Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 91

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 91
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 91
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 91
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 91

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).

C AHARLES B. NEFF, an intelligent and en- ergetic young agriculturist of Potter town- ship, Centre county, is unusually successful as a manager, his fine farm near Centre Hall being conducted in a model manner.

Mr. Neff was born in Potter township, Sep- tember 20, 1867, and belongs to one of the lead- ing families of that locality. Major John Neff, his grandfather, a native of Lebanon county, Penn., born February 20, 1791, settled in Centre county in early manhood, and for some years followed the blacksmith's trade at Potters Mills. Later he purchased a large tract of land in the township on the Brush Valley road near the Har- ris township line, and engaged in agriculture, but continued to work somewhat at his trade in a shop which he built at the farm. As old age drew on he retired from active business and re- moved to Centre Hall, where he died April 4, 1870. He was a prominent citizen, one of the wealthy land owners of that locality, and his suc- cess was more notable from having been gained through his own exertions. In the Lutheran Church, of which he was a member, he took an active part, while in politics he was one of the leading Democrats of Centre county, and at one time was a candidate for the Legislature.

Major Neff was married in Potter township. Centre county, to Miss Catherine Durst, who was born October 19, 1794, and died October 17, 1868. Her parents, Peter and Elizabeth (Herring) Durst. were well-known residents, and her father, who was an extensive farmer, wielded much influence in local affairs. In later life he removed to Centre Hall, and was identified with the development of the town. At the time of the introduction of the water works there he was a member of the company in charge of the en- terprise.

To Major John Neff and his wife the follow- ing children were born: Eliza (Mrs. Christian Dale), who died in Harris township, Centre county; Josiah, a farmer near Centre Hill. now deceased: Isabella (Mrs. Joseph Bittner), who died at Centre Hall: Peter D., at one time a

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physician at Centre Hall, now deceased; John, a resident of Centre Hall; Lafayette, our subject's father; George W. (deceased), who was by occu- pation a miller and later a farmer in California; Catherine (Mrs. Joseph Crotzer), who died in Potter township, Centre county; Maria (Mrs. John Whittaker), who died in Petersburg, Penn. ; Susan, who died at an early age; Daniel, who was killed in boyhood, while coming down Nit- tany Mountain, by a runaway horse that had been used to haul a heavy load up the mountain from Centre Hall; Barbara (Mrs. John Bittner), of Potter township, Centre county; Isaac P., a Lutheran minister at Milroy, Penn .; Evaline, who married Jacob Grove, and now resides in Kansas; William, a resident of Missouri; Luther, who met a soldier's death in the second battle of Bull Run, and was buried on the field; and Sarah, widow of John Sankey, of Centre Hall.

The late Lafayette Neff, our subject's father, was born at the old home in Potter township, De- cember 15, 1826, and was reared as a farmer boy, receiving such education as the local schools of that time afforded, the free system not being in- troduced until he was quite a lad. On Decem- ber 26, 1854, he was married, by Rev. P. S. Fisher, to Miss Mary A. Ruble, who was born in Potter township, April 7, 1836, the daughter of Peter and Margaret (Miese) Ruble. Lafayette Neff located at the homestead, but later bought part of the old homestead, where he made his home until March 1, 1883, and then purchased the Peter Durst farm, where he passed away, April 23, 1895. His wife breathed her last Feb- ruary 12, 1894, and the remains of both were in- terred at the Centre Hill cemetery. He was a man of spare build, a hard worker, and always active, nothwithstanding a lameness caused by a horse falling upon his left limb. As a farmer he was successful, securing a handsome competence by his able management, and 260 acres of land in excellent condition were left at his death. Pub- lic affairs received intelligent attention from him, and he was deeply interested in the Grange movement: also in the Democratic party, in which latter he was a prominent worker, holding various township offices. At one time he was a Lutheran in religion, but he afterward united with the Reformed Church.

Our subject was the youngest of four children, the others being: James B., born March 18, 1857, is a merchant in Denver, Colo .; Willian R. and Calvin R. (twins), born March 19, 1860, both reside in Pennsylvania, the former in Potter township, Centre county, and the latter in Mifflin- burg, where he is principal of the Mifflinburg high school. Charles B., was born September

20, 1867, in Potter township, Centre county, and was twelve years old when his parents removed to the farm which he now conducts so admirably. He and his brother, Calvin R., now own it in partnership, but as the latter is absent much of the time the responsible management falls upon our subject. He also prepared for the profession of teaching, his education being begun at the Pine Stump school, with Ferguson Potter as his first teacher. Twice he made arrangements to take charge of a school, but other duties inter- fering, he has always remained at home, where there is no lack of work to employ his energies. As a citizen he is progressive and public-spirited, but beyond giving his influence and his vote to the Democratic ticket he is not active in politics.

On September 26, 1895, Mr. Neff was mar- ried, in Potter township, to Miss Maggie Moyer, who was born near Tusseyville, Penn., May 26, 1874, the third child and daughter of Henry and Elmira (Braman) Moyer. She has four sisters and one brother. Mrs. Neff is prominent in re- ligious and social circles, and is a member of the Reformed Church.

T HOMAS BARNES. Among the self-made men of Centre county are many citizens of foreign birth who have become conspicuous in business and financial circles for their ability, integrity and enterprise, and the story of one who began with empty pockets, and has made his way to prosperity and wide influence, is a helpful inspiring study. Thomas Barnes, who is now a wealthy coal operator of Philipsburg, Centre county, and president of the Moshannon National Bank at that place, was born May 13. 1843, in Lancashire, England, where his ancestors have had their homes for many generations.

James Barnes, grandfather of our subject. was a farmer there, and, although his life was passed without exciting incident. it embodied in its domestic phases a beautiful romance, so sim- ilar to certain portions of the widely-read novel, "John Halifax, Gentleman," as to make a most striking coincidence. Like the hero and heroine of that work, James Barnes and his wife were born on the same day of the same month, but the grandmother a year later than the grandfather. They were married on their common birthday. and died on another anniversary of their birth. They were never separated for even the space of twenty-four hours, and so closely were they united by love and sympathy that one could scarcely suffer a pain that did not affect the other. They were seventy-five and seventy-four

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THOMAS BARNES.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years old, respectively, when the last illness fell upon them. When the final summons came the wife expired first, and as the children attempted to remove the corpse from its place by his side the dying husband motioned to them to leave it, and eighteen minutes later he, too, breathed his last.

This devoted couple left a numerous family. Their son John, our subject's father, who spent his life in Lancashire, followed agricultural pur- suits. He and his wife (whose maiden name was Jennie Hayes), had twelve children, viz .: James (deceased), Hannah (now Mrs. Edward Riley), Samuel, Lawrence, John, Henry, Isabella (now Mrs. James Eastwood), Thomas (our subject), Alice Ann, Jane (now Mrs. George E. Smith), William, and Rachel (the last named being deceased). Of these, only three-Henry, John and Thomas-came to America, the others re- maining in their native land.

Thomas Barnes crossed the ocean at the age of twenty-one to test his fortunes in the New World. His sole inheritance was comprised in his sound mental and physical health and his all- conquering energy. He located near Philipsburg, and having but a few dollars at hand he promptly began at the first work that he could find, which happened to be coal mining. This occupation he followed until 1872, when he secured a con- tract for clearing away drift, and later he and his brother John began operating the Cuba mine. Their next venture was with the Derby mines and Lancashire mines No. I and No. 2, and since that period the two brothers have carried on many profitable mining enterprises in that vicin- ity and in Cambria county. At the present time Mr. Barnes is a partner in the Baltic mines and others, and is recognized as a man of great sagac- ity and one of the leading operators of his local- ity. As is well known, coal mining includes many incidental details, and Mr. Barnes and his brother conduct stores and supply places, and in every way meet the demands of the business. In May, 1897, the Moshannon National Bank was organ- ized at Philipsburg, Mr. Barnes being appointed its president.

In 1864 Mr. Barnes married Miss Anna Ash- croft, also a native of Lancashire, England, and seven children were born of their union: Jane, Margaret, Ruth, John, Rachel, Anna and Esther. Of these, Jane married J. Johnson, who is now conducting our subject's store in Philipsburg, and they have one daughter, Ruth. Mr. Barnes is prominent in local affairs, is a vestryman in the Episcopal Church, takes great interest in school matters, and is liberal in his donations. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He has been deservedly

successful in his undertakings, and now owns a fine home on Centre street, Philipsburg, besides an elegant block, a hotel, and a grist mill.

W WILLIAM W. BOOB, one of the most re- liable, progressive and capable business men of Centre Hall, Centre county, was born June 15, 1868, in Mifflinburg, Penn., and is the eldest child of R. B. and Sarah (Shearer) Boob. When two years old he was brought by his par- ents to Aaronsburg, Centre county, where he was educated, his first teacher being Julia Wolf, and at the age of twelve he left the school room and began assisting his father in the blacksmith shop, where he soon learned the trade, and dur- ing the six years he remained there became an expert workman.

In Aaronsburg, August 6, 1886. Mr. Boob. was united in marriage with Miss Cora B. Reif- snyder, of Millheim, Centre county. a daughter of Urush Reifsnyder, and have one child, Grace L., born in August, 1887. For a time after his marriage, Mr. Boob worked in a blacksmith shop in Boalsburg, Centre county, for Mr. Webber, later was in the employ of Samuel Foust, of Spring Bank, and while living in Millheim worked as a blacksmith in the foundry at Centre Hall. Subsequently he established a shop of his own in Coburn, which he conducted for two and one- half years, and then removed to Centre Hall, where he purchased the carriage business of J. W. Haney, and also the millinery establishment of Mrs. Haney, which his wife now conducts.

After one year spent in carriage making. he converted his shop into a factory for the manu- facture of buggy and wagon wheels, and now does almost an exclusive wholesale business, sell- ing his wheels throughout the Eastern States, in Norway, Belgium, Germany, Java, Jamaica. Aus- tralia, and India. He gives employment to a number of hands, and has succeeded in building up one of the most important and prosperous in- dustries in the county. Although still quite young in years, he is possessed of more than ordinary business sagacity, is enterprising and industrious, which qualities have been the important factors in his success, and his business, which is still in its infancy, is growing rapidly through his tire- less efforts. His familiarity with its every detail, and the close attention he gives it, insures its success, and in the near future he will undoubt- edly be one of the most prosperous and well-to-do citizens of the community. By his own unaided efforts he has worked his way steadily upward from a humble position to one of affluence, and deserves to be numbered among the representa-

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tive and prominent business men of Centre coun- ty. Politically he has always been identified with the Democratic party. Taking a deep inter- est in the cause of education, he is at present an efficient member of the school board. Mr. Boob has an office in New York City, No. 11 Broad- way, for his export trade exclusively.

F ARANK HAINES, a popular young photogra- pher of Philipsburg, Centre county, shows a happy combination of artistic taste and business ability which promises well for his future. He is a native of Philipsburg, born January 2, 1869, and he is descended from an old and highly re- spected Quaker family of New Jersey, his ances- tors having come from England at a very early period, to escape the religious persecutions of their day.

Daniel Haines, our subject's grandfather, lived and died in New Jersey, and, like his ances- tors, was a steadfast adherent of the Friends Society. Joseph Haines, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Morristown, N. J., February 26, 1841, and in early manhood came to Penn- sylvania, locating in Bellefonte, where he learned the photographer's trade. In 1865 he established himself in business in Philipsburg, where he met with the success which his fine abilities deserved. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religion he followed the faith of his forefathers. His death, which occurred August 29, 1887, cut short a life which seemed to be entering upon the rewards of his earlier labors. He was married in Bellefonte to Miss Prudence Stone, a native of England, who came to America with her parents at the age of five years and grew to womanhood at Bellefonte, where her father, Martin Stone, was in his later years a prosperous merchant. He

was born in Germany, but went to England when about eight years old, and in early manhood en- gaged in mercantile business, owning two stores in London, which he sold before coming to the United States. Mrs. Haines is still living at Philipsburg with her four children, of whom our subject is the eldest; (2) Orrin is the city elec- trician: (3) Cora is at home: and (4) Harry is attending school.

Frank Haines received his education in the public schools of Philipsburg, and at the same time became proficient in the art of photography through assisting his father as need required. This early and constant association with the business, familiarizing him with every detail, en- abled him to take full charge after his father's death, and continue it with undiminished suc- cess during the past nine years. In the social

life of his native city he takes an active part, and is a valued worker in various organizations. Since 1888 he has been a member of Reliance Fire Company No. I, of which he has been pres- ident, having been elected in September, 1896. He also belongs to the Knights of Malta, the Improved Order of -Red Men, the American Photographers Association, and the Order of Mechanics, in which he is a past officer. Polit- ically he is a Democrat.

J ACOB R. SIMLER, of Philipsburg, Centre county, is a native of that city, born May 4, 1871, and a son of George B. and Amanda (Carpenter) Simler, who have for many years been prominently identified with its interests. He acquired a common-school education, and re- mained under the parental roof until his marriage at the age of twenty-two years.

On November 22, 1893, Mr. Simler was mar- ried to Miss Sallie B. Beamer, and they have an interesting little daughter, Evelyn, born April 16, 1896. The mother was born in Clearfield, Clear- field Co., Penn., October 13, 1874, a daughter of Owen A. and Lucetta (Elder) Beamer, natives of Centre county, the former born February 6, 1853, and the latter on July 5, 1853. They now reside in Latrobe, Westmoreland Co., Penn., where the father is serving as clerk in a hotel. Their family consisted of eight children: Will- iam H., who died in childhood; Sallie B., wife of our subject; Clara A., at home; Orlando, who died in childhood: Eva, who is residing with Mr. Simler and attending school; and Charles. Laura and Oscar, all three at home. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Simler. Jacob A. and Re- becca (Fister) Beamer, were of German extrac- tion, and the grandfather was a forgeman by occupation. Jacob A. Beamer served in Com- pany C, 208th Regiment P. V. I., Army of the Potomac.

At the age of seventeen years, Mr. Simler began working for his brother. George B., in the express business, and was thus employed for eight years. He belongs to the Order of Red Men, of Philipsburg, is a stalwart Republican in politics, and is a member of the Episcopal Church. He is a prominent and energetic young nian, of an upright moral character, and possesses the true spirit of progress and enterprise which character- izes the American people. In April, 1897, he commenced the business of selling oil to the con- sumers of Philipsburg, and is working up a nice trade, having already on his list some two hun- dred customers.

For several years, Mr. Simler has displayed

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a remarkable talent for hunting. In connection with his brother William N., he has carried on the business of taxidermist for his own use, and they have elegant collections of mounted birds and animals. Since 1889 they have made a busi- ness of taxidermy in every branch of the art. The collections referred to contain the following specimens: Blue-wing teal duck, barred owl, Virginia rail bird, sandpiper, snipe, plover, wood- cock, meadow lark, Virginia warbler, Kentucky warbler, blue swallow, brown thrush, flocker screech owl, duck hawk, chimney swallow, nuv- vin, brown creeper, snow owl, pheasant (two days old, and an old one), falks sparrow, flying squirrel, humming bird, hoot owl, brown screech owl, pigeon hawk, loon, butter duck, bullfinch, Baltimore oriole, cedar bird, golden bird, night hawk, sparrow hawk, teal duck, red bird, black head warbler, chicken hawk, Indian hen, red- headed woodpecker, black-headed woodpecker, great squaw duck, Indigo bird, red-eye verrio, red-headed bee bird, winter rew, green hern, partridge, great bittern, chippie, snowbird, sap sucker, pine finch, chickadee, great squaw duck, kingfisher, bluebird, martin, red-winged black- bird, bluejay, squirrel hawk, jack snipe, white- headed sparrow, skylark, pallerope, water thrush, killdeer, yellow breasted woodpecker, small bee bird, robin, least bittern, chewink, goslin, bona- parte seagull, butcher bird, shore lark, cuckoo, sparrow hawk, crown kinglet, blackburn warb- ler, chestnut warbler, Virginia warbler, horned grieb, black cot, Jersey red bird, Kennedy rail bird, snow bunting, American cot, blue heron, Tom Lee, Church Will widow, whippoorwill, black-headed tern, red-tail hawk, white spar- row, and herring gull. These lovely specimens the brothers have in glass cases in their par- lors, where they may be admired by the many friends of the family.

William N. Simler, a skilled and expert taxid- ermist, also makes a business of mounting ani- mals and birds, and tanning furs for rugs, etc. He was married December 30, 1884, to Miss Elizabeth G. Osslare, a native of Brookfield, Penn., and a daughter of Bernard and Malinda (Verbeck) Osslare, in whose family were ten chil- dren.

J MALCOLM LAURIE, an enterprising and deservedly successful young business man of Bellefonte, was born January 19, 1871, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As his name suggests, his ancestors trod the heather hills of " Auld Scotia," and he possesses in a marked degree the shrewd practical mind

which is characteristic of the Scotch race. His father, the late John Laurie, was born in Scot- land in 1834, coming to America when a young man, and was married in San Francisco, Cal., to Miss Mary Connor, now deceased. He was a traveling salesman for some time. Before the war he was engaged in the cotton trade in the South, but left that occupation in 1860 and went to California. In 1868 he made his home in Bridgeton, N. J., and became interested in the Cohansey Glass Company in that city. While in that business he made two trips through South America. To John and Mary Laurie six chil- dren were born: William, now residing at Colo- rado Springs, Colo .; Miss Mary Laurie, who lives in Glasgow, Scotland; Helen, the wife of Blythe Wilke, of Glasgow, Scotland; and J. Malcolm, of this sketch. Annie and Jennie died in infancy.

The first years of our subject's life were spent in New Jersey, but as his parents died dur- ing his boyhood he was taken into the home of an uncle in Bellefonte, Rev. William Laurie, D. D., a well-known Presbyterian clergyman. His education was continued at the Bellefonte Academy, and on completing his course there he worked for four years as a bookkeeper in Belle- fonte. In 1893 he established the Bellefonte Steam Laundry, of which he has made a decided success, and in 1895 he erected a building spe- cially designed for his business, the formal open- ing taking place July 18 of that year. Mr. Laurie is not married, and is prominent socially as a member of the Bellefonte Club. He also belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and his high character has won the esteem and friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.

J TOHN Q. MILES, treasurer of Centre county, is one of the most popular officials at the county seat, and illustrates the best type of American citizenship in both public and private life.

Mr. Miles was born March 17, 1843, in Clear- field county, a son of John and Elizabeth . Wil- son) Miles, and has always been identified with this section. The schools near his early home afforded him a practical education, and in 1861, while yet a mere boy, he gave proof of his cour- age and patriotism by enlisting from Clearfield county in Company I, 84th P. V. I. His gal- lant conduct at the front won him a reputation as a brave fighter, but after nine months of serv- ice a fever, brought on by exposure and hard- ships, so weakened his system that he was dis- charged for disability. In May, 1862, hie located in Centre county, where in 1865 he married

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Lydia A. Richards, a native of that county, and three children: Lizzie, Maggie and John, brighten their home. John Q. Miles' election in 1893 to the office of county treasurer caused him to remove to Bellefonte, but previously he had his residence at Martha Furnace in Bald Eagle Valley. Witty and genial, Mr. Miles has the happy faculty of making friends, whom his ster- ling qualities of character bind to him with the lasting tie of respectable esteem. In politics he is a Democrat.

The ancestors of our subject were early set- tlers in the City of Brotherly Love, where Gen. Samuel Miles, his great-grandfather, of Revo- lutionary fame, resided, and of which city he was mayor. John Miles, our subject's grandfather, was born there. He became prominent in the iron industry, and at one time was interested in the development of Centre county. Our sub- ject's father, John Miles (2) was born in the ar- senal at Philadelphia. With an uncle he came to Centre country, and built and operated Cen- tre Furnace and the McCoy Iron Works. Miles- burg was named in their honor, and at that time, as in the present, the family name was a synonym for business ability and enterprise combined with public spirit.

A LEXANDER FAMILY. This family, which has been prominent in central Pennsylvania from an early day, is of Scotch origin. The earliest member, of which there is record, was Thomas Alexander, who was promi- nent in Lanark, Scotland, about 1710. His son John, who was born in Scotland in 1700, married Margaret Glasson, daughter of Donald Glasson, of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, and migrated to County Armagh, Ireland, a few years later. In 1736 he came to America, and besides his three sons-Hugh, James and John-and his daughters-Rachel and Margaret-there came with him his two nephews-Hugh and James- and his niece, who had married a Mr. Polk in Ireland. Their first settlement was made in Not- tinghamn, Chester Co., Penn., on the east side of Octorara creek, near the Maryland line. After residing there a few years the little colony di- vided and dispersed. The nephews, Hugh and James, with Mr. and Mrs. Polk, went to Meck- lenburg, N. C., while John, with his son of the same naine, remained in Pennsylvania and settled, first, near Carlisle, and, later, near Cham- bersburg.

James Alexander, second son of John and Margaret (Glasson ) Alexander, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1826, and came | and Reed, in 17 --.

with his parents to America in 1836. He re- moved with his father to Cumberland county, Penn., and there married Rosa Reed, who died in 1792. James Alexander was a man of re- markable energy and enterprise, and having mar- ried Rosa Reed, near Chambersburg, Penn., the associations of the locality led him to deter- mine to explore the new territory adjacent, and if possible found a new colony. In carrying out this project in 1755, he traveled about a hundred miles north through the wilderness, and his at- tention being arrested by the beauty of the Val- ley, he located there and took out a warrant for one thousand acres of land across the middle of the Valley and reaching from Jack's Mountain to Stone Mountain. He returned home for his family, and took back with him to help found the new settlement a friend who also had his family. They carried all their effects on horseback. James Alexander settled at the spring which forms the source of Spring run, and a short distance away at another spring stood the house of the Indian Chief "Logan"-the renowned head of the Mingo tribe, who lived long on friendly terms with his white neighbor. One day soon after James Alexander settled at his new home, "Logan" went to the house, and, having gained the confidence of his neighbor's little son, carried him to his cabin; the father was absent, and the terrified mother dared not resist; but after sev- eral hours of terrible anxiety she determined to rescue her child at any hazard. Her relief can be imagined when she met the friendly chief car- rying her boy, who was wearing a beautiful pair of beaded moccasins, which he had made for his little friend. This story has often appeared in print concerning a little daughter of William Brown, but "Logan " was doubtless in the habit of showing his friendship in this way.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 91

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