Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 69

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 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 69

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H' ENRY WHITELEATHER, who is en- gaged in general farming in Marion town- ship, Centre county, is a gentleman whose well- known devotion to all the duties of public and private life has made him a valued citizen of the community. He has been prominently connected with the political and agricultural interests, and his upright career has won for him the unqual- ified regard of many friends.

Mr. Whiteleather was born in Gregg town- ship, Centre county, February 19, 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Frazier) White- leather, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Centre county. The grandfather. Andrew Whiteleather, lived in Maryland until after the death of his wife, and in 1830 he accompanied his son Jacob to Pennsylvania. The latter established a home in Marion town- ship, on the farm where our subject now resides. and continued to make it his place of abode until 1879. He died in February, 1885, at the age of seventy-six years: his wife passed away in December, 1873. at the age of seventy-three years. They were members of the Reformed Church. and in politics he was a Democrat. Their children were: Elizabeth, who married Elias Mosier, and after his death wedded Levi Long, who is now living retired in Centre county ; Julian Nicholas, a grading gardener and farmer of Centre county; David, deceased; Amos, of Williamsburg, Blair Co., Penn. ; and Henry, of this review.

Henry Whiteleather was reared to farmi life. and worked for his father until twenty-four years of age. He was then married in Centre county,

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April 3, 1866, to Miss Catherine E. Dorman, who was born in Union county, Penn., in January, 1848. Her parents, Louis and Catherine (Den- nis) Dorman, were natives of Union county, and came to Centre county in 1856, since which time they have been residents of Penn's Valley. Their children are: John, a farmer of Nittany Valley; Sarah, wife of John Orendorf, a farmer of Centre county; Peter, who is living retired in Illinois; Rebecca, widow of George Geiswhite, of Centre county; Mary, wife of Henry Snavely, a resident farmer of Centre county; Lavina, wife of John Geiswhite, an agriculturist and shoe- maker of the same county; Lida, wife of John Confer, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Millheim; Vietta, wife of Newton Hess, a farmer of Centre county; Catherine E. (Mrs. White- leather) and David; who is living on the old home- stead in Penn's Valley.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Whiteleather are as follows: Emma J. (at home), John F. (a lumberman of Centre county), Sarah L. (at home), Jacob (who is also engaged in the lumber business), William H., Catharine E., Clara R., Mary A. and Rosie B.

Upon his marriage, Mr. Whiteleather rented a farm in Gregg township, where he remained for five years. After he left his home his parents broke up housekeeping and went to live with him. On his removal from Gregg township, he located in Brush Valley, Centre county, where he remained for eight years, and on the expira- tion of that period he rented of his father his present home. Seven years later, in connection with his brother Amos, who now resides in Will- iamsburg, Penn., he purchased the old home- stead, which they have since operated. He is a progressive, enterprising agriculturist, and his capable management of affairs has brought to him success. He gives his political support to the Democracy, and on that ticket has been elected to the office of supervisor two terins, and to the office of tax collector. He has also served as school director, and is deeply interested in edu- cation and all movements calculated to prove of public benefit. He belongs to the Reformed Church, and is a highly respected citizen, whose upright career commends him to the confidence of all.

G EORGE W. LONG is now practically living a retired life at Eagleville, Centre county, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His has been a long and busy career with little time for idleness, and through his own untiring efforts he has succeeded in accumulating a competence

which enables him to lay aside business cares, though to some extent he still engages in the ex- press business. The money that he had suc- ceeded in saving he now has out on interest.

On January 27, 1833, Mr. Long was born in Bucks county, Penn., and is a son of Jacob and Ann (Van Horn) Long, natives of Selins Grove, Snyder county, and Yarleyville, Penn., respect- ively. Both died in Harrisburg, Penn., the for- mer in 1876, aged eighty years, and the latter in 1871, aged seventy-six. Throughout his business career the father served as superintendent of a tannery. In their family were the following children: Joseph, a brick manufacturer of Ohio; George W., of this review; Lewis, who was killed in 1882, when in the employ of a railroad company; Jerome B., a brick maker of Harris- burg, Penn .; Jacob, who died in 1886; and Mar- garet. who is living in Harrisburg. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Juliet Long, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Little York, Centre Co., Penn .. where the grandfather located at an early day and engaged in merchandising and milling on Penn creek. The maternal grandfather. Joseph Van Horn, was of English extraction.

George W. Long remained with his parents until twenty-six years of age, during which time he obtained a fair common-school education, and worked at brick-making in Harrisburg. In 1852 he came to Eagleville, though he did not locate permanently there until 1858. For a number of years he spent the winter seasons in lumber woods, while through the summer he was en- gaged in boating, owning three good vessels. On September 25, 1858, in Howard, Centre county, he was married to Miss Jane R. Courter. and to them were born eight children, namely: William, weigher and shipper, of Homer. Centre county; Edward, who died when young; George, who died at the age of eleven years; Albert, a resident of Johnsonville, Penn .; Charles and Eldra, engineers of that city; Minnie U., who is with her parents, and is serving as organist of a Church: and Joseph H., who is also with his parents.

Mrs. Long was born in Liberty township, Centre county, where her parents, Abraham and Nancy (Rogers) Courter, who were of English descent, had located at an early day. Both died in Eagleville, where the father had worked as a laborer. His parents, Abraham and Elizabeth Courter, were natives of Lycoming county, Penn .. and became pioneer settlers of Centre county. where they spent the last years of their lives. Michael and Susan Rogers, the maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Long, were of Scotch-Irish de-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

scent. The family of Abraham Courter and wife, were as follows: William, a shoemaker of Eagleville; Lucinda, a widow of Hiram Spang- ler, and a resident of Eagleville; Peter, deceased; Charles, who died in 1890; Mary A., widow of Andy Kline, of Bloomsburg, Penn .; Jane E., wife of our subject; Lidda, wife of John W. Long, a fariner of Clinton county, Penn .; Re- becca, wife of Nathan Minnick, a miner of Wilkes Barre, Penn .; David, who died in infan- cy; and one who died unnamed.

In 1864, Mr. Long enlisted in Company B. IIth P. V. I., under Capt. Ben Haines, and at the battle of the Wilderness was shot through the right leg. He was then confined in the hospital at Chester Hill, Philadelphia, until No- vember, 1864, when he rejoined the command at Petersburg, but two weeks later became ill, though he remained with his regiment. At the battle of Five Forks, in 1865, he was shot through the left hip joint, and was confined in the hospitals at Alexandria and Washington until honorably discharged in June, 1865. On return- ing to his home in Eagleville, he became fore- man in a sawmill, where he was employed dur- ing the summer, working in the woods for two winters. In 1878 he purchased a boat which he ran on the river, and later handled coal and en- gaged in general freighting at Eagleville. A straightforward, honorable business man, he won the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact, and in his declining years is en- joying the reward of a well-ordered life. He is a stalwart Republican in politics, and fraternally is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America.

J OHN T. LUCAS, who is prominently identi- fied with the commercial and industrial in- terests of Centre county, is pre-eminently a self-made man. He began life with a definite purpose in view, worked faithfully, honestly and with a will for its accomplishment, and is now enjoying a comfortable competency. He is now the efficient and popular postmaster of Moshan- non, where he is also engaged in general nier- chandising, operates both a saw and flouring mill, and is interested in the lumber business. He is a man of good executive ability, fair and honorable in all his dealings, and has thus gained a liberal share of the public patronage.

Mr. Lucas was born at the Eagle Iron Works, Centre county, September 9, 1842, a son of William H. and Margaret (Bathurst) Lucas, also natives of Centre county, where the father

worked at his trades of a mill and wheel wright throughout life. The family was founded in America by Benedict Lucas, a native of Ireland, who located in Pennsylvania, where his son, Charles, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born. The grandparents, Joseph and Abbie (McMullen) Lucas, were both natives of Centre county, where they spent their entire lives. Henry and Margaret (Tate) Bathurst, the ma- ternal grandparents, were born in England, but at an early day came to the United States and located in Centre county, as did also the great- grandfather, Lawrence Bathurst, who was disin- herited for aiding the Colonies in the Revolu- tionary war.

Our subject is the eldest of five children, the others being: Margaret, who died in infancy; Nelson, who is in the Pension Department at Washington, D. C .; Andrew J., a retired ma- chinist of Altoona, Penn .; and William H .. a farmer of Snow Shoe township, Centre county. The mother of these children died in 1852, at the age of twenty-eight years, and the father afterward wedded Mrs. Elizabeth ( Price) Wat- son, who now resides in Milesburg, Centre coun- ty. He died in 1876, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a firm Democrat in politics. and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also the mother of our subject.

During his boyhood and youth John T. Lucas attended the local schools and assisted his father in his work, remaining with him until September. 1861, when he enlisted iu Company D, 45th P. V. I., under Capt. Curtin, for three years' serv- ice. He participated in many important battles and skirmishes, including those of Fredericks- burg, Vicksburg, Jackson (Miss.), Blue Springs, the siege of Knoxville, and the battle of the Wilderness, where he was wounded in the right shoulder. May 6, 1864, but remained with his company, though for two months he was unable for active service. On the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged and re- turned home, where lie was employed in the iron works with his father until his marriage, June 16, 1866, in Huntingdon county, Penn., to Miss Annie P. Isenberg. To them were born eleven children, as follows: Edith L., at home: Harry, who died at the age of twenty years; Clyde C., a merchant of Clearfield county, Penn., who married Minnie Edmond, of Chicago: Carrie E., John F., James W., Clarence T. and Anna I., who are with their parents; Marion, who died in infancy, and Jennie M. and Albert C., at home.

Mrs. Lucas was born in Emlenton, Venango Co., Penn., December 25, 1843, a daughter of

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Daniel and Caroline T. (Taxis) Isenberg, natives of Huntingdon and Centre counties, respectively, who removed to Emlenton shortly after their marriage, which was celebrated in Venango coun- ty. On coming to Centre county in 1870, they located at Milesburg, where they remained until 1884, when they removed to Moshannon. The father, who was born in March, 1815, died in Moshannon, February 6, 1893. He was a cooper by trade, a Republican in politics, and a consist- ent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belongs. She was born August 15, 1820, and now finds a pleasant home with our subject. Their family consisted of two daughters: Annie P., and Jennie E., wife of William Lucas, a brother of our subject.

The Isenberg family was founded in the New World by Amick Isenberg, a native of Germany, whose son, George, was born in Huntingdon county, Penn., and married Anna Wise, also a native of that county, where they made their home upon a farm throughout life. They were the paternal grandparents of Mrs. Lucas, while her maternal grandparents were John B. and Jane (Stump) Taxis, natives of Germany, but who were married in Centre county, where the grandfather worked at his trade of cabinet mak- ing. In their family were the following children: Joanna married John Mim, but both are now de- ceased; Mrs. Isenberg is next in order of birth; Penniah married John Cripps, and after his death wedded John McGwin, a stone mason of Indiana county, Penn .; Priscilla, deceased, was three times married; Gideon is a retired cabinet maker of Joliet, Ill., and has served as circuit clerk of his county; John B. is a practicing physician of Gardner, Ill .; Maria wedded Hugh Carson, but both are now deceased; Irene married John Eck- ler, and after his death wedded William Dunlay, a merchant of Pepin county, Wis .; and Harriet married William Eckler, and after his death wedded L. Place, a farmer of Wisconsin.

After his marriage, Mr. Lucas worked in the iron works of McCoy & Linn, and was also em- . ployed in the lumber woods until 1870, when he was appointed assistant superintendent of iron works, which position he continued to fill until 1873. He then served as superintendent of the Curtin works until 1881, in which year he came to Moshannon, where he first operated a. grist- mill. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his business until it has assumed its present extensive proportions and embraces several lines of trade. The success of his life is due to no inherited fortune, or to any happy suc- cession of advantageous circumstances, but to his own sturdy will, steady application, studious hab-

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its, tireless industry and sterling integrity. Mr. Lucas gives his unwavering support to the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and has served his fellow citizens as school director and auditor. In religious faith, he is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church; fraternally, he is affiliated with the Royal Arcanum, belonging to the lodge in Bellefonte. He is a man who has ever been found in the foremost ranks of citizens who are devoted to their country's best interests and to the welfare of their fellowmen, and he well de- serves the high regard in which he is universa ly held.

JOHN J. ORNDORF, of Haines township. Centre county, is a progressive and well-to-do

agriculturist, and a citizen of recognized in- fluence in political, social and business life. His ancestors were among the early settlers of that locality, and he has the distinction of occupying the same farm on which his father, grandfather and great-grandfather lived. The family must have been established in this State at a very early period, as the great-grandfather. John Orndorf, was a farmer and storekeeper in Berks county during the Revolutionary war. He came to Centre county and settled on the old homestead near Woodward about 1790, becoming owner of an extensive tract of land, and passing his re- maining days in agricultural pursuits.

One of his children, Henry, our subject's grandfather, remained at the homestead and mar- ried a Miss Hess, by whom he had seven chil- dren, only one of whom, Samuel, is now living: Henry was a carpenter at Jacksonville, in the Nittany Valley; Betsy married Mr. Kleckner, a farmer of Union county, Penn .; Catherine never married; John, a carpenter and farmer in Centre county, died when seventy-seven years old; Samuel, a carpenter, of near Woodward, Centre county, is still living, now eighty-eight years old; Benjamin was a farmer and carpenter in the same locality; and David, our subject's father, lived and died on the old homestead.

David Orndorf was a man of good native abilities, but his education was limited to an attendance of a few months each winter during boyhood at the Vonada school. Choosing farin- ing as his occupation, he made his start in life by purchasing from the other heirs, after the father's death, sixty-five acres of land, including the old homestead with the first house that was bilt there. The land was then held at $35 an acre. He made many repairs and improvements, and added more land until at the time of his death. May 8, 1876, he had 249 acres under cultivation

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and a large amount of forest land. He was a Democrat in politics, and a leading member of St. Paul's Reformed Church, two miles west of Woodward. His wife was Miss Catherine Morti- mer, of Pottsville, and five children were born to them, our subject being the eldest. William died near Woodward in 1887, leaving a widow. Isaac is a farmer in Haines township, Centre county. Alice married Isaiah Boob, a farmer of Union county, Penn .; Alfred, a graduate of State College, became insane from overstudy, and is now in an asylum.

The subject of this biography was born on the old homestead, August 18, 1847, and re- ceived his education at the Vonada school dur- ing boyhood, attending until the age of twenty, with the exception of two years lost on account of sickness. On leaving school he assisted his father until his marriage, on April 3, 1866, to Miss Sarah L. Dorman. He then settled upon a farm two miles north of Woodward, belonging to his uncle John, and remained there seventeen years. In 1885 he removed to the old home- stead, and now owns 136 acres of fine farming land with a good-sized tract which is yet uncul- tivated. Mr. and Mrs. Orndorf have had seven children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Charles, August 21, 1867, is at home; Susannah, October 28, 1868, married Warren Hosterman, and resides near Woodward; Louis D., January 8, 1872, postmaster at Woodward, married .Miss Lydia Weaver, and has one child, Ray; Catharine A., twin to Louis D., married John Hosterman, and. lives near Woodward; Howard B., February 28, 1876, died at the age of twenty; Anna R., March 20, 1877, and Sadie L., April 20, 1885, are at home.

Mr. Orndorf is a man whose advice is sought by his acquaintances upon business and legal matters, his sound judgment making him a leader in the community. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and also belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America at Woodward, and to the Patrons of Husbandry, Goodwill Grange No. 1030. As a Democrat he is intlu- ential and active, and has repeatedly held office in his township.

J OHN ROSSMAN. The life of this gentle- man, who is now living retired in Gregg town- ship, Centre county, is a striking example of what can be accomplished by perseverance and industry, when guided by sound judgment. He has had a somewhat remarkable experience in his struggle with the world. In addition to being thrown upon his own resources at a tender

age, he has been the victim of misplaced confi- dence and treachery in business practices where his kind-heartedness induced him to help others.

Mr. Rossman was born in Walker township, Nittany Valley, Centre county, September 22, 1827, of which county his father, John Rossman, was also a native, while his grandfather, Henry Rossman, was a German by birth. The last named was a highly educated man, who taught school in Rebersburg in early life, and later became a licensed minister of the Reformed Church. He was one of the pioneer preachers of this section, known far and near, and would ride from charge to charge on horseback. His death occurred at The Loop, in Potter township, Centre county, when in his eightieth year.

John Rossman, Sr., was the eldest in the family of four sons and three daughters, and during. his boyhood he learned the weaver's trade, which was a more profitable business in those days than at the present time. In Walker town- ship he married Miss Sarah, a daughter of Philip and Margaret (Brown) Walker, and in 1833, with his family, he started for East Germantown, Ma- rion Co .. Ind. The journey was made in covered wagons, the covers for which he wove, and they cooked their meals along the road and slept in the wagons. On arriving at his destination, Mr. Rossman was not pleased with the prospects; the climate did not agree with him, and in the follow- ing spring he was taken ill and died, and his re- mains were interred at East Germantown. In politics he was a Democrat.

At the death of the father, the mother was left with eight children to care for among stran- gers. Subsequently her father came for the fam- ily, and they returned to Pennsylvania, where she purchased a home near the junction in Nit- tany Valley, and kept the two younger children with her, while the others were sent out to make their own way in the world. They were as fol- lows: Henry, a carpenter, who died in Nittany Valley; Elias, also a carpenter, who died in that place; Nancy, widow of Reuben Loveland, and a resident of Yankeetown, Nittany Valley; Sarah, who married Daniel Wolf, and died in Mill Hall. Clinton county; John, subject of this sketch; George, a carpenter of Stephenson county, Ill. ; Jane, who married Thomas Shook, and died at Washington Furnace, Penn .; and David, a resi- dent of Potter township. The mother passed away at The Junction at the age of seventy-tive. years, and was laid to rest in the Snydertown cemetery. In early life she was a member of the Reformed Church, but later united with the Evangelical Association.

For two years after the return of the family

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from Indiana John Rossman lived with his uncle, Isaac Walker, in Nittany Valley. Robert Smith was his guardian; but at the age of eight years he was hired out for his board and clothes to Jonas Pauley, whose home was distant one mile from Penn Hall, near Brush mountain. With him our subject remained until attaining his ma- jority, during which time he was allowed to attend school for only six months. He worked on the farm of his employer, and when not em- ployed in this way was given the privilege of learning the trade with Mr. Pauley, who was a shoemaker. When his term of bondage had ex- pired he worked for his preceptor for three years at $10 per month, with the exception of one month during the harvest season, at which time he worked in the fields, where he could earn fifty cents per day. Being economical. during the first year he succeeded in saving $100. He next worked at his trade by the piece for two years, which was more profitable.

While thus employed, Mr. Rossman was married in Gregg township, October 2, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Ziegler, who was born in that township February 19, 1832, the ninth in order of birth in the family of thirteen children born to Peter and Barbara (Walterparger) Ziegler. Her father, a farmer by occupation, was a native of York county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Rossman have four sons: Josiah C., born May 10, 1856, and Lewis E., born February 6, 1859, are both residents of Gregg township; Howard F., born March 7. 1862, has a store in Spring Mills; and Harvey D., born May 16, 1863, is a farmer of Gregg township. With them resides a grand- child, Alverta M. (the daughter of Josiah), who was born April 9, 1878, and has made her home with them since two years of age.

Upon his marriage, Mr. Rossman rented a house and lot in Brush Valley, Gregg township. until 1853, when he purchased a farm, shop and home of sixty acres of Mr. Pauley, where he lived for fifteen years. In 1868, in partnership with Edward Houtz, he bought 304 acres, of which he has 168 acres in the same township, and upon his share erected all the buildings. He continued to follow agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he built his present comfortable res- idence on the same place, and has since lived retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. In politics he has always been a Democrat, but not strictly partisan, and has creditably filled the positions of tax collector, overseer of the poor, school di- rector thirteen years, and supervisor five years, being for twenty consecutive years an office holder. Earnest and conscientious Christians, he and his wife are active members of the Re-

formed Church, in which he has served as dea- con and elder, and delegateto Classes twice, and delegate to the General Synod at Akron, Ohio. They enjoy the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances, who esteem them highly for their sterling worth and many excellent traits of character.

TOHN NEWLIN HALL. The subject of this sketch stands second to none among the prominent agriculturists of Howard township. Centre county, and his record it has been deemed wise to preserve in this manner for the perusal of the coming generation. As a judicious tiller . of the soil he has met with success, and as a man and citizen he holds a good position among his neighbors. He is also one of the honored pio- neers of the township, in whose development and progress he has borne an active part. A practi- cal and skillful hunter, for forty years during its early history, he engaged in hunting and trap- ping with remarkable success, having killed many buffaloes, bears, deer. wild-cats, panthers, etc .. and trapping one of the only two black wolves ever caught in the county.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 69

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