Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 115

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 115
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 115
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 115
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 115

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).

Mr. Pusey was born November 18, 1822, near West Grove, Chester Co., Penn., the son of Jonathan and Sarah (Hughes) Pusey, and, in the spring of 1849. came to Clearfield county, to settle upon the present homestead, a portion of a tract of 400 acres, known as the Walpole war- rant, which was purchased in 1842, by his father, from Mcknight and Walton. Jonathan Pusey was a wealthy man, a merchant and a miller by occupation, and owned three gristmills located in Chester and Lancaster counties, this State. He resided in later years at Columbia, Lancaster county, where he had a fine estate. His wife died in 1851, and he survived her only

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three years. Our subject had five brothers and two sisters. (1) Samuel died in infancy. (2) . Joseph was a contractor and builder at Colum- bia, Penn., for some years, but after the death of his first wife, Miss Julia Stoner, of Lancaster county, he removed to Philadelphia, where he now resides. There were three children by the first marriage-Alfred, who married and resides in Philadelphia; Fannie, who died in early wom- anhood; and Annie, wife of James Edsell, of Bryn Mawr, Penn. By a second marriage Joseph Pusey has one son, Edward. (3) Isaac formerly a manufacturer of lumber at Kennett Square, Penn., married Elizabeth Phillips, and both died in Columbia, in February, 1859. They had four children-Edward and Willia, who died in boyhood; Morris, a Methodist min- ister, who is married and resides in Iowa; and Mary, who makes her home with her brother Morris. (4) Israel died in early manhood. (5) Charles married Miss Ruth A. Atkins, daughter of William and Phoebe Atkins, of Columbia, and remained there a few years, engaging in the lum- ber business. In 1861 he moved to Clearfield county, and purchased land in Bigler township, built a house and gristmill and, later, a sawmill. He also engaged in mercantile business, and was the founder of the town of Puseyville, now Ma- dera. He sold his interests in Clearfield county and moved to Pottsville, Penn., where he be- came interested in the iron business in partner- ship with a brother-in-law, Mr. Atkins. For four years he represented his firm in Europe, re- siding in London, where they had a branch office, and on his return left his family in Paris in order to continue the education of his children there. When they rejoined him in America, Mr. Pusey established his residence in New York City and remained some time, but since being chosen president and general manager of the Irondale & Bancroft railroad, in Ontario, Can- ada, he has resided chiefly in Irondale. His wife (now deceased) was the founder and builder of the Irondale Church recently completed. They had four children-Elizabeth, who was ed- ucated in Paris and now resides with her father; Sallie, Mrs. Howland; Jennie, now Mrs. Kingan; and Hattie, who is at home. (6) Lydia A. Pusey, the elder of our subject's two sisters, married Wesley Hammond, of Chester county, and died some years ago, leaving five children -- Charles, the eldest; Sallie, now Mrs. Young; Lizzie, who is also married; and Gertrude and Ida, who are not married. (7) Mary E., Mr. Pusey's younger sister, married Joseph Phillips, of Chester county, who owns a farm and grist- mill near West Grove. They have three chil-

dren living-Calvin, a miller by occupation, is married and has a family; and Anna and Ida are at home.

On coming to this section in 1849. our sub- ject built a sawmill on Porter's run, about one mile from Clearfield creek, and began the manu- facture of lumber, which he rafted down the river, his market being mainly at Columbia, his early home. He continued this business all his life, conducting it with unusual success. At Co- lumbia he married Miss Sarah Cooper, who with three children survive him. They are as follows: (1) Israel J., born December 31, 1856, was edu- cated in the common schools at Glen Hope, and in 1872 began to relieve his father of business cares, and he has since been extensively engaged in manufacturing lumber, shingles and lath. He is not married. (2) Frank E., born February 15, 1859, is a successful agriculturist and lumber- man. On February 11, 1892, he married Miss Hattie Cross, daughter of Frederick Cross, a well-known farmer of Ferguson township, Clear- field county, and his wife, Chloe. He has two children-Ruth, born June 29, 1893; and Ger- trude, born July 4, 1895. (3) Bertha 'M., born August 12, 1865, received a common-school edu- cation at Glen Hope, and, in October, 1896, was married to Frank Lorber, a native of France, and an artist by profession. They now reside in Virginia.

Mrs. Pusey, widow of William, who still re- sides 'at the old homestead, is a consistent mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and is held in high esteem for her excellent qualities. She is a de- scendant of one of the pioneer families of Lancas- ter county, and was born and reared in Columbia. Her father, the late Israel Cooper, moved to Clearfield county in 1843, and located on what is now known as the Cooper homestead in Glen Hope borough. He was engaged in mercantile business and in lumbering for many years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Peart, died in June, 1866, and his death occurred in 1877. Of their children, . (1) Edwin was married in 1848 to Miss Isabella Reeves, and after some years of residence at Hoboken, N. J., moved, in 1853, to Clearfield county, and located at Glen Hope. In 1857 he purchased property in Clear- field, and now resides there. He has had seven children-Mary died in infancy; B. Frank, a plasterer at Clearfield, married Miss Mary Sacket, of that city, and has one son, David: Fannie R. died at the age of thirteen; Thomas F., a native of Hoboken, N. J., is now a printer at Clearfield, where he resides with his wife, and their dangh- ter, Lyle; Sallie M., who was born in Glen Hope, inarried H. B. Powell, cashier of the County

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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weusville (an uncle of Mrs. W. C. Arnold), was elected on the Republican ticket; he was re-elected in 1886; and in 1894 and 1896 our subject was elected to the same responsible position. His constituents are devoted to him, because, as many of them say: "Mr. Arnold never makes a promise to us which he does not fulfill, and we always know where to find him on any public question. When he sees his duty, strong in his intellectual strength, he fearlessly and aggress- ively performs it."

Congressman Arnold is not only an able law- yer and politician, but his knowledge of general literature is recognized by all his acquaintances, and his large and well-selected library bears wit- ness of this fact to the "stranger that is within his gates." He has acquired an enviable repu- tation as a lawyer, a politician, and as a lecturer. He is called upon on all public occasions where is desired a spirited address, and his lecture on the "Trial and Execution of Christ" has re- ceived the highest commendation of the press, not only for its exposition of literary ability, but for its logical reasoning, and for the dignified and reverential treatment of so sacred a theme.

On September 22, 1874, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Jane Patton Irvin, born May 8, 1851, a daughter of the late William and Jane P. Irvin, of Curwensville. Four children grace this union: William D. Irvin, Ellen Irvin, Phillip Al- len and John Carlile. Mrs. Arnold died sud- denly July 14, 1897. She was a woman of gen- erous and noble character, quietly and unob- trusively doing her duty as she saw it; the con- fidante, counselor and helpmeet of her husband through all the trials that beset the life of a man in a high professional or political career. She was an active and lifelong member of the Pres- byterian Church, and practiced in her daily life the teachings of that faith, passing at last, to her final rest in

The holy pride of good intent, The glory of a life well spent.

W TILLIAM HENDERSON (deceased) was for many years a prominent and valued citizen of Woodward township, Clearfield coun- ty, where he followed the two pursuits, lumber- ing and farming, that have contributed most to the substantial development and progress of his locality. He was a man of sterling worth, hon- orable in business and private life, and enjoyed the confidence and good will of all with whom he was brought in contact.

Mr. Henderson was born in Ireland in 1824, a son of Hugh and Margaret (Gamble) Hender-

son, also natives of the Emerald Isle, whence they emigrated with their family to America. Making their way to Philadelphia, they pro- ceeded thence to Philipsburg, Centre county, and on to Amesville, where they lived two years, the father working in the lumber woods during that time. In 1834 he purchased one hundred acres of land, built a log house and began the de- velopment of a farm. The family experienced many of the hardships and trials of pioneer life, but as time passed their energy and perseverance secured to them the comforts and advantages common to older settled districts. In early life Mr. Henderson had followed the weaver's trade. He and his wife spent their last days in the home of our subject, receiving there every care and at- tention which could make their declining years pleasant.

Our subject is one of a family of seven chil- dren, the others being: (1) Thomas, the eldest, was born in Ireland in 1803, was reared on the home farm in Clearfield county, and in his youth learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for a number of years in the smithy built for him by his father. He married Eliza Kephart, of Decatur township, and they had ten children. (2) Robert, born in Ireland and reared on the homestead farm, married Martha Math- ers, the eldest daughter of Robert and Eliza- beth Mathers, and then located on a farm adjoining his father's. He built a house and barn, and cultivated that land for a number of years. Afterward he sold and removed to Cen- tre county, where in connection with his brother he purchsed a large farm near Bellefonte, mak- ing it his home for about twenty years, when he sold to his brother, James Henderson, and bought There a large farm from his brother Samuel. his two sons, James and Elsie, now live. He had four children -(a) Jane, wife of Mr. Nolan, a machinist of Philadelphia, by whom she has two children; (b) James, residing on the home farm, wedded Mary De Hoss, of Bellefonte, and has two children, Miles and Edward; (c) Elsie makes his home with James, and is inter- ested in the ownership of the farm; and (d) Mary is the wife of Dr. W. S. Glen, of State College, Centre county, and they have six chil- dren, Ola, Harold, Bessie, Willie, Grover and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson resided with their daughter, Mrs. Dr. Glen, and there the mother died in 1895. She was a lifelong mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and a most lova- ble woman, whose life was largely given to doing for others. (3) William Henderson was the next of the family of Hugh and Margaret Hender- SO11. (4) Samuel, born in Ireland in 1828, and

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reared on the homestead in Clearfield county, married Sarah Goss, of Decatur township, after which he lived on a part of his father's farm for a number of years. He then . sold his land and purchased a large tract near Bellwood, which is now occupied by his two sons, William and Al- fred. Of recent years he has lived a retired life in the town of Bellwood, where he owns a good residence property. In his family are six chil- dren-(a) William married Nettie Smith, and after her death wedded Laura Laird. with whom he is now living on his farm near Bellwood; (b) Alfred is married, has three' sons, and also lives on the farm; (c) Mary A. is with her parents; (d) Delilah is the wife of Alexander Gregory, of Bellwood, by whom she has one child: (e) Effie is the wife of Andrew Barrett, of Horatio, Penn .; (f) Alice is married, and has two children. (5) James Henderson, born in Philipsburg, Centre county, married Margaret Mathers, of Wood- ward township, and for some years lived on a farm adjoining the old homestead. He then bought a farm near Buffalo Run, where he now resides with his family. He has eight living chil- dren-(a) Robert, who lives on the old Hunter homestead near Fillmore, married Rachel Hun- ter, and has two children; (b) Sophronia (now Mrs. Knox), who resides with her children in Bellefonte, her husband having died eight years ago; (c) B. K. married Jennie Taylor, and lives in Bellefonte; (d) Emma, (e) Mannie, (f) John, and (g) Otto are at home; (h) Lizzie is the wife of Clayton Heckman, and has one child, Fred- eric. (6) MARGARET HENDERSON, the only daughter of Hugh and Margaret Henderson, was born in Philipsburg, in 1834. and has always re- sided with her brother William on the homestead.

William Henderson, whose name introduces this sketch, crossed the Atlantic with his parents, and thereafter was reared on his father's farm. He cared for his parents until they passed away, his father dying in 1864, and his mother in 1871. Succeeding to the ownership of the old home- stead, he there made many excellent improve- ments, and developed one of the finest farms in Woodward township. He erected a large two- story frame residence, built a bank barn, and secured all the latest improved machinery. His fields were well tilled, and in connection with the cultivation of his land he carried on lum- bering.

Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Isa- bell Mathers, and they became the parents of nine children: (1) James Lyun, born June 1. 1854, was thrown from a buggy near Brisbin and killed. (2) Elizabeth, born September 12, 1858, is the deceased wife of Jacob Baughman, who re-

sides on the Baughman homestead in Decatur township. She died October 1. 1892, leaving two children-Mary Ethel and Francis Lynn, the latter now living with his aunt on the old homestead. (3) Lettitia, born March 13, 1860, married Edward Lender, who resides on a farm near Huntingdon, Penn. They have five chil- dren-Christ, John, May. Bertha and George. (4) Tillie, born April 12, 1863, has always lived on the old homestead. (5) Priscilla, born July 5. 1865, is the wife of Jacob Baughman, who re- sides on the Baughman homestead. They have two children-Verna Isabel and Andrew. (6) Francis Allen, born April 18, 1868, died in 1892. (7) Harriet, born September 12, 1870, was edu- cated in the Pine Grove school, and is now living with her aunt on the homestead. (8) Margaret, born January 6, 1873. died at the age of twelve years. (9) George W., born June 3. 1876, as- sumed the management of the liome farm on his father's death, and is successfully operating that place.

Mrs. Henderson died September 6, 1895, and July 12, 1896, Mr. Henderson passed away. She was a consistent and faith'ul member of the Pres- byterian Church, to which six of their children belong, and which was also Mr. Henderson's Christian belief. In politics, Mr. Henderson was a Democrat, prominent in the party, and held the office of overseer of the poor. His life was a busy and useful one, over which there fell no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. and to his family he left the priceless heritage of a good name.

JOSEPH MCCULLOUGH. deceased. "Ex- cellence encourages us about life in general,"

says the thoughtful observer, George Eliot. This saying is true even in case of that thoughtful discharge of duty which leads to well-doing in worldly enterprises; but the life which reveals re- ligious ardor, and suggests the uplifting force of consecrated purpose does indeed demonstrate to humanity new and lofty po-sibilities. The life of the late Joseph Mccullough, of Gulich town- ship, Clearfield county, was a constant inspiration to those who saw his zealous and self-sacrificing work in the advancement in the cause of re- ligion. Four Presbyterian Churches in his town- ship conut him among their founders, and all re- ceived substantial support from him until death removed him to another world. Th : First Pres- byterian Church at Benlah, which had been es- tablished by Mr. McCullongh's father and George McCully, with others, was his especial care, and his work in securing the fine new edifice at Ramey

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was gratefully commemorated by the congrega- ton in a memorial window.

The Mccullough family has been identified with Clearfield county for many years, as our subject's father, William Mccullough, came from Ireland, at an early day, and on landing in Philadelphia made his way to the present site of Ramey, settling in the woods in that vicinity. He cleared the land and established a home, where he and his wife, Jane Hegarty, a member of a well known pioneer family of this section, spent their remaining years, her death occur- ring in 1849, and his about 1884. Our subject was the oldest of their four children, who were educated in the local schools of their day. (2) James, who died in 1858, at the age of twenty- five, possessed rare mechanical genius. He was trained in boyhood to farm work at the old home. but made early choice of the cabinet maker's trade, and followed it as opportunity offered. (3) Mary Jane grew to womanhood at the old homestead, and then opened a millinery estab- lishment at Madera. A few years later she mar- ried John Carson. of Clearfield, and continued to reside in Midera with exception of a short time passed in Du Bois, Penn. Mr. Carson died in Madera, leaving no children, and his widow passed away in 1895. (4) Lewis, born in + 1836, has been engaged in the book-binding business in Philadelphia since 1865. He is not married.

The late Joseph Mccullough was born June 22, 1827. at the old home. The educational fa- cilities afforded in the schools in the vicinity were limited and, as a son of a busy farmer, he could not always avail himself of them, such as they were. However, by diligent study during the winter terins he fitted himself for teaching. in which he engaged for two or three terms with marked success. He was even then recognized as a man of more than ordinary intellectual force. His rare powers of thoughtful observa- tion and his eager search for knowledge in all lines brought him an education much beyond the average, while his public spirit, his progress- ive views, and energetic support of any enter- prise undertaken, early marked him as a leader among his associates. Of plain address, he never sought to win the confidence of others by the tricks of oratory, but his sound judgment and in- tegrity gave his words convincing force. He was a stanch Republican, but never cared for polit- ical honors, and his various positions of useful- ness in the Church to which he devoted so much of his time and thought, were to him the highest honor that he deserved.

On June 1. 1854, Mr. Mccullough married Miss Angel Stewart, of Cambria county, Penn.,

and soon afterward settled upon a tract of 160 acres of land adjoining his father's homestead, purchased from Miles Davis. It was partially improved, having a log house and barn, and Mr. Mccullough proceeded to make it an attractive and comfortable homestead. In 1858 he built a large bank barn, and two years later a commo- dious two-story residence, while many other im- provements made from time to time have given it a place among the model farms of the locality. For many years he followed farming and lumber- ing as a business.

In 1881 his team ran over him and injured his spine so seriously as to affect his nervous sys- tem. Notwithstanding his failing health he con- tinued his usual occupations, performing much manual labor, for nearly thirteen years, when he was compelled to retire from active work. During the year of suffering that followed, every effort was made to find relief for him, and about a week before his death he was taken to Philadel- phia to consult Dr. Weit Mitchell. An ex- amination showed his case to be hopeless, and Dr. Mitchell advised him to return home at once. He reached home May 11, 1895, only to die, passing away on the evening of the same day, at the age of sixty-five years. His funeral took place from the First Presbyterian Church at Benlah, in which he had been an elder for many years.

Mrs. McCullough, who is a few years his sen- ior, survives him and resides at the home where the happy days of their wedded life were spent. They had no offspring, but two foster children, Mrs. G. W. Speice, of Ramey, and Edward Fowler, of Madera, mourn his loss as deeply as if he had been indeed their father. In every good work Mrs. McCullough has always proven herself a worthy helpmeet, and since his death she has carried on the activities so dear to both. The church building at Ramey was destroyed by fire recently, and Mrs. McCullough joined with George McCully and others in rebuilding it, a beautiful structure, nicely furnished, being dedi- cated clear of debt as a result of their labors.

Mrs. McCullough's father, the late Robert Stewart, was born in Donegal, Ireland, March 25, 1781, and came in 1825 to America. He was married at Crum Creek, on the Delaware river, to Miss Margaret Story, by whom he had nine children, of whom Mrs. McCullough was the eldest. Only three of this large family are now living. In 1831 Mr. Stewart moved to Stormstown, Centre Co., Penn., and soon after located for a short time at Philipsburg, but finally settled in Cambria county, near the Clearfield county line. He made his home in that vicinity

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until advancing years caused him and his wife to accept an invitation to spend their remaining days with their daughter. They were highly esteemed for their upright Christian character. The mother died in 1881, at the age of seventy-two, and the father in 1886, when one hundred and five years and seven months old. The attainment of this remarkable age is the more notable from the fact that Mr. Stewart was always a hard worker, and experienced in his early years difficulties and hardships unknown in these days of rapid transit and widely-distributed conveniences.

A LLEN McDONALD (deceased) was for many years a leading and highly respected citizen of Grampian, and was actively connected with the lumber interests of Penn township, Clearfield county. He was born in 1828 at Scranton, Penn., and was a son of William and Maria (London) McDonald. At an early day the father came from Luzerne county, Penn., to Clearfield county, locating on the Fenton farm in Penn township, but afterward he removed to Grampian, where his death occurred. Subse- quently his widow married Thomas Lord, and lived on a farm near Glen Hope, but after the death of her second husband she returned to Bloom township, Clearfield county, making her home with her son-in-law, John Hepburn, until she, too, was called to the world beyond.

In 1859 Allen McDonald was married to Miss Sarah Murphy, a daughter of Jackson and Jane (McGouan) Murphy; but she did not long enjoy a mother's loving care as Mrs. Murphy died when she was only two years old, leaving two children. The other. John Alexander Murphy, made his home with Thomas Wasson until thir- teen years of age, and after his father's second marriage returned to the family residence in Curwensville, where he remained until enlisting, in 1861, in the old " Bucktail Regiment." He participated in every engagement in which his command took part until 1864, when he was stricken with typhoid fever and died in hospital, his remains being interred at Washington, D. C. Jackson Murphy, the father, lived in Boalsburg. Penn., for a number of years, and then removed to Half Moon, Centre county, where he married Catherine Kelley, and reared a family of eight children.

After the death of her mother, Sarah Mur- phy lived with her uncle, James Murphy, until fourteen years of age, when she went to Cur- wensville and afterward to Grampian Hills. There she remained until 1859, in which year she was married, as already related, to Mr. Mc-

Donald, who owned an improved farm of seven- ty-five acres in Penn township, on which they made their home for eleven years. He then purchased property in Grampian, and there re- sided until called to his final rest June 11, 1887. He was widely known and honored throughout the community as a man of inflexible honor and stability of character, and many warm friends and acquaintances mourned his decease.

WILLIAM A. MCDONALD, the only child, was born June 5, 1860, and was educated in the pub- lic schools of Penn township; but the knowledge that he there acquired has been greatly supple- mented by extensive travel in later years. In 1879 he embarked in mercantile business in Grampian, associating with him E. F. Spencer. of that place; after continuing business for five years the firm was dissolved, since which time Mr. McDonald has been alone, having one of the finest general mercantile stores in the place. He is an active, enterprising young man, very popu- lar in social as well as business circles. When quite young he accompanied his father on a trip. through the coal regions of Lackawanna and Carbon counties, Penn., and in 1876 he visited the Centennial in Philadelphia. About twelve years ago, along with Cyrus Wood, Lewis Wood and L. C. Moore, he went to Florida, where he remained one month, visiting all the principal places of interest. Two years later he traveled. extensively over central and southern California, visiting Los Angeles, Santiago, San Francisco,. besides many smaller towns, and five winters were spent in Arkansas, Missouri, Indian Terri- tory and Texas. He also visited Old Mexico, crossing the Rio Grande at El Paso to Ju Rose: from there went to Galveston, Houston and New Orleans, where they took a boat down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, across the Gulf to Cedar Keys, Fla., and Jacksonville, and came home by the coast line, sojourning at Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia. This trip covered over eight thousand miles. He has visited all the principal cities of the Union with the excep- tion of Boston; has been to Niagara Falls, Wat- kins Glen, the Mammoth Cave and Crystal Mountains, at Arkansas Hot Springs, and has also taken voyages on the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Great Lakes. He visited Canada, and the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. accom- panied by Cyrus Wood and son, of Clearfield. In 1881 Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Susan B. McGovern, of Jordan township, and of this union there is one son, Joseph Francis, born in 1882.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 115

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