Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 2

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 2
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 2
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 2
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 2

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Being a stalwart Democrat, Mr. Jenks. in the fall of 1874, was tendered the Democratic nomination for Congress in the Twenty-fifth Pen- sylvania District against Hon. Harry White. The district was strongly Republican, but our subject's personal popularity and the " tidal wave " elected him to the Forty-fourth Congress. Speaker Kerr appointed him chairman of the committee on In- vald Pensions. A masterly report on the condi- tion and working of the pension bureau, derived from an investigation by order of the House, he ! made, and followed this by a bill which was cal-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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culated to prevent further abuses. Bounty land warrants, which before this had been personal property, had become the plunder of a dishonest ring, which at one single time had seized upon over 100,000 acres of land, were changed to realty through his efforts, and so guarded that only the rightful owners, their legal heirs or assigns, could obtain them. Mr. Jenks' forensic ability first be- came known to the House in a discussion con- cerning the character of an invalid pension. He had asserted that an invalid pension for death or disability of a soldier in the service in the line of his duty was a contract right. This was denied by some of the leading Republicans in the House, who alleged it was a mere gift or gratuity. and a warm debate ensued, at the conclusion of which Mr. Jenks made a legal argument tracing the leg- islation of the subject from and since the Revo- lutionary war, and establishing so conclusively the position he assumed that it has not since been denied. This was soon succeeded by a le- gal discussion concerning the refusal of Hallett Kilbourne to testify before a committee of the House.

The legal prominence Mr. Jenks had already attained led the House to elect him as one of the seven managers on the part of the House to con- duct the impeachment of Secretary Belknap, the others being Messrs. Lord, Knott, Lynde, Mc- Mahon, Hoar and Lapham. On that trial be- fore the Senate the defendant was represented by three leading lawyers of the nation-Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, Hon. Matt H. Carpenter and Hon. Montgomery Blair. Mr. Jenks was elected by the managers as one of the committee to draw the pleadings. He was afterward appointed to make one of the arguments on the question of the jurisdiction of the Senate to impeach after the officer had resigned. and subsequently, in consequence of the illness of Mr. Lapham, he was selected to discuss the facts. His legal at- tainments were on this trial made conspicuous to the Senate and the Nation, and conceded to be unsurpassed by any in the cause.

The subject of the distribution of the Geneva award came before the House on majority and minority reports. From the judiciary committee, Mr. Jenks offered an amendment to the majority report, and in support of the amendment and re- port as amended made an argument involving some of the most difficult questions of interna- tional law. The report as amended by him was. passed by the House. Soon after the meeting of the second session he was appointed, by Speaker Randall, one of the committee of fifteen to in- vestigate the conduct of the elections in Louis- iana, and on his return was appointed by the

chairman of the Democratic caucus, with Mr. Field, of New York, and Mr. Tucker, of Virginia, to represent the Democracy of the House in pre- paring, presenting and discussing the facts and the law before the electoral commission. It tell to Mr. Jenks to make the opening arguments in the cases of Louisiana and Oregon. While he was engaged in the discussion of the first of these cases before the commission, Senators Thurman and Bayard sat side by side. Senator Bayard passed a note of admiration of the argu- ment to Senator' Thurman, and in response re- ceived the following reply-" The more I hear this man the more I like him. He speaks like a Newton or a La Place. He has spoken a half i hour and has not spoken a superfluous word. " This complimentary opinion was generally con- curred in by those who heard or read the pro- ceedings before the electoral commission. In most of the legal discussions that arose in the House, Mr. Jenks participated in addition to the full performance of his duties on the very labor- ions committee of which he was chairman.

At the expiration of his congressional term, Mr. Jenks immediately resumed his professional pursuits, in which he has ever since been en- gaged. His extensive practice has included almost every branch that arises in the State, and covers a very broad range of its area. On July 1, 1885, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior, which office he resigned May 15. 1886, to accept the position of attorney for John E. Du Bois, the wealthy Clearfield county lum- berman. He accepted this appointment, giving up his official position at Washington, in compli- ance with a promise made by him to John Du Bois, the uncle of his client. prior to his ap- pointment as Assistant Secretary of the Interior, that he would take charge of all legal business for his nephew.

On July 28, 1886, Mr. Jenks was nominated as Solicitor General of the United States, and next day was confirmed by the Senate without the nomination being referred to a committee- a rare compliment seldom made to any one who had not been a member of that body. When this appointment was offered. Mr. Jenks would not accept until he had sent for Mr. Du Bois and obtained his consent, as he had promised the elder Du Bois before his death that he would serve his nephew and heir for a period of years. and felt that promise must take precedence over any other consideration. Mr. Du Bois cordially consented to the appointment, and our subject employed Hon. W. P. Jenks to assist in dischary- ing the duties under the contract with Mr. Du- Bois. This appointment and that of As-istant

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Secretary of the Interior came to him entirely unsolicited. He was recommended to President Cleveland by Secretary Lamar, who had served with him in the Forty-fourth Congress, and who remembered his unusual legal ability, although he had not seen him since March, 1877, and did not even know his address, getting it from Hon. W. H. Snowdon, or ex-Governor Curtin. The first intimation he had of his appointment as So- licitor General was when the place was offered him by the President, after he had summoned him to Washington by telegramn. This appoint- ment was made by Mr. Cleveland entirely on his own responsibility, basing his judgment largely on what he had seen of Mr. Jenks while the latter was acting as Assistant Secretary of the Interior, during which time he had come in contact with him frequently in the transaction of important business connected with the public lands under the direction of the Interior Department.

Mr. Jenks has always been an unswerving Democrat, and has been frequently honored by his party with the most important offices in their

. gift. His legal attainments are admitted on all sides, and that he is one of the ablest and most prominent men both Democrats and Republicans admit.

On January 3, 1860, Mr. Jenks wedded Miss Mary Agnes, daughter of the late Thomas Mabon. one of the oldest and best known citizens of Brookville, where our subject and his wife also make their home. Of the two children born to this union, Thomas Mabon died at the age of thirteen years; and Emina is the wife of Hon. B. F. Shively, of South Bend, Ind., who repre- sented his district in Congress for several terins, and in 1896 was the Democratic nominee for governor of Indiana.

EMANUEL SHEESLEY belongs to one of the prominent pioneer families of Gaskill town- ship, Jefferson county, where he is now engaged in lumbering and farming. He is a son of Lud- wig and Sophia Sheesley.

Ludwig Sheesley was born in Dauphin county. Penu., and in Maryland wedded Miss Sophia Kesterling, of that State, who died leaving a son John, who came with his father to Armstrong county, Penn., where he married and reared a family. For ten years Ludwig Sheesley lived in Armstrong county, after which he sold his farm and spent the succeeding six years in Indiana county. In 1849, accompanied by his son Emanuel, he came to Gaskill township; Jefferson county, where they purchased 320 acres of tim- ber land. and built a log house and barn. They

then began clearing the place, and the father brought his wife and children to the new home. There he remained until his death in 1863. In his family were children as follows: (1) Samuel, born in Maryland, went to Armstrong county, with his parents, and married Susanna Kener, of Indiana county, who died in 1895 leaving a large family. He now resides near Richmond, Penn. Annie E. is the wife of Nathan Miller, of Gaskill township. Jefferson county. (3) Mary died in childhood. (4) Michael died at the age of twen- ty-two years. (5) Rebecca, born in Armstrong county, became the wife of Nathan Woodsides. and died at their home in Gaskill township, in 1864, leaving five children, namely: William, George, Daniel, Sophia E. and Nancy. (6) George, born in Armstrong county. married Miss Cochran, and resides on the farm in Indi- ana county. They have a large family. (7) Lavina, born in Armstrong county. married George Helfrich, and after his death became the wife of John Robb, of Armstrong county. (8) Salem, born in the same county, married Jane Cochran, and for a number of years resided in Gaskill township, jefferson county, but is now living on a farm in Indiana county. (9) Levi, (10) Canedy, (11) Riley (12) Emanuel.

Emanuel Sheesley, of this review, was born in 1825 in Armstrong county, and in early man- hood learned the trade of a millwright under the direction of Thomas Reuter, of Indiana county. He followed that business for fourteen years, and in 1854 built the first sawmill in Gaskill town- ship, it being equipped with an . up-and-down " saw. He continued the manufacture of sawed lumber for a number of years, but in 1865 sold the milling property to one of his brothers, and purchased real estate in Grant township. Indiana county, where he made his home for eleven years, working at his trade most of the time. He then sold out and purchased 1 58 acres of pine and hard wood timber in Gaskill township, on the dividing line between Jefferson and Clearfield counties. He afterward sold this at a profit of $5,000, and purchased the old family homestead, upon which he is now living. He cared for his mother during her declining years, her death oc- curring at the age of eighty-three.

Our subject gives his political support to the Democracy, but has had neither time nor inclina- tion for public office, preferring to devote his ener- gies to his business affairs, in which he has met with well-merited success. He started out in lite empty-handed, but has steadily worked his way upward, and his excellent business and executive ability, combined with sound judgment, have brought to him prosperity.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

T HOMAS P. NORTH. On a fine farm in Young township, Jefferson county, stands the brick residence which is the home of this gentleman. In the rear are good barns and out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. These are surrounded with well-tilled fields, whose golden autumnn harvests reward the toil of the spring and summer months. The neat and thrifty appearance of this place well indicates the careful supervision of Mr. North, who is justly regarded as one of the leading and worthy farmers of Jefferson county.

Mr. North was born near his present home in : duties, and his fidelity to every trust reposed in i 824, a son of John and Elizabeth (Pogue) North, ' him is most marked.

both natives of Ireland, where they grew to inature years and were married. Coming to America, in 1810, they located in Indiana coun- ty, Penn., where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father followed farming and also worked at the weaver's trade, which he had learned in early life. He died in November, 1845, and his wife passed away in May, 1848.

Thomas P. North, of this review, received but limited educational privileges. He attended the old-fashioned school, with its puncheon floor, one window and stick chimney. The terms were short and the teaching very inferior. The old United States speller was used and the English reader, there being but four readers for a class of fifteen. His school life ended when he was seventeen years of age, and his business career began. He followed lumbering from 1846 until 1864, and during most of that time was also en- gaged in farm work. Since 1864 he has devoted his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. save for the time when he defended his country during the Civil war. He enlisted in 1864, as a member of Company C, 206th P. V. I., under Col. Brady, and served until the close of the war. His regiment was the first to carry the United States flag into Richmond after the evac- uation of that city.

When the war was ended, Mr. North returned to his farm and his family. He had married, in 1851, Sarah A. McConoughey, daughter of David McConoughey, of Indiana county, Penn., and they had seven children: Kate, wife of Will Pifer, of Du Bois, Penn. ; Clayton; Jennie, wife of Charles Hauck: Rhoda, wife of Fred Ranght, of Washington; David E. and Mead. both of Du Bois; and Lizzie L., wife of Dr. Corl, of New York City. Mrs. North died in June, 1866, and Mr. North was again married in July, 1867, his second union being with Miss Eva Sutter, daugh- ter of Philip Sutter. and they have four children: John G., of Punxsutawney; William P., at home: Irvin C., a teacher of Jefferson county; and Nora

B., at home. The parents of these are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father is now serving as class-leader. So- cially, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he was identified with the Republican party until 1896, when he allied himself with the free-silver movement. He has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of assessor, school director and road supervisor, and has for twenty-four years been overseer of the poor, in which capacity he is still serving. He is most faithful and prompt in discharge of his

V "AL S. MURRAY (deceased) in his life- time was a progressive and enterprising business man of Punxsutawney. The world in- stinctively pays deference to him who has achieved success worthily, and by his own efforts advanced from an humble position to one of affluence. Such was the life record of Mr. Mur- ray. Born in County Longford, Ireland, in February, 1836, Mr. Murray was a son of John and Julia L. Goldsbury Murray. The father was a native of Scotland, and was a capable business man who carried on a wholesale liquor house, and was also a real-estate and grain dealer. . He was graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and was a man of broad education and culture. He died in 1847, and his estimable wife, who was of English birth, died in Jefferson county, Penn., in 1859. Val S. Murray was only eight years of age at the time of his father's death. His edu-

cation was begun under private tutors, and when a lad of ten years he came with his mother to America, landing at Philadelphia, where he at- tended school for three years. On the expira- tion of that period he came to Jefferson county. and has since made his home within its borders. The family on coming to America was comprised of the mother and children as follows: Val, John. Arthur, and four sisters. On attaining his majority Val S. Murray served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and followed that pur- suit in connection with farming and lumbering for twenty years. During the last twenty years of his life he devoted his attention to farming . and stock dealing. and although at the time of his death he was residing in Punxsutawney. he still owned a valuable tract of land in Gaskill town- ship, upon which he so long resided.

In June, 1859. Mr. Murray was united in marriage with Miss Amelia A. Campbell, daugh- ter of William F. Campbell, then of Punxsutaw ney, but now deceased. They had children as

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follows: William C., a resident of Punxsutawney; land in Eldred township, which he converted Arthur Henry, a clerk in the Walston Company + into a good farin, enduring in the meantime all store at Punxsutawney; Martha Julia, wife of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life, the nearest mill being at Kittanning. In 1864 he retired from farming and the lumber business, and removed to Brookville, where he conducted the " Union Hotel" until his death, which oc- curred March 2, 1891. He died very suddenly; complaining of a pain in his arm, he asked a daughter for some remedy, then walked to the bed and laid down, expiring in a few minutes. His wife, finding that her life companion had passed away, laid down, and, a few minutes later, died, both deaths being attributed to heart failure. Several years previous they had cele- brated their golden wedding, and when called from this life were about seventy-eight years of age, being among the oldest and most highly re- spected citizens of the community. A man of stern integrity and honor, John McCrackin had the confidence of all with whom he came in con- tact, and his word was considered as good as his bond. His wife was a faithful member of the Baptist Church. William D. Campbell, of Punxsutawney; Dr. John H., of Reynoldsville, Penn., who married Miss Mildred Fuller; Ellen M., wife of Harry Widdowson, of Mahaffey, Penn .; Olivia Frances; Frank R., a resident of the farm in Gaskill town- ship; Clyde C .; and Annie Pearl, residing with her mother. Different members of the family attend the Baptist and Methodist Churches. Mr. Murray was reared in the Episcopal faith. When the sectional differences between the North and the South precipitated the country into civil war, and the aid of all loyal sons was needed to pre- serve the Union, Val S. Murray joined the boys in blue of Company B, 74th P. V. I., and served through the closing year of the war. At the time of his death he was a member of the G. A. R., and for twenty-four years had been identified with the I. O. O. F. In politics he was an en- thusiastic and earnest supporter of the Repub -- lican party, and had been honored by a number of local offices, including those of assessor and school director. In March, 1896, he was nomi- nated for county commissioner on the ticket of his party, and was elected the fall following. He was most faithful to every trust committed to his care, and his public career and private life were alike above reproach. On his death the Pun.r- sutawney Spirit of December 30, 1896, said:

The name of Val Murray has long been regarded by those who knew his generous, self-sacrificing nature, as a synonym for kindness and liberality. His services, his purse and the products of his farm were always at the disposal of those in need. Genial and hospitable to the last degree, he was ever ready to sacrifice his own comfort to the comfort of others. He followed the dictates of his own heart, which was full of sympathy for his fellow-men. He was always an ar- dent Republican, and was a candidate for county treasurer in 1884, but was not successful. He was elected county com- missioner last fall by a large majority, and would have be- gun his official duties on January Ist. Val Murray was in the fullest sense of the word a good man, and those who knew him best will feel the keenest grief at his departure. .

J OSEPH MCCRACKIN, a leading agriculturist and a successful one of Warsaw township, has for many years been prominently identi- fied with the commercial, agricultural and lum- ber interests of Jefferson county, and has taken an active part in the progress of the community.

In the family of this worthy couple were twelve children-six sons and six daughters- eight of whom are still living. occupying honor- able positions in life. The children are as fol- lows: Dinah, deceased wife of J. Stewart; Joseph, the subject proper of this sketch; Mrs. Jennie Wilson; Mrs. Margaret Mckinley; Mrs. Caroline Corbin; Henry and Lowery (both de- ceased); Albert and William, both engaged in farming; Mrs. Mary Corbin; John (deceased); and Mrs. Clara Fetser.

Joseph McCrackin received a practical educa- tion in the local schools, and was reared upon the home farm, remaining there until his mar- riage, July 22. 1862, to Miss Maria M. Scott. who was born December 23, 1845, a daughter of Dr. B. Rush and Mary A. (Sheridan) Scott, the latter being a daughter of John Sheridan, a black- smith of Johnstown, Penn. Dr. B. R. Scott was a native of Ohio, coming in early life to Penn- sylvania with his father, Dr. K. Scott, who for some time engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in Corsica, but later returned to Ohio. where he died. Dr. B. R. Scott. who became a leading physician of Corsica and Greenville. on the breaking out of the Civil war enlisted in the 67th P. V. 1 .. and, after a year and one-half of faithful service. was killed at Win- chester. Va., where his remains were interred. On July 4, 1896, his widow died at Johnstown. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were as follows: Maria M., wife

Mr. McCrackin is a native of the county, born July 25, 1841, in Eldred township. a son of John and .Fanny ( Riley) McCrackin, representative cit- izens and honored pioneers of this region, were born in Armstrong county. Penn., and in Clarion county, Penn., respectively. They were married in Armstrong county, and, coming to Jefferson county, the husband purchased 150 acres of wild ; of our subject; Robert J. ; Alonzo C .. a molder by

Joseph A Crackin Matilda M. libuactin

----

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

trade; Samuel H., a telegraph operator; and Mrs. Mary E. Swank. Of the eight children born to Joseph McCrackin and wife four lived to maturity, namely: William R., a farmer; Mrs. Mary M. Van Orman; Mrs. Anna M. Duninire; and Joseph P., still at home.

Early becoming familiar with farming and lum- bering, Joseph McCrackin has been more or less interested in those occupations throughout his business career. At the age of sixteen he also began piloting on the river to Pittsburg, and suc- cessfully followed that vocation until 1896. For three years after his marriage he rented his pres- ent farm in Warsaw township, then bought the place, but in 1868 he removed to Richardsville, where he purchased a hotel, which he conducted until 1873. A year after locating there he, in partnership with James Pearsoll, also embarked in general merchandising, but at the end of six months their store was destroyed by fire, causing a heavy loss, as the insurance was light. The partnership ceased with the fire. Rebuilding the following year, our subject carried on business until 1873, when he sold out and returned to the farm, which he has since successfully operated. This farm is a valuable tract of 150 acres, all cleared and under excellent cultivation, and im- proved with substantial buildings. Mr. McCrackin himself has developed 100 acres of the amount, transforming the wild land into one of the most productive tracts of Warsaw township. Although he has lost about $20,000 during his business ca- reer, he has prospered in nearly all of his under- takings, and has given to each of two of his children a good farm.

As was his father and as are his brothers, Mr. McCrackin in politics is a stalwart Republican, but he has never cared for official honors, al- though he has held some township positions, and was once a candidate for county commissioner. Public-spirited and progressive, he las ever cheer- fully given his support to those enterprises that tend to public development, and with hardly an exception has been connected with every interest that has promoted the general welfare. He and his wife are both faithful members of the Methed- ist Church, and their influence for good is widely felt throughout the community.

T HOMAS M. HAUCK. This section fur- nished many gallant soldiers for the defense of the Union during that dark period of our his- tory when secession and dismemberment were threatened, and it is peculiarly fitting that the records of individual experiences while in the

service should be preserved liere for the perusal of coming generations.

The subject of this sketch, now a prosperous citizen of Big Run, Jefferson county, volunteered in 1862, and although he was at one time dis- charged for disability he had no sooner recovered his strength than he re-enlisted, his service con - tinuing until the close of the war. His reputa- tion for courage and faithfulness was never tar- nished, and, although his health has suffered per- manently from the hardships and exposure of active campaigning, he can console himself with the thought of duty well done. His estimable wife showed her patriotism in her own womanly way, cheering and sustaining his resolution. and looking after business affairs and the four little children during the long absence of her husband.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 2

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