Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 73

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 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 73

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William Weber, the youngest son, also a member of the firm, was born December 4, 1870. and received his education in part at the com- mon schools, in part at a business college in Lock Haven, at which he graduated July 15. 1887. On December 8, 1891, he married Blanche Estella Hensyl, eldest daughter of Dr. L. R. Hensyl, of Howard, and to them has been born one child, Dorothy Elizabeth. Although he is a Democrat, and the town council always very strongly Republican, that body elected him the clerk of the council three years in succession, and also elected him borough treasurer three years in succession, which position he now holds.

G EORGE B. SIMLER, SR. The merited and fitting reward of a well-spent life, and active business career, is an honored retirement in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. For many years this gentleman was prominently con- nected with the business interests of Philipsburg, but in 188t he laid aside all care, and is now resting from his labors in a comfortable home, which was acquired through his own efforts. He

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is widely and favorably known in Centre county. and his name occupies a high place on the roll of leading and influential citizens.

The first of the Simler family of which there is any authentic record is John Henry Simler. a native of Germany, who became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, enlisting in France, in 1780, as a private in Capt. Bart's corps of the first troops of Light Dragoons, Free Legion, under command of Col. Armand. On arriving at Bos- ton, Mass., the troops proceeded to Yorktown, Va., and in the memorable siege and capture of that place Mr. Simler took part, it being taken by the United forces of America and France. He remained in the service until regularly discharged at. Philadelphia. At Yorktown he had received wounds in the left eye and forehead from a sabre which is now in the possession of our subject, and the scars he carried to his grave. On the termination of the war he located at Philadel- phia, where he married, and two children were born: George and Sarah. His first wife died of yellow fever in 1793, and four years later he was again married. By this union he also had two children, Charles and Mrs. Sarah A. Cow- fer. Later John H. Simler migrated to Philips- burg, Centre county, where he erected the first house, and worked at his trade of shoemaking. Here his daughter married and continued to make her home until her death. In Philipsburg his wife died in 1822, and two years later, when his son George brought a flock of sheep to Centre coun- ty, he was persuaded by him to return to Phila- delphia, where his death occurred, October 14, 1829.

With his father, Charles Simler had come to Philipsburg, by ox-team, in 1797, and here in February, 1814, he had married Sallie Morrow, a native of Bellefonte, and a daughter of John Morrow, who was one of the early settlers of Centre county. To this worthy couple were born eleven children, as follows: John D., born March 9, 1815, conducted a bakery in Philips- burg, where he died February 2, 1875; Jane, born December 1, 1816, married Franklin R. Street, now deceased, and died .in November, 1895; J. Henry, born Angust 2, 1820, died in Philadelphia; George B., born August 2, 1820, is the subject of this sketch; S. Annie, born July 24, 1822, married John Huston, now deceased, and she died in 1844; Charles, born November 10, 1824, was a carpenter of Philadelphia, where his death occurred December 28, 1889; William B., born April 15, 1827, a painter by occupa- tion, was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and came to Philipsburg in 1864, where he died July 19, 1874; Theodore, born May 26, 1832, is

a brass fitter of Philadelphia; Margaret, born March 9, 1835, is the widow of Alex Adams, and resides in Chester Hill, Penn .; and Mary A., born November 26, 1837, died when young. In 1825, with our subject, the father returned to Philadelphia, his native city, where he passed away May 7, 1845, at the age of fifty-four years.

George B. Simler remained under the pa- rental roof until twenty-seven years of age. His early education was rather limited, and at the age of seventeen years he began serving an ap- prenticeship to the carpenter's trade with William Cobb, a contractor and builder of Philadelphia, receiving $40 and board per year. On attaining his majority he started out as a journeyman, and was thus employed until twenty-eight years of age, when he was appointed a policeman of Philadelphia, which position he acceptably filled for eighteen years. Returning to Philipsburg. he here engaged in the express business until 1881, since which time he has lived retired, his son, George B., now conducting the business.

On May 6, 1847, in Philadelphia, Mr. Simler was married to Miss Amanda Carpenter, and to them were born nine children .: (1) Harry, born February 25, 1848, married Ellen Tarr, by whom he had thirteen children, three now deceased: he is a constable of Philipsburg. (2) Charles L., born April 27, 1850, died September 26, 1853. (3) Sallie, born June 25, 1852, is the wife of Albert Jackson, a machinist of Johnstown, Penn. (4) John, born June 8, 1855, died when young. (5) George B., born December 13, 1857, is en- gaged in the express business in Philipsburg. (6) Hester, born January 12, 1861, died in in- fancy. (7) William N., born August 15, 1864, married Lizzie G. Osler, by whom he had two children, Charles Albert and Mary Estella (the wife and one child are deceased); he is an expert taxidermist, and a resident of Philipsburg. (S) Susannalı A., born February 13. 1867, is the wife of William Cronover, a carpenter of Philips- burg, by whom she has one son, Clarence. 9)

Jacob R., born May 4, 1871, is also a taxider- mist. With the exception of George B. and Jacob R., who were born in Philipsburg, the other children were all born in Philadelphia.

Mrs. Simler is also a native of Philadelphia. her birth occurring April 8, 1829. There her parents, Conrad and Hester (Sowers) Carpenter. spent their entire lives, the former dying August 2, 1867, at the age of seventy, and the latter on May 12, 1886, at the age of seventy-five years, In their family were the following children: Con- rad (deceased); Amanda, wife of our subject; William, a motorman on the street cars of Phil- adelphia; John (deceased), Andrew J. and Martin

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V. (twins), who died when young; Elizabeth and Mary. who died in childhood; John N., a detect- ive of Philadelphia; Wilhelmina, also a resident of that city; and George and Jacob, who died in childhood. The father of this family was a butcher by trade. He was a son of Benjamin and Margaret (Miller) Carpenter, natives of Eng- land and Germany, respectively. The former was a cooper, and a member of the Society of Friends. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Simler, William and Hester (Miley) Sowers, were also natives of Germany, and when quite young came to Philadelphia, where the grand- father followed the butcher's trade.

Mr. Simler is one of the honored pioneers of Philipsburg, with whose interests his family have been identified since the very beginning of the city, and have been important factors in its up- building and advancement. When he first went to Philadelphia with his father in 1825, the jour- ney through the almost unbroken wilderness re- quired nine days; but all this has since been changed, and now good roads and railroads cross and recross each other all over the country. In politics Mr. Simler is a Republican, and for fifty years has been a member of the I. O. O. F., joining Lodge No. 15 in Philadelphia. He is well known as a man whose integrity is above question, whose word is as good as his bond, and is held in the highest regard by his inany friends and acquaintances. He has filled with honor many offices of trust in Philipsburg; was burgess one term, member of the council two terms, and president of the board. In township matters he was assessor of Rush township two terms. The following inscription is taken from the headstone that marks the last resting place, in the old cem- etery, of our subject's maternal grandmother: "To the memory of Letitia Morrow, who departed this life the 6th of April, A. D. 1833, aged 65 years, 3 months and 6 days."

J OHN C. MOTZ (deceased). On January 17, 1893, there passed away at his hoine in Woodward, Centre county, a man who had for many years been a leader in the development of Penn's Valley, his untiring efforts in the pro- motion of large commercial operations preparing for him an enduring place in the history of that region. Progressive and clear-sighted, his work was of a nature to build up the community while enlarging his own fortune, and his shrewd, ener- getic and forceful management of his varied enterprises commanded the admiration of the public.

Mr. Motz was born June 22, 1832, at the old homestead in Woodward, which had been the residence of two previous generations, his grand- father, John Motz, born in 1758, having been the first settler in that locality, which, in fact. once bore the name of " Motz's Bank." The family to which he belonged was obliged to leave the Fatherland on account of religious persecutions, then so prevalent. The extensive collection of books which he left at his death contained valu- able works on Church. History, Astronomy and other subjects. His wife, Mary (Whitmer), who was born October 9, 1767, was a noble charac- ter, devoted to the care of the sick and feeble of the neighborhood, and was so skillful in this work that her services were esteemed as much as a physician's would have been. In 1786 they moved to the site of Woodward from what is now Snyder county, and spent their remaining years there, the grandfather dying in 1802, and the grandmother on March 13, 1839. They left seven children-three daughters and four sons- the names of the latter being: Jacob, John, George and James.

John Motz, Jr., our subject's father, was born January 6, 1792, and lived and died at the old homestead. He was married December II, 1827, to Elizabeth Fisher, who was born No- vember 1, 1800, at Fisher's Ferry, Northumber- land Co., Penn., and died January 3, 1882. They had three sons and four daughter, viz. : Daniel Alexander, born June 15, 1829, died Oc- tober 1, 1833; John C., our subject; William Henry, born March 13, 1839, died July 22, IS48; Lydia, Sarah C., Catherine A. and Mary Eliz- abeth. One of the daughters, Lydia, married C. H. Gutelius, of Mifflinburg; she was an able and active business woman, and at one time traveled 600 miles by ox-team from Omaha to Denver, where she was successfully engaged in extensive real-estate deals; she died May 4, 1882. Sarah C. married Dr. P. D. Neff, who died at Centre Hall. Catherine A. married Dr. George P. Weaver, late of Hanover, Penn., and now of Philadelphia. Mary Elizabeth, born February 11, 1845, died November 30, 1861.

The common-school system of the present day was in its infancy during the period in which our subject was acquiring his education, but his studies in the local schools were supplemented with a course in the academy at Mifflinburg. At an early age he began to manifest rare business ability, and at twenty he became a merchant at Woodward. As time passed he sought still other fields of activity, operating a gristmill and distillery, and finally purchased the entire estate left by his father. His close attention to busi-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ness, and thorough knowledge and supervision of its details, made success sure, and when an en- terprise was once undertaken he spared no pains in its prosecution. His mill property was im- proved at heavy expense in 1852, and again in 1878 in order to secure the latest machinery and meth- ods. His early success was not won without some sacrifice, however, and after fifteen years he was compelled by impaired health to give up all care for a time. A trip to the Rocky Mount- ains, in 1867, greatly benefited him, and on his return he resumed his accustomed activities, soon embarking in other and larger enterprises.

On March 15, 1872, he, with others, estab- lished the banking house of John C. Motz & Co , at Millheim, of which he was the chief promoter and first president. This position he held for many years, and the bank weathered the finan- cial storms of that time bravely under his judi- cious yet bold management. The failure of Jay Cooke lost for the firm all their Eastern ex- changes; their credit, however, was sustained by paying over their counters thousands of dollars in cash, as the bankers would not wait for the ordinary return by mail, but sent special messen- gers with checks. For many years he was the principal stockholder in the Bellefonte, Aarons- burg and Youngmanstown Turnpike Co., and as its president conducted its affairs to the great advantage of the people of the Valley as well as that of the shareholders. He was one of the capitalists who secured a charter in April, 1879, for the Millheim Turnpike Co., of which he was the heaviest stockholder, and his interests are still retained by his family. He dealt extensively in lumber and grain, and shipped the first carload of grain over the Lewisburg & Spruce Valley Creek railway; and indeed, were we to mention all the enterprises in which he was a leader, we would bring in review all the varied elements of material progess in his locality during his time. No project was broached indicating benefit to the Valley that he did not encourage in a practi- cal and effective way. He left a large estate, comprising several mill properties, extensive tracts of farm and mountain land in this State, valuable real estate in Kansas, Colorado and Iowa, together with stock in gold mines and other interests. As a loyal friend to the best interests of his native village, he gave especial attention to its improvement. He was a royal entertainer, always glad to see his friends, and socially as well as in business circles he was held in high esteem. A stanch Republican, he took great interest in the success of his party, and he 23

was also a liberal supporter of religious work, giving not only of his money but of his time and personal influence. In 1865 he became a mem- ber of the Evangelical Association, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday-school.

On November 14, 1869, Mr. Motz was mar- ried to Miss Maranda A. Reigard, a lady of fine intellectual powers, and gracious womanliness, whose gifts of mind and heart have made their home a social center. They had three sons, who are all taking prominent places in the com- munity, and make a trio of whom any parent would be proud. [Sketches of these will be found elsewhere. ]

Mrs. Motz is a daughter of Dr. Jacob Reigard and his wife, Lucinda Wagner, who are now liv- ing at the age of eighty-six, in the possession of unusual health and vigor. Dr. Reigard prepared for his profession under the guidance of Dr. Big- elow, of Millheim, and began to practice when only nineteen years old, locating at Orangeville. Columbia Co., Penn., where he met and married Lucinda Wagner. Notwithstanding the opposi- tion of the older physicians, he succeeded, his skill in surgery enabling him to perform some opera- tions with which the others were not familiar. Later he moved to Shirleysburg, where he re- mained many years, and then spent twelve years on a farm five miles from the city of Doyle's Ford. There malaria seized him, and after suf- fering from ague for eighteen months he sought a change of air at Woodward, remaining three years. During this time his daughter was wooed and won by Mr. Motz. In 1852 Dr. Reigard and his wife removed to Freeport, Ill., where they now enjoy the rewards of past labors. The Doctor amassed a considerable fortune through his practice and by judicious speculation, and at one time he owned the only gristmill at Freeport.

Mrs. Motz was born May 25, 1835, in Col- umbía county, and was educated in the schools of Shirleysburg, and at a select school in Dan- ville, Penn. She was the first born in a family of ten children: (2) Ira G. died at Shirleysburg. aged eleven years; (3) Francis M., deceased, was a farmier at Freeport. Ill. : (4) Shepherd W. is in the clothing business at Freeport; (5) Amanda M .. deceased, married F. G. Welsh, a machinist at Chicago; (6) Juniata is at home; (7) Mary Belle, who married Mr. Welsh after her sister Amanda's death, is a journalist, and resides at Williamsburg. Kans. ; (8) Louisa A. married R. S. McWilliams, a farmer: (9) Scioto M. died at Freeport, Ill .; and (10) Blanche Eugenia is at home with her parents.

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J. SHULTZ. This highly respected gentle- man, who is one of the most industrious and energetic farmers of Miles township, Centre county, was born in 1857, in Sugar Valley, Clin- ton Co., Penn., and is a son of Jacob and Re- becca (Gramley) Shultz, the latter of whom was a daughter of Christian Gramley. The paternal grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name of Jacob Shultz, disappeared suddenly from home, and has never been heard of since.

The parents were married in Brush Valley, Centre county, whence they removed to Sugar Valley, where two years and a half were passed, and they then, in the spring of 1861, returned to the former place, locating near Rebersburg. The father not only provided for his own maintenance from a very early age, but also helped to support his parents, who were in limited circumstances, so that at the time of his marriage he had only one summer's wages with which to begin life. Being a hard worker and economical, he man- aged to save some capital, which he invested in land, having at the time of his death over 150 acres of good land. There his widow, an ear- nest Chistian woman, still resides. He died at the age of seventy-four years, and was laid to rest in the cemetery of Rebersburg. Like his wife, he was a consistent member of the Luth- eran Church; in politics he was a Democrat. They had nine children, namely: Rebecca, now the wife of George Miller, of Madisonburg, Cen- tre county; J. J., of this sketch; Henry, who died in infancy; Hannah, who died in childhood; Bevie, who died in infancy; Frank and Charles (twins), now farmers of Brush Valley and Sugar Valley, respectively; Annie, wife of Jonathan Shott, of Miles township; and a son, who died in infancy. In addition to rearing his own fam- ily, the father also cared for his widowed mother and brother. He was an honest, straightforward man, whose word was never questioned nor his integrity doubted.

J. J. Shultz was afforded but limited educa- tional privileges, but he made the most of his advantages and learned rapidly, so that he is now a well-informed man. As soon as he was large enough to handle a plow he began work in the fields, and continued to assist in the labors of the home farm until he had reached his twen- ty-seventh year, with the exception of a few days at a time when he would find employment else- where. After he had attained his majority he hired out to his father by the year, and on his marriage his capital consisted of what he had managed to save from his wages. He then lo- cated on the old Smull farm, which his father had purchased, near Kreamerville, and there con-

tinued to reside until coming to his present farm in the spring of 1887. It comprises sixty-seven acres, pleasantly located at Spring Bank, in Miles township, and under his able management has become very productive. He married Miss Sarah J. Bressler, of Brush Valley, and they have two children-Ira E. and Ida M., both at home. Sincere and earnest Christians, the parents are faithful members of the United Evangelical Church, and their genial, courteous manners have attracted to them many warm friends.

Fraternally, Mr. Shultz is connected with the Grange, and in politics he is an earnest advocate of Democratic principles. He has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of election judge and supervisor of his township two terms, but prefers to give his time and attention to his busi- ness interests, in which he is meeting with excel- lent results.

R EUBEN GRIMM, a prosperous retired farm- er residing in Madisonburg, Centre county: is one of the leading citizens of that pleasant little town, and takes an active and helpful place in the life of the community, being especially interested in furthering the work of the Lutheran Church, of which he has been a leading member for many years.

Mr. Grimm was born January 18, 1828, in West Beaver township, Union county, now a part of Snyder county. His father, Daniel Grimm, was born in 1795 in Berks county, Penn., and was the only son of a German settler there, who did not succeed well enough in this new land to give his sons a start in life. Accordingly, Daniel Grimm, seeing the necessity for making his own way, came as a young man to Union county, and began farming and lumbering, in which he made a notable success. He became the owner of two farms and a sawmill, the latter being his chief source of wealth. He married Miss Magdalena Smith, a native of Beaver town- ship, Union county, born in 1795, and they had thirteen children, all of whom are now living: (1) Leah, widow of Edward Kinney, resides at Sel- insgrove, Penn. : Levi, a resident of Marysville, Venango Co., Penn., enlisted from that locality during the Civil war, and lost a leg in the service : Daniel is a retired farmer at Orangeville, Steph- enson Co., Ill. : Catherine married Joseph Shaf- fer, of Walker township, Centre county: Isaac, a bachelor, resides in Orangeville, Ill. : Susan, widow of John Walters, lives near Milesburg, Penn .; Reuben is mentioned more fully below; Mollie (Mrs. Weary) lives in Missouri; Mary. widow of Jacob Nestlerode, resides in Madison-

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burg; Christena married Lewis Pellman, of Har- tleton, Penn .; Adam, a fariner of Cherokee county, Kans., was a soldier in Company A, 148th P. V. I., was taken prisoner and suffered much before released; Louisa married William B. Shaffer, of Walker township, Centre county; John, a farmer in Oklahoma Territory, was a soldier in Company A, 148th P. V. I.

In 1840 our subject's father sold his property and removed to Brush Valley, where he pur- chased, from Jacob Reber, a farm of 150 acres adjoining Madisonburg. Seven wagons, each drawn by four horses, conveyed the family and household goods to their new home via Penn's Valley Narrow, and they arrived at Madisonburg, April 3, 1840. Daniel Grimm followed agricult- ure until 1856, when he rented the farm to our subject and retired to Madisonburg, building a home there for his declining years. He was a shrewd yet honest business man, no speculator, depending upon hard work and judicious manage- ment for his success. His education was entirely practical, but he acquired through observation a goodly fund of information on various subjects. Being opposed to slavery, he was among the first to join the Republican party, having previously been a Whig. At times he held office in the township, serving as school director and super- visor, and although not a politician he never missed a chance to vote. He was very fond of company, and made an annual visit to Snyder county, preferring to go always on foot. In the Lutheran Church, of which he and his wife. were both members, his counsel was held in high es- teem, and he was chosen to various offices, in- cluding those of deacon and elder. His wife died June 2, 1865, he passing away July 23, 1882, and the remains of both now rest at Madi- sonburg.

Reuben Grimm, the subject proper of these lines, was twelve years old at the time of the re- moval to Centre county, and hiseducation, which had been begun in the schools at the old home, was continued in Madisonburg, his first teacher there being William Yearick, who later became a clergyman. His opportunities did not compare with those which a more liberal and judicious policy has placed within the reach of the youth of to-day, and as a farmer's son mnuch of his time was spent in work at home. At eighteen he be- gan to learn the blacksmith's trade at Madison- burg under Edward Hontz, his wages for the first year being $2.00 per month, and for the second and third years, $3.00 per month. For a time after completing his trade he followed it in Zion, but in the spring of 1850 he went to Stephenson county, Ill., and worked at his trade and at farm-

ing for seven months. News came to him of the burning of his father's barn, and he returned home to help in rebuilding it. He spent three years and three months at his trade in Zion, work- ing for a brother-in-law, Joseph Shaffer, and then assisted his father for a year at the old farm. On February 22, 1855, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shaffer, who was born in Miles town- ship, Centre county, July 3, 1835, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Bright) Shaffer. Mr. Grimm's savings at the time amounted to less than $400, but, renting the old homestead from his father, he began farming on his own behalf, and continued successfully for thirty-two years. In 1875 he purchased the farm, and still owns 124 acres of farm land in Brush Valley, with twenty-five acres of timber land in Sugar Valley. In 1888 he removed to Madisonburg, where he owns two lots, on one of which he built a new home, one of the best in the place. Since re- moving to town Mr. Grimm has for four years carried the mail between Madisonburg and Mill- heim, but has not undertaken any other business. Of his two sons, Lewis S. is a jeweler at Leb- anon, Kans., and Charles L. is at home.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 73

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