Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 16

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 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 16

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).

N P. WILSON, of Bradford township, Clear- field county, is the proprietor of a fine farm near Woodland, which under his judicious man- agement ranks among the best in that section, and he comes of a family of successful agricult- urists.

David Wilson (grandfather of our subject), a pioneer of Bradford township, opened up one of the first farms there. He was born and reared in Huntingdon county, Penn., and was twice married. By his first wife, who was a Miss Watson, he had three children: David C. (our subject's father); Nancy ( Mrs. Judge Holt), who died some years age, leaving a family; and Mary (Mrs. Robert Shaw, of Goshen), who also died, leaving a family. For his second wife Grand- father David Wilson married a Miss Porter, a native of that county, with whom he made the tedious journey to the new home some years later, where they passed their remaining days. Children as follows were born to this second mar- riage: Samuel P. is deceased; Margery (Mrs.

James Hollenbeck ) died in Kylertown; John L. died in Bradford township; and Matthew is de- ceased, his widow now residing in Bradford town- ship.

David C. Wilson was born in Huntingdon county, December 16, 1813, but the greater por- tion of his life was spent in Bradford township, Clearfield county, where in his youth he assisted his father in clearing the home farm. He married there a native of the township, Miss Elizabeth Mayhew, a daughter of Reuben and Mary (Nicho- las) Mayhew, who came from New York State to settle in that locality, at an early day. Both died in Bradford township at an advanced age. The young couple made their first home on the Buck farm, but in 1839 our subject's father bought the present homestead. It was then a tract of forest land, which years of industry transformed into a pleasant home.

David C. Wilson was a leader in local affairs and in the councils of the Democratic party, serving ably as supervisor and as a member of the school board. He was a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, and was much esteemed by all who knew him. His death oc- curred in February, 1895, and his wife passed away ten days before, each having been ill only four days. They had eleven children, of whom our subject is the eldest; George W. resides near Bigler; Martin lives in Bradford township; Har- vey is a resident of Clearfield: Mrs. Kreise lives in Girard township, Clearfield county; Allen lives on Surveyor's run, Girard township; Pascalene (Mrs. R. B. Shirey) died in Woodland; and Re- becca, Mary Ellen, Tabitha and Curtin, all four died in childhood.

N. P. Wilson, our subject, was born October 8, 1837, and, as his parents moved to his present farm two years later, he grew to manhood there, acquiring through practical work a thorough knowledge of agriculture. He attended the Pleasant Hill school in early boyhood, and con- tinued his studies at Pine Grove, Centre Co., Penn., receiving good educational advantages for a time. He taught school five winters, com- miencing when he was twenty-one years of age. Farming for the most part has been his occupa- tion ever since he assumed manhood's responsi- bilities, his first venture being upon a tract of partly-improved land which he purchased. He now has 283 acres, all under cultivation and de- voted to general farming. The place is well im- proved, and contains two residences.

On September 10, 1863, Mr. Wilson was married in his native township, to Miss Margaret Hoover, danghter of the late William Hoover and his wife, Elizabeth (Murray), who is still liv-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing in Bradford township. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have six children, namely : (1) Valetta (Mrs. Graham), of Bradford township, has three chil- dren-Paul, Grover and Olive: (2) William, of Surveyor's Run, married Anna Stewart, and has five children-Merrill, Kay. Dudley, Hilda, and Willa; (3) Martha Olive (Mrs. Shirey) has four children-Anna, Millie, Vada and Stanley; (4) Tamson is the wife of Rev. O. M. Wilson, a clergyman of the United Brethren Church, and -residing at Bigler; (5) Dudley R. and (6) Mary Jane are both at home.

Mr. Wilson and his wife are prominent mem- bers of the United Brethren Church, in which he has been a class leader and trustee for years. He has always taken a hearty interest in all things tending to promote the welfare of the com- munity, and has been active in local politics, holding a number of township offices. He gives his allegiance to the Democratic party.

F B. READ, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Osceola Mills, Clearfield county. has by his skill and ability gained a lead- ing place in the ranks of the medical fraternity in central Pennsylvania. He is a native of Clear- field county, born in 1841, on Reads Ridge in Lawrence township, near Glen Richey, and in the same township, his father, Ross Read, was born in 1807, a son of Alexander Read, a native of Chester county, Penn., who about 1 802 located in the midst of the forest in Lawrence township, and there opened up a farm on which he spent his remaining days.

The father of our subject was reared to agri- cultural pursuits, and throughout life followed the honorable calling of a farmer. In his native township, he was inarried, in 1832, to Miss Mary Thompson, who was also born in that township, and was a daughter of Ignatius and Mary (Nor- ris) Thompson, natives of eastern Pennsylvania, who also came to Clearfield county at an early day, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Read began house-keeping upon a farm in Lawrence township, where they made their home until their removal to Clearfield in 1872. : In that city both died, the father in 1884, and the niother in IS89. They were highly respected and honored residents of the county, with whose interests they had long been prominently iden- tified.

The Doctor is fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being as fol- lows: Eliza, who died at the age of sixteen years; Martha Jane, who became the wife of William Cathcart, and died in Knox township, Clearfield

county, in 1892; Mary Elizabeth, who wedded James M. Reed, of Lawrence township, and now resides in Madison, Neb .: Margaret Ellen, wife of J. F. McKennick, of Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Penn .; Alexander Ross, who graduated at La- Fayette College, and is now a resident of Port- land, Oregon; and Matilda, wife of Thomas Spackman, of Lawrence township, Clearfield county.

Upon the home farm Dr. Read was reared, and he obtained his elementary education in the common schools of the neighborhood, later taking a course at the old academy in Clearfield. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching in Law- rence township, and taught for five terms in that and Pike townships. Subsequently he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. M. Woods, of Clearfield, and in 1864 entered Jeff- erson Medical College at Philadelphia. where he graduated three years later. Previous to his graduation, however, in 1865, he had entered upon the practice of his profession at Graham- ton, and later opened an office in Bigler, both in Clearfield county; but since 1879 he has been one of the leading and representative physicians of Osceola Mills, and is an honored and popular member of the Clearfield County Medical Society; the State Medical Society and the American Med- ical Society. A close student of his profession, he is widely recognized as one of the most able physicians and skillful surgeons of this section of the State, aud has succeeded in building up an excellent and lucrative practice.

Dr. Read was married in Karthaus township, Clearfield county, in 1865, to Miss Sue A. Reider, a native of that township, and a daughter of John W. and Maria (Schnarr) Reider, who were early settlers of Karthaus township, where their deaths occurred. Eight children were born to the Doc- tor and his wife, of whom seven are still living. namely: Ralph Maynard, a graduate of the Phil- adelphia School of Pharmacy, who is married, and is engaged in the drug business in New Castle. Penn .; Paul S., who is married, and also living in this place; Mand, wife of Frank O'Brien, of Osceola Mills; Howard W., a resident of Phila- delphia; May, wife of S. W. Hamilton. of Os- ceola Mills; Haskel, who is married, and lives in Clearfield; and Alma, who is a graduate of Irv- ing College, and is at home.

The Doctor gives his political support to the Democratic party. takes an active interest in public affairs, and has been called upon to serve in a number of official positions of honor and trust, being president of the board of health, a member of the school board ten years, burgess two years, and overseer of the poor two years.

Frederick B. Read InD.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Socially, he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a worthy representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of the county, and has ever been quite active in promot- ing the educational, moral and material welfare of the community. He is a companionable, genial gentleman, has a host of warm friends and enjoys the confidence and high regard of all who know him.

A DAM KNARR. Sometimes a fortunate ac- cident, wisely improved, brings better re- sults than the most carefully prepared plans, and an instance in point can be found in the events which caused the Knarr family to settle in Brady township, Clearfield county, where abundant prosperity has rewarded their efforts.

It was in the year 1831 that George and Louisa (Weisgarber) Knarr, .of Bavaria, Ger- many, came to America with five children, of whom the well-known gentleman, whose name introduces this sketch, was the youngest. They landed at Philadelphia, and purchasing a team of horses and a wagon started for Warren, Penn., traveling by way of Sunbury, Bellefonte, Clear- field, Curwensville and Luthersburg. While stopping for dinner at the latter place, they dis- covered through conversation with the landlord, an entire stranger to them, that a Mr. Jacob Kuntz, of Germany, lived in Brady township. An old neighbor of theirs of the same name moved to America some time before, and on fur- ther inquiry Mr. Knarr found that he was the man spoken of, so sought him out. After some consideration Mr. Knarr decided to remain in Brady township, rather than go on to Warren, and through the advice of Mr. Kuntz he bought, at the present site of Troutville, ISI acres of heavily-timbered land with no improvements of any kind. He built a hewed-log house, 24 x 32, with earth floor, clapboard roof, and stone and wood chimneys, and continued clearing until he had a fine farm under cultivation. Later he built a better residence, and a large log barn. His good wife, who shared all the toil and hard- ships of those early days, died on August 7, 1865, and he passed away October 23, 1880, at the age of ninety-three, having niade his hoine on the farm until a few years before. They left a fam- ily of six children, only one of whom was born in America.

Adam Knarr was born March 17, 1827, and when he left the Fatherland was but a boy of four. He grew to manhood at the new home, and married Miss Margaret Kuhnley, of Para- dise, Jefferson county, the daughter of a well-to-

do farmer, Frederick Kuhnley, and his wife, Catherine. After his marriage Mr. Knarr con- tinued to reside at the homestead, taking charge of it on shares, and caring for his parents as old age came upon them. In 1890 he built upon the farm a hotel facing the Punxsutawney pike, and in the following year, when the borough of Troutville was incorporated, his entire farm was included within the limits. Of course the land became desirable for building purposes, and after selling a large portion of it, Mr. Knarr sold to two of his sons fifty acres each, on the east and west sides of the borough, reserving sixty acres for himself in the center. From this he has since sold many lots, and on the portion which he retains as a homestead he has made many im- provements. In 1890 he built a large two-story house with all the modern conveniences, one of the finest homes in the borough, His barn, which was built in 1876, is 64 x 80 feet, and is one of the largest in Clearfield county. From the start Mr. Knarr has encouraged religious and educational movements in the community, and his influence is always to be counted upon the side of progress. He and his estimable wife are members of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, and have reared their children in the same faith. Politically, Mr. Knarr is a steadfast Democrat, having never wavered in his allegiance to the old party. He is active in local affairs, and has been treasurer of the borough ever since it was organized.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Knarr: (1) John, born October 14, 1848, was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education. He was a fine musician, and his death at the age of twenty-seven shortened a promising career. He never married. (2) Jacob, born October 3, 1850, married Miss Louisa Kel- ler, of the Bouer settlement, and settled at Troutville upon a portion of the homestead, engaging in farming. His four children-Clar- ence. Luella, Mary and Minnie-are all at home. (3) Annie, born August 1, 1852, married Chris- tian Haag, of Punxsutawney, and died October 4, 1896. Her only son, Christian, died in 1879, at four years of age. (4) Lewis, born February 3, 1855, married Miss Minnie Fackiner, of Punx- sutawney, and located within the borough of Troutville. They have no children. (5) Joseph, born February 7, 1857, married Miss Sarah Trexler, of Paradise, Penn., and now resides at Reams Mills, in Brady township. Their two children, Amos and Edith, are at home. (6) Adam, born March 23, 1859, died at the home- stead in 1877, aged eighteen. (7) Sadie, born August 3, 1862, was married in 1879 to Charles

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

C. Hiles, then a resident of Troutville. He was born in Hereford, England, and had royal blood in his veins. Soon after his marriage he located at Dayton, Penn., where he remained a year and a half, and during the next four years he made his home in Minneapolis, Minn., while traveling for a Western firm. His health had become im- paired, and being poor he took this mode of se- curing a change of air and scene. Later he returned to Troutville, where he died in 1887, notwithstanding the care of the best physicians in Philadelphia and elsewhere; his widow has since resided with her parents. (8) Martin, born October 8, 1864, was married in 1886 to Miss Salome Weaver, of Brady township, and made his home in Troutville. They have six children: Mabel. Charles, Grace, Jessie, Bertha, and Paul. (9) Milton, born April 27, 1868, like all the other children received a common-school education, and his business career began in .1890 as a part- ner with his father in the Bear Brewery at Punx- sutawney. After two years he sold out, and returning to Troutville was engaged in the hotel business until March, 1896, when he started upon an extensive trip which included all of the Western States and Canada. Since his return, in the fall of 1896, he has lived at home with his parents.

George and Louisa Knarr have numerous de- scendants, all of their children having married and reared families: ,(I) Henry Knarr, the eldest son, came with his parents to this country at about the age of eighteen years, and helped his father to clear land and make the home. He married Miss Catharine Marshall, of Brady town- ship, afterward purchased 150 acres of woodland near Troutville, where he cleared a farm and erected buildings for a homestead, which is now one of the well-cultivated farms of Brady town- ship. He has had fifteen children as follows- (1) Louisa married John Hileburn, of Jefferson county, who located on a farmi near Punxsutaw ney; they have a family of three children-Katie (now Mrs. Zimmerman, of Jefferson county, re- siding near Cramer Station), Lizzie ( Mrs. Henry Long, of Brady township, residing on a farmi near Troutville), William (who is single, and lives with his parents). (2) George L., who is in the mercantile business in Troutville. His first wife, Miss Lizzie (Zilliox), of Brady township, died some years ago, and he afterward married Mrs. Johnson, of Du Bois. He has two children, both by the first marriage -- George (is married and lives in Troutville), and Emma (now Mrs. Rishel, of Du Bois). (3) Simeon married Miss Susan Korb, of Brady township, and now resides in Troutville; they have three children living:

Clara (now Mrs. Lies, of Helvetia, Penn.), and two others, Henrietta and Nellie (who are at home). (4) Caroline married Jacob L. Kuntz, and resides in Troutville; they have two children: Milton and Clara (both single and at home). (5) David married Carrie Weaver, and resides in Du Bois; they have five children-Blanche, Edwin, Alice, Virgie and Mabel-all at home. (6) Henry married Miss Mary Buchide, of Jefferson county, and now resides in Du Bois; they have two sons: Silas and Bert, both single. (7) Lo- rena married Adam Hilburn, and lives in Oklaho- ma, Jefferson county; they have nine children, of whom the eldest, John, a resident of Jefferson county, is married and has one child; the others -William, Mary, Carrie, Frank, George, Susan, Sallie and Jacob-reside with their parents. (8, Ferdinand married Miss Charlotte Korb, of Du- Bois, and died some years ago, leaving a widow and two children, Aaron and Effie K .. who reside in Troutville. (9) William married Miss Garri- son, of Curwensville, and now resides in Du- Bois; they have two children :. May. and one whose name is not given. (10) Reuben married Miss Eliza Weaver, of Bloom township, and now resides in Brookville; they have one son. Morris. (II) John A. married Miss Etta Beal, of Bloom township, and now resides in Punxsutawney; their children are Frederick, Minnie, Earl. Charles and Priscilla. (12) Frederick married Miss Lorena Korb, of Brady township, and resides on his father's old homestead; they have two children: Chester and Ollie, both at home. ( 13) Samuel married Miss Mary Monks, of Jefferson county, Penn., and settled in Du Bois; they have one daughter, Linnie. (14) Mary, now Mrs. Jacob Brubaker, of Du Bois, has one child, Lila. (15) Katie, Mrs. William Coler, of Jefferson county, has one child, Pearl.

(II) Andrew Knarr (deceased) was born in Germany, and came to Clearfield county at the age of sixteen years. He received a very limited education. He married Miss Barbara Shaffer, of Du Bois, and bought land near Troutville, which he cleared for a farm, erecting a large house and barn and making other improvements. It is to-day a fine estate. He died in 1887, leaving a widow and children as follows: (1) Kate. the eld- est, married Jacob Friedline, of Blair county. Penn., and now resides in Bell township on his farin; they have no family. (2) Andrew is single and lives at home with his mother. 13, Eli. a farmer in Bell township, married (first Miss Lonisa Haag, of Bell township, Clearfield county, and (second) Miss Emma Friedline, of Brook- ville; there were two children by the first union- Annie, who died at the age of fourteen years, and

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

John, who died when ten years old; by the sec- ond marriage there are three children-Mina. Mabel and Chester. (4) Emaline is single, and lives near the old homestead. (5) Jane married Monroe Askey, of Du Bois, and has six children, of whom the eldest daughter is married to Mr. Heberling, and lives in Du Bois. (6) Peter is single, and resides at the old home with his mother. (7) Rachel married James Copenhaver, and resides on a farm near Luthersburg; they have children as follows: Andrew, Charley, Mar- vin, Harrison, Paul, Luella and John.

(III) Charlotte Knarr was born in Germany, and came to this country when a young girl. She married Christian Haag, of Brady township, who afterward bought one hundred acres of woodland adjoining Troutville, where he cleared a farm, making fine improvements. They have three children: (1) Henry, a farmer in Jefferson county, married Miss Mary. Harrold, of Punx- sutawney, and has six children. (2) Adam, a farmer of near Troutville, married Miss Reas- inger, of Sandy township, Clearfield county, and has three children-Frederick (the eldest) mar- ried Miss Fendline and lives at home with his parents, and the others-William and Bertha- are single. (3) Mary Haag married Henry Weaver, a farmer of Brady township, Clearfield county ; she died nine years ago, leaving a family of ten children-(a) Louisa Weaver (married Jack- son Bonsall, of Brady township, and now resides on a farm near Troutville; they have three chil- dren-Harry, Clair and Susie-all at home); (b) Salome Weaver (married Martin Knarr, and re- sides in Troutville; they have six children- Mabel, Charles, Grace, Jessie, Bertha and Paul- all at home); (c) Katie Weaver (married Charles Grabe, a farmer of Bell township; they have three children); (d) William Weaver (married Miss Emina Haag, of Troutville, and now resides in Bell township on his farmi; they have no fam- ily); (e) Lizzie Weaver (now Mrs. Tawalt Price, resides on a farm in Bell township; she has two children-Peal, and one whose name is not given); (f) Christian Weaver (married Miss Mary Kuntz, of Bell township, and resides on his father's farm in the same township); the remaining members of the family are: (g) George, (h) Emma, (i) Jennie and (j) Florence, all unmarried.

(IV). George Knarr came to Clearfield county when a boy, and grew up on the Brady township homestead. He married Margaret Weaver. of Brady township, and after marriage bought of the Shoemaker tract of land adjoining his father's homestead on the south side, cleared out a farm, and made a fine homestead, erecting good buildings. He has seven children, of whom

the following record is given: (1) Sarah is the wife of Charles Schwem, of Luthersburg: (2) Maria is now Mrs. Henry Schoch, of Punxsu- tawney; (3) Sophia married Jack Alexander, for- merly of Clearfield; (4) Washington, a resident of Brady's Bend, Clarion county, married Docha Wagner, of Brady township, and has one child; (5) James, who resides at the homestead, mar- ried Miss Hanna Oswald, of Brady township, and has the following children: Annie, William, Homer, Malcomb and Frona; (6) Amanda twin of James) married Joseph Willard, a hotelkeeper in Troutville, and has three children-Hellen (now Mrs. Harry Ginter, of Du Bois), George and Frank; (7) Walter, a resident of Punxsutawney, mrrried Miss Emma Ernest, of that city, and has one child.

(V). Adam, our subject, was the next in or- der of birth. (VI). Caroline was born in Brady township in 1833, and was raised on the old homestead. She married Andrew Weaver, of Jefferson county, and after residing on a farm in her native township for a number of years. they moved to a farm near Penfield. Mr. Weaver died in 1884, and his widow now lives in Du Bois. Of their four children: (1) Joseph, a farmer in Sandy township, Clearfield county, married Miss Annie Reisinger, of that township, and has three children; (2) George, a teacher in the West Lib- erty schools, married Miss Laura Grube, of Jeffer- son county, Penn., and now resides in Du Bois; (3) Reuben, a clerk in Du Bois, married Miss Lizzie Reisinger, of Sandy township, and has two sons-Grover and Andrew; (4) Carrie mar- ried David Bear, of Apollo, Armstrong Co., Penn., where they now reside. They have two daugh- ters-Louella, and one whose name is not given.

T HOMAS W. LONG. Success in any line of occupation, in any avenue of business, is not a matter of spontaneity, but is the legitimate offspring of subjective effort in the proper utiliza- tion of the means at hand, the improvement of opportunity and the exercise of the highest func- tions made possible by the specific ability in any case. Mr. Long eminently deserves classifica- tion among the purely self-made men of Clear- field county who have distinguished themselves for their ability to master the opposing forces of life and to wrest from fate a large measure of success and an honorable name. Throughout most of his business career he has followed lum- bering, and is a prominent resident of Allport, Morris township.

Mr. Long was born January 16, 1828, in Brush Valley, Centre county, Penn., his parents

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

being Isaac and Catharine (Wolf) Long, the for- mer a native of Rhode Island and the latter of Brush Valley, where their marriage was cele- brated, and where they continued to make their home through life. By trade the father was a carpenter. The mother was descended from one of the honored pioneer families of Centre county. She survived her husband a number of years and reared their family,

The brothers and sisters of our subject are as follows: Samuel left Centre county on reaching manhood, and for twenty-five years engaged in the show business in the West and South. On selling out in 1861, he located in Kentucky, where he spent his remaining days. Harriet married Levi Sterrett, of Centre county, and reared a family. Her death occurred in that county. Abbie is the wife of George Haines, of Iowa. John emigrated to Illinois, where he married, but spent his last years in Colorado .. Louisa married Joel Morris, of Centre county, where they make their home.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 16

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