Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 28

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 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 28

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bia. (2) Daniel, our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (3) Barbara, born December 15, 1840, died February 10, 1841. (4) Barbara Jane, born December 19, 1841, died May 2, 1847. (5) Catherine, who was born February 2, 1843, in Germany, grew to womanhood at the new home in Lancaster county. She was married there to Henry Shaub, of Columbia, Penn., and moved to Mountville, in the same county, where her husband died in 1894. She has a large family all residing in Lancaster county. 6) Conrad, born May 11, 1844, in Germany, enlisted in 1864 in the Independent Battery, and remained until the close of the war, participating in all the engagements of his regiment. After his return he married Miss Yost, of Lancaster county, and located upon a farm there. He was killed, in 1892, by a fall in his barn, leaving a widow and nine children who reside in Lancaster City. (7) Anna, born April 6, 1846, died July 26, of the same year.

In 1853 Daniel Waltz, Sr., the father of our subject, brought his family to the United States hoping to find better opportunities for advance- ment. He was a linen weaver by trade, but that work being difficult to obtain he secured employ- ment in Columbia, Lancaster county, laying pipes around furnaces. His first wife, Barbara Bentler, our subject's mother, to whom he was married July 17, 1836, was a native of Wurtem- . berg, born June 29, 1818. and died in the Father- land, April 6, 1846, leaving several children. Our subject's father, married, in 1846, a second wife, Mary Volz, a German by birth, who ac- companied him to this country. In 1862 they moved from Pennsylvania to Saginaw, Mich., Our subject's father had twelve children by 'his second wife, of whom three were born in Germany, and the others at Saginaw, Mich. (1) Miss Anna B., resides in Saginaw with her inother. (2) Christopher, now a resident of Saginaw, Mich., is married and has one child. (3) John enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, from Saginaw, Mich .. and spent some time in the service. He was killed a few years ago in a mill, and left a widow and several chil- dren. (4) Miss Mary A., born March 25, 1854, is at home with her mother. (5) Michael S., born December 7. 1855, is married but has no children. He is a successful educator now re- siding in Winona. Minn., and has been principal with the children of the second union, and the . of the public schools there. (6) Anna M., born father died there some years later, his wife sur- April 7. 1858, married Henry Skelton, of East Saginaw, Mich., a veteran of the Civil war, and has six children. (7) Jacob, born September 8, 1860, now a resident of Winona, Minn., is mar- ried and has two children. (8) Carric D., born May 16, 1863, married August Venner, of East Saginaw, and has two children.' (9) Miss Pau- lina, born July 17. 1865. lives at home. (10) Lewis Oscar, born June 16, 1867. (single), is now re- siding in California, (11) Sarah Louisa, born October 10, 1869, married James Cudney, of East Saginaw, and has one child. (12) Miss Jennie M. born January 30, 1872, resides with her mother. viving him with several children. The seven children of the first marriage were: (1) Dora, born December 28, 1837. is the widow of Louis Landenburger, a laborer at Columbia, Penn .. who died in 1895. They had the following chil- dren: Harry is married and lives in Columbia; Elizabeth married Albert Weaver, of Columbia, and has four children: Maggie ( Mrs.,Cooper; re- sides in Columbia: Annie married Homer Law- yer, of Safe Harbor, Penn. ; Katie married Levi Leonard, of Middletown, Ohio, and has two children: Daniel, a resident of Harrisburg, Penn .. is married and has three children: John, who lives in Columbia, is married and has one child: William is married and resides in Lancaster City, Penn. : Amanda married Mr. Sowers, of Colum- bia: Charles, who resides in the same city, is married and has one child; George and Christo- pher are single and make their home in Column-

The subject of our sketch, after coming to Pennsylvania, remained at the Lancaster county home until 1859. when he went to Woodward township, Clearfield county, and worked on a farm for Samuel Hegarty. On March 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company E. 67th P. V. I., at Phil-

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adelphia, and after one month in that city was sent to Annapolis, Md .. and placed on guard duty at Camp Parole. In the fall the regiment was transferred to Harper's Ferry, and later to Bolivar Heights and Berryville, where they guarded the ferry. Their next station was at Winchester under Gen. Milroy, and there on June 15, 1863, there occurred a battle during with one brigade, which later proceeded to Rock- ville and Clarksburg. At this place they were inet by the enemy and driven back with heavy loss. On July 29, they reached Harper's Ferry where they remained. except for a short stay at Frederick City, until Angust 10, and then marched to Hallstown. There on August 29th, a victory was won over the Rebels, followed by a fight which Mr. Waltz was taken prisoner. For three at Berryville, and a bloody encounter at Win- days he was held with others in an old fort with- chester, in which the company of which Mr. Walt% was a member had seven killed and thirty- nine wounded. The Rebels were, however, forced to retreat to Strasburg, being kept "on the run" all the way. This done, the regiment was sent to Front Royal. Va., rejoining the Army of the Potomac. On October 19, 1864, they were at Cedar Creek when the historic battle oc- curred under that heroic leader, Gen. Sheridan, with heavy loss to both sides, and on October 22 they defeated the enemy, at Fisher's Hill, at- tacking their breastworks and pursuing them, when driven out, to New Market. Later they went to Martinsburg as a guard for the wagon trains, "and then moved to Kernstown, Harper's Ferry and City Point. Their quarters that winter were at Fort Fisher, and the opening of the last year of the fratricidal struggle found them eager for the decisive movements which brought it to a termi- nation. On March 25, 1865, they charged the Rebel lines at Petersburg and were driven back; but another attack on April 2d proved successful, our troops pursued the fleeing Rebels to Sailor's Creek where they captured the wagon train and 1, 100 prisoners. Then came the march to Rich- mond and the surrender of Lee, soon followed by a march to Danville to support Sherman's forces. After Johnston's surrender they marched to Washington and participated in the Grand Re- view with Sherman's army. They encamped at Bald Hill until mustered out on July 14, 1865, and, on the following day, were transported to Philadelphia, where on the 20th of July they were paid and honorably dismissed from the service. out any food, and on being taken to Staunton, Va., they were each given a pint of flour for their first meal. Later Mr. Waltz spent three days in Libby prison and thirty-five days in Belle Isle, when he was paroled and taken to Rich- mond, and placed in a tobacco warehouse, re- maining until the following day. From Rich- mond they went to City Point and then to 'Camp Parole in Maryland, arriving July 20, 1863. The formalities of the parole were not completed un- til October 1, 1863, and then nine of the num- ber, including Mr. Waltz, took "French leave" for their homes in Pennsylvania, traveling on foot. Mr. Waltz remained at Columbia only a few days, then reported at Philadelphia for duty and was given a pass back to his regiment, which he rejoined at Bealton Station, Va. On the morning of the next day. October 29, 1863, they . fought a battle with the Rebel force under Birney, driving him back, and soon afterward they met another force at Kelly's Ford, where they were again victorious. They went into winter quar- ters at Bragg Station, and in the spring of 1864 Mr. Waltz, whose term had expired, re-enlisted in the same company. Returning home on a fur- lough, he received a bounty of $300 in Monroe county, and then went to Michigan to visit his father. In April he came back to Pennsylvania and on the 28th of the month was married to Miss Annie Mullen, of Woodward township, Clearfield connty. May 3d he went to Lancaster county and on the 7th he reported at Philadelphia for duty. The 20th found hin at Washington, and then he went to Belle Plains and to Fredericks- burg where he rejoined his regiment, and later to Mr. Waltz returned to Clearfield county and made his home at a farin which he bought in Gulich township, near Ramey, known as the Lisle McCulley farm. Not long afterward he re- moved to Ramey and worked for some time in a sawmill for D. K. Rainey & Houtz. Reed & Co. In 1868 his first wife died, and on Novem- ber 5. 1871, he married Miss Susan A. Franklin, of Glasgow, Penn., daughter of Joseph and Mary Franklin and a descendant of a pioneer family of Cambria county. For the next five years Mr. Waltz was employed at a mill near Houtzdale belonging to McCauley and Lonther, and since Port Royal, Bowling Green, and Charles City. Va. At the last-named place they had another engagement with the Rebels after which they guarded the wagon train to White House Landing, and passed on to Fortress Monroe, Baltimore, and New Market, Va., where a skirmish took place on the 9th of July. From the Relay House in Maryland they went to Washington arriving July 13th, and as all communication was cut off they were sent to open- the roads again. On July 16, they were taken to Leesburg, Va., and then to Snicker's Gap, returning to Washington

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retiring from that position he has resided at his farm, following lumbering and agriculture. The estate has greatly improved under his care. When he purchased it there were but few im- provements and no buildings except an old house. It is now a model farm, with but little uncleared land, and with substantial buildings. In 1884 he erected a fine two-story residence, a wagonshed, and other structures, and in 1896 he added a com- modious bank barn. He is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of his township, and is a leader in the local Republican organization with which he has been identified for a number of years, He is an able worker in various movenicnts of public interest, and has held positions of trust, being now in his second term as supervisor. In religious affairs he is prominent also as a member of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Waltz, however, be- longs to the Presbyterian Church, at Ramey.

By his first marriage Mr. Waltz had one son, Daniel M., born May 22, 1866, who received a common-school education, and now resides at Shirley, Cambria Co., Penn., where he is em- ployed in a sawmill. He married Miss Ida " Keough, of Gulich township, Clearfield county, and has three children: Grace E., Ernest S., and Anna Gertrude. all at home. There are five children by the second union: (1) Mary Alice, born November 14. 1872, attended the common schools during girlhood, and is now the wife of Edward Miller, a lumberman of Gulich township, Clearfield county. They have two children- Paul, born May 15, 1893, and Edward, born August 27, 1894: (2) John Franklin, born Jan- uary 4, 1874; (3) Conrad W., born February 22, 1877, and (4) Catherine May, born April 12, 1879, have all received the benefits of a public- school course, and are still at home with their parents; (5) Lydia E., born April 6, 1893, is the pet of the home circle.

H S. KNARR, is one of the most extensive real-estate dealers of Du Bois, and it is not difficult to conjecture what manner of man he is. In a republican country, where mcrit must win, we can tell much of his life. Wealth may secure a start; but it cannot maintain one in a position where brains and executive ability are required. Our subject did not have wealth to aid him in beginning his business career. His reliance has been placed in the more substantial qualities of perseverance, untiring enterprisc, resolute purpose and commendable zeal, and, withal, his actions have been guided by an hon- esty of purpose that none have questioned. He is a true type of American progress and enter-

prise. His intellectual energy, strict integrity, prudent business methods and reliable sagacity, have all combined to make him one of the ablest business men of central Pennsylvania.

A native of Clearfield county, Mr. Knarr was born in Luthersburg, Brady township, February 21, 1853, and is a son of Henry and Catharine (Marshall) Knarr, both natives of Germany. When eighteen years of age the former crossed the Atlantic with his father, George Knarr, who became a pioneer of Brady township, Clearfield county, where he died in 1884, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. The mother of our subject was sixteen when she accompanied her father, Adam Marshall, to the New World, and they also became pioneer settlers of Brady township, where he spent his remaining days. Henry Knarr had been provided with an excel- lent education in his native land, and on locating in Brady township he engaged in teaching for a time. There he later opened up a farm of 125 acres, on which he made his home until called . to his final rest in 1886. His father took up a tract of government land where the village of Troutville is now located. In that place the mother of our subject is now residing, but is still the owner of the old homestead farm in Brady township.

Mr. Knarr, the subject proper of this review, is seventh in the order of birth in a family of fif- teen children, as follows: Mrs. Louisa Heilburn resides in Jefferson county; George L .. is a mer- chant of Troutville; Mrs. Caroline Kuntz lives in Troutville; Simon is a stock dealer in Trout- ville; David S. is a resident of Du Bois: Mrs. Lorena Heilburn resides in Bell township, Clear- field county; Henry S. is our subject; J. Adam is a real-estate dealer in Punxsutawney, Penn .; William; Reuben is superintendent of a mill in Brookville, Jefferson Co., Penn .; Ferdinand op- erated a shingle-mill in Du Bois, where he died in 1891; Frederick; Mrs. Mary Brubaker lives in Du Bois; S. A. is a resident of Du Bois; and Mrs. Catherine Kohler lives in Anderson township, Jefferson county.

H. S. Knarr passed his boyhood in much the usual manner of farmer boys, on the old home- stead in Brady township, near Luthersburg, and obtained his education in the schools of the neigh- borhood. On leaving home he began Icarning the tailor's trade at Brookville. Jefferson county. with William Thompson, and having mastered the business, he worked for a time at Reynolds- ville, Penn., but in July, 1876, he came to Du- Bois, which at that time was called Rumbarger. Here Mr. 'Knarr also engaged in tailoring. begin- ning business where the bank building now stands,

MARmari

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later carrying on operations on Long avenue and Brady street. He successfully followed merchant tailoring until 1882, and gave employment to six- teen men and women. On disposing of that business he turned his attention to real estate, and has been remarkably successful in his invest- ments. . In 1882 he platted an addition, known as Knarr's addition, to Du Bois, and in 1890. platted a second addition. He has sold houses and lots to eleven hundred people, and is still the owner of thirty-five dwelling houses, which he rents. He also owns three business blocks in Du Bois, which he also rents.

In 1876 Mr. Knarr erected his first buildings in Du Bois, a cigar factory and boarding house, and the following year added a hardware store, 20 X 140 feet, to which he made an addition in 1879, 20x50 feet, two stories in height. This was burned, however, in 1886, and he then built a brick block, costing $26,000, which was de- stroyed in the great fire of 1888 which swept the town. With characteristic energy, however, he the same year put up his present handsome two- story block, also of brick, having a 66-foot front- age on Brady street. The lower floor is divided into three good store rooms, while the upper is used for offices and the Young Men's Christian Association rooms. In 1889 Mr. Knarr erected a brick block on Long avenue, with an eighty- foot frontage, which is made into four store rooms below and four dwellings above.

In Brady township, in ISSo, Mr. Knarr was married to Miss Mary Buckheite, a native of Jefferson county, Penn. Her father, Frederick Buckheite, was an early settler of that county, making his home in Henderson township, and he was drowned there while rafting. Two children bless the union of our subject and his estimable wife: Silas P. and Burt E.

Mr. Knarr has ever taken a prominent part in the public affairs of his adopted city, for three years was a member of the council, was elected tax collector in 1886, and in 1888 made the as- sessment after the fire, and divided the city into four wards. He has been actively identified with the growth and development of DuBois from the very beginning, and has done mnuch to promote its welfare and prosperity. To-day he enjoys the reward of his painstaking and conscientious work. By his energy, perseverance and fine business ability he has been enabled to secure an ample fortune. Systematic and methodical, his sagacity, keen discrimination and sound judg- ment have made him one of the most prosperous real-estate dealers in central Pennsylvania. H gives his support to all worthy enterprises for the good of the community, and is especially liberal

in his donations to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of which he is a faithful meinber. In politics he is a Democrat, and his popularity in DuBois was substantially evinced by his election, in the spring of 1897, to the office of burgess, by a ma- jority of 450, although the city is strongly Re- publican.

D AVID HITCHINGS, who occupies an influ- ential and prominent position among the agricultural population of Bradford township, Clearfield county, is a native of the Keystone State, born in 1831, in Lehigh county, a son of William and Elizabeth (Thomas) Hitchings. The father was born in 1798, in England, while the mother was a native of Wales. They

were married in 1827, in England, and sailed for the New World, their destination being Lehigh county, Penn., where Mr. Hitchings worked as an iron filler until 1831, when he moved to Hanna Furnace, Centre county. Two years later, however, he came to Bradford township, Clearfield county, where he purchased 100 acres of timber land near Shiloh church, and there made his home, though he continued to work in the iron furnaces. His wife would often walk to Hanna Furnace and back in a day, and in the same way would go through the forests to Gra- hamton to market. The husband died on the farm in 1876, the wife having preceded him, passing away at the same place in 1862. Of the five children born to them, James died on the home farm in 1844; Jane, who became the wife of John Woolridge, died in 1895: Eliza, wife of William Welker, died in Bradford township, in 1873; and Mary Ann is the wife of N. H. Maines, of Bradford township.

Of that family our subject is next to the youngest. Since the age of two years he has made his home in Bradford township, and in the schools of Shiloh obtained a good practical edu- cation. Since starting out in life for himself he has followed agricultural pursuits, and has met with a fair degree of success in his undertakings. In May, 1863, he purchased from Isaac Lines his present fine farm of 106 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and in- proved with good and substantial buildings.

In 1856, in Bradford township, our subject was married to Miss A. M. Cowder, a native of Lancaster county, Penn., and a daughter of John Cowder, one of the early settlers of Clearfield county. Seven children blessed this union, namely: W. W .. who is married and living in Huntingdon county, Penn .: John C. (deceased), whose widow has been dead for eight years: Jen-

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nie, wife of Ed Schunk, of Viaduct, Clearfield county; Alice, a resident of Jersey Shore, Penn. ; Mrs. Grace Peters, who died in 1894; Wallace, who lives on the home farm; and Mamie, a resi- dent of West Clearfield.

In politics, the father of these children sup- ports the principles of the Democratic party, and has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of school director, supervisor of his township, and assessor for five years. He has been prominently identified with all works of public improvement in his section of the county, is public-spirited and enterprising, and both he and his estimable wife are highly respected by all who know them.

A P. MOORE, a justice of the peace at Clearfield, is certainly entitled to be consid- ered not only one of the honored pioneers of Clearfield county, but also one of its respected and valued citizens. With the history of the county the Moore family has long been identified, and its representatives have always borne an im- portant part in promoting its interests.

In the town of Clearfield, where is still his home, A. P. Moore was born April 27, 1833, and he is a son of John Moore, a native of the Old Dominion. His paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of John, was born in Ireland, whence early in life he crossed the Atlantic, and took up his residence in Virginia, where his death occurred. At the beginning of the present cen- tury, the father ( John Moore ) removed to Centre county, Penn., where in 1830 he wedded Mary Moore, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of Hamilton Moore, one of the early settlers of Centre county. Two years after their mar- riage the young couple came to Clearfield (or Old- town as then known), where Mr. Moore worked at the gunsmith's trade until 1851, when he pur- chased an improved farm in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, on which he died in 1870 at the mature age of sixty-eight years. His wife long survived him, dying in the same township, in 1891, aged eighty-nine years. To this worthy couple were born seven children, namely: Fletcher Moorc, who died at the age of five years; A. P., of this sketch; Samuel and John. who both died in Lawrence township; Isaiah G., who is still living in that township; William H., who resides on the old home farm of John Irvin, two miles below Clearfield town; and Margaret Ann, who died in Lawrence township, at the age of twenty-three years.

In the town of his birth A. P'. Moore was reared to manhood, acquiring a good education in the old academy of that place. After leaving

school, he engaged in teaching for some time, in the counties named, being first employed in Spring township, Centre county, in 1853-54, later for one term in Clearfield, and for four terms in Lawrence township, Clearfield county. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he met with a fair degree of success. In 1857, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., he married Miss Sarah A. Latchaw, a native of that county, and a daughter of Samuel Latchaw. Six children blessed this union: Mary M., now the wife of a Mr. Dunkle, of Tyrone, Penn .; Elmer Woods, of Lawrence township; Blanche, wife of Henry Metzler, of West Clearfield; I. H., also of West Clearfield; Charles F., a resident of Nevada; and Margaret E., at home.

During the trying days of the Civil war, Mr. Moore served as enrolling officer, in 1863, which .he soon found was not a very enviable position; also as census enumerator, in 1890, for a portion of Lawrence township, under the Harrison ad- ministration. Since the organization of the party he has been an ardent Republican, and has taken quite an active interest in political affairs. So- cially, he affiliates with Clearfield Lodge, No. 305, K. P., and in religious faith he is a consist- ent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is creditably filling the office of justice of the peace, and his decisions are marked by fairness and impartiality, being well calculated to serve the ends of justice. He holds a high place in the esteem of his fellow townsmen, whose confi- dence he enjoys to a marked degree. In 1897, at the advanced age of sixty-four, Mr. and Mrs. Moore took an extended trip of ten months through the West, and in visiting their youngest son, who resides in Nevada, it proved to be one of unusual interest.

F RANK D. BUSH, a prominent and enter- prising farmer, and assessor of Boggs town- ship, is a native of Clearfield county, born March 16, 1838, in Bradford township, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Otis) Bush.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany, but the birth of the father occurred in Reading, Penn., and on coming of age he removed to Centre county, Penn. In 1828 he married Elizabeth Otis, a native of England, where her father died, and she was brought to America by John Morris, her grand- father, who located on a farm in Clearfield county. While a resident of Centre county. Joseph Bush engaged in teaming, but after his marriage came to Clearfield county, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing, both

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 28

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