Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 21

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 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 21

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J OHN G. GOSS, who occupies the responsible position of mine foreman for the Clearfield

Brick Company at Grampian, is one of the pro- gressive and wide-awake business men of that lo- cality. His well-spent life has gained him high esteem, and in the history of the county he well deserves mention.

Mr. Goss is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the community, the Gosses having located here many years ago. His grand- father, Abrahanı Goss, cleared the farin near Osceola which still bears his name, also the John Goss farm two miles from Osceola, and another near Blue Ball, known as the Joseph Goss farm. In the work of development and progress he took a very active part. His son. David Gross, was reared to manhood in Decatur township, and inade his first purchase of land there, becoming owner of 300 acres of land near Blue Ball. This he cleared and improved, and afterward added to it sixty acres. He married Sallie Gear- hart, and they reared a large family. His death occurred in 1884, but his widow is still living ou the old homestead. To this couple were born

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seven sons and two daughters: (1) Levi, the eldest, married Lottie Shaw, of Bell's Mills, Blair Co., Penn., and resides in Decatur town- ship. They have three children -- Calton, Doyle and Cressie, all with their parents. (2) Will- iam L., who resides at Blue Ball, in Boggs township, married Sarah Smith, of Janesville, Clearfield county, and they have two children- Clark and Mrs. Annie Lumadue, both married and living in Blue Ball. (3) Abraham married Isabel Smeal, and resides in Boggs township. He was a soldier of the 100th P. V. I., and at the battle of Fort Steadman was wounded, but re- mained with his regiment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He has three children-Flora, Harry and Mrs. Ella McCartney, all of Blue Ball. (4) Lydia Jane is the wife of Timothy Young, a tanner of Cur- wensville, Clearfield county, and they have seven children-Mrs. Alice Hoover, who lives east of the mountains; David, who married Margaret Millender, and resides in Curwensville; Martha, wife of George Millender, of Curwensville; Will- iam; Clarence and Walter at home; and an infant. (5) Edward, of Glen Hope, Clearfield county, is engaged in jobbing for the Clearfield Lumber Company. He married Susie Garner, of Huntingdon, Penn., who died in 1884 leaving five children-Ira, Blair, Stella, Creeke and Ernest, all at home. (6) Joseph, who resides on the old Goss homestead in Decatur township, wedded Mary Phillips, of the same township, and has a large family, all at home with the ex- ception of Harvey, who is now in the gold mines of the West. (7) Sarah is the wife of Charles Blake, of Maine, and they have three children- Edward, Susie and Gertrude. The daughters are married, and also reside in Maine. (8) David wedded Mary Walters, of Maryland, in which State he is engaged in lumbering. They have three children living in Maryland, and a daughter who is married and resides in Punx- sutawney, Pennsylvania.

John G. Goss, of this sketch, followed lum- bering in his early business career, being thus en- gaged until 1864, when he enlisted in Company E, 45th P. V. I., at Philipsburg. He was mus- tered in at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Penn., joined his regiment at Annapolis, and met the enemy in the battle of the Wilderness. The en- gagement lasted three days and was a most se- vere one. The company to which Mr. Goss be- longed lost heavily, and on all sides of him his comrades were slain, while his captain, James Campbell, was shot directly in front of him. At the next engagement, at Spottsylvania, the Union troops attacked the Rebel works for seven days

and caused their evacuation. A two days' battle followed at Briar's Hill, whence Mr. Goss with his company marched to Cold Harbor, followed by the enemy, where an engagement was brought on. Although the boys in blue lost heavily they drove the Rebels back and won the battle, after which they went to Petersburg, where they drove the Confederate troops from their first line of works, which the Union troops then occupied until spring. Company E, of the 45th, per- formed picket duty, and also was engaged in the battle at the blowing up of the fort. Transferred to Fort Hill, the men there remained until the capture of Petersburg. During the engagement

Mr. Goss was wounded and taken to the hospital at City Point, where he remained for about a month, when Lee's army surrendered to Grant. After.recovering from his wounds he rejoined his regiment, and by boat went to Alexandria, where he was mustered out of service, receiving an hon- orable discharge at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg. For some time after his return north Mr. Goss was unable to engage in any kind of labor, but as soon as he had recovered his usual health he turned his attention to his business interests, and now occupies a responsible position at the Clear- field Brick Works. His success in life is all due to his own efforts. He was married April 10, 1878, to Nancy J. Williams, and resided in Houtzdale for five years when his wife died, leav- ing a daughter, Maudie, who is now the wife of G. L. Wood, a merchant of Grampian. In April, 1884, Mr. Goss wedded Eliza A. Williams, of New Washington, Clearfield county, and removed to Blue Ball, where he remained about five years. In 1896 he erected a good residence in Grampian, where he expects to spend his remaining days. He is a stanch Republican, and has held the of- fice of school director for four years. He was councilman for two terms, and is occupying that position at present; he is also assessor, to which position he was elected for a three-years' term. Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as class-leader for about five years, and he is at this time a trustee. He manifests a laudable in- terest in all measures designed to prove of public benefit, and is a valued citizen of Grampian.

A LDEN L. TOZIER. The romance and glamour which popular thought, assisted by much cleverly written literature, has con- nected with the early settlement of California, may not have been apparent to the men who braved the manifold dangers of the long trip, and the no less real perils of the mining camp in their

Ad Jorie

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

eager search for gold. The subject of this biog- raphy, now a prominent real-estate dealer of Du- Bois, was one of those who felt the full effects of the gold fever, but having let it run its course he wisely returned to this section to make his per- manent home. As he was born and reared in Maine, his wide range of observation, reaching from one ocean to the other, speaks well for the attractions of this region and of his powers of appreciation as well.

The Toziers are of French origin, members of the family moving from France to London, England, whence they emigrated to America, set- tling in Maine prior to the Revolutionary war. Thomas Tozier, our subject's father, was born August, 1793, at Fairfield, Somerset Co .. Maine, and resided there all his life, engaged in farming and lumbering. During the war of 1812 he served as a soldier, taking part in several impor- tant battles, including those of Plattsburg and Lundy's Lane. In 1816 he was married in Vas- salboro, Maine, to Miss Exa Dillingham; a native of Sandwich, Mass., and they had children as follows: Cynthia, born July 30, 1818, married George Priest, and now resides in Fairfield, Maine. Eliza and Joel died in childhood. Thomas settled in Elk county, Penn. and became a prominent lumberman, employing a large num- ber of men; he was married in that county to Miss Lydia Morey, and now resides in Caledonia. Louisa was the first wife of Thornas Huntoon, and by him had eight children, two of whom are yet living; Mr. Huntoon is married to his second wife, and has two or three children by that wife living in Chicago. A. L. is mentioned more fully below. Warren L. is now a resident of Fairfield, Maine; he went to California in 1853, and on returning east spent some time in lum- bering in Elk county, Penn., before finally locat- ing in his native State; he married Caroline Tozier, and they have five children. Zimri, now an extensive stock dealer and farmer at Fairfield, Maine, visited California in 1854; he married Hannah Hersom, and has three children-Mabel, Etta and Lulu --- who have graduated from excel- lent schools and are now teaching. Bertie is living at home. The father of this family died in 1845; the mother in 1866, aged seventy-three years.

first logs down the Moshannon river to Lock Haven, and later made that town his business headquarters. In 1854 he went to California, via Nicaragua, and engaged in mining, four years later taking a trip to British North America with nine other men. At Victoria he bought a "dug-out" from the Indians for $60, and started for the gold regions 300 miles up the Frazer river, where they remained for about three months, paying a mining license of $5.00 per month. Each man started with 300 pounds of provisions, and finding the boat too small it was agreed that three of the party should go by steamer with their share of the baggage and the bulk of the provisions, Mr. Tozier being one of the three. The fare by the steamer to Fort Langley was $75, and when they arrived there they had to wait six weeks for the boat with the remainder of the party. They then went to Fort Yale, with a party of miners, where they en- Three camped, waiting to go up the river. members of another party were killed by Indians, and the three who had gone up by steamer de- cided to turn back. Each had left on hand seventy-five pounds of provisions, and sold the remainder for a dollar a pound to those who were determined to go farther up the river. Mr. Tozier reached San Francisco with $15.623, all that was left of $1,000 in gold with which he had started. He returned to a mine operated on the hydraulic principle, in which he owned a one-tenth interest, and soon afterward sold out and came back to Pennsylvania. In this Cali- fornia expedition Mr. Tozier was accompanied by two others, one of whom. Isaac Otis, went with Mr. Tozier from Pennsylvania; he married in California, and died there some years later.

In 1860, Mr. Tozier went to Lock Haven and resumed his lumber operations on an exten- sive scale, in partnership with Wright Brothers and a Mr. Woods; but in the following year he went again to California, where he remained un- til 1865. The next two years he spent in Lock Haven, the firm of Tozier. Wright & Fleming operating a planing mill there, and then Mr. Tozier withdrew and engaged in the lumber bus- iness with his brother Thomas in Elk county. Later he went to Luthersburg, where he operated a mill in partnership with William A. Drummond. who was with him on the California trip; and in 1882 he located at Du Bois, then an unincorpor- ated village, and purchased fifty acres of land. of which only four acres were cleared. Twelve acres of this tract are now included in the Fourth ward, the glass plant being located upon land ad- joining the borough line. In 1893 Tozier's ad-

A. L. Tozier was born July 28. 1828, in Kennebec county, Maine, at Waterville (now Oakland). After receiving the usual educational advantages of that day and locality he engaged in lumbering, and as the then almost unbroken forests of this section seemed a promising field for his efforts he came here in 1850, locating in Clearfield county. He assisted in driving the ; dition was laid out, and it has proved a success.

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many lots having been sold. Mr. Tozier owns three residences in the city (one being over borough line), besides his other investments, and as a self-made man he may take pride in the sa- gacious and energetic efforts by which he has won success. In 1894 he made a third trip to California, visiting old friends there with Wm. A. Drummond. As a citizen he is progressive and public-spirited, giving his support to all projects for local improvement. Politically he was first a Douglas Democrat and later a Re- publican. Since going to Du Bois he has served as street commissioner, and in 1889-90 he was burgess of the city.

J OHN H. SEYLER, a leading citizen of Lu- thersburg, Clearfield county, now retired from active business cares, is one of the men who make old age seem the better portion of life. He belongs to a good old Colonial family of Ger- man origin, which had its representatives in the Revolutionary war, his grandfather having borne his part in the struggle for independence.

Michael Seyler, the father of our subject, was born in Dauphin county, Penn., in 1796, and was there reared, but in early manhood removed to Centre county, where he married Miss Polly McCray. Making his home near Salona, he there followed the tailor's trade until 1836, when he came to Brady township, Clearfield county. where he purchased a place known to-day as the Solomon Sheiffer farm. Clearing the land, he made many improvements, including the erection of a good house and barn, and there resided un- til called to his final rest in 1849. His wife had died after a short married life, and he was always true to her memory, having never married again. There were only two children, the brother of our subject being Joseph, who was born in Centre county, in 1815.

Mr. Seyler, whose name introduces this sketch, was born January 23, 1817, near Salona, in Centre county, and there received a good prac- tical education. After coming to Clearfield coun- ty, in 1836, he commenced teaching in the free schools, and successfully followed that vocation in Brady township for eight years. He was there married, in 1841, to Miss Sarah Kirk, a daughter of John and Lydia Kirk, formerly of Centre county. Her father was a prosperous agriculturist, and one of the prominent citizens of his community. For a short time after his marriage, Mr. Seyler lived on his father's farm, and then bought a partially-improved tract one ; mile east of Luthersburg, and to its further devel- opment and cultivation devoted his time and at- ' elementary education in the common schools,

tention for many years. He erected a large two- story residence and substantial barn, making also many other improvements which added to its value. Removing to Luthersburg in 1891, he bought what is known as the Samuel Arnold home, which subsequently burned down, and he then built one of the most handsome residences in the place-a large two-story frame structure of modern architecture. There he is now living retired from active business cares, surrounded by many comforts and luxuries obtained through his former years of toil.

Mr. and Mrs. Seyler are the parents of twelve children, six of whom are deceased; those living are: (1) James H., born in 1842, in Brady town- ship, grew to manhood upon the home farm, at- tending the local schools until sixteen years of age; later he pursued his studies in Meadville College for a number of terms. He then took a course of lectures in the La Fayette Medical University of Pennsylvania, and after his gradua- tion removed to Preempton, Mercer Co., Ill., where he is still successfully engaged in practice. He married Loretta Cresswell. of Illinois, but formerly of Clarion county, Penn., and they have three children-Sarah F., born in Illinois in 1876, is attending a young ladies' seminary in Iowa; John H., born in 1884, is with his parents; and Mabel E., born in 1887, is a student in the home school. (2) Joseph, born in 1843, on the home farm, where he was reared, also attended the common schools of Brady township, and after his marriage to Frances Brockbank, of Union township, Clearfield county, he located upon a farm adjoining the old homestead, where he en- gaged in the manufacture of pottery ware in con- nection with the cultivation of the place. He has eight children-Emma, who is at present clerking in a dry-goods house in Du Bois; Bertha, wife of Henry Kirk, a resident of Luthersburg, by whom she has two children, Frank and Phoebe: Bernice, who is clerking for W. A. Sey- ler, in Du Bois; and Olive, Elzier, Charles L., Edgar and Harbison, all at home. (3) Ferdi- nand, born May 6, 1848. married Sarah, daugh- ter of Henry and Rachel Whitehead, worthy farming people of Union township. Clearfield county. He then purchased of Reuben Moore, a farm north of Rockton, in Union township. aud still resides upon that place: his wife died in 1893, leaving six children-Stella, now Mrs. George McDonald. of Home Camp, Union town- ship; John H., Mary L., George E. and Alta I)., who are still with their father, and Sadie M., who lives with her grandparents in Luthersburg. (4) W. A., born August 5. 1850, obtained his

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and at the age of eighteen entered the Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburg, where he gradu- ated. After his return home he married Miss Ella Merrell, of Meadville, Crawford Co., Penn., a daughter of Rev. Merrell, a Methodist Episco- pal minister. They make their home in Du- Bois, and he is numbered among the leading mer- chants of that place. Their only daughter, An- nie, is now the wife of Albert Wayman, who is employed at his father's foundries in New Ken- sington, Penn. (5) Lydia J., and (6) Elizabeth, are living with their parents in Luthersburg.

As a Democrat, Mr. Seyler has ever taken quite an active interest in political affairs, and he has faithfully discharged the duties of the office of county auditor one term, school director a number of years, and township auditor several terms. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and his wife and one grandson are also consistent members of the same Church. He is one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of the com- munity, and has freely given of his means to edu- cational and religious institutions, and for all charitable purposes. His has been a long and honorable career, filled with deeds of useful- ness, and he deserves the respect and esteem which is so freely accorded him. Youth has its charms, but an honorable and honored old age, to which the lengthening years have added dig- nity and sweetness, has a brighter radiance, as if some ray from the life beyond already rested upon it.

J ESSE E. DILLEN is one of the honored pioneers of Clearfield county, who has wit- nessed much of the growth and development of this region, seeing the wild forests replaced by productive farms, while thriving towns and vil- lages have sprung up and all the advantages and improvements of modern civilization have been added. In the work of progress he has ever borne his part, and has been closely identified with the development of this region.

Mr. Dillen was born June 14, 1829, in Be- caria township, Clearfield county, a son of George and Eliza (Hoover) Dillen. The father was born in Ireland, and on coming to America resided for some years in Philipsburg, Centre Co., Penn., where he took a contract for. build- ing a part of the State turnpike from Lewiston, through Tyrone and Philipsburg, to Curwens- ville. He afterward removed to Mt. Pleasant. Clearfield county, and bought 130 acres of wood land, on which he erected a log house and barn. He at once began clearing the place, planted the fields, and threshed his grain with a flail.

then carried it across the mountains to Birming- ham, a distance of twenty iniles, where it was ground into flour. If the flour supply was ex- hausted his wife ground parched corn in a coffee mill, and from this made cakes for the family. In 1855, Mr. Dillen erected a two-story residence, in the building of which our subject assisted. It continued to be his home until his death.

George and Eliza Dillen had six children, namely: (1) Henry, born and reared on the home farm, learned the carpenter's trade and did various kinds of woodwork. He died at the age of twenty-six. (2) Rebecca, after attending the primitive schools, married Daniel Crowell, of Decatur township, Clearfield county. They lived for a number of years on the Samuel Heg- arty farm, and then resided on the John Dillen farm until Mr. Crowell's death. His widow is still living. She had six children-Eliza is the wife of James 'Spangle, of Rose Bud, and has a large family; Betsy is the wife of Isaac Ricketts, proprietor of a hotel in Utahville, and has a large family; Mary is the wife of John Stugart, of Rose Bud, and has four children; Jane is now Mrs. Powers, of Rose Bud, and has three chil- dren; George is married, and with his family lives in Rose Bud; and Rebecca died at the age of sixteen. (3) John B., born and reared on the homestead, wedded Mary Davis, who was born . in March, 1841, a daughter of Miles and Mary A. Davis, of Becaria township. He purchased the William Wright property, on which stood a log cabin, which he afterward replaced by a sub- stantial two-story residence, also built a bank barn, and made other good improvements. He has three children-George, at home; Susan, wife of William McNaul, of Coalport, Penn., by whom she has three sons, Oscar, Blair and Lo- gan; and John, at home. (4) Mary A. Dillen, born on the family homestead, was killed when about five years of age by being accidentally struck with a stone while attending school. (5) George W., a sketch of whom appears else- where.

Jesse E. Dillen, of this sketch, attended school for a three-months' term in the winter, and walked a distance of three miles to the school house. His educational privileges were limited to the opportunities there obtained. He re- mained with his father until after his marriage, when he bought 126 acres of timber land, near Utahville. On the small cleared portion stood a log cabin, but the place was otherwise unim- proved. In 1858 he erected a large frame barn and other necessary outbuildings, and continued I to clear the place until he had eighty-five acres . In 1869 he built a beautiful

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and commodious residence on one corner of his farm and within the corporation limits of Utah- ville, and has since made it his home. He also erected a large store building there, and for three years carried on merchandising, but has since de- voted his energies to the cultivation and improve- ment of his farm. To himself and liis wife were born ten children, namely: (1) Mary Catherine, born May 10, 1856, obtained a common-school education, and in 1874 married Jester Herdman, locating on the Herdman homestead in Becaria township. They have eight children-Electa, wife of Fred Stephens, of Burwood, a conductor on the Bell's Gap railroad; Frank, Carrie, David, Verna Dora, and Ernest at home; Freddie, who died in infancy; and Madeline, who died in child- hood. (2) David, born February 7, 1859, was reared to farm life, educated in the common schools, and since 1889 has been in the employ of the Western & Bell's Gap Railroad Company. (3) Thomas V., born January 7, 1861, died Oc- tober 4, 1865. (4) George M., born November 9, 1863, died September 18, 1865. . (5) Carrie A., born in Utahville, July 17, 1869, attended the common schools, acquired a good musical education under the direction of Professor Hunter, and is now engaged in dressmaking. (6) Myrtle M., born April 26, 1871, was educated in the public schools, and is now carrying on a dress- making establishment in connection with her sis- ter, Mrs. Plummer., (7) Agnes B., born August 30, 1873, in Utahville, is the wife of Alvin Plum- mer, a native of Johnstown, Penn., now employed on the railroad and residing in Altoona. (8) Susie E., born October 7. 1875, is also interested in the dressmaking business in Altoona. (9) Blanche, born March 13, 1878, was educated in Utahville, received excellent instruction in music, and has engaged in teaching that art. She re- sides with her parents.

In politics our subject is an independent Re- publican, and he and his wife, also their children, belong to the Baptist Church. They are most highly esteemed people, true to all the duties and obligations of life, and have many friends.

C LARK BROWN, a well-known resident of Clearfield, Clearfield county, is a represent- ative of one of Pennsylvania's pioneer families which have been identified with Lancaster county from Colonial times.

in 1808 to Miss Sarah Clark, who was of Irish birth, and accompanied her father, William Clark, crossed the ocean to a new home in the then wild portions of Lancaster county, where he settled in the woods and cleared a farm. An- drew and Sarah Brown removed to Lawrence township, Clearfield county, in 1839, arriving at their destination March 31, after a toilsome jour- ney of two weeks across the mountains with a

one-horse wagon and a larger wagon drawn by a team of five horses. They located upon a tract of land near the present site of Clearfield. Mrs. Brown lived to enjoy her home in what was Law- rence township, for about a quarter of a century, passing away a few years before her husband, whose death occurred in 1871.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 21

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