Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 67

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 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 67

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Mr. Tipton was one of the most enterprising citizens of the township, and did much for the town of Howard, restoring the water privilege to the place by replacing the old canal banks. Despite his bodily infirmities he was one of the most energetic men of Centre county, and made a success of life, accumulating a valuable estate. owning at the time of his death three fine farms on Marsh creek, 230 acres of timber land in the same locality, and other property in and around Howard. He imbibed from his early surround- ings the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy. but later became an ardent advocate in opposi- tion to Slavery, and subsequently became a Re- publican. As a citizen he was honorable, prompt and true to every engagement; as a man he held the honor and esteem of all classes of citizens of all creeds and political proclivities; as a husband he was a model worthy of all imitation. He was a man of the times, broad-minded. public-spirited and progressive. He was an active and earnest member of the M. E. Church.

On December 27. 1859, Mr. Tipton was mar- ried to Miss Rebecca J. Garman, and to them were born the following children: (1) Mary E .. born January 27, 1861, married Jerry Kvan, who is engaged in the hotel business in East Buffalo, .N. Y. ; their children are-Ethelyn A .. Edward Tipton, and Ralph R. (2) George W., born April 28, 1862, married Elizabeth L. Cox. and

A. Liplow

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

is a lumberman of Howard; their children are Claremont, Jr., Bernice V., Alice M., and Leon- ard W. and Lester (twins). (3) Frances T., born September 12, 1863, is the wife of Edward C. McIntire, an attorney of Williamsport, Penn. (4) Sarah C., born April 1I, 1865, died in in- fancy. (5) Laura T., born July 1, 1866, is the wife of M. M. Hunter, an attorney of Carthage, Mo .; their children are-Harold T. and Frances R. (6) John Howard, born November 16, 1867, is a traveling salesman, residing in Bellefonte, Penn .; he married Anna Hopton, of Tyrone, and has one child -- Mary Helen. (7) William F., born January 14, 1870, graduated with honors from the Eastman Business College, Poughkeep- sie, N. Y .; he married Sallie Askey, and died October 9, 1891, leaving one child-William Fuller. (8) Isabella J., born July 18, 1871, died in infancy.

The widow of our subject, a most estimable lady, was born in Salona, Clinton Co., Penn., June 19, 1836, and is a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Lovell) Garman, natives of Cumber- land and Huntingdon counties, Penn., respect- ively. They were married in Mill Hall, Centre county, December 24. 1828. The mother's death occurred February 18, 1869, when she was sixty-eight years, while a resident of Salona. In their family were seven children: William E., born December 20, 1829, died February 7, 1854; Foster, born February 13, 1832, died October 17, 1857; Mary C., born February 7, 1834, first wedded William Martin, and after his death mar- ried George Kustenboarders, a farmer of Centre county; Rebecca J. is next in order of birth; Mathew B., born January 5, 1839, died August 30, 1850; Austin, born November 3, 1840, served for three years in the Union army, and is now a carpenter of Colorado; John M., born December 2, 1842, was under age when the Civil war broke out, but ran away from home and joined the army, and died from the effects of his service December 26, 1861.

Michael Garman, the father of Mrs. Tipton, was born April 15. 1800. Her mother was Mary (Slutterbeck) Garman. The father died before the son's birth, and the latter was reared by strangers. In 1828 he came to Centre county, and throughout his active business career engaged in lumbering and farming, but in his later years he lived retired with his daughter, Mrs. Tipton. where he passed from earth May 24, 1897. He was an energetic, hard-working man, and prosperity crowned his efforts; but through bad investment he lost much of his property, being a stockholder in the National Bank of Lock Haven at the time it failed. A conscientious Christian, he, during 21

the last forty-five years of his life, was a faithful and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his was a useful and well-spent life. He was a strong advocate of temperance, and spent both time and money in the cause. Dur- ing the Civil war he strongly supported the Union, giving of his means to the support of the the soldiers' families, and using his influence for its suppression.

J. STOVER, a prominent citizen of Coburn, Centre county, is aretired agriculturist who after many years of well-directed labor can gather the rewards thereof at leisure. He was born January 27, 1846, in Haines township, Centre county, where his ancestors settled at a very early day, his grandfather, Adam Stover, having been a pioneer farmer.

Andrew Stover, our subject's father, was born and reared there and learned the carpenter's trade. His parents having a small farm and a large family, he was obliged to make his own way in life from the start. He was industrious and frugal, and won a high place in the esteem of the community. In politics he was a Democrat. and he was a leading member of the Lutheran Church. At an early age he married Miss Polly Moyer (or Meyer, as the name was originally spelled), a daughter of George Moyer, a well known farmer. They began housekeeping near Coburn, and for a number of years Andrew Stover was engaged in general carpenter work, but when nearly forty years old he purchased forty acres of land in Haines township, Centre county, and followed farming until his death. He died at the age of fifty-four, and his mortal remains were laid to rest in Wolfe's Chapel cemetery. His widow, who was born January 20, 1814, and is consequently eighty-four years old, is now living with our subject. They reared a large family, as follows: Julia is Mrs. Enoch Kramer, of Haines township, Centre. county: George M. is a carpenter of Aaronsburg: Daniel M. is a carpenter of Haines township, Centre county; Israel M. lives in Berrien county, Mich. ; Catherine married Franklin Detwilder, and died at Aaronsburg: John is a resident of Berrien county, Mich. ; A. J. is our subject; Benjamin lives in Haines township, Centre county; Jacob, Monroe, Jeff and James, all resided in Berrien county. Mich. : Henrietta died at the age of twenty -one Years; and Elizabeth, who married Henry Kramer. went west, and for twelve years has not been heard from.

A. J. Stover's early education was such as the common schools of his day afforded. As his

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

parents had but limited means most of the chil- dren left home early to make a living, and he was the only one of the boys who remained until of age. He was eighteen years old when his father died, and the will confided to his care the mother and younger children. This com- mission he fulfilled, all his work at the home- stead being done for the mother and family. At twenty-one he was married in Haines township, Centre county, to Miss Annie Stover, a native of the township and a daughter of Martin Stover. His savings at this time amounted to nearly $150, and he made a beginning as a farmer by renting forty acres of land in Penn township, Centre county, where he spent six years. Having pros- pered, he rented a larger farm in Haines town- ship, Centre county, and lived there three years. In the spring of 1878 he purchased his first farm, a tract of eighty-seven acres in Haines township, Centre county, and although he went $3,600 in debt, he enjoyed at last the satisfaction of hav- ing a home that he could call his own. He re- mained there until the spring of 1895, when he removed to his present home in Coburn. He now owns over 240 acres of land, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the lo- cality.

Mr. Stover's four children by the first mar- riage are all residents of Centre county: Ammon A. is a farmer of Haines township; Warren F. is a farmer of Gregg township; William resides in Haines township; and Katy married John Hess, of Haines township. The mother of this little family died in February, 1886, and was buried in Wolfe's Chapel cemetery. On February 16, 1888, Mr. Stover was married in Haines town- ship to Miss Eve Stover, a sister of his first wife, and there is one child by this union, Martin A., who is at home.

Mr. Stover has not only proved himself a successful business man, but he has always taken a prominent part in the local work of the Demo- cratic party, and has held the office of supervisor for three terms. He is a member of the Re- formed Church, in which he has been a deacon, and he is interested in all that tends to promote the good of the community.

A LBERT YOUNG WILLIAMS, proprietor of the Port Matilda Flouring Mills, which are located at Port Matilda, Worth township, Centre county, is one of the representative and prominent citizens of the community, and has done much to promote the commercial and in- dustrial activity, advance the general welfare, and secure the materiavelol depment of the conn-

ty. As a business man he has been enterprising, energetic and always abreast- with the times, and has been rewarded with a comfortable com- petence.

Mr. Williams was born in Worth township, September 1, 1849, a son of Joseph and Mar- garet (Wagner) Williams, in whose family were five children: Thomas (deceased), who was a wagon. maker by trade; Ebenezer, who operates a flouring mill in Bald Eagle, Penn .; Wagner W. (deceased), who was a miller and merchant; Albert Y., of this sketch; and Jane, who died in infancy.

The father's birth occurred in May, 1809, in Centre county, at the home of his parents, Jos- eph and Jane (Williams) Williams, who were natives of Wales, and were married in Centre county, Penn., February 3, 1796. In their fam- ily were the following children: Margaret, Will- iam, Susan, James, Mary, Ellen, Joseph, Maria, Philip, Jane, Nancy and Ebenezer. By trade the grandfather was a farmer and weaver. The parents of our subject were married in Centre county, where they spent their remaining days. By occupation the father was a farmer, carpen- ter and lumberman, and at the time of his death was operating a water sawmill in Worth town- ship. He was Democratic in politics, served in several local offices, and held membership in the Baptist Church, to which his wife also belonged. He died in May, 1856.

The mother of our subject was born in Union county, Penn., December 22, 1819, and was a daughter of Adam and Mary (Scherfler) Wagner, who were born and married in Union county. where they remained until 1829, when they took up their residence in Worth township, Centre county, and there spent their last days. They were of German extraction, and the parents of the following children: Catherine, Sarah, Mary. Leah, Eliza, Margaret, Jane, John and Nancy. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Will- iams married John G. Jones, who was born in Centre county in May, 1821, and is now a resi- dent of Port Matilda, where he is engaged in shoemaking. In early life he engaged in mer- chandising. lumbering and the manufacture of tile. Living with him is Margerie B., the only child born of the second union of the mother of our subject. She passed away September 5. 1896, leaving many friends as well as her im- mediate family to mourn her death.

Albert Y. Williams was nine years of age when he became a resident of Port Matilda, and for seven years attended its schools, acquiring a good practical education. At the age of eighteen he left home, and for two years was in the em-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ploy of the Bald Eagle Valley railroad, after which he served an apprenticeship in the flouring mills of Irwin Brothers at Curwensville, Clear- field county, operated by William D. Smith. Eight months later Mr. Smith bought the Union- ville flouring mill, and our subject accompanied him to that place, remaining in his employ until May, 1870. The following two years he worked in a mill at Grahamton, Penn., and then came to the mill of which he is now proprietor, pur- chasing the same in May, 1886. Being a prac- tical and skilled miller, he has met with a well- deserved success in his operations, receiving a liberal share of the public patronage, and the quality of flour turned out is of a most superior grade. commanding the highest market price.

On July 2, 1871, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Delilah McDowell, and they have nine children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Abbie M., June 15, 1872; Margaret B., November 19, 1873; John M., October 16, 1875; Florence E., December 23, 1877; Edith W., February 12, 1880; Mabel E., September II, 1882; Edgar W., January 29, 1885; Belva L., August 5, 1888; and Blake, December 29, 1891. All are still at home with the exception of Abbie M., the eldest, who is now the wife of Rev. J. C. Young, of Three Springs, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania.

A native of Clearfield county, Mrs. Williams was born June 20, 1851, in Graham township, a daughter of David and Maria (Snell) McDow- ell, who were born in the same county and died in Graham township, the former in August, 1870, aged fifty-four years, and the latter in 1893, aged seventy-six. He was a man of great promi- nence, a farmer and lumberman by occupation, and held several official positions of honor and trust in his township. He voted with the Demo- cratic party, and in religious belief he and his wife were Methodists. In their family were six

children, namely : Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Heinhart, a farmer of Clearfield county; John, who resides on the old homestead in that county; Sarah, wife of James Little, an agriculturist of Clearfield county; Margaret, who died in infancy; Eliza J., wife of E. Bush, a farmer of Clinton county, Penn .; Catherine, wife of Jolin Powell, a farmer of Clearfield county; and Delilah, the worthy wife of our subject.

Mr. Williams uses his right of franchise in support of the principles and candidates of the Republican party, and has most creditably served as school director, auditor, and overseer of the poor for the past eight years. His life has been a success owing to his own perseverance, industry and good management, and his career is illus-

trative of the fact that certain actions are fol- lowed by certain results. Honorable and up- right in all his dealings he justly deserves the high regard in which he is universally held. With the Methodist Episcopal Church he and his wife hold membership, and their standing in so- cial circles is high .-

'OHN BARNES. The history of the able and energetic men who have participated in the development of this section will always hold a deep interest, and the subject of this sketch, a well-known coal operator residing at Philipsburg, Centre county, is a notable example of success- ful effort. Like many of the best financiers and business men of the country, Mr. Barnes comes of English stock, his family having been estab- lished in Lancashire, England, for many genera- tions. . The authentic records go no farther back than to the grandfather. James Barnes, and in his life we find a romance which parallels the most beautiful dreams of fiction. He and his wife were born on the same day of the same month, but the grandmother a year later than the grandfather. They were married upon one anniversary of their birth, and died on another anniversary of their birth. From the time of their marriage they had never been separated for a single day and night, and their mutual sympa- thy was so remarkable that each shared pain felt by the other. On the day of their death they lay side by side, and after the devoted wife breathed her last the children attempted to re- move the lifeless body, but the husband waved his hand as a signal that they should not disturb it, and eighteen minutes later his soul had fol- lowed hers to the vast unknown. They were seventy-five and seventy-four years old respect- ively.

This couple reared a large family of children, among whom was a son, John, our subject's fa- ther, who became a farmer as was his father be- fore him, and lived and died in Lancashire. He married Miss Jennie Hayes, and twelve children were born of their union: James is deceased; Hannah married Edward Riley, and lives in England: Samuel and Lawrence are both living in England; John is our subject; Heury died in Philipsburg; Isabella is the wife of James East- wood, of England; Thomas is a prominent resi- dent of Philipsburg; William resides in England; Alice Ann; Jane married George E. Smith, and also lives in England; Rachel is deceased.

The subject of this sketch was born in March, 1836, and his early years were passed at the old home where he worked upon the farm and in

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the neighboring mines. On coming to America in 1862, he found his first employment at Powel- ton, Penn., in the mines, and after spending about two years in work there and elsewhere, he located permanently at Philipsburg. He had only a few dollars in his pocket, but he had a strong constitution, and his shrewd judgment and high ambitions were supported by untiring energy. He began his career there as a digger in a coal bank, but he had already formed a deter- mination to make his way to wealth, and after a few years he began the more profitable work of clearing away drift on contract. He and his brother Thomas soon acquired a fund which enabled them to begin operating the Cuba mines, and they followed their success there by working the Derby mines and then the Lancashire mines Nos. I and 2, employing 150 men. From this point their progress was rapid, and they are now recognized as leaders in their lines of business. Their experience covers the entire range of min- ing operations, from the hard manual labor of digging to the prospecting and purchase of coal lands.

Mr. Barnes is a prominent member of the Episcopal Church; in his political affiliations he is a Republican. He was married in April, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Pilkington, and their home has been blessed by thirteen children: James conducts a clothing store in Barnesboro along with his brother John; he married Letitia Laffin, and has two children-Edith and Maggie. Mag- gie married R. Miller, of Zanesville, Ohio, and has three children-John, Elizabeth and Mar- garet. Thomas is proprietor of the "Ramsdale House," Philipsburg; he married Martha Alice Ramsdale, and has one child-William John. Jane Anna died at the age of four months. Will- iam lived only one month. Joseph is at home. Alice died at the age of twenty-one years. John conducts a clothing store in Barnesboro, along with his brother James. Mary is at home. Alfred died when eight months old. Harry and George are at home. Arthur died at the age of three months. Despite their many cares, our subject and his wife are models of . physical health and vigor. Mr. Barnes owns valuable real estate in Philipsburg, and, besides his ele- gant home, has built a fine block on Main street.

Mrs. Barnes is also a native of Lancashire. England, and was born September 12, 1845, the daughter of John and Margaret Pilkington. Her father died in England, and when she was seventeen years old she was brought by her mother to America, together with two brothers and a sister. They made their home in Powel- ton, where Mrs. Barnes grew to womanhood.

The mother died at the age of sixty years. The other children were: Joseph, who lives in Kan- sas; Mary E., the wife of Charles Cutshaw, who lives in Illinois; and John, who is deceased.

J OHN D. LONG. In the eye of an American there can be no higher honor than the record of service in the war which established be- yond further question the permanent union of the States, and made the country truly "one and indivisible ". Happily we still have with us many of the veterans of that struggle, and prominent among them is the highly respected citizen of Spring Mills, Centre county, whose name introduces this biography. Mr. Long not only served with distinction himself, his devotion to the cause crippling him by a painful and per- manent injury, but he belongs to a family which sent five sons to the front, and would have sent another had he been old enough.

Mr. Long's family is of German extraction. and his immediate ancestors in this country on both sides were engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, George Long, was born in Berks county, Penn., in 1805, his parents being farmers there of limited means, his youth was spent in agricultural work, except one winter when he worked at the cooper's trade. He was married in his native county to Miss Mary Deck, who was born there in 1807, the daughter of a farmer and a member of a family which is now largely represented in that section. After his marriage George Long settled upon a rented farm in Berks county, but in the spring of 1841 he removed with his family to Centre county. Our subject was then only four years old, but he remembers vividly the journey in a covered wagon such as was commonly used in that early day by travelers. For about five years George Long lived upon a rented farm one and one-half miles northeast of Aaronsburg, and then he removed to a rented farm in Gregg township on the Brush Valley road. His remaining years were passed in that township. He was a small man, and did not at- tain the ordinary limit of three-score years and ten, his death occurring in March, 1864. Mrs. Long, who was of large build, and weighed about 200 pounds, survived him until 1871, making her home with their son, Levi; her remains now rest beside those of her husband in Union ceme- tery. They belonged to the sect known as the River Dunkards, and in accordance with the tenets of that faith Mr. Long refrained from participation in politics, and seldom or never voted. In early years he sympathized with the Demo- cratic party, but after the opening of the Civil

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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war he expressed his hearty indorsement of Re- publican principles. Although he was a most industrious worker he never accumulated any- thing beyond a meager competence. He and his wife reared a large family of children, who in character and standing are a credit to their par- ents. Levi resides in Madisonburg; William, who served in the war as a member of Company D, 148th P. V. I., is now a farmer in Brush Valley; Jacob, a resident of Philadelphia, served in the 205th P. V. I., and being a harness maker by trade was detailed as brigade saddler; Rebec- ca, Mrs. Peter Zeigler, died in Gregg township; Caroline is the wife of H. J. Limbert, of Madi- sonburg; John D. is mentioned more fully below: Henry, who enlisted in Company D, 148th P. V. I., died a soldier's death at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; George, a shoemaker by trade, lives in Stephenson county, Ill .; Mary is the wife of John F. Breon, of Gregg township; Polly (Mrs. Johnson) lives in Kansas; Daniel, who served in Company A, 148th P. V. I., was captured and died in a Southern prison; Jonathan was too young to enlist with his brothers, but his patriotic zeal led him to enter the army during the recon- struction period, when he served in Alabama; Michael resides in Oklahoma; and Lizzie is the wife of George Greninger, of Clinton county, Pennsylvania.

J. D. Long (our subject) was born February 12, 1837, at Stouchsburg, Penn., and his expe- rience in youth was that which the conditions of farmers' life in those days imposed upon the sons of poor and hard-working parents. He remained at home until the age of nineteen, receiving but little schooling and that not of the best, and in the spring of 1856 he went to Spring Mills to learn the carpenter's trade under Michael Nofsker, his wages being $5. 50 per month and board, his washing not being included. After becoming fa- miliar with the details of thetrade he worked two years for Samuel Loose, and was also employed by other carpenters in the locality, but in the spring of 1860 he found similiar work in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he remained until his re- moval, in March, 1861. to Fort Wayne, Ind. There he enlisted, June 14, 1861. in Company C, 15th Ind. V. I. His first battle was at Rich Mountain, West Virginia, only a portion of the 15th Regiment being engaged, and he took part in all the engagements of his regiment until after the battle of Stone River, where he was wounded at 11 A. M. December 31, 1862. His left limb was struck near the ankle by a shell and instantly severed, the bone being splintered alniost to the knee. He spent three weeks and a half in the field hospital and the same length of time in a

hospital at Nashville, when he was sent to Louis- ville and there, on February 24, 1863, he was honorably discharged on account of disability. Before returning to Centre county he visited Ohio and Indiana, but the serious problem of a livelihood confronted him, and as he could no longer follow his trade he decided to become a saddler, his injuries not interfering with that work. Accordingly he went to Petersburg, Hunt- ingdon Co., Penn., in January, 1864, to learn the trade with his brother Jacob. A few months sufficed to give him a knowledge of the business, and in August of the same year he took charge of the shop while his brother joined the army for the final desperate struggle which brought definite victory to the Union cause. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Long moved to Penn Hall and later settled in Spring Mills, continuing his trade suc- cessfully in both places. After a time he en- gaged in mercantile business at Spring Mills, but a few years ago he retired, leaving his store to the care of his son. A goodly competence has rewarded his efforts; he owns 144 acres of land in George's Valley, and a comfortable residence which he built for himself at Spring Mills; another dwelling house which he built there was sold.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 67

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