USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 14
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In May, 1863, he was married to Miss Cath- erine Penrose, of Ross township, Jefferson coun- ty. Seven children have blessed this union, of whom six are living, viz .: Willbart Wade; Clarinda Ella, wife of A. M. Wadding: Laura Levina, wife of I. F. Davis; Amer; Ray Henry. and Clinton, the three last mentioned being still at home. Mr. Richards and his wife are active workers in the M. E. Church, and he holds the office of steward. With his war record, he is also a member of the G. A. R. He is a Re-
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publican, but has no aspirations for political place, although he has served as road commis- sioner when chosen to that post of duty ..
J OHN R. PANTALL is a leading factor in commercial circles in Punxsutawney, and has attained prestige in business pursuits by the exercise of those qualities which never fail to command success-energy, enterprise and good management. To-day he ranks among the lead- ing citizens of Punxsutawney, and well merits the high regard which is given him in trade and social circles.
Mr. Pantall was born August 10, 1838, at Port Barnett, Jefferson county, a son of James and Elizabeth (Reece) Pantall. His father was born in 1797, in England, and in 1825 came to America, taking up his residence in Philipsburg, Centre Co., Penn. There he worked for Hard- man Philips, who established one of the first screw factories in the United States. He was a miller by trade, however, and afterward con- ducted business along that line at Port Barnett until 1839, when he came to Punxsutawney. Here he engaged in the milling business for five years, and then purchased and moved to the farm now owned by our subject. There he spent the remainder of his life, and in his agricultural pursuits won prosperity. He died in 1882 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His estimable wife was a native of Herefordshire, England, and died in April, 1867.
John R. Pantall had only the advantages of the common schools in his youth, and these were inferior in their methods of instruction. He vividly recalls the first Sabbath-school which he ever attended, it being held in a little building with puncheon floor and seats formed of logs into which pegs were driven. He assisted in the work of the home farin until seventeen years of age when he engaged in the lumber business, and, for thirty years, he followed that pursuit, his in- dustry and steady application bringing to him a comfortable competence. His labors were in- terrupted in 1864 by his enlistment in Company B, 74th P. V. I., in which he served until the .. close of the war. Returning to his home Mr. Pantall resmined lumbering, which he followed continuously until 1894. During all that time he carried on his farm and engaged in stock deal- ing. He has always been a thrifty and progress- ive citizen, following the most improved methods in the conduct of his business. He came to Punxsutawney in 1891, and is now the owner of valuable property there. He was one of the or- ganizers of the First National Bank of Punxsu-
tawney. For many years he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he has always been an ardent Demo- crat, and caine within forty-two votes of being elected county sheriff at a time when the county was largely Republican. A friend of education, he has given to his children excellent advantages in that direction. He has always supported the measures that have tended to develop the coun- ty's best interests. In 1860 Mr. Pantall was mar- ried to Miss Margaret F. Mahaffey, daughter of James Mahaffey, of Centre county. She died in October, 1861, and in 1865 he was married to Mrs. Martha J. Douglass, daughter of David and Ester (Terry) Benton, of Clarksburg, W. Va. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a cousin of the statesman, Hon. Thomas Benton, of Missouri.
Mrs. Pantall had one daughter by her first marriage, Kate Douglass, now the wife of Dr. J. M. Grube, of Lindsey. Her uncle, William H. Douglass, was a very prominent citzen. He was appointed, by President Lincoln, one of the com- missioners to separate West Virginia from the Old Dominion. Our subject and wife have two sons and four daughters, namely: John Irvin, who for nine years has been connected with the First National Bank of Punxsutawney, is mar- ried to Miss Agnes McGuire, of Albion, Erie Co., Penn .; Bertha (deceased) was the wife of Dr. John Grube, of Braddock, Penn. ; Della M. (also deceased); Fannie F. was educated at Waynes- burg College, Penn .; while Lulu May and Walter Benton are graduates of the Punxsutawney High School. The parents of these are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Pantall is serving as elder.
S EBASTIAN CASPER CHRIST, an active and energetic citizen of Brookville, and pro- prietor of the well-known Brookville Brewery, was born in Hesse-Nassau, Germany, in 1838, a son of Sebastian and Agnes (Steinmetz) Christ, who spent their entire lives in that country. There our subject obtained a liberal education in the commnon schools, which he attended until fourteen years of age, and for nine months was a student in the high school.
In 1854 Mr. Christ bade farewell to friends and native land and sailed for America. stopping first in New York City for about six months. He then came to Brookville, Penn., but remained only a few weeks, going thence to Indiana, Penn., where he served an apprenticeship to the saddler's trade. He then set out as a journey-
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John Rantal.
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man, working at his trade in various places in this State, including Pittsburg. In 1858 he're- turned to Brookville, where he opened a harness and saddle store of his own, conducting the same for three years with good success. On selling out in 1861, Mr. Christ returned to his native land, where he spent about fourteen months, and on the expiration of that period again crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Brookville. Here he established a brewery, which he has since successfully carried on, man- ufacturing about 3,000 barrels of beer annually, and his trade extending throughout Brookville and for forty miles in the surrounding country. In 1895 he met with a misfortune, his brewery being destroyed by fire. but with his character- istic energy he at once rebuilt, and his plant is furnished with all modern improved- appliances.
In January, 1861, Mr. Christ was united in marriage with Miss Florence C. Smith, a daughter of John Smith, one of the prominent citizens and pioneers of Jefferson county. Six children bless this union, namely: John S., who was born when his parents were on a visit to Ger- many, and is now in the employ of his father; Frederick S., a resident of Brookville; Kate D., wife of W. E. Snyder, a blacksmith, of the same place; Mary, wife of Harry Smathers, a harness dealer of Brookville; Frank, also of Brookville; and Eva. The father of these, since becoming an American citizen, has always affiliated with the Democratic party, but at present is anxiously awaiting a satisfactory settlenient of the financial question. He is a man of decided views, sound judgment and common sense, and it is his desire to deal fairly and honestly with his fellow men.
A LBERT REYNOLDS. Men blessed with the gift of foresight are often to be envied. It is a precious attribute, and in business affairs it blazes the path that leads to honor and suc- cess. The pioneers, who left homes of comfort and penetrated the deep recesses of a wilderness to carve out anew a local habitation and a name. were brave men indeed, and their courage won the meed of fertile lands and peaceful homes. Twice blessed were they, who discerned in the new land its future possibilities, who had the courage of their convictions, and who moulded their actions along the lines of growth and de- velopment, unperceived by the masses.
The subject of this sketch, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Reynolds- ville. Jefferson county, proprietor and manager of the opera house, and an extensive real-estate operator. is a native of the town wherein he now 7.1
resides, and his dwelling place is a portion of the old homestead. He has witnessed the transfor- mation scene from wilderness to modern culture, save in its earliest manifestations, and before him his father, Woodward Reynolds, led the band of hardy pioneers, to whom is due the credit of earliest occupancy in that locality. Wood- ward Reynolds was in many ways a remarkable man. He was born at Kittanning, Armstrong county, Penn., in January, 1810, son of David and Mary (Woodward) Reynolds, who were rep- resentatives of a thrifty, energetic and prominent people. David Reynolds followed general farm- ing. and also conducted a prosperous hotel busi- ness at Kittanning. After a busy and successful life, he died at that place at a ripe old age. In politics he was a Democrat, and he and his good wife were members of the Episcopal Church. Woodward Reynolds remained with his parents on a farm at Kittanning until his marriage in April; 1838, to Miss Amelia A. Ross. The young couple immediately started for a home in the wilderness, and came to the present site of Rey- noldsville, then an unbroken forest. Arriving here he took up 300 acres of land, which was the gift of his father. When he first arrived he , moved into a log cabin, called Potter house, which he occupied until 1850. It stood on the spot where his son Albert, subject of this sketch, now resides. When Mr. Reynolds settled here his nearest neighbor, John Fuller, lived three miles away. Mr. Reynolds from time to time added to his land until he became the owner of 1, 100 acres, for which he paid only $1.50 per acre. He kept a "public house " at his log cabin, as the hostelries of that day were known. and in 1850 he caused a sensation in that part of the county by erecting the brick hotel, which now stands at the corner of Woodward and Main streets. He felled his own timber and burned his own brick for the new venture. It contained twelve rooms and two large halls, and people shook their heads and muttered to each other and said that Mr. Reynolds must have gone com- pletely daft to build so fine and large a hotel at Reynoldsville. It has since been enlarged. and was sold by Mrs. Reynolds in 1887. This noted pioneer died January 21, 1861, and is buried in Beulah cemetery.
His widow still survives, a bright old lady now in her eighty-first year, whose misfortune it was, in July, 1892, to be injured by a serious fall, from the effects of which she has not fully recovered. She was born at Philadelphia, Penn .. June 5, 1817, a daughter of John and Susan (Hays) Ross, natives of England, who in early life had emigrated to America. John and Susan
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Ross were married at Philadelphia December 23, 1813, and three years later removed to Worth- ington, Armstrong Co., Penn., where George Ross became county surveyor, and for twenty years he taught school. He and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church. They lived for many years at Worthington, and there died and were buried. Mrs. Reynolds lives at the old homestead with her daughter, Ida M .. and both are members of the Presbyterian Church. The children of Woodward and Amelia A. Rey- nolds are as follows: David, a farmer of Rey- noldsville, Penn .; John, who died at Reynolds- ville September 26, 1871, aged thirty-one years and fourteen days; Albert, subject of this sketch, born April 23, 1842; Mary, wife of Cassius Gib- son, a merchant of Reynoldsville; Joanna, who died December 25, 1866, aged nineteen- years, two months and twenty-eight days; Isabella, who died July 9, 1848, aged two years; Minerva, wife of L. L. Seely, a farmer living in Kansas; . Har- riet, wife of Joseph Morrow, a Reynoldsville merchant; Richard, who died October 31, 1880, aged twenty-six years; Ida M , living with her mother at Reynoldsville: Lida T., wife of Frank P. Miller, of Reynoldsville; and Susan, wife of Charles Montgomery, a railroad engineer living at Sligo, Pennsylvania.
Albert Reynolds was a youth of nineteen years. living with his parents, when the Rebellion opened. Our subject was born in Perry township, Jef- ferson county, June 21, 1865, and is a son of George W. . and Sarah J. (Jordan) Newcome, who were born, reared and married in that coun- ty, where both families were established at an nearly day. The paternal grandfather, John New- come, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, became a pioneer of Jefferson county, where his death occurred, and the maternal grandfather, Alex- ander Jordan, also an early settler, improved a farm here, and died thereon at the age of sixty- five. In religious belief he was a Cumberland Presbyterian. Mrs. Newcome was the eldest of his five children, the others being Phoebe, Emma, James and Joseph. George W. Newcome, fa- ther of our subject, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Perry township, where after his marriage he improved a farm in the midst of the forest, and in connection with agricultural pur- suits became extensively interested in lumbering. He is still one of the honored and highly es- teemed citizens of that township. His wife, who He enlisted August 29, 1861, for three years, in Company H, togth P. V. I., with Captain A. H. Tracy, and later, Captain Conser. The 105th saw hard service when Mr. Reynolds was with it. He participated in many severe engagements, including the battles of Fredericksburg, Williams- burg, the Wilderness, etc., but through it all he escaped without wounds. He was honorably discharged August 29, 1864. Returning home he did not for several years actively engage in business. In 1870 he became interested in real estate, and has since been largely identified with transactions of that character. A year later he was appointed notary public, and has since con- tinuously served in that capacity. In 1886 he was elected chief burgess of Reynoldsville, and in 1895 was elected councilman for a term of three years. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic Order, and is also a member of Rey- noldsville Post, and of the G. A. R. In poli- tics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Reynolds is one of the leading citizens of Reynoldsville, departed this life April 11, 1897, held member- and, aside from the prestige that is rightfully his by virtue of his long and intimate identifi- cation with its many interests, his natural busi- ness talents have won for hint a commanding respect and esteem from his fellowmen.
In July, 1881, Mr. Reynolds was married to ~Mrs. Julia A. (Howlett) Green, who was born in Reynoldsville November 27, 1851, daughter of George and Laura (Ferris) Howlett. George Howlett was an Englishman by birth, who emi- grated to America in 1845. He settled first in New York State, and in 1850 came to Reynolds- ville, where he engaged in lumbering. Here his wife died in 1858, aged thirty years. Mr. How- lett enlisted in Company H, 105th P. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks May 31, 1862, aged thirty-five years, leaving children, as follows: Jennie, now wife of J. S. Morley, a retired merchant at Andover, Ohio: Julia A., wife of our subject; John W., a mine operator at Reynoldsville; Mary, wife of Milton Sloppy, constable at Du Bois, Penn .; Gordon, a tanner at Sterling, Iowa, and George, a carpenter at Andover, Ohio.
J OHN A. NEWCOME, M. D., of Sigel, Jef- ferson county, stands to-day as one of the most prominent representatives of the medi- cal profession in his section of the State. . By the exercise of his natural and acquired powers, and the improvement of every opportunity which has come to him, he has succeeded in securing an enviable prestige in his chosen calling.
ship in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In their family were nine children, namely: Oran: John A., our subject; William C., a phy- sician of Big Run, Jefferson county: Irvin L .: Ella: Anna M., deceased: Edward M., a me-
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hanic by trade; and Mary A. and Lucy L., both at home.
7 Dr. Newcome was reared upon the home tarm, and acquired his literary education in the country schools, after which he successfully en- aged m teaching for nine terms. In the mean- ume. under the direction of Dr. W. F. Byer, he began reading medicine, which he continued for about four years, a part of the time under the preceptorship of another physician. In 1890 he entered the Western Pennsylvania Medical Col- lege at Pittsburg, where for two years he attended lectures, and, after his graduation in 1892, lo- cated at Sigel, where he succeeded Dr. J. C. Wilson in his practice. He has met with excel- lent results, and merits and receives the confi- dence of the entire community as well as a liberal share of the public patronage. He is a member ot the County Medical Society, the State Medical society and the American Medical Association.
On August 15, 1889, Dr. Newcome was united in marriage with Miss Ella May Gourley, who was born December 5, 1865, a daughter of Craw- ford and Ellen (Grube) Gourley, early settlers of Jefferson county. Crawford Gourley was born and reared on a farm in that county, and for a number of years successfully engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, later turning his attention to mer- chandising in Punxsutawney for a few years, but has since returned to the farm, where he still re- sides. His children are: Minnie and Ella May (twins), the foriner being the wife of O. F. Be- dell. a civil engineer, and the latter the wife of our subject; Molly J., wife of Dr. H. Stunkard; Russell C., a practicing physician; and David G., a fariner by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Gourley are consistent members of the Presbyterian ' Church, with which Dr. Newcome and his wife are also connected, while socially he affiliates with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Knights of Pythias. They have two children: Virginia B., born February 24, 1893; and Leila May, born March 9, 1896.
Thomas Gourley, Mrs. Newcome's paternal grandfather, was born in Ireland, came to Amer- ica at an early day, settling in Perry township. He married Eleanor Adams, and had a numerous family of children.
A B. STONER, a well-known citizen of Big Run, Jefferson county, is one of the hon- ored veterans of the Civil war, having entered the service at the beginning of the struggle and re- mained until its close. Except when ill with; fever he was ever ready for duty, and he took part in some of the mnost noted battles of the war.
As a citizen he is highly esteemed for his excel- lent qualities, and on more than one occasion he has been called to take some local office, being at present a member of the borough council.
Mr. Stoner was born October 12, 1840, in Blair county, Penn., the son of George and Rachel (Noble) Stoner, both of whom were born, reared and married in that county. The father, who was a lock-tender on a canal, died between 1850 and 1860, and his wife survived him but a few years. At the time of her death there were four children living: (2) Margaret, who was born in Blair county, married James Owens, of Clearfield county, and resided at Clearfield where Mr. Owens died some years ago, leaving five children -- Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Rey- nard: Rebecca, Mrs. James Wood; and Mary, Nannie and George, who are at home. (3) Emma, also born in Blair county, received a cominon-school education, and was married to George Reama, of Brady township, Clearfield county. They went to Michigan and later to Coffee county, Kansas, where she died leaving two sons-Dan and Scot. (4) George, a native of Blair county, at the age of eighteen enlisted early in the Civil war, in the 125th P. V. I., and died from fever while in the service. He was not married.
A. B. Stoner, the eldest of the children, was taken to Jefferson county when a boy by an uncle, Christian Stoner, and not long after his arrival he inade his home with Joseph Keller, of Gaskill township. Jefferson county, with whom he re- mained until 1861. He then enlisted in Com- pany I, 62nd P. V. I., with Captain Robert Means, of Brookville, and after being sworn into the State service at Pittsburg they went to Har- risburg where they took the oath as soldiers under the general government. They were then sent to Washington by way of Baltimore, and on re- ceiving their equipment, marched across the river to Arlington Heights, where they spent the following winter drilling and doing picket duty. In the spring of 1862 they marched down the Potomac to Fortress Monroe, and joining Mc- Clellan's forces proceeded to Yorktown to en- gage in the siege. After the evacuation of that place they marched toward Richmond. skirmish- ing all the way, and at Hanover Court House they had a sharp fight. Later they were in the seven-days' struggle on the Peninsula, participat- ing in the battles of Gaines Hill, White Oak Swamp, where they fought all day, and Malvern Hill, where both sides sustained severe losses.
For some time Mr. Stoner's regiment was en- camped on the James river, but they finally re- ceived orders to march by way of Aquia Creek to
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Fredericksburg and on to Bull Run, where they arrived in time for the famous second battle. Returning to Washington, they were next sent on to canipaign through Maryland, meeting the enemy at Mine Run and driving thein across the river, and then advancing to Hagerstown, where Mr. Stoner was taken ill with fever. He spent six weeks in a hospital in Philadelphia, on the corner of Sixteenth and Filbert streets, and was then taken to a convalescent camp at Washing- ton, but a relapse followed and he came near to death's door. . It was not until July, 1863, that he was able to rejoin his regiment, which was then stationed at Culpeper Court House to guard the Alexandria railroad. They remained there until the spring of 1864, when, Mr. Stoner's time having expired, he re-enlisted " for three years, or the war." As a part of Grant's army the regiment joined in the fiercely contested bat- tle of the Wilderness, being on the field the first two days, and were also in two bloody engage- ments at Laurel Hill. During the second, which occurred May 12, 1864, only four regiments were engaged, and the 62nd Pennsylvania lost sixty out of three hundred men. From that time they were continually skirmishing with the Rebels, and on reaching Petersburg, they had a regular battle. For a time they were employed in building forts and breastworks, and then moving to the right they met the enemy at the " Telow House," on the Weldon railroad, and fought a pitched battle, with a heavy loss to both armies. Our troops were victorious, however, and captured about six hundred prisoners. In July, 1864, Mr. Stoner was transferred to Company I. 155th P. V. I .. and was detailed to drive a team on the ammu- nition train, and this post was held by him until the war closed. After Lee's surrender the train drove through Richmond and on to Washington, where the teams were turned over to the govern- ment. Mr. Stoner took part in the Grand Re- view, and, with other veterans of his company, was transferred to Company H. 19ist P. V. I., from which he was discharged at Harrisburg, on June 28, 1865. On returning home he engaged in lumbering, and has continued until the present time getting ont square timber and rafting it down the Mahoning to the markets along the Allegheny. Since 1890 he has also been in the employ of the B. R. & P. railroad, as a watch- man and track-walker.
In May, 1867, Mr. Stoner was married to Miss M. J. McPherson, of Big Run, and soon afterward he bought a house and lot in that bor- ough, and established a permanent home. Later he built a fine two-story residence and made other improvements, and he now owns one of the
pleasantest homes in the vicinity. Of his five children two are married: (1) M. E., born in May, 1869, was educated in the school of Big Run and married B. H. Briggs, formerly of Hunting- don county, Penn , now a resident of Big Run. At present he is employed as section foreman on the B. R. & P. railroad. They have three chil- dren-Dessie, Herman and Isabella. (2) Jessie E., born June 24, 1873, married F. B. Dawson, then of Butler county, Penn. He was a tele- graph operator at Big Run for a number of years, but in 1897 moved to Rockton, Clearfield county. Penn., where he is general manager of the tele- graph office. Two sons, Albert and Donald, were born of this union. (3) George E., born August 12, 1875; (4) Rulie E., born March 11; 1878, and (5) John Elis, born February 24. 1882, are all at home.
Mr. Stoner is a Republican in his political affiliations, and takes an active interest in party affairs. He has held office as constable and school director, and is now serving his third term as councilman. The family are identified with the Presbyterian Church, and he and his wife are prominent members of the congregation at Big Run.
E .DWARD NORTON. SR., is the efficient superintendent of the tanning department of the Elk Tannery Company, a position which he has occupied since November, 1892. He was born in Ulster county, N. Y., in 1842, a son of Thomas and Bridget (Connelly) Norton, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and came to Ulster county, N. Y. There they established a home, but afterward removed to Sullivan coun- ty. The father died in 1880, at Tioga, Penn. His widow is still living in that city, at the age of seventy-four years. They had a family of three children, namely: Edward, of this sketch: Mrs. Catherine Farrel, of Corning, N. Y. : and Jennie, who is living with her mother in Tioga.
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