USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 82
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 82
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 82
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 82
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
395
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
spent the last seven years of his life in retire- ment. He also served as a minister of the River Brethren Church. His faithful wife, who was born November 27, 1825, still survives him, and is a resident of Howard, Centre county.
Mr. Tice uniformly votes the Republican ticket, and in religious faith is a consistent mem- ber of the River Brethren in Christ Church. To such men of progressive and liberal ideas, gener- ous and benevolent in spirit, is Centre county in- debted for its great prosperity.
J JACOB REED, a prominent retired agricult- urist, residing in Aaronsburg, ranks among the leading owners of farm lands in this sec- tion. In these days of selfish monopoly in land it is to his credit that his extensive holdings are all made productive instead of being allowed to lie uncultivated for purely speculative gains. As a shrewd manager and a deservedly successful one, Mr. Reed has found his profits in ways which promote the general good.
Mr. Reed is a native of Centre county, born August 2, 1832, in Haines township, on the same farm land and in the same house where his father, Daniel Reed, was born and reared. Our subject's grandfather, Benjamin Reed, a carpenter, came from Berks county, Penn., at an early day, and as a pioneer farmer secured a tract of excellent land for a permanent home, where five sons and three daughters were trained to lives of useful- ness.
Daniel Reed, who was born in 1802, and was among the youngest of the family, became one of the substantial citizens of the locality, owning two farms in Penn township, two in Haines township, and one in Sugar Valley. He was more than six feet in height, an industrious worker, and ex- celled in the management of his enterprises. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, and in politics a Democrat. He was married in Berks county, Penn., to Miss Elizabeth Tobias, by whom he had six children, of whom, two only lived to adult age; Jacob; and Rebecca, who married Noah Stover, and died in Penn township, Centre county. The father passed away in 1872, his remains being laid to rest at Wolf's school house, and the mother lived to be more than ninety years old, breathing her last September 28, 1886. .
Jacob Reed enjoyed the usual educational ad- vantages of a country boy of his day, and the contrast between his early opportunities and those afforded by our present school system is marked. Realizing the advantage of free educa- tion to the community as well as to the individ- ual, he endorses all efforts for the improvement
of our facilities in that direction. Being the only boy, the work of the farin devolved upon him, as his father became too feeble to carry on his busi- ness, and he always resided at the old homestead until 1886, when he moved to Aaronsburg, and in his turn surrendered the active work of his estates to other hands. He has four farms, 541 acres in all, and still looks closely after their manage- ment, doing the "head work" for them all to a great extent.
In 1866 Mr. Reed was married in Haines township, Centre county, to Miss Lydia Winkel- blech, a native of that township, born June 17, 1843. a daughter of Adam Winkelblech, a well- known farmer, and his wife, Sarah (Fisher). Two children bless this union: Sarah E., Mrs. George M. Homan, of Haines township. Centre county; and Amanda R., Mrs. A. Stover, of Aaronsburg. While Mr. Reed has gained a rep- utation as an able financier, he has not been so closely devoted to business as to neglect public affairs. He is not desirous of official position. but has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran Church.
E ILIAS HANCOCK, a general farmer, and the present efficient superintendent of the Sab- bath-school of Wallace Run, Centre county, now makes his home at that place, where he is suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and also in teaching. He was born in Elk county. Penn .. March 6, 1841, but for many years he has been one of the prominent and representative citizens of Centre county.
James R. and Sarah (Taylor) Hancock, par- ents of our subject. and natives of Bedford and Juniata counties, Penn., respectively, were mar- ried in Elk county, where they continued to re- side until 1866, when they removed to Boggs township, Centre county. Here the mother, who was born March 9, 1806, died in 1867. and the father, who was born June 11, 1802, died in 1876. He was a cooper by trade, following the same in Bedford county, but in Elk county he engaged in farming, and on coming to Centre county lived retired. In early life he was a Whig in politics, later a Republican, and for many years served as supervisor of Fox town- ship, Elk county.
Our subject is one of a family of eleven chil- dren, namely: William T., born August 4, 1824, died when young; Mary, born April 12, 1826, married Jacob Taylor, but both are now deceased; Sarah, born April 9, 1828, is the de-
396
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ceased wife of George Taylor, of Central City, Penn .; James, born August 19, 1830, Josiah, born October 20, 1832, George W., born March 9, 1835, and Elizabeth, born July 20, 1836, are all deceased; Joel, born June 1, 1839, is a farmer of Nebraska; Elias and Eliza (twins) were born March 6, 1841, and the latter is now the wife of James R. Green, of Elk county; and Benjamin F., born October 6, 1843, is deceased.
Until sevetneen years of age, Prof. Hancock assisted in the labors of the farm, but at that time met with a painful accideut. While en- gaged in chopping down a tree with two others, he slipped and fell, his hand going under the axe, which his brother-in-law was just bringing down, his right hand being severed at the wrist, and for three months he was confined to his bed. On his recovery he began teaching in Elk coun- ty, which profession he there followed some eight terms. In the meantime, however, he attended the State Normal College at New York for one term. He has since engaged in teaching in the schools of Centre county, where in the spring of 1896 he finished his fortieth term. For three terms he did not follow the profession, his time being spent as school director, collector and treasurer of the school board. He has proved a mnost competent and able instructor, and holds high rank among the leading educators of the county.
On April 7, 1870, Mr. Hancock was married to Miss Mary E. Taylor, by whom he has two children: Edward R., who was born April 4, 1871, and is now engaged in teaching in Boggs township; and Sarah B., born August 20, 1878, at home. Mrs. Hancock was born July 6, 1843, at Farmers Mills, Centre county, of which coun- ty her parents, Thomas J. and Sarah (Homan) Taylor, were also natives, and there the mother died February 14, 1861, at the age of thirty- nine years; the father, who was born August 2, 1820, now makes his home at Unionville, Penn. For several years during early life he also en- gaged in teaching, later followed clerking, book- keeping and photographing; then conducted a hotel at Unionville; but is now engaged in wear- ing carpets. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in politics is a Democrat, and has held a number of local offices of honor and trust. His parents, George and Mary (Dunlap) Taylor, spent their entire lives in Centre county.
Mrs. Hancock is the eldest in the family, the others being as follows: Sarah E., wife of Charles McGlocklin, superintendent of coal mines in Clearfield county, Penn .; Martha J., wife of Prof. H. Meyer, who was for a time superintend- ent of the schools of Centre county, and now re-
sides at Rebersburg, Penn .; Susan C., who died at the age of five years; and George W., who is engaged in clerking in Bedford county, Penn. The father of these children was twice married, his second union being with Susan Swyers, by whom he has one daughter, Clara B., wife of T. F. Leathers, a government employee in the print- ing department at Washington, D. C.
Prof. Hancock casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has most acceptably filled the offices of sup- ervisor, assessor, assistant assessor, and clerk of his township, holding the last position at the present time. Promptness and fidelity mark the discharge of all duties entrusted to his care, and he has proved a most popular official. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church but attends the United Brethren Church, to which his children belong, while his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. They are earnest, con- sistent Christian people, and the son is contem- plating entering the ministry. They hold a high position in the social circles of the community, have the confidence and respect of all who know them, and hosts of warm friends.
W ILLIAM A. TOBIAS, one of the most prominent citizens of Millheim, Centre county, is a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word. Not only has he won a financial suc- cess through his own efforts, but his excellent practical education has been gained mainly from private study.
Mr. Tobias is a native of Bloomsburg, Co- lumbia Co., Penn., and is a son of Rev. D. S. Tobias, a minister of the German Reformed Church, whose talents and devotion to the cause of religion made him prominent in his day. Reared in a rural community in Berks county, Penn., where he was born March 3. 1804, Rev. Mr. Tobias had but limited educational advan- tages in his youth, and his preparation for his chosen calling was obtained with unusual sacri- fice and effort. His studies in theology were directed by Rev. C. J. Hermann, and in all lines his instruction was in the German language, in which all his preaching was done. His first ser- mon, delivered November 23, 1823, at "the Swamp, " in Lancaster county, Peun., was found- ed upon the first five verses of the 103d Psalm. For a tinie he served as a local preacher in dif- ferent parts of Berks county, and his first settled charge was at Bloomsburg, Columbia county, in 1824. About 1851 he moved to Rebersburg, Centre county, where he died October 29, 1864,
1
1
397
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
.
in his sixty-first year. He was a small man, weighing about a hundred pounds, and was never robust physically, yet his mental powers were of an unusually high order. He lived comfortably, but never accumulated much property. In the course of his active service in the ministry he preached 4, 500 regular sermons, officiated at 750 funerals, 657 confirmations and 576 marriages. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.
On February 9, 1824, Rev. Tobias was mar- ried in Berks county to Miss Elizabeth Fisher, a native of that county, born July 3, 1802. She sur- vived him many years, living for more than twen- ty-five years in the home of our subject, where she breathed her last October 13, 1891, in her ninetieth year. The mortal remains of this worthy couple now rest in the cemetery at Aaronsburg, Centre Co., Penn. Their children were ten in number, the names with dates of birth being as follows: Methusalem, February 16, 1825, died in infancy; John F., January 28, 1827, was a physician at Sedalia, Mo., where he died; Silisa S., August 9, 1828, is the widow of P. E. Bomboy, of Espy, Columbia Co., Penn .; Calvin J. R., September 29, 1830, is a railway engineer residing in Keene, N. H .; William A., January 10, 1833, is mentioned more fully be- low; Andrew J., February 13, 1835, resides in Almedia, Columbia county; Amelia, September 24, 1837, married John H. Auman, of Mill- heim; Snyder D., August 1, 1840, died at Mill- heim, January 30, 1894; Elizabeth A., June 19, 1845, married Henry Miller, of Millheim; and Lewis C., July 17, 1848, resides in the same town.
Mr. Tobias, our subject, first attended the public schools of Bloomsburg, which were by no means equal to those of the present. His un- fortunate deprivation of suitable opportunities for an education has deeply impressed upon him the need of better schools in which all children may find thorough instruction. By diligent use of such means as lay within reach, he prepared for teaching, and in 1858 he took charge of a school in Haines township, Centre county, known as " Fowler's School," at $20 per month, not in- cluding board. This school was very small in numbers, the average being about five. While there he began to chew tobacco to put in the time, which hung heavily. He had already learned the harness maker's trade under Alexan- der Best, at Danville, Penn., but after serving a portion of his term of apprenticeship he became so proficient that he began work as a journey- man. In the early part of 1861, he was local editor, foreman, pressman, devil and carrier, of the Berwick Gasette, a weekly paper published
by A. B. Tate, at Berwick, Columbia Co., Penn- sylvania.
On October 21, 1861, Mr. Tobias enlisted at Bloomsburg, in Company D, 84th P. V. I., with Capt. Alexander G. Frick. His first battle was at Hancock, Md., and his second at Winchester, Va. He was in Banks' retreat from Winchester to Williamsport, Md., and after that event he came home for a short time. Soon after rejoin- ing the regiment at Washington, D. C., he was taken ill and sent to the hospital at Washington, D. C., from there to York, Penn., and Octo- ber 23, 1862, he was discharged at Baltimore, Md., on a surgeon's certificate of disability. He returned to Centre county, and for thirteen years was engaged in teaching during the winter sea- sons, chiefly the schools of Rebersburg, three terms, and those of Clinton county, also three terms, his vacations being devoted to other work. His last term of school was in Boggs township, Centre county, winter of 1874, where he received $45 per month. In the fall of 1875 he was elected County Recorder of Deeds of Centre county for three years, and re-elected in 1878. Before his term expired he was appointed by the president judge of the court, C. A. Mayer, to make a new index for miscellaneous papers and deeds and mortgages of Centre county, which occupied his time for a year, two clerks helping him. In 1876 he moved to Bellefonte in order to discharge conveniently the duties of the office of County Recorder of Deeds. In 1882 he came to Millheim, where he has since resided. In 1894, in company with W. H. Culverson, he established a small general store at Paddy's Mountain, Mifflin county, but sold out at the end of a year to his partner. Prior to this he had charge of a bankrupt stock of goods at Millheim. He has also to some extent dealt in real estate, and at the present time he is connected with the Building & Loan Association, of Millheim.
Mr. Tobias has always taken an active inter- est in politics, is one of the leading Democrats in his section, and was a delegate to County Convention several times. At present he is serv- ing as president of the city council of Millheim. He has a wide acquaintance, and is deservedly popular, with all classes. His kindliness of heart is shown in his care of his parents and for others of the family who have been less fortunate than he in worldly matters. One brother, Suyder D., an invalid for many years, found a home with him also during his last days, and passed away there. Our subject's intellect is acute and active, and he is gifted as a writer, finding much enjoyment in corresponding for various papers. Frater- nally, he belongs to W. W. Bierly Post No. 208.
398
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G. A. R., at Millheim, and to Centre Lodge No. 153, I. O. O. F., at Bellefonte; was initiated at Lock Haven, Penn., in Great Island Lodge No. 320, I. O. O. F., in 1863, and transferred to Cen- tre Lodge No. 153, Bellefonte, in 1876; he was formerly a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Red Men, but as neither had a lodge in the county he withdrew after a time. In 1890 he made an application for pension under the Act of June 27, was examined and rejected. On August 4, 1897, he was again examined, and on November 16, 1897, his pension was granted, $10 per month and 55 months and 25 days back pay. Mr. Tobias has never married.
J EROME A. CONFER is engaged in general farming on the Marsh Creek road, in Boggs township, Centre county, and is one of that honorable class of self-made men who owe their success in life to their own efforts. His energy, perseverance and capable management have been the essential factors in his prosperity, and the record of his career furnishes an example which might profitably be followed by many others. A native of Centre county, he was born August 31, 1840, a son of Richard and Margaret T. (Packer) Confer, who were also natives of Centre county. The father was a miller by trade, and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. His political support was given the Democracy. He died in 1846, at the early age of thirty-two years, and his wife who still survives him, is now living in Jefferson county, Penn., where she located in 1856. She was born November 4, 1823. They had four sons, namely: Jason who is living in Jefferson county; William, of Potter county, this State; Jerome A .; and John, of Centre county.
No event of special importance marked the boyhood days of Jerome A. Confer, who re- mained with his mother until twenty years of age, when he was married and began working in the lumber woods. He was thus employed until 1875, when he turned his attention to farming and located at his present home. For a year he rented and then purchased his farm, which com- prises 184 acres of good land, the greater part of it being under a high state of cultivation and yielding to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestows upon it. In the midst of the well-tilled fields stands a handsonie residence, while good barns and out- buildings have been provided for the care of grain and stock.
On September 20, 1860, Mr. Confer was united in marriage with Margaret Elizabeth
Walker, who was born in Boggs township, on May 5, 1844, a daughter of James and Rachel (Heaton) Walker, also natives of Centre county. For many years the father was engaged in the lumber business in Snow Shoe township, but his last years were devoted to farming. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and in pol- itics was a Democrat. He died January 8, 1892, at the age of seventy-seven; his wife, who was born February 16, 1818, is still living. They were parents of ten children, as follows: Mary J. is the deceased wife of P. Slacker, of Miles- burg, Penn .; James W. is also deceased; Mrs. Confer; John is deceased; Isaiah, twin brother of John, is a resident of Centre county; Edward H. and Miles are also residents of that county; Tay- lor is in Mckean county, Penn .; Eliza is the wife of Frank Strickland, of Jefferson county, Penn. : and Harvey is deceased. The grandparents of Mrs. Confer were Jacob and Margaret Walker. natives of Centre county and Germany, respect- ively; both died in this county. The maternal grandparents. Enoch and Eve Heaton, were for many years residents of Centre county.
Mr. and Mrs. Confer have a family of twelve children: Rachel M., born February 10, 1862, is the wife of Irvin Butler, of Boggs township; Susan M., born May 9, 1863, is now deceased; Mary E., born August 8, 1865, is the wife of Wilson Heaton, of Milesburg; Anna, born May 22, 1867, died in infancy; Richard S., born Au- gust 19, 1868, is living in Milesburg. Penn .; James E., of Milesburg, was born September 5, 1870; Alma, born May 22, 1873, is deceased; Lydia M., born May 5, 1874, is also deceased; Clara M., born June 20, 1876, has also passed away; Nelson A. was born April 20, 1878; Ethel E. was born August 12, 1880; Gertrude E. was born May 20, 1885; and Fannie M. was born August 28, 1887.
Mr. Confer is a man of great energy, of strong determination and resolute purpose, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. All that he possesses he has se- cured through his own efforts, and his prosperity is certainly well merited.
C O. MALLORY, the efficient manager of the Kreamerville Creamery, ranks among the self-made men of Miles township, Centre county, who from humble circumstances has worked his way upward. He has had very little time to spend in idleness, and when not busy with his hands has added to his store of knowledge, and thus kept well posted on current events.
Mr. Mallory comes of New England and
399
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Scotch-Irish extraction, and was born in Miles township, January 21, 1855, a son of James B. and Elizabeth (Reed); Mallory. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Mallory, was a Yankee from Connecticut, who during pioneer days came to Centre county. While en route for the West, he and his family stopped at Milesburg, where was born the father of our subject, and in the mean- time the grandfather sought employment in the numerous iron works of this section.
His parents being poor, James B. Mallory was bound out to Mr. Sheets, a blacksmith of Sugar Valley, when quite young, and after learning the trade established a shop of his own in Rebers- burg, where he carried on business until his death, dying at the age of eighty years. He married Elizabeth Reed, who was born in Williamsport, Penn., and whose father was a splendid speci- men of physical manhood, six feet, six inches in height, and was a "stiff " Presbyterian. Mrs. Mallory was also about eighty years of age at the time of her death, and they now sleep side by side in the Rebersburg cemetery. They held membership in the Evangelical Church, and, politically, Mr. Mallory was identified with the Democratic party. Although he started out in life a poor boy, he succeeded in acquiring a com- fortable home and competence.
Our subject is sixth in order of birth in the family of seven children, the others being as fol -. lows: Jeremiah was a blacksmith of Rebersburg, where he died from the effects of a hammer ac- cidentally striking his knee; W. J., formerly a school teacher, is now a silver and copper mine owner of Arizona; Jane is the wife of Henry Shool, of Rebersburg; Ellen, the wife of Charles F. Dubbs, an operator on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad, died in March, 1883; Belle is the wife of J. W. Cole, of Loganton, Penn .; Catharine married Frank Snyder, who was killed by a falling tree, and she later wedded Daniel Stabley.
On reaching a sufficient age, Mr. Mallory, the subject of this review, entered the schools of Rebersburg, his first teacher being R. M. Magee, and after attending the common schools for some time was a student in the New Berlin Seminary (now the Central Pennsylvania College). Previ- ously he had also pursued his studies in the County Normal at Rebersburg, and as he learned . well and rapidly was able to begin teaching at the age of sixteen. His first school was on Pine creek, in Haines township, Centre county, and was an exceedingly hard one, where his predecessor had signally failed; but he was so successful that he at once established his reputation as a teacher, although so young. He had many scholars oldler
than himself, and physically much his superior; but under his able direction the school became one of the most orderly in the township. For four- teen years he successfully followed the teacher's profession, and during his course in the New Berlin Seminary paid his tuition by teaching some of the lower classes. After an attack of pneumonia, his physician advised him to aban- don the profession, and going to Antesfort, Ly-
coming Co., Penn., he served under a skilled creamery manufacturer. He then located at Spring Mills, where he took charge of the cream- ery which he successfully conducted for two years, after which as an employee of R. G. Eisenhart, of Horseheads, N. Y., he built the creamery at Kreamerville, which he now operates.
On January 11. 1880, in Brush Valley, Mr. Mallory was married to Miss Minnie Loose, who was born in Millheim, Centre county, Septem- ber iS, 1861, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Brickley) Loose. Five children bless their union, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Lottie, January 1I_ 1881; Charles B., March 16, 1882; Stanley O., November 3, 1883; Pearl M., December 27, 1885; and Bessie E., September 12, 1887. The family circle still re- mains unbroken by the hand of death.
Mr. Mallory casts his ballot in support of Democratic principles, has held township offices, and at one time was the candidate of his party for county recorder. Being a temperance man, he strongly sympathizes with the Prohibition movement, and gives his earnest support to all worthy enterprises which have for their object the good of the community. As members of the Evangelical Church, he and his estimable wife give much attention to religious work, are earnest and sincere Christians, and he has served as class leader and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In 1896 he erected a comfortable residence in Rebersburg, and he also has a pleasant home in Kreamerville, where the family now reside.
S W. SMITH is a general farmer, pursuing his pleasant and profitable occupation in Potter township, Centre county, of which county he is a native son, his birth having occurred near Centre Hall, February 21, 1863. His father, Dr. Peter Smith, was born in Blackhole Valley, Lycoming Co., Penn., April 29, 1825, and, as his parents were farming people of rather limited means, his early educational privileges were lim- ited. Desiring to make the practice of medicine liis life work, he was obliged to borrow the money with which to prosecute his studies, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.