Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 90

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 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 90

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The maternal grandparents of Mr. Shoff, the subject proper of this review, were John and Mar- garet Glasgow, who were both natives of Blair county, born on the present site of Altoona. From the British Isles their respective parents came to America at an early day, locating near Bellwood, Blair county, whence they afterward removed to Glasgow (making the journey across the mountains on horseback), where the father purchased 200 acres of land at what is now the Glasgow settlement in Cambria county. In his family were seven children: (1) Eliza became the wife of Thomas Noble, and lived on a farm in the Glasgow settlement. (2) Jane became Mrs. Smiley, of Mt. Pleasant, Penn. , and removed with her husband to Iowa, where they died leav- ing six children. (3) Hannah is the mother of our subject. (4) Mary Ann became the wife of Gideon Colderwood, and after several years' resi- dence in Becaria township reinoved to Tyrone, Blair county, where she and her husband died

some years ago; they had six children-Hannah

by whom she has four children; John died in Libby prison during the war of the Rebellion; Thomas was married, had five children, and lived in Tyrone; Porter, a resident of Fallen Timber, Penn., is married and has two children; Andy, of Altoona, is married and has two children; David has not been heard from since going west some years ago. (5) Betsy Glasgow is married, and lives in Tyrone. (6) John Glasgow married Susie Lamar, of Cambria county, and lived on the old homestead in Glasgow until his death; his children were Mary Jane, wife of James Mc- Ghehan, a farmer of Jordan township, Clearfield county, by whom she has four children; George. of Glasgow, who is married and has three chil- dren; Anna, who married Christ Shoff, of Jordan township, and has nine children; Katie, who married J. Gates, of Cambria county, and has three children; Laura, who married Jamas Mc- Cartney, of Cambria county, and has four chil- dren; Sadie, who married John Troxel, ex-treas- urer of Clearfield county, who is extensively in- terested in lumbering in Tennessee, although his wife and two children remain in Clearfield coun- ty; Luther, who lives on the homestead in Glas- gow, married a daughter of Daniel Fulkerson, of Gulich township, Clearfield county, and has three children; and Hutton, who is engaged in mer- chandising in Fallen Timber, Penn., married an Ohio lady, and has two children. (7) James Glasgow is married and lives in the town which bears his name; his children are William, of Glasgow, who married Sarah Irwin, and has two children; Eliza, wife of John Troxel, of Glasgow; Hannah, who is married, has six children and lives in Blair City, Penn .; Sadie, wife of John Troxel, of Coalport. Penn .; Jane, married; Line, wife of J. Irwin, of Glasgow, by whom she has two children; James, who married Miss Everly. of Utahville, and has two children; and John, who is teaching school in Cambria county.

John Shoff, the father of the gentleman whose name opens this article, was born in Clinton county, in 1808, and came with his parents to Clearfield county. After his marriage to Han- nah Glasgow he purchased eighty-seven acres of timber land near Hegarty's Cross Roads, built a little log cabin and barn, and began the develop- ment of his land. In 1841 he replaced the first home by a large two-story frame residence, a few years after building an extensive barn and making other substantial improvements. In 1859 he purchased 120 acres adjoining the home place, and developed one of the finest farins of the com- munity. His wife was born in Blair county, and

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when seven years of age came across the mount- ains to Clearfield county, She largely shared in the hardships of frontier life, was to her husband a true helpmeet, and is now living, a well-pre- served old lady of eighty-four years. A member of the Presbyterian Church from her girlhood, she has ever been active in Church work, and has led a consistent Christian life which has won her the love and respect of all.

Mr. and Mrs. John Shoff had ten children: (1) Elizabeth is the wife of William Wells. ex- press agent at Osceola. and also interested in the electric light plant there; they have two children -Harvey, superintendent of the Berwin-White Co. electric light plant; and Harry, connected with an electric light company in Philadelphia. (2) John G. Shoff, born on the family homestead, married Rachel Goss, of Osceola, and died some years ago, leaving a widow and six children, namely-Bertha, wife of Frank Buchanan; Lloyd, married, conducts a livery stable in Os- ceola; Frank, a railroad employee in Pittsburg; Kittie, married; Harry and Charlie, at home. (3) Fannie Shoff married Lewis Stoneroad, of Lew- istown, Penn., and they reside in Des Moines, Iowa; their children are Maggie, now Mrs. More- house, of Iowa; John. married, a merchant in Oregon; Charles, married, resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Arthur, a machinist of Iowa; and Ruth, at home. (4) Emily Shoff, born on the family homestead, became the wife of Matthew M. Cully, who died some years ago; she now resides in Jersey Shore, Penn., and has five children- Burton, married, follows merchandising in Pitts- burg; Paul, a carpenter of Pittsburg, is married and has three children; Gertrude, now Mrs. Mc- Graw, of Jersey Shore, is the mother of two chil- dren; Leslie, a barber of Philadelphia; and Sterrel, of Jersey Shore, who is married and has one child. (5) Edward Shoff, who was born and reared on the homestead, removed to Hunting- don county, where he married Sadie Gossage, by whom he had three children-John was married in Huntingdon county, has three children, and is now an electric motor man in Moshannon; Dollie is the wife of Will Simpson, of Hunting- don, and has two children; and Grace makes her home with her brother in West Moshannon. (6) Frank Shoff, who was born on the old home- stead, runs an electric motor for the .Berwin- White Co. in West Moshannon; he is married and has six children. (7) Mary, born on the old homestead, is the wife of Harry Parks, an archi- tect of Ridgway, Penn. ; they have a family of six children-Mattie, who is married and lives in Ridgway; Liddie, John, Pearl, one whose name is not given, and Calvin. (8) Mary C. Shoff,

born in 1844, died in infancy. (9) George W. Shoff, born on the old homestead, married a lady in Texas.

Sides. C. Shoff, our subject, who was born and reared on the homestead farm, had but lim- ited educational privileges. He worked with his father until 1870, when he wedded Mary Fland- ers, a native of Maine. They began their do- mestic life on the old homestead, and Mr. Shoff devoted his energies to farming and lumbering. In 1881 he bought that property, and has since made it his home. In 1892, however, he divided a portion of this into town lots, and sold it to the Berwin-White Co., who are now operating in coal there on an extensive scale. The village, which is called Becaria, now contains about eighty homes, a large hotel, and a school building, about seventy-five pupils attending same.

Mr. and Mrs. Shoff have had a family of seven children: John Edward, who was born in Osceola, died in infancy. Nathan, who was born on the old Shoff homestead, also died in in- fancy. ' Hattie died at the age of five years. Jennie died in infancy. Charles L., born on the old homestead, attended the common schools of Becaria township, and is an intelligent, enter- prising young man, living with his parents. Josephine is now attending school. Leslie com- pletes the family. Mr, Shoff gives his political support to the Democracy, and is one of the act- ive workers of the party, but has never aspired to office. His wife and two children belong to the Church, the latter being members of the Methodist Episcopal, while Mrs. Shoff is a Pres- byterian. Mr. Shoff is a most energetic business man, his close application and industry having brought to him success. He comes of a family widely and favorably known in the community, whose history is closely interwoven with that of Clearfield county.

W ILLIAM VARNER. The importance of the farming interests of a County, State or Nation cannot be overestimated, and the rep- resentatives of this vocation form a substantial element in the prosperity and steady growth of a locality. Mr. Varner is a worthy representative of this class, and has been a resident of Bradford township since 1866.

Our subject was born in Jefferson county, Penn., in June, 1845, a son of Abraham and Sarah (Anderson) Varner, natives of Westmore- land county, Penn., where they were reared and married. In an early day they removed to Jeffer- son county, where the father developed a farm, continuing its cultivation until his death, in 1851;

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! COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his wife died in the same county, in 1886. They had a family of eight children, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Abraham, a resident of Virginia; Jeremiah, of Pennsylvania, who served through the Civil war as a member of the Ninth Infantry, enlisting in Westmoreland county; John, who was also a soldier, and is now living in Jefferson county; Mrs. Marthia Fanning, of Westmoreland county; Sarah, of Jefferson coun- ty; Mrs. Elizabeth Stager, who died in Clearfield county; and William.

William Varner, the subject of this sketch, was reared in the county of his birth, and in Clearfield county learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for many years. He was em- ployed as a smith in Luthersburg, afterward in Wallaceton, and in 1866 came to Bradford town- ship. For many years he followed blacksmith- ing in Woodland, working for Mr. Riley, and in 1873 he built a shop of his own, doing the black- smith work for the Clearfield Fire Brick Com- pany, until 1889, when he removed to his farm. He was an expert workman, and his accuracy and skill in this direction secured him a liberal patronage. He is now numbered among the progressive agriculturists of the community, and is the owner of one hundred acres of valuable land, which is highly cultivated, and improved with good buildings and all modern accessories.

Mr. Varner was married in Tyrone, Penn., in 1873, to Sophia Wisor, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Beers) Wisor (both now deceased), natives of Pennsylvania, who became pioneer settlers and farmers, of Boggs township, Clear- field county. Mr. and Mrs. Varner have two children: Harry B. and E. E. Our subject has led a busy and useful life, and his steady applica- tion, energy, and honesty of purpose have brought him a fair measure of success, so that he is now the possessor of a comfortable competence.

J L. CONKLIN. The rapid development of this region from a waste, howling wilderness to its present degree of civilization can scarcely be more effectively shown than by the statement of the fact that the late Isaac Conklin, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the first male child of the Caucasian race born in Clearfield borough.

Richard Conklin (father of Isaac Conklin). who was a native of Wales and a mason by trade, settled in Clearfield borough in his early man- hood and cleared a farm. He married Saralı Litz, a widow, and had seven children: Lewis, who died young; Isaac, our subject's father:

Oliver, who resides in Lawrence township, Clear- field county; Jackson, who died in that township in 1888; Eliza (Mrs. Shaffner), who died there; Amelia, the widow of Charles Duff; and Maria, the widow of John Butler, both of Lawrence township. Richard Conklin was murdered, and some years later his widow passed away in Law- rence township.

Isaac Conklin was born in 1816, and died in August, 1894, having seen within the compass of his seventy-eight years the entire growth of the thriving towns of his locality, and by his work as a stone mason he took an active part in bringing about the change. In 1862 he enlisted in the S4th P. V. I. for three years or during the war, and served until his discharge, in 1865, when he returned home and continued his trade. He was married in Clearfield borough, in 1840, to Miss Martha Dixon, a native of Centre county, Penn. Her father was born in Ireland, and died at Cur- tin Furnace, Centre county; her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Owen, was born in Clear- field county, and belonged to one of the pioneer families of the locality. Mrs. Conklin is still living in Clearfield. Of her eight children, the last two and Hartswick died in infancy; the oth- ers are: Richard, who served three years in the Civil war in Company K, 8th P. V. I., and is now a well-known stone mason; J. L., our sub- ject; Oliver P., a painter by trade; George, a resident of Lawrence township; Emma (Mrs. Kline); and Sophia (Mrs. J. B. Ogden). All except our subject reside in Lawrence township.

J. L. Conklin was born at the old homestead in 1845, and was reared as a farmer boy. He attended the schools of Lawrence township, and in due time learned the stone mason's trade, in which he has been engaged for many years, work- ing on contract. Since 1886 he has made his home in West Clearfield. He was married, in 1871, in Lawrence township, to Miss Clara Orr, a native of that locality, a daughter of James Orr, who was also born there, and granddaughter of William Orr, an Irishman by birth, and one of the pioneer settlers of the township. Her father died there in 1887, and her mother, whose maiden name was Miriam Ogden, followed him two years later. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin have eight children: James (a stone mason), Roscoe. Frank, Hugh, Rose (now Mrs. William Schucker, of Lawrence township), Maggie (who married B. McClellan, of Clearfield borough), Martha and Sophia.

In politics Mr. Conklin is a Democrat, and at present he holds the office of borough auditor. He is a member of the O. U. A. M., Clearfield Lodge. No. 281. As a public-spirited citizen he

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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takes a keen interest in the progress of the com- munity to which he and his family have so nota- bly contributed.

P HILIP K. PENTZ. The Pentz family has taken a prominent part in the development of Clearfield county, and while many of its mem- bers have been successful in general business lines, most of them have engaged in agriculture. Their influence has always been exerted on the side of progress, the building of schools and churches in their respective neighborhoods re- ceiving substantial aid from them. Brady town- ship was covered with almost unbroken forests when George Pentz, the grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, purchased 300 acres of land there for his sons. He was a prosperous agri- culturist in York county, Penn., where his father, a native of Germany, had acquired a large tract of land at an early period. This pioneer was a son of an Englishman who married into an old Gerinan family and settled in the Fatherland.

It was not until 1837 that Jacob Pentz, our subject's father, and two brothers, John and Andrew, came to Clearfield county to clear and improve their land, at which time there were but two other families residing in Brady town- ship. Jacob Pentz settled in the woods in primitive fashion, and soon had a fine farm, where he spent his remaining years. In 1842 he married Miss Sarah Rishel, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Rishel, wealthy farmers of Jeffer- son county. The Rishel family is also descended from the best German ancestry. After his mar- riage, Jacob Pentz built a small frame house, and later, in 1858, he replaced it by a handsome two-story frame building with modern improve- Inents. A bank barn also superseded the old log barn of the early days. His wife, who bore her full share of the hardships incident to pioneer life, was an admirable woman, courageous, re- sourceful, and at the same time affectionately devoted to her husband and children. When a . young girl one arm was amputated at the elbow because of an accident, and in view of this fact the following incident, which would have re- flected credit upon a strong man, shows remark- able strength of character: One day while her husband was away . in the clearing," a bear at- tacked some young pigs near the house. . Mrs. Pentz seized a pole-axe, and, striking the unwel- come visitor several blows on the head, killed him. She died in October, 1874, and her hus- band in 1875. They had seven children: I. Lucy, born in 1843. married Elijah Ashenfelter, the owner of a fine. farm in Brady township, and !

they had three children-(1) Norman C., who . resides on his father's farm, married Miss Rose Terp, of Brady township, and has two children, May and William; (2) Carrie married James Murphy, of Bradford, Penn., and has one daugh- ter, Ida; (3) Annie is the wife of Doc. Clayton, a farmer in Brady township. II. Philip K., our subject, is mentioned more fully below. III. John L., born in July, 1846, married Miss Mary A. Hallopeter, of Union township. Clearfield county. and located on a farm in South Brady belonging to his father. Two years later he pur- chased what is known as the Samuel Troy farm near Luthersburg, and after living there four years he sold the place and moved to Indiana county. near Cherry Tree, where he remained six years. He has since resided in Kansas City, Mo., where he is engaged in milling. He has three sons living-Dean and Dallas (twins), born in 1 869, were given good educational opportunities, attending school at Ottawa, Kans .; he and the younger son, Edward, are now residing with their parents. IV. Isaiah J., born in February. . 1848, received a common-school education, and became a farmer near the old homestead. He died in 1876, leaving a widow, formerly Miss Malinda Smeal, of Pike township. Clearfield county. She has since married a second hus- band, and resides on a part of the homestead. Isaiah J. Pentz had three children-(1) Elzie married Miss Ruth Adams, of New York State, and has two children. John and an infant unnamed; (2) Sadie married Finley Clark, then of Arm- strong county, and now a resident of Johnstown; they have four children; (3) Jacob is single and lives at the homestead. V. Sarah E., born in 1850, married David Dunlap, and now resides on the Alex Dunlap homestead; they have eight chil- dren -- Clarence, who married Miss Ella Ham- mond, of Sandy township, and resides near Du- Bois; Cora, who married Sherman Starr, a farmer, of near Brockwayville, and hasone child; and Jacob, Rosy, Pearl, Thomas, Charles and Plumb, who are at home. VI. J. Henry, born in 1853, married (first) Miss Ella Cortney, who resided near Rockton, Penn., and until her death, in 1876, he remained at the old homestead. In 1880 he married Miss Lizzie Knox, of Indiana county, and he is now a resident of Du Bois, where he follows the real-estate business. By his first marriage he has one daughter, Della, and by the second there are five children-Florence, Nellie, Maud, Major, and one whose name is not given. VII. William C., born in 1858, attended the common schools of Brady township until the age of fifteen, when he entered the normal school at Curwensville, and there spent two

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

terms. In 1878 he began a course in the State Normal School at Lock Haven, where he was graduated with honors. He then began the study of law with Frank Fielding, of Clearfield, and four years later was admitted to the Bar, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Du Bois. He married Miss Kessie Ross, daugh- ter of Dr. Ross, of Lumber City. Penn., and they have four children-Helen, John, Mary and William, all at home.

Philip K. Pentz, our subject, was born in March, 1845, on the old homestead, where he spent his boyhood working on the farm in sum- Iner and attending the local schools in winter. In 1861 he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, of Brady township, and a year later went to Punx- sutawney to work, remaining one year, and then completing his trade by another year with a Mr. Ernest, of the same town. The business being thoroughly mastered by this time, he opened a shop for himself in New Salem, and continued until 1878. In the meantime he purchased forty- two acres of woodland at Du Bois Junction, and of this he now has thirty-four acres in a fine state of cultivation. He has built a tasteful two-story frame dwelling, a bank barn, wagon shed, and other structures, making one of the pleasantest homesteads in the locality. In January, 1876, he married Miss Beckie Miller, daughter of An- drew and Hannah (Garber) Miller, prosperous agriculturists, living near Mifflinburg. The first year of wedded life was spent at Salem, but he has since resided on his farm. A brief record of their three children: (1) Etta A., born in Jan- uary, 1877, received a common-school educa- tion, and in 1894 was married to Harvey L. Magee, of Clarion county. They lived for one year at Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburg, and then moved to Clarion county; but since December, 1896, they have made their home with Mr. Pentz; their daughter, May Irene, lives with them. (2) Clyde A., born in August, 1879, and (3) Myrtie A., born in September, 1884, are at home attend- ing school.

Mr. Pentz and his wife belong to the German Baptist Church, better known as the Dunkards. and in local affairs he has always shown sym . pathy with the conservative elenient. While he is an ardent Democrat in politics, he has never aspired to political office.

S B. STINE has for some twenty-three years been an important factor in the business cir - cles of Osceola Mills, and his popularity is well deserved for he is a man of the strictest integrity, unabating energy and tireless industry. In 1877

he established a foundry at that place, and his business energy and earnestness have won for him a wide and increasing patronage. The ınain building of his plant is 120x 30 feet, and the blacksmith shop is 40 x 60 feet. Here are manu- factured all kinds of mining machinery and spe- cialties, and employment is furnished to from twenty five to thirty men.

Mr. Stine was born in 1846, in Williamsport, Penn., where his parents, Jacob and Sarah (Ga- bel) Stine, spent their entire lives, the former dy- ing in 1886, and the latter in 1888. They were of German lineage. Being a mason by trade, the father laid the foundation for most of the large mills in Williamsport. In the family were seven children: Mrs. Rose Stroup, Mrs. Eliza- .beth Beck, Mrs. Mary Malaby, Mrs. Emma Blais- dell and Mrs. Julia Kline-all residents of Will- iamsport; Gabel, a merchant of that city; and S. B., of this review.

In the city of his nativity, Mr. Stine, our sub- ject, grew to manhood and received his literary education. He began his business career as a clerk in a store, where he remained for five years, and then learned the machinist's trade in the shops of the Northern Central railroad, at Will- iamsport. Later he worked for Potter & Wond- rel, and Linfoot, Dawson & Co., at the same place, and on leaving the last named firm, in 1869, he moved to Clearfield, where for five years he was employed in the machine shop of Boyn- ton, Young & Co. In July, 1875, he came to Osceola Mills, and formed a partnership with Justin J. Pie in the foundry business; but two years later the connection was dissolved, and our subject has since been alone in business. Being himself a thorough and skillful machinist, as well as a man of sound judgment and good executive ability, he has been remarkably successful in his undertakings, and now ranks among the substan- tial and well-to-do citizens of the community. As the products of the foundry are first-class, they find a ready sale in the market.

In 1866, in Columbia county, Penn., Mr. Stine married Miss Mary Josephine Butt, who was born in this State, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hodge) Butt, natives of Luzerne county, Penn., and pioneers of Columbia county, where both died. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stine, namely: Joseph Clarence, Dolly and Blaine. The eldest, who is now asso- ciated with his father in business, is married, and makes his home in Osceola Mills. Mr. Stine gives his political support to the men and meas- ures of the Republican party, and has been elected a member of the school board. Fraternally, he affiliates with Osceola Lodge No. 515, F. & A.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

M., and Osceola Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F. He is one of the representative and prominent men of the community.

D ENNIS OWENS. The Owens homestead, in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, has been held continuously in the family ever since John Owens, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, purchased it in 1802. It was heavily timbered and surrounded by unbroken forests, and all the discomforts and privations of pioneer life were encountered before a log cabin was built and made comfortable, and the land brought into cultivation. John Owens was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and came to this section from Huntingdon county. He died at the home- stead, his wife, Nancy, passing away a few years later. They reared a large family, none of whom are now living.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 90

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