Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 60

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 60
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 60
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 60
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 60

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the construction of the canal and in the stone quarries, where he contracted ague, and the few dollars that he had saved went for board. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered to travel he crossed the Seven Mountains to Potters Mills, Centre county, where he arrived October 14. 1849, and secured his first work at his trade in the United States, being employed by John Haney at $7 per month and board. After working for others for two years he started a shop of his own.

In the fall of 1850, at Potters Mills, Joseph Daup was united in marriage with Catharine Decker, who was born at the Loop, in Potter township, November 6, 1823, a daughter of Nicho- las and Mary (Pecht) Decker, in whose family were five children, the others being Sarah, widow- of Daniel Auman, of Potter township; Henry. who died in that township; John, who died near Boalsburg, Centre county; and Mary, a resident of Potter township. The father of these children was a mason by trade, but the later years of his life were spent in farming. He died at the age of seventy-one years, his wife at the age of sev- enty-three, and they were buried in the Tussey. ville cemetery. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daup: Elizabeth, now the wife of Aaron Zerby, of Penn township, Centre county; Amelia, wife of A. C. Ripka, of Potter township: Daniel, of this sketch; Sarah, wife of William Ertel, of Penn township; Ellen, wife of Jefferson Heckman, of Gregg township; and Hettie, wife of Charles Leister, of Sprucetown, Centre county.

After his marriage, Joseph Daub located in Centre Hill, where he owned his first shop, and carried on business there some four years, after which he went to Penn township, and bought another shop and several acres of land. Two years later, however, he sold out, and from 1858 made his home in Sprucetown, where he followed his trade continuously until recent years, when failing health compelled him to abandon it. He died April 27, 1897, aged eighty-one years, one month and eighteen days. For many years he was an active member of the United Evangelical Church, in which he acted as class leader. ex- horter and trustee, and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. In politics he was a Democrat, but never cared for official dis- tinction. He and his estimable wife reared a family of which they were justly proud, all occu- pying honorable positions in society.

Daniel Daup was born March 17, 1856. in Penn township, and when a child accompanied his parents to Sprucetown, where he was reared to manhood. His early education was obtained at the Egg Hill school, where his first teacher was Mary Hennigh. At an early age he began

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assisting his father in the shop, -where he soon acquired a good knowledge of the trade, though he never served a regular apprenticeship. He remained with his parents until his marriage, at the age of twenty-seven, to Miss Jennie A. Evans, a daughter of Evan and Anna (Miller) Evans, who belonged to one of the best families of Potter township. They began their domestic life in Sprucetown, where Mr. Daup was em- ployed by his father for one year, and then removed to the Rankin farm, in George's Valley, which property he rented for two years. He then took up his residence upon the Dauberman farm, in Potter township, where he was a tenant until the spring of 1897, when he returned to the Rankin farm, which he had purchased in 1895. It comprises 115 acres of excellent land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and made many useful improvements thereon.

Mr. Daup is a stanch Democrat, yet no poli- tician or office-seeker, content with regularly casting his vote for its inen and measures at State and National elections, but on local affairs he votes independent of party ties. He and his wife are earnest members of the United Evangelical Church, in which he is serving as steward and trustee, and also as teacher in the Sunday-school. He is one of the steady-going, prosperous farm- ers of Potter township, one who has made his own way in the world, whose integrity is unques- tioned, and who, as a citizen, holds a prominent place in the estimation of his neighbors and friends.

Z D. THOMAS, of Aaronsburg, Centre coun- ty, is well known as a successful educator through twenty-two years of faithful and efficient service. Although he has recently retired from that profession, his work will not readily be for- gotten by the many who have been helped by him in the steep and sometimes weary paths of knowledge.

Prof. Thomas was born in Haines township, Centre county, April 26, 1851, and so far his life has been spent mainly in that locality. Jacob Thomas, his grandfather, was born December 9, 1767; confirmed April 12, 1795, by Rev. Loch- man (Lutheran); married in 1797 to Christiana Ensminger, and died December 31, 1824. His wife Christiana was born about 1768, and died 1855 or '56; both are buried in the vicinity of Annville, Lebanon Co., Penn., where they resided. Jacob and Rebecca (Dutwiler) Thomas, parents of our subject, were both natives of Lebanon county, Penn. The father was born April 24, 1808, and received his early education

in the German schools of that day, his knowledge of English being "picked up" incidentally. Be- ing bereft of his father at the age of sixteen, he found himself obliged to assume the manage- ment of his mother's farm, which he continued until his marriage to Miss Dutwiler, who was born near Palmyra, September 14, 1811, daugh- ter of John and Anna Mary (Williams) Dutwiler, who resided on a farm near Campbelltown, Leb- anon Co., Penn., and are both buried at Camp- belltown. Mrs. Thomas, who lost her father when she was fourteen years old, received fair educational advantages for that day, and was a woman of fine mental ability. For a time after their marriage they remained in Lebanon county, and one child was born there: Elizabeth, who married George Y. Stover, and died in Stover, South Dakota.

In 1832, Jacob Thomas, of Annville town- ship, Lebanon Co., Penn., in company with two other gentlemen, started to seek a place whereon to locate. Land in Lebanon county having ad- vanced in price beyond his means of acquiring a farm (he having only limited means), and hav- ing in view the western part of Ohio, they trav- eled as far west as Dayton, but for some reason not finding a satisfactory place to locate. On their way home they came to Centre county, Penn .. their first point of observation being Boalsburg; from there they came to Haines township and bought the farm upon which Mr. Thomas located. He had traveled the whole distance of 1, 060 miles on horse-back, being gone about six weeks, and in April, 1833. Jacob Thomas and his wife settled upon this farm in Haines township, Centre county. There nine children were born to them, our sub- ject being the youngest of the family. The others were John, now of Clinton county, Penn. ; Christiana, who married George Hoover, and died in Shingletown, Penn .; Anna M., who re- sides in Aaronsburg: Rebecca, who married Jesse Snyder, and died near Penn Hall, Penn .; Jacob D., a resident of Illinois; Adam J., a carpenter at State College: Jeremiah, now of Illinois; and Aaron, a carpenter at Centre Hall.

Jacob Thomas made farming his lifelong oc- cupation. He was over six feet in height, and enjoyed excellent health, even his last ailment, rheumatism of the heart, afflicting him only a short time. He was very industrious, and while rearing a large family, managed to secure a fair competence. His death came just at the time when he was in a position to realize the benefits of his labors. While he was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, he did not allow his partisan prejudice to blind him, and at times voted independently. Never a politician

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in the strict sense of the word, he yet took an active interest in local affairs and held the office of school director several times, as well as other township offices. He was also active in religious work as a member of the Reformed Church, holding various official positions. His death oc- curred at the old homestead March 29, 1864; his wife passed away January 7, 1884, and the re- mains of both are interred at Aaronsburg.

As a boy the subject of this sketch found the outlook for an education most unpromising. The schools near the homestead were none of the best, but he made good use of the facilities which they offered. His first teacher was Thomas Erhart, and Mr. Thomas has had the satisfaction of presiding over the same school room in which he spent his first day as a pupil. He remained at home until his widowed mother removed to Aaronsburg and then as she, though in comfort- able circumstances, was not able to spare the funds necessary to secure him better educationa advantages, he determined to secure them him- self. For several years he worked as a farm hand for leading agriculturists, his first employer being Clay Allison, of Nittany Valley, who paid him $8 per month. With the money thus earned he attended the academy at Aaronsburg, also the County Normal at Centre Hall, alternately work- ing and studying.

In his twentieth year, Mr. Thomas began his successful career as a teacher in the St. Paul dis- trict of Haines township, Centre county, and, with the exception of one term in Miles township, the entire twenty-two years of work were spent in the former locality, six successive years being passed at Aaronsburg. He was never content to merely " keep school," the responsibilities of his position as a guide to those entrusted to him were too keenly realized for that, and the inces- sant care incident to the work when conscien- tiously done caused him to retire in 1894 from the profession. A taste for carpentering seems to be hereditary in the family, and many of Mr. . Thomas vacations have been given to that work. One summer was spent in Effingham county, Ill. He owns a house in Centre Hall, but since the death of his mother he has made his home in Aaronsburg, where he owns a residence and several lots. His success, won as it has been by his own efforts, is well deserved.

Mr. Thomas is a Republican on national issues, but does not believe that party allegiance should extend to local affairs, and he has at times supported other candidates for township and county offices. He is no place seeker himself. but has held some minor positions. As a mem- ber of the Reformed Church, he contributes to

the work of that society, and as a good citizen takes a loyal interest in all that tends to promote progress.

S AMUEL FOSTER LYTLE, M. D., de- ceased October 9, 1896, occupied for a score of years a prominent position in his profession. and was recognized by his colleagues, far and near, as one of the leading physicians of Centre county. He was a member of the County, State and National Medical Associations. President of the Board of Health, and State Health Inspector for his District. Esteemed as he was by the members of his profession, the people, whose good fortune it was to be subject to his ministra- tions, loved him for his sympathetic nature, and venerated him for his rare ability and skill.

Possessing as an inheritance the qualities of an ancestry whose lineage was noble in the highest sense, not because of descent from pro- genitors of rank and title, but because of that in- trinsic strain of valor, firmness and fineness of character, and integrity of purpose which is the measure of worth and constitutes true nobility and gentility. He was also richly endowed by nature with a talent for the profession he loved and to which his life was devoted.

The remote history of Dr. Lytle's family goes back to County Donegal, Ireland, where the name still adheres, honored and respected, and begins in this country with the settlement of a branch of the family in Lancaster county, Penn .. more than a century ago, where they became distinguished for their patriotism during the period of the Revolution. Foremost in loyalty was Col. Andrew Lytle, who was commissioned as colonel of the Sth Pennsylvania Regiment in the Revolutionary army, July 23, 1781, in com- mand of which he served with distinction, re- ceiving the personal commendation of Gen. Washington, and honorable mention in the Archives of the State. He was a charter member of the Order of the Cincinnati, and died in 1784 of camp fever. His son, Isaac Lytle, grandfa- ther of Dr. Lytle, was born in Lampeter, Lan- caster county, in 1772, and was married in 1802, to Jane, daughter of Zaccheus Piersol, of Pequa Valley, a descendant of an ancient and honorable Scotch family in direct line from .Archi- bald Douglas. He removed to Harris township. Centre county, in 1814, where he died Septem- ber 30, 1854. His eldest son, Griffeth, father of Dr. Lytle, was born in 1806, coming with his father to Centre county in 1814, where he en- gaged in agriculture. He married Susan Foster, born in Huntingdon county in 1812, a woman of remarkable beauty of charater and refinement of

1.4. Bytlo, Lu 2.

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manner. Purchasing a farm near Lemont, which is still the home of his eldest son, William, he resided there until 1855, when he bought a farm in the vicinity of State College, where his death occurred in 1875, his wife, Susan, surviv- ing him fifteen years. Of their ten children, Dr. Lytle was the youngest son.

Dr. Lytle was born March 14, 1851, and from early childhood evinced a decided trend of mind toward medicine and surgery, which in- creased with years until in early manhood it be- came his passion and determined his career. Graduating from State College, he pursued the study of medicine under Dr. J. Y. Dale, of Le- mont, with the eagerness and intensity of one whose aspiration was to master the science. En- tering Bellevue Hospital Medical College as the next step forward in his profession, he graduated honorably in 1875. Still bent on the acquire- ment of learning, he pursued a post-graduate course at Columbia College before entering upon the active duties of a physician. At this time he received an appointment as surgeon in the regu- lar army, but the death of his father led him to decline the position. . In the autumn of 1875 he came to Philipsburg, rapidly acquiring a prac- tice. Four years later he married Nannie, daughter of Thomas Crissman (deceased) and Margaret Crissman, whose family still occupy a position of high standing in the community.

With the increase of his clientage as the Doc- tor's popularity increased, the demands upon him became so great that his health suffered from the strain; but through his deep sympathy with others and his great fortitude, he bore his own suffering silently and bravely, ministering to the sick when needing help himself, and struggling against physical disability that would have broken a less heroic spirit. Gentle and generous to the last, courteous and brave, he died literally with har- ness on, coming from the bedside of a patient where with all his skill he was fighting for the life of another against the dread destroyer, to yield suddenly his own life up to that relentless hand.

Dr. Lytle was a man of broad.culture, studi- ous habits, in touch with the most advanced movements in the science of medicine, and a type of the scholarly professional gentleman, be- loved and mourned by the community which he served and healed.

D AVID F. BOWERSOX, a prominent agri- culturist of Haines township, Centre county, is also known throughout that section as a suc- cessful veterinary surgeon, and for years his serv- 19

ices have been in demand whenever an injury or ailment of any live stock required skillful treat- ment. He possesses mechanical ability of a high order, and with no instruction has mastered the blacksmith's trade, being an expert at horse shoe- ing, and he has repaired rifles, guns and other fire-arms, and in many ways displays unusual talent in this line.

Mr. Bowersox belongs to one of the oldest families of Centre county, his great-grandfather, George Bowersox, a native of Hanover, Penn., having settled in Potter township as a pioneer, following the blacksmith's trade and farming. He and his wife, Catherine Kister, each lived to be more than eighty years old, and they reared a family of six children: Jacob, David, George, Catharine, Elizabeth and Susan.

David Bowersox, our subject's grandfather, was born in Centre county, and being reared to farming followed that occupation all his life. He married Elizabeth Stover, of Haines township, Centre county, a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Weaver) Stover. In his later years he purchased the Stover homestead, and settled there. He was. short and spare in build, and died at the comparatively early age of fifty-eight years. In politics he was an ardent Democrat, and he be- longed to the Lutheran Church. His wife sur- vived him with two sons, John (our subject's fa- ther) and Philip (who died in Woodward, Penn. ). The widow made her home for twenty-eight years with her son John, and died in Coburn when more than eighty years old, her remains being laid to rest beside those of her husband at Stover's Chapel.

John Bowersox, the father of our subject, was born April 13, 1825, in Haines township, Centre county, and is now living in retirement at Coburn. His education was that which the schools of the time and locality afforded, being confined to an attendance for a few months of each year at the log school house at Stover's Chapel. A family lived in one part of this build- ing. The work at home was plentiful at all seasons, as in winter he could ride the horse while tramping out the grain in the barn, and the summer brought an increase of outdoor work.

At eighteen he began to learn the trade of cigar maker and tobacconist with James Powley. in a shop that stood where the Coburn toll-gate has since been built. After finishing his appren- ticeship he worked at his trade for a year, but it did not agree with him, and he learned the tanner's trade in Aaronsburg with George Royer. This business he followed successfully for thirty- five years, devoting especial attention to prepar- ing leather for gloves, which were made by his

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employees. His wife, whose maiden name was . Mary Frederick, has been of great assistance to him, and at that time she made hundreds of · dozens of pairs of gloves which our subject would take about the country for sale. Their marriage was celebrated October 8, 1846, in Hartley township, Union Co., Penn., where the bride's birth occurred May 14, 1823. Her fa- ther, John Frederick, was a weaver by trade, and depended upon his earnings for the support of his family of ten children-five sons and five daughters. He and his wife, Barbara Catherman, were each nearly eighty-four years old at death, and both were buried at Laurelton, Penn. Our subject's mother was the third child and third daughter. Her educational advantages were meagre, but a bright and active mind has enabled her to gather much practical information on va- rious subjects.

After the death of David Bowersox, our sub- ject's father took the old homestead and followed farming there for several years; but in the spring of 1883 he removed to Coburn, where our sub- ject built for him a residence. He owns a farm of 123 acres and a great deal of timber land. His industry and thrift, with the help of his economical wife, have won a notable success, and both are enjoying the fruits of their past la- bors in well-earned leisure. An excellent mem- ory enables him to review the incidents of his life with remarkable precision, and he recalls events. that occurred in his third year. Our sub- ject is the eldest of three children, the others be- ing Chestie A., who married (first) Henry J. Musser, and (second) A. P. Maize, of Aarons- burg; and J. A., who resides in Coburn.

David F. Bowersox was born December 21, 1849, at the old home in Haines township, Cen- tre county, and the district schools of the time furnished him his elementay instruction. Between the farm and the tannery there was plenty of work for him to do, and forty days of schooling in winter was considered a liberal amount for him. Every opportunity for study was eagerly seized by the bright boy, and as his parents permitted him to sit up late at night he was able to lay the foundation for a good practical education. Throughout his life he has been a warm friend of good public schools, his own experience em- phasizing their value.

On March 11, 1872, Mr. Bowersox was mar- ried, in Aaronsburg, to Miss Margaret A. Swanger. a native of Penn township, born December 19, 1852. Her father, Philip Swanger, was a shoe- maker, and he and his wife, Sarah (Womer), reared a family of eight children to adult age. For twelve years after his marriage, Mr. Bower-

sox rented the home farm from his father, and although he then removed to another rented farm he returned later to the old place. In Feb- ruary, 1885, he purchased a farm of twenty acres. where he now resides, going in debt for it, and to this he has since added some mountain land. making a fine estate. Under his careful man- agement the farm has been greatly improved, the barn having been remodeled and some new buildings put up. His extensive veterinary prac- tice began in November, 1872, when the epizootic was prevalent, and his. attention being once turned in that direction, his success in treating horses and other live stock was so great as to create a constant call for his services. While he has never graduated from a school in which this science is made a specialty, he has read all the authorities on the subject, and with his wide ex- perience in practical treatment is now an author- ity himself.

Mr. Bowersox and his wife are leading mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, in which he holds the office of deacon. He also takes an active part in Sunday-school work. Two children, Sarah and John F. D., brighten their home. Courteous and intelligent, Mr. Bowersox is. a pleasant companion, socially, his conversation being always interesting, while in business cir- cles he is equally esteemed as a reliable, success- ful man. Politically he was a Democrat until a constitutional amendment upon the temperance issue was called for, when, having long been a foe to intoxicants, he became a pronounced Pro- hibitionist. While deeply interested in political questions, he is not an office seeker, but has served as a judge of election.

R B. HARTMAN. In the career of this gen- tleman we find an excellent example for young men just embarking in the field of active life, of what may be accomplished by a man be- ginning poor, but honest, prudent and industri- ous. He is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Heidelburg township, Lehigh county, April 19, 1820, and he is a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Bysell) Hartman. The father, who was born, reared and married in the same county, was a son of Jonathan Hartman, who there died. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Peter Bysell.

About 1824 Simon Hartman removed to Hartley township, Union Co., Penn., where he engaged in farming for a time, when there were a great many wild animals in the forests, such as wildcats, wolves, panthers and bears, who would approach the house and carry off sheep and hogs

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as their prey, and could often be heard at night. Later Mr. Hartman followed weaving in the town of Hartleton, in the same county, where his death occurred at the age of seventy-one, and he was there buried. He was a Whig in politics, and an earnest member of the German Reformed Church, as was also his wife. She passed away in Millheim at the age of seventy-three years, and was laid to rest there. In their family were the following children: Lydia, who married Will- iam Hazel, and died in Wooster, Ohio; Saloma, who married George Catherman, and died in Union county, Penn .; Peter, who died in Woos- ter, Ohio; R. B., subject of this sketch; Eliza- beth, who married John Royer, and died in Hartleton, Penn .; Rebecca, who married John Swartz, and died in Millheim; Caroline, who married James Rouch, and died in Clearfield county, Penn .; and Henry, and another that died in infancy.

The early educational privileges which our subject received were not of the best, and his teachers often permitted the scholars to play rather than study. He was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys, and on leaving home worked at farm labor for others. In 1839 he started out to fight life's battle, and on the 19th of May of that year arrived in Millheim with all his possessions on his back, his capital being his ambition. He first worked for John Harter, the pioneer carriage and wagon maker of the place, with whom he remained for several years. ·

During that time, Mr. Hartman was married, June 1, 1843, to Margaret Harter (a daughter of his employer), who was born in Millheim, De- cember 12, 1824, and whose mother bore the maiden name of Mollie Shreffler. Eleven chil- dren blessed this union: Sarah J., who died in infancy; C. W., a molder, of Millheim; Mary E., wife of John Harshbarger, of the same place; Anna M., wife of Willis Weber, of Rebersburg, Centre county; Amelia M., wife of Leonard Sto- ver, of Haines township, Centre county; Lydia R., wife of Philip P. Leitzel, of Millheim; John H. B., who is in partnership with our subject; William, a machinist, of Millheim; Minnie, wife of Adam Harter, of the same place; and Thomas and Gertie, who died in infancy,

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 60

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