Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 84

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 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 84

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J. E. Gearhart was born at the old home- stead April 22, 1849, and after his mother's death, was cared for, and reared by his Grandmother Showalter, until about ten years of age; she (Grandmother Showalter) went to Illinois to spend the remaining days with her children who had moved to that State in 1853-5; she died in 1873. J. E. Gearhart was then taken home to his father. He was raised a farmer boy, and had only a meager education. From his boyhood he showed a mechanical genius by making me- chanical contrivances for his own amusement. At twenty-one he engaged in lumbering for Hoover Hughes & Co., with whom he worked nine years, acting as foreman for the company. In 1890 he built a factory in West Clearfield, where he employs eight nien, on an average, in the manufacture of knitting machines invented by himself, and which have a world-wide reputa- tion. He is also interested in real estate. and rents a number of houses in West Clearfield. In

JE Gearhart.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1871 he was married, in Decatur township, to Miss. Mary E. Middleton, a native of this State, and the daughter of the late John Middleton, a well-known gunsmith, who died in Decatur town- ship. Her grandfather followed the same trade, and made guns for the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart have eight children: Sophia married Harry D. Has- son, of Philipsburg, Penn .; Leonard A. is a student at Eastman Business College, Poughkeep- sie, N. Y .; and the others-Ada B., John R., Edna E., Jessie P., Lydia May and Emory J .- are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart are promi- nent members of the M. E. Church, Mr. Gear- hart being a teacher in the Sunday-school for twenty-five years. He is active in religious work, giving his spare time from business to Evangel- istic work in the State. Politically, Mr. Gear- hart is a Prohibitionist: in 1895 was nominated by the party for Assembly, and received quite a large vote in the county.

G IDEON WOODRING. This gentleman's honorable record as a soldier, gained while he was still a mere youth, furnishes a trustworthy indication of a nature in which loyalty to every duty, however remote the claim, has always been a prominent characteristic. His recent ef- forts, happily successful, to secure the commuta- tion of the sentence of a former employee, A. W. Van Houten, who had been condemned to be hung in Colorado, will be readily recalled by the public, by whom his warm-hearted and gener- ous rush to the rescue was fully appreciated. His rare good nature and whole-souled attach- ment to his friend has gained the deep regard of those who know him well, while his strict integ- rity in business compels the respect of acquaint- ances. For eighteen years past Squire Wood- ring has been one of the most popular citizens of Du Bois, Clearfield county, and has held the office of justice of the peace since 1888, being re-elected in 1893. and again elected, February 15, 1898, for a continuous term of five years.

Our subject comes of old Pennsylvania stock, and his grandfather, Solomon Woodring (formerly spelled Wotring), who was born in Berks coun- ty, settled, about 1820. in Crawford county, upon a tract of land which is now the county poor farm. The parents of our subject, Charles and Mary (Beige) Woodring, were both natives of Berks county, and were married in Crawford county, where they remained upon the farm men- tioned, Charles Woodring buying part of it from his father, Both attained a good old age. our

subject's mother breathing her last on February 23, 1888, aged seventy-four, and the father in March, 1892, aged seventy-nine years, eight months and twenty-two days.

Their children were William, a carpenter at Saegertown, Penn .; Henry, a carpenter at Moga- dore, Ohio; Gideon, our subject; Samuel, a hotel keeper at Akron, Ohio; Lavinia (deceased), for- merly the wife of Frank Hildebrand. of Buffalo, N. Y .; Alfred, a pattern-maker at Akron, Ohio; Anna, residing in Saegertown, Penn .; Daniel, superintendent of an oil company at Cyclone, Penn. ; Wayne, who died in 1895 at McDonald, Penn. ; Charles, who died in 1887 at Saegertown; and Kate, a resident of Saegertown.

Our subject was born June 16, 1843, near Saegertown, and was reared upon the old farm. assisting in the work of the place as his boyish strength permitted. He was but eighteen years old when the Civil war broke out, nevertheless, in the fall of 1861, he enlisted at Erie, Penn., in Company I, 111th P. V. I., being mustered into service on December 26 of that year. His term expiring in February. 1863. he re-enlisted in the saine company, and remained at the front as long as hostilities lasted, gaining the rank of orderly sergeant of his company, and not losing a day's service between 1861 and May 15, 1864. when he was wounded at Resaca, Ga. He was one of the marchers in the grand review at Washington, and was mustered out in that city June 26, 1865.

Returning to the paths of peace. Mr. Wood- ring engaged in the oil business, continuing until April, 1880. when, having purchased the Van- Houten bottling works at Karns City. Penn., he transferred them to Du Bois and established him- self permanently in that thriving town. He has been the victim of three fires, being burned out in the conflagration which destroyed the town in 1888, and on two other occasions. It is not strange, therefore, that he should have been one of the chief promoters of the present fire depart- ment. now one of the best in the State. He was the president of the first meeting held for its or- ganization, was chosen as the first president of the fre company then formed, and was chief of the fire department up to 1884. Politically he is a Republican of the stalwart type. He or- ganized the Garfield and Arthur Club in 1880, the first campaign organization ever formed in Du Bois, and served as its captain. In 188t he took the initiative in organizing the Union League. He is prominently identified with various non- political bodies, being a member of Easton Post, No. 229, G. A. R., of which he is past post com- inander; of Garfield Lodge. No. 559, F. & A.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

M .; and is a charter member of Du Bois City Lodge, No. 199, A. O. U. W.

On August 28, 1878, at Millville, Clarion Co., Penn., Squire Woodring was married to Miss Sarah Cribbs, of that county, a daughter of John and Catherine (Miller) Cribbs, the former of whom was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., September 9, 1807, the latter born at Mt. Bethel, Northampton county, June 27, 1810. They were married December 10, 1829, and children as fol- lows were born to them, their names and dates of birth being given: Caroline, September 11, 1830; Anna, April 24, 1833; Elizabeth, Septem- ber 22, 1835; Susannah, January 22, 1837; Christmah, July 6, 1840; Sarah, August 1, 1843; Adam, February 6, 1845: Fiannah, July 10, 1847; Henry Jacob Arnold, July 28, 1849; and John, February 18, 1854. The father of this family died April 23, 1873, but Mrs. Catherine Cribbs is still living; her parents were Jacob and Susan (Mohoney) Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ring have one daughter, Anna.

ACOB AMON. This gentleman ranks among J the retired farmers and prominent citizens of

West Clearfield, where he is resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. By untiring industry and economy he has acquired sufficient property to enable him to spend his de- clining years free from the cares and responsibil- ities of active business life. A native of Canada, Mr. Amon was born near the city of Montreal, July 1, 1844, a son of John and Emma (Singer) Amon, also natives of that country, the foriner born of German parentage and the latter of American. Throughout life the father followed the occupation of farming in his native land, where his death occurred, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Canada.

After operating rented farms for ten years, he purchased one hundred acres, known as the Abe Kiler farm, of which about one-half had been cleared, and he at once began its further develop- ment and cultivation. Eighty acres have now been placed under the plow, while good and sub- stantial buildings have been erected, making it a most desirable farm.

It is pleasantly located

twelve miles northeast of Clearfield, near the "Knobs." Since 1887 it has been conducted by his son, while our subject makes his home in West Clearfield, where he has purchased a com- fortable residence.

In 1866, Mr. Amon was united in marriage with Miss Martha Kiler, a native of Clearfield county, and a daughter of Abraham Kiler, one of the pioneer settlers of this region, who died upon the farm which he has developed from the wilder- ness. . There Mrs. Kiler, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also passed away. Mrs. Amon is the only one of their three children now living. Ten children bless the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Mary, Calvin, Hannah, Thomas, Milton, Lena, Daffa, Gordon, Weaver and Alice. Mary, the eldest of the family, is now the wife of George Green, a lumberman by occupation.

Politically, Mr. Amon is identified with the Democratic party, and has served as overseer of the poor, but cares nothing for public office. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a Lutheran in religious belief. They are kind-hearted, benevolent people, who have many warm friends, and have the confidence and esteem of all who know them.

ISAAC RICKETTS, for many years one of the most prominent farmers of Clearfield county, was born April 28, 1814, at Banian Bend, near Glen Hope, and died November 16, 1895, at the advanced age of eighty-one years and seven months. His was a busy, useful and upright life, devoted to the faithful performance of the duties that fell to his lot, and all who knew him respected him for his sterling worth.

His parents were Isaac and Anna (Law) Ricketts. Coming to Clearfield county, the fa- Our subject acquired a good practical educa- tion in the schools near his boyhood home, and was taught valuable lessons of industry and economy upon his father's farm, where he re- mained until 1861, when he came alone to Clear- field county. After stopping at two or three : places, he finally located near the " Knobs," in Goshen township, where he secured work in the ther located in Becaria township, near Glen Hope, and married Miss Law, who was reared in Canoe valley, Blair county, Penn. They located in Becaria township, and when our subject was four days old removed to Mt. Pleasant, where the father purchased one hundred acres of timber land, on which he built a round-log house. He made all the improvements upon the place, and woods, and continued lumbering until 1868. continued its cultivation until his death, which : occurred in 1851. His wife died in 184S.

They had a family of nine children: (1) Mary C., born in 1795, married James McNeal, and located at Fruit Hill, in Jordan township, Clearfield county, where they reared a large fam- ily and lived for many years. (2) Annie, born on a farm near Glen Hope, became the wife of Timothy Lumadue, who lived on a farmi near

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Glasgow, Penn .; they reared a large family. (3) Deborah, born at Banian Bend, married Samuel Smith, and they resided on his farm at Smith's Mill until his death; his widow is now living at the advanced age of ninety-two years, and has a large family. (4) John, born at Banian Bend, married Mrs. Annie Hewitt, of Lancaster coun- ty, Penn .; he lived in Pennville, Penn., for a number of years, and then erected a home at Utahville, wherein he resided until his death. His widow has since married again, and is now (5) Martha died at the living in Berwinsdale.

age of twenty years. (6) Lydia, born at Banian Bend, married Samuel Ray, of Jordan township, Clearfield county, and lived on his farm in Knox township until called to the home beyond. They reared a large family. (7) Jane, born at Banian Bend, married Joshua Davis, and they also had a large family; their home was on his farm in Gulich township, near Ramey. (8) Isaac was the next of the family. (9) Rebecca, born at Mt. Pleasant, married John Litz, of Stoneville, Boggs township, Clearfield county, who after his mar- riage purchased a farm near Mt. Pleasant, on which they spent their remaining days. They had daughters as follows: Anna E., who be- came Mrs. Scott, and lived in Gulich township, near Janesville; Nancy, who is the widow of George Gowan, and lives in Janesville; Martha, wife of Edwin Turner, of Maine, who now owns and operates a farm near Utahville; Mrs. Mary O'Hara, who lives in Colorado; Sarah, wife of Abram Smith, now living on the homestead in Becaria township; and Alice, wife of John Smith, of Irvona.

Isaac Ricketts was reared to farm life, and always followed that pursuit. He married Phi- lenia Litz, of Boggs township, Clearfield county, daughter of Rudolph and Mary Ann Litz. The wedding was celebrated February 22, 1842, and on the following day they came on horseback to Mt. Pleasant, locating on his father's farm in Be- caria township. Mrs. Ricketts was not fifteen years of age until the 4th of March following. They began their domestic life in a hewed-log house, and there resided until 1859, when they removed to a part of the farm which his brother John had formerly purchased. For twenty-eight years it was their place of residence, after which they made their home in Utahville until the death of Mr. Ricketts. His wife still survives him, and is a well-preserved old lady of seventy years, who vividly remembers the early pioneer experiences of their married life, when the for- ests were the haunts of wolves, panthers and other wild animals. She can relate many inter- esting incidents of frontier experiences. Both Mr.

and Mrs. Ricketts held membership with the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he was a Democrat, but never sought office, preferring to give his leisure time to the enjoyment of his home. Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts had a family of fourteen children, as follows:

(1) Mary Ann, born in 1843, and educated in the common schools, married Wilson Winslow, of Bradford county, Penn., and resides on his farm in Becaria township. Their children were -Minerva, married to James McKavish, and re- siding near Utahville; Philena, at home; John, who was accidentally shot by a neighbor boy; Thomas; Charles; Perry; Ellis, who died in child- hood; Lewis and Rebecca, who also died young. (2) Rebecca, born in May, 1844, became the wife of John Robson, of Bradford county. They lo- cated in Glen Hope, where he engaged in lum- bering and merchandising, having at one time the largest store in Clearfield county, and owning large tracts of timber land. He afterward moved to Hecla Furnace, where he became the owner of extensive farming property and a gristmill. On selling this, he removed to Marble Rock, Iowa, where his extensive dealings in real estate brought him a fortune; but ill health caused him to go to Nashville, Tenn., where he also made large investments in land. After disposing of his interests there he returned to Centre county, Penn., and purchased two large farms near Pine Grove, where he died, leaving a widow and eight children-(a) Emily, born in Glen Hope, and ed- ucated in a high school in Iowa, is the wife of Prof. Butts, who is connected with the Pennsyl- vania State College; they have three children. (b) Bertha, born in Glen Hope, and educated in a college of Iowa, became the wife of Rev. Long, a Methodist minister, and died some years ago leaving two children. (c) Alice, born at Hecla Furnace, Centre Co., Penn., and educated in Iowa, died in Pine Grove, Centre county, at the age of twenty years. (d) John I., born at Hecla Furnace, and educated in Iowa and The Penn- sylvania State College, is now studying medicine in Philadelphia. (e) Frederick, born in Iowa, and educ ited in The Pennsylvania State College, is now. employed in the electrical works of Johns- town, Penn. (f) George, born in Iowa, and ed- ucated in The Pennsylvania State College, is at home with his mother. (g) One child died in Iowa, and (h) another died in infancy at Glen Hope.

(3) Emily, born July 6, 1846, married Abed- nego Stevens, of Warrior's Mark, Penn., where they resided until he entered the Union army. He was captured in battle, and died in Ander- sonville prison, leaving a widow and one son,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Edgar. Mrs. Stevens afterward married Thomas Gates, of Huntington county, Penn., who died~ at their home in Iowa; she still resides in Rock- ford, Iowa. By her second marriage she has two children: A daughter, who married a Mr. Johnston, a railroad official of Iowa, by whom she has one child; and Charles, who is living with his mother. (4) John, born December 3, 1848, married Sarah Turner, only daughter of Samuel and Susan Turner, of Cambria county, Penn. They reside on the Turner homestead, one of the best cultivated farms of Cambria county, and have seven children living-Allen, a graduate of the State Normal School, at Lock Haven, Penn. ; Susan, who was educated in Ebensburg, Cambria county; Samuel; Isaac; Bruce; Bertha; and Dor- othy. (5) Sarah Jane, born January 26, 1851, married Chancellor Strunk, of Bradford county, a dealer in musical instruments and a teacher of music in Utahville. They have had three chil- dren-Nellie, who was born in Utahville, and died in Bradford county at the age of twelve years; Augustus and Philenia, both natives of Bradford county. (6) Edward, born March 8, 1853, was reared on his father's farm, and married Tessie Hammond, of Becaria township, where they reside on a farni. Their children are -- Mrs. Sarah Scott, of Mountaindale; Rebecca, wife of William Scott, principal of the high school at Johnstown, Penn. ; John; Uriah; George IV .; Augusta; Melissa; Philenia; and Anna M. (7) Isaac E., born April 1, 1855, and educated in the common schools, married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Daniel and Rebecca Crowell, of Becaria township. He then resided on the home farm for a few years, and worked on the railroad. Subsequently he built a home in Utahville, where i he resided five years, when he traded it to his mother for the hotel property in that village. He is now conducting a first-class hostelry, supplied with all modern improvements, and is a popular host. His children were-Bertha, Henrietta, Edgar, Roby, Elva, Isaac, and two children who died in infancy. (8) Philenia, born March 20, , 1857, is the wife of John Mathews, who resides on the old Mathews homestead in Becaria town- ship. Their children were-Laura, who died at the age of seven years; Charles; Ira; Lottie and Hannah J., at home. (9) Charles, born July 11, 1859, and reared on the home farm, married Lydia Gearhart, of Blue Ball, and is now engaged in merchandising in Becaria, and also serves as postmaster of the town. They have one son- Walter. :

(10) ELZA, born July 29, 1861, spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the old home- stead, and since carly manhood has followed . Hoover.

sawmilling. He is an enterprising, industrious business man, respected by all who know hin. (11) Melissa, born October 4, 1863, is the wife of William Chapman, who is now engaged in the real-estate business in Clinton, Cambria county, where he also conducts a hotel. They have four children living-Isaac, Augustus, Mar- guerite and Helen. (12) Ellen May, born De- cember 7, 1866, is the wife of Blair Decker, a native of Blair county, Penn., who is now a fur- niture dealer and insurance agent at Coalport. They have two children-Mabel and Clyde. (13) Eliza, born February 15, 1869, died March I of the same year.

(14) MARTHA, born May 1, 1871, spent her girlhood days on the home farm, and attended the common schools, where she displayed special aptitude in her studies. At the age of sixteen she was granted a first-grade certificate, and be- gan teaching, which profession she has since fol- lowed with marked success, being regarded as one of the most competent teachers and cultured young ladies in Clearfield county. She makes her home with her mother.

A C. LANSBERY, a prominent and highly- respected agriculturist of Graham township, Clearfield county, owning one of the best im- proved farms in his locality, was born in 1849, on the farm which is still his home, a son of Samuel and Mary ( Hoover) Lansbery.

The father of our subject was born in Brad- ford township, Clearfield county, August 16, 1816, and was a son of Benjamin and Anna (Owens) Lansbery, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. They located in Bradford township at an early day, and after their marriage the grandfather developed a farm, upon which he made his home until his death, which occurred on Easter Sunday of 1875. His wife passed away in 1886. Their children were: Samuel; Robert, who died in Bradford township; James, who died in Bradford township; Abra- ham, who died in Virginia: Benjamin and Peter, who died in Bradford township, the latter in 1892; Nancy, wife of Levi Hubler; and Rebecca, wife of Abram Luzier, of Virginia.

Samuel Lansbery was reared and educated in Bradford township, and for some time fol- lowed lumbering there. He was one of the first to engage in the development of the coal indus- try, and shipped the product of his mine down the river in "arks." In 1835 he wedded Mary Hoover, a native of Bradford township and a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Eminhizer) Her father was born in Clearfield

Helen Lansberry

A.G. Lansbury

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1001

county, and died there. In 1844 Samuel Lans- bery purchased 169 acres of land, of which one acre was cleared. There were no roads to the place, and the entire surrounding region was wild and unimproved. He made his home there until 1865, when he purchased and removed to a farm in Bradford township, where he resided until his death, in 1891. His wife passed away in 1893. They had a family of thirteen children, six of whom reached mature years: Hezekiah, of Gra- hamn township; W. A., of Indiana; Peter, who is living in Graham township; A. C .; Mrs. Ellen Barger, in Graham township: and Jasper, who is married and resides in Cambria county, Penn- sylvania.

A. C. Lansbery spent his boyhood days under the parental roof, and as soon as old enough to handle the plow began work in the fields. He has always resided in his native township with the exception of a period between 1865 and 1870. His education was obtained in the com- mon schools, and he has been engaged in luin- bering and farming through the greater part of his business career. As a lumber jobber he has done quite an extensive business in Clearfield county and others, employing a number of men. At the age of nineteen he began operations along this line, and his careful management and per- severance have brought to him a merited success. He now owns the old homestead in Graham township, comprising 169 acres of rich land; also the homestead at Bigler of fourteen acres; also the Jacob Hubler homestead in Graham town- ship. In 1883 his residence was destroyed by fire, and in 1891 he lost his barn in a similar way; but with . characteristic energy he replaced these buildings, the barn being rebuilt in the same year, but on Sunday morning, October 24, 1897, it burned, together with all its contents, wagons, drill, mower and separator.

Mr. Lansbery was married in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, in 1870, to Miss Helen Barger,, who was born in Bradford town -.: ship in 1850, a daughter of George and Sarah (Peters) Barger, the former a native of Union county, and the latter of Clearfield county. The. father died in Boggs township, Clearfield county, April 30, 1883, and the mother in Clearfield, in 1894. . By their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lans- bery became the parents of eleven children, as follows: Harvey, who died at the age of one year, six months, four days; Orvis, of Chicago; Minnie, a seamstress, having been three years at the business; Anna, who is engaged as a clerk in Clearfield; Latimer; Bertha, who died aged two months, twenty days; Maud; Mertie; Arthur; Ruth; and Roy.

Mr. and Mrs. Lansbery are members of the United Brethren Church in Fairview, and take a prominent part in its work and upbuilding. He is now serving as trustee and circuit steward, and for the past twelve years has been connected with the board of directors of the Bigler Camp Meeting Association, while since 1885 he has acted as its treasurer, and been very active in the promotion of its work. The management of the camp meeting devolves largely upon him. and his control of affairs is most satisfactory. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as as- sessor, and as a member of the school board. Socially; he belongs to Clearfield Lodge, No. 198, I. O. O. F. ; to the American Mechanics, No. 310, of Kylerstown; and to Fairview Grange. No. 783. For many years he has been con- nected with the history of Graham township, and has ever been an advocate of those meas- ures which are calculated to prove of public ben- efit, supporting all educational, moral, and social interests which tend to advance the general good.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 84

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