Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 11

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1332

USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 11

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Our subject's birth occurred August 30, 1829, while his parents were living in Perry township. He remained at home until the age of twenty- six, when he married Miss Susannah Newcomb, and settled on his present farm. His first pur- chase consisted of 100 acres of land, for which he paid $1,000, giving $400 down and the bal- ance in six years. At that time there were but forty acres cleared, and at this spot he has ever since had his residence. While conducting his farm he has dealt extensively in real estate, and at present he has a large tract of land in Arm- strong county, Penn., and 137 acres of farming land in Indiana county, which is occupied by his son Samuel, and 102 acres of farming land in Indiana county which is occupied by his son, Lawrence S. McGee. The homestead is under- laid with coal, and in 1888, when he had 277 acres in the estate, he sold the mining rights for $75 per acre. On the surface everything is kept in perfect order. Mr. "McGee has the faculty of managing large enterprises successfully without undne exertion on his part. He takes a promi- nent part in local affairs, and is one of the lead- ing Republicans of his locality. For three years he served as jury commissioner, and for twenty- two years as school director, his keen interest in educational progress making the latter office a most congenial one. Being himself fond of the best literature, he believes in securing to all the possibility of entrance to the paths of knowledge. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Punxsutawney.

Mr. McGee's marriage to Miss Newcomb : 73

took place July 15, 1856, in Perry township, and their union has been blessed by children, as fol- lows: (1) Jane E., died at the age of eleven years. (2) John lived to the age of only nine years. (3) Samuel G., a farmer in Indiana coun- ty, married Miss Ora Tiger, and has four chil- dren-Susie, James, Effie and Milton. (4) Law- rence S. is a farmer in East Mahoning township, residing on one of his father's farms. He mar- ried Miss Nettie Buhite, and they have two daughters-May and Hellen. (5) Lydia Emma married H. W. Smith, a farmer in Armstrong county, and they have three children-Grover, Earl and Floyd. (6) Melvin C. married Anna Jordan, and they are residents of East Mahoning township, Indiana county. (7) Maggie C. mar- ried Philip T. Smith, and resides on a part of her father's homestead. (8) James Harvey is at home. In 1889 the parents took to raise Re- becca Green, born May 25, 1888, in Blair county, Penn. John and Rachel (Cochran) Newcomb, Mrs. McGee's parents, were among the early set- tlers of Perry township, Jefferson county, and continued to reside there throughout their lives, her mother passing away in 1863, at the age of sixty-three years, and her father in 1876, at eighty-three. The remains of both now rest in the cemetery at Perry Church. Mrs. McGee, who was born May 19, 1837, was the youngest of nine children ; Sallie (deceased) married Robert Hannah. who is now living in retirement in Winslow township, Jefferson county, with his son, William; Isaac and Samuel are deceased; Nancy (deceased ) married the late Samuel Green; Elizabeth is deceased; Lydia is the wife of Joseph . Swisher, a lime and coal merchant in Punxsutawney; George W. and Joseph both re- side upon portions of the old homestead in Perry township.

H ENRY I. WILSON, a prominent young at- torney at Big Run, Jefferson county, is an illustration of the advantages gained in intellect- ual lines by an " all-round " development, which includes physical and social life within its scope. As a beginning in life he spent his first ten years upon a farm near Wellsboro, Tioga county, Penn .. where he was born April 10, 1869, and it was in that wholesome environment that he began his education.

His parents, Daniel M. and Lydia ( Stickley) Wilson, are both natives of that county, still re- siding at Wellsboro, the father having given up agriculture some years ago to engage in clerical work. He was a soldier during the Civil war. in Company A. 187th P. V. I., and is a man who

1154

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

is highly esteemed by his acquaintances for his

ing disposition has kept him from public life. Henry I. Wilson continued his literary studies in the Weilsboro High School, graduating in 1887, and then entered a business college at Elmira, N. Y., where he completed his course and re- ceived a diploma. The following summer was spent at Watkins, N. Y., as a clerk in a popular hotel, and while there his remarkable ability as a musician. which had been carefully cultivated from the time he was fifteen, was brought into service in teaching a band. His success led to offers of similar employment elsewhere, and for a time he was kept busy in arranging orchestras and giving instruction. At the age of twenty, he returned to Wellsboro, where he began the study of law with Elliott & Watrous, and in the fall of 1892 he was admitted to the Bar in Tioga county. In the following year he went to Brook- ville, and on being licensed to practice in Jeffer- son county, opened an office at Big Run, and has since continued liis professional work there. In 1895 he was admitted to practice in the Su- preme Court of the State. Politically he is a Republican, and is active and influential in the work of the party. In August, 1897. he was a delegate from Jefferson county to the Republican State Convention at Harrisburg, to place in nomination candidates for State Treasurer and Auditor General. Mr. Wilson's many Repub- lican friends are urging him to consent to be a candidate for Representative to the General As- sembly. As a member of the school board he has done much to advance the cause of education in his locality. His fine physique. which has been strengthened by practice in athletics, enables him to engage in various enterprises, political or social, aside from his regular vocation. While at Wellsboro he was a member of the "Alert Hose Team," which enjoyed the reputation of being the swiftest in the State. Mr. Wilson is a composer of music and an accomplished performer on both the horn and violin. On April 4, 1893. he was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Bacon, a daughter of Seth Bacon, a leading citi- zen of Wellsboro.

G EORGE L. SANDT, a prominent pharma- cist of Brookville, Jefferson county, belongs to that most useful of citizens, who, while taking a hearty interest in all public questions, give their influence to their solution and settlement in a quiet and disinterested way, never seeking the honors and emoluments which the professional politician considers his due.

Mr. Sandt was born at Easton, Penn., in sterling qualities of character, although his retir -~ 1852, and his parents, William G. and Saluma (Frankenfield) Sandt, are both natives of this State. They are still living in Northampton county. in excellent health. The father has al- ways devoted his attention to agriculture as an occupation, and is an unassuming but highly es- teemed citizen. Our subject received his liter- ary education in Easton Academy, and on leav- ing school began his work in the drug business with C. Lawall. After a time he entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1876, and in 1879 he went to Brookville as clerk for Dr. Mcknight & Brother. Two years later he and his father-in- law, Bernard Verstine, established a business which has been continued successfully since that time. In 1893 Mr. Sandt became the sole pro- prietor, and now conducts the enterprise alone. His store is always neat and inviting, and his fine business judgment has won for him a place among the leading druggists of Central Pennsyl- vania.

In 1880 Mr. Sandt was married to Miss Mary T. Verstine, daughter of Bernard Verstine men- tioned above, one of Brookville's well-known citizens. Four children have blessed this union: Valletta, Hattie, Walter, and Earle, all of whom are at home. In religious faith Mrs. Sandt is a Roman Catholic, but our subject is a member of the Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and he belongs to the fraternal or- der of the Knights of Pythias.

OHN LANG, JR. History no longer finds its material in a record of wars and conquests; the public annals are formed of the account of business activity and progress along the lines of both trade and mental development. Mr.

1 Lang, of this review, is an honored representative of the industrial interests of Jefferson county, being now proprietor of a large woolen-mill, which has been in successful operation since 1860. He is also engaged in general merchandis- ing, and is proprietor of a valuable farm.

Mr. Lang was born at Shavers Creek, Hunt- ingdon Co., Penn., January 7, 1833. His grand- father, Henry Lang, a native of Scotland, emi- grated to America at an early day, and served as a private in the war of 1812. He settled on a farm in Cambria county, Penn., and while he was in the war, his son, John Lang, Sr., father of our subject, would thresh wheat for a tenth share in order to support the family. John Lang, Sr., was born in Cambria county, and served an apprenticeship in a woolen-niill at Croft creek.

1155

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. '

When twenty-one years of age he went to Hunt- ingdon, Penn., where he was employed in" a woolen-mill for four years. He then married Nancy Moore, and purchased land at Shavers Creek, where he engaged in farming and in the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1852 he came to Jefferson county, and settled on the present site of Langville, which town is named in his honor. In 1852 he established the woolen-mnill now owned by our subject, and in addition to this property he owned three farms. He was a self- made man, who started out in life with a cash capital of fifty cents, but through his own efforts became quite wealthy. His death occurred in 1883. at the age of seventy-seven years, and the mother of our subject died in 1841, at the age of forty years. Their children were: Mary, wife of William Stewart, who is living retired in Jef- ferson county, Iowa; Jane, who became the wife of John L. Barr, of Philipsburg, but both are now deceased; Ann, who married Samuel Gorley, and both are now deceased; Charles, a mechanic living in Iowa; John; William, who died in 1897; Catherine. deceased wife of Robert Simpson, an · extensive farmer of Illinois; Elizabeth, who mar- ried a Mr. Green, and both are now deceased; James, who served in the Civil war, and now has large farming interests in Lucas county, Iowa; and Jerusha, deceased wife of William Trout, of Leechburg, Penn. She was a twin sister of James. After the death of Mrs. Lang, the fa- ther of this family married Polly Work, and she became the mother of the following children: Aaron, of Marion county, Penn., who was for eleven months incarcerated in Andersonville prison; Baxter, who died in infancy; Rebecca, wife of Alvin Davison, a miller of Johnsonburg, Penn .; Juniata, wife of David Procious, a farmer of Beaver township, Jefferson county. The mother of this family died and was buried at Ringgold, Penn., and for his third wife Mr. Lang chose Lucretia Eaton, of Massachusetts, who is now living in Langville.

On the home farni John Lang, Jr., spent his youth, working in the fields through the summer, while in the winter he attended the public schools and worked in his father's woolen-mnill. When twenty-three years of age he rented a woolen- mill in Blairsville, Penn., and a year later ad- mitted his brother, William, to a partnership in the business. Three years later he sold out and came to Jefferson county, where he worked for his father until purchasing his present mill in 1868. This plant was erected at a cost of $6,000, and has since been improved with new machinery. His business is profitable, and in addition to this interest he has a good general

store and a farm of 135 acres, from all of which he derives a good income.

On April 3, 1861. Mr. Lang was married to Miss Caroline Barkley, who was born in Indiana county, Penn., May 7, 1835, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rankin) Barkley. Her father was born in Westmoreland county, and died 'September 23, 1879, aged seventy-eight years. He removed to Indiana county at an early day, became quite wealthy, and was the owner of three farms. For more than half a century he was a member of Ebenezer Church, and was buried in the churchyard there. His wife, who was born in Indiana county, died in 1838, at the age of thirty-nine. Their children were: Martha, widow of William Erhart, of Blairsville; Mrs. Mary A. Brecken (deceased); Alexander Y., a farmer of Indiana county; Eliz- abeth R., wife of John McIntosh. a real-estate dealer of Wilkinsburg, Penn. ; James M., an agri- culturist of Indiana county; Mrs. Lang; William R. , superintendent of a coal mine at Turtle Creek. After the death of his first wife Mr. Barkley wedded Mrs. Anna Clark, widow of Finley Cam- eron, who was a farmer of Brush Valley. Indi- ana Co., Penn. She died in June, 1895. and was buried in Ohio. The children of the second marriage are John C., a retired merchant of Baltimore, and Thomas B., a farmer of the State of Indiana.

To Mr. and Mrs. John Lang, Jr., has been born a daughter. Anna, now the wife of Dr. Ross Speer, of Greenville, Penn. Our subject and his wife are very prominent and influential people, who command the high regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. They are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has served as elder for the past twenty-five years. He was formerly a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Society and the Grange at Brookville. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lang are genial, pleasant people, whose well-spent lives commend them to the confidence of all.

SAMUEL STEEL, who with his wife was for seven years a leading and successful mer- chant of Sandy Valley, Jefferson county, where he served as postmaster four years, is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have secured for him a comfortable competence.

Mr. Steel was born July 14, 1834, in In- diana county, Penn., and comes of a fan- ily . that has long been prominent in the affairs of the State. His early ancestors were

1156

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from Ireland, and on coming to the New World first located in eastern Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Westmoreland county and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. The birth of William Steel, the father of our subject. occurred in Fayette county, but he was reared in West- moreland county, where he married Experience Hill, a daughter of George Hill, a prominent farmer, and a minister of the Presbyterian Church, being one of twelve who organized the first Church of that denomination in Westmore- land county. Of his sixteen children, the follow- ing grew to years of maturity: John, Alexander, William, James, George, David, Elizabeth, Sarah, Deborah, Mary, Ann, Nancy and Ex- perience.

In 1832 William Steel removed to Indiana county, Penn., where from the wilderness he de- veloped a farm, and was later employed in the construction of the old Pennsylvania canal, serving as foreman on a division for eleven years. He also owned several flat-boats which he used in transporting iron to Pittsburg down the Cone- maugh river, but later he gave his attention to farming. He died in 1857, his wife in 1866, both earnest members of the Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Carnahan; George (deceased); Mrs. Esther Finley; John, who was a Union soldier during the Civil war; Sarah, who died unmarried; Mrs. Nancy J. Benchoof; James, a carpenter by trade; Samuel, of this review; and Joseph, who also served his country during the Rebellion.

Samuel Steel, the subject proper of this sketch, was reared amidst rural scenes upon his father's farm, and attended the common schools ; near his home. On coming to Jefferson county. in 1858, he located in Brookville, where he was living when the Civil war broke out. He then offered his services to the government, enlisting in 1861, at Brookville, in Capt. E. R. Brady's company, Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves. The regiment, which was commanded by Col. Thomas Gallager, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and during its three-years' service par- ticipated in many important battles. Mr. Steel was never wounded, but on May 5, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, he was taken prisoner with eighty-two others, including Gov. Edward Scofield, of Wisconsin, and was transferred to Gordon, Lynchburg and Danville consecutively. Later he was incarcerated in Andersonville prison, and still later taken to Florence, S. C., where he remained until February, 1865, when he was transferred to Wilmington, N. C. Dur- ing the siege at that place he was removed to

Goldsboro, in the same State, and a week later returned to the Federal lines twelve iniles from Wilmington, Gen. Scofield then being in coin- mand at that place. By boat our subject went to Annapolis, where he landed March 4. 1865, and after recuperating was returned to Pittsburg, where he was honorably discharged and paid off on the 16th of the same month.

Returning to Brookville, Mr. Steel engaged in lumbering, after his marriage locating on a farın, but continued to follow lumbering in con- nection with agriculture. At the end of sixteen years he disposed of his farm and removed to Du- Bois, Penn., where he made his home until com- ing to Sandy Valley in 1888. He purchased the property where he yet lives, and for a short time operated a planing-mill, but subsequently bought the store mentioned above, which he stocked with a choice assortment of general merchandise, and until recently carried on business there. re- ceiving from the public a liberal patronage. From July, 1893, he served four years as post- master of the place, and proved a most popular and capable official.

In 1867, Mr. Steel was married to Miss Nancy J. McGee, a daughter of William and Rachel (Cathers) McGee, honored pioneers of the county, who were natives of Jefferson county, Penn .. and New Jersey, respectively. Her fa- ther, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction, was the first white child born in the Beech Woods set- tlement, Washington township, Jefferson county, and he improved a farm in that township, where his death occurred in 1861. He was a Baptist in religious belief: his wife, who died in 1875. held membership in the Presbyterian Church. They were parents of five children: Nancy J., wife of our subject: Mrs. Rose M. MacIntosh: Mrs. Elizabeth Henderson; and John T. and Robert, both residents of San Francisco, Cali- fornia.

Nine children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Steel, namely, George who died at the age of two and a half years; Minnie J., who died at the age of ten; Mrs. Sarah M. Hilderbrand: Will- iam, who died at the age of four; John, Samuel, Joseph G., Loren A. and Charles B., all five yet at home. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a most estimable lady. In his political affiliations, Mr. Steel is a Demo- crat; socially, he is identified with the Veteran Legion. He is a courteous, affable gentleman, and wherever he is found, whether in public or private life, his integrity is above question and his honor above reproach. Sandy Valley ower much to him, and numbers him among her valued citizens.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1157

F REDERICK BONNETT. The lives of our self-made inen give a convincing rebuke to the believer "in luck," for when they are an- alyzed it is seen that, underlying all the differ- ences of environment and endowment, there is to be found a set purpose and a firm will to which obstacles are made to yield. The history of this well-known resident of Henderson township, Jef- ferson county, is an admirable illustration of this, as he came to this country when a boy, and; be- ginning his career without either friends or cap- ital. has accumulated a handsome competence, and gained an honorable standing among his fellow-citizens.

The Bonnett family is of French origin, but our subject's father, Charles Bonnett, was born in Germany, and spent his life there, his death occurring in 1838. His wife, Elizabeth Priester, was of German ancestry. In 1849, our subject, then a lad of sixteen, came to America with an elder brother, Ludwig, and located in Clarion county, Penn., where he worked for about eleven years in the iron works of Duff, Lawson & Com- pany. In 1853 his mother came to Clarion county with three of the children who had been left in Germany: Six children in all came to this country. (1) George, who was born in Ger- many in 1817, accompanied his mother to Clar- ion county, and was employed in the iron works until a few years ago. He then bought a small farin in the same county, where his last years were spent. his death occurring in 1896. His wife, whom he married in Germany, died in 1893, leaving no family. (2) Ludwig, who was born in Germany in 1819, worked at the Duff & Lawson mills for a number of years, and then bought a farm in Madison township, Clarion ; county. His wife, Elizabeth Borrell, whom he married in the Fatherland. is also living, and they have a large family. (3) Jacob, who was born in 1826, came to Clarion county with his mother, and was employed in the iron mills for a number of years. In 1859 he bought ninety acres of land in Henderson township, Jefferson county, which he cleared for a homestead. He died in 1883. His first wife, Elizabeth Priester. whom he married in 1854 in Clarion county, died some years ago, leaving three children-Philip and Elizabeth, both now deceased, and Caroline, the wife of Henry Fritchard, a farmer in Hender- son township. His second wife, Catharine Con- rad, survives him with six children. (4) Henry A., born in 1835, was employed in the iron works in Clarion county for some years after his arrival. He now owns a farm in that county, but resides in Brookville, where he follows the gunsmith's trade. He married Elizabeth Gibbs, of Clarion

county, and has five children. (5) Caroline E .. born in 1838, was married after coming to Clar- ion county to Adam Schoup, a German by birth. who now resides upon a farm in Madison town- ship, Clarion county. She died some years ago, leaving five children: Louis and Lizzie, who are married; George and Henry, who are single; and Catherine, who is married.

Frederick Bonnett was born in IS33, and after coming to Clarion county was employed, as has been said, in the iron works. In IS57 he married Miss Caroline Priester, daughter of Lud- wig and Sophia Priester, who came to this coun- try in 1854 from Germany, and in 1859 he pur- chased a tract of wood land upon which some improvements had already been made, six acres being cleared. A small log house and barn were on the place. and on removing there he continued the work of clearing, and in timne secured a fine homestead. In 1862 he built a hewed-log house. and in 1874 a large bank barn. In 1891 a large two-and-a-half-story framne house was built with all modera improvements; and in this he now re- sides. In 1892 he purchased the Godfrey Keller farm of fifty acres, in Winslow township, Jeffer- son county, and two lots in Sykesville, where he erected a store building and dwelling house. Later he bought a number of lots in Sykesville, and in 1893 he purchased a house and lot in the town of Mahaffey. Mr. Bonnett has seen many changes since he came to this section, much of Jefferson county being then a wilderness, and when he settled at his present home there were but two school houses in the township. In the improvement that has taken place he has done his full share, taking especial interest in educa- tional affairs, and serving two terms as school di- rector. He has held other offices in the town- ship, serving as justice of the peace for two terms. assessor two years, and supervisor two terms. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is active in religions affairs as a member of the Reformed Church at Paradise.

He and his wife have reared a large family to useful lives: (1) Elizabeth, the first-born, died in 1858, at the age of four months; (2) Philip L .. born in 1860 in Clarion county, died at the pres- ent homestead at the age of nineteen years; (3) Mary I., born at the present homestead in 1862. married Alexander Lydick, a merchant at Ma- haffey, and has three daughters-Esty, Laura and Daisy. (4) F. C., born in 1864 at the home- stead, is now engaged in mercantile business in Sykesville. He married Miss Laura Dickev. of Clearfield, and has two children-Rachel and Lucy. (5; C. A., born in 1868, now has charge of the Keller farm. (6) Bertha M., born mu 1800,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1158

married Daniel Wise, a hotel keeper in Sykes- ville, and they have one son -- Frederick. (7): Catherine, born in 1871. died in infancy. (8) Jacob J., born in 1872, is single, and has charge of the homestead. (9) Caroline W., born in 1875, and (10) Henry A., born in 1878, are still at home. (11) Estie L., born in 1881, died in infancy.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 11

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1332

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1332