Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 93

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 93
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 93
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 93
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1 > Part 93

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Capt. C. T. Fryberger has been twice mar- ried, first time on January 23, 1869, to Mary J. Brackbill, of Bellefonte, and one son, John Ed- gar, was born to them February 7, 1870, who is now a clerk in the First National Bank, of Phil- ipsburg. On April 25, 1875, the mother died, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Bellefonte. On April 22, 1879, at " Hill Side," the home of the bride, our subject wedded Miss Ida V. Stein- er, of Clearfield county, by whom he had seven children: Alton (deceased), Mahlon S., Eliza- beth S., Mary S., William S., Philip S., and Dorothy S.

Socially, our subject was, in 1873, eminent commander of Constance Commandery No. 33, Knights Templar, at Bellefonte. In 1890 he was commander of John W. Geary Post No. 90, G. A. R. ; in 1891 was president of Mountain Lodge No. 144. Order of Tonti; in 1892 was regent of Centre Council No. 803, Royal Arcanum: in ISSs was elected trustee of the Grand Army Post No. 90, and has since been continuously re-elected to that incumbency, holding it at the present time. In 1892 he was appointed aid-de-camp to A. G. Weissert, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic of the United States of America, with rank of colonel. Politically, Capt. Fryber- ger is a Republican, and his popularity, both within and without the party, has been frequently practically demonstrated. In 1888 he was on the Republican ticket for Assemblyman to the Pennsylvania Legislature, facing a Democratic majority of 1, 100, and was defeated by but 21 votes, reducing the formidable majority practic- ally to a minimum.

The Captain is a leading member of Trinity

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M. E. Church at Philipsburg; for five years, from 1876 to 1881, he was secretary of the board of stewards of the Church, and in 1889 he was ap- pointed one of the eight trustees, which office he has held continuously ever since.

To give a detailed account of all the pleasure trips that have filled Capt. Fryberger's leisure time would fill a book in itself, so we can but simply refer to the more important among them: In 1876, in company with his wife, Ida, he visited the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia; in 1878 they were present at the Juniata Valley Camp Meeting of the M. E. Church; in 1879 they visited Philadelphia on the occasion of the reception accorded Gen. Grant on his return from his trip around the world; the same year they enjoyed a three-months' sojourn at Pen- field, Clearfield Co., Penn., on Bennett's branch of the Susquehanna river. In 1884, along with John,. Mahlon, Elizabeth, Mary and William, Capt. and Mrs. Fryberger passed a week visiting the historic battlefield at Gettysburg. In 1890 Capt. and Mrs. Fryberger paid Boston a visit, "taking in" Bunker Hill, Boston Common, Cape Cod, Plymouth and Plymouth Rock, where the Pilgrims from Holland landed in 1616. Re- turning homeward via New York, they visited Grant's tomb; the Hudson river; the Brooklyn bridge across East river; Wall street; Trinity Church; Castle Garden; the Bartholdi “Statue of Liberty," which they ascended until the giddy height caused our subject to beat a retreat, whilst his wife, though of the " weaker sex," continued the ascent regardless of any danger, imaginary or real. In 1891 they were present at the Pitts- burg Industrial Fair, at the same time visiting uncle S. H. Keller at Williamsburg, Penn. In 1892 they found themselves at Washington, D. C., with headquarters opposite the White House, and during their week's stay there they called at the Soldiers' Home, Smithsonian Institute, Ar- lington National Cemetery and the War Depart- ment; attended a reception held at the White House, and Mrs. John A. Logan's reception at the Capitol. They also visited the Treasury Building, Washington's tomb at Mt. Vernon, the Confederate Monument at Alexandria, Va., the Alexandria Episcopal Church, at Alexandria, Va., and sat in the pews occupied by Gen. (and Pres. ) George Washington and Gen. Robert E. Lee, respectively. While in the Senate Chamber of the United States they sat in the chairs occu- pied by the two Pennsylvania Senators-Hon. Donald Cameron and Hon. Matthew S. Onay.

In 1893 Capt. and Mrs. Fryberger visited the "World's Fair" at Chicago "the greatest city we ever saw," says the Captain, spending one

week viewing, among other objects and places of interest, Lincoln Park, Lake Michigan, and had a sail on the "Whaleback, " the only vessel of the kind in the world for passenger service exclusive- ly; the Masonic Temple; Haymarket Square (where the Anarchists threw the bomb some years ago, killing several policemen); the Audi- torium; the Stockyards; "Libby Prison," which originally stood in Richmond, Va., &c., &c. In 1894 they attended the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at Pitts- burg, Penn., one of the most pleasing and enter- taining reunions ever held by that body, and they also visited Hiland and Schenley Parks; also Wilkinsburg, Penn .; the heights above the city of Pittsburg; the Monongahela: and the Car- negie Library, together with all the attractions of the city of Allegheny. On August 22, 1897, they visited the Falls of Niagara, the "Bison City" (Buffalo), and all the attractions of those great and grand places. During their week's sojourn in and about Buffalo, the President of the United States, Maj. William Mckinley, re- ceived the old soldiers of the war of the Rebel- lion, who were there in force as an organization of the G. A. R. During this trip Capt. and Mrs. Fryberger visited the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and beheld all the wonders of that marvelously thrilling, oily, greasy section of this fair land.

Thus the life of Charles Theodore Fryberger bears testimony in language not to be misunder- stood, to what it is possible for man, with willing heart and hands to accomplish; how, from the bottom rung of the ladder, upward, to work out for himself an honorable competency, a solid reputation and a good name.

J TOHN KERSTETER (deceased) in his life- time was a highly esteemed resident of Penn township, Centre county, where he was born November 13, 1813. His family were among the early settlers of Lyken's Valley, Northum- berland Co., Penn., and his father, Leonard Ker- steter, was born there February 17, 1783. Hav- ing been married in that county to Miss Elizabeth Schrecengost, he came about the year I Soo to this section, locating in what is now Haines township, Centre county. A few years later his father, Leonard Kersteter, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, came to Centre county, but he afterward moved to Stark county, where he died.

Leonard Kersteter, Jr., followed the car- penter's trade for many years, but finally engaged in farming, in which he was quite successful. He was very tall, and in his younger days was re- markably powerful, but his long years of toil ex-

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hausted his strength, and he died May 12, 1869, literally worn out. In political faith he was a Democrat, and in his active years he attended the Lutheran Church regularly, he and his esti- mable wife both being members. He was born October 30, 1781, and died January 9, 1857, his remains being laid to rest at Aaronsburg. They had children as follows: Leonard, a carpenter, died in Haines township, Centre county; Susan (Mrs. David Neese) died in Penn township, Cen- tre county; Catherine (Mrs. Benjamin Moore) died in Ashland county, Ohio; Elizabeth (Mrs. George Braucht) died in Penn township; Lydia and Sarah (twins), born January 28, 1811, are both living in Centre county, the former being the widow of John Young, of Woodward, and the latter the widow of Jacob Rhone, of Potter township; John is mentioned more fully below; Jacob died at Coburn, Penn., at the age of twenty-one; Daniel resides at Loganton, Penn. ; Samuel is a resident of Wayne county, Ohio; Mollie married John Nugert, and died in Penn township, Centre county; and Polly (Mrs. Jacob Stover) died in Haines township.

The free-school system had not yet been es- tablished when our subject was of an age to avail himself of its privileges, and he found but meagre opportunities for an education in the schools of his locality. He was reared to farm work, but at nineteen began to learn the shoe- maker's trade with George Eisenhuth, of Mill- heim. The business proving uncongenial, he en- gaged in carpentering, in which he became pro- ficient under the instruction of his brother Leon- ard. On March 30, 1835, Mr. Kersteter was married in Haines township, by Rev. Mr. Asely, a Lutheran minister, to Miss Annie Musser, a native of the township, born May 7, 1813. Her father, Jacob Musser, was a farmer by occupa- tion, and his family comprised eight children: Michael, Andrew, Mollie, Rebecca, Annie, Philip, . John and Lydia.

For two years after his marriage, Mr. Ker- steter lived with his father on the homestead just west of Coburn, but in 1837 he moved to his late farm in the same vicinity. On June 17, 1891, his pleasant home was bereft of the be- loved wife and mother, a devout Christian lady and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Eight children survive out of a family of nine: Michael resides in Pleasant Gap, Penn .; Jacob lives at Coburn; Rebecca married John Brant, of Penn township; Harriet is the wife of Daniel Hosterman, of Penn township; William died in that township; Emanuel is a farmer there; John, a skilled mechanic, is a carpenter and contractor at Millheim; and Daniel resides in Penn township.

Mr. Kersteter did much hard work in his day, and was a well-preserved man. He possessed a handsome competence, secured by strictly honest methods, and his life may well be held up as an example to the youth of to-day. Several years ago he retired from active work, his declining years being thus made free from care. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, first, last and all the time, having voted that ticket at every Presiden- tial election from Van Buren down. He served as supervisor, overseer of the poor and school director in his township, doing efficient and sat- isfactory service in every case. In religious work he was prominent as a member and official of the Lutheran Church, with which he united be- fore he was twenty years old. Mr. Kersteter died November 29, 1896.

L UTHER GUISWITE, one of the most pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens of Co- burn, Centre county, has done much to promote the welfare and upbuilding of the community, giving his support to all worthy enterprises cal- culated in any way to advance its interests. A native son of the county, he was born in Haines. township April 22, 1857, a son of John and Susan (Wolfe) Guiswite, who spent their entire lives in that township. In their family were four chil- dren: George, Rebecca, Elvina and Luther. Of these, the first named is now deceased; Rebecca is the wife of Nathaniel Buchtel, of Union county, Penn .; and Elvina is the wife of Daniel Brum- gard, of Loganton, Penn. Reared to agricult- ural pursuits, the father followed farming throughout life in connection with the lumber business, and succeeded in accumulating consid- era ble capital; but misfortune overtook him, and he lost heavily.

Upon the home farm in Haines township, Luther Guiswite grew to manhood, and in the district schools of the neighborhood he obtained his education. In 1880 he began lumbering. which business, in connection with the operation of a sawmill, he followed until 1893. During his career as a lumberman he was an extensive oper- ator, often making considerable money, while at other times he lost large amounts. In 1893 he embarked in the grain and produce business, buy- ing out M. G. Decker, of Coburn, and in con- nection with this he has also dealt in lumber and bark. On December 17, 1895, a disastrous fire destroyed his entire plant, but with characteristic energy he soon overcame his loss, and is now at the head of a profitable business. His newly erected elevator is by far the most commodious in Penn's Valley, and he also has one of the best

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equipped creameries in Centre county. In buy- ing grain. bark, lumber, produce and also milk for his creamery, he disperses thousands of dol- lars among the farmers of the entire eastern por- tion of Centre county, and thus materially pro- motes the interests of that section. The volume of business done by Mr. Guiswite is probably without an equal in a village of the size of Coburn in central Pennsylvania, and he certainly deserves a prominent place among the leading and repre- sentative citizens of the county.

In 1885, Mr. Guiswite married Miss Mary Gramley, of Miles township, Centre county, a daughter of Reuben Gramley, a farmer by occu- pation. One child has been born of their union, named Grace E. Mr. and Mrs. Guiswite are consistent members of the Lutheran Church, and their circle of friends is only limited by their circle of acquaintances. An ardent Republican in politics, he takes a deep and commendable interest in the success of his party, but cares nothing for public office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his extensive busi- ness interests.

G DORSEY GREEN, of Patton township, Centre county, has descended from a fam- ily prominent in civil and military affairs of the Commonwealth.

In 1791-2 Col. Samuel Miles and Col. John Patton, two officers of the Revolutionary war, erected Centre furnace, in what is now Boggs township, Centre county, which, with a store at that point, was in operation under the name of Miles, Patton & Miles as early as May 2, 1792- the first blast furnace erected in the county. Col. Patton died in 1802, and Col. Miles, who was a resident of Montgomery county, and whose interests were represented by his sons, Joseph and John, residents of Centre county, died in 1805. The furnace was blown out in ISog, and laid idle until about 1825. when Joseph Green, Sr., and Joseph Miles started it again. Col. Miles had, in 1792, purchased large tracts of land on Spring and Bald Eagle creeks, and he, with his sons, laid out Milesburg and established the Milesburg Iron Works in 1797, which, for a time, were carried on in connection with the Centre furnace. After Joseph Green, Sr., came in 1825, the firm name was Joseph Miles & Co. John Miles died in 1829. In 1832 Joseph Miles sold his interest to Gen. James Irvin, and until 1836 James Irvin & Co. conducted the business. Joseph Green, Sr., then retired, and was suc- ceeded by Gen. Huston.

In the Revolutionary war Gen. Miles was

colonel of one of the rifle battalions, and was taken prisoner at Long Island in 1776. He was subsequently judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals, and mayor of Philadelphia. Joseph Green. Sr., his nephew, was a carpenter, and came from Chester county with Joseph and John Miles to assist in building the Iron works, and, as stated above, later became a partner. He built and lived in a house that stood upon a lot occupied in 1882 by Harry Levi's residence; the kitchen, constructed of stone, was then still stand- ing. In 1836 he moved to Milesburg, and be- came the first postmaster at that place. His wife, Hannah (Griffith), was also from Chester county, Penn., and their children were: Capt. William G., of the U. S. A. (died in 1815 at Lexington, Ky.); Gen. Samuel Miles; Esther, married to Joseph Butler; Joseph; Eliza, mar- ried to H. L. McMinn; and Hannah, married to John Irvin, Jr.

Of this family, Gen. Samuel Miles Green was the father of G. Dorsey Green. The General was born at the iron works near Milesburg, April 13, 1797. He read law with Hon. John Blanchard, and was admitted to the Bar in 1821, contemporary with the late Hon. A. S. Wilson and John G. Miles. Shortly afterward he was appointed deputy attorney-general for Clearfield county, and subsequently removed to Meadville, Penn., where he remained five years, during which time he was employed by the attorney- general in the prosecution of some important criminal cases, in which he acquitted himself with great credit. He retired from the Bar in 1834, became the manager of the Centre County Iron Works, and in 1836 he removed to Barre Forge, on the Little Juniata, in Huntingdon county, where he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of iron until 1874. when he returned to his native county, and passed the evening of his life on a farm on Buffalo run, with his son, G. Dorsey, dying December 21, 1878, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He was a good type of the old-school gentleman, with a hearty and sincere manner. Carrying the weight of almost an additional span to the years of man's allotted life, he stood as erect as a boy of twenty, and retained to a remarkable degree the manly strength and vigor of early life, worthy his Revo- lutionary ancestry. While a resident of Hunt- ingdon county he was commissioned a brigadier- general of militia by Gov. Porter. Gen. Green was a very genial and kind-hearted gentleman, beloved by all. In politics he was originally a Whig, later a Republican.

He married Rachel E., daughter of Green- berry and Elizabeth (Bartholomew) Dorsey, of

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Philadelphia. Rachel E. Dorsey was born at Barre Forge, and there died. The children of the General and his wife were: G. Dorsey, Hannah E. and Joseph A. Greenberry Dorsey and Edward Bartholomew (the father of Eliza- beth) erected Barre forge on the Little Juniata in I 790.

G. Dorsey Green was born at Centre Furnace, March 13, 1832. He attended the academy at Lewisburg, and subsequently entered college at Lawrenceville, N. J. from which institution he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. He afterward was in the employ of his father and Gen. Irvin, the latter's associate in business at Barre Iron Works, first as clerk, then as store- keeper, and later as manager. In 1856 he be- came proprietor of the works, and until 1874 was most extensively and successfully engaged in the manufacture of iron. From his works went out the blooms from which the wire was made that was used in the construction of the suspension bridge across the river at Niagara Falls; also the iron work in the bridge across the Allegheny river at Pittsburg came from the Barre works. The works made money rapidly; but the proprietor was heavily caught in the failure of Jay Cooke, after which he sold the plant and retired to a beautiful farm of about 400 acres of land on Buffalo run, near Bellefonte, where he has since made his home and followed farming.

Mr. Green in his active business life, and in his earlier career, had opportunities not afforded to many young men. In 1860 it was his privilege to attend the National Republican Convention at Chicago, at which President Lincoln was nom- inated. His brother was a delegate to that con- vention, and he accompanied him. He was an aide on the staff of Gov. Packer, which entitled him to the rank of colonel, a title, however, he was too modest to assume. In politics he is a Republican. He is identified with the Presbyte- rian Church, and for years was superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is one of the highly es- teemed citizens in the community in which he re- sides, and one of the substantial men of Centre county.

Mr. Green was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gregg, a daughter of Matthew Gregg, of Centre county, and their children are: Ella Gregg, now the wife of W. E. Gray, a lawyer of Bellefonte; Samuel Miles, in the employ of a railroad company in California; Elizabeth Dor- sey, unmarried; Allen McGregor, a resident of California; and George Dorsey, now attending medical lectures at the University of Pensyl- vania (he graduated from the State College in 1896, taking the class honors).

J AMES LINGLE. As a representative of the intelligent and hardy pioneers who opened

up Boggs township, Centre county, for set- tlement, and have since taken a conspicuous part in developing it, we are pleased to place in this volume the life history of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, one of the leading dairymen and farmers of the township, as well as one of the most prominent citizens.

Mr. Lingle was born November 9, 1825, on a farm that was then in Centre county (but is now a part of Clinton county), Penn., a son of Paul and Mary (Spoon) Lingle, natives of Dauphin county, Penn., of German descent. They were married in Dauphin county, and in 1802 moved to Kishacoquillas Valley, this State, where they remained until 1823, which year witnessed their arrival in Bald Eagle Valley, now in Clinton county. In 1838 they went to Holmes county. Ohio, where six months were passed, after which they returned to Centre county, spending the fol- lowing three years at Beach Creek. They then removed to what was known as the Brown farm, in the same county, near Blanchard. then called Eagleville, where the father's death occurred February 1, 1856. He was born Janu- ary 25, 1775; his wife was born March 31, 1781, and died October 14, 1863. In their family were the following children: Mary, born June 26, 1800, became the wife of Samuel McNitt (now deceased), and she died in 1862; John, born November 16, 1801, is also deceased; Catherine. born August 28, 1803, died November 16, 1804: Simon, born December 22, 1805, died September 28, 1883; Thomas, born October 21, 1807, is deceased; Jane, born July 8, 1809, married John Baker, and is now deceased: Joseph, born March 2, 1811, died August 25, 1892; David, born De- cember 18, 1812, makes his home in Nebraska; Elizabeth, born January 26, 1815, is the wife of A. Packer. of Michigan; William, born March S, 1817, is deceased; Ann M., born March 4, IS19, was the wife of W. Williams, of Clinton county, Penn., and died September 17, 1897; Alexander, born February 28, 1821, is a resident of Dauphin county, Penn. ; George, born April 6, 1823, lives at Beach Creek, Clinton county: and James, of this review, completes the family. By trade the father was a carpenter, which he followed until 1823, the year of his moving to Bald Eagle Val- ley, where he passed the rest of his days. He was a stalwart Democrat, and was called upon to serve in several local offices. In religious faith, he held membership in the Christian Church.

Until twenty-two years of age, James Lingle remained under the parental roof, and during two autumns worked at the carpenter's trade. The

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summer seasons he spent as a captain of a canal boat for about twelve years, when he purchased a boat of his own, which he operated the follow- ing five years. One year was then spent on his present farm, at the end of which time he sold out and went to Tazewell county, Ill., where he engaged in farming for three years. Since that time, however, he has continuously lived upon his present valuable farm, a tract of 104 acres, which he has placed under a high state of culti- vation and improved with many substantial mod- ern buildings. In 1875 he also embarked in the dairy business, which has proved a profitable venture, and to-day he is regarded as one of the reliable and well-to-do citizens of Boggs town- ship. His dairy is one of the neatest and tidiest in the county, and his entire farm is the reflex of a careful and judicious manager.

On February 17, 1858, Mr. Lingle was united in marriage with Miss Marcella Malone, who was born November 3, 1839, on the homestead where she still resides, a daughter of Frederick and Eliza (Borlen) Malone. Nine children blessed this union, namely: Lycurgus, born March 12, 1859, is a farmer of Penn's Valley, Penn .; Ed- ward P., born February 18, 1861, a telegraph operator, is married, and is living with our sub- ject; Mary S., born October 12, 1863, is the wife of Thomas Boggs, a merchant of Milesburg, Centre county; Harry M., born April 16, 1866, is living in Kansas City, Mo .; Charles B., born in Tazewell county, Ill., March 8, 1869, is at home: John, born April 20, 1872, is a druggist in Philadelphia; Elizabeth A., born December 27, 1874, is the wife of Frank Wetsler, of Central City, Penn .; and Florence, born February 28, 1878, and James B., born March 20, 1881, are both at home.

Mr. Lingle is a progressive, public-spirited citizen, giving freely to all enterprises having for their object the advancement and welfare of the community, with whose interests he is identified; and while he has never aspired to public office he has filled the several positions to which he has been elected, with great credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a worthy member of the Disciple Church, and in politics is an ardent Democrat. He has watched with interest the growth and development of Centre county, and holds the esteem and respect of the entire community.

Thomas Lingle, grandfather of our subject, was a general farmer, and owned a farm whereon Harrisburg, Penn., now stands. His son Paul (our subject's father) drove his five-horse team from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, hauling his grain and other farm products to market.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 1, Part 93

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