USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 20
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farmer in Minnesota; and Maria Jane, now living in Minnesota, is married to William G. Estes.
Until he reached the age of twenty our sub- ject remained at home, assisting his father in farming and lumbering. He then engaged in the saine occupations on his own account, continuing about ten years, but in December. 1880, he re- moved to Troutville, and was a clerk in the drug and general merchant store of Dr. J. M. Lydic. This lasted one year, when Mr. Long engaged in the lumber business, which he followed exclu- sively until 1887. Since that date he has inade his home at Sykesville, where he first conducted a grocery and meat-market, but, in 1891, he gave up his store to establish a real-estate busi- ness. While thus engaged he was appointed agent for the Shaffer estate, and in 1891 the town of West Sykesville was laid out under his direc- tion. In the fall of 1891 he embarked in the livery business, which he followed until the spring of 1893, when he sold his stock to the firm of Estes & Long, of Sykesville, Penn .. to make a trip to Ottawa City, Ill. During that trip, on his return home, he visited the opening of the World's Fair, May 1, 1893. In Decem- ber, of the same year, he received a commission as notary public, but in 1895 he resigned from that post to accept that of justice of the peace. May 4. 1895. For some time past he has also represented the McCormick Implement. Co., of Chicago, as agent for his locality.
On July 3, 1870, Joseph L. Long was married at Punxsutawney to Miss Hannah E. Estes, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Samuel Miles. who was born in the arsenal at Philadelphia in 1807. Four children have blessed this nnion: Samuel B., of Sykesville, a member of the mer- cantile firm of Estes & Long, married Miss Clara Nichol; Joseph E., of Sykesville, who married Miss Ida Phillippi, and has one son, Roy; John P .. and Ethel, who are at home. Mrs. Long was born April 6, 1851. in Jefferson county. the daughter of Abraham and Margaret ( Halb Estes. Her paternal grandparents, Philip and Damie (Vosburg) Estes, were natives of Luzerne county. Penn. ; her maternal grandfather. James Hall, was born in Ireland, and on coming to America settled in Milesburg. Centre county. Pennsylvania.
Squire Long, since the campaign of 1880. has been a stanch Republican in politics, and socially he is identified with the Sykesville Lodge. K. of P .. No. 185, of Sykesville, was one of its charter members and was elected first prelate. passed through all the chairs of the lodge and now holds the honor of past chancellor, and that of master of work. In July. 1892, he was
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elected representative to attend the grand lodge meeting held in Reading City, Penn. He has been an energetic K. of P. ever since the institu- tion of the lodge. His work in connection with the Baptist Church of Sykesville indicates his earnest and energetic support of any cause which he deems worthy. In this connection the Squire narrates the following: At the time of the re- modeling of the rink building to that of a house of worship, the work was about completed except seating, when the money was about exhausted. An old friend of our subject hearing of the en- terprise on the evening of the 4th of February, 1886, came into the building to see him and said, " Joe, have you any money?" "Not a
dollar," was the reply.
" What are you going to do?" "I don't know." At this point the stranger put his hand into his pocket and said, " here, go ahead with your work." The joy that filled our subject's heart could only be ex- pressed by tears, for the man was sent there by the Lord.
Mr. Long gives the following sketch of the Church as follows:
" The First Baptist Church of Sykesville was born of pious parentage through the subject of this sketch, who organized a Union Sunday- school, June 14. 1885, in what was then called the Shaffer school house. He was elected super- intendent; Fred Walker, assistant superintend- ent; and Asa W. Scott, secretary. The school was run on the union plan until October 11, of the same year, when it was concluded to con- tinue it through the winter. The same officers were continued, and the school was the first winter Sunday-school held in this section. The school at this time took upon itself a Baptist garb by being supplied with Baptist literature, received from the American Baptist Publishing Society of Philadelphia. In December, 1885, our subject purchased what was then known as the old rink building, and with the assistance of a few other persons the building was remodeled for the use of a house of worship. The then called Baptist Bible School, on February 7, 1886, held its first session in the new building. In the meantime our subject procured the serv- ices of Rev. C. W. Ray, of Philadelphia, mis- sionary for the Clearfield Baptist Association, . and on the evening of February 6, Rev. Ray commenced a series of meetings, which were continued about three weeks. On February 15, 1886, the First Baptist Church of Sykesville was
· organized, J. L. Long being its founder, under the auspices of Rev. C. W. Ray. The constitu- ent members were: J. L. Long, Hannah E. Long (his wife), William Null, Sr., Mrs. Will-
iam Null, and S. C. Estes. The organization being completed the same day, there were five persons received into the Church; we at once re- paired to the water, where they were buried with Christ in baptism by Rev. J. N. Williams, of Reynoldsville, Penn. At the official meeting of the Church the following officers were elected: J. L. Long, Asa W. Scott, deacons; Rosa Fye, clerk. The infant Church was given the name of Bethel Baptist Church. Rev. J. N. Williams served our little flock for about one year, and during his pastorate' there were received into Church fellowship about forty members. The Church has been of a steady growth under the pastorate of Rev. H. H. Leamy from November, 1886, to August, 1887; Rev. R. L. Williams from September, 1887, to September, 1890; Rev. J. E. Dean, from November, 1890, to March, 1894. In June, 1891, through the agency of the subject of this sketch, ground was purchased from Christian Stahl for the purpose of erecting a new Church building. The corner stone was laid June 26, 1892, and a Church building was completed at a cost of $3,019, which was dedicated to the Lord, June 11, 1893, free of debt. The Rev. Samuel Mills was pres- ent at the dedication. He was the pioneer who preached the gospel of Christ in this association for about fifty years. Bethel Church held their first prayer meeting in the new Church building the evening of January 1, 1893, our subject hav- ing charge of the meeting. The Bethel Church kept on in its work of love, and in April, 1894. Rev. W. M. Jennings continued the work for about six months, when he was followed by Rev. W. H. Clipman, who did a grand spiritual work. Next came the services of Rev. W. G. Patter- son, for the space of about fifteen months. Since November 1, 1897, the Church has enjoyed the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Palmer, of Punxsutaw ney, Penn.
"The subject of this sketch united with the First Baptist Church, of Punxsutawney, by being received into church fellowship and baptised in February, 1864. He has ever since contended for the faith once delivered to the Saints. Many and mysterious have been his experiences as a Christian worker for ten or more years. Prior to his organizing the Bethel Baptist Church of Sykesville, his lot was cast in a Pedo Baptist community. In the year 1872 he took his letter of church membership from the Punxsutawney Church to unite with the Soldier Run Baptist Church of Prescottville, for convenience of at- tending church, yet he had about seven miles to go to attend church. On February 12, 1886, he received a letter of church fellowship from the
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Soldier Run Baptist Church of Prescottville, to organize the Bethel Baptist Church, of Sykes- ville, where he still holds his membership, where he has done his greatest work for the Master. Squire Long's greatest ambition in life has been in working for the good of others."
W ILLIAM B. COWAN. Quite a number of the leading and prominent citizens of Jefferson county are of alien birth, and have brought to this land of thrift and plenty the in- dustrious habits of their native country. Among these there is none that is better known or more widely respected than the gentleman whose name appears at the beginning of this sketch. He was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 30, 1850, and is descended from three of the most noted families of that country, namely: the Campbells. of which Archibald Campbell, Duke of Argyle, belonged, the Camerons and the Gordons.
Peter Boag, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was throughout life a successful teacher in Scotland, while William Cowan, the paternal grandfather, was a mining boss, and was treas- urer of the Mining Association for a great many years. Both died in their native land. One of the daughters of Peter Boag was prominent as a temperance lecturer. She was for many years a leader in her lodge or society, and was made D. D. Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of Scot- land in 1892. ' Of the Cowan family, three sons -James, William and Hugh-came together to America, but the third named subsequently re- turned to Scotland. William is still a resident of Clarion county. Penn. Two of their sisters also crossed the Atlantic-Christina, who mar- ried Alexander Davie, both of whom are now de- ceased; and Mary, wife of Robert Penman. The latter lived in Mercer county for a number of years, but later removed to Wyoming, where she is still residing. Her husband is now deceased. They and most of their children were Mormons, but the Cowan family has for generations been identified with the Presbyterian Church.
James Cowan, the father of our subject, was married in Scotland to Miss Margaret Boag, and three children were born to them previons to coming to the United States with his brother in 1852. On his arrival in New York, he went di- rect to Schuylkill county, Penn., where he spent five years, and at the end of that time located in Eldred township. Jefferson county. Purchasing a tract of wild land there, he lived in a school house until his own dwelling could be erected; but after improving his place he sold it and re- moved to Union township, where he also devel-
oped a good farm. There his death occurred in 1878; his wife is still living at the old homestead, and is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church at Brookville, having removed her niem- bership from Corsica, in which Church he was serving as elder when called from this life. Dur- ing his residence here he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits during the summer months, while the winter season was spent in mining coal.
Of the twelve children born to James and Margaret Cowan, all are still living with one ex-
ception. They are as follows: Nettie, wife of D. T. Leach; William B., of this sketch; Peter B., who still resides on the old homestead; Mar- garet, wife of H. D. Haugh; Mrs. Agnes Glen, wife of W. H. Glen; James J., also on the home farm; Alexander D. and John R. (twins), of whom the former is now a railroad man, and the latter a resident of Colorado; Mary, wife of G. Strong; Annie, wife of Isaiah Simpson; Emma, wife of P. T. Dickey; and Elizabeth, who died in childhood. With the exception of the two re- siding at the old homestead, all are members of the Presbyterian Church.
William B. Cowan was two years old when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents. He was reared and educated in Jefferson county, learning both mining and farming under his father's able direction. He has since success- fully followed these pursuits. After his marriage, in 1876, he located upon his present farm in Union township, and has since opened up profit- able mines upon the place, the land being under- laid with a fine grade of coal four feet in thick- ness. He also owns two other tracts of valuable coal land. and upon his home farm, which is conveniently located near Roseville, he con- ducted a general store for four years, but at the end of that time his stock, on which there was little insurance, was destroyed by fire January 1, 1885. For many years he has been agent for a fertilizer. but devotes his time and attention principally to his agricultural and mining inter- ests, in which he has met with welt-merited success.
In 1876. Mr. Cowan married Miss Mary M. Cummings, who was born in Clarion county. May 2. 1853, a daughter of George W. and Paul- ina ( Mills) Cummings, both born in Pennsylvania. the former of Scotch-Irish, and the latter of Ger- man descent. Throughout his active business career the father was a farmer. lumberman and stock drover. He died March 10, 1804. his wife November 29. 1888. Their children were: Mary: Arthur, who died unmarried; Nannie J., wife of P. M. Yeany: John D , a farmer; and Cassius E., a farmer and justice of the peace. The parents
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and all their children were connected with the Presbyterian Church, and the family is one of prominence. Nine children have been born to our subject. and his wife, namely: Arthur L., Margaret P., Nannie M., Adda V., Edgar B., James C .. Helen E. and Sarah E .: all are at home; and George B., who died at the age of three months. Like their parents. the eldest three are now members of the Presbyterian Church. The father of these is one of the prom- inent representatives of the Republican party in Union township, and has served as justice of the peace for five years. He has always taken an important part in Church work, has been a teacher and superintendent of the Sabbath- school for many years, and is secretary of the Jefferson County Sabbath-school Association, in which position he has already served three years, and has been re-elected for another term of two years. The object of this worthy organization is the unity of Evangelical Christians to advance Sunday-school work all over the nation. Mr. Cowan is an honored inember of the local lodges of the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias; also the Ancient Order of Artizans. His encourage- ment and support are given to all measures cal- culated to promote the educational, moral and material welfare of his community, and he is recognized as one of its most valued and highly esteemed citizens.
Referring to the family of one of the ancestors of the subject of this sketch, his grandmother's youngest sister-Mary McDougal-married, in Scotland, Alexander Eason. They came to the United States about 1850, and when en route to California were killed in the Mountain Meadow Massacre, Utah, early in September, 1857.
S AMUEL E. WILSON, one of Punxsutaw ney's leading citizens, is prominently iden- tified with the wholesale liquor trade, and is also connected with a number of corporate enter- prises, being president of the Punxsutawney Street Railway Co., and the Jefferson Light, Heat and Power Co. He is a native of Clarion connty, Penn., where he was born, September 10, 1851, and his father, the late Robert M. Wil- son, though born in Centre county, passed the greater part of his life in Clarion county, where for many years he followed mercantile pursuits. He was never ambitious for public notice, his at- tention being given chiefly to his own affairs, but he was held in high esteem among his associates. His estimable wife, whose maiden name was
Mary Gray, died in 1861, and he survived her sixteen years, passing away in 1877.
As the subject of this sketch was reared to the age of seventeen upon a farm, his education was limited to the country schools of that day. On leaving home he spent one year in the oil fields of this State, and a similar period at Pitts- burg in a wholesale grocery. He then assisted his father in the store at East Brady, Clarion county, until 1873, when he took a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale house in Pitts- burg. After two years in this employment he went to St. Petersburg, Penn., an "oil town," and remained until 1879, his next employment being at New Castle, Penn .. as clerk in the " Leslie House," where he spent one year. From 1880 to 1885 he was engaged in the whole- sale liquor trade at New Castle, but he then transferred his business to Punxsutawney. As has been stated, he is connected with various en- terprises, and he was a leading promoter and organizer of the two companies named, of which he is now the head.
In 1883 Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Lucy I. Poe, daughter of Capt. Adam Poe, of Georgetown, Penn., and two sons-Robert Poe and Samuel E., Jr., have blessed the union. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the M. E. Church, and our subject is identified with several fraternal orders: the Elks, the F. and A. M., the K. T., the Mys- tic Shrine, and the Americus Club of Pittsburg.
Politically, our subject is a Republican. and. although he has never been an office seeker, his influence is recognized as a power in his locality. In 1896 he was an alternate delegate to the St. Louis Convention, and he was also a member of the Electoral College from the Twenty-first Dis- trict of Pennsylvania. Mr. Wilson is the owner of the " Malvern " stock farm of 150 acres, lo- cated twenty-one miles from Philadelphia, in Chester county, where he is engaged in raising thoroughbred trotting horses. He is the owner of " Acolyte, " the horse that "Coxey " rode into Washington.
Capt. Adam Poe was born in 1816, in Ohio, and on February 16, 1842, he was married to Lncy T. Smith, of Pennsylvania, and to them have been born nine children, three sons and six daughters. The father of these died in 1895, but the mother still survives, residing at Malvern. Penn. Thomas Poe, the grandfather of Mrs. Samuel E. Wilson, was a native of one of the Eastern States. He married a Miss Heffner, who was of German descent, as are also the Poes. Andrew Poe, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Wilson, was known for his encounter with the Indians in Ohio in an early day.
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R ICHARD E. CLOVER, a well-known resi- dent of Punxsutawney, and one of the pro- prietors of the "Hotel Pantall," a leading hos- telry of that thriving town, was born Deceinber 8. 1850, at Brookville, Jefferson county, and although a large portion of his early life was spent elsewhere, the attractions of this section served to draw him back to it in later years.
Harrison Clover, the father of our subject, was a native of Clarion county, Penn., and was a remarkable man, possessing decided mechanical genius, and being also endowed with enormous . physical strength, greater than that of any other man of his day in his locality. By occupation he was a blacksmith. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Williams, is still living in the enjoyment of excellent health, residing at Erie, Penn. He died in 1859.
As Richard E. Clover was but a child when his father died, he was taken to Allegheny county, this State, and was reared by an aunt, receiving a fair education. He is an expert bookkeeper, and previous to engaging in the hotel business had done much clerical work as occasion offered. He also spent several years in the oil region in western Pennsylvania, during the excitement over the discovery of that prod- uct. Mr. Clover has an amiable and accom- plished wife, formerly Miss Annie Edelblute, and is prominent socially as a member of the Punxsu- tawney Club. He is interested in the political questions of the day, though not as an office seeker, and he is an adherent to the Democratic party.
B ENONI CLAWSON. The subject of this personal narrative is one of the successful and progressive farmers of Bell township, Jeffer- son county. Throughout his active business life he has been identified with the educational and agricultural interests of the county, and in 1865, during the dark days of the Rebellion, he mani- fested his loyalty and patriotism by enlisting in Company B. 74th P. V. I., serving for six months, when hostilities ceased.
Mr. Clawson was born in 1831, in Punxsutaw ney, Jefferson county, a son of Matthias and Polly (Williams) Clawson. The birth of the father occurred in Westmoreland county, Penn., but when a young man he took up his residence in Jefferson county, where he spent the most of his life, engaged in farming and lumbering. In August, 1869, he went to Kansas, where his death occurred a month later. His estimable wife, who was a native of Mifflin county, Penn., died in 1877. Benoni Clawson was provided with 76
very meagre educational privileges during his youth, but he made the most of his opportunities and fitted himself for a teacher, which profession he successfully followed for twenty years. While teaching he also followed farming during the summer season. He was reared upon a farm, and his later years have been devoted to agricult- ure and lumbering.
On June 6, 1861, he married Miss Mary A., a daughter of William F. and Margaret (Thomp- son) Williams, of Jefferson county, and they have become the parents of four children, who in order of birth are as follows: William W., now a missionary located in New York State; and M. Bell, Daniel F., and Elsworth, all at home. The parents are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their upright Christian lives have gained for them the confidence and re- 'spect of all with whom they have come in con- tact. In his political affiliations Benoni Clawson is a Republican, and although he has served as supervisor and overseer of the poor, he cares nothing for political distinction. His wife, who was the granddaughter of John Williams, was born April 19, 1842, in Jefferson county, and has here, thus far, passed her life. John Williams was a resident of Jefferson county, and died here in about 1865, when about seventy-five years of age. His wife, who is deceased, was, before her marriage, Rachel Thompson.
TACOB C. SMITH, a worthy citizen, at pres- ent overseer of the poor in Young township.
Jefferson county, was born in 1850, at Brady's Bend, Arınstrong county, Penn., a son of Chris- tian and Barbara (Emminger) Smith. His father was born in Germany, but came to America in 1832, locating in Butler county, Penn. In early life he was occupied as a miner, but subsequently engaged in farming and was interested in that calling up to the time of his death. He was a quiet, unassuming man, and a worthy citizen. whose uprightness in all the walks of life uni- formly won him respect. He died in 1887. His estimable wife, who was born in Cumberland county, Penn., closed her eyes in death February 5, 1892.
Jacob C. Smith came with his parents to Jef- ferson county, in 1855. Owing to the inferiority of the schools here at that time, his educational privileges were limited. He had not the privilege of attending school until ten years of age, and then went for three terms only, of three months each, but experience and observation have added largely to his store of knowledge. When he first started to school he had to kindle the fires in
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order to earn the money with which to purchase his text books. His training at farm labor was not meagre, for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields. He has followed farming and lumbering the greater part of his life. and industry and energy have char- acterized his entire career. He now owns seventy acres of land and successfully carries on general farming, the well-tilled fields plainly indicating his careful supervision.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Lutheran Church. and, socially, is connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He has been a lifelong Republican, prominent in local political circles. He has held many township offices, and is at present overseer of the poor, and he is one of the prominent school directors of his county, is untiring in his efforts to promote progress and thrift in the pub- lic schools, of which he is an ardent friend. He has been prominently spoken of for the office of county treasurer. He is a public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in the welfare of his county, and his fidelity to duty in all the relations of life is well worthy of emulation.
W ILLIAM F. WANNER, a well-known resident of Brookville, Jefferson county, is one of the leaders in the grocery business of that locality. his store being well stocked with the various lines of supplies required by his fine class of custom. Like many of our successful business men, Mr. Wanner is of German descent. His parents, John and Caroline (Heisline) Wan- ner, were born, reared and married in the Father- land, and had two children when they came to America, in November, 1849 .. The father is still living at the advanced age of eighty-six years, but the beloved mother passed from earth July 27, 1887.
Our subject was born July 22, 1851, in Pine Creek township, Jefferson county, and passed his early years at the old farm, the district schools of the neighborhood affording him his only educational opportunities. At thirteen he became a clerk in a mercantile establishment at Brookville. and remained with the saine employer for twelve years, gaining a most valuable train- ing in business affairs. August 10, 1876, he em- barked in his grocery business, and has since carried it on with growing trade. His success is due largely to his intelligent and comprehensive view of the demands of the business, and his well- directed efforts to meet them as fully as pos- sible.
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