Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 23

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 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 23

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Abram Keagy, of Glen Hope, and has had chil- dren as follows: Barbara A. (Mrs. Byers); Susan E. (Mrs. Edmunson); Walker, who died in Glen Hope, unmarried; Mary (Mrs. Jerry Cooper); Becky (Mrs. John Byers), of Muddy Run; Sarah (Mrs. Horace Green), of Glen Hope; Catherine, who married William Dotts, of the same town; Fannie (Mrs. Parker Strong), of Berwinsdale; Jane, who married Samuel Lynn, formerly of Huntingdon, Penn., now of Iowa; Addametta (Mrs. Philip Tubbs), of Marion Centre, Penn; Sophie, who married William Mullen, residing near Glen Hope, and has one child, Ella; and Christopher J., who married Miss Susan Rake- straw. (4) Martha married Benjamin Wright, a farmer near Glen Hope, and had six children- Elizabeth, who married James White, of Glen Hope, both now deceased; Mary Katharine, who married Samuel Atkins, formerly of Glen Hope, but now a resident of the State of Indiana, had three children; William, who married a lady of Luthersburg, and resides near that place; Ellen (deceased), who did not marry; and Frank, who married a Western lady, and died a few years ago. (5) Susan married John McCord, a farmer of near Berwinsdale, and both now deceased, leaving no family. (6) Samuel, our subject's father, comes next. (7) John, a resident of Hegarty's Cross Roads, married Miss Hannah Glasgow, of Cambria county, Penn., has ten chil- dren-Elizabeth J., who married William Wells, agent at Osceola, Penn., for the Adams Express Company; John G., who married Miss Rachel Goss, and lives in Osceola; Fannie, now Mrs. Stoneroad, of Des Moines, Iowa; Emily, who married Matthew McCully, and resides near Pitts- burg; C. S., now residing on the old Shoff home- stead, near Hegarty's Cross Roads with his wife, formerly Miss Mary Flanders, and their three children, Charlie, Josephine and Leslie; Edward, a resident of Huntingdon county, Penn., who married Miss Sarah Gossage, of that county, and has several children; Mary, who married Harry Parks, of Punxsutawney, and has sev- eral children; Frank, a resident of Osceola, who married a Kentucky lady, and has a family; Calvin, who moved to Texas, and was married there; and Sarah, who married Joseph Hegarty, a farmer of near Berwinsdale, and has no chil- dren. (8) Sarah comes next in the order of birth. (9) Fannie married Joseph Smith, a farmer of Heg- arty's Cross Roads, and has six sons-Josiah (who lives in Becaria township), A. I., Monroe, Levi, Abram and John. (10) Fredrick, who re- sides on the old Shoff homestead, married Miss Wilhelmina Ginter, and has seven children- Maria E., Christopher James, Martha, Henrietta,

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Hannah, Delilah and Sarah, all of whom are married and have families. (II ) Andrew, a resi- dent of Mt. Pleasant, Clearfield county, married Miss Sarah Ginter, and had the following chil- dren-Amanda (widow of David Smith, who died in the army), Rebecca (Mrs. Copenhaffer), Andrew Martin, Sarah Jane (Mrs. J. H. Wells), Wilhelmina (Mrs. A. Davis), Susie (Mrs. H. Eck- erd), and Abram.

Samuel Shoff, the father of our subject, was born November 17, 1806, at Mill Hall, Penn., and grew to manhood in Clinton county. He accompanied his father to Clearfield county, and made his home at what is known as the Thomas . Lord farm until his marriage, May 16, 1833, to Miss Jane Hegarty, daughter of Robert and Sarah Hegarty, of Becaria township. He then pur- chased 100 acres of woodland in the Wheatland settlement, in Woodward township, and cleared and improved it for a permanent residence. He died there October 26, 1881, in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife, who was born May 19, 1812, passed away July 24, 1883.

married S. B. Dunlap, of Huntingdon county, Penn., and has had seven children-Samuel; Jane, who died at the age of eighteen; Sarah, now Mrs. John Evert; Robert O .; May; Cornely and John E. (6) Isabella, born June 10, 1844, married Josiah Lamborn, a farmer of Jordan township, Clearfield county, and has five children living-Jane, who is at home; Samuel, who mar- ried Rose Freman, and has one child; and Hat- tie, Robert and Frank, all at home. (7) Robert M., our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (8) Abram C., born April 16, 1849, is a resident of Madera. He married Miss Cynthia Lukens, of Philipsburg, Penn., and has seven children --- W. O., Charles S., Edna, Benton, Earle, Clay- ton and Wilhelmina, who are all at home. (9) James W., born June 12, 1851, lives in Madera. He married Miss Mary Paterson, of Jordan town- ship, Clearfield county, and has six children- Jane, Margaret, Ellen, John, Clair and Sylves- ter, all at home. (10) Hannah, born December 22, 1854, married James Stitt, of Madera, and has three children living-two danghters and one son: Eva, a teacher in the Madera high school; Rosa, at home; and Clyde, attending school.

Ten children were born to them, all of whom are living: (1) Sarah, born February 18, 1834, married George W. Stitt, of Cambria county, Robert M. Shoff, our subject, is one of the leading citizens of Bigler township, where .for many years he has been engaged in farming and lumbering. He was born November 27. 1847. and grew to manhood on the farm near Madera, which he now occupies. It was once the prop- erty of his maternal grandfather, Robert Hegar- ty. He received a common-school education, and in early manhood turned his attention to agriculture, working for his father until he was thirty-one years old. He married Miss Hannah M. De Witt, daughter of George and Rachel (Bloom) De Witt, of Irvona, Penn .. and their home is brightened by nine children: Jane E. (a teacher), May, Samuel A., George Clyde, Cam W., Myrtle F., Everett D., Nellie, and Thomas, born February 12. 1898. Although Mr. Shoff is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, he has never sought political distinction. He is active in fraternal society work and is a leading : member of Lodge No. 669. I. O. O. F., at Glen Hope. In religions faith he is inclined to the . Presbyterian Church, of which his wife and sister are both valued members. and they now reside upon a farm near Madera. They have the following children-(a) James Alexander, who married Miss Sarah Miles, and has three children; (b) Frank, who is not mar- ried; (c) Samuel, who married Nora Marks, and has three children; (d) Lizzie, who married Mr. Muchlburg, and has three children, Lizzie, Grace and George; (e) Ella; who married Mr. Miles, of Madera, and has two children; and (f) Anna, who is at home. (2) Elizabeth S., born June 2, 1835, has never married, and resides with her brother, Robert. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for thirty-nine years, and is one of the most highly respected residents of the cominunity. (3) Christopher C., born September 16, 1837, resides near Amesville upon a farm which once belonged to his father. He married Miss Elizabeth Stitt, of Cambria county, and has seven children-S. T. married Miss Bessie Marks, of Port Matilda, and has no chil- dren; Emma married Andrew Colwell, of Ames- ville, and has one child; Jay F., a resident of Amesville, married Miss Ora Marks, of Port Ma- tilda, and has two children; Willis, Luther. James and Lena are still at home. (4) Susanna, born Angust 4, 1839, married Asa Byers, for- J OHN DILLEN. In the history of Clearfield county prominent mention should be made of this gentleman and the family to which he ! belongs. for representatives of the name have been long and honorably identified with the merly of Becaria township, Clearfield county, but now a resident of Atchison county, Kans. They have eleven children -- Mary, Samuel, Christina, David. Jane, Melissa, Martha, John, Alfred, Louis and Mabel. (5) Rebecca, born July 3. 1841, , growth and development of the community. His

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grandfather, Henry Dillen, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America in 1804. he and his wife Mary and family taking passage on a sailing ves- sel, which during a stormn was blown entirely out of its course. It also lost its masts, and was so badly disabled that it drifted hither and thither for three months. In the meantime the food supply was exhausted, and one day or evening lots were cast as to who should be killed to sat- isfy the hunger of the passengers; but next morn- ing New York harbor was sighted, and all on board were saved.

Henry Dillen landed with his wife and family at New York, and after remaining there for a time they went to Philadelphia, and on to Phil- ipsburg, Penn., where Hardman Philips had lo- cated lands. He then brought his wife and two sons to the home which he established in Becaria township, having purchased 260 acres of land, which he cleared and developed into a good farm, making it his home until his death. He had four children: John, George, Abbie and Betsy. The first named was the father of our subject. He was born in 1797, in County Derry, Ireland, and was therefore seven years of age when the family came to America. When his father was drafted for service in the war of 1812, he held himself in readiness to go in his place; but before he was called to active duty the war ended, and his serv- ices were not needed. He, however, aided in the work of developing and improving the farm, and September' 19, 1820, he married Miss Han- nah Patterson, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent, her ancestors locating in Jordan township. Clear- field county, at an early day. Mr. Dillen and his bride began their domestic life in a log cabin situated on his father's farm, remaining there for a number of years, during which time he cleared 125 acres of land. In 1856 he erected a fine two-story frame residence and a large barn. 72 x 60 feet, one of the best in the county. Into the new home he removed his family, and there remained until his death in February, 1861. His wife died in October, 1860.

married William Fleming, of Indiana county, Penn. They located on a farm in Cambria county, given her by her father, and Mrs. Flem- ing died some years ago, leaving seven children, namely: Mrs. Hannah Dingie, who died in Cal- ifornia, leaving two daughters who returned to Cambria county and married; George, who died on the homestead; Mrs. Jane Aikens, of Cambria county; Mrs. Katie Troxel, of Cambria county: Anna M., who became the wife of Charles Trox- el, of Cambria county, and died some years ago, leaving one child; Curtis, who is married and lives on the homestead with his father; and Susie, who died at the age of sixteen years. (4) Re- becca, born July 14, 1829, died in infancy. (5) Margaret, twin sister of Rebecca, married John Smith, of Indiana county, and located in Beaver Valley, Cambria county. They afterward sold that property, and returned to her father's home- stead, where Mrs. Smith died in March, 1862. Her husband and three children afterward re- moved to Iowa. * (6) Rebecca, born September 25, 1832, married George Pierce, of Bradford township, Clearfield county. They resided in White township, Cambria county, until . 1863.

when they purchased the S. K. Hegarty farm, near Becaria Mills, and later bought the Grand- father Weld farm in Becaria township. On sell- ing the last named property they went to Jordan township, where Mrs. Pierce died in June. 1894. leaving nine children-John A., who married Mary Filer, of Bradford, and has two children. lives on the farm near McCartney. George, who married Keturah Matthews, of Utahville, and has two daughters, is now a merchant of Utah- ville. Abram, a car repairer for a coal company in Ansonville, married Emma Davis, and has two children, Ellen and Winfield. William married Miss Coudreif. of Cambria, and has two children. Hezekiah married Miss Johnson, by whom he has two children, and lives in Irvona. Jefferson is married, and lives in Irvona. Elsie married Tillie Earheard, of New Millport, and lives on the homestead at McCartney. . Hannah M. is the wife of Samnel Mays, of Irvona, and has two children. Adeline is the wife of Ole Ray, and resides near McCartney. (7) George Dillen, born September 3. 1834. wedded Miss Mary Hurdman, and resided on his father's farm until his death; left a widow and one daughter, Jane. now the wife of Henry Hegarty at War- rior's Mark, Huntingdon Co., Penn., by whom she has one child. (8) Sarah Dillen, born Feb- ruary 11, 1837, died in 1860.

John and Hannah Dillen had eight children. (I) Mary, born Angust 4, 1823, married James Glasgow, of Cambria county, Penn., and lived on her husband's farm, near Utahville, until her death. She left one son, who in the Civil war enlisted in 1861, and was killed at Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862. (2) Jane, born September 21, 1826, was married, in 1840, to James Ray, of Jordan township, where they lived on a farmi. 1 She died in 1848, leaving one son, John D). Ray, ; who married Martha McGarvey. They both John Dillen, the well-known lumberman and died some years ago, and their only child died : fariner of Becaria township, Clearfield county, in infancy. (3) Elizabeth, born October 4, 1828, i was born December 31, 1839, and spent his boy-

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hood on the home farin. On September 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, 53rd P. V. I., under Capt. John S. McKernan, went to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and from there to Baltimore and Washington. The regiment spent the win- ter at Camp California, near Alexandria, and after breaking camp in the spring marched to Manassas Junction. Returning to Alexandria, the troops then went by boats to Yorktown, where they met the enemy and followed them until bringing on the engagement at Fair Oaks. The 53rd regiment lost ninety-six men there, and four of the company were killed and three wounded, but they succeeded in driving the Rebels from the field. For a month they re- mained at that point, and then in a seven-days' retreat went to Harrison's Landing, where they remained until September, when on transports they were taken to Alexandria and participated in the second battle of Bull Run. Mr. Dillen's regiment then covered the retreat to Bailey's Cross Roads, thence went to Georgetown, to Frederick City and to Antietam, meeting the enemy in battle at Stone Bridge, near that place. They repulsed the Rebels with heavy loss, spent three days in caring for the dead and wounded there, and on the 20th of September started for Harper's Ferry. In October an engagement was brought on at Fredericksburg, resulting .in heavy losses to both sides. The Union troops remained in camp at Fredericksburg until March, and then went to Chancellorsville, where a two- days' engagement occurred, after which they re- turned to the old camp at Fredericksburg. In June they marched to Gettysburg, and partici- pated in the ever-memorable battle at that point. In the second day of the fight, Mr. Dillen was wounded in the left leg, just above the knee, by a minie ball. Of fifteen men of his company eleven were wounded, and of 153 men of the regiment only twenty-two were able for duty after that engagement. Mr. Dillen was taken to University Hospital in Baltimore, where his wounds opened afresh, and he almost lost his life, on account of hemorrhage of an artery. In September he received permission to return home, where he spent two weeks, then reported in Philadelphia, but after examination there he was declared unfit for the field duty, and remained in the Invalid Corps until the expiration of his three-years' term when he was discharged and returned home in November, 1864.

In 1866, Mr. Dillen married Ellen, daughter of Philip and Catherine Braniff, of Becaria Mills. They located on the Dillen homestead, and have remained there to the present time. Children have been born to them. as follows: George,

born October 25, 1866, died February 9, 1867. Sarah A., born December 7, 1867, and educated in the common schools, was married, in 1887, to James Newton, of Coalport, and with their two children, Lula and Geraldine, they reside on the Bell's Gap railroad near her father's farm. Mar- tha L., born January 13, 1870, is the wife of . Porter Oschell, of Becaria township, who resides on the Bell's Gap railroad; they have an adopted son, Thomas. John C., born October 4, 1871, is at home. Francis B., born February 6, 1873. died on the 16th of May following. Hannah R., born March 23, 1874, is the wife of Benjamin Myers, of Cambria county, who follows farming near her father, and they have two children, Charlie and an infant. Ashley, born December 14, 1876, Ellis, born September 25, 1877, Har- vey, born June 4, 1879, Catherine, born June 2, 1882, and Claude, born April 17, 1885, are at home.

In politics, Mr. Dillen is a Jeffersonian Dem- ocrat. He has held the office of school director six years, was assessor two terms and overseer of the poor for three terms. He is a man of in- telligence and enterprise, carefully managing his business interests, and is as-true to his duties of citizenship in times of peace as when he followed the old flag as a defender of the Union.

G D. BENN, a well-known and successful mer- chant of Coalport, has done much to pro- niote the commercial activity, advance the gen- eral welfare and secure the material development of Clearfield county. As a business man he has been enterprising, energetic and always abreast with the times, and the success that he has achieved is assuredly well merited.

Our subject comes from a family that was early established in the New World. His grand- father, John Benn, was born in Albany, N. Y., of German parentage, and on leaving that city located at Pine Creek. Tioga Co., Penn., where he purchased a large tract of timber land, which he transformed into a good farm, improved with excellent buildings. Throughout his active busi- ness career he followed the occupations of farm- ing and lumbering. He reared a family of six children, as follows:

(1) Annie Benn married Horton Falkner, of Tioga county, Penn., and resided on her father's old homestead, taking care of her parents until they were called to their final rest. Mr. and Mrs. Falkner had four children-John, who is mar- ried, and lives in Clymer township, Tioga county; Square, who is married, and resides on a farm in the same county; Lemuel. who is married, and is

G.A. Bern

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

engaged in farming and lumbering in Tioga county; and Mrs. Amanda Holburt, of the same county.

(2) Catherine Benn became the wife of Syl- vester Davy, of the same county, and they are now both deceased. They had seven children, namely: (a) George was educated in Pennsyl- vania, and taught in the high school of Mill Hall, Centre county, but after his marriage removed to Utah, where he remained for several years, and is now a resident of Idaho. (b) Edwin mar- ried a New York lady, and later enlisted in the Civil war as a member of the 45th P. V. I .; although he was wounded he remained in the service until the close of the war, and then lo- cated near Westfield, Tioga county, where he has since followed farming. He has reared a family. (c) Henry married, and lived for a num- ber of years in Port Allegany, where his wife died, leaving four children; he has since married a widow lady, and resides in Tioga county. (d) E. C. is married and has five children; he makes his home near Emporium, Cameron Co., Penn., and follows the occupation of lumbering. (e) Richard is married, and resides in Tioga county. (f) Elmyra married Erastus Hill, a soldier of the Civil war, and they make their home in the Em- pire State. (g) Esther became the wife of Daniel Barrett, of Tioga county, who engaged in lumbering near Saginaw, Mich., for a number of years, and then returned to Tioga county, purchasing a farm near Westfield, where he and his family still reside.

(3) Mary Benn, a native of Tioga county, married William Hunt, of New York, and they now reside in Ladona, Potter Co., Penn. They have had three children-Thomas, who was ac- cidentally shot while out hunting and died from his injuries, leaving a widow and two children: Jennie, who is married and lives on Marsh creek, and Annie, at home.

(4) Sarah Benn, born in Tioga county, mar- ried Squire Higgins, and resides on a farm near Lawrenceville, Tioga county. They have two daughters, who are graduates of the Mansfield Normal School, and are now engaged in teach- ing in the public schools of Tioga county.

(5) J. B. Benn, a native of Tioga county, married Nancy Head, of New York, and they first located on Pine creek, where he followed lumbering inany years, and also rafted the lum- ber down that stream. He built the first tram road in Tioga county, if not in the State, in 1850, and also conducted a hotel at Sabinsville until 1875, when he came to Clearfield county, locating in Houtzdale, where he purchased sev- eral lots and erected buildings thereon, includ-

ing the hall, which now bears his name. Pre- vious to this he had conducted the " Alleghany Hotel" in Clearfield for a few years, and his wife, later, died in that city while on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. George Leipold. He died at the sanie place a few years later at the ripe old age of eighty-one. In his family were four sons and one daughter, as follows: (a) Banister, born in Tioga county, married Agnes Odell, of Clearfield county, and they have spent a part of their married life in the West, but now reside in Wallaceton, Clearfield county, where he follows veterinary surgery, and his wife is engaged in the practice of medicine, being a graduate of the Minneapolis Medical College. They have one son, Odell, who is at present engaged. in clerk- ing in Pittsburg, Penn. (b) Annie is the wife of George Leipold, who is the present owner and pro- prietor of the "Alleghany House," of Clearfield; they have three children-Burt, an exceedingly bright young man, who graduated with the high- est honors from the Pennsylvania University Medical College, and is now successfully engaged in practice in Clearfield; and Frank and Maud, who are both graduates of the Clearfield high school. (c) Eugene, a native of Tioga county, completed his education at the Academy Corners, near Knoxville, that county, and in 1871 married Ellie Goodel, of Tioga county. He then entered his father-in-law's store, remaining with him after the reinoval of the family to Grinnell, Iowa, but is at present sergeant-at-arms in St. Peter, Minn. He has one daughter, Lena, who married a mer- chant of the latter State. (d) C. M., born in Tioga county, married Mary Segars, of that county, and is engaged in contracting and build- ing at Westfield; they have one daughter, Annie. (e) Leroy, a native of Tioga county, wedded Ella Hill, of that county, and they are also residents of Westfield; in their family are four children- Blanche, John Ray and Ida May (twins), and an infant as yet unnamed.

(6) William Benn, the father of our subject. was born in Gaines township, Tioga county, where he grew to manhood on the home farm. After his marriage to Charity M. Head, he lo- cated in Clymer township, where he engaged in farming for a number of years, and in 1852 he contracted to cut cordwood from fifty acres of land for the Erie Railroad Co. Subsequently he returned to his farm in Tioga county, but in 1854 sold the place and removed to Lasalle county, Ill., where he remained one year. Returning to Pine creek. Tioga county, he engaged in farming and lumbering until 1860, when he purchased a farın in Clymer township, but in 1868 disposed of that property and bought the present home-

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stead. In 1871 he followed lumbering for E. C. Davy on the Driftwood branch of the Sinnama- honing creek, where he remained for three years,- but has since given his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits. His wife has been a true helpmeet to him, aiding him in every pos- sible way, and cheerfully bearing with him all the hardships of their early married life.

To this worthy couple were born three sons and four daughters, namely: (1) Norman, born in Tioga county, in 1844, grew to manhood on the home farm, and married Sarah Sutton, of Chatham, that county. He purchased a tract of timber land, which he has transformed into a' fine farm and improved with good buildings, which stand as monuments to his energy and perseverance. In his family are four children- William, who is married and follows farming in Michigan; George, who is married, and is now employed in a mill belonging to our subject in Cambria county, Penn .; Lettie, wife of Thomas Baker, a farmer of Tioga county; and May, at home. (2) Nancy D., born in Wellsville, N. Y., in 1852, was educated in the common schools of Tioga county, Penn., and is now the wife of W. A. Griffin, a farmer of that county. (3) Emma, born in Tioga county, received a common-school education, and married George Smith, of New Jersey, who moved to Susquehanna county, Penn., after his marriage, and followed farming a few years. He then engaged in lumbering and farming in Tioga county until 1889, when he re- moved to Cambria county, and is now working in our subject's mill. In the Smith family are three children-Ben, who is married and resides at our subject's mill; Della, married to J. J. Mitchel, of Indiana county; and Harry, who was born in Cambria county, and is at home. (4) James, a native of Tioga county, attended the common schools, and after reaching manhood married Miss Blue, of Tioga county, by whom he has one son, Marshall, at home. Jaines Benn is ' now engaged in contracting and building in Pot- ter county, Penn. Two daughters of William Benn-Mary Matilda and Sarah-are deceased.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 23

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