Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 12

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 12

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now resides at Eleanora Mines; they have one daughter, Helen I. (11) Alice J., born Septem- ber 17, 1872, died March 23, 1877. (12) Hat- tie Y., born May 28, 1876, died June 28, 1876. (13) Walter H., born June 30, 1877, is still re- siding with his parents.

A C. DALE, whose identification with the agricultural interests of Graham township, Clearfield county, covers a period of alniost forty years, was born in Philipsburg, Centre county, in 1826, a son of John and Elizabeth (Waring) Dale.

The father of our subject was born in Lan- cashire, England, July 16, 1796, and with his parents, Joseph and Mary (Rider) Dale, came to America in 1819, the family locating in Philips- burg. Penn. The grandfather was a weaver. bleacher and hatter, but after coming to the United States he developed a farm in Rush township, Centre county, and also opened a coal mine, hauling the product to Bald Eagle Fur- nace. He made his home on his farm until his death in 1833; his wife died there about 1837. They had twelve children, all now deceased: Mrs. Bety Nield, who died in Gloucester City, N. J .; Mrs. Martha Dale and Mrs. Mary Mill- ward, who died in Clearfield county; Mrs. Marga- ret Wanndy, who died in Philipsburg; Joseph, who was killed by a falling tree at a place now called Powelton, Penn .; Luke and Mark, who died in England; David, who died in Philips- burg; James and Mrs. Hannah Dale, who died in Centre county; and Mrs. Susanna Hudson, who died in Philipsburg.

John Dale, the father of our subject, re- inained in England until twenty-three years of age, and learned the hatter's trade there. After coming to America he was employed as a journey- man in Pittsburg and other places, and later established himself in business as a hatter in Philipsburg. He walked to Philadelphia two or three times to purchase goods, which were con- veyed to their destination by wagon. In 1824. in Philipsburg, he married Elizabeth Waring, a native of Herefordshire, England, as were also her parents, William and Gwen (Hancorn) War- ing. Her father engaged in farming in different estates owned by the nobility, and in 1821 brought his family to the United States, landing at New York, whence he came to Philipsburg. He developed a farm in Decatur township, Clear- field county, and continued its cultivation until his death. John Dale removed to Bradford township, Clearfield county, in 1834, rented land and erected a shop, in which he followed his

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trade. In 1835 he purchased sixty acres of land, and subsequently extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase. He was one of

the highly respected agriculturists of the com- munity, and had a wide acquaintance. His death occurred in 1880, that of his wife in IS81. They reared a family of six sons and four daugh- ters, namely: A. C .; John, deceased; Edmund, of Bradford township; Gwen Hancorn, widow of John Graham; Mary. deceased; Ann, wife of John Stewart, of Bradford; David, who is living in Bradford township; William, who died at the age of sixteen years; Elizabeth (now deceased); and George, who died in childhood.

A. C. Dale, whose name begins this review, spent the first eight years of his life in his native town, and then went with his parents to Brad- ford township, where he acquired his education in the public schools. He was early trained to habits of industry and economy, and the experi- ence thus gained has been of valuable use to him in his business career. He has always followed farming and lumbering, and for many years worked on the river. In 1849 he purchased his present farm, then consisting of a tract of wild timber land. After his marriage he located on that property, and is to-day the owner of 210 acres of valuable land, of which 100 acres are under a high state of cultivation and well im- proved.

In Morris township, Clearfield county, in 1858, Mr. Dale was married to Miss Elizabeth Johnston, who was born in West Philadelphia, a daughter of George and Agnes (Goodwin) Johnston, the former a native of Philadelphia, the latter of Ireland. They came to Morris township in 1843, and purchased a partially im- proved farm, upon which they spent their re- maining days. Mr. and Mrs. Dale have had a family of two sons and six daughters, namely: Alice, wife of A. A. Murray, of Girard township, Clearfield county; Agnes, wife of A. E. Wool- ridge, of Woodland, Penn .; George, who is mar- ried and resides in Graham township: Bessie, wife of Dr. Shivery, of Woodland; Ida, wife of John S. Chaplin, of West Clearfield; Mary and Carrie, at home; and one that died in infancy.

Mr. Dale is independent in politics, support- ing the men whom he thinks best qualified for office. He has served as overseer of the poor, and as a member of the school board, discharg- ing his duties with commendable promptness and fidelity. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which society he is a trustee, and he is a man whom to know is to respect and honor, for his life has been well spent.

G EORGE BURTON SHIVERY, M. D., a practicing physician and surgeon of Wood- land, Bradford township, was born in Benner township, Centre Co., Penn., in1862, a son of Andrew J. and Jane (Wilson) Shivery.

Andrew J. Shivery, the father of our subject, was born in Centre county in 1826, and was a son of David Shivery, a native of Chester county, Penn., and who accompanied his father to Half Moon township, Centre county, at an early day. There the grandfather made his home until his death in 1872. The father of our subject was reared in Half Moon township, and was there married in 1854, after which he removed to Ben- ner township and opened up a farm. In 1881, he went to Bellefonte, where he died in 1891. His widow is still living in that place. She is a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Downing) Wilson, natives of Half Moon township, Centre county, and representatives of early families in that locality. Both died there in 1879. The Doctor's parents had the following children: David Harry, who is living on the old homestead in Benner township; George B .; and Maggie and Sarah, both living at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

George B Shivery, whose name opens this sketch, was reared on the old home farm, and acquired his education in Bellefonte Academy and the Pennsylvania State College near that place. With the desire to make the practice of medicine his life work, he in 1879 entered the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, where he did not pursue an uninterrupted course, but was graduated with the class of '86. In the mean- time he was engaged in the drug-store business in Bellefonte. He has done all in his power to perfect himself in his chosen calling, and has a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the science of medicine and its application to the needs of suffering humanity. His skill in his practice is shown by the liberal patronage which he receives. He is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the National Medical Society. . He first located in Fishertown, Bedford Co., Penn., in 1886, and in 1888 he removed to Bigler, Penn. ; in 1893 he came to Woodland and bought out Dr. Emigh, and has since been engaged in gen- eral practice, receiving from the public a liberal support. He is a contributor to the "Eclectic Medical Journal," of Cincinnati.

In 1891 Dr. Shivery married Miss Bessie Dale, daughter of Clark and Elizabeth (Johnston) Dale, early pioneers of Graham township, Clear- field county, where they are still living. To the Doctor and his wife have been born two sons: George Burton and Andrew Kenneth.

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Our subject is examiner for the Northwestern Life Insurance Co., and surgeon for the B. C. R. R. Socially he is connected with Clearfield Lodge, No. 314, F. &. A. M. ; with the Royal Ar- canum, of Philipsburg; with the Golden Eagle, of Woodland, and with the American Mechanics Society of Wallaceton. In politics he is a Re- publican, and gives a commendable support to all measures calculated to prove of public bene- fit. His pleasant, genial manner has won him many friends, and he is widely and favorably known in the county.

J AMES W. WILSON, one of the veteran sol- diers whose courage and patriotism endured the test of service on bloody battle fields during the Civil war, is a highly respected citi- zen of Gulich township, Clearfield county. He belongs to a family which has always been ready to prove its loyalty and devotion to the flag. Sam- uel Kulp, an uncle, served in the Mexican war and during the Rebellion. Two brothers died while in the Union army, and a number of other relatives were in the service, namely: Hugh Wilson, William Wilson, of Mifflin county, James E. Wilson, of Huntingdon, Penn., David and James Funk, cousins, and Martin Funk, a cousin, who was taken prisoner at the battle of the Wil- derness and was starved to death at Andersonville.

The ancestors of the Wilson family settled in Huntingdon county, Penn., at an early day, and Thomas Wilson, our subject's father, was born there in 1807, and passed his entire life there, his death occurring at the old homestead near Warrior's Mark, December 10, 1883. By trade he was a collier, and was employed constantly at Huntingdon Furnace. His wife, Christina Hoover, died in 1839, leaving six sons, all of whom grew to manhood in Huntingdon county, being as follows: (1) Washington, while work- ing for his uncle, James Wilson, in a colliery at Jack's Mountain, was accidentally killed by a shot from his own gun, which he was handling carelessly. (2) Christopher is a farmer at the old homestead. He married Miss Mary Wheelon, of Centre county, and has five children-Thomas L., a successful physician at Bellwood, Penn., married Miss Regina Henderson, of Warrior's Mark, and has one child; John, who is not mar- ried, is a leading physician at Clinton, Ohio; Liz- zie married a Mr. Wolf, a grocer at Tyrone, Penn., and has two children; Ellen, wife of Ed- ward Rumberger, residing near Warrior's Mark, has one child; Harry Wilson, who is not mar- ried, resides at home; (3) Darius, born June 6, 1840, married Miss Annie Coacanour, of War-

rior's Mark, and died December 18, 1896, leav- ing children-Mary is the wife of William Harris, of Huntingdon Furnace; James, who is now in the employ of a tannery company at Irvona, Penn., married Miss Potts, of that place, and has two children; Flora, Mrs. Nearhoof, residing at the cross roads near Warrior's Mark, has two children; Anna married George Cronister, of Warrior's Mark, but has no family; Miss Bertha is at home with her mother. (4) Abraham, born in 1841, enlisted in 1862 in Company I, 5th Penn. Reserves, and was transferred to Company C, 191st P. V. I. He was captured by the enemy at Weldon Railroad and confined first in Libby prison, then at Andersonville, where he died of starvation in January, 1865. He was not mar- ried. (5) Martin, born December 11, 1843, en- listed in January, 1864, in Company I, 188th P. V. I., and was mortally wounded on September 29, 1864, at Fort Harrison, in front of Rich- mond. He died October 5, 1865, while in the Point of Rocks Hospital, on the James river, near Point of Rocks, Virginia.

James W. Wilson was born August 2, 1845, at the old home in Huntingdon county, and was but a youth when he enlisted in Philadelphia in the Heavy Artillery. He went to Fortress Mon- roe and served three months in the Heavy Artil- lery, then re-enlisted, in the 188th P. V. I., in which he served till the end of the war. He participated in the engagement at Drury Bluff, May 16, 1864. He was engaged at Cold Harbor June 1-6, 1864; and at Chapin's Farm, Septem- ber 29, of the same year. The company's first captain, Harry E. Breel, was wounded at Cold Harbor, and died September 11, 1864, and Capt. Keough took command. Our subject was wounded in the right hand at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864, and after a short stay in a hospital at Washington was given a furlough of thirty days which he spent at home. While there he married Miss Belle Ganoe; but at the end of his leave of absence he returned to Washington and a few days later was transferred to a hospital at West Philadelphia. On November 29. 1864, he rejoined his regiment, in front of Richinond, and remained there all winter. When the campaign opened in the spring they marched down through Fredericksburg, and had some liot skirmishing with Gen. Mosby's men, and then returned to Richmond to take part in the final struggle with Lee. After the surrender they were detailed to work on bridges in that vicinity until July, when they went to Washington to participate in the Grand Review. Later they were stationed at Manchester for a time, then they were conveyed by train to Lynchburg where they spent six days.

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A division of the force was made there, small companies being sent to different points and Mr. Wilson's division was ordered to Nelson Court House to gather up supplies and governinent property, including mail bags, horses, and mnles. Mr. Wilson did provost duty for five months, and was not finally discharged from the service until December 19, 1865, when he was paid off at Philadelphia. Not long after his return home he and his wife removed to Clearfield for a year, but returned to Warrior's Mark and began house- keeping. Three years later Mr. Wilson entered the employ of P. & A. Flynn, the lumbermen, for whom he worked twenty years. He resided for some time in Clearfield, and then buying a house and lot in Janesville from his employers, he made his home there until 1896, when he moved into a house belonging to Mr. Ganoe, an invalid brother of Mrs. Wilson, in order to care for him.

Our subject is a stanch Republican and wields great influence in local affairs, his character and ability commanding the confidence of all classes. He has held the office of supervisor for four terms. His wife is an active inember of the M. E. Church, and one of their daughters is follow- ing in her footsteps. Twelve children were born to them: (1) Walter, born September 26, 1867, received an education in the Janesville schools, and in early manhood engaged in lumbering as an occupation, his home being at Allemanville, Penn. He married Miss Mollie Mulhollan, and has three children-Edith, Harry and Annie. (2) Clarence. born in Janesville, September 1 1, 1869, died at the age of eleven years. (3) Laura, born September 15, 1869, died in August, 1872. (4) Nancy H., born December 5, 1873, married Amien Lovel, a brick maker at Blandburg, Cam- bria Co., Penn., and has one son-Russel Jaines. (5) Jennie, born July 3, 1881, is at home. (6) Darius, born August 23, 1883, died in infancy. (7) Mary, born September 29, 1884, was fatally burned when four years old by falling into a tub of boiling soap, and lived but a short time after the accident. (S) Benjamin, born March 21, 1886, (9) Lydia, born July 11, 1887, (10) Ella, born March 12, 1876, (11) Flora, born April 17, 1878, and (12) Emma M., born October 26, 1865, all passed away in infancy.

Mrs. Belle (Ganoe) Wilson, who was born in Huntingdon county, April 18, 1843, is a member of a well-known Gerinan family which is espe- cially noted for the number of able ininisters that it has given to the M. E. Church. Two of her brothers are now in that service, and one, Mar- tin L., has been presiding elder of the Altoona district for several years. Four brothers were soldiers in the Civil war: Rev. Martin L. , Will- | children.

iam V., J. D., and B. H. The latter enlisted in February, 1863, in Company K, 11Ith P. V. I., his regiment being a part of the 20th Army Corps, under Gen. Joseph Hooker. After the battle of Chattanooga it wastransferred, on May 3, 1864, to Sherman's command, and took part in the famous march down to the sea, skirmish- ing all the way through to Atlanta. For one hundred and eight days they were within con- stant hearing of bomb and shell, and at Peach- tree Creek they had a fierce struggle. On reach- ing Atlanta the exhausted troops rested three days before making an attack, Mr. Ganoe doing patrol duty. The story of their victory over Hood's army, of which they captured a large portion before burning the city, will never lose its interest while our country endures. During the conflict Mr. Ganoe was wounded, and after a short stay in a hospital at Nashville he was dis- charged, and in July, 1865, returned to his home.

D ENTON BEEMAN is one of the substantial citizens of the thriving town of Madera. Clearfield county. Public-spirited and progress- ive, he takes an active part in movements which promise to advance the educational, social. relig- ious and financial welfare of the town, and his up- right character commands the respect of his fel- low citizens.

Mr. Beeman comes of New England ances- try, and his grandfather, Ebenezer Beeman, was a native of Connecticut, where he grew to man- hood. He moved to New York State and pur- chased lands on Seneca Lake, but afterward traded them for property in Bradford county, Penn., where he died a few years later. A por- tion of this estate was inherited by his son, Jos- eph H. Beeman, the father of our subject, who was born in New York, on Seneca Lake, in 1805. In 1829 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Buck. a na- tive of Bradford county, Penn., born in 1810. and after residing some years upon his property there he bought one hundred acres of woodland, and made a new home for himself, clearing a part of the tract. He followed lumbering through- out life. He died in Bradford county in 1847, leaving seven children, of whom our subject was the eldest. The family remained upon the home- stead a few years and then sold it, removing to Camptown, where Mrs. Beeman some years later married Jesse Sturtevant, of Bradford county.

Of the children, the second son, Charles S., moved to South Dakota. He married Miss Caro- lina Titus, and has two daughters. (3) Minor S .. who resides in Iowa, married, and has several (4) Eliza married Dr. Daniel Lacy,

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then of Bradford county, and later of Janesville, Wis., where he acquired a large practice. In 1894 diphtheria became epidemic there, and the Doctor and his entire family were taken ill with the disease, from which none of them recovered with the exception of one daughter, now residing in Wisconsin. (5) Henry married Miss Rebecca Myers, of Burnside township, Bradford county, and followed lumbering until 1861, when he en- listed in Company M, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army of the West. He took part in all the battles of his regiment until he was captured and taken to Andersonville. When finally exchanged, he was reduced to a mere skeleton, and died at Annapolis, Md., while on his way home .. His wife survived him with one child, Homer, who died at the age of four years. (6) Amos, now a resident of East 'Spring Hill, Bradford county, enlisted in the Union army, and returned home at the close of the war with his health permanently impaired. His first wife (a Miss Montgomery) died, and he married again. He has several children by each mar- riage. (7) Julia married Andrew Jackson, now residing in Iowa.

Mr. Beeman, our subject, was born in Brad- ford county, June 2, 1830, and, as the eldest son of his widowed mother, became acquainted at an early age with the serious aspect of life. In 1852, a few years before his mother's second marriage, he went to Clearfield county with William S. Wells, and rented Best's mill on Clear- field creek, where he engaged in lumbering, re- maining two years. In 1854 he married Miss Eliza Jane McKee, and moved to Belsena, tak- ing charge of the Wilson mill, which he ran for two years. He then spent one year on the Mo- shannon, near Dunbar, conducting a mill for Graffin & Wood; three years at Janesville, in a mill belonging to the Moshannon Land & Lum- ber Co .; two years at David Cree's mill, at the present site of Coalport; and two years at the Cambria mills. While he was there the mill burned down, and for some time he worked as a millwright in rebuilding it. In 1858 he took charge of a water mill on Muddy run, near Smoke run, for John L. McCully, remaining four years, when he undertook a logging contract for the Hegartys. which occupied his time for a year. He purchased some timber land from the Hegartys, and engaged in making square timber to send down the river, continuing this and simi- lar work until September, 1864, when he enlisted in the 3d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. They were sent to Fortress Monroe and later to Dutch Gap, on the James river, where they were united with the ISSth P. V. I., and assigned to guard

duty at Fort Harrison. They went into winter quarters about a mile and a half from the fort, and in February, 1865, Mr. Beeman was taken sick and sent to a hospital at Point of Rocks, near Petersburg, Va. There he remained two months, and was then detailed to work at a saw- mill in manufacturing lumber for hospitals and pontoon bridges. After Lee's surrender his regi- ment marched to Richmond, and while on the. way there was quartered one night in Libby prison. They were on guard duty at Mansfield several weeks, and then returned to Fortress Monroe, and remained until June 12. 1865, when they were discharged from the service.

On coming home, Mr. Beeman conducted the Wilson mill on Clearfield creek for two years, and then rented it and continued the manufac- ture of lumber some sixteen years. In 1881 he moved to Madera. and ran a mill for Samuel Hegarty two years, and the following year he spent as a railroad boss on the Wallace Branch railroad, and in conducting a boarding house for the men. Returning to Madera in 1884, Mr. Beeman bought a lot and built a fine two-story house with all modern improvements. He has since made other purchases of land adjoining un- til he now owns seven lots.

In 1891, Mr. Beeman's first wife died, and in 1893 he married Mrs. Tillie McTavish, of James- ville, who was born in Tioga county, Penn., in 1855, the daughter of Alanson and Lydia Root. There were five children by the first marriage: (1)Daniel W., born at Lost Run, in 1854, gradu- ated at the normal school in Curwensville, Penn., and taught several terms successfully. He is now engaged in business at Madera as a con- tractor and builder, his ability as an architect be- ing displayed in some of the finest buildings of that vicinity. His influence is strongly felt in local affairs, and he is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. In ISSo he mar- Miss Beckie McDonald, of Bigler township, and they have had three cildren-Maud and Paul, who are at home; and Ralph G., who died in in- fancy. (2) Julia, born July 19, 1855, died at the age of eight years. (3) Alice A., born June 25, 1857, married (first) George Barto, of Madera, now deceased, and (second) John L. Wells, of Belsena, an engineer in a mill. She has no chil- dren. (4) Maud M .. born January 14. 1860, married Charles Whatmouth, a mason at Beulah, Penn., and has had five children - Daniel; Thomas; John; Charlie, who died at the age of six years; and Alice. (5) Katie E .. born Novem- ber 17, 1863, married Thomas R. Anderson, and after residing some time in Madera, moved in 1896 to Big Run, Jefferson Co., Penn. They

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have four children-Bertha, Alice, Alfred and Joseph.

Mr. Beeman is a Presbyterian in religious- faith, and his wife and one of his daughters also belong to that Church, but the rest of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a steadfast Republican, and he has held office of supervisor, school director two terms, and for four years past has been serving as tax collector.

J H. ROSENKRANS, who was one of the "boys in blue" during the dark days of the Rebellion, is now numbered among the enterprising farmers of Huston township, Clear- field county. He was born in Sussex county, N. J., October 2, 1829, and is a son of A. V. C. and Belinda (Myers) Rosenkrans. The father was born, reared and married in that State, and in 1851 removed with his family to a farm in Luzerne county, Penn., where he made his home until 1866, at which time he became a resident of Penfield, Clearfield county. Here he died in October, 1878, and his wife departed this life in the same year.

Our subject is the second in order of birth in the family of eight children, the others being Wyncoop, who died when young; Mrs. Belinda Potter, now a resident of Aurora, Ill .; Mrs. Arrieta Wetherell, who died in Luzerne county, Penn .; Mrs. Helen Curtis, who is living in that county; John and Peter, both deceased; and A. V. C., whose death occurred in Aurora, Ill. J. H. Rosenkrans spent his boyhood and youth mainly in New Jersey, and in its public schools he acquired his education. At the age of seven- teen he went to Luzerne county, Penn., and began life for himself as a farmer. Subsequently he engaged in railroading for fourteen years, being connected with the Pennsylvania Coal Company's road. In 1862, in Luzerne county, he enlisted in Company D, 179th P. V. I., for nine months, went into camp at Philadelphia, and was stationed at Fortress Monroe, later at New Port and Yorktown. When his term had expired he was honorably discharged at Harris- burg, Penn., in 1863. Returning to Luzerne county, he there remained until August, 1865, when he became a resident of Penfield, Clear- field county, and for a time engaged in teaming. The following year, however, he purchased a farm in Huston township, and has since devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 12

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1266