Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 49

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 49
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 49
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 49
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 49

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To George O. and Mary (Davidson) Keys were born nine children: Andrew J. is deceased. Dr. William S. H. was born in Centre county, in 1826, and attended the Lewistown Academy. He became a minister of the United Brethren Church, and in recognition of his scholarship and theological eminence the degrees of A. M. and D. D. were conferred upon him by Otterbein University of Lebanon, Penn. In 1878 he left that Church and joined the Presbyterian, of which he was ever afterward a prominent min-

ister. He died at the age of sixty-six years. Rebecca J., the third child, is now the widow of George Sharrer, of Philadelphia. David is de- ceased. Maria is the wife of our subject. Al- mira is the wife of Jacob Condo, a carpenter of Altoona, Penn. Harriet O. married Adam Goss, but both are now deceased. James W. is a pat- ternmaker of Harrisburg, Penn. The father of this family was twice married, his first union be- ing with Eliza Funk, who was born April 28, 1788, and died August 27, 1822. Two children were born to them: Henry K., now deceased; and George W., now a farmer of Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoover occupy a most elegant residence, situated on an elevation and com- manding a fine view of the surrounding beautiful country. There they delight to entertain their many friends, their latchstring always hanging out. Politically, he is an ardent Democrat, and socially is connected with the Grand Army Post at Tyrone, and the Odd Fellows Lodge at Port Matilda, Penn. A man of unquestioned integ- rity in business and social circles, he stands de- servedly high, and has the happy faculty of easily making friends and always retaining them.

T HOMAS BOWMAN BUDINGER. The industrial and commercial history of Centre county would be very incomplete and unsatisfac- tory without a personal and somewhat extended mention of those whose lives are interwoven so closely with the business development of the State. Mr. Budinger has been prominently identified with various enterprises of Centre county, and his business record is one that any man might be proud to possess. Beginning at the very bottom round of the ladder, he has ad- vanced steadily step by step until he now occu- pies a position of prominence.

Mr. Budinger was born in Lycoming county, Penn., December 13, 1852, and is a son of Will- iam and Lucretia (Hoffman) Budinger, natives of Luzerne county, Penn. Emigrating to Ly- coming county, they located near Williamsport. where the father engaged in the lumber business and farining. His wife died there in 1894. but he is still residing on the old homestead. Their children are: Sarah E. is the deceased wife of D. V. Plummer, who is engaged in the mail service in Williamsport, Penn .; Johanna L. is the wife of James O'Brien, proprietor of the " Elkins Hotel." at Elkins, W. Va. ; Thomas B. comes next in the order of birth: Philip is now engaged in fruit growing in Los Angeles, Cal. . and William is engaged in the livery business in that city.

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Mr. Budinger is one of Centre county's self- made men, one of her most prominent citizens, and his business interests are to-day extensive. From the time he was thirteen years old until he was twenty-one, he worked in his father's saw- mill in the summer time and attended public school in the winter. At the age of twenty-one he hired out tohis father at $20.00 per month; but after working for one year he concluded to start in business for himself, so he obtained $10.00 from his father and went upon the road securing or- ders for enlarging pictures. He traveled through Cameron and Mckean counties, and during the first trip of three months he cleared $375.00; he then remained at home for a short time, after which he went on the road and traveled through Elk and Jefferson counties, and during this sec- ond tripcleared about $400.00 in cash. He then went to Salladasburg, and while visiting his father met with a severe accident, by having his ankle broken, which caused him to put all business aside for one year; when he had recovered, how- ever, he endeavored to travel and sell pictures again, but the injury he had received from his broken leg made it impossible to continue in that business. He then obtained employment in a sawmill at Williamsport, where he was em- ployed taking charge of a lath mill for about three years. He then purchased from his father nine acres of land and a small home, upon which he lived for about four years, and during that time he received employment from the Tide Water Pipe Co., first as a day laborer for a few months, and he then secured the contract from the Tide Water Pipe Co., to bury their pipe three feet under ground. During the first three months he cleared $700.00, and lived in tents and boarded his own men.

Mr. Budinger then contracted to lay the pipe between Williamsport and Muncy, and during the six weeks thus engaged he cleared $750.00. The oil was running through the pipes at the time, and it was a very difficult matter to bury the pipe underground without breaking it, but he was so successful in burying over fifty miles of pipe for the Tide Water Pipe Co. without an ac- cident or the loss of a single barrel of oil, whilst other parties who were employed at the same business, broke the pipe and lost several thou- sand barrels of oil at one time. He was then employed by the Standard Oil Co., to bury pipe through a section of Clinton county, at a salary of $100.00 per month. After finishing this work, he was out of employment, and meeting a gen- tleman in Jersey Shore he was induced to come to Snow Shoe, Centre county, Penn., with a promise of a position on the Beech Creek rail-

road; but after remaining in Snow Shoe for sev- eral days he learned that the party had no au- thority to hire him, and that the salary offered by the contractors was not sufficient to induce him to engage in that business.

A successful business man is he who is quick to recognize and take advantage of opportunities, and this element Mr. Budinger possesses in a high degree, and it has been one of the most im- portant factors in his prosperity. While in Snow Shoe he noticed that potatoes were being sold at $1.00 per bushel, so he went to Wat- sontown, Penn., and purchased a carload of that vegetable, then shipped them to Snow Shoe and sold them at a good profit. He also noticed that large quantities of bread was being shipped to Snow Shoe, and believing that he could make that article of food cheaper than it could be sent there, he rented an old oven; and in an old shed, the best accommodation that could be secured, he embarked in the bakery business, and his expenditures for rent and improvements for the first year amounted to over $475.00; but by hard work and strict attention to business, he made a clear profit of $2,000.00 the first year. He continued in that line of business until 1886, when, the railroad being completed, he aban- doned the bakery business and established a gen- eral mercantile store, which he successfully op- erated until the first of May, 1887; and as the property he then occupied was wanted by its owner for other purposes, he purchased a lot and put up the buildings he now occupies, and his trade has steadily increased until the volume of his sales are very large. He carries on two stores-one at Clarence, Penn., and the other at Snow Shoe, Penn., with a stock of fully twenty- five thousand dollars (the store at Clarence, Penn., he purchased of W. B. Masters on Janu- ary 1, 1892).

In 1891 Mr. Budinger began operating in the coal business in a small way on the land owned by Potter & Co., hauling the coal on wagons, that had to be shoveled into the railroad cars, and he contrived an ingenious invention to dump a three-ton load of coal from an ordinary road wagon into the cars, which operated very success- fully; but in 1895 the price of soft coal became so low that it became unprofitable to load coal in that way, and on September 1, 1895, in con- nection with Kelley Brothers, he purchased the property of the Snow Shoe Mining Co., and he is now treasurer of the company. Under the capable management of the present officers, the output of the mines have been largely increased.

In July, 1874, at the home of the bride, at Mt. Eagle, Centre county, Mr. Budinger was mar-

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ried to Miss Alice Leathers, and they had twelve children: Della and Emma Blanche are grad- uates of the Birmingham Seminary, of Blair Co., Penn .; Samuel and Arthur are students in the Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport; Effie is at home; Alice is deceased; Edith, Maud, Thomas J., Philip, Robert and Sarah are all still under the parental roof.

In his social relations, Mr. Budinger is an Odd Fellow, and in politics is a Republican. He holds membership with no religious denomina- tion, but his wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man of great energy, one who carries forward to success- ful completion whatever he undertakes. Through his entire business career he has been looked upon as a model of integrity and honor, and his life to-day is an example of what can be accom- plished by a man of natural ability and strength of character. He is respected by the community at large, and honored by his business associates.

S QUIRE JOSEPH M. GREEN, one of the oldest citizens of Milesburg, Centre county, where he has passed an active, busy life of nearly three-score and ten years, is a descendant, on both sides, of prominent families in the history of the State.

Born December 1, 1829, at Milesburg, Squire Green is the son of Joseph Green and Catherine (Miles), both natives of Milesburg, and the grand- son of Joseph Green, Sr., and of Joseph Miles, and the great-grandson of Gen. Samuel Miles, of the war of the Revolution, mention of all of whom appears in the sketch of G. Dorsey Green, to be found elsewhere. Joseph Green, Jr., was born in 1800. He became a clerk for Hamilton Humes at Bellefonte, going there to take charge of Centre Furnace as manager. He was the manager of the Milesburg Iron Works for Irvin, Green & Co. In 1830, in connection with his father-in-law. Joseph Miles, he opened a store in Milesburg. On the death of the latter, in 1840, Mr. Green carried on the business alone until 1852, then took as a partner a son, Joseph M. He served several times as burgess of Milesburg. Politically he was first a Whig, then a Republic- an. He was identified with the Baptist Church. His death occurred in May, 1879. His wife is also deceased. Their children are: Joseph M., our subject; Edward A., who is living on the old furnace property on Mill creek; and F. Potts Green, a druggist of Bellefonte.

Joseph M. Green at the age of seventeen years began and subsequently served an appren- ticeship at the machinist's trade. Later he was

engaged in lumbering and merchandising in part- nership with W. M. McMeen, a cousin, under the firm name of W. M. McMeen & Co. The firm later became Joseph Green & Son, and was so continued until in 1861. On the breaking out of the Civil war Mr. Green enlisted in Company A, 49th P. V. I., and was with the Army of the Potomac. While on the Peninsula campaign he was taken sick at Yorktown, Va., and owing to the nature of the disease he was compelled to re- tire from the service, and was honorably dis- charged. He returned to Milesburg, where he was disabled for a number of years as the result of his military service. Later he took charge of the gristmill at that point, and has at periods from that time to this operated the same. For many years he has served the people of Milesburg in various capacities, and has a clear and good rec- ord, as one will readily judge when he learns that it has been " Squire " Green now for thirty years, as his service as a justice of the peace is nearing the third of a century milestone. He has filled all the borough offices-member of the council, of which he has been the president, burgess, etc. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, being a member of Lodge at Bellefonte. Politically he is a Republican.

A NDREW HARTER, who follows general farming in Marion township, Centre county, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Penn's Valley, whose identification with its in- terests has proved a material factor in its devel- opment and upbuilding. He was born in Harris township. Centre county, June 7, 1823. His paternal grandparents, Andrew and - (Koop) Harter, natives ,of Lancaster county, Penn., re- moved at an early day to Penn's Valley, where the grandfather followed farming throughout his re- maining days. The maternal grandparents, An- drew and -- (Kramer) Kern, were also boru in Pennsylvania, and came to Penn's Valley at .in early period in its development. They too. Well farming people.

Jacob and Elizabeth (Kern) Harter, the pal . ents of our subject, were both natives of Hame- township, Centre county, whence they removed! to Marion township. The father became one of the leading farmers of that community. and town a prominent part in public affairs, serving in sel- eral local offices, including those of supervisor and tax collector. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church in early life, attet. ward uniting with the Evangelical Church. Jacob Harter died in the spring of 1860, at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife passed away

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in 1866, at the age of sixty-six years. Their chil- dren were as follows: John, of Hamburg, Clin- ton Co., Penn., who was drowned in the Johns- town flood; Jacob (twin brother of John), who died at his home in Illinois in 1895; Sarah, who became the wife of Jacob Garbrick (now a re- tired farmer of Marion township), and died in 1896; Andrew, subject of this sketch; Ann, wife of George Danberman, of Illinois, where both died; Samuel, a farmer of Illinois; Mary, de- ceased: David, a resident farmer of Marion town- ship; William, a merchant of Tylersville, Penn., and Daniel, of Jacksonville, Pennsylvania.

Quietly passed the early boyhood days of An- drew Harter, who remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, during which time he worked on the farm and also followed carpenter- ing. On leaving home he assisted in the devel- opment of land, by grubbing out the roots and other labors incident to the improvement of tim- ber tracts. After three years he rented a farm in Marion township, and continued its cultiva- tion for eight years, but he did not meet with the success that he had anticipated, and in conse- quence turned his attention to the sawmill busi- ness, which he followed at Hoy's Gap, for three years, and then sold out. In the spring of 1860, he purchased his present home, and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits.

On June 10, 1845, in Clinton county, Mr. Harter married Miss Eve E. Smith, a native of Clinton county, who died June 28, 1862, at the age of thirty-nine years and five months. By her marriage she became the mother of the fol- lowing children: John S., now of Clinton coun- ty, justice of the peace and school teacher; Mary E., wife of Daniel Gordon. of Clinton county; Susanna, wife of Frank Buck, a farmer of Centre county; William I., a wagonmaker of Centre county ; Jacob R., merchant, of the same county; Rebecca J., wife of George Fatzinger, a baggage master in Northumberland county: Sarah E., wife of Calvin Womer, who is employed as a cook in Chicago, Ill .; and Emily, wife of Will- iam Dale, a farmer of Centre county.

On March 5, 1863, Mr. Harter was united in marriage with Mrs. Susan (Arbegust) Sharer, who was born in Perry township, Snyder Co., Penn., December 4, 1836, a daughter of Jacob and Polly Dutter) Arbegust, natives of Snyder county, where they were married, and where they made their home for many years. The father, who was a potter by trade, died in 1883 at the age of sev- enty-two years; the mother died in 1851, at the age of forty. Their children were Sarah, who became the wife of Joshua Roush, and both are llow deceased; Harriet, deceased wife of Jacob

Howard, of Juniata county, Penn. : Savilla, deceased wife of George Myers, a miller. residing in Coburn, 'Penn .; John, a miller of New Berlin, Penn .; Mrs. Harter; Eva, deceased wife of Joseph Rifter; Jacob, a shoemaker residing near Freeburg, Penn .; Peter, who was killed in the army; and Aaron, deceased. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Harter were Nich- olas and Eva (Metz) Arbegust, farming people of Union county, Penn. Her maternal grandfather was a native of Ireland.

The children by Mr. Harter's second marriage are: Laura, wife of Elias Breon, a carpenter of Centre county : Lucy B., wife of Lawrence Hyles, an engineer of Mine Bank, Pleasant Gap, Centre county; Samuel, a carpenter of Indiana; Frank- lin P., a machinist of Renovo, Penn .; Clemen- tine, a carpenter, residing at home; Harry E., a carpenter of Axemann, Penn ·; George, a miner of Centre county: Albert, at home: Cora, wife of George Aikey, a farmer residing in Centre county : and Edna S., at home.

Mr. Harter votes independently, supporting the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. . His fellow townsmen have manifested their confidence in his ability and worth by elect- ing him supervisor for two terms, school director two terms, and auditor one term. He was also assistant assessor under Harry McDowell, and was elected constable, but declined to serve. He formerly belonged to the Evangelical Church, but now holds membership in the Methodist *Church.

OSEPH C. BIERLY. The Bierly family has held for so many years a prominent place in this section, that the purpose of this work would not be fulfilled if the part which they have taken in local history were not given a place. Like most of the early settlers, they are of German ex- traction, the name having been formerly written Bherly. The founder of the line in this region. Melchoir Bierly, came from Bavaria. Prussia, with his wife, before the Revolutionary war. probably before the French and Indian war, and about the time of the Revolutionary war, lo- cated in Snyder county, near Mahantango creek. During that war they were obliged to flee from the Indians, probably at the time of the . Run away" in 1778, which has become a historical event, and they never returned, 'as Melchoir Bierly found employment in the iron works of Lancas- ter county, and made his home there. He met his death while crossing the mountains to visit friends. He had two sons, of whom the elder.

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Nicholas, settled in Ohio; and Anthony was the grandfather of our subject.

Anthony Bierly was the progenitor of all the Bierlys in Sugar Valley, Clinton county, and Brush Valley, Centre county. He came from the region of the Mahantango, near McKee's Half Falls (now in Snyder county), in 1791 or '92, .and leased from Col. Samuel Miles a tract of 300 acres of land a short distance north of. the pres- ent site of Rebersburg. Tradition says that he was the first man to travel over the Brush Valley Narrows with a team after the completion of the road there, and a tedious journey it was, accord- ing to all accounts, the way being extremely rough, and for lack of other accommodations the party was compelled to camp out at night. On arrival at their destination a log cabin was con- structed, and the work of subduing the wilder- ness and creating a home was begun. Natur- ally, Anthony Bierly became a leader among the pioneers of the locality, and his foresight and public spirit deserve recognition at this day. He was one of the leading men in the building, in 1804, of the first church in Rebersburg. He died April 7, 1825, aged about eighty-two years, and his wife, Anna Maria Warner, who was born No- vember 15, 1752, passed away April 3, 1844, the remains of both being laid to rest in the Luth- eran and Reformed cemeteries at Rebersburg. They had twelve children: (1) Margaret married (first) John Phillips, (second).Peter Greninger, and (third) a Mr. Carter, and died in Venango county, Penn .; (2) Nicholas died near Rebersburg. July 25, 1848, in his seventy-fourth year (his wife, Lucy (Buchtel), died March 26, 1851): (3) Liz- zie married Peter Berry; (4) Catherine, a tailoress by occupation, never married; (5) John, who was born in Northumberland county, February 8, 1779, married Catherine Berry, and died in 1870 in Sugar Valley, near Tylersville; (6) Sarah mar- ried (first) Henry Greninger, and (second) George Lesh; (7) Eva married Michael Ketner: (8) Rosina married Christian Gramly, and died in Miles township, Centre county; (9) Barbara mar- ried Fred Womeldorf, and died in Sugar Valley, (10) Anna married Philip Glantz, of Sugar Valley; and her death occurred there; (11) Anthony, Jr., is mentioned more fully below; and (12) Mary (Mrs. Michael Kahl) died in Brush Valley, and is buried at Rebersburg.

Anthony Bierly, Jr., the father of the subject of this biography, was born Sep- tember 8, 1787, and was but a child at the time of the removal to Centre county. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Aaronsburg, and fol- lowed it for many years in Brush Valley and later in Rebersburg. His parents were well-to-do, and

gave a liberal start in life to all the other chil- dren; but owing to some misunderstanding he re- ceived but little if any assistance from them. He succeeded, however, and had an extensive business, employing several hands. Of large build and active temperament, he was capable of doing an immense amount of work; but although he made a great deal of money he never became wealthy, as his kind and generous disposition was often imposed upon to his loss. He was a stanch Democrat, and a leader in many local movements. serving for some time in the Home Militia as chief musician.

In 1814 he married Miss Maria Kratzer, who was born near Shamokin, Penn., in February, 1793, and died February 9, 1860; his own death occurred July 18, 1857. Both were devout mem- bers of the Evangelical Church of Rebersburg. where their remains now rest. They had eight children, as follows: Melchoir, born July 20, 1815: John is a blacksmith at Tylersville, Penn .; William, born September 19, 1818, is a farmer and shoemaker at Rebersburg; Susan, born June 20, 1824, is now Mrs. Joseph Miller, of Rebers- burg; Rachel, born in 1826, married Rev. George Young, an Evangelical minister, who died at Baltimore; George is a blacksmith and miller in Nittany Valley; Daniel, born September 9, 1828 (now deceased), was a blacksmith at Tylersville. and Joseph C., born February 22, 1834, is referred ·to below.

Joseph C. Bierly is one of the substantial cit- izens of Brush Valley, and the history of his life reveals a character which is well worthy of re- spect. As a boy he attended the schools of Re- bersburg but with no regularity. From eight to twelve years of age he began to learn the black- smith's trade. Few men of his standing have had such meagre opportunities, and knowing as he does the value of an education he has ever been a firm friend of progress in our common- school system, and his two sons have enjoyed every advantage that he could procure for them in their preparation for life's duties. Mr. Bierly learned his trade in Rebersburg with his brother Melchoir, receiving at the end of a three-years apprenticeship one pair of shoes and a Ken- tucky jean . womise." His annual vacation of two weeks he spent in the harvest field, caru- ing a little money for clothes, and other neces- saries; but when his term as an apprentice cv- pired lie was in debt to the amount of $30. He began work at Tylersville as a journeyman at $15 a month; later he worked elsewhere, and being . thorough master of the trade he commanded ex- cellent wages. After saving a considerable sum of money, he returned to Rebersburg and formed

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a partnership with his brother Melchoir; later, however, he built a shop of his own and carried on his trade successfully for several years.

In February, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Judith Meyer, a native of Brush Val- ley, born March 20, 1835, and a daughter of Henry and Hannah (Bierly) Meyer. Desiring the wholesome surroundings of farm life for his family, Mr. Bierly purchased first from S. S. Wolfe a farm of 140 acres near Rebersburg, and has since resided there, except during four years spent on the farm of his father-in-law, east of the same town. Building a shop upon his prop- erty, which now includes more than 200 acres, he followed his trade for some years. In the fall of 1879 he had the misfortune to lose his left arm by accident, a fall entangling him in the machinery of a thresher; but this handicap has, not prevented him from continuing his habitual activities, seeming in fact to stimulate him to greater efforts. For thirty-seven years he gave much attention to veterinary practice, being a friend and admirer of that noble animal, the horse, of whose fine points he is an excellent judge. His success in this line of work has been marked, his services being often sought from a distance.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 49

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