Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 69

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 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 69

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Of his children, the eldest, Henry, our sub- ject's father, is mentioned more fully below. (2) Samuel, who never married, resided upon a farm near Ramey, and died there at the age of eighty- four .: (3) John bought land near Beulah, Clear- field county, and cleared and improved it for a homestead. 'He inarried Catherine Alexander, Henry Whiteside, the father of our subject, inherited a portion of the old homestead, he and his brother Robert each receiving 200 acres of the original purchase. In 1870 he went to Vir- ginia and bought 924 acres of timber land, par- tially improved, in Charlotte county, on the Danville railroad, southwest of Richmond. In the following year he removed there with his wife and son James. In 1876 he returned to the old home farm, where he died fifteen years later at the age of eighty-six. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Hegarty, was a member of a well-known pioneer family of Clearfield county; she died in 1877. of Woodward township, Clearfield county, and reared a family of seven children-(a) Agnes married Mr. Matthews; (b) Mary is the widow of C. Shoff; (c) William B. married Miss Needler, of Cherry Tree, Penn., and resided for a number of years at his father's homestead. In 1885 he sold his interests there and moved to Tennessee, where he purchased a farm (he had eight chil- dren, of whom the eldest is a son named Wade); (d) Jane married (first) Samuel Henderson, who died soon afterward, and (second) Joseph B. Sproat. of Houtzdale (she has four children); (e) Rebecca married James Dougherty, a prominent farmer and business man of Lawrence township, Of their six children, our subject is the eldest. (2) Joseph died at the homestead in 1853, aged fifteen years. (3) John, who was born in 1840, is not married and resides in Madera. (4) Mary Jane, born in 1841, married James Mullen, of Becaria township, Clearfield county, and died in 1879. leaving two daughters, Mary and Bertha, who are attending school in Millersville, Penn. (5) James, born in 1843, accompanied his par- ents to Virginia in 1871, and remained there, Clearfield county, who is now extensively engaged in the manufacture of sawed lumber (they have several children); (f) John died at the old home- stead at the age of twenty: (g) Emily married Mr. Clark, of Renovo, Penn., and has several children. (4) Robert resided in Becaria town- ship, Clearfield county, on land purchased by his father; he married Miss Nancy Alexander, and had eight children-(a) John D. is single, and re- sides in Madera: (b) William A. owns and oper- following agricultural pursuits until his death in ates a farm near Richmond. Va., on the James . 1892. He was married in 18St to Miss Harriet

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

L. Owens, of Virginia, who survives him with two sons, Henry and Emerson. (6) Maggie A., born in 1845. was married in 1884 to J. P. Kauffman, and resided at the old homestead un- til her father's death. They then moved to Ma- dera, where she died in 1895, leaving one daugh- ter, Bessie, now eleven years old, who is attend- ing school. Mr. Kauffman has since made his home at Carrolltown, Cambria Co., Pennsyl- vania.

William Whiteside, the subject proper of this biography, was born at the homestead December 14, 1836, and has always resided there. Under his able and progressive management his estate has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and he has a well-established reputation for sound judgment in business affairs. He takes a keen interest in all that concerns the welfare of his community. and is active in local politics as a member of the Republican party. He has held office as township auditor and assistant assessor, and is now serving his second term as school director. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Stewart, of Cambria county, and their union is blessed with one .daughter, Effie, born April S, 1882, now an attractive girl of fifteen, who attends school at Madera, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. White- side are Presbyterians in faith.

D AVID MITCHELL, an intelligent and en- terprising farmer of Greenwood township. is a representative of an old family that located in Clearfield county before its organization. The grandfather, David Mitchell, removed from Nit- tany Valley, Centre Co., Penn., and took up his residence in what is now Burnside township. where he entered a tract of land and developed a farm, making his home thereon until his death. He was a local minister of the Methodist Protest- ant Church, and his life was characterized by true nobility and integrity above question.

John Mitchell, father of our subject, was born in Centre county, and during his boyhood came with his parents to Clearfield county, where he was reared to manhood. After his father's death he assumed the management of the home farm and assisted his widowed mother for many years. He married Elizabeth A. McGee, and located on a tract of land which his father had purchased. After the death of his mother . he and his brother, C. C. Mitchell, purchased the interests of the other heirs in the estate, but later in life lie sold his property in Pennsylvania and removed to Kansas, where he operated a farm until his death in 1891. By trade he was a blacksmith, and followed that pursuit in con-

nection with farming ;and lumbering. While in Clearfield county he improved nearly one hun- dred acres of land, and erected thereon substan- tial buildings. He also rafted his own lumber down to market, and in his business career dis- played great energy and industry, to which qualities may be attributed his success. He never aspired to public office, but gave to the Republican party his stanch support. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell was a daughter of James McGee, who removed from Centre county to Bell township, Clearfield county, at an early day. He cleared and im- proved a good farm, followed lumbering and built both a sawmill and a gristmill, the latter being still in use. He was one of the organizers of the Methodist Protestant Church in his local- ity, and served as local preacher. Both he and his wife died on the old homestead.

John Mitchell and his wife lived for twenty years in Kansas, the latter dying in ISS5, the former in 1891. Of their twelve children. two died in early life: the others are: David; Mary E., wife of E. White, of Oregon; James. of Oregon; Thomas, a farmer of Burnside town- ship; Ann E., wife of J. Fort, of Kansas; Mrs. Margaret Reynolds; John, a minister of the Free Methodist Church in Kansas; Henry, who died in Kansas, Orlena, wife of P. Riddle, of New Wash- ington; and Virginia, wife of Williamn Gorman, : of Paola, Kansas.

David Mitchell is a worthy and honored rep- resentative of two pioneer families, and was born in Burnside township, Clearfield county, October 14, 1838. He was reared on the farm, and not only became familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, but also learned busi- ness methods through connection with his father's lumbering interests. He was educated in the country schools, and remained at home until twenty-three years of age. when he began business on his .own account. He purchased a tract of timber land of 130 acres on Chest creek, and for three years was engaged in converting the trees into marketable products. He then sold his interest in the timber, and for three years thereafter worked on the Ross land. In 1869 he purchased, of James Elder, the tract of land of 130 acres (on which he now resides , fifty of which were under cultivation, and the farm was improved with a two-story frame house. Of this he now has ninety-five acres highly culti- vated, has erected a large barn and goud out- buildings, and added other accessories found on the model farins of the nineteenth century. He has also purchased and improved another tract

...

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of land of 100 acres, known as the Hoover land; also purchased 225 acres of land, part of the William Bell estate; and 325 acres in Bell town- ship, known as the John Irvin land, on Snyder run-to all of which he gives his personal atten- tion. Nor have his efforts been confined to agri- cultural pursuits alone. He is a man of re- sourceful ability, of great industry and enter- prise, and for many years was extensively en- gaged in the lumber business, to which he turned his attention when only fourteen years of age. For forty-two years he piloted rafts down the river, and occasionally still makes a trip in that way.

Twelve children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, and through the thirty- three years of their married life there has been no death in the family. A brief record of the children is as follows: (1) Henry S. (a farmer) married Ida Thorp, of Greenwood township, and they have five children. (2) James T. (also a farmer) married Nora Rager, of Burnside town- ship, and they have two children. (3) John F. married Gertrude Johnson, and they live on a farm. (4) Robert C. lives in Oregon. (5) Ro- setta is now studying music at Waynesburg Col- lege. 16, Atlec D., (7) Sarah E., (S) Samuel Orvis, (9) Delilah V., (10) Mary T., (11) Ruth W., and (12) Cora E., are all at home. They have all been provided with good educational op- portunities, and have had musical privileges, several of the family manifesting considerable talent in that direction. The parents hold met- bership in the Methodist Protestant Church, and social circles accord them a high standing. In politics. Mr. Mitchell was formerly a Republican.

but now gives his support to the Prohibition party, and is a stanch advocate of temperance. He has been the architect of his own fortune, and has builded wisely and well on the safe foun- dation of industry and integrity.

T HOMAS BROCKBANK. The subject of this personal narrative is one of the most successful and progressive farmers within the borders of Union township, Clearfield county, where he has made his home for almost a third of a century. He has made his special field of industry an eminent success, and is highly es- teemed and respected by those who know him best.

Mr. Mitchell was married, in 1863, to Miss Henrietta Weaver, who belongs to one of the old families, her parents being James H. and Sarah Thomas Brockbank, second son of Senes and Ann Brockbank, was born in England, October 4, 1821; registered at Preston, Patrick Chapel, four miles below Kendal; was there reared and educated, and in Kendal, Westmoreland county, was married to Miss Isabella King, who was born March 11, 1823; registered at Catholic Chapel, Kendal. Before leaving their native land two children were born to thein: Frances A., and Mary. In June, 1849, the whole family, eleven in number, sailed for America, and on their arrival spent the first three years in Phila- delphia. Removing to Elk county, this State. Mr. Brockbank purchased 160 acres of landin the midst of the forest, which he at once began to clear and develop, and continued to make his A. (Campbell) Weaver. Her maternal grand- father was Thomas Campbell, who developed a farm in the midst of the forests of Clearfield county, and made it his home until death. His father died in Union county. James Weaver was born in Union county, and, coming to Clear- field county in its pioneer epoch, purchased a farm whereon he resided for many years. He then sold, and retired from active business life. He and his wife are now living quietly in Burn- side, aged respectively eighty and seventy-five years. Both are members of the Methodist Prot- estant Church, and are people of genuine worth. Their children are: Mrs. Mitchell; Frances E., wife of T. Mitchell; Mary K., wife of A. Shafer; Harriet B., wife of J. H. Breth; John T., who | home thereon some fourteen years. In 1864 he died at the age of fifteen years; and James L., a . merchant of Burnside.

purchased his present farm in Union town- ship, Clearfield county, a valuable tract of one hundred acres, of which about half had been cleared, and in the following year brought his family to the place. He has since cleared the remainder, erected excellent buildings, and has the place under a high state of cultivation, so that it now ranks among the best farms of Union township. In June. 1849, Mr. Brock- bank's parents, Senes and Ann Brockbank. also came to the United States, and from Philadel- phia also removed to Elk county, later making their home with their two sons in Brady and Union townships, Clearfield county, where the father died in 1869. and the mother in the year following. They were born about the year 1,96. and are registered at Staveley Chapel. above Kendal.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brockbank, two sons and four daugh- ters, as follows: (1) Frances Ann, born at Ken- dal, July 27, 1847, registered at Catholic Chapel. Kendal, was married in 1870, to Joseph Syler. of Brady township, where he carries on farming.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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and also conducts a pottery. They had ten chil- has always affiliated with the Democratic party. for twelve years was the efficient treasurer of his held some school office. dren, eight of whom are still living. (2) Mary, born September 13, 1848, at Kendal, registered township, and for the long period of thirty years at Catholic Chapel. Kendal, was married May 3, 1881, to C. F. Waugh, of Levant township, Penobscot Co., Maine, where they made their home for four years, and then located in Du- R EUBEN HEGARTY. The Hegarty family, of Clearfield county, has so long held a prominent place in business, social and public life in that locality, that unusual interest will at- tach to this brief history of the well-known con- tractor of Bigler township, whose name appears above. Like many of the successful men of the country, he is of Irish blood, his grandparents, Samuel and Jane (Whiteside) Hegarty, having come to America in 1808, with their large family of children. After a short stay in Mifflin coun- ty. Penn., they located permanently in Becaria township. Clearfield county, in 1811. purchasing 425 acres of heavily-timbered land lying on both sides of Clearfield creek, and now known as the John Gill tract. There a log cabin was built for the occupation of the family, and the work of clearing begun, which brought its reward in the abundant harvest of the broad, fertile fields thus redeemed for cultivation. Bois, Clearfield county. There he was employed in the iron works as a machinist, until 1895, when they located on the home farm, with our subject and his wife; their only child died four years ago. (3) Margaret, born in Philadelphia, November 7, 1850, registered at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Philadelphia; wedded Andrew Pentz, who formerly served as sheriff of Clear- field county, and is now engaged in farming in Brady township; their only child is deceased. (4) Senes T., born in Philadelphia, March 3, 1852, registered at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Phila- delphia; accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Union township, where he worked on the farm and taught school until attaining his majority, when he entered the law office of W. A. Wallace. After studying for some time he was admitted to the Bar in 1877. and engaged in practice in Clearfield for a number of years. Going to Washington, he was in the Pension De- partinent for over two years, and died in that city, February 19. 1888. In October, 1878, he had married Lizzie Prior, by whom he had four children, two of whom are still living. His

widow has since married Henry Watts, a mer- chant of Wisconsin. (5) Joseph William, born in Fox township. Elk county, July 14, 1863. reg- istered at St. Mary's. Elk county, grew to man- hood upon the farm in Clearfield county, and studied medicine in the University of Maryland, where he completed the prescribed course in 1887. For eight years he successfully engaged in practice in Philadelphia, where his death oc- curred, November 7, 1895. He had married Mary Hamilton, of Baltimore, Md., who now re- sides in Philadelphia. (6) Isabella V., born Sep- tember 2, 1865. in Union township, Clearfield county, registered in Clearfield Catholic Church, was married October 4, 1883. to William P. Long, a lumberman, residing in Sandy township, Clear- field county, and died June 29. 1886, leaving two children, a son and daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Brockbank, with their children, are all devout members of the Catholic Church, and occupy a high place in the estimation of all who know them. The parents have both passed the allotted three-score years and ten, and can look back over long and well-spent lives, know- ing that they have faithfully performed every duty that devolved upon themn. Mr. Brockbank

Samuel and Jane Hegarty were married in 1789, and nine children blessed their union: (I) Joseph, born August 30, 1790, died in early man- hood. (2) Henry. born September 29, 1792, made his home at Beulah, where he built an elegant residence for that time, still known as the Hegarty stone house; he married Miss Mar- garet McCully, and had nine children-Joseph. George. Samuel. Robert, Henry, Margaret. Jane. Lydia and Isabella, all of whom lived to adult age. (3) Samuel, born June 12, 1795, pur- chased 2,200 acres of land in Clearfield county, and resided on the old road between Madera and Houtzdale, the estate being still called by his name: he married Miss Lydia McCully, of Gulich township. Clearfield county, but had no children. (4) John. born October 8. 1797, made his home at Hegarty's Cross Roads, where he owned a well-improved farm of 300 acres; his wife, Jane (Alexander), was a daughter of W. B. Alexander: their children were Samuel, William, Matilda and Agnes. all of whoin resided in Becaria town- ship. Clearfield county. (5) Jane, born January 12, ISoo, married William McCullough. a farmer residing near Ramey, on the road leading to Janesville; they had four children who lived to : maturity -- James. Joseph, Lewis and Mary Jane. (6) Robert, born May 16, 1802, resided upon a part of his father's homestead; he married Miss Jane Campbell. and had a large family of chil- dren. all of whom died in their youth except Mrs.

Reuben Hegarty

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

A. J. Smith, now residing near New Millport, Penn. (7) James, born July IS, 1804, owned what is now known as the John McConnel tract of 600 acres on the north bank of Clearfield creek at the mouth of Muddy run; he married Miss Jane Boyle, and had six children-David, Jeremiah, Jane, Rebecca, Mary and Rachel, all residents of Becaria township. Clearfield county. (8) William, the father of our subject, is men- tioned more fully below. (9) Mary, born in Clearfield county, July 5, 1809, was the only one of this large family who was not a native of the old country; she was married about the year IS36 or '7, to Henry Whiteside, and resided in Becaria township, Clearfield county.

William Hegarty, our subject's father, was born in Ireland, October 11, 1806, and was con- sequently about two years old at the time of the emigration to the new home in the United States. He grew to manhood at his father's farm, and on January 26, 1841, married Miss Jemima A. Dun- lap, who was born November 15. 1815, the daughter of William and Margaret Dunlap. He took charge of the homestead, and cared for his parents throughout their declining years, his mother passing away in 1829, and his father in 1843. He was a carpenter by trade, and was regarded as one of the substantial citizens of his locality.

Of his eight children: (1) Eliza, born Oc- tober 19, 1841, was married, in 1860, to William Luther, of Madera; she died May 13, 1871, leaving three children-Matilda and Orrissa J .. both unmarried and residing in Madera; and William J., who died at the age of fifteen. (2) Isaac, born January 15, 1843, enlisted in 1863, in Company C, Pennsylvania Zouaves, and took part in all the engagements of his regiment until the close of the war: he was married. in 1866, to Miss Ellen Stitt, and after living for a few years at the homestead, moved to Michigan, where he engaged in lumbering, and later. in prospecting for minerals; they had three children-Newton, William I. and Laura, all of whom are single and reside in Houtzdale, Penn. (3) Reuben. our subject, was born July 22. 1845. (4) Su- sanna, born December 25, 1847, was married in 1866 to Joseph Alexander, a well-known farmer, and died in 1886; two children survive-Minerva, a successful teacher in the public schools at Houtzdale; and W. B. Clinton, a student at the Pennsylvania State College. (5) Sarah J., born June 24, 1851. died September 18. 1856. (6) Adaline, born March 4, 1854. died September 20, 1856. (7) Hannah C., born July 20, 1856. married William C. Davis, at present a com- missioner of Clearfield county, and resides at

Houtzdale. Five children are living and at home-Pearl T., Julia A., Ursula M. (a gradu- ate of the Houtzdale high school), Aida E. and Tomana J.

Reuben Hegarty was reared at the old home, attending the common schools of the neighbor- hood, and acquiring a knowledge of farming and carpentering by practical work under his father's direction. He engaged in lumbering in early manhood, working in the woods as a jobber in square timber. In the spring of 1871 he mar- ried Miss Susan Phebe Davis, and soon after- ward purchased some property in the town of Madera from his father and improved it hand- .somnely, building a fine two-story house. He has since been successfully engaged in contracting and building, being one of the leading workers in that line in his section. Possessing an inventive mind, he has turned his genius to good account, and now holds several patents. Among his in- ventions are an improved measuring pole and a folding extension table. He has also done con- siderable work as a civil engineer on the Coal Run Branch railroad for the Wallace & Reading Railroad Co. His versatile ability and sound practical judgment make him a leader in busi- ness circles, and he is also actively interested in all the various movements which tend to pro- mote progress in his community. Politically, he is a Republican, but, while he gives effective aid to the party, he has refrained from entering the race for office. Mr. and Mrs. Hegarty are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and take a prominent part in its work.

Mrs. Hegarty was born at Kerrmoor, Penn .. May 30. 1852. Her father, Thomas C. Davis, a native of Clarion county, Penn., was married in Jordan township. Clearfield county. in 1849, to Miss Rebecca Kooser, and had seven children, of whom four lived to adult age: William C .. now a commissioner of Clearfield county, mentione 1 above; Susan P., Mrs. Hegarty; Mary, who mar- ried E. W. Cowher, of Patton. Cambria county, Penn .. and has six children: and Laura. who married John Hindman, of Glen Hope, Penn .. and has seven children.

H ENRY B. BAILEY, a well-known farmer and lumberman of Union township, is a native of Clearfield county, born in Burnside township, August 31, 1828, and is a son of Caleb and Jemima (Sunderland) Bailey. The father was born in Lycoming county, this State. H English parentage, and on first coming to Clear- field county located in Curwensville, from which place he removed to the farm in Brady township

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

now owned by Samuel Bailey. Subsequently he made his home with his son Samnel, in Du Bois, where his death occurred. His wife died in Union township several years before him.

On leaving the township of his birth, Henry B. Bailey went to Curwensville, where he spent about three years, and then came to Union town- ship, and here in the midst of the forest he cleared and opened up a farin. He has ever been one of the most active and enterprising citizens of the locality, and has been an impor- tant factor in its development and progress. He married Miss Catherine Clouser, of Perry county, Penn., and to them were born seven children, three of whom are yet living, namely: Winfield S., a farmer of Union township, who is married and has three children; Mary, wife of Isaac Bloom, a farmer of Bloom township, Clearfield county, by whom she has four children; and Jemima. wife of Henry Shaffer, who resides in Union township upon land purchased of J. B. Walker. The wife and mother died on the homestead farm in 1866, and, a few years later. Mr. Bailey wedded Miss Sarah J. Hemingway, of Bradford county, Penn. Ten children graced their union: Charles, who was born in Union township, in 1868, and resides at Home Camp, where he is engaged in lumbering and farming; Chauncy G., at home; Alfred, a resident of Rock- ton, who married Bessie Parish, and has one : child: Carrie, who died in 1890: and Cray- ton, John Hays, Gertie May, Alda, Gracie and Nellie, all at home with their parents.

Mr. Bailey has been identified with the Re- publican party since its organization, and has ever taken an active interest in political affairs. He cast his first vote for William Bigler for gov- ernor, and has hinself creditably filled several local offices, including those of constable, super- visor, collector and school director, filling the last named position for the long period of twenty- eight years. He has held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church for a number of years, and his honorable, upright life has gained him the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, either in business or social life.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 69

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