Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 33

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 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 33

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).

Mr. Dimeling is a native of Clearfield county, having first seen the light in Boggs township, September 12, 1862. His paternal great-grand- father. Jacob Dimeling, came from Wurtemberg, Germany, in pioneer times, and became one of the early settlers at Philipsburg, Centre county. Our subject's grandfather, Jacob Dimeling, was born in Philipsburg. The late George Dimeling, the father of our subject, was a native of Decatur township, Clearfield county, born May 24, 1823, and became a successful business man, and a prominent Democrat. For some years he was engaged in the iron business in Venango county, Penn. , but later he followed lumbering on Clearfield creek and the Susquehanna river. He was mar- ried in Clearfield county to Miss Catharine Du- gan, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1836. and nine children blessed their nnion, five of whom lived to adult age, viz .: Alice, George M., Gertrude, John, and Edith. John Dimeling is now serving as deputy treasurer of Clearfield county. The father died April 2,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1886; the mother did not long survive, her death occurring May 16, 1891.

George M. Dimeling was reared in his native township, attending the local schools in his youth. At an early age he began the business of lumbering, and has been connected with the lumber trade in some capacity for more years than would seem possible for so young a man. Becoming acquainted with the details of the business, and with its leading representatives in this section, it was not long before he was recog- nized as a shrewd and reliable operator, and he now ranks among the leaders in this line in Clearfield county. On February 9. 1892, he married Miss Mary Wrigley, who was born in Clearfield county, January 15. 1872.

J P. FRY. We-are now perinitted to touch briefly on the life history of one who has re- tained a personal association with the affairs of Clearfield county for a number of years, and has been an important factor in promoting its growth and prosperity. The life of this gentle- man has been one of honest and earnest en- deavor, and due success has not been denied him. He is one of the leading and representative citizens of Chest township, where for the past twenty years he has acceptably served as justice of the peace.

Mr. Fry was born June 9, 1830, in Johns- town, Penn., and when one year old was taken by his parents, Daniel and Sarah (Priestly) Fry, to a farm in Cambria county, where he was reared, his education being obtained in the coun- try schools of the neighborhood. He comes of a family that was for many years prominently identified with the history of York county, Penn .. where his grandfather. John Fry, spent his entire life. By occupation he was a farmer.

the respect and confidence of all who knew him. Mrs. Sarah Fry belonged to an honored family of Johnstown, Penn., where her father, Jon- athan Priestly, spent his last days; the mother. who was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, died in Cambria county, at the home of Mrs. Fry. She had a family of six children: Mary, Sarah, Shepley, Thomas, Hannah and Elizabeth. To Daniel Fry and his wife were born five children, as follows: J. P., of this sketch: John; Mrs. Sarah J. McCulley: Eliza- beth H., wife of John M. Westover; and Mary A., wife of \V. Hewitt. The parents were faith- ful members of the Baptist Church, and were widely and favorably known.

Mr. Fry, whose name introduces this sketch, early became familiar with the occupations of farming and lumbering, and remained at home with his parents until his marriage, in 1852, to Miss Sarah E. Westover, who was born in Franks- town, Blair Co., Penn., January 16, 1834, and has proved to her husband a most worthy help- meet. Her paternal grandfather was Oliver Westover. In 1839, her parents, Jonathan and Mary (Ketner) Westover, came to Clearfield county, and in the midst of the forest the father opened up and developed a fine farm, following the occupation of lumbering and farming through- out his active business career. He spent his last days in retirement in the village of Westover, en- joying the fruits of his former toil. His death occurred in 1893: his wife had passed away pre- vious to his leaving the farm. Both held mem- bership in the Baptist Church; in politics he was actively identified with the Republican party, and held almost all of the township offices to the satisfaction of all concerned. In his family were twelve children: Enos, John, Sarah E., Joseph. Mary, Tobias, Naomi (wife of William Siberts), Ellis, James, Samuel, William and Webster. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fry. one died in infancy; the others are as follows: Eliza- beth, wife of Millard Brenneman; Mary J .. wife

Daniel Fry. the father of our subject, was a native of York county, whence on reaching man- hood he removed to Johnstown, where he was married, subsequently taking up his residence . of R. Dunbar: Naomi, wife of L. Blake: Daniel upon a wild tract of land in Cambria, and living IV., a farmer by occupation; Minnie C., wife of R. Williams, a Baptist minister; Amanda B .. wife of D. Lloyd, an agriculturist; Freeman > .. who died at the age of twenty-two; Aaron P., a lumberman; Julia; and Zoad. there until 1849, when he came to Clearfield county. Locating in Chest township, he en- gaged in lumbering for three years, and then purchased a partially-improved tract, which he transformed into a fine farin, making it his home After his marriage, Mr. Fry located on a por- tion of his father's 700-acre tract and improved a farm, working jointly with his father for a few years. Throughout his business career he has until old age compelled his retirement from active labor, when he sold to Mr. McEwen. His last days were quietly passed at the home of our subject, where he died in 1883 at the ripe old : principally engaged in farming and lumbering, age of seventy-nine years. Originally he was a but three different times has embarked in mer- cantile pursuits, disposing of his last store in the winter of 1895-6. He has dealt extensively in Whig in politics, and later supported the men and measures of the Republican party. He had

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

real estate, and has been very successful in his business ventures, being now numbered among the substantial and prosperous citizens of West- user. where he lias erected a good and substan- tial dwelling and store building, in which he car- ried on merchandising for a number of years.

Mr. Fry has been an influential factor in the political affairs of his locality, being a stalwart Republican, and he has served with signal ability in many township offices. Since 1874 he has served as justice of the peace, during which time he has joined many couples in wedlock, and tried many civil cases, of which few have ever been appealed to the higher courts. His decisions are marked with the utmost fairness and impartiality, and his course has thus gained the commenda- tion of the entire community. Socially, he is de- servedly popular as he is affable and courteous in manner, and has the faculty of making friends readily and of strengthening the ties of all friend- ships as time advances. He and his estimable wife hold membership with the Baptist Church.

P F. TOOLE, manager of the " Kyler House," Kylertown, is a popular business man, and is widely and favorably known throughout Clearfield county. He was born near Broad Top City, Huntingdon Co., Penn., March 1I, 1862, a son of Felix and Julia (Maher) Toole, both natives of Ireland, the foriner born in County Louth, and the latter in County Tip- perary.

On completing the course at the national school of Ireland, at the age of seventeen years, Felix Toole emigrated to America, landing at New York, January 1, 1852, and immediately proceeded to Cambria county, Penn., where he 1 worked on the Old Portage railroad and the Gal- litzen tunnel. After the opening of the coal inines in the Broad Top coal region, Huntingdon county, he there obtained employment as a miner, and while at this place he married Julia Maher, daughter of Thomas Maher, who was ; superintendent of the mines. She had been brought to the United States when' three years old, and was reared in Cambria and Hunting- don counties. After his marriage. Mr. Toole : was made foreman at the mines, and about 1860 he also embarked in merchandising, which he continued at Broad Top until 1879, and then turned his attention to the hotel business for five years. In 1884 he removed to Portage, Penn .. where he again engaged in the coal business, continuing that occupation up to the time of his death in December, 1893. His wife was called to her final rest in 1883. Both were devout

members of the Catholic Church, in which faith they reared their family, which constituted the following children: P. F., of Kylertown; Thomas J., of New York City; Augustine, deceased; Mar- garet, married to John J. McDonnell, of Portage, Penn. ; Richard; Felix; William; James, of Port- age, Penn .; and two who died in infancy.

Our subject attended the common schools until eleven years of age, when he began to assist his father in his mining and mercantile pursuits through the day, at the same time attending night schools. At the age of nineteen he en- tered St. Francis' College, Loretto, Penn., where he completed the prescribed commercial course in ten months, being one of the three in a class of twenty-four who received diplomas as " mas- ter of accounts," in 1882. On the completion of his days at college he resumed mining with the Rock Hill Coal Mining Co., with whom he remained nine months, and in April, 1883, with the advent of the Beech Creek railroad into Clearfield county, he came to Kylertown to ac- cept a position in the "Kyler House." After one year, he was established manager of the hotel by the proprietor, L., Kyler, and has since ably conducted it, receiving liberal patronage from the traveling public. He is also a member of the firm of Kyler & Toole, in the lumbering business.

Mr. Toole had just attained his majority on assuming the management of the hotel, and he cast his first vote in Kylertown. since which time he has been a stalwart supporter of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and advocates the free coinage of silver. He takes a prominent and active part in politics, is a leader of his party in Cooper township, is serv- ing his second term as district treasurer in his township, and served as alternate delegate to the Scranton and delegate to the Williamsport Demo- cratic State Conventions, and also as a delegate to the County Conventions several times. He was a member of the Congressional Conferences, held at Ridgway two years in succession: at- tended the Allentown Convention in 1896, Read- ing. in 1897, and served as assistant secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee. In the Catholic Church both he and his wife hold membership. On May 1, 1888, he married Miss Maggie May Kyler, a lady of intelligence and culture, who was born May 12, 1871, a daughter of Leonard and Mary E. (Eisenhauer) Kyler. Three children graced their union: Anna J .. born October 2, 1889; Charles F., born July 29, 1891; and Leonard A., who died when seven days old.

Leonard Kyler, the father of Mrs. Toole, is

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

one of the most enterprising business men of Cooper township. Clearfield county, and a worthy representative of one of its prominent pioneer families. His grandfather, Leonard Kyler, was born near Carlisle, Penn., of German parentage, and when a young man removed to Centre coun- ty, where he married Sarah Brown, and where most of his children were born. In 1823, how- ever, he took up his residence in Cooper town- ship, Clearfield county, where in the midst of the unbroken wilderness he developed a farm. He died at the advanced age of ninety-two, and his wife was ninety years of age when she passed away. Their children were as follows: Katie; Sarah: Eliza; John B , the grandfather of Mrs. Toole: and Thomas, who is still living at the age of seventy-six.

John B. Kyler remained at home until his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Cooper. a daugh- ter of David Cooper, who located in Clearfield county in 1821, becoming one of its honored pioneers. Here he reared his family of eight children: Ann, Elizabeth. Pauline, Mary, Keziah, Jemima, Susan, and Richard, who died when young. After his marriage. John B. Kyler bought a tract of land and opened up a farm, but later sold and purchased another tract which was still in its primitive condition. After mak- ing many improvements upon his place, he again sold out and bought the old Cooper homestead. where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in June, 1884, at the age of seventy-nine years. In 1850, upon the last named place, he laid out the village of Kylertown, where he built a store room, and there carried on general merchandis- ing for a time; he also established the post office at that place. He was a strong Democrat in politics, took an active interest in public affairs. and filled a number of township offices. Relig- iously, he was a consistent member of the Pres- byterian Church. His family numbered eight children: David: Leonard: Abram; John; Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson: Thomas: Mrs. Mary E. Hol- enback; and Aaron; five are still living.

Leonard Kyler was born March 30, 1911, in what was then Morris township, but is now Cooper township. Clearfield county. His pri- mary education was obtained in the subscription schools. and later he attended the public schools. After attaining his majority he left home and en- gaved in merchandising in Kylertown, where he did a large and lucrative business amounting to from $:0,000 to $60.000 annually. He also handled lumber, which he often took in exchange for goods, and for thirty years piloted rafts down the river. On selling his store, he continued the lumber business until 1870. He purchase the

interest of the other heirs in his father's home- stead, to which he added other lands, and yet owns 360 acres adjoining the village of Kyler- town, 180 of which are under a high state of cul- tivation. In addition he also owns an improved farm of 155 acres, one of 103 acres, 500 acres of timber land in Clinton county, and 300 acres of timber land in Elk county. Penn. Under most of his land is found a good quality of coal and fire clay, and upon his home farm has been opened up a mine. In 1876, Mr. Kyler erected a large hotel in Kylertown, where he makes his home, and continued to give his attention to his extensive business interests, in which he has been remarkably successful.

In 1870 Mr. Kyler was united in marriage with Miss Mary E., daughter of Sebastian and Margaret Eisenhauer, who were natives of Ger- many, and who on coming to the New World Erst located near Carlisle. Penn .. but later re- moved to Zanesville. Ohio. where Mrs. Kyler was born. They next took up their residence in Elk county, Penn., whence they removed to Centre county, and finally located in Cooper township, Clearfield county, where Mr. Eisen- hauer died. He was a business man and fol- lowed many vocations, including hotel-keeping. In religious faith he and his wife were communi- cants of the Catholic Church. In their family were six children: Adam. John, Joseph. Mary E., Anna and Rebecca.

Two children were born to Me. and Mrs. Ky- Ier, one of whom died at the age of four years: the other is Maggie, wife of Mr. Toole. whose name introduces this sketch. Mr. Kyler holds to the faith of the Presbyterian Church in which he was reared. while his wife is a devout Catholic. They are prominent in the social circle of the community, and their pleasant, courteous man- ners have attracted to them many friends. In the development and progress of Clearfield county. Mr. Kyler has borne an important part.

S TEVEN FUGATE. M. D .. who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Du Bois, Clearfield county, has by skill and merit worked his way upward to an honorable position in his chosen calling. The possession of advantages is no guarantee to success in: pro- fessional life, nor can success be achieved with- ost earnest effort, close application and skill. These qualities the Doctor possesses in an em- inentdegree, and is therefore enjoying a clientele which is at once evidence of his ability.

Dr. Fugate was born in Half Moon Valley. Centre county, in Ift. a son of John A. J. ant

Steven Fugate hv. D.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Elizabeth (Baer) Fugate, the former a native of Centre county, and the latter of York county, Penn. The mother was of German descent. The father was reared in Centre county, and de- voting his life to agricultural pursuits opened up a farm, on which he made his home until his re- moval to Reynoldsville, Penn., in 1883. In 1862, he responded to the call of his country, and en- listed in Centre county as a member of the 148th P. V. I. His service was with the Army of the Potomac, and he was honorably discharged in June, 1865. His wife died in Jefferson county, Penn. They were the parents of seven children -- five sons and two daughters-namely: Steven; George, who resides in Fayette county, Penn .; William, who is living in Illinois; James, a resi- dent of Kansas; Robert, who makes his home in Jefferson county, Penn .; Mrs. Mary Notter, who is living in Du Bois; and Anna. who died in Reynoldsville, in 1883. The father of this fam- ily is now a resident of Du Bois.

Our subject spent his boyhood days in Centre county, Penn., acquired his education in the pub- lic schools, and was reared to farm life; but his tastes seeming to incline to professional life, he resolved to make the practice of medicine his life work. He did his first reading under the direc- tion of Dr. George L. Potter, of Bellefonte, and in 1875 matriculated in the University of Mich- igan at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he was grad- uated in the medical department with the class of 1877. He then began practice in Centre county, but in 1879 returned to his alma mater, where he pursued a post-graduate course. He has also spent eighteen months in the Philadelphia Polyclinic and College for graduates, and at Will's Eye Hospital, being one of the first phy- sicians in this section of Pennsylvania to take that course of study. He has done all in his power to perfect himself in his chosen calling, and his knowledge of the science of medicine is most comprehensive and active. He continued his practice in Centre county until his reinoval to Reynoldsville, and in 1883 he took up his resi- dence in Troutville, where he remained until 1894. since which time he has been practicing in Du Bois. He is a member of the State Medical Society. also of the Clearfield County Medical Society, and takes high rank among his pro- . in the Nittany Valley. Clinton Co., Penn., and a fessional brethren.

In 1879 Dr. Fugate was married to Miss Mary Ella Weston, a native of Centre county. and a daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Weston, also natives of that county, where they still make their home. Dr. and Mrs. Engate have five children: Thomas, Benjamin, Chester, Edith and Victor. Socially, the Doctor is a member

of Troutville Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Re- publican in politics. He considers the duties of his profession abundantly worthy of his best efforts, and has therefore never sought political office or taken an active part in public affairs, save to support those interests which he believes will benefit the community.

A LFRED JEFFERSON BOOTH, a member of the city council of Du Bois, Clearfield county, represents effectively the young and pro- gressive element in municipal affairs. He is also a successful business man, his work as a con- tractor and builder including some of the best structures erected recently in his vicinity.

Born in Brady township, Clearfield county, March 11, 1862, Mr. Booth has watched the rapid growth and development of recent years, and is thoroughly in sympathy with the spirit of the movements which have brought the change about. His father, the late T. J. Booth, one of the pioneer settlers of. Du Bois, was born and reared in Venango county, Penn., receiving a practical education. He went to Jefferson county as a young man, and learned the trade of blacksmith and wagon maker, which he followed a number of years at New Salem (now called Redfern). On April 1, 1867, he removed to the present site of Du Bois where he had built, at the corner of Main street and Long avenue, the third residence erected in the village. He also built a blacksmith shop there, and continued his former business. Possessing unusual mechanical skill, together with an inventive turn of mind, he pro- duced some valuable results, and a stump ma- chine, known as the Booth machine, was pat- ented by him. These interests did not prevent him from engaging also in lumbering and farm- ing, and he was regarded as one of the leading business men of the locality. Politically he was a Democrat, and he was identified with the I. O. O. F. at Luthersburg. Penn. His widow, who still resides in Du Bois, was formerly Miss Mar- garet Rebecca Kritzer, and previous to their mar- riage, which took place in Brady township, Clear- field county. she was married to Wilson Keister. since deceased. She is a native of Clintondale.

daughter of John and Margaret Kritzer, who removed to Brady township, Clearfield county. and settled in the woods to clear a homestead. The father, who was prominent among the pio- neer farmers of that township, died there in 1874. and his wife passed away November 27, 1890, in Jefferson county, at the age of eighty-two. Our subject is the eldest of four children. Anna mar-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

ried Mr. Samuel Enterline, and resides in Lind- ; burned down a few years later, he removed to sey, Penn .; Alice married George M. Caylor, of : Clearfield, Penn .; Blanche married Charles Kurschner, and lives in New York City. By Mrs. Booth's first marriage there were three chil- dren, viz .: Josephine, now Mrs. George Whit- more, of Sandy township, Clearfield county; Mrs. William G. Irwin, of Du Bois; and Roscoe, also a · resident of Du Bois.

A. J. Booth spent the first five years of his life at his birthplace, where Redfern now stands, but has since had his home in Du Bois. Hïs education was begun in an old log school house near his early home, but later he had the ad- vantage of attending the schools of Du Bois. He became familiar with the details of business while in the employ of Mr. Du Bois, also in the lumber yard belonging to Mr. Prother, and later worked in a planing-mill for Mr. Foringer, who placed him in charge of his retail lumber busi- ness. Mr. Booth finally decided to learn the carpenter's trade, and has now been for some time engaged in contracting and building.

Mr. Booth is active in local affairs, political and non-political. He belongs to the Junior Or- der of American Mechanics, and in religion in- clines toward the Lutheran faith, his family being identified with that Church. He is an earnest believer in the principles of the Repub- lican party, and his ability, energy and public spirit have given him unusual prominence in the local management. In February, 1895, he was elected to the council from the Fourth ward, and his efficient service in the office has won the ap- proval of his constituents.

M ATHEW COWEN, a representative and prominent farmer and lumberman of Be- caria township, belongs to a family that has long been identified with the agricultural and indus- trial interests of Clearfield county. His father, Stewart Cowen, a native of Ireland, on coming to the New World first located in Philadelphia, where for three years he worked at the carpen- ter's trade, and then followed the same occupa- tion for a similar period in New York City. On : the expiration of that period he went to British America, where he engaged in carpentering for a time, and later worked at his trade in Nittany Valley, Centre Co., Penn., until his marriage. He wedded Miss Margaret Tate, of that place, and soon afterward came to Clearfield county, . locating at Hegarty's Cross Roads, where he pur- chased one hundred acres of timber land, erected a log house and barn, and at once commenced clearing and improving his land. As his house

Philipsburg, Penn., where he assisted in building a gristmill for Hardinan Philips, but one year later returned to his farm, having built another dwelling. He cleared and placed under cultiva- tion many acres of land, and was minbered among the prosperous and well-to-do citizens of the community. His death occurred in 1863, leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his death.

(1) Thomas Cowen, the eldest, grew to inan- hood on the home farm, and, cnlisting in the Union army during the Civil war, he was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. He left a widow, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Fenalman, of Cainbria county, Penn., and to them had been born six children-John, Margarct, Nancy (de- ceased), Eva, Millard and Linn. (2) Hannah J. Cowen was born and reared at Hegarty's Cross Roads, and received a very limited education in the schools of the neighborhood. She married Abram Mathews, of Cambria county, who bought a tract of timberland near Whitmer run, in Be- caria township, Clearfield county, and developed a farm on which they reared their three children -Eliza A., now the wife of Isaiah Gates, of Cambria county, by whom she has four children : John, who married Miss Rickets, and with his wife and four children resides on his father's old homestcad; and Catharine, wife of George Herd- man, of Utahville, Becaria township, by whom she has two children. (3) Eliza Cowen, born at Hegarty's Cross Roads, married Jerry Lord, a native of England, and after their marriage they located in Jordan township, Clearfield county, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing for some time, and then purchased a farm in Knox township, Clearfield county, operating the same until his death in 1894. His wife had died one year previous, leaving ten children, namely: George, who was the inventor of the Lord cant hook, which is used all over the country by log nien, removed to California in August, 1896, and was there killed by a log train; Thomas is mar- ricd and works in the machine shops at Altoona, Penn .; John is a lumberman; James is married, and resides near Bloomington, Pike township, Clearfield county; Joseph is married, and lives in Madera, Clearfield county; Asbury is married, and lives at the same place: Sarah is the wife of Court Bloom; Margaret is a Mrs. Bloom: Calvin makes his home in Tennessee; and Robert, a himberman, at the present time foreman for the Kramer Lumber Co., of Beaver Valley, Cambria : county; he lives in Coalport, is married to a Miss Bloom, and they have two children. (4) Siew- art Cowen, born at Hegarty's Cross Roads, mar-

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 33

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