Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 23

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 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 23

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).

ter of James and Adaline (Orr) McGee, of Mc- Gee's Mill, Clearfield county, Penn., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Four children graced their union, but Lola, the second in order of birth, is now deceased. Those living are Lillian, Ellen and Thomas. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and hold an enviable position in the social circles of the community. The Doctor affiliates with the Republican party, and while he has no aspir- ations for political honors, he has efficiently served in school offices, and was for one year president of the board of education in Punxsu- tawney, of which he is now secretary.

A' LBERT JORDAN, a leading agriculturist, lumberman and merchant of Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, where his fine estate is among the oldest and most valuable in that locality, is a descendant of an old Colonial family.

Robert Jordan, his great-grandfather, came from Ireland at an early day, and located in In- diana county, where he made his home on a farm on the ridge between Smicksburg and Perrysville. He was a teamster in the American army during the Revolutionary war. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years, and reared a large family of children. By his first wife, Hannah (Hill), he had five children: Alex- ander, Samuel, Joseph, James, and Margaret (who married Isaac Matson). His second wife, Catherine Pounds, bore him seven children: Robert, Hannah (Mrs. James W. Bell), Nancy (Mrs. Enoch Crissman), Mary (Mrs. George Mogle), Mattie (Mrs. John McHenry), John (who married Martha Sharrard), Margaret (Mrs. Griffin Rowland), and William (who married Eliza Rid- dle). Of these, William Jordan and his wife are residents of Frostburg, Jefferson county; all the others are now deceased.

Samuel Jordan, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in 1792, in Indiana county, and at an early age came to Oliver township, Jefferson county. He was married, in Indiana county, to Miss Lida Cochran, a native of Mifflin county, Penn., who died in 1864, aged sixty-four years. Her parents, Isaac and Sarah Cochran, removed from their first home in Juniata county at an early day, and, after making their home of a few. years in Indiana county, located permanently in Jefferson county, where they were prominent among the pioneers. In 1815 Samuel Jordan and his wife left Indiana county, and made their home in Jefferson county upon a tract of land which they supposed was open to settlement. but, finding afterward that it had been taken up.

A. R. Bell, D.D.S.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1218

they moved to Oliver (then Perry) township, where they purchased 160 acres of land at $+. 25 per acre. In early life they had been united with the Presbyterian Church, but after his wife's death, Samuel Jordan identified himself with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their re- mains were interred in Olive cemetery, near the home where they spent so many years of their useful and honored lives. They had the follow- ing children: Isaac C .; Hannah H., now the . widow of John McBrier, of Rose township, Jef- ferson county; Robert, a farmer in Jefferson county, who married Elizabeth Fetterhoff, and is now deceased; Sarah, who married (first) James Cary (now deceased), and (second) John Mc- Pherson, of Clearfield; John, who married Nancy Bell, and resides at Perry, Jefferson county; Joseph, a resident of McCalmont township, Jef- ferson county, who married Elizabeth Law (now deceased); William A., a farmer in Oliver town- ship, who married Mary J. Reed; James B., who married Anna M. Smith, and resides in Punxsu- tawney. He is a veteran of the Civil war and a leading politician of this section, having served six years as county commissioner, and three as county auditor.

The late Isaac C. Jordan, our subject's father, was born July 14, 1816, in Indiana county, but his life was mainly spent in Oliver township, Jef- ferson county, where he owned a large farm. Beginning life in very poor circumstances, he made his own' way successfully, and acquired a handsome competence. He was a well-known lumberman, and had several sawmills there and in neighboring townships. His death occurred in McCalmont township, November 12, 1884. after a brief but severe illness while he was visit- ing one of his sawmills in which his sons, Charles B. and Albert, were his partners. His remains were taken home for burial, and were interred in Olive cemetery. He was a man of prominence, and for many years was a ruling elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Oliveburg; he also held numerous township offices, and was an influential worker in the Republican party. At one time he was the Republican nominee from the county for the Legislature, but there was a Democratic landslide that year, and al- though he ran ahead of his ticket he was defeat- ed. On October 30, 1839, in Jefferson county, he was married by Rev. Charles R. Barkley, a minister of the C. P. Church, to Miss Leanna Steffy, a native of Rockingham county, Va., born November 21, 1818, and they had ten chil- dren: Miss Mary E. resides at the homestead with her mother; Samuel S. is a resident of Oli- ver township; Charles B. is a farmer and lumber-

man residing in Oliver township. Jefferson conn- ty; Lida A. died at the age of four years; Win- field S. lived but one year and ten months; Albert is our subject; Minerva J. is the wife of William Morrison, a merchant, lumberman and farmer at Oliveburg; Leah married Frederick Parr, a farmer in Oliver township: Lena J. is the wife of J. W. Martin, an attorney at Punxsu- tawney; J. Simon, a farmer in Oliver township, married Miss Maggie Anthony. All of the sur- viving children reside near the old home, their parents having encouraged them to do so.

The Steffy family is of German origin, but has long been identified with the State of Vir- ginia. Philip Steffy, our subject's great-grand- father, was a farmer and shoemaker in that State, and his son, Samuel Steffy, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared there. Samuel Steffy married Mary Bowers, danghter of John Bowers, a farmer, and his wife, who were natives of Germany and Virginia, respectively. In 1820 Mr. Steffy removed to Jefferson county, and located upon a farm in Bell township. He was

engaged in lumbering as well as in agriculture, and piloted the first raft sent from the upper end of the Mahoning creek. He was a Democrat in politics, and a devout member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His death occurred in 1878, when he was aged eighty-four years, and his first wife, our subject's grandmother, died in 1823, aged thirty. the remains of both being interred in Mt. Pleasant cemetery, Jefferson county. By his first marriage he had four chil- dren: Elizabeth, widow of John Corey, of Punx- sutawney; Leanna, our subject's mother; John, who died in Kansas; and Simon, who entered the Union army during the Civil war, and died in Libby prison. By a second marriage, with Ann Cook, of Shippensburg, Penn., there were four children: Mary, widow of William Yost, of Mill- ville, Penn. ; William, a resident of Punxsutaw ney; Maria, wife of A. Miller, a farmer in Vir- ginia; and Joseph, deceased.

Albert Jordan, the subject proper of this sketch, was born January 9, 1853. He was reared to agricultural pursuits. He received his education in the schools of his neighborhood, attended the Dayton Academy, and later took a course of study in Duff's Business College, Pitts- burg, Penn., from which he was graduated in IS84. After his graduation he served for a time as the bookkeeper of the First National Bank at Punxsutawney, of which he is now a director and stockholder. Up until in October. 1897, when he moved to Punxsutawney, where he now keeps a dry-goods, shoe and bargain store, he resided on the old homestead, on which he carried on

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

1214

general farming, and since the death of his father he has had the entire charge of the farm. In 1839 his father built a sawmill on the place, and from that time to this there has always been a mill on the property. In 1876 his father, his brother, C. B. Jordan, and himself built a mill on Camp run, which the three conducted until the father's death, and after that up until 1895, when they ceased operations and closed out the business, it was carried on by the two brothers. Our subject has a fine stock farm in the State of Nebraska. He is a man of fine intelligence, fond of traveling, and is prominent in the progressive movements of the locality where his life has been spent. Politically he is a Republican, and in his religious views he adheres to the faith of the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to John Jenks Lodge No. 534, F. and A. M., at Punxsutawney. On May 17, 1887, at Coolspring, Jefferson coun- ty, Mr. Jordan was married to Miss Maggie Mc- Kinstry, by whom he has one son, Don E. Mrs. Jordan was born at Coolspring, May 17, 1863, and on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Her grandparents, Alexander and Jeanette (Craw- ford) Mckinstry, who were natives of Westmore- land county, Penn., met and married near Apollo, in this State, where they resided until 1841; then they removed to Jefferson county, and, after spending four years upon a farm in Oliver town- ship, located permanently at the site of Cool- spring. Alexander McKinstry was reared by his grandfather Mckinstry, and secured a good edu- cation for his time. In early manhood he taught school in Mifflin county, Penn., and, for more than twenty years in later life, he held the office of justice of the peace. He was also for a time one of the commissioners of Jefferson county. and wherever he resided he was held in high esteem for his ability. By occupation he was a farmer and lumberman. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Rachel Bratton, had two children. His second wife, Jeannette Crawford (Mrs. Jordan's grandmother), had been married previously to Samuel McKee, by whom she had four children. She died November 6, 1862, aged sixty-six years, and he survived her nntil March 19, 1879, when he passed away at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and two days, the remains of both being interred in Perry Church cemetery; in Jefferson county. Their children were: Elizabeth, who died in childhood; Thompson A. (Mrs. Jordan's father); John, who died at an early age; and Mary A., widow of Samuel Sloane, of Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania.

Thompson A. Mckinstry, who was born Feb- ruary 22, 1834, at Apollo, Penn., is a promi-

nent resident of Coolspring, where he is engaged in business as a farmer and general merchant, and also operates the Mckinstry sawmill. He is an influential Democrat, and has been active in religious work as a member of the Presbyterian Church at Coolspring. He was a trustee for many years, and helped in building the new church edifice. On May 13, 1858, he was married near Punxsutawney, to Miss Sarah E. McKee, by whom he had the following children: Arminta, wife of L. Shaffner, a merchant of Coolspring; John R., manager of a store at Coolspring, who married Miss Kate Hughes, of Punxsutawney; Margaret J., wife of our subject; Emma L., who died at an early age; Miss Ella, who is at home; and Jefferson E., deceased. The mother of these died November 26, 1887, aged fifty-four years.

G EORGE T. WHEATCROFT. The subject of this sketch has for many years been prom- inently identified with the agricultural interests of Jefferson county, having a fine estate in Porter township. Having commenced life with but small means, his financial position is ample evi- dence of the manner in which he has employed his time, and the good judgment of which he is the fortunate possessor. He has one of the best appointed homesteads in the township, and, on account of his strict integrity and high character, is numbered among its valued citizens.

His parents were John and Eliza J. (Gibson) Wheatcroft. The father was born in England in 1 808, but when a boy was brought to this country by his father, Thomas Wheatcroft, who located in Westmoreland county, Penn., where he died many years ago. John was the eldest of his chil- dren, the others being as follows: Samuel; George, who worked in Pittsburg for some time, and then removed to Kentucky, where he mar- ried and died leaving two sons; Betsy, who be- came the wife of William Lemmon, of Pittsburg. and died leaving two children, William and. Lon Lemmon: Ellen, who died a few years ago in Kentucky; and Mrs. Mary A. Cooper, who also passed away in that State some years ago, leav- ing one daughter. Until our subject was six years of age his father made his home in Pitts- burg, and then removed to Porter township, Jef- ferson county, where he purchased a tract of 150 acres of timber land, and at once began to clear and improve his farm, but died after a residence here of about four years, leaving his widow with four children, of whom George T. was the eldest. (2) Ellen, born in Pittsburg, in 1837, accom- panied her parents on their removal to Jefferson

1215

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

county, and here married Judge Skinner, of Por- ter township. They now reside on a farm int Armstrong county, and have eight children- Alfred, Laurence, George, Elmer, Ham, Lee, Jennie, Matt and Minnie. (3) Annie married a Mr. Lardon, of Butler county, Penn., but died soon afterward. (4) Catharine wedded Wesley Coleman, of Armstrong county, and they now live in Roak Ridge, Clarion' Co., Penn. Their chil- dren are Charles, Alice and Miles, all at home.

In Allegheny county, Penn., George T. Wheatcroft was born July 30, 1834, and during early life worked in the lumber woods. He was married in 1856, the lady of his choice being Miss Bell Allen, of Indiana county, Penn., by whom he has five children: (1) Thomas, born in Porter township, Jefferson county, in 1857, was educated in the common schools, and is now en- gaged in farming in Armstrong county. He mar- ried Caroline Yarger, of that county, and has six children-Archy, John, Effie, Wieda, Bell, and Grace. (2) John, born in Jefferson county, in February, 1859, is now conducting a grocery store in Braddock, Penn. (3) Robert, born in Armstrong county, in 1862, married Annie Goss, of that county, and lives on a farm in Porter township, Jefferson county, His children are Elda and George. (4) William, born in Arm- strong county, in 1865, wedded Mollie Goss, of that county, and lives on the old homestead with his father. (5) Della E., born in July, 1867, was educated at Dayton, Armstrong county, and married George Grove, of that county. They make their home in Whitesville, Jefferson county, where he follows farming. They have one daughter, Gladys.

After his marriage Mr. Wheatcroft purchased a half interest in the Glen Foundry, and for some time business was carried on under the firm name of Glen & Wheatcroft, but he sold out to his partner in 1863 on his enlistment in the Union army. He joined Company B. 78th P. V. I., was sworn into the United States service at Harrisburg, and as a member of the Army of the Cumberland served under Captain McCann and General Thomas. His first engagement was at Chattanooga, in the fall of 1863, and this was followed by the battle of Missionary Ridge. After the winter spent at Lookout Mountain, the troops marched to Atlanta, and partici- pated in the battle of Buzzards Roost, where they were under fire for thirty-six hours. They then fell back to Resaca, where another hard- fought engagement occurred, and later took part in the battle of Dallas. Here Mr. Wheatcroft was wounded, May 27, 1864, in the hand, which un- fitted him for further service. He was first taken

to the hospital at Nashville, was later sent to St. Louis, and then to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged November 2, 1864. He then returned to his family, and in 1869 purchased the old homestead in Porter township, Jefferson county, where he has since made his home. Besides his fine two-story resi- dence he has erected a large barn and substantial outbuildings, and has made many other valuable improvements upon the place. He is a progress- ive, wide-awake business man and a citizen of which any community might justly be proud. Reared as a Whig, he became a Republican on the organization of that party, and has since been one of its ardent supporters. In religious belief, he and his estimable wife are Methodists.

D ANIEL H. CLARK, of Cortez, Jefferson county, has, in a comparatively brief time, identified himself with the representative busi- ness men of that locality. The firm of Clark, Kizer & Kipp, extensive lumber dealers and manufacturers, was organized in December, 1893, and since that date Mr. Clark has been in charge of the outside interests, his energy and sound judgment contributing largely to the suc- cessful development of the business. He is a self-made man, and his thorough knowledge of business methods has beengained by a varied ex- perience.

He is a native of Liberty Falls, Sullivan county, N. Y., where he was born April 6. 1855. His father, the late Luke Clark, a prosperous agriculturist, had come from Ireland in early manhood, and was well-known and highly es- teemed in the locality. His first wife, Ellen King, our subject's mother, was a native of Ire- land and her parents, Daniel and Mary King, passed their lives upon a farm in the Emerald Isle. She died in 1858 at the age of thirty years, and in the following year Luke Clark formed a second matrimoniel union with Miss Julia Keough, of Ireland, who passed away in 1869, aged forty years. A third marriage fol- lowed, with Mrs. Catherine Ragen, who is still living and occupies the old homestead, but in September. 1894, our subject's father passed to the unseen world at the age of seventy-six years. By his first marriage he had two sons: John, who . died in infancy. and Daniel H., of this sketch. By the second union there were also two sons: Richard James, a partner in the firm of Clark, Kizer & Kipp until December 10, 1897, and Matthew J., who is employed by the saine firm as a contractor. Five children were born of the third marriage: Delia, Michael and Elizabeth,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1216

who are at home; Franklin, an employee of the firm, and Lawrence, now at home.

Our subject remained at the old home until the age of fifteen when he was employed by a tanner, and the next five years were spent in working at that trade in the woods as well as in the tannery. He then began contracting for peeling bark and in lumbering, and continued eight years as foreman for Thorne, McFarlan & Co., of Laporte, Penn. For one year he was in charge of construction work on the Lehigh Valley R. R., and then became foreman of a lumber com- pany, remaining two years, when he again began contracting in the same line of business. In 1888 he and his brother, R. J., formed a partnership in mercantile and lumber business in Lopez, Penn., and continued six years, but our subject did not reside at the place, and for one year of this time he was at Rickett, Wyoming Co., Penn., as superintendent for the Trexler & Tur- rell Lumber Company. On the organization of the firm of which he is now a member he made his home at Cortez. As a shrewd business man Mr. Clark has never diverted his energies to pol- itics, but his sympathies are with the Democratic party on questions of national policy.

The company owns 6,200 acres of timber land in Jefferson county, in McCalmont and Oliver townships, valued at $200,000, and they have about eight miles of railroad connecting their mill with the P., & N. W. R. R., their rolling stock costing $50,000. Their first mill burned in July, 1894, soon after its completion, but not- withstanding a loss of $15,000 the firm rebuilt and were again ready for business in Novem- ber, 1894. Daniel H. Clark and G. W. Kipp attend to the mill work and office, and E. F. Kizer is in charge of the company's interests at Towanda, Pennsylvania.

On April 15, 1885. Mr. Clark was married at Dushore, Sullivan county, Penn., to Miss Mary McDonald, and this union has been blessed by five pretty little daughters, Mary E., Anna, Catherine, Margrette and Mildred E. Mrs. Clark was born September 24, 1858, in Sullivan coun- ty, Penn., is of Irish descent. her grandfather, Andrew McDonald, having come from Ireland in 1835. His wife, Mary Hayden, a native of Ire-

land, and their only son, John, came with him, . and their home was established in the woods lear Dushore, where he at once began to clear a farm. He was killed by a falling tree not long after his arrival, but his wife lived to the age of eighty-seven. The remains of both were interred in the cemetery at Dushore. John McDonald, Mrs. Clark's father, was born in England in 1830 but has been a resident of Sullivan county, Penn.,

since he was four years old. his home being now at Bernice. For some years he was engaged in agriculture, but later he became interested in mining. and he is one of the substantial citizens of the locality. In religious faith he is a Cath- olic, while his political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. He was married in Sullivan county to Miss Julia Sheridan, a native of Con- necticut, born in 1837, whose parents, John and Catherine (Farrell) Sheridan, came from Ireland early in life and spent their last days at Wilkes- barre, Penn. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald ten children were born: Andrew, a molder at To- wanda, Penn .; Catherine, wife of Frank Farrell. of Dushore, a manufacturer of temperance drinks; Mary, Mrs. D. H. Clark; Julia, wife of R. J. Clark, our subject's brother; Prudence, who married John Daly, a hotel keeper at Bernice; Miss Clara, the 'bookkeeper for Clark, Kizer & Kipp; Janey, wife of Thomas Fitzgerald, a tele- graph operator at Bernice; Miss Mildred, Miss Florence, and Lawrence, who reside with their parents.

F RANK A. McCONNELL, for some five years proprietor of "Hotel Pantall." at Punxsu- tawney, and now the popular and courteous land- lord of " Frank's New Tavern " at Reynoldsville. Jefferson county, is a progressive and wide-awake citizen, well worthy of emulation. His life record is that of one who started out in the world empty-handed, and steadily, by persever- ance and energy, worked his way upward to success.

Mr. McConnell is a native of Jefferson county. Penn., born March 4, 1853, a son of David B. and Charlotte M. (Campbell) McConnell. the former of whom was born in Centre (now Clin- ton) county, Penn., September 24, 1821, and was a son of William and Margaret (Moore) McConnell. They had a family of eleven chil- dren, one of whom lies buried in Centre county. and nine rest in Beechwood cemetery, our sub- ject's father being the only one of the eleven now living. The latter resided in his native county some ten years, and then came with his parents to Jefferson county, where he is passing the sun- set of his life. He served a three-years' appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade, and afterward followed that pursuit for two summers in Clarion county, Penn. He and his brother then purchased the old homestead, where they spent the winter months. while in the summer David B. McCou- nell followed his trade. His time was thus passed until 1864, when the partnership between himself and his brother was dissolved, the brotli-

----

1217

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

er selling his interest. The farm, however, did not yield sufficient to support Mr. McConnell and his partner, and in 1868 he sold out and removed to Pine Creek township, where he pur- chased the farm upon which he now resides. Since that time he has carried on agricultural pursuits. Although he is now seventy-six years of age, he is enjoying good health, and is a well- preserved man. His wife died April 14. 1880. Our subject is the third of their six children. the other surviving members of the family being Nina. wife of Barton Hutchins; Frank; J. Ray, who lives on the home farm; and Ed L., who resides in Punxsutawney.

James Moore, the maternal grandfather of David B. McConnell, was born in Ireland in about 1756, and was a weaver by trade. In his native land he married a Miss Lindsay, and six sons and two daughters were born to them, all of whom, except Joseph, came to America, set- tling in Chester county, Penn. Later, James Moore moved to Centre county, where he died in 1829. His children were Joseph, Jacob, Ed- ward, John, James, Amzi, Margaret and Nancy, all of whom died in Pennsylvania.

The paternal great-grandfather of David B. McConnell never came to America, but passed his entire life in Ireland. The names of his sons, as far as there is any record, are as follows: William, George, and Alexander, and there was also one daughter; of these, William and George were the only ones to come to America.

William McConnell, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in 1774, in Ireland, died in 1840, and is buried in Beechwood cemetery, Jefferson county, by the side of his wife who was called from earth in 1850; she was born about the year 1780.

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 23

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