Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 18

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 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 18

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Hannah Gawthrop Shortlidge had three sis- ters and four brothers, viz .: Elizabeth, Jane, Isabella, Thomas, James, George and William. All but William settled in Chester county, and he made his home in Baltimore, Md. One of his grandsons, William G. Huey, is at the head of the firm of William G. Huey & Co., bankers of Philadelphia. . Elizabeth married Nicholas Tay- lor, an extraordinary business man of Baltimore, Md .; Jane married Daniel Thompson, and reared a family; Isabella did not marry; all the brothers married, and left descendants.

George Shortlidge, the father of our subject, was born in New Garden township, Chester rounty, in 1800, and passed his life there as a furiner, his death occurring in 1875. Like all of the family in religion, he was a Quaker. In pol- tics he was at first a Democrat, but he took a decided stand against slavery, and in 1856 he voted the Republican ticket, and from that time be adhered to that party. He married Martha Hutton, who was born in the same locality in 1802, and died in 1887. Her father, Hiatt Hutton, « native of Chester county, was of Irish descent, und her mother, Sarah Pugh, was a member of An old Chester county family. The Huttons and the Pughs were all of Quaker faith. Our · Tect was the eldest of six children: (2) Jo- wph, a successful teacher, conducts an academy : Concordville, Del .; (3) Anna P. married W. 11 Walker, of Hockessin, Del. ; (4) Lydia H., " slow of Augustus A. Norris, resides at Woods- T .n. N. J .; (5) Swithin C., a well-known edu-

cator, is at present in London, Eng., for his health; (6) Evan G., a prominent physician of Wilmington, Del., where he located in 1870, is a nian of marked ability and influence, and has been mayor of that city. During the Civil war he served in the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry for some time, and after he completed his medical studies he was appointed, at the instance of the: Friends, a surgeon to an Indian agency.

Col. Shortlidge was born February 20, 1831, and his childhood was spent at the old home- stead in New Garden township, Chester county. After attending the local schools for a time, he was sent to the Greenwoodell Academy, Marshall- town, Chester Co., Penn., of which Jonathan Gans was then principal. Two years were spent there in diligent study, and then our subject be- gan teaching, following that occupation in his native county and in the State of Delaware. In the fall of 1853 he entered the office of the Howard Iron Works, in Centre county as an ap- prentice to learn the business, and was employed . there as bookkeeper and manager until the busi- ness was suspended in 1857. when he resumed the work of teaching. On May 25, 1857, he married Miss Rosanna G. McCalmont, a native of Marion township, Centre Co., Penn., born March 16, 1833, and this happy event did much to shape his future course. For a time he contin- ued teaching, and August 25, 1858, he took charge of a school in Bellefonte. In the following spring he made an engagement with Valentines & Co., proprietors of the Bellefonte Furnace and Forge, to manage their office for two weeks during the absence of the members of the firm. At the end of that time he was requested to re- main longer, and in the course of a few months the firm decided that they could not dispense with his services, for which a liberal salary was offered and accepted, and Col. Shortlidge spent the next six years in their employ. As has been stated, he, in 1861, engaged in the lime business, with which he had become somewhat familiar dur- ing boyhood in Chester county. His extensive business interests have never prevented him from taking an active part in the general progress of the community. He is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the F. & A. M .; also of the borough council, now in the tenth year of service in that body. He is president of the Board of Trade. and a trustee of the Presbyterian Church.

Col. and Mrs. Shortlidge have a most pleas- ant honie, and of their six children two are living: Martha Elizabeth married John S. Walker, and has one son, Robert. Anna W. is at home. Jennie McCalmont, a daughter, and a young lady

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of much intelligence, who assisted her father as stenographer and typewriter, died February 16, 1890, at the age of twenty-two, from " la grippe." George and William died in infancy, and James McCalmont, their eldest son, lived to the age of only six months.

F H. VAN VALZAH, M. D., of Spring Mills, Centre county, one of the most successful physicians in that region, comes of a family which has for three generations been prominent- ly identified with the medical profession. His ancestors were originally from Holland, but set- tled in New York long before the Revolutionary war. Dr. Robert Van Valzah, Sr., his great- grandfather, was born April 17, 1764, near the Croton river, in New York, and was the only son of his parents to leave descendants. It is a re- markable fact that there is no other family of the name in this country, but, as will be seen, the line is not likely to die out. The father of Dr. Robert Van Valzah, Sr., died, and the mother married a wealthy man who gave his clever step- son an excellent education. Tradition has i that about the time that Dr. Robert Van Valzah graduated and began his professional career, he was paying devoted attention to a young lady, when he discovered that she had been making in- quiries as to his chances for inheriting his step- father's property. Angered at this, and believing her to be wholly mercenary, he left the neighbor- hood and, in 1786, came to Pennsylvania, his earthly possessions consisting only of a horse, sad- dle and bridle. On his arrival in Northumber- land county he made the acquaintance of a man named Beatty, who took a strong liking to him, and knowing him to be a poor but ambitious "M. D." in search of a location, advised him to go to Dry Valley, where an epidemic was causing much suffering at the time. This advice was fol- lowed with satisfactory results, Dr. Van Valzah practicing there successfully until his removal to Buffalo Cross Roads, Penn., where he continued his professional work during his remaining years, his death occurring April 18, 1850, when he was aged eighty-six years.

Of his numerous descendants seventeen have entered the medical profession-a record which few, if any, families can equal. He had eight children, of whom our subject's grandfather was the eldest. (2) Thomas was a physician at Lewis- town, Penn., for many years, and was notably successful. He had four sons, and three prac- ticed medicine; Robert, at Freeport, Ill., How- ard, at Lewistown, Penn., and John, at Free- port, Ill. (3) John was a wealthy farmer and

miller at Buffalo Cross Roads. (4) William also resided at the old home, and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He had four sons, two of whom became physicians, Robert T. locating at Ashland, Penn. (now deceased), and William in New York City: A daughter of Dr. Van Valzah, Sr., married Peter Wilson, and of her three sons, one, Dr. Robert Wilson, who practiced at Clear- field, Penn., and another, Rev. James D. Wil- son, of New York City, are both deceased.

Dr. Robert Van Valzah, Jr., our subject's grandfather, was carefully educated for his pro- fession, and located at Mifflinburg, where he practiced successfully until his death, which oc- curred when he was between sixty and seventy years of age. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, and was regarded as a substantial and well-to-do citizen. He mar- ried Miss Nancy Montgomery, a descendant of a leading family of Northumberland county, which is still namerously represented in that locality. They had eight children: Robert F. is men- tioned more fully below; Thomas was a well- known physician at Boalsburg. Penn., where he died; John H. studied medicine, but never prac- ticed, and his death occurred in the Far West Samuel B. is a successful practitioner at Durand. Ill .; S. L. (deceased) was a physician at Mifflin- burg and later at Milton; Mary J. married J. W. Pennington, and died in Philadelphia, Penn .: Ellen resides at Mifflinburg; Ada married Col. Churchill, of St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Robert F. Van Valzah, the father of our subject, was born in Mifflinburg. January 10. 1817, and attended the schools of that place some years. As the need of better opportunities be- came apparent, he was sent to Milton, where he studied under that noted instructor, Prof. Kirk -. patrick. His progress was rapid, and he began the preparation for his profession at an early age. and at twenty-one held a diploma from Jefferson: Medical College, Philadelphia. He located for a time at Rebersburg, taking charge of the prac- tice of Dr. Strohecker, who had been elected t the Legislature, but later he settled at Millhein. where he practiced independently ten years, gain ing a reputation as the leading physician there He removed to Aaronsburg in 1852, and re- mained until the fall of 1860, when he locate permanently at Spring Mills. In 1842 he mar ried Miss Sarah W. Forster, who was born i: 1819, the daughter of Capt. John Forster, . wealthy merchant and prominent citizen of Mit flinburg. She died in November, 1871, and hi- death occurred in 1874, the remains of both be- ing laid to rest in the cemetery at Spring Mills He was a large man, about six feet in height

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

weighing usually 190 pounds, and was never sick until he was taken with the brief illness which suddenly cut short his life. He was very unas- caming in manner, and was never known to toast of his successes. His attention was de- tuted entirely to his professional work, and had he given half as much thought to his accounts as to the scientific and humanitarian side, he would have accumulated much property. However, he had a comfortable competence and always lived well. He spent more than $10,000 in the edu- cation of his sons, of whose talents and charac- ter he was justly proud. He built the commo- Nous residence where our subject now lives, and which as lately remodeled is among the best in Spring Mills. Politically he was a Democrat un- til the nomination of Gen. Irvin, a personal friend, for Governor of Pennsylvania. He then became a Whig and in later years was a Repub- Ican, but while he was a regular voter, and took much interest in the success of his principles, he was not a politician. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian, but he did not attend church regu- larly on account of his professional duties. This negligence was, however, more than made good by his wife, who was very devout, and whose kindly nature showed the consistent follower of Christ. Their children were: John F., a pros- perous merchant and banker, and one of the founders of the firm of Van Valzah & Wilson, of Tyrone, and of the First National Bank, of Ty- rone, Penn., where he died March 28, 1891; F. H., our subject; Henry B., who died June 8, 1891, at Clearfield, Penn , after a successful career as a physician, being known as.one of the leaders of his profession in that county; and Rob- ert W., a dentist at Terre Haute, Indiana.

With such an ancestry it is not strange that the subject of this sketch easily established him- wif in the front rank among the medical frater- mity of his locality. He was born at Millheim February 18, 1847, but as his parents removed Aaronsburg during his childhood his education was begun there, his first teacher being ex-County superintendent D. M. Wolf, D. D. When he A is thirteen the family settled at Spring Mills, und as the schools there did not offer an ad- faced course he was later sent to Tuscarora Wademy. in Juniata county. While there he listed, on July 6, 1864, at a call for one-hun- trell day men, in Company H, 195th Penn. V. I., and served about four months, doing guard duty the B. & O. R. R. west of Harper's Ferry, · / greater part of the time being spent at Mar- Ersburg, W. Va. In 1865 he entered Dickinson Somunary, at Williamsport, Penn., and in the pung of the following year he began his pro-

fessional duties under his father's guidance. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, Penn., in March, 1870, and a few months later began practicing at Loganton, Penn., where he spent eighteen months. He then located at Potters' Bank, Centre county, but in November; 1874, he moved to Spring Mills to take the practice left vacant by his father's death. While he is thoroughly progressive in his ideas he is notably cautious and conservative in prac- tice, and he has met with signal success. Finan- cially, he ranks among the leading capitalists of Penn's Valley.

On June 23, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane R. Van Valzah, daughter of John A. Van Valzah, of Buffalo Cross Roads. Three children brighten their home: Robert, born No- vember 1, 1882; Sarah, born November 2, 1884, and James W., born June 6, 1889. Mrs. Van- Valzah is a member of the Presbyterian Church. and is prominently identified with the various lines of social and philanthropic work. The Doctor is a Republican, and although he is a stanch defender of the doctrines of the G. O. P., he is not an office seeker. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Centre Hall, and to Samuel Shannon Post No. 282, G. A. R., at the same town. He is also a member of the Penn- sylvania State and the Centre County Medical Societies.

H ON. HARRY R. CURTIN is the present representative from Centre county in the State Legislature, and is one of the prominent citizens, not only of his locality, but of Pennsyl- vania. He belongs to one of the old and hon- ored families of the State, whose members have been prominent in public affairs, and as promo- ters of leading commercial industries. The name is indissolubly linked with the history of Centre county, and the gentleman whose name intro- duces this article has added new luster to the ex- cellent record of the family by his course in both public and private life.

Roland Curtin, Sr., the grandfather, was a native of Ireland, and during the war of the French Revolution he was attending school in France. He, with other students, escaped and came to this country. He first located in Phil- ipsburg, Centre county, where for a short time he engaged in merchandising, and then turned his attention to the iron industry in connection with a Mr. Boggs. In ISIo he erected the Eagle Iron Works, and operated the same until 1842 when the business was turned over to his sons. This became one of the most important factors

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the development of the locality, and Roland Curtin took a most active interest in the work of progress and upbuilding in Centre county. He also located a large tract of land, upon which the subject of this sketch is now living. After his arrival in Pennsylvania, he married Miss Mar- garet Gregg, a native of this State. One of their sons, Andrew G., was Pennsylvania's governor during the period of the Civil war. For two terms he held that office, being re-elected in 1863, and for two terms he also represented his district in Congress.

John Curtin, father of Harry R., was born in Bellefonte, Penn., in September, 1810, the youngest son of Roland and Margaret Curtin. On the retirement of his father from business he joined his brother, Constance, in the operation of the extensive iron works, which they con- ducted until 1864, when they were joined by an- other brother, Roland, Jr., under the firm name of R., C. & J. Curtin. This connection was con- tinued until 1874, when Roland and John sold their interests to their sons, and John Curtin re- tired to private life. He is now residing in Bellefonte, in the enjoyment of a well-merited rest. He married Julia A. Barnhart, and they became parents of seven children-three sons and four daughters-namely: Margery B., wife of Gen. John I. Curtin, of Bellefonte; James B., deceased; Sarah C., wife of J. F. Larimer, a physician of Omaha, Neb .; Harry R .; John G., who is engaged in the oil business in Philadel- phia; Francis and Nancy, who died in childhood.

Harry R. Curtin was born at his present home, January 12, 1850, and has here spent his entire life. He remained with his parents until 1865, when he entered the Pennsylvania State College, pursuing his studies there for two and one-half years. He afterward continued his edu- cation in Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Penn., where he remained for a year and a half, when he returned home and entered upon his business career, putting to a test in the practical affairs of life the knowledge that he had gained in the school room. He accepted a position as salesman in a general mercantile store in Curtin, where he remained for a year and a half, then as- sumed the duties of bookkeeper for the firm of R., C. & J. Curtin, serving in that capacity un- til 1874. In that year he and his brother James bought out the interest of their father, and An- drew and Austin Curtin succeeded to the interest of their father, Roland Curtin, thus leaving the business in the hands of the four cousins and their uncle. Constance Curtin, at which time the firm name of C. Curtin & Co. was assumed. Busi- : ness was thus conducted until 1877. when the

uncle retired, and the partnership between James B., Harry R., Andrew G. and Austin was con- tinued under the name of Curtin & Curtin. They operated the factories until 1890, when opera- tions were suspended, due to the increased facili- ties for manufacturing steel and taking the market for charcoal iron. When Harry R. Cur- tin first became a partner in the business he as- sumed the active management of the forge and furnace work, and was thus engaged until sus- pension of the business in 1890. He was then appointed special agent, under Robert P. Porter, for gathering statistics concerning iron and steel. A year later he was appointed administrator of the Constance Curtin estate, and now has in charge the business interests connected with that property, which includes ten thousand acres of land. Upon this has been built the little village of Curtin, which contains a railroad station, grist- mill and post office, and has a population of about two hundred. Mr. Curtin has also been engaged in the sawmill business for the past three years, and is one of the successful lumber mer- chants in this section of Centre county.

On June 9, 1875, Harry R. Curtin was mar- ried to Miss Lydia G. McMeen, who was born in Milesburg, November 6, 1852. Her parents, Dr. William and Nancy J. (Lipton) McMeen, were also natives of that place; the father died in Milesburg in 1854; the mother, who was born in 1829, is now living with Mrs. Curtin, her only daughter. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Curtin has been blessed with four children, namely: Joseph McMeen; Curtin John; Hugh L. and Catherine. Mrs. Curtin is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a most estimable lady, regarded as a leader in the social circles in which they move.

Mr. Curtin is a Republican in politics, and on that ticket was elected to the State Legisla- ture in the fall of 1894 by over 500 majority. although the county had always been a Demo- cratic stronghold. His election is certainly a tribute to his personal worth, and indicates the confidence and high regard which his fellow citi- zens entertain for him. He has also held a number of township offices. His course in the General Assembly has been most commendable. He has ever labored for the best interests of county and State, placing country before party and the public good before self-aggrandizement. He is again his party's nominee for the same office, and will probably for a second time be chosen to represent his District in the House. In business he is honorable, straightforward and energetic, carrying to successful completion what- ever he undertakes, and his life is characterized

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

: the genuine worth which everywhere com- mands respect. On January 1, 1897, he was appointed, by Gov. Hastings, one of the food commissioners of the State.

G EORGE ASHBRIDGE FAIRLAMB, M. D., of Bellfefonte, Centre county, one of the dest and most highly esteemed medical prac- utioners of that section, was born June 24, 1826, in Chester county, Penn., where his ancestors in both the paternal and maternal lines were early settlers.

The Doctor is of sixth generation in descent from Nicholas Fairlamb, of Durham, England, who brought to the Society of Friends at Phila- delphia a certificate of membership from the Durham Monthly Meeting, dated June 13, 1700. This Nicholas Fairlamb purchased a farm at Middletown, Chester county, and settled there in 1704. He was sheriff of the county 1717- 1719; associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas 1715, and member of the Colonial Assem- bly 1704-5-11-12-13. In 1703 he was married to Catherine Crosby, daughter of Richard and Eleanor Crosby. John Fairlamb, a son of Nich- olas, was born in Chester county, and passed his life there, attaining an honorable place in the history of his time. He was sheriff of the county in 1755-56, justice of the common pleas court in 1761 and 1764, and member of the Colonial As- sembly in 1764-65, his death occurring in 1766. He was married November 13, 1742, to Susanna Engle.

John Fairlamb (2), the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1759, and resided upon a farm near Westchester, Penn., where he died at a comparatively early age. His wife's maiden name was Susan Ashbridge. Their son, George A. Fairlamb, M. D., our subject's father, was born in 1787, and died in 1829. He was a grad- uate of the University of Pennsylvania, and be- vame a successful physician at Downingtown, Chester county. His first wife was Thomasine Whelen. His second wife (our subject's mother) *A> Annette Miller, a descendant of a well-known funily of Chester county, the first of the line coming from Cornwall, England, in 1702. Her father, Joseph John Miller, a merchant in Phila- delphia, died at Lyons, France, while collecting 4 claim against the French government for gun- powder furnished to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Dr. G. A. Fairlamb came to Bellefonte at the age of ten years, and he has ever since made that his home. After completing a course in the Bellefonte Academy he entered the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1848 received his degree in

medicine from that noted institution. Returning home, he engaged in practice; but at the open- ing of the Civil war his patriotic spirit led him to join in the defense of the old flag. He raised Company H, 148th P. V. I., and entering as captain was promoted later to the rank of major, and after the battle of the Wilderness became a lieutenant- colonel. He was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, and twice at Spottsyl- vania in the charge made in the early morning of the 12th by the Second Corps, his right elbow being shattered by a ball, necessitating a re- section of the joint. He did not escape that worst of the fortunes of war, captivity, for the summer of 1864 he spent amid the horrors of Libby Prison. He was paroled September 12, 1864, at Annapolis, Md., and February 24, 1865, he was discharged from service on a surgeon's certificate of disability from wounds received in battle. No one can estimate the amount of strength and vigor which the sufferings and pri- vations of those brief years consumed for each man who passed through them, and the heart of the nation beats warmly for those who made the sacrifice of energies which should have sufficed for years of ordinary effort. After the war was over Col. Fairlamb was surgeon at the Lazaretto below Philadelphia for two years, being ap- pointed by Gov. A. G. Curtin.

H ON. JOHN HARBISON HOLT. The sub- ject of this biography, one of the honored sons of Centre county, is a most distinguished resident of Snow Shoe. He is a man of pro- gressive ideas, fine attainments, high minded, who has made the most of his opportunities in life, and is recognized as one of the leading and representative citizens of the community.

Mr. Holt was born September 28, 1828, in the village which is still his home, a son of Squire John and Mary (Harbison) Holt, the former of whom was a lifelong farmer. He was the first child to whom the ordinance of baptism was ad- ministered in that place. His education was acquired mainly in the local schools, his early teachers being Samuel Baker, Miss Woodward. Jesse Comley, Daniel Irvin and R. Ephraim Will- iams. He learned rapidly, at the age of fourteen began hearing classes in different studies, and three years later was given a teacher's certificate. For some time he taught vocal music. Before attaining his majority he went to Blair county, Penn., where he learned engineering, but not liking the occupation, he gave it up two years later, and has since given his attention to the lumber business and farming. At the time of

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the Johnstown flood he was a member of the firm of J. H. Holt & Co., lumber dealers on the Sus- quehanna, and their losses at that time, in mill and lumber at Belford station, between Kart- haus and Sinnamahoning in Clearfield county, amounted to $20,000.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 18

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