Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 92

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 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 92

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James Alexander was active in Church work, and assisted in establishing the first Presbyte- rian Church in the Valley. He took part in the Revolutionary war, and was in the commissary department of Washington's army at Valley Forge, during the memorable winter of 1777-78. For these services he received sixteen hundred acres of land, which he located in Clearfield county. He died in 1791, and was buried at the brick Presbyterian church at West Kishaco- quillas. Eleven children were born to James Alexander and Rosa Reed, the names with dates of birth being as follows: Jane, born in 1763; Robert, born in October, 1766; Elizabeth, born in 1768; John, in 1769; James, in 1771; Hugh, in November. 1772; Joseph, in 17 -; Rachel, in 1780; William, in 1782; Rosanna, in 1784;

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Of the above, Robert Alexander was the next in the line of ancestry which we are now tracing. Upon the death of his father he settled upon that part of the Kishacoquillas land which he named " Stone Mountain." He became a pros- perous farmer and respected citizen, and was a 'man of incorruptible integrity, sound judgment, and most remarkable powers of memory. So un- usual was the development of the faculty that after hearing a sermon he could repeat it almost ver- batim. This trait has been inherited by many of his descendants. He was justice of the peace for forty-five years, but so kind, just and peacea .- ble was he that in all that time only two cases came to the point of a trial before him, and both of these were finally settled without costs. In 1 823 he was sent to the Legislature by the larg- est Democratic majority ever given in his district, yet no persuasion could induce him to become a candidate for re-election. He married Elizabeth McClure (born March 8, 1768, died in 1832), and had the following children : Elizabeth, James, Mary, Robert, McClay, Nancy, Robert, William, and Cyrus and Silas (twins).

Of the above, James Alexander was born January 17, 1793, and died December 18, 1850. On November 27, 1821, he married Ann Lewis, who was born April 22, 1799, and died in 18 -. Their children were: Robert, born October 9, 1822, died January 20, 1847; Elizabeth, born June 9, 1824, married James Alexander in 1848, and lives in Kansas; Celia Ann, born March 3, 1826, married Owen Copelin, of Milroy, Penn .; James Read, born April 7, 1828, married May Wolfe; Euphemia, born April 21, 1830, died May 8, 1835; Louisa J., born July 7, 1832, mar- ried Daniel Leyden; Samuel, born August 15, 1834, died November 29, 1861, as assistant sur- geon of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, being killed in battle; Cyrus T. is mentioned more fully below; Mary Jane, born December 18, 1838, died May 26, 1841; Alice Annette, born July 29, 1844, died December 6, 1847.

HON. CYRUS T. ALEXANDER was born Sep- tember 10, 1836, in Mifflin county, Penn., and was educated at Dickinson Seminary, graduating in 1853. In August, 1859, he was admitted to the Bar of Centre county, and locating at Belle- fonte, began a successful professional career. For eleven years he was in partnership with Hon. J. H. Orvis (since a judge of the 25th District), and afterward Mr. Alexander became the senior member of the well-known firin of Alexander & Bower. Mr. Alexander was pre-eminent among his professional brethren for his ability in dealing with the vexatious problems arising in connec- tion with overlapping surveys under the land

grants in this State. Always a close student, a remarkable memory made his researches in any chosen branch a permanent possession. He was an ardent Democrat, and in 1861 and 1862 he became part owner of the Democratic Watchman, which he edited during that time in addition to his other duties. His abilities gave him promi- nence in political circles also, and in 1864-65 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to repre- sent Centre county in the State Legislature. In November, 1878, he was elected to the State Senate, and served four years with distinction. As a business man he displayed the same remark- able energy and sagacity which brought him suc- cess in other lines, and in 1868 he and his brother, J. R. Alexander, purchased about 200 acres of land lying north from Buffalo Run creek to the gap between Milesburg and Bellefonte. Here they developed the finest limekilns in the State, which they continued, in connection with a coal business, under the firm name of J. R. & C. T. Alexander. In 1880 they opened the first implement and seed store ever established at Bellefonte, and conducted it until January I, 1885, when they leased the plant to McCalmont & Co., and withdrew, About the same time C. T. Alexander contracted a severe cold which set- tled in his throat, and this, in spite of the best medical treatment, resulted in his death. He left a widow and two children-Roberta T., now Mrs. H. S. Yarrington, and J. W., a leading at- torney of Bellefonte, of whom further mention is made below. Mrs. Yarrington was born Sep- tember 15, 1859, and was carefully educated, being a graduate of Wilson College, at Cham- bersburg, Penn. Her husband, the late H. S. Yarrington, was for thirty years previous to his death the treasurer of the Richmond & Freder- icksburg and the Potomac, Richmond & Danville railroads. She has three children: Cyrus A., Louise, and Greyson.

Mrs. Cyrus T. Alexander, who still resides in Bellefonte, was formerly Miss Margaret Potter. She was born near Boalsburg. Penn .. May S, 1837, and was married to Mr. Alexander in Oc- tober, 1858. Her grandfather, Fergus Potter, an early settler in Penn's Valley, came from Ire- land about 17-, and spent his remaining years there. He left a large family, among whom was a son Samuel, Mrs. Alexander's father, who be- came a prominent citizen of Bellefonte, where for many years he was engaged in business as a tanner. He died in Centre county at the age of eighty-six; his wife is also deceased. They had five sons-William, John, James, Samuel and George-and four daughters-Jane (who mar- ried Abram V. Miller), Susan (deceased), Mar-

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garet (now Mrs. Alexander), and Sarah (who married Donald McBride, and resides in Law- rence, Kansas).

J. W. ALEXANDER, of Bellefonte, whose an- cestry we have thus traced, is a worthy repre- . sentative of this honored family. He was born August 24, 1864, and had his early home upon a farm in Spring township, Centre county, on the outskirts of Bellefonte. After attending the public schools of that borough for some time, he entered Bellefonte Academy and was in attend- ance there three years. In 1880, on the six- teenth anniversary of his birth, he was enrolled in the freshman class of Pennsylvania State Col- lege, and in 1884 he completed the scientific course, graduating with the degree of B. S. Owing to ill health he did not begin his profes- sional studies immediately, but after his father's death he prepared for the Bar under the direction of Judge John G. Love, and March 4, 1890, was admitted to the Bar. He inherited his father's law library, a large and valuable collection, and has already won a name as an accurate student. As he is somewhat retiring in disposition, he in- clines to those branches of professional work where good memory, deep research and sound logic are of more account than rhetorical ability, but he has nevertheless made a success of court- room business, making pleas which have been highly complimented for their strength and effect- iveness. He has always practiced alone, and does a general law business.

In the social world Mr. Alexander holds a high position. Genial and companionable, he has a host of friends, and he is identified with several fraternal orders. He has been an active member of the K. G. E. since its organization in Bellefonte, and was instrumental in organizing the Bellefonte Conclave of the Independent Order of Heptasophs. On July 10, 1894, he joined Company B, 5th Penn. N. G., entering as a pri- vate, and has been promoted until he now holds the rank of second sergeant. He is thoroughly versed in military tactics, having graduated as a captain of a military company at State College.

C A. WEAVER, deputy sheriff of Centre county, and a prominent resident of the pic- turesque city of Bellefonte, has been for some years an influential factor in political affairs in his county. His family, which is of German ex- traction, is well-known there, his grandfather, George Weaver, having come from southern Pennsylvania many years ago to make his home upon a farm in Haines township, where he and

his wife, Sallie (Harper), reared a family of three sons: Noah, who died at Woodward in 1894, was a farmer and at one time oil operator; Henry A. is mentioned more fully below; Adam shot him- self by accident while hunting foxes.

Henry A. Weaver, our subject's father, was born at the old home in Haines township in 1825. He served three years in the war for the Union. as a private in Company D, 148th P. V. I. By occupation he was a farmer; ,in religious faith he was a leading member of the Reformed Church: and he took much interest in political questions. voting with the Democratic party. By his first wife, Rosetta (Stover), also a native of Haines township, he had four children, of whom our subject was the eldest; Anna married Oliver Wolf; Katie married C. C. Bell, and George G. is a farmer in Haines township. The mother of this little family was called from earth in 1864. and the father subsequently married Effie Gram- ley, a native of Miles township, Centre county. Two children were born of this union: Maggie S. and T. C.

C. A. Weaver, our subject, was born February 13, 1853, and his education was secured in part at the schools near the old homestead, in part at those of Miles township. Centre county. Shortly after the death of his mother, the necessity for mak- ing his own way in the world became apparent, and when twelve years old he began working for his board and clothes in Brush Valley, where he remained two years. He then spent some time working for farmers and at driving teams, and for one year was a clerk in Wolfe's store. Re- turning to Haines township, he clerked for B. F. Philips, at Aaronsburg, for a year, and then for the same length of time he drove a meat wagon, but the next two years he passed in the coal region in Schuylkill county, working in a whole- sale flour and feed store. He then went to Penn Hall, and remained there six years as clerk for Major Fisher, his next employment being in a store at Shamokin, Northumberland county. De- siring to go into business for himself, he returned to Aaronsburg and engaged in huckstering, con- tinuing thereat three years, later becoming inter- ested in the bottling business and the manufact- ure of soft drinks. After three years of success- ful effort in these lines he sold out, and has ever since been in political life. For three years he had held the office of assessor, and in 1893 he was a candidate for the office of register, but was defeated. On June 9. 1896, he received the nomination for county treasurer. His interest in public affairs extends beyond political lines, how- ever, and he is always ready to forward any measure for local improvement. He is an active

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

member of the Reformed Church, while, socially, he is identified with the Order of the Golden Eagle.

In 1891 Mr. Weaver married Miss Mabel Ed- munds, a native of Haines township, born in 1872, and their home is brightened by a daugh- ter, Edna Lucretia.

J OHN SPANGLER. The lives of honored ancestry and of Revolutionary heroes fur- nished many valuable lessons both of en- couragement and inspiration; but one need not look to the past, for ofttimes in the lives of those around us is shown what can be accomplished by diligence, perseverance and putting to practical use the opportunities which come to all. Mr. Spangler is one in whose career may be traced these qualities, and who, as a result, occupies a place among the leading and substantial citizens of Centre county.

Our subject was born in what was then Un- ion, but is now Snyder, county, Penn., March 18, 1828, and is a representative of one of the old families of Lebanon county, Penn., where his grandfather, Christian Spangler, was born and reared. He had a family of four sons- John; Christian, who enlisted for service in the war of 1812, and died at Sunbury, Penn., while en route to the field of battle; Daniel and Jona- than. The sons all reached adult age and had families, as did several daughters, two of whom went to Ohio in an early day.

Jacob Spangler, father of our subject, was the second child of the family, and was born about 1783, in Union county, two miles below Centre- ville. He learned the weaver's trade, and in what is now Snyder county wedded Miss Mary Schroyer. From the home farm he obtained a horse, and began the operation of a hill farm near New Berlin. Subsequently he purchased the homestead property of his father-in-law, and there his wife died at the age of forty years, and he at the age of sixty-seven years. He made farming his life work, and became the possessor of a valuable property and considerable money, which would have amounted to a much larger sum had he not lost considerable through going security for others. In politics he was a Demo- crat. He held several offices in the Lutheran Church, to which he belonged, and was a man whose well-directed business efforts brought him success, while his honorable life won his high re- gard.

The children of Jacob and Mary Spangler were nine in number, namely: Catharine, who married John Kessler, and died in New Berlin,

Penn .; Elizabeth, who wedded John Seebold, and died near New Berlin; Nancy, who became the wife of Joseph Seebold, and died near New Berlin; Susanna, who married Michael Miller, and died near New Berlin; Elias, who resides near that town; Jacob, who died near the same town in the spring of 1896; John; William, of Millerstown, Penn .; George, who is living near New Berlin; Samuel, of Milroy, Penn. ; and Lewis, who died in New Berlin in 1895.

John Spangler could attend school but irregu- larly during his boyhood, for his services were required on the home farm until eighteen years of age. He then began learning the blacksmith's trade under the direction of John Kessler, who owned a smithy three miles below Middleburg, in Snyder county. His apprenticeship covered three years, and during the first two years he re- ceived no wages, but was allowed four weeks during harvest time when he might earn money in the fields. During the third year he was given $10 per month in the summer and $11 in the winter. He saved almost every cent of his earn- ings, and thus on the expiration of a year was enabled to engage in business on his own account in Adamsburg, Snyder county, where for fourteen years he followed his trade. On April 1, 1862, he came to Centre Hill, where he rented a black- smith shop and also kept a tavern.

After two years he came to Centre Hall, where from 1864 until 1867 he had charge of a hotel. He then purchased a hotel property for $7,000, and a month later sold it for $8, 100. In the spring of 1867 he removed to Millheim, and pur- chased the ' Kreamer Hotel," but after one sum- mer he sold and removed to Bellefonte, where he leased the " Garman Hotel " and purchased the furniture; but possession was not given, and in consequence he never conducted business there. From the spring of 1868 until 1878 he carried on the "Centre Hall Hotel," and was then elected sheriff of the county, entering upon the discharge of his duties on the first Monday in January, 1879. After an incumbency of three years he returned to Centre Hall, where for sev- eral years he engaged in stock dealing, buying cattle in the West and selling in Centre county. Later he purchased a butcher shop, which, in connection with his son Reuben, he operated for four years. His next investment made him the owner of ninety-six acres of land in The Loop. and he has since been interested in agricultural pursuits.

On April 25, 1848, in Snyder county, Mr. Spangler was married to Miss Susanna (Barger) who was born August 2, 1828, in Snyder county, a daughter of Abraham (a shoemaker) and Cath-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

arine (Boyer) Barger, whowere the parents of four children: Simon, now of Kansas; Levi, who died in Mifflin county, Penn. ; Barbara, who became the wife of Henry Mitchell, and died in Snyder coun- ty; and Susanna (Mrs. Spangler). Our subject and his wife have four children; Hon. J. L., a · man of prominence; Howard J., editor of the Parsons Constitution, of Parsons, W. Va. ; Annie, widow of H. D. Van Pelt, of Centre Hall; and Reuben B., manager for a coal company in Cam- bria county, Pennsylvania.

In his political adherency, Mr. Spangler is a stalwart Democrat, and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church, in which he has served as trustee and deacon, and he formerly held membership in the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities. He has a pleasant home, and has reared a family of which he has just reason to be proud. Realizing the disadvantage caused by limited school privileges he has given his children excellent educational opportunities, and the family ranks high in the community. Mr. Spangler's acquaintance is ex- tensive, and his friends accord him the esteem which is ever given to true worth.

HARLES THEODORE FRYBERGER, a leading and influential resident of Philips- burg, Centre county, is well worthy of promi- nent mention in the pages of this work, as a more eventful history than his would be difficult to find, for in both war and peace he seems to have the faculty of being in the midst of the most important happenings.

Capt. Fryberger was born January 15, 1844, at "Near Mackelavy's Forge," on the Schuylkill river in Schuylkill county, Penn., and was named after Charles Theodore Knuskie, of Berks county, Penn. He is of German descent, his paternal grandparents having come from Germany to America early in the present century. Their son John, father of our subject, was born in Schuyl- kill county, Penn., in 1809, and not long after- ward they consigned him to the care of some maiden aunts, and set out on a return voyage to the Fatherland, but were never heard from again. John Fryberger married Sarah Moyer, who was born in Berks county, Penn., June 13. 1817, a descendant of an old and highly re- spected Pennsylvania-Dutch family, and she now resides at Milesburg, Peun. Of her nine chil- dren, the eldest, Reuben by name, died when four years old; John died in infancy; Amanda married Adam Grim, and lives in Jasper county, Mo .; Mary is the only deceased sister, and was the

wife of Emanuel Shuey; the subject of this sketch comes next in order of birth; Anna married Jo- seph Garbrick; Eliza wedded Dr. Fisher, of Zion, Penn .; Sadie married George W. Camp- bell, of Milesburg; and Mahlon C. died at the age of thirty-two years.

On April 1, 1845, John and Sarah (Moyer) Fryberger moved to Reber's Mill, on the Union canal, six miles northwest of Reading, Penn., and April 2, 1850, the family, then con- sisting of father, mother, our subject, and three daughters, went to Farmers Mills (" Fishers Mill"), in Pennsylvania, one and one-half miles from "The Penn Cave, " in Centre county. On April 1, 1852, the family again moved, this time to the brick gristmill belonging to James Gordon, within a half mile from Hecla Fur- nace (and now known as Hecla Park, on the line of the Central Railroad of Pennsyl- vania). About the year 1855 the family re- moved to Sugar Valley, Clinton Co., Penn., where for three years they lived at or near Tylersville, in 1858 returning to Centre county, and making their home at what is known as the old Mckinney Mill, belonging to the Hecla Fur- nace Co. (destroyed by fire in 1866).

We now come to the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, at which time the subject of this sketch springs into prominence, having previous- ly been employed at milling, and such out-door work as the management of the, then, Hecla Iron Co. saw fit to have him do. Having to work hard in order to provide for the family (the fa- ther having been disabled by an accident in the machinery at the mill), also being constantly put to work that should have been given to stronger men, he tired of the yoke and decided to volun- teer into the Union army, under the lead of Dr. James P. Gregg and of Austin Curtin, with Evan R. Goodfellow and others-all uniting to sound the war slogan. At Harrisburg a company was formed September 14, 1860, with Austin Curtin, captain: Dr. James P. Gregg, first lieutenant; Evan R. Goodfellow, second lieutenant, with Charles T. Fryberger as one of the privates of Company D), 45th Regiment, P. V. Infy., which served during the entire struggle. Promotions came rapidly to Private Fryberger, he being ad- vanced successively to corporal, sergeant, order- ly-sergeant, first lieutenant, and, lastly, captain of the company. For a time his regiment was attached to Sherman's forces in South Carolina, and then served under Grant in the West, later being assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and taking part in the campaign which ended in Lee's surrender. Capt. Fry berger participated in some of the most important battles of the war, includ-

LI. Trybergen

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing the engagements at South Mountain, Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Jackson, Blue Springs, Lenore Station, Campbell's Station, the siege of Knoxville (where for four days his rations were limited to one ear of corn a day), the bat- tles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, and the sanguinary conflict at the Weldon railroad. At the close of the war he gave up army life, having received an honorable discharge by general order from the War Depart- ment, and in 1865 retired to civil life, in good health, having escaped everything that could in- jure him in any way, save an attack of chills and fever while serving in East Tennessee in the win- ter of 1864.

Two days after his discharge our subject ar- rived at Bellefonte, Centre Co., Penn., where the family were then residing, and commenced- clerking for John W. Cook & Co., dealers in dry goods, etc. On April 1, 1866, he commenced in the cigar and tobacco trade at Bellefonte, for his own account, retiring from same in 1870, and forming the firm of Fryberger & Grim, general merchants. In 1873 an additional firm (Fryber- ger & Moran) was started in the general grocery business. Both these stores were in Bellefonte, and both proved profitable ventures. The sud- den death of Mr. Moran, of the one firm, and the withdrawal of Mr. Grim (who removed to Missouri) from the other, brought about the first reverses and second serious trouble in Capt. Fryberger's life (for in the meantime he had lost his first wife, as will be related in due course); so, disposing of both stores in Bellefonte, he as- sociated himself with the extensive lumber firm of Hoover, Hughes & Co., of Philipsburg, Penn., at which time a general store was started in con- nection with their lumber and planing-mill busi- ness. For eight years after this Capt. Fryberger managed the various stores connected with the mills. his interest therein being one-fourth of the profits. At the same time he was chief of the office force for the lumber and inill company; also assistant manager of the various sawmills, as well as confidential assistant to G. W. Hoover. On February 15, 1884. Capt. Fryberger formed a partnership with L. G. Kessler, under the firm style of Kessler & Fryberger, proprietors of a general store in Philipsburg, Penn., which con- tinued until February 15, 1888, when the firm dissolved, Capt. Fryberger retiring.

In the meantime, from 1884 to 1888, our sub- ject also held a one-third interest in the firm of Fryberger & Co., of Tipton, Blair Co., Penn., and of Fryberger, Aurand & Co. , of Irvona, Clear- field Co., Penn. In 1887, in company with John 29

Butterworth and John Fenton, he opened up the land on Kentuck Hill, in Decatur township, Clearfield Co., Penn., and they formed the com- pany known as the Kentuck Coal Co., which did a successful business until the death of Mr. But- terworth, when the interests of both partners were secured, and the business was continued un- der the same firm name. On November 11, 1889, Capt. Fryberger's present grain, flour and feed business was established on North Front street, where a general wholesale and retail trade has since been successfully conducted in connection with the coal firm, and is still increasing. In 1893 the heirs of the J. F. Steiner estate selected our subject to act as agent for the entire estate, and he was in part instrumental in effecting a lease to remove the coal underlying the lands of the estate; by his personal effort about 300 acres of the surface of the -Centre county side of the estate's land was placed on the market and sold to various parties.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 92

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