Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 112

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 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 112

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1655

An ardent Republican in politics, Mr. Irwin has never cared for official preferment, yet he. has filled some minor offices. Fraternally, he affiliates with the Grand Army of the Republic. His name is a synonym for honorable business dealing, he is always mentioned as one of the invaluable citizens of the community, and on the roll of Clearfield county's most honored pioneers and representative men his name should be found among the foremost.

J JACOB HUMMEL (deceased), was for many years one of the most influential and

progressive agriculturists of Brady township, Clearfield county. His early home was beyond the Atlantic, his birth occurring in Germany, but in 1846 he accompanied his parents, Jacob and Catharine Hummel, on their emigration to the United States. He stopped in Philadelphia, but they proceeded to Clearfield county and bought fifty acres of woodland in Brady township, which the father at once began to clear and im- prove, converting the same into a good farm, on which he made his home until called to his final rest at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. His wife departed this life at the age of seventy- seven.

The children of this worthy couple were born in the Fatherland, and are as follows: Jacob, of this review; Frederick, a hotel keeper of Punx- sutawney, Jefferson county, Penn., who is mar- ried and has a family ; Henry, who married a Miss Brubaker, and lives on his farm in Rockton, Clearfield county; Charlotte, wife of John Clouser, of Rockton, Union township, by whom she has five children; George J., who married and removed to Ohio, and later to Iowa, where his death occurred in 1876; and Katic, wife of John Black, a farmer living in Du Bois, by whom she has one son, Frederick.

For four years Jacob Hummel continued to work at the shoemaker's trade in Philadelphia, whence he came to Brady township, Clearfield county, where he purchased eighty acres of heav- ily timbered land adjoining his father's place on the east. This forest was composed of pine and hardwood timber, which he soon cleared away, in 1856 erected a good two-story frame house, and in 1884, a large barn, 50x 70 feet. By per- sistent labor, acre after acrc was placed under the plow until the farm became one of the most highly cultivated and productive tracts in the township. In 1865 Mr. Hummel was seriously injured by a trce falling on him, rendering him a cripple for the remainder of his life, but he still continued to give his farin his personal super-

vision, and, under his careful management, it Was very profitably conducted.

In 1855 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Louisa, daughter of George and Emma Short, also natives of Germany, who took up their residence in Brady township, in 1849, and here spent their remaining days, dying at the home of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Hummel became the parents of seven children, who in order of birth were as follows: (1) Elizabeth, born in 1855, died at the age of twenty years. (2) .Charlotte, born in 1857, married Joseph He- berling, of Brady township, and now resides upon his farm near Luthersburg. (3) William, born in 1860, lives on his grandfather's old homestead, adjoining his father's farm. He married Sophie Satsman, a native of Germany, and they have three children-Alfred, Louisa and one whose name is not given. (4) Sarah, born in 1862, is the wife of Lewis Wagoner, a farmer living near Tionesta, in Forest county, Penn., and their children are Margaret L., Benjamin S., Emma, George and Ellis. (5) Mary A., born in 1864, was educated in the common schools near her childhood home, and married August Wagoner, who owns and operates a farm five miles from Tionesta, in Forest county. They have two sons-Charles, and Frank, now three years old. (6) David, born in March, 1866, grew to man- hood on the old homestead, receiving a good practical education in the public schools of the neighborhood. He never left the parental roof, and in 1896, previous to his father's death, he purchased the farm upon which he and his mother now reside. He is an energetic, pro- gressive young business man, and is meeting with excellent success in his undertakings. ") JOHN, born in 1869, also spent his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, where he was reared to habits of thrift and industry, and in the common school he obtained his education. On reaching manhood he married Miss Minnie Wingert. of Luthersburg, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Wingert, of Brady township, and they now have a daughter, May. They make their home in Curwensville, where he is employed by the Alley Brothers Tanning Company.

Mr. Hummel was an adherent to Democratic principles, and held the office of collector of Brady township for three years (from 1884 until 1887). He was a consistent member of and an active worker in the German Reformed Church of Luthersburg, to which his widow and family also belong. He was recognized as one of the most reliable and worthy citizens of Brady town- ship, and his death, which occurred in March, 1896, was deeply and sincerely mourncd. He

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

did much to advance the educational and moral interests of his community, giving liberally to- ward the support of both schools and Churches, and his course as a citizen commended him to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.

W B. SUTTER, of Lindsey, Jefferson coun- ty, has now been engaged in business there for about thirty years, manufacturing wag- ons and carriages of such superior quality as to command the bulk of the trade in his locality.

Mr. Sutter is a native of Indiana county, Penn., where he was born in 1847; his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Sutter, were born, reared, and married in Germany, and three of their chil- dren were also born there. On their arrival in the United States they located upon a small farm in Indiana county, and the father gave his atten- tion chiefly to agricultural work although at times he was employed around the iron furnaces in the vicinity. He died years ago, and his widow, a most estimable woman, survived him many years. [For ancestral history see sketch of Jacob J. Sutter. ]

The schools to which our subject had access in his youth were less efficient than those of to- day, but such as they were, Mr. Sutter has, like many another man, to regret that he did not take full advantage of the instruction offered. Until the age of seventeen his time was largely oc- cupied with farm work, and the war being then in progress, he responded to his country's need, en- listing September 12, 1864, in the 206th P. V. I. He served as long as there was any fighting to be done, being assigned to picket duty during the greater part of the time. On receiving his dis- charge from the service he returned to his native county, and for a short time worked in the tim- ber business. In January, IS68, he went to Lindsey to learn the blacksmith's trade, and on completing an apprenticeship of two years he formed a partnership with W. H. Bates in that business, to which they added wagon making. Mr. Bates withdrew from the firm in about a year, Mr. Sutter continuing alone until 1872, when one of his brothers took a halfinterest. In 1882 our subject again became the sole proprie- tor, and under his able nianagement the estab- lishment sustains a reputation second to none in Jefferson county of a similar kind.

In February, 1871, Mr. Sutter was married to Miss Amanda J. Gillespie, daughter of Hon. James M. Gillespie, a prominent resident of Lindsey. Six children were born to this union, of whom the following survive: William A., the

assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank at Punxsu- tawney; James M., an engineer; Leila E., and Celia Belie, both of whom are at home. Mrs. Sutter is a member of the Catholic Church.

Politically, Mr. Sutter has been throughout his life an adherent to the principles of the Re- publican party, and although he has always given his attention too strictly to his business to care for official position, he has been prominent in the councils of the organization. In 1877 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson county, and was in- stalled in January, 1878, serving three years with ability and zeal. He is popular socially as a member of the F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R.

C LOYD PARKER PANNEBAKER, the popu- lar and capable editor and proprietor of the Coalport Standard, is a native of Juniata county, Penn., born in Mifflintown August 31, IS62, a son of Daniel and Mary A. Pannebaker.

Of the children born to this union Cloyd Parker is referred to in what follows; the others are: Jun- iata Mabel, wife of J. W. Wagner, of Mifflintown, Penn .; Henry Clayton, of Pueblo, Colo .; Ella Mae, of Mifflintown, Penn .; Elizabeth L., wife of H. B. Kelley, of Barnsboro, Penn .; Charles A. and Myrven D., of Pueblo, Colorado.

The Pannebakers-Pennepacker-Pannebacker families bear the distinction of being the most numerous among enlistments during the Civil war. There were forty-six in the Confederate army, and fifty-nine in the Federal army. The similar- ity in the names leads the family here to believe that they are all related.

Our subject was reared in the place of his birth, where he attended the public and normal schools until he reached his eighteenth year, when he became an apprentice in the office of the Juniata Herald, owned by William M. Alli- son, Esq. During the former's apprenticeship of three and one-half years he served in the capacity of " devil," journeyman and editor. In ISS3 he was tendered the foremanship of the office of the Sentinel and Republican, in Mifflintown, and filled the place until June 20, 1884. when he went to Philipsburg, Penn., and was job-printer in the office of the Daily Journal. On December 13, ISS4, he came to Coalport, in company with W. W. Dummire, for the purpose of launching a newspaper, and, on January 1, 1885. the Coal- port Siftings made its appearance. The agree- ment with advertisers and subscribers was for three months, as an experiment. The paper lasted for the length of the contract, and was self- sustaining from the start-a rather unusual thing

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for a newspaper. The Siftings was printed on the press of the Bellwood Bulletin, in Blair county, its projectors having a small publication office over McCartney's drug store.

At the expiration of the contract signed by advertisers with C. P. Pannebaker & Co. (the " Co." being Rev. W. W. Dunmire). Mr. Pannebaker started a paper on the 9th day of April, 1885, under the name of the Coalport Standard. The paper was neutral until 1894, when it threw off the cloak of neutrality and be- came an independent Republican paper, it never being identified with any clique or ring. For more than thirteen years our subject has been editor and proprietor of the paper he founded, which paper ranks in appearance second to none of the country weeklies.

On October 19, 1887, Mr. Pannebaker was married to Miss Hannah Catharine, eldest daughter of Rev. and Mrs. W. H. Lingenfelter, of Philips- burg, Centre Co., Penn., the union being blessed with three children, viz: Whitmer Easton, born July 10, 1889, died April 12, 1892: Mildred Cath- arine, born March 6, 1893, and Mary Rebecca, born September 30, 1897

In May, 1896, Mr. Pannebaker embarked in the clothing and gents furnishing business, in partnership with George D. Benn, the firm style being Benn & Pannebaker. Mr. Pannebaker is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of the county, and socially he stands high in the community, as he also does in business circles and as a citizen. He is a member of Union Lodge No. 324, F. & A. M., of Mifflintown, Penn., a companion of Lewistown Chapter, No. 186, R. A. M., and a Sir Knight Templar of Lewistown Commandery, No. 26, K. T. He is also a Past Grand Odd Fellow, having member- ship in Coalport Lodge No. 781, I. O. O. F. He has a neat and comfortable home. In 1892 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, chief burgess of Coalport.

A NDREW PENTZ, SR., a venerable gentle- man and an honored pioneer of Sandy township, Clearfield county, who passed away February 10, 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, was a native of York county, Penn., and, coming to this section in early man- hood, he saw the rapid introduction of all the modern modes of life in a region which he re- membered as a wilderness. In the progressive movements of the time he was always pronti- nent, advocating free schools, and giving liber- ally of his means for the building of churches

and educational institutions, and for other worthy enterprises.

The Pentzes can claim relationship to the royal family of England. The great-great-grand- father of our subject married a German duchess. His grandfather Pentz came from Germany at an early date, and located in York county, Penn., where he purchased several large tracts of land. George Pentz (our subject's father) was born in York county, and was married there to Miss Elizabeth Bower. He then purchased a farm in Franklin township, York county, about twenty miles southwest of the county-seat, and made his permanent home there, conducting a large dis- tillery, while managing his farm. He died years ago, and his wife some years later. Of their children, John, the eldest, married Miss Eliza- beth Knox, of York county, and moved to Clear- field county with his brothers, Andrew and Jacob. He settled upon fifty acres of partly-improved land in Brady (now Sandy) township, near the town of Luthersburg, the place being known at present as the Milton Miles farm. He made ex- tensive improvements, erecting buildings, and at his death had a good estate. His wife and seven children survived him. The children were: (1) George located upon a farm near Luthersburg, where he died, leaving a widow (formerly a Miss Zigler, of Brady township) and several children, who are still at home. (2) Andrew, ex-sheriff of Clearfield county, resides on a farm adjoining his father's. He was twice married, having by his first wife four children, and after her death. some years ago, he formed a second union, the last time with Miss Brockbank. They have no children. (3) John, a resident of Penn town- ship, Clearfield county, is married, and has four children. (4) Henry, who resides in Union township, near Rockton, is married, and has a large family of children. (5) Elizabeth is mar- ried and resides in Kansas. (6) Maria, who was Mrs. Eals, of Massachusetts, died some years ago, leaving no children. (7) Fred died when very young.

II-Peter Pentz was born and reared in York county, and married Sarah McCreary, a descend- ant of Col. McCreary, of the war of 1812. Later he moved to Adams county, where he remained until his death. His wife died some years ago, leaving several children. III-Elizabeth mar- ried Isaac Lerew, of York county, settled upon a farm where both died some years ago, leaving two children, who have since moved to the West. IV-David married a lady of York county, and remained on his father's old homestead until a few years ago. He then purchased a farm in Adams county, near the Five Points, where he

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was killed by accident, one of his mules throwing him. He left a widow and five children, who still reside on his farm. V-Jacob, who was born in York county, came to Brady township and made a purchase of 130 acres adjoining our subject's homestead. He cleared a farm and erected buildings, making extensive improve- ments. His wife was formerly Miss Sarah Rishel, of Indiana county, and they had a numerous family of children: (1) Philip, who was born in Brady township, married Miss Rebecca Miller, of Mifflinburg, Penn., bought a farm adjoining his father's homestead, where he now resides: They have three children-Chersetta (now Mrs. Har- vey McGee, of Brady township), Clyde and Myr- tle. (2) Lucy married Eliza Ashenfelter, of Brady township, and has three children, all mar- ried. (3) John married a Miss Hallopeter, and moved to Iowa. (4) Isaiah married a Miss Smeal, and resided in Sandy township. He died some years ago, leaving a widow and three children. The two boys reside on the farm; the daughter married Kendie Clark, and resides in Johnstown. (5) Sarah married David Dunlap, a farmer in Brady township, and has ten children. (6) Henry married Miss Courtney, of Union township, and resided on his father's farm in Brady township until his wife died. After a few years he married a Miss Knox, of Indiana county, and they now reside in Du Bois. They have five children. (7) W. C., an attorney in Du Bois, married a Miss Ross, daughter of Dr. Ross, of that city, and they have five children. VI-Miss Susannah Pentz was born and reared in York county, and died in Adams county, at the age of sixty- five.

Previous to the removal of our subject and his two brothers to Clearfield county their father had purchased an extensive tract of land for them. Andrew Pentz began life there in true pioneer fashion, clearing a farm for himself, his first buildings being a log house and barn. These have since been replaced by a comfortable two- story frame house and a bank barn. His farm he kept in a high state of cultivation, supplying | it with all the modern conveniences. Politically, he was a Republican, and prior to the, organiza- tion of that party he was an Old-line Whig. While he always took an active part in local affairs he never aspired to office. He was a Prot- estant in religion, a Seventh Day Adventist, and, while believing that baptism was not necessary to salvation, he always observed the Sabbath Day faithfully.

The first wife of our subject, Miss Mary A. Meyers, of Adams county, with two children. ac- companied him to the new home in the wilder-

ness. She shared all the hardships of the early days, and died at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. Pentz was again married.

Our subject has had seven children, all by the first marriage. (1) Matilda J. (Mrs. Sprague), of Jefferson county. Of her four children, three died in childhood. The survivor is resid- ing near Penfield, Clearfield county, and has one daughter living, Daisy Bailey, at home. (2) Joseph R., born in York county, came to Clear- field county with his parents and grew to man- hood on the homestead, receiving a common- school education. He married Miss Jennie Stoufer, of York county, and located in Reynolds- ville, where he engaged in planing lumber. They have a family of four children-Lala, Mary, Temas, and James, all at home. (3) Anna E .. born in Brady township, married Alex. Shea, of the same township, and resides on a farm near Luthersburg. They have five children living- (a) Harry, a resident of Luthersburg, married Miss Lucy Draucker, of that city, and they have two children: (b) Andrew married Ordie Good- lander, of Luthersburg, resides in that town. and they have one child-Helen; (c) Elmer E .: (d) Effie; and (e) Annie, are now married. (4) Su- sanna, born on the old homestead, married John Lenkard, of Armstrong county, Penn. They settled near the Jefferson line in Brady township, on a farm where the wife died leaving five chil- dren-(a) Samuel Lenkard is married, resides in Minnesota, and has three children; (b) James O., married Eva Johnson, lives on his father's old homestead, and they have one son, John; (c) George, who is single, is principal of the Reyn- oldsville High School; (d) Lillie and (e Ella are at home. (5) Margaret P. married Edward Harker, of Jefferson county, and after living in Du Bois for some time they moved to Bethlehem, Clarion county, where he follows the machinist's trade. They have several children. (6) Benja- min F. is deceased. (7) George W. was educated in the home schools, and now resides in Du Bois. He owns property in that city, and is a prosper- ous business man. He married Miss Susan Len- kard, of Armstrong county, and has two children -Nora and Ward, both at home.

C LINTON H. SMITH. senior member of the firm of Smith & Johns. leading merchants of Punxsutawney, is also well-known as an agri- culturist, his farin in McCalmont township. Jef- ferson county, showing thrifty and judicious man- agement. He is a self-made man, a fact which makes his success the more creditable.

The branch of the Smith family to which our

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subject belongs is of German origin, his grandfa- ther, George W. Smith, coming from the Fa- > therland to locate in Armstrong county, Penn. The father of our subject, also named George W. Smith, was born and reared there, and after his marriage to Miss Sophia McCullongh, a na- tive of the same county, engaged in farming as an occupation. Both parents were members of the M. E. Church, and for several years the fa- ther was a class leader. He died in IS58, just before the birth of our subject, and the mother did not long survive, her death occurring in IS61. They had three sons: William B. and George W., now residents of Clearfield county; and Clinton H.

Clinton H. Smith was born August 9, 1858, in Beaver township, Jefferson county, and, as he was left an orphan when a mere babe, he was taken to the home of Henry H. McAninch, a farmer of the same township. He was reared to farm work, but at the age of sixteen began an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade with Wesley Motter, receiving $8 per month for the first year, and $10 per month for the second. At eighteen he went to Coffey county, Kans., and spent a year working on a farm, and the next year he devoted to traveling through the West. He then returned to his early home, and re- mained with Mr. McAninch two years. At that time he was married to Miss Katie Shaffer, an admirable helpmeet, and he has since been en- gaged in farming on his own account, spending three years near Baxter Station, and four near Cool Spring, and locating permanently, in the fall of ISSS, at his present farm. This contains ninety acres, all in a primitive state, and cost him but $10 per acre; it is now one of the finest farms of its size to be found in a long journey.

Mr. Smith is a prominent inember of the United Bretliren Church at Punxsutawney. As to his political views he may be described as a : Republican with Prohibition sympathies, and his influence in local affairs is always cast on the side of progress.

His marriage to Miss Shaffer occurred on Oc- tober 4, 1880, at the M. E. parsonage at Stan- ton, Penn., the Rev. Mr. Laverty performing the ceremony. They have had five children: Edna P. and Nora E. (twins) only lived two months; Grace G., born July 17, 1882, Minnie E .. March 24, 1886, and Walter A., April 3. ISSS, are all at home. Mrs. Smith was born August 3, 1860, in Beaver township, Jefferson county, and in both paternal and maternal lines is descended from early settlers in Northumber- land county, Penn. Her father, Isaac Shaffer, was born in that county in 1829, and in 1844 ac-

companied his parents, Isaac and Christina (Geist) Shaffer, to Jefferson county where they cleared a farm in the then wilderness of Beaver township. There he met and married Miss Re- becca Geist, also a native of Northumberland county, born in 1831. Her parents, George and Barbara (Keller) Geist, came to Jefferson county in 1847, and located in Ringgold town- ship, where her father died; her mother passed away some years later at Cool Spring. They had the following children: Ellen, who died at the age of seven years; Lafayette, a merchant and farmer at Cool Spring; George A., a school teacher, who died suddenly one night after re- tiring, aged twenty-one years, eight months and nineteen days; Katie, Mrs. Smith; Jennie, who married Henry Deitrick, a farmer in Beaver township, and died in 1893; Franklin C., now residing at the old homestead; and Minnie, wife of Isaac Merritt, a lumberman at Cool Spring

Ǥ W. SCHUCKER, whose name is insepara- bly connected with the agricultural and in- dustrial interests of Brady township, is a worthy representative of one of the old and honored families of Clearfield county, his paternal grand- father having come here from Berks county, Penn., as early as 1817. He located in Brady township one mile east of Troutville, on the farm now owned by the Island Coal Company, and there continued to make his home until his death, which occurred a number of years ago. He took a prominent and active part in the early develop- ment of this region, and was recognized as one of its most valued citizens.

Michael Schucker, the father of our subject, was the eldest in the family of six children. George, the second son, was born in Brady town- ship, married Miss Boohide, and was killed by a tree falling on him while engaged in lumbering. Mrs. Goodman, Mrs. Hoy and Mrs. Varick all made their homes in Centre county, Penn., where their deaths occurred. Katie married Mr. Zieg- ler, and came to Brady township, Clearfield connty, residing one mile south of Luthersburg, where both she and her husband died.

Michael Schucker was a native of Tulpehocken township, Berks Co., Penn., and, on reaching manhood, was married to Miss Mary A. Ellinger. They made their home upon the old farm near Luthersburg, where both passed away, the mother in 1875. and the father in 1886. In their family were the following children: (1) Rachel married Godfrey Weaver, and resides on a farm in Hunt- ingdon county. Penn. They have two children- George and Eleanora. (2) Sarah died in child-

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 112

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