Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 84

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 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 84

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In June, 1886, Mr. Frain was again married, this second union being with Mrs. Sarah E. (Wallis) Moore, widow of David A. Moore, for- merly a native of Blair county, Penn., who died in August, 1875, at the age of thirty-two years. Mrs. Frain was born in Cumberland county. Penn., a daughter of Joseph and Mary R.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(Campbell) Wallis, natives of Dauphin and Cum- berland counties, respectively. Her paternal grandparents were John L. and Mary (Cook) Wallis, of Lycoming, Penn., the former of whom was the first white child born in Muncy Valley, Lycoming county. Her maternal grand- parents were John and Mary (McKnight) Camp- bell. Mrs. Frain's father was a school teacher · in early life, but spent his later years upon a farm, and for some time before his death he was blind. His children were: Sarah E., wife of our subject; John L. and Mary A., who died in in- fancy; and William N., a minister of the United Evangelical Church of Williamsport.

Mr. Frain has not confined his attention alone to one enterprise or to one class of inter- ests, but has devoted his energies to the further- ance of many business and public concerns. He is associated with the Centre County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., of the Patrons of Husbandry, which was organized in 1886, was made presi- dent on its organization, served in that capacity eight years, and was re-elected president of said company in 1893, and serves in that capacity at the present time. It started with a guaranty of $50,000, and now has two million dollars in outstanding risks. The business has been man- aged at an expense of only $1.41 per thousand on the actual insurance. For eight years Mr. Frain was master of the Centre County Pomona Grange No. 13, retiring from that office in 1895, after serving eight years in all. He belongs to Marion Grange No. 223, Patrons of Husbandry; to Howard or Lick Run Lodge No. 312, I. O. O. F .; and to the United Evangelical Church. In his political adherency he is a Democrat. He now lives practically retired, enjoying a well- earned rest.

STANLEY K. WATSON. Among the more prominent farmers of Boggs township is the subject of this biography, whose name stands high on the military records of the Civil war, as well as in the annals of Centre county. By per- severance and industry he has gained a foothold in the world, being a self-made man, and is one of the honored and highly respected citizens of the community. His home is pleasantly located in Boggs township on the Marsh Creek road, just four miles south of where his birth occurred De- cember 14, 1841.

His parents, Thomas and Annie (Mackey) Watson, were natives of Ireland and Pennsyl- vania, respectively, and were married in Centre county, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying December 14, 1856, at the age

of seventy-seven years, and the mother on Feb- ruary 28, 1879, at the age of eighty-one years. In their family were the following children: Hannah, born November 21, 1816, is the de- ceased wife of Thomas McMullen; Joseph, born January 29, 1818, and George, born July 22, 1819, are both deceased; Jane, born April I, 1821, is living in Boggs township; Margarie, born September 28, 1823, is the widow of Will- iam Stanley, of Boggs township; Green, born February 4, 1824, was killed by some lumber falling on him; Nancy, born October 23, 1824, is deceased; Julian, born September 24, 1827, married Henry Pownall, but both are now de- ceased; Margaret, born August 1, 1829, is the wife of Perry Akins, of Boggs township; Eliza- beth, born August 3, 1831, David, born April 29, 1833, Sarah, born January 10, 1835, Ed- ward, born April 11, 1837, and Lucinda, born November 9, 1839, are all deceased; and Stanley K. completes the family. The father was twice married, and by the first union had five children, all now deceased, namely: James, born July 23, 1804; Abraham, born May 23, 1807; John, born August 31, 1809; Thomas, born September 14, 1812; and Mary, who was born January 25, 1814, and became the wife of Joseph Akley. In early life the father engaged in the manufacture of charcoal, and later followed farming. He took an active part in political affairs, always supporting the Democratic party, and acceptably served in several local offices, including that of school director. Religiously he was a member of the Messiah Church.

At the age of sixteen, on the death of his father, Stanley K. Watson left home, and for two years worked in a sawmill, after which he was in the lumber woods until 1863. Filled with patriotic ardor, in that year he enlisted in Com- pany E, 184th P. V. I., and remained in the service until honorably discharged March 21, 1865, on account of disability. While under Capt. John McCabe, at the battle of Cold Har- bor, in front of Richmond, June 3, 1864, he re- ceived a gunshot wound, which incapacitated his right arm; he also received a slight wound in the hip at North Ann River, Va. He was first sent to Lincoln Hospital at Washington, D. C., but was afterward transferred to White Hall Hos- pital in Bucks county, Penn., where he remained until receiving his discharge.

For one year after his return home, Mr. Wat- son engaged in no occupation, but spent the time in trying to regain his usual health. He then fol- lowed lumbering on Brush creek until 1881, when he purchased his present home, to the cultivation and improvement of which he has since devoted

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his time and attention with most gratifying re- sults. Although he has the use of but one arm, he is an energetic, industrious man and a most skillful farmer. The government grants him a pension of $36 per month.

On October 21, 1866, Mr. Watson was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Poorman, who was born May 1, 1842, and they have three chil- dren: Laura A., born March 26, 1868, is the wife of William S. Walker, a puddler of Milesburg; John T., born March 3, 1869, married Emma Confer, by whom he has one son, Clyde M., and they reside with our subject; and Ellen J., born September 13, 1870, is the wife of James E. Con- fer, a farmer of Boggs township. Politically, Mr. Watson adheres to the Republican party, and he has faithfully served as road supervisor, school director for six years, and is now serving his third year as township auditor. A conscien- tious, earnest Christian, he is a consistent mem- ber of the Messiah Church at Marsh Creek, of which he is deacon and trustee, while, socially, he is connected with George L. Porter Post No. 261, G. A. R., of Milesburg, of which he is the popular commander. In all the relations of life he has been found true and faithful to every duty, and as loyal to his country in days of peace as when following the stars and stripes to victory on Southern battlefields.

J H. DEIBLER. Probably there is no other town in Centre county or, indeed, in any county, where the leading mercantile establish- ments are conducted by men so young in years as are those of Millheim, and foremost among this class of business men is the subject of this sketch, who controls the largest trade in general merchandise of any one in the place. Born March 25, 1865, his career may be said to be only at its beginning, yet he has already achieved a success such as most merchants gain by the work of a lifetime.

Mr. Deibler is a native of Berrysburg, Dau- phin Co., Penn., a son of Jolin W. and Hen- rietta (Ubdegrave) Deibler, who are still living in that town, though advanced in years. Both were born in Schuylkill county, Penn. John W. Deibler began life as a poor man, and for some time was a huckster and farmer, but he has ac- cumulated a handsome competence, and his old age is spent in comfort. Through going bail for others he has lost considerable money, but for- tunately he has not suffered seriously. He is highly respected, and is one of the leading Re- publicans of his locality. Of his family of six sons and five daughters, all are living.

The subject of our sketch began his educa- tion in the public schools of his native town, supplementing this instruction with a course at Berrysburg Seminary, an excellent institution from which a number of people have graduated who later became eminent in various callings. Mr. Deibler seems to-have had a clear perception of his peculiar fitness for a mercantile career, as he began to prepare for it at an early age by taking employment as a clerk for Cornelius Swab, a general merchant at Berrysburg, at a salary of $9 per month, board not included. After six months in that place, he obtained a situation in the general store of J. B. Enders, where he re- mained three years.

In 1883, Mr. Deibler went to Millheim to clerk for J. W. Snook, and during the eight years spent in that store, five different firms were in possession. As a clerk he formed an extensive acquaintance, and when he engaged in business for himself in 1891, he speedily established a fine custom. Courtesy, attention to business, and fair dealing with all, characterize his conduct, and his business has rapidly grown to be one of the most profitable in Penn's Valley. In addi- tion to his mercantile business, Mr. Deibler is interested in several building and loan associa- tions. As the architect of his own fortune. he has certainly made a phenomenal success which promises even better things for the future. On March 17, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie H. Miller, a native of Centre Hall, a daughter of John H. Miller, now a leading res- ident of Williamsport. Mrs. Deibler is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and is prominent in the best social circles of the locality.

In politics Mr. Deibler is a Republican, stead- fast in the faith, and a regular voter, but he takes no share in partisan work, believing that either it or his business would be neglected if both were attempted. However devoted he may be to his private affairs, he is much too public-spirited to suppress his keen interest in all progressive move- ments, and he is a generous and prompt helper of any measure which promotes the common good.

0 RLANDO WESTON, an active and ener- getic farmer residing at Mt. Pleasant, Tay- lor township. Centre county, is a native of Penn- sylvania, born July 20, 1854, in Huntingdon county, at what is known as the Cross Roads, and is a son of Elijah and Ellen (Gill) Weston, natives of Huntingdon and Centre counties, re- spectively. They were married in the former county, where they remained until 1858, when

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

they removed to Sandy Ridge, Centre county, but in 1862 returned to Huntingdon county, where the mother died two years later, at the age of forty-six. In early life the father followed the tanner's trade, operating a tannery at Osce- ola, Penn., until the panic of 1875, since which time he has engaged in carpentering at that place. He has been a prominent member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church since 1866, and class leader for many years.

Our subject is the eldest in the family of five children, his sisters being as follows: Anna, wife of Samuel Winters, a farmer of Michigan; Emma, wife of Charles Baker, a farmer and lumberman of Clearfield county, Penn. ; Mary, deceased wife of James Edward, a carpenter of Osceola; and Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-two years. After the death of his first wife, Elijah Weston married Miss Nancy Merry- man, and to them were born the following chil- dren: Clara, wife of Levi Richie, a farmer of Bedford county, Penn .; William and Elijah, de- ceased; Fannie, at home; and Naomah, wife of William Crane, who is assisting her father in the butchering business at Osceola. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Elijah and Polly (Merryman) Weston, were natives of Huntingdon and Centre counties respectively. The former was of English extraction, and was a well-read and intelligent farmer. The maternal grand- father, William Gill, was of Scotch descent, and died at Bellefonte, Penn., at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years.

At the age of twenty-two years, Orlando Weston started out in life for himself, but he had previously worked with his father both at farm- ing and tanning, assisting in the operation of the tannery at Osceola. Later he was employed by others in that business, being connected with steam tanneries at Osceola, Philipsburg, Clear- field and Curwensville until 1883, when he em- barked in farming upon his present place, which he now has under a high state of cultivation and well improved. In the fall of 1880 he married Miss Maggie Nearhoof, who died the following year at the age of twenty-two, leaving one daugh- ter, Maggie, now residing with her grandmother in Tyrone, Penn. Mr. Weston was again mar- ried May 3, 1885, this time to Miss Maggie Mer- ryman, and to them have been born three chil- dren: Anna M., Sherman B. and Verna E.

Mrs. Weston was born in Taylor township, Centre county, February 27, 1863, and is a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Miller) Merry- man, who spent their entire lives upon a farm in the same county, where the former died in 1889 at the age of sixty-six, and the latter in 1891 at

the same age. They held membership in the United Brethren Church, and in politics the fa- ther was a Republican. He was honored by his fellow citizens with several local offices. His family consisted of six children: Nancy, wife of Henry Melcher, a farmer and lumberman of Cen- tre county; Mollie, who lives with her sisters; Emma, wife of W. S. Weston, a farmer of Tay- lor township; Laura; wife of Pius Richards, also a farmer of Taylor township; William, a railroad fireman residing at Tyrone, Penn .; and Maggie, wife of our subject.

Mr. Weston is a firm supporter of the Repub- lican party, and his worth and ability have re- ceived due acknowledgment from the hands of his fellow citizens, who have called upon him at different times to serve the people in several township offices, the duties of which he has promptly and faithfully discharged. He has been an active member of the United Brethren Church since locating in Taylor township, and is one of the highly respected citizens of the community.

P HILIP DURST is the owner of one of the best and most highly productive farms of Potter township, Centre county, to which he has given his close attention with results which can hardly fail to be satisfactory to himself, and where his labors have met with success. The highly cultivated fields and neat and thrifty ap- pearance of the place denote the supervision of a careful, painstaking and progressive business man of sound judgment.

Mr. Durst was born on March 28, 1840, a son of George and Catharine (Meyer) Durst. In the Fairfield school he began his education under the direction of James Davis, and when quite young he was brought by his parents to his pres- ent farm, after which he attended the Plum Grove school. At the age of nine years he was able to handle a plow, and has since devoted his time and attention principally to agricultural pur- suits. His father being one of the best managers and successful farmers of the community, our subject, under his able direction, has also be- come one of the most skillful and thorough agri- culturists and business men of Potter township. He uses the most advanced methods and ma- chinery in the operation of his land, which has been an important factor in his success. Until his marriage he assisted in the labors of the home farm with the exception of one summer. when he worked as a farm hand for Henry Dale, of Har- ris township, Centre county.

On February 28, 1864, Mr. Durst was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Schnure, who was born in

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Hartley township, Union Co., Penn., in May, 1842, and is one of the ten children-five sons and five daughters-of Christian and Lydia (Kiester) Schnure. One brother, John Schnure, was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and died in Libby prison. Her parents died in Union county. Penn., the father at the age of eighty- two years, and the mother at the age of sixty- nine. They started out in life in limited circum- stances, but through their own industrious efforts became prosperous and well-to-do citizens, own- ing two good farms. They were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them. Like her husband, Mrs. Durst received only a com- mon-school education. Eight children grace their union, namely: John H., born June II, 1866, is at home; Francis M., born November 14, 1869, died in infancy; Christian, born May 16, 1871, is living in Illinois; Ida M., born Sep- tember 30, 1872, is the wife of Milton Snyder, of Centre Hall, Centre county; Minnie M., born May 25, 1874, is the wife of George W. Condo, of Centre Hall; and Charlie W., born February 28, 1878, Verna L., born February 24, 1884, and Mary B., born June 12, 1886, are all at home.

After his marriage, Mr. Durst located upon the home farm, which he and his brother, Hiram, operated together until 1868, and after renting it for several years our subject purchased the same in 1879. He has made many valuable im- provements upon the place, including the erec- tion of good buildings, and, like his father before him, is a systematic, energetic farmer of progress- ive ideas. In his undertakings he has been uni- formly successful, so that he is now numbered among the most reliable and substantial farmers of Potter township. The Democratic party has ever found in him an earnest supporter, and both himself and wife are faithful members of the Re- formed Church, in which he has served as dea- con. They hold a high place in the esteem and confidence of their fellow-citizens, and none are more worthy of representation in a work of this character than Mr. and Mrs. Philip Durst.

W ILLAM Y. GRAY, of the firm of Gray & Guelich, the well-known carriage manu- facturers of Philipsburg, Centre county, is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the county, being not only an able and successful man of business, but an active worker in all the lines of effort tending to the welfare of the community. He was born July 30, 1833, in Northumberland county, Penn., a son of George and Susan (Keffer) Gray, and his ancestral history is of

especial interest as in the maternal line he rep- resents the fifth generation of the famous pioneer, Morris Lawrence, who was the first permanent white settler of this section of whom we have authentic record. Morris Lawrence was a native of Alsace, France (now in Germany), born May 5, 1682, and in 1710 made his home at the site of the present town of Milton, in Northumberland county. At that time there was not a white man within ten miles of his primitive abode, and the solitude of the forest avenues was broken only by the passing of the Indians, while the swiftly gliding canoe darted over the surface of the quiet Susquehanna river. There Mr. Lawrence passed a long and peaceful life, passing away June 14, 1792, at the advanced age of one hun- dred and nine years. His daughter, Mrs. Marie Eve Keffer, died in 1815, aged ninety-seven years, five months and twenty-four days, and her husband, Martin Keffer, died in 1815, aged nine- ty-eight years, ten months and twenty-one days. At the time of Mrs. Keffer's death her twelve children were all living, and she had 138 great- great-grandchildren, and two great-great-great- grandchildren. Morris Lawrence had a brother. a Catholic priest, who remained in France, and left a large estate which the heirs have not been able to secure. The Lawrences of Minersville. Penn., among whom are Frank and Jacob Law- rence, the operators of the Lawrence colliery at Mahanoy Plane, Penn., are of this family.

On the paternal side Mr. Gray belongs to an old and highly respected family of German ori- gin. His father, who was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and a tobacconist by trade, was eighty- three years old at the time of his death, which occurred in Pittsburg, Penn. By his marriage with Susan Keffer, George Gray had four children: John A., formerly of Decatur, Ill., now deceased; James L., and Jane C. (twins), the former of Wooster, Ohio, the latter married to a Mr. Buck- heister, of Philadelphia, Penn., but now deceased: and William Y., the subject of this sketch. The mother of these dying, the father married a Miss McClure, and by this union there were seven children: George, Mattie, Lydia, Emma, Tillie, Hattie and Edith.

William Y. Gray spent his youth in Milton, Northumberland county, attending the district schools and learning the carriage makers' trade. After prospecting for a suitable location, he set- tled at Salona, Penn., and worked at his trade for eleven years, and then he went to Clearfield for eleven months, finally establishing himself in Philipsburg, where in 18so he opened his pres- ent shop. His careful workmanship and admir- able business methods have given him the leader-

W. J. gray

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ship in his chosen line of work, his custom being extensive. For about eleven years his son-in- law, C. H. Guelich, has been a partner in the business.

In 1853 Mr. Gray was married to Miss Mary J. Lunger, a native of New Jersey, born in 1834. They have four children living: (1) Anna (Mrs. C. H. Guelich) has one son-Paul L .; (2) Jos- ephine (wife of W. S. Jones, of New Castle) has one child-Ruth G .; (3) Sarah (wife of E. F. Townsend, of Philipsburg) has four children- Helen M., Warren G., Harry A. and William McKinley; (4) Cora married John H. Apgar, of Clearfield, Penn., and has one son-William A. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have had four children who did not long bless their home with their presence: Lucy died at the age of three years; Amelia also passed away, at the age of twelve; James lived to the age of eighteen; and Harry M. was taken from his bereaved parents Febru- ary 9, 1885, under peculiarly painful circum- stances. He was out hunting with some com- panions, when a gun carried by one of the boys was accidentally discharged, and the bullet passed through young Gray's body. A neighbor who was passing in a vehicle was quickly sum- moned by the boys, but death had already set his seal upon the frame which but a few moments before had been full of vigor and energy, and be- fore the sad group could reach the home in Phil- ipsburg, life was extinct. The grief of the stricken family touched all hearts, and the sym- pathy of the community has seldom been so deeply stirred. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Baptist Church, he for forty-seven years, and he has been a deacon therein for seventeen years.

Mr. Gray is a Republican in politics, and has always shown a genuine interest in local progress, and has taken an active part in any movements for the public good. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, and for years past he has held a high rank, having devoted much time to the work which has been to him the pleasantest occupation of his life. An interesting and pro- tracted correspondence with M. Etienne Stephanos, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Greece, was only interrupted by the latter's death, of which Mr. Gray was especially notified by Madam Stephanos, the widow of the deceased. The fol- lowing record will be of interest as showing Mr. Gray's progress in the order. He is a member of Milton Lodge No. 256, where he was entered April 18, 1864, passed May 16, 1864, raised July 18, 1864, installed junior warden, December 26, 1868, senior warden, December 20, 1869, wor- ·shipful master, December 27, 1872. In Clear-

field Chapter No. 228, Clearfield, Penn., he was marked January 17, - 1887, received Feb- ruary 21, 1887, exalted March 21, 1887. He is a Knight Templar also, and was first con- nected with Mountain Commandery No. 10, Altoona, and knighted March 30, 1888, but withdrew to become a charter member of Mo- shannon Commandery, K. T., No. 74, Philips- burg, Penn., of which he has been installed as prelate. He has been a welcome visitor of Mo- shannon Lodge No. 391, for twenty years. De- sides the correspondence above mentioned, he has had extensive intercourse by letters with many other leading Freemasons all over the world, and without doubt has the largest collec- tion of photographs of prominent and foreign Masons, of any one in the State. Mrs. Gray, also, has quite an assortment of mementoes and souvenirs sent her by many of her hus- band's friends in various parts of the world. The most valuable are those from the Island of Malta; Athens, Greece; Madras, India; Buda- Pesth, Hungary; Sophia, Bulgaria; London, Eng- land; Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; and Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands.

Mr. Gray was a soldier in the Union army, served until the close of the war, and was mus- tered out at Clarksburg, W. Va. He is a mem- ber of John W. Geary Post No. 90, G. A. R., of Philipsburg, of which he has been chaplain since 1891.

W ILLIAM H. TEMPLE, a representative and valued citizen of Snow Shoe, Cen- tre county, has for many years been connected with the railroad service in this section of the State, and is now engineer on the Tyrone division of the Pennsylvania railroad, running between Bellefonte and Snow Shoe.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 84

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