died in infancy; and Gertrude, born in 1881, is at home.

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The primary education of our subject was re- ceived in the public schools of Lewistown, Penn., and in the academy of that place he completed his literary course. In 1890 he entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, from which in- stitution he was graduated in the class of 1893, but in the meantime had served as bookkeeper in the Burnham Steel Works during his vacations, and in that way earned the money with which to pay his expenses through college. He began practice in Burnham with Dr. McKim, but in 1893 located in Boalsburg. Although he came into active competition with older physicians of large experience, he soon gained the public con- fidence, and has now a practice which might well be envied by many who have been much longer in business than he. He has been a close stu- dent of the profession, and his broad knowledge and devotion to the interests of his patients have won him a skill and gained him a reputation that is indeed enviable.

Dr. Redelin was married January 12, 1892, to Miss Clara Kreig, fifth in the family of six children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Kreig, of Yeagertown, Mifflin county, where the father was engaged in the manufacture of axes. The Doctor and his wife have two interesting chil- dren: Albert N., born April 15, 1893; and Cath- erine A., born November 4, 1895. The family occupy a pleasant home on Main street, and hold a high position in the social circles of the com- munity. Politically, Dr. Redelin is an earnest Democrat, and is secretary of the Boalsburg school board. He is a prominent member of the Centre County Medical Society of Bellefonte. In religious faith he is also an active niember of the Lutheran Church, in which he is now serving as class leader.

SAMUEL H. STINE, a well-known and highly respected agriculturist of Patton township, Centre county, was one of the brave " boys in blue " who so gallantly went forth to aid their country in putting down the Rebellion. He was born July 22, 1825, in Mifflin county, Penn .. whence in 1830 he was brought to Centre conn- ty, by his parents, Jonas and Elizabeth (Gray) Stine, both also natives of the Keystone State.

To this worthy couple were born seven chil- dren, as follows: John; a cabinet maker by trade, married Rachel Leary, reared a family, and died over twenty years ago. Hannah mar- ried Jesse Whippo, who died leaving a large family of children, and some years after his death she wedded John Hicks, who passed away about 1890. Leah is the widow of Michael Myers,

who died about nine or ten years ago leaving a family, and she now resides in Bald Eagle Val- ley, Centre county. Jonas, a farmer of Patton township, is married and has a family. Cathar- ine became the wife of Joel Lauder, and died in 1885, leaving eight children. Samuel H. was next in order of birth. Elizabeth died in girl- hood.

The education of Samuel H. Stine was such as the public schools of Patton township afforded. and he early became familiar with all kinds of farm labor, so that he is now a thorough and skilled agriculturist. On attaining to man's estate he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Myers, and they became the parents of thirteen children, six of whom died in childhood. The wife died in August, 1876, and in 1881 Mr. Stine wedded Mrs. Susanna Turner, widow of Samuel Turner. The children of our subject who are still living are: Elmira, wife of Scott Woods, of Philipsburg, Penn. : Margaret E., wife of William Lytle, a farmer of Centre county; Harrison, who has lived in Philipsburg since 1888; LaFayette and Daniel, who are residents of the same place; William E., who is married, and is connected with the lumber interests of Mckean county, Penn .; and Bert, who enlisted in July, 1895, for three years in the United States standing army.

On February 11, 1862, Mr. Stine laid aside personal considerations and joined Company H. 56th P. V. I. He participated in many impor- tant engagements, including those of Gettysburg, Antietam, South Mountain and the second battle of Bull Run, and at the battle of Cold Harbor was wounded, June 2, 1864. When his term of enlistment had expired he was honorably dis- charged and mustered out February IS. 1865. He now receives a pension of $12 per month. and is the owner of a good home of fourteen acres in Patton township, near Paradise. He uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket. and in religious belief is a Methodist. No man takes a deeper interest or greater pride in the moral and material welfare of the community, or is held in higher esteem by his fellow citizens than Samuel H. Stine.

F W. KRUMRINE. This gentleman occu- pies no unimportant position among the leading citizens and farmers of Ferguson town- ship. Centre county. He was born September 6, 1857, in the township where he still resides. and is a son of John W. and Rosetta (Musser) Krumrine, also natives of Centre county. In their family were six children, namely: Sarah, who married Calvin Myer, and died eighteen months

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later, leaving a daughter, May; Susan R., wife of D. H. Fye, a farmer of Ferguson township, by whom she has six children; F. W., of this re- view; Laura M., a resident of Johnstown, Penn. ; Lizzie, wife of Benjamin Roup, of Spruce Creek, Penn .; and Elsie, who is living with her mother at State College, Centre county. Our subject is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, his ancestors having aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence.

Mr. Krumrine, whose name opens this sketch, is indebted to the public schools of Ferguson township for his educational privileges, and since laying aside his text books he has turned his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. He is the owner of a valuable farm of 106 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and im- proved with good, substantial farm buildings.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 101

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1358

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1358