Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 16

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 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 16

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).

In February, 1889, Dr. Grube was married to Miss Bertha Pantall. of Jefferson county, and to them was born a daughter, Edna Lucile, aged six years. The mother and wife died in 1896, and in December, 1897, the Doctor was married to Miss Minnie McClelland Newkirk, of Pittsburg. Penn. The mother of these is a consistent men- ber of the Smithfield St. Methodist Church of Pittsburg, and socially the Doctor is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he has been a lifelong Republican, and is an enthusiastic ad- vocate of the principles of his party.

S COTT MCCLELLAND. of Brookville. Jef- ferson county, is one of the leading citizens of that locality, and has filled most ably and ac- ceptably a number of county offices. He is a

1178

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

native of Jefferson county, born in 1843, in Wash- ington township.

His father, the late Oliver McClelland, a suc- cessful agriculturist, was born in Hagerstown, Md., and came to Pennsylvania when a inere lad, locating in Centre county, where he inet Miss Mary Ann McConnell, a native of the coun- ty. They both moved to Jefferson county, and were afterward married. She passed to her eternal rest in 1875, and in 1882 the father fol- lowed her, closing in peace a life which was re- markable for its quiet, even tenor. a reflection of his own mild disposition and devotion to duty.

Peter and Margaret Schrecengost. the parents of our subject, were born, reared and married in Armstrong county, Penn., where the father fol- lowed farming until his death, which occurred in 1854, his homestead being at West Valley. His wife died at the home of a daughter in Rural Valley, in June, 1872. In their family were twelve children, all natives of Armstrong county: Scott McClelland had the good fortune to be reared to farm life, the first twenty years of his life being spent at home. The neighboring dis- trict schools gave him an elementary education, of which he has made excellent use. For four or five years after leaving home he worked in the woods at lumbering, but through an accident he received a cut on the knee which disabled him for rough physical labor. He turned to mercan- tile pursuits for a time, and after three or four years he went, in 1876, to Brookville as com- missioner's clerk, holding the position more than two years. In the fall of 1878 he was elected county treasurer, and served a term of three years. He was employed for a time as clerk in a mercantile establishment at Reynoldsville, and in office work at Du Bois, and then spent one year in the drug business at Brockwayville. In the fall of 1884 he was elected prothonotary of Jefferson county, and so well did he perform the duties of the office that he was re-elected in 1887 for another term of three years, making six years in all. At the expiration of the second term he went to Reynoldsville, and was engaged in the (1) Jacob married, and spent his entire life in that county. (2) Martin wedded Catharine Mc- Foust, and lived in Rural Valley until his death, but his widow now resides in Illinois. (3 Israel enlisted in 1862, in Company M, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served throughout the Civil war. He is now a resident of Eiderton, Armstrong county, where he married and has reared his family. (4) Michael died at the age of nineteen years. (5) Finley P., also one of the brave boys in blue, enlisted in 1862, in Com- pany M, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and died the following year at Martinsburg, Va., leaving a wife and two children. (6) Harmon. enlisted in 1862, in Company B, 139th P. V. I., was taken prisoner at Chancellorsville in 1863, and confined in Libby prison, where he was later exchanged. Rejoining his regiment, he served. until the close of the war. He is married and. lives on a farm near Crooked Creek, Armstrong county. (7) Sarah J. is the wife of Daniel Rosenberger, a fariner of West Valley, Arm- strong county, who also served in the Four- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Rebel- : hardware business there for three years, when he . lion. (8) Savilla E. married John Hertman,

In 1884 he was married to Miss . Pennsylvania Cavalry, and is now engaged in

Annie Matthews, a well-known resident of Jeffer- son county.

Mr. McClelland is a member of several fra- ternal orders, including the K. of P. and the 1. O. O. F., in which latter he is a past grand, and also belongs to the Encampment. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R., in recognition of a short term of service with the militia during the Civil war at the time of Morgan's raid. In politics he is a Republican, and he is an ever-ready sup- porter of the principles of his party.

J OSEPH M. SCHRECENGOST, a successful groceryman of Grove Summit, is one of the leading business men of Washington township, Jefferson county. His keen discrimination, great

sagacity and unbounded enterprise have been important factors in his success. He is public- spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his adopted county.

who was a member of Company M. Fourteenth farming in Rural Valley, Armstrong county. (9) Jerry died in childhood. (10) Christina died at the age of ten years. Of the two not named in the foregoing, one died in infancy and the other is the subject proper of this sketch.

J. M. Schrecengost was born in April. 1844, in Armstrong county, and was educated in its public schools. His father dying when he was , fifteen years of age, he went to live with his uncle, Christopher Schrecengost, his guardian. with whom he remained until the Civil war. In 1862 he joined Company B, 139th P. V. 1., under Capt. J. L. McKane, of Armstrong county, and was sworn into the United States service at Pittsburg. He then went to Camp Chase, and from there to Bull Run to assist in burying the dead, nine days after the battle at that place.

returned to Brookville and has since made his '

home there.

1179

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

Under a flag of truce they worked for three days during August, 1862, in performing that sacred luty. The first battle in which our subject par- ticipated was at Malvern Hill. After spending the winter at Falmouth, Va., his regiment started on its campaign, and on the 5th of May, 1863, took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where he was wounded. For some time he was con- fined in Columbia Hospital at Washington, D. C., and was then granted a thirty-days' furlough, which he spent at home. On rejoining his com- mand, he remained with the regiment until Sep- tember 19, 1863, when he was again wounded at the battle of Winchester by a minie ball passing through his arm. After a short time spent in the Philadelphia hospital he was granted another furlough and returned home, where, in the fall of 1864, he cast his ballot for Lincoln. He-rejoined his regiment in Virginia, later he participated in the four-days' battle of Gettysburg, and on his return to the Old Dominion was in the battle of Petersburg. The Union troops then followed Lee up to the time of his surrender at Appomat- tox, after which our subject's regiment was sent to North Carolina to meet the Rebel general, Kirby Smith. When he surrendered they re- turned to Washington in time to participate in the grand review, and at that place Mr. Schrecen- gost was discharged on June 5, 1865. After being paid off at Pittsburg he returned to his old home in Armstrong county.

In 1869 Mr. Schrecengost was united in mar- riage to Miss Katie McCoach, of Rural Valley, a daughter of James McCoach, and after one year spent upon his father-in-law's farm, he purchased a house and lot near Rural Valley, where they lived for two years. On selling out he embarked in the grocery business in Rockville, Armstrong county, bnt three years later disposed of his property there and went upon the road as a fruit agent It was in 1885 that he first came to Washington township, Jefferson county, where he engaged in lumbering until 1892, and then pur- chased property in Grove Summit, where he now successfully conducts a grocery store, having by fair and honorable dealing succeeded in building up a large trade. On January 5. 1890, Mr. Schrecengost died, leaving eight children. who were all born in Armstrong county with the ex- ception of the youngest. They are: (1) Will- iam E., born in 1870, married Carrie Kroah, of Brockwayville, by whom he has a son -- Roland -and they now reside in Brockwayville. (2) James T., born in March, 1872, married Mabel Ray, of Warsaw, Jefferson county, and they live on a farm in Sandy Valley, Jefferson county. (3) Bessie O., born July 12. 1873, was her father's

housekeeper after her mother,s death until her marriage in December, 1896, when she became the wife of Joseph Nelson, a conductor on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad. He was born and reared in southern Alabama. They made their home in Bradford, Penn .. until in January, 1898, when the husband resigned his position and went West. They are now located at Decatur, Ill., and the husband is in the rail- road service, running from Decatur to Chicago. (4) Walter R., born in April, 1876, is employed in the lumber woods. (5) Cora M., born June 12, 1878, resides in Bradford, Penn. (6) Ethel M., born in July, 1880, and (7) Amie B., born November 27, 1882, are both at home with their father; and (8) Robert F., born in Washington township, Jefferson county, in June. 1886. is also under the parental roof. The wife and mother was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, to which several of the children also be- long, and the family is one of prominence in the social circles of the community. Reared as a Whig, Mr. Schrecengost has been a stanch ad- vocate of Republican principles since the organi- zation of that party. He is everywhere recog- nized as one of the most upright and reliable business men, a loyal citizen, devoted to his country's interests, and a man of whom any com- munity might be proud.

J AMES DEGNAN. It has often been said that men succeed best at that for which they have a natural aptitude. It might be in- ferred from this that James Degnan. senior mem- ber of the prominent and successful lumber firin of Degnan & McDonald, of Reynoldsville. Jef- ferson county, had a liking for the trade; the in- ference would be correct. He not only has abil- ity, but he knows the business from the founda- tion up. His boyhood was spent in the woods, and he swung the axe when a lad in a way that brought him the respect of his elders, and made his services most valuable. He grew up in the work which he now honors, and it is needless to add that as a lumber merchant his is an eminent success.

Mr. Degnan was born October 4. 1845, in Susquehanna county, Penn., son of Michael and Rose (Flinn) Degnan, natives of Ireland, who immigrated to America in early life and settled upon a farm in Susquehanna county. In re- ligious faith they were Catholics. Michael Deg- nan, in politics, was a Democrat and a promi- 1 nent man in the community in which he lived, filling very creditably various local offices. to

1180

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

which he was elected, and held in high esteein by his fellow citizens. He died in 1854, aged fifty-four years, and his wife died in 1852, at the age of forty-nine. Both are buried in the Friends- ville (Penn.) cemetery, To Michael and Rose Degnan were born the following children: Mary, wife of John Keough, a carpenter and contractor of Binghamton, N. Y .; John (deceased); Cath- erine, who married Michael Collins, of Bing- hampton, N. Y., and is now deceased; Peter (deceased); Michael, living on the old homestead in Susquehanna county; Elizabeth, who married Christopher Halfin, an Erie railroad conductor at Hornellsville, N. Y., and is now deceased; James, subject of this sketch; Thomas, who died in 1896, and William, who also died in 1896.

The subject of this sketch remained on the home farm in Susquehanna county until he was sixteen years old. He then began his own ca- reer in life by engaging with a farmer for one year, receiving as compensation $60 and three months'schooling. He remained another year, re- ceiving $160 and also three months at school. Though kindly treated and loth to break the ties that bound him to this family, the young man realized that his services would command larger pecuniary returns. He went to Newark Valley, N. Y., and for a year worked for a tanning com- pany on a large farm. Then for six months he was engaged in lumbering in Sullivan county, Penn. A year at Beechwoods, Cameron county, was then spent, and the young woodsman came to Elk county, working there and in Clearfield county until June, 1875.

On July 18, 1873, at St. Marys, Elk county, Mr. Degnan was married to Miss Nancy A. Mc- Cune, who was born at Bennesetz, Elk county, July 12, 1853, daughter of Arthur and Alice (Hayes) McCune, natives of Counties Armagh and Wexford respectively. They emigrated to America, in 1848, and settled in Centerville, Elk county. Later, in 1872, they moved to St. Marys, where the father died in October, 1893, aged sixty-seven years. The mother, who was born in 1833, still resides at St. Marys.

Arthur McCune, in religions faith, was a Catholic, and in politics he was a Democrat. The children of Arthur and Alice McCune were as follows: John, a blacksmith, living in' Cali- fornia: Nancy A., wife of our subject; Mary, wife of Stephen Spland, a farmer and Inmber- man of Elk county; Arthur, a railroad man, at St. Mary's; Alice, wife of Page Prindle, of Ridg- way, Elk county; Catherine, who married Joseph McDary, a railroad baggage master at Ridgway, Penn., and is now deceased: Anna, wife of John Leha, a lumberman of Ridgway: Matthew, de-

ceased; Susan, Edward, and Elizabeth are all at home, and Sylvester is deceased.

The children born to James and Nancy A. Degnan are as follows: Mary died at the age of seven years; Elizabeth died in infancy ; and James, Anna Catherine, Nellie, Francis, Alice, Rose, William, Thomas and Gertrude, living. The father of these, in June, 1875, removed from St. Marys to Reynoldsville, where he purchased a home. He also purchased the half interest of J. B. Conners in the general store of Conners & Thomp- kins, and was thus engaged in inercantile busi- ness with Gus. Thompkins. Three months later the store was destroyed by fire at a loss of $4,000, covered only by $2,500 insurance, but the store was immediately rebuilt. A year later Mr. McDonald, the present partner of Mr. Deg- nan, purchased the interest of Mr- Thompkins. Six years later, in 1882, they sold the store. The mercantile firm of Degnan & McDonald had for several years been engaged also in a number of lumber transactions, and after disposing of their mercantile business they devoted their attention exclusively to lumbering and contracting. The firm is now one of the most enterprising in the county, and is doing a large and profitable busi- ness. Mr. Degnan is an earnest Democrat in political faith, and is also a member of the Catho- lic Church. He is an active member of the Royal Arcanum at Reynoldsville. He has keen, sound business judgment, and is regarded and es- teemed as one of the most prominent men of the county.

S OLOMON SHAFFER, a well-known lumber dealer of Reynoldsville, is one of the most energetic and progressive business men of Jeffer- son county, with whose industrial and commer- cial interests he has long been prominently iden- tified.

Born in Redbank township, Armstrong Co., Pen., June 13, 1852, he is a son of Jacob and Angeline (nec Stahlman, Shaffer, who had moved into Armstrong county from Clarion county, where they were born and reared. Throughout life the father was engaged in agricultural pur- suits, and by integrity and fair dealing won the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He died in 1866, surviving his wife about two years. her death having occurred in 1864.

The subject of thissketch had the advantages of only a common-school education in his youth, but by study and perseverance, by taking advan- tage of every opportunity and improving the same, he has succeeded in becoming a well-in-

--...

Solomon Schaffen

Shoffer

Mary,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1181

forined man. He spent his early years on the tarm, remaining with his father until the latter's deatlı, and still followed agricultural pursuits and attended school until he was eighteen years of age. when he sought a broader field of action and one better suited to his ideas of business. The lumber industry being at that time the para- mount business in Jefferson county, he concluded to master its principles. He sought and found employment with a lumber firmi, and continued in the employ of several firms in that line, win- ning the esteem of his several employers by his strict attention to business and loyal regard to their interests. In 1876 he concluded to go into business for himself, and, choosing the lumber business as his vocation and Reynoldsville as his base of operations, he, by strict attention to busi- ness, built up a large trade, and now ranks aniong the leading business inen of the county. Besides dealing in lumber, he manufactures the same, having a saw and planing mill at Falls Creek, Jefferson Co., Penn. A careful, industrious and conservative business man, he has met the well- deserved success that always follows in the wake of such business qualifications, and he has won the confidence of all with whom he has had busi- ness transactions by his honorable and straight- forward course.

In 1880 Mr. Shaffer was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Bloom, who was born in Punx- sutawney, Jefferson county. Robert and Eliza- beth (née Dougherty) Bouch, her parents, were natives of Armstrong county. Mr. Bouch was a brick maker by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Shaf- fer are the happy parents of six bright and inter- esting children, namely: Etta, Cora, Eula. Twilla. Zelma and Walter, who with Mr. Bouch consti- tute a very pleasant and interesting family circle. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer and daughter Etta are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Earnest. conscientious Christians, they take a prominent and active interest in all Church affairs. Mr. Shaffer is a trustee, steward and class leader. and is also superintendent of the infant depart- inent of the Sunday-school. Being a strong temperance man he identified. himself with the Prohibition party, and has served as county chair- man of that party for several years. All worthy enterprises, having for their object the welfare of the community and the upbuilding of humanity, are sure to find in him an active and sympathiz- ing friend. He has creditably filled several town offices, but cares nothing for official distinction. All his actions are prompted by pure and honest inotives, and in all his varied relations, iu busi- ness affairs and social life. he has maintained a character and standing that have impressed all

i who know him with his sincere and manly pur- pose " To do unto others as he would have others do by him."

W ILLIAM M. BLOSE, Eso. The record of a noble act is a perpetual inspiration to right doing, and, as a popular author has said: " It exhibits what life is capable of being made. It refreshes our spirit, increases our hopes, gives us new strength and courage and faith-faith in others as well as ourselves." A soldier who could volunteer to carry a message across an open space which was swept by a storm of shot from the enemy's guns, and who, though wounded. could drag himself to his destination and accom- plish his errand, is a man worth knowing, and his memory should be preserved that future gen- erations may know what manner of inen were bred among the hills of Jefferson county in an earlier time.

Squire Blose, who is now a resident of Big Run, is a member of a pioneer family of Jeffer- son county, George Blose, his grandfather, hav- ing come from Westmoreland county, Penn., at an early date to settle at the present site of Per- rysville, where he made the first improvements. He died there many years ago, and his son Dan- iel, the Squire's father, who was born in West- moreland county in 1814, continued to reside in the same locality, his first homestead being about a mile and a half from Perrysville on a tract of land which he cleared and brought under cultiva- tion. He married Miss Isabella Hadden, and. after many years of residence at the old home- stead, he sold the place in 1858 and removed to Perrysville. His son comes honestly by his pa- triotism and courage, for, although well advanced in years when the Civil war broke ont, Daniel Blose enlisted in 1861 in Company G. 105th P. V. I., and served until discharged for disabil- ity in 1862. His wife, a mnost estimable woman. died in 1866, but he attained the advanced age of eighty-one, passing to his final rest in June. 1895. This worthy couple had five children, all of whom are living: (1) Ellen, born in 1842 at Perrysville, married Richard Donahue, a farmer. who settled first near Jacksonville, Indiana Co .. Penn, but afterward sold his property there and bought a farm in Armstrong county. He died some years ago leaving four children-Verne. Alice, Clark and Charles. (2) William M., our subject, is mentioned more fully farther on. (3) Mary, born in 1846, was educated in the com- mon schools of Perrysville, Perry township. Jef- ferson county, and married John De Haven, of the saine locality. He worked for a few years in

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1182

McClure's mills at Big Run, but later moved to Perrysville, where he died, leaving four children -Mattie, who is married and lives in Indiana county; Clarence, a civil engineer in California; Nora and Charles. The widow has since inar- ried Peter Washington, of Indiana county, by whom she has had several children. (4) Thomas S., born in 1848. at Perrysville, is now a farmer in Oliver township, Jefferson county. He mar- ried Miss Jennie Smith, of the same county, and has five children-May, now attending school; Blanche: Earl, Clyde and Cloye. (5) Annie, born in 1850, married Willianı S. Dilts, a fariner in Perry township, Jefferson county, and has had four children-Benton, Clyde, Louie, who died in childhood, and Olive.

Our subject was born in March, 1844, at the old home in Perry township, Jefferson county, where he passed his youth. In August, 1861, when but seventeen years old, he enlisted in Coni- pany A, 105th P. V. I., and after being mustered in at Pittsburg was taken to Washington, D. C. His regiment marched from that city to the seat of war in Virginia, joining the Third Army Corps under McClellan. Their first engagement was at Accuakoyn, whence they went by boat to Fort- ress Monroe to take part in the Peninsula cam- paign. Then came the second battle of Bull. Run on August 30, 1862, when they were driven back to Alexandria and sustained severe losses. The battle of Chantilly followed, then came a month of hard fighting at Fredericksburg. On May 1, 1863, they met the enemy at Chancellors- ville, the battle continuing three days, and the next engagement was at Gettysburg on the Ist, 2nd and 3rd of July, 1863, under General Meade. This struggle took place on an open field. and the losses on both sides were heavy. After the battle a re-organization was necessary, and William Blose's regiment was transferred to the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, under General Hancock. They crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry on their way to meet General Lee's forces, and at Kelly's Ford, Va., they won a victory. In the next engagement, at Mine Run, Mr. Blose was wounded in the right knee by a minie ball, and as he refused to go to a general hospital he was treated in the field hospital. As his terin of service expired in the winter of 1863. he re-enlisted, and, after spending a month at home on furlough, he rejoined the army on Feb- ruary 1, 1864, at Petersburg. his regiment being still under the command of Grant and Meade. On May 5. 1864, they engaged in the battle of the Wilderness, where Mr. Blose, who had been promoted to the rank of corporal in 1863, was on duty at the Po River. From this time the fight-

ing was almost constant, the battles at Spottsyl- yania, North Anna, and Cold Harbor in June, and at Deep Bottomn and Reain's Station in July. being especially severe, while the mine explosion of July was a historic episode. The operations around Petersburg continued until April, 1865, and in September, 1864, Mr. Blose offered to carry a dispatch from Colonel Craig, who com- manded the besieging force, across an open field to the rifle pit on the picket line. The distance was not long, but the risk of being shot was so great that there wa's but one chance in a thou- sand of getting through the volley of bullets safely. One well-aimed shot hit the brave mes- senger in the left ankle causing him to fall, but he crawled the rest of the way on his hands and knees and delivered the dispatch to the officer in charge of the picket line. He remained in the rifle pit until after dark when he was carried back to the line of battle, where Col. Craig personally welcomed him. For this brave deed Mr. Blose was promoted to the rank of first sergeant. After a month in a field hospital he returned to active service, being in time to take part in the fight at Hatcher's Run in October, and the other battles of that campaign, including those of Sail- or's Creek, Farmville and Appomattox. In Feb- ruary. 1865, he was commissioned second lieu- tenant, and at the Grand Review in Washington he was in cominand of Company A, 105th P. V. I. On July 11, 1865, he was mustered out at Pittsburg, and, on returning to Perrysville, he prepared to enter upon business life by learning the details of tanning leather and manufacturing harness.

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 16

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