Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 34

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 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 34

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).

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ried Hannah Colderwood, and lived in Becaria township until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined a cavalry company under Gen. Sherman, and participated in all the engagements in which his regiment took part. On the close of the war he returned to Becaria township, but in 1868 removed to Tyrone, Penn., where he has since followed railroading. His wife died in August, 1868, leaving four children-Gideon B., a resident of Bigler township, Clearfield county; Stewart, who is married, and engaged in rail- roading at Tyrone; Mary A., wife of Robert Morris, of Punxsutawney, who is also engaged in railroading; and John, who is married and is em- ployed in a paper-mill in Tyrone. (5) Robert Cowen, born at Hegarty's Cross Roads, married Hannah Hunchbarger, of Becaria township, and they began their domestic life upon a farm near Whitmer run. During the Rebellion he enlisted in the Union army, and served until hostilities has ceased. Returning to Clearfield county, he purchased a farm on Muddy run, where he re- mained four or five years, and then sold and bought a farm in Lawrence township, near Clear- field. After living there for about seven years, he moved to California, where he has since suc- cessfully engaged in lumbering and farming. In his family are the following children-Edward. who married a Miss Lloyd, and lives in Bigler township, Clearfield county; Bertha, who is mar- ried, and with ,her husband and child lives in Marble Rock, Iowa; John, who married Miss Orr, of Clearfield, and now lives in California; Mary, wife of John Tanver, of California; Maggie, who married Hugh Galaher, of Cambria county, Penn., and lives in Bigler township, Clearfield county: Harriet, who is with her parents in Cal- ifornia: Emma, wife of John Rowells, of Cal- ifornia: Annie, wife of B. Alexander, of Madera, Clearfield county; and Floe, Nettie, Sallie and Ralph, who are still with their parents in Cal- ifornia. (6) James Cowen, who was born and reared on the farm at Hegarty's Cross Roads, and after his marriage with Rachel Warrick lo- cated upon the old homestead. In 1862, he en- listed in the Union service, and was killed at the ! battle of Chancellorsville. He left a widow and one son-Isaiah, a resident of Janesville, Clear- field county, who married a Miss Kingston, and has one child. (7) Lavina Cowen, born at lleg- arty's Cross Roads, married A. P. Shoff, of Big- ler township, and they make their home on his father's old farm in that township. They have one daughter -- Ethel.

soon as large enough began to assist in the labors of the fields. His educational opportunities were therefore limited, as he only attended school about fifteen months throughout his boy- hood and youth. In 1855 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Koon, of Cambria county, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Koon, well-to-do farming people of White township. that county. The former was of German descent and the latter of Scotch parentage. The family is one of the highest respectability, and, with the exception of Mrs. Cowen, all of the nine children continued to reside in Cainbria county. After his marriage, Mr. Cowen purchased 108 acres of wooded land, known as the George Wallace farm, which he greatly improved, and there engaged in lumbering and farming until 1868, when he sold to Mr. Flanigan, and bought eighty-five acres of partially-improved land, on which a log house and barn had been erected. The house was subsequently destroyed by fire as well as most of the furniture contained therein, after which Mr. Cowen erected a little shanty, in which the family lived until their present sub- stantial fwo-story residence was built in 1886. He also has a large bank barn and other good outbuildings, the stumps have been removed from his cleared land, and all the conveniences and accessories of a model farm are found thereon.

Mr. and Mrs. Cowen have become the parents of the following children: John, born in 1856, grew to manhood on the home farm, and received a common-school education. He wed- ded Mary Noal, of Cambria county, and located on Whitmer run, near the Cambria line, where he still engages in farming; he has two children- Anthony and Ella H. (2) Joseph, born April 3. 1858, was provided with a good common-school education, and is at present managing the home farm. (3) Jane, born in 1860, became the wife of William Noal, of Cambria county, and there she made her home until her death in 1891: she left two children-Anna Mary. who is with her father in Cambria county; and Hannah Effie. who lives with our subject. (4) Samuel, born in 1862, remained at home until his marriage with Miss Susan Younkin, of Cambria county, and for some time they lived in that county, but now re- side in Coalport, Clearfield county. He is en- gaged in lumbering. (5) Henry, born December ;. 1867, is an excellent scholar having com- pleted his literary course at the normal school of the county, and he is now one of the most proficient teachers of the county. Dur-

(8) Mathew Cowen, whose name introduces , ing his vacations he lives with his parents. this review, was born February 23, 1830, on the ' (6) Hannah, born in 1869, remained at home old homestead at Hegarty's Cross Roads, and as

until her marriage to Jonathan Dunlap, of Indi-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ana county, Penn., and they now reside near Gettysburg. (7) James I .. born in 1876, was edu- cated in the common schools of Becaria town- ship, and is a barber by trade.

Mr. Cowen uses his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has faithfully served his fellow citi- zens in the capacity of school director two terms; supervisor one term, and judge of elec- tion. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith, to which he is still inclined, and has led an upright, honorable life, which in many respects is worthy of emulation.

D AVID DALE, of Bradford township, Clear- field county, is one of the leading agricult- urists, and holds an influential position in both business circles and local affairs. His family is one of the oldest and most highly respected of Clearfield county, his grandparents, Joseph and Polley Dale, natives of Lancashire, England, having located at Philipsburg, in 1819, to make their permanent home.

Their son John, our subject's father, was born in Lancashire, England, in 1796, and as a young man accompanied his parents to America. He was a hatter by trade, and followed that oc- cupation at Philipsburg for some time. There he met and married Miss Elizabeth Waring, a native of Wales, whose father. William Waring, had brought his family to the United States years before, and had cleared a farm near Phil- ipsburg. He died in Morris township, Clearfield county. Our subject's father settled in Brad- ford township not long after his marriage and al- though he continued to work at his trade, he purchased a tract of fifty acres of forest land which he cleared and improved. As he pros- pered, he added to his possessions until he be- canie the owner of nearly 500 acres. He was prominent in public movements in his locality, and held a number of township offices. In pol- itics he was a Democrat until the war, when he became a Republican, and in religious faith he was a Methodist. His death occurred in Brad- ford township, December 8, 1880, and his wife passed away in the following year.

They had ten children: A. C. resides in Graham; John died in Bradford township at the age of fifty-two; Edmund resides in Bradford township: Gwen, the widow of John W. Gra- ham, who was drowned in 1865, resides in Brad- ford township; Mary died aged seventeen years; Ann is the wife of John H. Stewart, of Bradford township; David is mentioned more fully below; Elizabeth died at the age of fifty-three years;

William died at the age of seventeen; and George P. died at four years of age.

David Dale, our subject was born in 1838, and he has always resided at the homestead, his education having been acquired in the schools of the township. He now owns the old home, with 200 acres of land, 100 of which are cleared and devoted to general farming. He has also given much attention to the preparation of square timber for market, and to rafting on the river. The locality has been developed rapidly in recent years, and he has taken an active inter- est in the work of improvement. In 1869 he purchased the first mowing machine ever brought to the township, and his sound judgment and foresight are thoroughly appreciated in his com- munity. He is a valued counselor in the Re- publican party, and has held the offices of super- visor, school director and township auditor. In religious faith he is a Methodist, and he is a trustee of the Bradford Church.

T MY'LER. The Tyler homestead, a beautiful estate of 764 acres in Huston township, Clearfield county, is the largest farm in that township, and one of the largest in this section. The village of Tyler, named in honor of the family, was located upon it in 1876, and among the natural advantages of the place are extensive and valuable coal mines. The founder of this great patrimony was the late David Tyler, the father of the gentleman whose name open this sketch, and one of the most prominent pioneers of Clearfield county. He was born in Vienna, Oneida Co., N. Y .. March 19, 1809, the son of Martin and Elizabeth (Alfoot) Tyler, who were natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Brad- ford county, Penn., where both spent their last days. Of their eight children none are now living.

DAVID TYLER passed his youth in his native county, receiving his education there, and when a young man went to Northumberland county, Penn., to engage in building the West Branch canal, and where he was married, in January, 1830, to Miss Isabella Mahaffey, a native of Ly- coming county, Penn. They then went to that county, where they remained until 1848. Her father was a leading citizen of Lycoming county, and her mother was Margaret Clendenning, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary .war. and witnessed the execution of Major Andre. She lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years, passing away at the old home in Lycoming county.

In 1848, David Tyler went to Huston town-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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ship, Clearfield county, as a lumberman in the employ of John DuBois, and he was not slow to take advantage on his own account of the oppor- tunities which he saw around him. Securing the tract of land above mentioned, he began clearing and improving it, and in 1860 built the fine brick residence in which the family still reside. He was a man of great ability, thoroughly progress- ive in his ideas, being the first in Clearfield county to purchase a sewing inachine and a machine for mowing and reaping. He also invented the first log slide ever made. His interest in the public welfare was evidenced in many ways, and he was known and beloved throughout his section. He was prominent as a Methodist and, later, as a Presbyterian, and was influential in political af- fairs, first as a Republican and, later, as a Demo- crat. Although he did not especially care for public office, he was justice of the peace in Ly- coming county, appointed by Gov. Shultz and Gov. Ritner. His death occurred in 1882 at the homestead; his widow still survives, and is now in her eighty-seventh year. She is one of the oldest of the early settlers of Huston township who are now living, and her reminiscences cover the entire range of the marvelous development which that locality has seen. The estate be- longs to her, but is conducted by her sons.

She was the mother of ten children, namely: Mary (Mrs. Packer, of Clinton county); John C., who died in Allegany county, N. Y .; Roxy Jane, who died in Huston township, Clearfield county; Margaret (Mrs. William Schryver, of Lawrence township, Clearfield county); Martin V., who resides at the home farm; Martha B. (deceased); James A., who is mentioned more fully below; Phoebe R., at home; Emma (Mrs. Charles Coryell), who died at the homestead in 1875; and David, who died in Centreville, Penn. The post office at Tyler, which was established in 1865, has always been conducted by some member of the family, with the exception of one term, and is now under the charge of Miss Phoebe Tyler.

JAMES A. TYLER, one of the most prominent business men of Huston township, has an excel- lent opportunity to exercise his administrative ability in the work of the home farm, 260 acres of which are cleared. The land is underlaid with coal, but has not yet been opened up.

Mr. Tyler was born December 2, 1840, at Trout Run, Lycoming county, and was eight years old at the time of the removal of the fam- ily to Clearfield county. He attended school at Mill Run during his boyhood, and later engaged in farming and lumbering which he has followed for many years. He takes great interest in local

improvements, encouraging every project which promises to benefit the community. In politics he is a Republican, and he has held the office of township assessor.

D AVID PRICE, who is engaged in the livery business in Karthaus, is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, and a man whose fidelity to duty makes him one of the valued cit- izens of Clearfield county. He was born in Kart- haus township, in 1839, a son of Isaac and Diana (Harris) Price. The father was born in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and the mother was also a native of that country, where they were married. Coming to America. they took up their residence in Luzerne county, Penn., where they conducted a hotel for a time. In 1836 they removed to Karthaus township, Clearfield county, and Mr. Price was keeper of the iron furnace for four years. Subsequently he went to Tioga county, Penn., where he con- structed an iron furnace, and then returned to Karthaus, giving his attention there to agricult- ural pursuits, and opening up a farm. There he continued his residence until his death in 1868; his wife died in the same township in 1856. They reared a family as follows: John, who died in Olean, N. Y., in 1873; James, who died in 1877: Isaac, who died in Karthaus, in 1871: William, who enlisted in Brookville, Penn., in 1864, and was killed in battle: Mrs. Margaret Starn, of Woodland, Penn., and David, of this review.

David Price, our subject, spent his boyhood days in Karthaus township, and is indebted to the public schools of the neighborhood for the educational privileges he enjoyed. Since arriv- ing at man's estate he has followed farming and lumbering much of the time. During the Civil war his patriotic nature was aroused, and he re- sponded to the President's call for volunteers. enlisting in Company E. 5th Pennsylvania Re- serves, for three years. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he participated in the battles of New Creek, Drains- ville, Mechanicsville, Gaines Hill, New Market Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, and Harrison Land- ing. Richmond, Bull Run, Antietam, Mine Run and Fredericksburg. He was captured at Fred- ericksburg, confined in Libby prison ninety-three days, and afterward exchanged, returning then to Annapolis, and rejoining his regiment in Washington. Later he participated in the bat- tles of Gettysburg, Rappahannock and the Wil- derness. He was wounded in the right knee and I left foot, and slightly wounded in the left

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shoulder. At Harrisburg, Penn., in June, 1864. he was honorably discharged. having valiantly served his country for three years.

Mr. Price was married in 1872, in Karthaus, to Miss Margaret Heise, a native of Covington township, Clearfield county, and a daughter of John and Christine (Schnars) Heise, natives of Pennsylvania. They located at an early day in Covington township, but both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Price became the parents of nine children, six of whom are living: Clara (who died in Centre county, in November, 1890), Dora (who died in 1895), Mattie, Bertha, Frank, Nettie, Anna, and John L. Mr. Price exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He has served as tax collector nine years, and was con- stable for nine years, and has always discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity, man- ifesting the same loyalty to every trust reposed in him that he displayed on Southern battle fields when he followed the stars and stripes to victory.

W ARREN W. BELL. Among the enter- prising and successful agriculturists and business men of Ferguson township, Clearfield county, this gentleman is especially worthy of notice. He is a representative of one of the most honored and influential pioneer families of the county.

Arthur Bell, grandfather of our subject, first came here as a hunter and trapper in 1790. froin Lycoming county, Penn., and after spend- ing the winter brought his wife and children, being the third family to locate in this portion of the country. Indians were still numerous in the locality, and game of all kinds was plentiful, furnishing the carly settlers with many a ineal. Mr. Bell located on the river below the pres- ent site of Lumber City, on what is now known as the Farwell farm, which he opened up from the wilderness. His source of supplies were ob- tained by going down the river in a canoe or over the mountains on foot, carrying his provis- ions on his back. For blacksmithing, he often went as far down the river as Lock Haven. After raising a little corn, be beat it into meal with some rude implements of his own construc- tion. In common with the early settlers he en- dured all the hardships and privations of frontier life in order to secure tor his famil; a good home. He was a prominent factor in the organization of the county in 1804, was the first man to serve as justice of the peace within its borders, and was the most popular squire for many years,

performing nearly all of the marriage ceremonies. Bell township was named in his honor. In re- ligious belief he was a Presbyterian. He mar- ried a Miss Greenwood, by whom he had eight children, namely: Greenwood, William. Grier, Mary, Letitia, Rachel, Rebecca and Arthur.

Grier Bell. the father of our subject, grew to manhood amid the primitive scenes. of pioneer life upon the old homestead, and after his mar- riage operated that farm for a number of years. He then purchased a large tract of timber land, upon a portion of which our subject now resides, and developed a farm, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. General farming received most of his attention, but to some extent he en- gaged in lumbering for a time. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat, and an ardent advocate of the principles of his party. He served as commissioner and in other township offices, and was a Baptist in religious belief, but never joined any Church. At his death, in 1886, he left 300 acres of valuable land, 100 of which had been cleared, and improved with good and substantial buildings, and this property he disposed of by will. Grier Bell married Miss Hettie Roll, a daughter of John Roll, of Armstrong county, Penn. She was called to her final rest Novem- ber 3, 1868. In their family were nine children, three of whom died in infancy; Angeline, the wife of John S. Curry, deceased; Emaline died at the age of twenty-two; Hortensa died at the age of fifteen; Cortes is a farmer by occupation; Josephine married Samuel Hagerty; and Warren W. completes the family.

On June 25, 1833, our subject was born in Jordan (now Ferguson) township, Clearfield county, and was reared upon the farm where he yet resides, his education being obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood. Until he ' had attained his majority he remained at home, and then worked in the lumber woods during the winter season, and at carpentering in the sum- mer. After his marriage he obtained forty acres, to which he later added eighty acres, of which he has placed thirty under a highi state of cultiva- tion, and erected excellent buildings thereon, in- : cluding a comfortable two-story frame residence. He held his timber, not allowing it to be cut un- til lately, when he sold the sawed lumber from eighty acres for $11,000, and yet owns some fine timber. The land is underlaid with a good grade of coal and fire clay, and he has also purchased the mineral rights from other lands which he is holding.

In 1867. Mr. Bell was united in marriage with Miss Miriam Snyder, a daughter of Abram and Susan (Ogden, Snyder. The father was an hon-

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Fred pioneer of Clearfield county, coming here i fair fortune, and as his tastes inclined him to a quiet life, he bought two tracts of land in Bigler township, Clearfield county, and now resides upon one of them. situated near the thriving little village of Amnesville. trom Mifflin county, Penn., at an early day, and locating in Pike township, where he developed one of the best farins of the locality. There he died in 1893; his widow is still living on the old : 1 homestead. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, a Democrat in politics, and : for a number of years creditably served as justice 1 of the peace. His children were as follows: John, Henry, Samuel, Abraham, Miriam, Mar- garet. Charlotte, Eliza, Martha A .. Elizabeth, Jane. Hannah and Sarah. Four children grace the union of our subject and wife: May: who is now successfully engaged in teaching; Josephine, at home: Leslie W., who is attending school; and Lillian F., at home. All have been provided with good school privileges.

As a Democrat, Mr. Bell advocates ,the free coinage of silver. and takes an active interest in public affairs, faithfully filling a number of local offices. In all transactions he is honorable and upright, and has thus gained the confidence and high regard of all with whom he comes in con- tact. His estimable wife is a meinber of the Presbyterian Church.

J OHN H. MOORE, a successful young mer- chant of Madera, Clearfield county, is deserving of credit for the manner in which he has surmounted the difficulties in his path. Beginning his career as a clerk, he did not estab- lish an independent business until eight years ago. when he made the venture with $300 capital. He now owns a fine store and a dwelling house in Madera, and has gained in the meantime a reputation as an upright, reliable citizen, which is " rather to be chosen than great riches."

Mr. Moore is of English birth and ancestry, and his grandfather. James Moore, was a sergeant in the British army. John Moore, of Amesville. Penn., the father of our subject, was born in England in 1821, was educated there, and for many years was engaged in business at Hexham, County of Northumberland, England, as an im- porter of goods. His first wife died leaving four chil- dren, and he then married Miss Hannah South- ern, who became our subject's mother. In 1865 he came to America with his family, landing in New York. His first employment was. as fore- man of a mine at Port Carbon. Pen., but after one year there he located at Madera, Penn .. and engaged in lumbering. Later he removed to Moshannon, Penn., entering the employ of the Moshannon Coal Co., and on his retirement from that position he purchased a lot in Houtzdale, and built a residence. He has accumulated a

Of the four children by his first marriage, the eldest. James, is engaged in mining at Horatio, Jefferson Co., Penn. He married Miss Lizzie Jopling. (2) Alexander went back to England when twenty years old, and married a Mrs. . Askey, a widow, with two children. On his re- turn to America he settled in Jefferson county. Penn., where he died in 1891, his wife and five children surviving him. (3) Robert remained at home until the age of twenty-five, when he inar- ried Miss Annie Bush, of Johnstown, Penn., and located in that city, engaging in the manufacture of bone phosphate, and in the rag and paper business. He was fortunate in escaping from the great flood of June, 1890, but all his prop- erty, including the furniture of his house was swept away, leaving him to begin life anew. He resnmed his former line of business, and is now one of the substantial citizens of Johnstown, owning three valuable pieces of property. He has no children. (4) "Elizabeth married Benja- min J. Lewis, formerly of Brisbin, and later of Horatio, Penn., where he was employed for six years as foreman of a mine belonging to the Ber- win-White Coal Co. After opening up the mine he resigned and accepted the position as superin- tendent for the Elkhorn Coal Co., in McDowell county, W. Va., where he still resides. He and his wife have a family of seven children.

John H. Moore, the only child of the second union, was born in the county of Durham. Eng- land, February 2, 1863, and was a year and a half old when he crossed the Atlantic. He at- tended the common schools near his home for several years. at the age of ten beginning to work in the mines under his father's direction. For abont seven years he continued this work, in the meantime attending a night school. He studied so diligently as to master Brook's arith- metic, and acquire a goodly store of knowledge in other branches. At seventeen he was ap- prenticed to a carpenter, with whom he spent a year and a half, and then entering the Madera grammar school he pursued his studies there for three months. His inclinations pointed toward a mercantile life, and his employment at this time by Whitehead & Co., as a clerk in their general store at Houtzdale, Penn., did much to shape his career. He remained with them seven years, his ability and faithful discharge of duty being rewarded by promotion until he was made manager of the store. After holding this re-

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 34

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