USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 29
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in Grahamton and Wallaceton. He also pur- chased a tract of land in Boggs township, which he cleared and developed, making a good farm, but later sold that and purchased the place on which our subject now residcs. In 1861, he entered the Civil war, serving in a regi- ment of Pennsylvania Cavalry, for three years, then returned home. Later, however, he re- enlisted in the same regiment, but six months later was taken ill and died at Washington, D. C., and his remains were interred at Altoona, Penn. At one time he was slightly wounded by a sabre. His widow who still survives him, now makes her home in Iowa.
In the family were nine children, namely: (I) Mary J. married (first) G. W. Shimel, and (sec- ond) Emanuel Lumadue. (2) John is living in Iowa. (3) Elizabeth is the wife of Jacob Bush, a farmer. (4) Frank D., of this sketch, is the next in order of birth. (5) William was a mem- ber of an Iowa regiment during the Civil war, and spent one year in Libby Prison. . (6) James also was in the Union service, and, after his first term of three years had expired, he re-enlisted and faithfully served until the close of the war, after which he joined the regular service and was stationed out West three years. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. (7) Perry is en- gaged in railroading at Altoona, Penn. (8) Emma is the wife of W. Stott, a merchant and stock- man of Iowa. (9) Loretta is deceased. Re- ligiously the mother is a member of the Church of England, and, in politics, the father was a Democrat.
Frank D. Bush, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon a farm, receiving his education in the country schools, and as soon as old enough began lumbering on his own account. In 1860 he commenced piloting on the river, which occupation he has since followed every spring with one or two exceptions. After his marriage he purchased his present farm, a tract of 100 acres, of his father, which he has cleared and improved and now has under a high state of cultivation. His residence is a commodious two- story frame structure, and his barns and out- buildings are neat and substantial. His farm is pleasantly located in Boggs township, near the Decatur township line and four miles west of Blue Ball. In 1861, he was married to Eliza- beth Coulter, an intelligent and refined lady, be- longing to an honored pioneer family. Her par- ents, John and Mary (Meriman) Coulter, were both natives of Centre county, where they were married, and later purchased land in Woodward township, Clearfield county. During the sum- mer the father engaged in farming, while through
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the winter months he was employed in lumber- ing. He retired ten years before his death, August 18, 1892. His wife had died previously. Both were members of the United Brethren Church, and in politics the husband was a Republican. Six children were born to them (only three of whom are now living), namely: Mrs. Susan Stott, Mrs. Elizabeth Bush, Mrs. Sarah J. Hen- son, Mrs. Catherine Merritt, Mrs. Nancy Hamp- ton and Mrs. Emma Merritt. Of the ten chil- dren born to our subject and wife, two died in infancy; the others are: John and Charles F., farmers; Perry, at home; William B., a clay miner; and Melissa, Emma A., Morris and Dow- ella, all at home. The parents and all the chil- dren are consistent members of the United Brethren Church; while in his political views the ·father is an earnest Democrat, taking an active interest in public affairs. He has been called upon to fill several township offices, and for the past eleven years has most acceptably served as assessor.
R EV. F. J. WAGNER. There is no position held by man more important than that of pastor of a Church; nor is there a position that has attached to it greater importance or respon- sibility when properly conceived and conscien- tiously discharged. This is more especially the case with the clergymen of the Roman Catholic faith, for he is held more as an instructor and guide, not only in religious matters, but in moral and social conduct, by his congregation. There are few men by character and education better fitted to preside over a people in all these rela- tions than the reverend gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.
Father Wagner is the pastor of St. Severinus Catholic Church of Cooper township, which was established in 1852, although for several years previous services had been conducted in a log house near where the church now stands, Bene- dictine priests coming from St. Mary's a distance of fifty miles, and also from Clearfield and Belle- fonte. A Mr. Ruple donated 100 acres of land to the Church, and thus a start was made. The Benedictine Fathers resided here from 1852- 1864. Then the secular priests resided there. and in 1877 Father E. Franck took charge of the congregation, who presided over the congre- gation for thirteen years. He was followed by Rev. S. Assenmacher, who was in charge until the coming of our subject. Father Wagner took charge of the congregation in 1894, and has since retained the good will and best of co-operation of his people. This year the new church, begun
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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 ) reinoved 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 Mfr. Moore worked at the gunsmith's trade until 1851, when he pur- chased an improved farin 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 Moore, 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, Mfr. 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 renioved 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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in 1892, was finished, making it now the nicest church in this vicinity.
Under his ministrations the Church has pros- pered, and the Sabbath-school has been built up, while he has also succeeded in establishing a post office near the house of worship where one mail is received daily. The congregation, which is in good working order, numbers fifty families.
Father Wagner was born December 26, 1866, in Erie, Penn., a son of Peter J. and Elizabeth (Huffman) Wagner, both natives of Germany, the former born at Frankfort on the Rhine, Prussia, and the latter at Fulda, Hesse. They were married in Erie, where the father worked as a laborer. His death occurred in 1889, but the mother is still living at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were the following chil- dren: George; Mary (deceased); John; Annie (deceased); Peter; Elizabeth; F. J .; Antone; Kate; Valentine; and Otilda (deceased).
Father Wagner began his education in the common schools, but later was a student in St. Vincent's College in Westmoreland county, Penn., for nine years, taking the full classical course and also philosophy and theology, and graduating in 1891. After his ordination he was located at Mckean, Erie county, where he re- mained for three years, and was then, in 1894, transferred to his present charge. Since Novem- ber, 1896, he has been a resident of Morrisdale Mines, and attends St. Severinus Church from that point, the same as when he resided there. Since 1894 he has had charge of St. Severinus, Cooper township, and St. Agnes Church, Morris- dale Mines. St. Agnes is a congregation started within the last ten years, and is located on the railroad. The Catholic population of various nationalities numbers about ninety families.
D ANIEL KOOSER. The ancestors of the Kooser family, now so prominent in this section, came to Pennsylvania in Colonial times, and their descendants have shown in every gen- eration the pioneer spirit which prompts the search for new and unbroken fields of enterprise. John Kooser, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Berks county, Penn., but made his home, in manhood, in Jenner town- ship, Somerset county, where he owned about Soo acres of land, and for many years followed the trade of a millwright. His death occurred there in 1827. His wife, Mary Vicegarber, to whom he was married in Bedford county. Penn., lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. They had eight children, and all but three died in Somerset county. Elizabeth (Mrs. Putnam),
Mary (Mrs. Tedrow) and Rebecca (Mrs. James Flick) all lived and died there; Daniel was a pio- neer settler in Ohio, and died near Columbus; Peter married in Somerset county, and moved to Fayette county, Penn., near Connellsville, to spend the remainder of his days: John is men- tioned below; Jacob lived and died in Somerset county; and Samuel made his home there at the old farm, where he was accidentally killed while building a barn.
John Kooser, our subject's father, a farmer by occupation, was born at the old homestead in 1792, and was married in his native township, in 1816, to Susan Friedline, who was born in the- same county in 1798, the daughter of Peter and Mary (Miller) Friedline. Her ancestors were early settlers there, and her father was born and reared upon the same farm where he died. In 1829 John Kooser moved to Indiana county, Penn., to pass his remaining years, dying there in March, 1850, and his widow departed this life in 1867, in Kansas. They had ten children: Mrs. Lydia McCloskey died in Indiana county. Penn., in November, 1893; Rebecca (Mrs. Thomas Davis), of Lumber City, Clearfield coun- ty, died in 1893; Maria married Thomas Robin- son, who died in 1867, and she died in Lumber City two years later; Sarah married Sanford Roberson, of Gulich township, Clearfield coun- ty; Elizabeth is the wife of Jonas Kelley. of Belsena, Clearfield county; Josiah has resided since 1834 at the old homestead in Indiana coun- ty; Daniel is the subject proper of our sketch; Jacob is a lumberman in West Virginia; Hiram lives in California; John was drowned in I851, at the age of twenty-two, in Chest creek while engaged in lumbering.
Mr. Kooser has passed the allotted term of three-score years and ten, having been born July 12, 1820, in Somerset county, and he has seen many changes in his section. He was nine years old when he went to Indiana.county, where he remained until November 15, 1854, when he moved to Clearfield county. There he rented a farm in Ferguson township, and followed agri- culture and lumbering for fifteen years, and then went to Lawrence township, and engaged in farming. In 1881 he moved to Clearfield bor- ough, and conducted a boarding house on Reed street for nearly thirteen years. He then re- tired from active business and returned to Law- ence township, where he built a fine residence in which to enjoy the fruits of his past labors.
On June 5, 1845, Mr. Kooser was married in Indiana county to Miss Amanda Kimple, who was born in Essex county, N. J., the daughter of John and Mary Ziegler Kimple, both natives of
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yours Truly Daniel Dieser
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
New Jersey, who settled in Westmoreland coun- ty, Penn., in 1838, and later moved to Indiana county. Her father rented the Kelley farm for some time, after which he spent ten years on the Stanard farm, and then bought a tract of land in Mahoning township, which he cleared and im- proved. He died there in 1878; his widow in September, 1892.
This worthy couple had eighteen children: Philip went to Wayne county, Iowa, in 1853, and now lives in California; Mrs. Maria Repine died in Mahoning, Indiana county, in 1869; George enlisted in Wayne county, Iowa, served throughout the Civil war, but died soon after his return to Iowa, in 1865; Amanda married Mr. Kooser; Mrs. Elizabeth Wegley, a widow, re- sides in Allerton, Iowa; Sarah (Mrs. David Grif- fith) died in Indiana county; Jacob is a farmer at Allerton, Iowa; William is a farmer in Indiana county; Mrs. Hannah Marshall lives in Mahon- ing township, Indiana county; Mrs. Martha Hall lives near Allerton, Iowa; Jane and Nancy died in childhood; Mrs. Nancy Thompson lives in Lawrence township, Clearfield county; Lydia died in childhood; Ann married (first) Mr. Davis, and (second) Mr. All, and resides in Indiana county; Mrs. Rebecca Freck lives at the old homestead: John and one other died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Kooser have passed their golden wedding anniversary. They have had seven children: Mrs. Susan Bloom lives in Clearfield; Mary Jane died at the age of seven; Samuel, a farmer in Burnside township, Clearfield county, | is married and has nine children; Mrs. Martha Burchfield resides in West Clearfield; John and Peter live in Lawrence township; and Albinus. the recorder and register of Clearfield county. lives at the county seat. In politics, Mr. Kooser is a Democrat, and he and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran Church.
Z HOOVER, a worthy representative of the ! farming interests of Clearfield county, is a native citizen of Bradford township, where he : the war of 1812. was born in 1852.
A son of William and Elizabeth (Murray) Hoover, his father. a native of Clearfield county, was a son of Jacob Hoover, who was born in Pennsylvania, and came to this locality at an early period in its history. He resided here until his death. William Hoover was reared in Brad- ford township, and soon after his marriage began the development of a farm. transforming the raw land into rich and fertile fields. He died in ISS4, since which time the mother has lived with our subject. Their children were: Alex
and W. A., of Bradford township; Mrs. Mary Jane Woolridge, of Woodland; Margaret, wife of N. P. Wilson, of Bradford township; Mrs. Merta Shirey, of Philipsburg, Penn .; Z., of this sketch; Aaron, John, Barbara, Sadie and Eliza- beth, are deceased.
Z. Hoover was reared on the old family home- stead, and after obtaining his elementary educa- tion in the district schools pursued his studies in Curwensville, Penn. When he entered upon his business career, he gave his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared, and has throughout life followed farming. In 1887 he purchased the J. A. Woolridge farm, comprising 109 acres of well-improved land, and now has a place whose neatness and thrift well indicate his careful supervision, and his practical progress- ive - methods. In 1879, in Bradford township, he was married to Miss Mary E, .Graham, who was born in Bradford, a daughter of John and Gwyn (Dale) Graham, both natives of Clearfield county and of English lineage. John Graham was drowned in March, 1865, while crossing Mo- ravian creek. Our subject and wife have one. son, William Ottobein. In his political views, the father is a stanch Republican. deeply inter- ested in politics. He is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Bradford township, whose long and honorable identification with its interests has engraven the name of Hoover in a conspicuous place on the records of the county's history.
C EDWIN WASHBURN, a prominent agri- culturist of Sandy township, Clearfield coun- ty, was one of the "brave boys in blue" during the dark days of the Rebellion, and comes of a family noted for its patriotism and loyalty. When the Colonies resolved to throw off the yoke of British oppression, his paternal grandfather joined the Continental army and participated in the memorable siege of Yorktown, while his fa- ther took up arms against the mother'country in A brother of Mrs. Washburn, John Burley, was a member of the Union army during the Civil war.
Our subject's father was born, in 1790, in Massachusetts, and in early life removed to the State of New York, where in 1829 he married Mrs. Nancy Sherman, nce Stuart. They con- tinned to reside in that State until I837. when they emigrated to Ridgway, Penn .. where for two years the father worked as a millwright. He then purchased the Jacob Burns farm in Sandy township. Clearfickl county, where he continued to make his home until called to his final rest in
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1876, and his worthy wife survived him only two years. In the family were only two sons, the brother of our subject being Joseph Washburn. who was born in Allegany county, N. Y., in 1831, and accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Ridgway, and later to the homestead in Sandy township, one mile east of Sabula. On reaching manhood he married Miss Catherine Smeltzer, of Elk county, Penn., where he fol- lowed lumbering for a number of years, but they now reside on the old homestead. They have four children-Esther, now Mrs. James Nyne- coop, who resides near Sabula; Daniel, who was born on the old farm, and since his marriage to Miss Della MacIntyre. of Tioga county, Penn., has lived on a farm adjoining the village of Sa- bula and near our subject's home; Amanda, now the wife of A. W. Dunlap, of Brady township, who resides one mile west of Sabula; and Eliza- beth, who married M. S. Dunlap, and died at the old home in 1895, leaving no children.
The subject of this sketch is also a native of the State of New York, born in 1833, and during his boyhood and youth attended the common schools for three months during the winter, and assisted his father in the work of the farm during the summer season. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany E, 172nd P. V. I., the company being formed in Clearfield county, and commanded by Capt. J. H. Heasley. After the organization of the regiment at Camp Curtin, it was sent to New- port, and from there marched to Fort Yorktown, where Mr. Washburn was detailed for guard duty. There he remained until July, 1863, when with his command he went by boat and rail to Frederick City, MId., where they were assigned to the. Eleventh Army Corps at Punckstown, un- der Carl Schurz. The regiment then followed Lee's army to Williamsport, and on the return march passed to the west of Hagerstown and through Middletown. They crossed the Potomac river four miles below Harper's Ferry, and, by the way of New Baltimore and Warrington Junc- tion, continued to follow Lee's command. They lost a large number of their comrades on this march, including Isaac Brown, of Sabula.
In August, 1863, with his company, Mr. Washburn was mustered out at Camp Curtir, and returned home. For a number of years he was engaged in lumbering and railroad contract- ! ing, building six miles of the Allegheny railroad east and west of Sabula, and also sixteen miles for the Winslow company on the same road. For six years after his marriage he resided on his father's old homestead, but at the end of that time sold his interest in the place, and in 1892 purchased a small tract of woodland of John E. ebrated.
DuBois, which he has converted into a good farm, and still makes his home thereon.
In 1884 Mr. Washburn was married to Mrs. Mary Leonard, nec Burley, who was born in 1855 in Canada, and removed to New York in 1869 with her parents, Elector and Cornelia Burley, also natives of Canada. In the State of New York she inarried Mr. Leonard. By her second marriage she has become the mother of six chidren, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Annie, in January, 1885: Robert, in December, 1887; Cora, August 4, 1889; Syrena, November 11, 1891; Charles T., July 14. 1893; and Willis E., October 17, 1896. All are still living with the exception of the youngest, who died December 24, 1896.
Politically Mr. Washburn is a free silver Democrat, is well posted on all the leading ques- tions of the day, and takes quite an active inter- est in public affairs. For four years he held the office of supervisor of his township, and had the honor of being the first postmaster commissioned under President Grant's administration, Mr. Creswell being Postmaster General at that time. Through his persistent efforts a weekly .mail route was established between Rockton and Pen- field, and an' office at Sabula. He has ever taken an active and prominent part in promot- ing the interests of his locality, and well deserves the high regard in which he is held. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Sabula.
R EUBEN CALDWELL has for many years successfully operated his fine farm in Knox township, Clearfield county. The place with its tasteful and substantial buildings, its neat fences and its general air of thrift and comfort, forins one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of the township. As a citizen and a business inan Mr. Caldwell stands high in the esteem of his neighbors. In the various enterprises inaug- urated for the advancement of the community he has been a cheerful and ready assistant, and takes a lively interest in the progress of the people around him.
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