Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 96

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 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2 > Part 96

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J A. FORCEY, owner and proprietor of a restaurant in Munson, is a native of Clear- field county, having been born in Bradford township September 12, 1848.

Matthew Forcey, father of our subject, was born near the city of Clearfield, and was a son of Thomas Forcey, a native of Wilmington, Del., who at an early day took up his residence in Bradford township, where in the midst of the forest he developed a good farm. The father, who was also an agriculturist of that township, married Margaret Murray. His death occurred in 1868, and she died some years before. Of the seventeen children born to the parents of our subject, the following lived to years of maturity: T. H., a banker of Clearfield; Mrs. Mary Askey. who died in Graham township, Clearfield county; Jane, wife of H. H. Morrow, of Woodland, Penn. ;

David, a resident of Philipsburg, Centre county; John, of Bradford township: William, who re- sides on the old homestead in Bradford township; Henrietta, wife of J. L. Wood, of Grahamton, Clearfield county; J. A., of this sketch; and Gideon, of Bradford township. The other chil- dren all died in that township.

Upon the home farm J. A. Forcey was reared to habits of industry and economy, which have proved invaluable lessons to him in later years. He assisted in the labors of the farm and also worked in the lumber woods during the winter season until leaving home and going to Union- ville, Centre county, where he studied dentistry for a time. Subsequently he returned to Brad- ford township, where he again engaged in lum- bering, and later conducted a restaurant. He also followed hotel keeping in Mahaffey, Clear- field county, for a time, but in 1887 came to Munson. In that year he erected his present comfortable residence, and in 1890 his store building, where he is conducting a first-class res- taurant. He is an enterprising, wide-awake business man, whose success has been achieved through his own untiring labor.

In 1885, in Du Bois, Clearfield county, Mr. Forcey was married to Miss Esther Dunlap, a native of Brady township, same county, and a daughter of Wilson and Adaline (Luther) Dun- lap, who were also born in Clearfield county, and now reside in Rockton. Mr. Forcey has al- ways affiliated with the Democratic party, and takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. He is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of the county, has done much to promote its growth and upbuilding, and has ever borne his share in all enterprises which would in any way prove of benefit to the com- munity, and is therefore accounted one of its most valued citizens.

R EV. R. E. CRUM, pastor of the Reformed Church of Du Bois, was born in Armstrong county, Penn., in May, 1854, a son of Jonathan and Hannah (Allihouse) Crum. The former was also a native of Armstrong county, born March 24, 1812. while the birth of the paternal grand- father occurred in Northampton county, Penn. Throughout his active business life the father carried on farming and blacksmithing in the county of his nativity, where his death occurred in 1894, but his estimable wife, who was born June 11, 1814, is still a resident of Armstrong county. They reared a family of ten children- seven sons and three daughters-namely: Mary Jane, wife of Bixler Beighley, of Armstrong

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county; Salem, a farmer of the same county; Anios, a merchant of Butler county, Penn. ; Emanuel, a resident of Westmoreland county, Penn .; Lavina, at home: Sue, wife of Rev. Sum- mer, of North Washington, Westmoreland county; Henry, of Jeannette, Penn .; Jacob, of Wilkes Barre; R. E., of this sketch; and Will- iam L., who resides on the old home farm in Armstrong county.

'Under the parental roof our subject was reared, his early education being acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood, and he later engaged in teaching through the winter, while the summer months were spent at farm work. In 1883 he entered the seminary of the Reformed Church at Lancaster, Penn., where he was grad- uated and ordained three years later. He at once located in Du Bois, and under his able pastorate the Church at this place has rapidly advanced.

The Reformed Church of the United States (formerly known as the German Reformed Church) first organized a congregation in Du Bois in 1880, consisting of but ten or twelve members, and including the following: Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Weber, James Pentz, L. E. Weber, P. S. Weber and Lewis Zeigler. For two years there was no resident pastor, and the pulpit was supplied by Rev. H. King, A. K. Kline, John Wolbach and others, while services were held in the central school building or in the Presbyterian church edifice. In 1882, Rev. D. H. Leader became resident pastor, and in June of the following year a lot was purchased on High street and building commenced. In July the corner stone was laid, and on the 2nd of December, 1883, a good frame church was dedicated with appropriate ceremony. On the ground which they had purchased was a residence, which served as a parsonage until 1892, when it was replaced by a more preten- tious dwelling. The church is now free from debt, and is in a flourishing condition both spirit- ually and financially. In July, 1884, Rev. D. H. Leader resigned, and in February of the fol- lowing year was succeeded by Rev. William An- drews, who resigned a year later, and in the fol- lowing June Rev. Crum took charge. The con- gregation at that time numbered only twenty-five members, but now has a membership of 110, with a good Sunday-school of 100 members and a Christian Endeavor Society of thirty members, all doing excellent work under our subject's leadership. In the fire of 1888 the church records were destroyed, and also the fence around the building, but the edifice itself was fortunately saved. Besides the congregation at Du Bois, Rev. Crum also has charge of two , wife of Ernest Mignot, of Karthaus; John S .: 67

others, one at Luthersburg and the other at Boone Mountain, P'enn., where he is also doing excellent work in the cause of the Master.

In South Bend, Armstrong county, in 1880, Rev. Crum was married to Miss Luella George, a native of that county, and to them have been born two children: Clare and Olive. For eleven years Mr. Crum has faithfully served in the Master's vineyard, doing all in his power for the betterment of mankind, and has gained the con- fidence and respect not only of his own people, but of the commumity at large.

TOHN S. BRIEL is a leading representative of the industrial interests of Karthaus, Clear- field county, where he is now engaged in the milling business, as a member of the firm of Mig- not & Briel.

Mr. Briel was born in Covington township. Clearfield county, in 1854. a son of John and Margaret (McGonigle) Briel. The father was born in Germany, in 1827, and his parents. John and Margaret Briel, were also natives of that country. The grandmother died there, and the grandfather, after marrying again, sailed from Germany to Baltimore in 1838. He worked at the molder's trade there for a short time, and in 1842 came to Karthaus, where he entered the employ of Peter Karthaus, an iron founder. After some years spent in that service, he re- turned to Baltimore, where both he and his wife died. They had six children. namely: John; Mary, wife of John Hoyt, of Baltimore: Mrs. Nancy Ritz, of Baltimore; George, who was drowned at Karthaus in his fifteenth year: Mar- garet, who died in Baltimore: Agnes, who was born during the voyage to America, and is now living in Baltimore.

John Briel, father of our subject, was a lad of eleven years when the family came to the United States, and was fifteen years of age on locating in Clearfield county. He learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed for some years in Karthaus; then went to Salt Lick, and later to Mulsonburg, where he carried on blacksmithing and lumbering. He was married in Clinton county, Penn., to Margaret, daughter cf Hugh and Grace McGonigle, natives of Ireland, who at an early day located in Bellefonte. Penr ... but died in Keating township. Clinton county. John. Briel died in Covington township. June 23. 1871. His widow, who was born in Bellefonte, Penn .. is now living in Frenchville, Clearfield county. They had nine children, as follows: Nancy J.,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Grace E., wife of Sylvester McGovern, of Kart- haus; Mrs. F. A. Mignot, of Covington; Agnes and Cecelia, who both died in childhood; Sarah, wife of John D. . Gill, of Cambria county, Penn. ; George D., who died in Covington; and Joseph J., who also died in Covington township, Clear- field county,

John S. Briel, whose name commences this record, was reared and educated in Covington township, learned the blacksmith's trade there, and followed it in his native community until 1888. In that year he came to Karthaus and established a smithy, which he conducted until 1892, when he formed a partnership with W. S. Gilliland in the hardware business, conducting that enterprise until 1894. when he withdrew from the firm. During the same time he was engaged in the milling business, and the well- known and popular firm of Mignot & Briel oper- ates a substantial mill, which was erected in 1890. It is a three-story building, supplied with the roller process, and the excellent quality of the product thereof insures a liberal patronage. In 1895 Mr. Briel purchased the general store of J. A. Heckendorn, but sold the same year. He is now proprietor of the only undertaking estab- lishment in Karthaus.

In Covington township, in 1878, Mr. Briel married Lucy A. Hugar, a native of that town- ship, and a daughter of James and Rennet (Bigleman) Hugar. natives of France. Her fa-' ther served as a soldier under Napoleon, and took part in the siege of Moscow. Grandfather Hugar emigrated to America, and purchased a tract of timber land in Covington township. Clearfield county, developed there a farm, on which he made his home until his death, about 1876. His wife passed away in 1875. James Hugar and his wife are numbered among the pioneer settlers of Covington township, and are still living there. Mr. and Mrs. Briel have had nine children, as follows: Clara, Cecelia, John, James, Iola, Maud, Frances, Jenette and Ferdi- nand; Clara and James being deceased.

By his ballot. Mr. Briel supports the Democ- racy, and has served as a member of the school board in both Covington and Karthaus town- ships. He is now serving his third year as town- ship auditor, and discharges his duties with a promptness and fidelity that have won for him high commendation. He and his wife are mem- bers of St. Francis Catholic Church, He is a very prominent business man, and his connection with the commercial and industrial interests of Karthaas has not only been of material benefit to himself, but has largely promoted the pros- perity of the community.

L EROY H. WIDEMIRE, a farmer of Penn township, is descended from one of the old families of Clearfield county. Fortunate is he who has behind him an honorable ancestry, and ! our subject is especially favored in this respect,

His grandfather, a native of Lancaster, Penn., removed to Penn township at an early day, and purchased the old Widemire farm, upon which he passed the rest of his days. On that farm, John Widemire, the father, was born and reared. He purchased 160 acres of partially-improved land and. later, in connection with his brother, bought 212 acres of timber land, on which they built the Widemire mill, and engaged in the man- ufacture of lumber for about twenty years. After a time they divided the tract, which was used for farming purposes, but continued their part- nership in the timber tract, John Widemire erected all the buildings upon the homestead where our subject now resides, cleared the land and made many excellent improvements. He married Jane Wall, daughter of William Wall, of Penn township, who resided in the Irish set- tlement. By this union were five children: Or- . lando, born in 1855, died in 1866; Albert, born in 1857, like his brother, died of diphtheria in 1866; Thomas J., a resident of Penn township, who wedded Mary Daugherty, of Bloom town- ship. Clearfield county, a daughter of Thomas Daugherty, of Clearfield county, Penn., by whom he has four children-Minnie, Zora, Willie and Francis; Ida, widow of Isaiah Bartow, of Hunt- ingdon county, Penn., who died in Penn town- ship, in March, 1886, leaving three children, after which Mrs. Bartow married Millard Wall. of Penn township, their home being on the Wide- mire mill property.

Leroy H. Widemire was born on the old fam- ily homestead, March 12, 1854, obtained his ed- ucation in the adjacent schools, and was reared under the parental roof. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hoover, of Lawrence township, Clearfield Co., Penn. Her paternal grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of that township, and purchased the land and made all of the improvements upon what is known as the old Hoover farm there. He was the father ot eight children. William Hoover and his wife are still living on the old place at an advanced age.

The marriage of Mr, and Mrs. Widemire has been blessed with two children: Alice, born July 8, 1884: and Mamie, born April 20, 1889. The father is a member of the Friends Church. while the mother holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. His political support . is given the Republican party, and he takes a

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deep interest in its success, but has never sought office for himself. The greater part of his time and attention is given to his business, and his well-managed interests return to him a comfort- able competence as the reward of his labor.

J JOHN F. EARLEY, the efficient and popular postmaster at Osceola Mills, was born Oc- tober 5, 1855, in Boston. Mass., a son of Patrick and Alice (Tague) Earley, who were na- tives of Ireland and Providence, R. I., respect- ively. The father was about sixteen years of age when he crossed the Atlantic and located in Providence, where he married. From that city he removed to Boston, and subsequently took up his residence in Wilkes Barre. Luzerne Co., Penn., where he worked as a farm laborer until going to Colorado, in 1880. He now owns a stock farm in that State, and is also interested in silver mines, all of which property has been ac- quired through his own industrious and well-di- rected efforts. The mother of our subject died in Wilkes Barre in 1871, leaving two children: John F., our subject; and Peter, still a resident of Luzerne county. The father was again mar- ried, this time in Wilkes Barre, in 1873, to Mrs. Mary Kelly, widow of James Kelly.

Most of the early life of our subject was passed in Luzerne county, Penn., where he obtained his education in the common schools, and later en- gaged in mining. On coming to Osceola Mills, in 1877, he secured employment in the coal mines of the Berwin-White Co., with whom he re- mained for about a year, and then secured a posi- tion in the Mapleton inines. He continued to actively engage in mining until 1891, when he establislied a confectionery store and news stand, which he successfully conducted until appointed postmaster at Osceola Mills, when he sold out his business to a Mr. Baird. On April 5, 1894. he received his appointment, succeeding David Hamilton, and has since discharged the duties of the office to the satisfaction of its many patrons. It is a Presidential office, and is allowed a salary for a clerk. Being a distributing point, here the mail is handled for seventeen different offices out- side of Osceola Mills, and all registered matter for these offices is attended to. The present mail ronte was established through the efforts of our subject, and he has succeeded in having the salary increased to $1oo per month to correspond with the increasing business of the office which has been secured through his efforts. He has proved a most capable official, prompt and faith- ful in the discharge of all his duties.

In 1881, Mr. Earley was married to Miss Clara

Burns, a native of Osceola Mills, and a daughter of John B. and Mary (Troxell) Burns, pioneers. Five children blessed this union: William, Mary, John and Ann, all living; and Leo, who died at the age of seven months. Mr. Earley uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, is a Catholic in religious belief, and since the age of twelve years has been a prominent member of a Labor organ- ization, of which he has served as secretary. treasurer and check weighman for four years. He has also been secretary of a Temperance so- ciety, and gives an active and earnest support to all enterprises which he believes will in any way benefit the community or advance the interests of his fellowmen.

J I. BROCKBANK, an eminent physician and surgeon of Du Bois, Clearfield county, was born in Elk county, Penn., in 1858, and is a . son of William and Susan (Kemerer, Brockbank. The birth of the father occurred in 1824. in the county of Westmoreland, England. where his : parents, Senes and Ann (Breed) Brockbank, : were also born. In 1850 they crossed the At- lantic and took up their business in Philadelphia. whence they removed to Elk county. Penn., but in 1864 they came to Luthersburg. Clearfield county, where they spent their remaining days.

Upon the home farm in England, William Brockbank was reared, and in early life he be- came a railroad engineer, having charge of the engine which carried the first " Queen's speech " (Victoria's) from Glasgow to Edinburgh. He ac- companied his parents on their emigration to America, and in 1864 also became a resident of Luthersburg. In Elk county he was married. in 1857, to Miss Susan Kemerer, a native of Ger- many and a daughter of Peter Kemmerer. also born in that country, who located in St. Mary's. Elk county, when it contained but one house. His entire life in America was passed in that county, his death occurring in Centreville. By occupation the fatlier of the Doctor was an agriculturist, and opened up a farm in Elk county. On coming to Clearfield county. he pur- chased an improved farm in Brady township. known as the Peter Seyler farin, on which he made his home until called to his final rest in 1882, and there his widow still resides. Of their fourteen children our subject is the eldest; T. W. is a physician of West Philadelphia: R. J. is a farmer of Brady township: Rev. S. R. is pastor of St. Dominico's Church, Washington, D. C .; C. C. resides on the old home farm: Mary, a successful teacher of Clearfield county, died in a

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hospital at Philadelphia when twenty-four years of age; the others died when quite young,

Dr. Brockbank was seven years of age when he came with his parents to Brady township, Clear- field county, and in the schools of that locality he acquired a good literary education, after which he engaged in teaching in Brady township, and also in the high school of Luthersburg in the winter of 1884-85. In 1882 he had commenced the study of medicine in Troutville under the direction of Dr. J. M. Lydick, now deceased. In the fall of 1883 he entered the College of Physi- cians & Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md .. and was graduated from the University of Baltimore with the class of 1886. Coming to Du Bois in May of that year, he at once opened an office, and now has a large and lucrative practice. His thorough knowledge of medicine and skill in surgery have won for him the confidence of the people, and he has met with remarkable success in his chosen calling.

In Du Bois, in 1887, Dr. Brockbank was united in marriage with Miss Etta M. Faust, who was born in Stoneville, Boggs township, Clearfield county, a daughter of R. C. and Mary (Mowry) Faust, also natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Boggs township. They are now honored residents of Du Bois. Three children grace the union of the Doctor and his excellent wife, namely: Leo R., Mary Pauline and Thomas W. The Doctor is a valued member of the County Medical Society : socially, he affiliates with the Knights of the Macca bees. Since June, 1894, he has been the efficient health officer of Du- Bois, and from 1890 until 1896 he served as county

H M. CARLISLE, who is engaged in the liv- ery business in Du Bois, Clearfield county, is one of the progressive business men of the city. taking an active part in all measures calculated to advance the welfare of the town. He was born in Brady township, Clearfield county, Octo- ber 23, 1868. His grandparents, John and Mary Carlisle, were also natives of this State, and were pioneers of Luthersburg, where the former em- barked in merchandising. Later he engaged in the same pursuit in Troutville until his death, His wife departed this life in Curwensville,

Capt. L. B. Carlisle, father of our subject,

was born in Luthersburg, and reared in Brady township, where on arriving at years of maturity he married Lucretia Moore. For many years he engaged in merchandising in Luthersburg, and for twenty years was the efficient and popular postmaster at that place. He also built a saw- mill, and was the owner of Soo acres of land on which tract the Stanley and Helvetia mines have since been opened. He was a man of excellent business and executive ability, and successfully carried on his various'enterprises until 1861. when he offered his services to the government. enlisting for three years in the 145th P. V. I. He joined the army as a private, but meritorious conduct on the field of battle secured him promo- tion to the rank of captain. He participated in all the engagements of his regiment, which did duty with the Army of the Potomac, and after being captured was incarcerated in Libby prison. He succeeded in making his escape, but blood hounds were put upon his track and he was re- captured, being then sent to Andersonville prison. At the. close of the war, in 1865, he was honor- ably discharged and returned to Luthersburg, where he purchased the mercantile store of Sam- uel Arnold. In connection with his operations along that line he also engaged in lumbering. He died in February, 1895. from disease con- tracted in the army; his widow is still living in Luthersburg. Their daughter Edith is now the wife of R. L. Potter, of Clearfield.

Their only son, H. M. Carlisle, the subject proper of this review, was educated in Brady township, and pursued a collegiate course in Randolph, N. Y. He then returned to Clearfeld coroner, and was a member of the school board . county, and in 1887 embarked in the grocery when the Fourth ward school building was erect- ed. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. As a physician he enjoys the honor of being a peer of 1 any in Clearfield county. His life has been char-' acterized by energy, perseverance and untiring labor, and to these principles his success is due. business in Luthersburg, where he continued his operations until 1892, when he removed to Du- Bois. During the following year he embarked in the livery business on Scribner avenue, where he remained until the completion of his large livery barn on Jared street. Here lie has one of the best equipped stables in this section of the county. He has eighteen horses, a full line of carriages, and an attractive feature of his establishment is a large white sled, which is drawn by four white horses and furnished with white robes, which specialty he procured for sleighing parties.

On May 20, 1890, Mr. Carlisle was mited in marriage with Miss Anna Draucker, of Luthers- burg, daughter of P. M. and Mary Draucker. pioneers of that place. They have one son, George L. In politics, Mr. Carlisle is a stanch Republican, and is well informed on all political problems. His business career has brought to him a merited success, for he is honorable in his dealings, and ever desirous of pleasing his patrons.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

G EORGE W. GRANT. a well-known citizen of Sandy township, Clearfield county, who follows the dual occupation of lumbering and farming, was born in 1859, in Centre county, Penn., a son of Thomas W. and Martha J. (De Long) Grant. The birth of the former occurred in 1833, in Indiana county, Penn., near Cherry Tree, but the paternal grandparents were both natives of Scotland, coming thence to America and taking up their residence in Indiana county, where the grandfather purchased a farmn. At that homestead both he and his wife spent their last days, she surviving her husband a few years.

In the family of this worthy couple were chil- dren as follows: (1) Uriah entered the Union army during the Civil war as one of the Penn- sylvania volunteers, and after two years and a half of faithful service was drowned while his company was crossing the Potomac. He was unmarried. (2) Anna, a native of Indiana county, married Daniel Blake, and they resided in that county for some time, but are now resi- dents of Potter county, Penn. They have three children. (3) Mary, who was also born in Indi- ana county, became the first wife of Daniel Blake, and at her death left three children --- George, Susan and Katie. (4) John C., an in- valid, was born in Indiana county, and now re- sides with the father of our subject in Karthaus, Penn. (5) Louisa is the wife of John Sunder- land, a prominent luniberman of Burnside town- ship, Clearfield county, and they have two chil- dren-John and Alice. (6 Thomas W. was our subject's father.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 2, Part 96

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