Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 3

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 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

TOHN PORTER has for seventy-one years made his home in Pike township, Clearfield county, and has been an important factor in the development of the community, promoting its material and moral interests.

Mr. Porter was born June 4, 1821, in Lycom- ing county, Penn., a son of Robert and Martha (Thompson) Porter, natives of Ireland. In that country they were married, and two children were born to them prior to their emigration to Amer - ica in 1818. After a short residence in Philadel- phia, they went to Lycoming county, where the father successfully followed farming. He died in 1821. Both he and his wife were lifelong members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were: Robert, born in 1813; Nancy in 1815; George W., born in Philadelphia in 1818: and John. The mother of these afterward mar- ried William Hepburn, by whom she had one daughter, Mrs. Catherine Thompson, born in Clearfield county, in 1825. Mr. Hepburn cante to that county about 1806, and was one of its first settlers. He married Miss McCracken. and after her death went to Lycoming county, where he married Mrs. Porter. About 1824 they took up their residence upon the farm where Mr. Hep- bnrn had previously located. He transformed the wild land into a valuable property. and built a comfortable home. At that time Indians were still in the neighborhood. and wild game of all kinds was plentiful. He died on this farm in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was long a member. His wife, who was born in 1787, died in 1864, at the age of seventy-seven years.

John Porter remained with his mother and . step-father until fifteen years of age. when he

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went to Philipsburg to learn the trade of sad- dlery and harness making. After a year and a half he accompanied his employer, James Alex- ander, to Clearfield, completing a three-years' apprenticeship, but the business did not agree with his health, and in consequence he secured work as a farin hand. Later he worked in tim- ber lands until 1841, when with the capital he had acquired through his own labors he pur- chased 134 acres of raw land, upon which he built a cabin. This farm is still his home, and is to-day one of the most desirable farm proper- ties of the neighborhood. In 1845 he was mar- ried and erected a better home, after which he applied himself assiduously to the development of his land, having now ninety acres under a high state of cultivation, while the place is improved with a commodious frame residence, large barns and outbuildings and an excellent orchard. The home place now comprises 160 acres, and in 1890 he purchased an improved farm of 102 acres, upon which he has erected a house and made other substantial improvements. In clear- ing his land he rafted his timber to market, and for twenty-seven years he was engaged in the lumber business.

In 1845 Mr. Porter married Julia A. Bloom, who was born in Pike township, October 28, 1826, a daughter of Benjamin Bloom, a native of New Jersey, and one of seven sons who came with their father to Clearfield county about 1801. William Bloom served through the Revolution- ary war, and spent his last days in Pike town- ship. Benjamin Bloom developed a farm in that township, and was one of the leading pio- neers and highly respected citizens. He died in 1888, and his wife died September 14, 1868. He held membership in the.Presbyterian Church. In their family were eight children: Thomas; William L .; Mrs. Margaret McFarson; Mrs. Mary Rigley; Ross; Lucinda, wife of H. Swan; Mrs. Porter; and Nancy, who died at the age of seventeen years.

Our subject and his wife had eight children: Robert, who died in childhood: Benjamin, also deceased; Nancy, wife of John Coons, a farmer; Sarah, wife of D. Bell, of Washington; Martha, at home; John N .. a farmer; Curtis and Flor- ence, at home. The father has long been a resi- dent of Clearfield county, and can remember the time when Curwensville consisted only of a few log cabins, and the township contained but few improved farms. He has taken a prominent part in the work of development, and is num - bered among the leading and influential citizens. He has been the architect of his own fortunes, for, without capital, he started out in life for

himself, and has steadily worked his way upward, overcoming all obstacles and difficulties by de- termined purpose, and reaching at length a posi- tion of affluence. Now at the age of seventy- five years he is resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He contributes liber- ally to the support of the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member. In politics he was a Whig in early life, but since the organiza- tion of the Republican party has been one of its stanch supporters.

A BRAHAM HUMMEL, one of the most pro- gressive, wide-awake and successful busi- ness men of Graham township, Clearfield county, is now conducting a store in Sington, which is equipped with a full and complete line of general merchandise. His fair dealing and courteous treatment of customers have gained him a liberal patronage, and the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.

A native of Clearfield county, Mr. Hummel was born in Bradford township, January 5, 1819, a son of John Henry and Sarah (Stites) Hummel, both of whom were born and reared in Union county, Penn., whence they came to Clearfield county in 1817, and in the midst of the forest developed a farm. Both parents died in Brad- ford township, the father at the age of seventy- two years and the mother when sixty-two years old. He was a faithful soldier in the war of 1812, and both were highly respected and hon- ored citizens of the county. In their family were three sons and two daughters, namely: Cath- arine, who died in Illinois; Henry. who died in the West; Conrad, who died in Bradford town- ship in 1886, upon the old homestead; Polly. who married Henry Kyler, and after his death wedded Alfred Guker, with whom she removed to Illinois, where she still resides; and Abraham.

Mr. Hummel, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in Bradford township, where he was educated in the primitive log school house with its slab seats and hugh fireplace. On start- ing out in life for himself, he purchased a tract of land in Boggs township, Clearfield county. which was mainly covered with a heavy growth of timber, though it was partially improved. In 1855 he came to Graham township, bought forty acres, a portion of which had been cleared, and upon the place erected a sawmill in 1867. and successfully engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber until 1881. At the present time. however, he gives most of his attention to his mercantile pursuits, in which he is meeting with a well- merited success.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

In 1836, in Boggs township, Mr. Hummel was married to Miss Catharine Shimel, a native of Boggs township (then a part of Bradford), and a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Wisor) Shimel, who were also born in Clearfield county, and belonged to early pioneer families of Ger- man origin. Both parents died in Boggs town- ship, and Mrs. Hummel departed this life on the home farm in Graham township, in ISSo. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children, as follows: Mrs. Lydia Smeal, a resi- dent of Graham township; Mrs. Mary Ann Sykes, of Morrisdale, Clearfield county; Matilda, wife of Thomas Fuge, of Morrisdale; Catharine, wife of Isaac Smeal, of Graham township; Mrs. Anna J. Beattie, of Graham township; Henry P., who died in that township, in 1892; and George W., James A. and John F., all residents of Graham township.

Politically, Mr. Hummel has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and has ever given an earnest support to those measures which will in anyway benefit the community. He has borne an important part in the upbuilding and development of Graham township, of which he is one of the oldest pioneers, and in every way is accounted a worthy and valued citizen of the community.

J. GLASGOW, who for fifty years has been recognized as one of the successful agriculturists of Gulich township, Clearfield county, comes of a long-lived ancestry, and bids fair to emulate them in length of days and pass beyond the ordinary limit of man's life. His grandfather, John Glasgow, and wife caine to America from Ireland, in the year 1781, and located in Blair county, Penn., where they purchased wooded land, and cleared and improved it for a farm. They. reared a family of children, among whom was a son, William, our subject's father, who was born during the voyage across the Atlantic, and grew to manhood in Blair county, where he married Miss Mary Femalman. He afterward moved to Wooster, Ohio, and then to Cambria county, Penn., locating near the Clearfield county line. For some time he occupied a place known as the John Davis property, but while there he purchased a large tract of land partly "over the line, " and cleared a farmi which he improved in primitive style, building a log cabin and barn. This hon- ored pioneer died February 7, 1853, at the age of seventy-two, and his wife attained the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine, breathing her last April 17, 1893.

They had eight children, of whom all but two

lived to an adult age: (1) Thomas, born in Cambria county, in 1825, married Miss Margaret Wilson, of Saltsburg, Penn., and settled at Osce- ola, Clearfield county, where he died in 1895, aged seventy-two years. His wife survived him with three children-Frank, a railroad employee, residing at Osceola; G. W., a resident of Salts- burg; and Jane, now Mrs. Armon, of Blair county, Penn. (2) Margaret, born August 15, 1827, inarried Jackson Wilson, and moved to Mis- souri, where they purchased property. They had several children who settled in different parts of the West. (3)A. J., our subject, is mentioned again farther on. (4) G. W., born February 25, 1831. married Miss Margaret Shaw, of Blair county, and made his home in Fostoria, Blair county, where he died leaving a widow and five children. namely: George, a railroad employee, who is married and resides at Punxsutawney; Cora, wife of Madison Bressler; and three other daughters. Effie, Minnie and Margaret, who are still at home. (5) Sarah, born April 18, 1833, died at an early age. (6) Elizabeth, born December 15, 1835, in Cambria county, married Sebastian Clow. a native of Germany, and resided in Bellwood, where he died leaving three children-Catharine; John, a railway flagman, who is inarrried and lives in Altoona, Penn .; and A. J., who is mar- ried, and is now foreman of the car shops at Bellwood. (7) Martha, born April 13, 1838. married William Charlston, of Houtzdale, Penn., and died about twenty-two years ago, leaving two children-Annie, a successful teacher in the public schools of Fostoria; and William, who is not married.and at present resides at Philipsburg, Penn. (S) Anthony, born October 15, 1840, died in infancy.

A. J. Glasgow was born September 15, 1829, at the old home in Cambria county, and was reared to farm work, receiving the limited educa- tion which was commonly accorded to country boys in that day. He married Miss Martha Span- gler, of Perry county. Penn., a member of a well- known family of that section, and a daughter of George and Nancy Spangler, who came from Perry county to Clearfield county in June. 1851, and located near Coalport, upon land adjoining the Glasgow homestead. They cleared and im- proved the place, and resided there during their remaining years. Mr. Glasgow remained at the homestead after his marriage, taking care of his parents as advancing age rendered thein feeble. He assumed the obligations still resting upon the new tract of 180 acres, which his father had taken up as vacant land, and has made many sub- stantial improvements, including a fine two-story house and a bank barn. He is noted as a suc-

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cessful manager, and his farm is kept in a supe- rior state of cultivation. Lumbering has occu- pied his attention to some extent, but naturally his agricultural interests have held first place. He is prominent in local affairs and in the Re- publican party, and has held various offices, serving one term as supervisor and fourteen con- secutive years as overseer of the poor.

In religious faith Mr. Glasgow is a Baptist, but his wife is a member of the United Brethren Church. They have had eleven children, seven of whom are living. Each has received a com- mon-school education, and they make a family of which any parent might be proud: Samuel, born December 25, 1858, is a farmer of Cambria county; he married Miss Vene Trier, of the same county, and has four children-A. J., Mary Jane, Frank and Eddie. G. W., born August 14, 1860, died at the age of thirty-three years, un- married. William, born January 9, 1865, mar- ried Miss Annie Lumadue, and resided upon her farm in Cambria county until his death; his wife survives him, with one son, Walter. Hester, born February 2, 1867, married Flem Mulholland, a farmer of Cambria county, and has had six children-Clair, Bessie, Millard, Celia and Maud, all at home; and Effie, who died in infancy. Ida, born December 20, 1868, married (first) Samuel Gallaher, then of In- diana county, Penn., and after residing there some time they spent a number of years in Clear- field and Cambria counties. Mr. Gallaher died in Utahville, leaving one son, Hiram W. His widow subsequently married Williamn Reynold, a lumberman residing at Glasgow, Cambria county, and they have three sons-Rayinond, and Clair and Clyde (twins). John, born March 14, 1871, is not married, and makes his home with his parents. Katie May, born May 15, 1875, married William Kephart, formerly of Blue Ball, Penn., and now residing near Ramey, Clearfield county; they have one child, A. J. Henry, born October 12, 1872, died when five years old. Frank S., born June 6, 1879. is not married, and at present takes inch of the responsibility for the work of the farm. Miss Martha M. Glas- gow, born March 29, 1882, is at home. Mary Jane, born November 26, 1862, lived to the age of four years.

A NTHONY HILE. There is probably no man in Lumber City wider or more favora- bly known than Mr. Hile, who came to Clear- field county in the pioneer days, and is recog- 1

nized as one of the important factors in its prog- ress and development. He was born in North-

umberland county. Penn., in 1815, a son of Henry and Mary (Johnson) Hile, whose children were all natives of that county, whither the fa- ther had removed at an early day from New Jer- sey, his native State. Near Sunbury he pur- chased two farms, but in 1835 he sold out and came to what is now Lumber City, Penn town- ship, where he bought 450 acres of wild land, on which he erected good and substantial build- ings and made all the improvements.

The boyhood and youth of Anthony Hile were passed in the county of his nativity, being nineteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Clearfield county, where he has since made his home. He re- mained under the parental roof until his mar- riage, in 1839, to Miss Amelia Bloom, of Pike township, Clearfield county, a daughter of James and Mary Bloom. Six sons and five daughters were born to them, in order of birth as follows: (1) James H., a log scaler, married Mary Hannah Henry, of Ferguson township, Clearfield coun- ty, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Henry. They have two sons-Anthony, who married Maggie Mead, daughter of Henry and Lydia Mead, of Lawrence township, Clearfield county. and they had one child who died in September, 1895; and Gurney, who is still at home with his parents. (2) D. W., a farmer in Pike town- ship, Clearfield county, married Ollie Peoples, of Centre county, Penn., and has two children- (a) Maud is the wife of Edward Kirk, of Lumber City, and has three sons, all at home-Clifton, Arthur, and an infant unnamed; and (b) Don, aged nineteen, is with his parents. (3) John N., a farmer of Ferguson township, married Eliza L., daughter of William and Jane Wise; of the same township, and has two sons-Clark V .. a dentist located near Philadelphia; and Lemoin, at home. (4) Eli B., who is farming on the old homestead in Lumber City, wedded Martha Dale. daughter of John and Martha Dale, of Pike township, and they have two children living -- John W., who married Laura Ferguson, of Lum- ber City, and has four sons; and Ellredge, aged seventeen, at home. (5) Martha J. is the wife of I. D. Guppy, who is engaged in the livery . business in Lumber City, and they have two children-Erie, wife of Lam McMasters, a log scaler residing in Enmber City; and Dallas D., a teacher in the public schools at Clearfield. (6) Lewis B., an agriculturist of Ferguson town- ship, married Lucinda, daughter of Michael Wise, of Pike township, and they have three sons and one daughter-Dora married Gus Wolf. of Ty- rone, Penn., who died in August, 1894, leaving : one child, and Mrs. Wolf now lives with her par-

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ents; and Charles, Perry and Frank are still at home. (7) Fanny married Andrew J. McDiv- itte, who was in the oil business, and they re- side in Allegany county, N. Y. Of their six children, Frank died in 1891; Emma is the wife of Charles Mclaughlin, and resides near Glen Richey, Clearfield county; and James, Len, Wayne and Fanny are at home. (8) Adda ınar- ried John Hipps, of Chest township, Clearfield county, and they reside in Lumber City, where he is engaged in farming. They have nine chil- dren-William, a farmer of Ferguson township, who married Bula Hagerty, and has three chil- dren; Emma, wife of Harry Adleman, of Lum- ber City, by whom she has one child; and Fer- man, Zoe, Grover C., Frank, Effie, Martha and Lucretia, all at home. (9) William B., a mail agent, residing in Lumber City, married Alice Spencer, of Curwensville, and has two children -- Myrtle May and Thornton, both at home. . (10) Mary E. wedded A. W. Russel, but both are now deceased. They had three children-How- ard, who is in the employ of the " Western Union " of Chicago; Adda, who makes her home with Mr. McMasters in Lumber City, where she is attending school; and George, who is also pur- suing his studies at the same place. (11) Amanda L. is the wife of James E. Rorabaugh, a resi- dent of Lumber City, who is now teaching in the grammar school at Ansonville, Clearfield county. They have five children-one son and four daughters-namely: Iva, Ula, Lena and Boyd, all at home, and an infant not yet named.

At the polls, Mr. Hile votes the straight Democratic ticket, and he has served his fellow- citizens in a number of official positions, includ- ing those of overseer of the poor, collector, as- sessor, supervisor, constable for three or four terms and school director for nine years. In re- ligious belief he is a Baptist, while his wife and a number of his children hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the prominent and representative citizens of Lumber City, and has been actively identified with all Il1easures calculated to promote the moral, edu- cational and material welfare of the community. At this writing he is eighty-three years old.

G W. GALLAHER, now practically living re- tired in New Washington, is a worthy rep- resentative of one of the leading pioneer families of Clearfield county. His ancestors took a prom- nent part in the early growth and development of Burnside township, and to them is due in a reat measure its present prosperity.

James Gallaher, grandfather of our subject, was of Irish extraction, and at a very early day came to Clearfield county, locating on Clearfield creek, where he improved a farm. In 1816 he came to Burnside township, his being the first family to settle in that locality, where he secured 1, 200 acres of land, on which not a tree had been cut or an improvement made. There he devel- oped a good farm, and spent his remaining days, dying in 1854 at the advanced age of ninety-five years. He belonged to a pioneer family of Huntingdon county, and in early life witnessed many depredations by the Indians, who were often on the warpath. During such tinies the settlers would flee to the block-house for protec- tion. James Gallaher was once wounded by the Red-men, for which he afterward received a pension. In his family were eight children: John, Crawford, William, Eli, Benjamin, Hugh, Jane and Nancy.

Crawford Gallaher, the father of our subject, was born in Huntingdon county about 1796, and by his parents was brought to Clearfield county, where he grew to manhood and continued to reside until 1870, when he moved to Virginia, and there died in 1874. " He received a portion of his father's land, which he developed into a good farm, and upon the place platted the town of New Washington about 1847. The first store was conducted by John Irwin, of Curwensville. To some extent Crawford Gallaher engaged in lumbering upon his land, but his principal occu- pation was that of farming. In politics he was originally a Whig, but in 1856 he joined the Dein- ocrats, and four years later voted with the Breck- inridge faction of that party. He always took an active interest in public affairs, and served as justice of the peace for a number of years, and in other township offices.

Crawford Gallaher was twice married, his first union being with Miss Mary Hallman, a daughter of Adam and Eve Hallman, who spent their en- tire lives in Huntingdon county, where the father followed the occupation of blacksmithing. Seven children were born of this marriage: Mrs. Eliza A. Neff; William, deceased; Mrs. Margaret Fee; G. W., of this sketch; Mrs. Nancy Horton: Mrs. Sadie Krise; and Mrs. Mary Williamson. The mother, who was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1867. For his second wife, Mr. Gallaher chose Mrs. Jane Linkafelt, whose first husband was a carpenter by trade, and also engaged in the manufacture of coffins.

In New Washington, near where he yet re- sides, G. W. Gallaher was born January 17. 1834, and upon the home farm he early became

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familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, while his education was obtained in the local schools. In connection with farining he also engaged in log jobbing, and throughout his active business life has been variously em- ployed. He has followed butchering, conducted a meat market and dealt in grain, flour and feed, but at the present time is practically living re- tired, enjoying a well-earned rest. In 1861 Mr. Gallaher was united in marriage with Miss Eliz- abeth Hallesen, who belongs to an old Pennsyl- vania family of Irish origin, which was founded in Somerset county, where her father, Samnel Hallesen, died. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Stormban, was born in Bedford county, Penn., of German ancestry, and now, at the age of eighty-seven years, finds a pleasant home with her only child, Mrs. Gallaher. She and her husband were both Lutherans in re- ligious belief. Five children have graced the union of our subject and his wife: Mary, now the wife of Joseph Feltwell; Sadie and Sue, at home; William, an electrician by profession; and Ada, at home. All have been provided with ex- cellent educational privileges, attending nor- mal schools, and have successfully engaged in teaching. .

At national elections Mr. Gallaher supports the men and measures of the Republican party, but at local elections, where no issue is involved, he votes for the man whom he thinks best quali- fied to fill the office, regardless of party affilia- tions. He has served as postmaster of New Washington, and filled many minor offices in his borough and township with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is one of the representative and popular citizens of the community, and his sterling worth and many ex- cellent traits of character have gained him hosts of warm friends. His estimable wife is a inem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOSEPH SCHOFIELD. No man in Clear- field county is more worthy of representation in a work of this kind than he whose name introduces this sketch. He has been iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Union township for forty years, and is numbered among its honored and esteemed citizens. Born in Yorkshire, England, in 1812, he was five years of age wlien brought to the United States by his father, who located in Philadelphia, where he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods until his death. In the family were six sons, all of whom located in Pennsylvania.

The boyhood and youth of our subject was

passed in the Quaker City, where December I, 1837, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Aiken, and they becaine the parents of twelve children, as follows: (1) Esthier was married in 1856 to John Bailey, by whom she had ten children. (2) Margaret was married in 1868 to J. A. Brubaker, by whom she had three children yet living; she died in 1892. (3) Matilda died in infancy. (4) James E., born in Jefferson county, Penn .. en- listed, in 1861, as a private of Company C, 105th P. V. I., participated in three or four important battles of the Civil war, and died at Camp Pres- cott, October 7. 1862, at the age of nineteen years. (5) Mary died in infancy. (6) John A., a native of Jefferson county, is married and has six children; in 1876 he removed to Kansas, where he has since engaged in teaching in the public schools. (7) Anna E. was married in 1871 to James A. Morrison, and with their five children they now reside in Minnesota. (8) Sarah is with her parents. (9) Mrs. Jennie Mor- rison removed to Michigan in 1878, and died in 1889; one of her two children is still living with her husband in Wisconsin. (10) Nettie, 11I) Joseph E. and (12) Arthur L. all reside at home. For several years Sarah and Arthur have been prominent and successful teachers in Clearfield county.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 3

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