Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 24

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 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 24

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Frank A. McConnell, whose name intro- duces this sketch, enjoyed the free open hfe of the farm during his boyhood, and midst play and work the days of his youth were passed. At the age of twenty-two he went to Brookville, where he was employed as a clerk in the " Amer- ican House", until February 22, 1877, when he moved to Parker, Penn., and there continued in the hotel business until June, 1878. In Septem- ber following, after a short rest, he went to Bradford, Penn., and engaged in the manufacture of nitro-glycerine, establishing the second steam manufactory for that article in the United States. On January 13, 1879, he sold ont and re- turned to Brookville, where on the tith of Feb- ruary lie purchased the St. Charles restaurant and saloon, conducting the same for three years, when he disposed of his business there, and bought a restaurant in Reynoldsville, Jefferson 77

county, which he placed in charge of his brother. In September, 1882, he bought the Flinn drug store at Reynoldsville, conducting the same in partnership with H. A. Stoke, for five years. He also carried on the restaurant until 1886, and, in the spring of 1883, he became pro- prietor of a jewelry store in Reynoldsville, admitting to a partnership in the business A. C. Guth, who in 1888 sold his interest to Ed L. Mc- Connell. In 1891 the jewelry store was sold to Casper F. Huffman. Varied have been the busi- ness interests of our subject, and his energy and activity have been not only of material benefit to himself, but have largely advanced the com- mercial activity of the communities with which he has been connected.

In 1886 Frank A. McConnell purchased and opened " Hotel McConnell," in Reynoldsville, one of the leading hostelries of central Pennsyl- vania, and continued its operation until August 24, 1891, when he sold to Black & Reynolds. In 1892 Mr. McConnell came to Punxsutawney and successfully conducted " Hotel Pantall " until January 12, 1897, when he sold out to H. D. Edelblute, and May 10, following, purchased and took charge of what is now " Frank's New Tav- ern" ( formerly the "Reynolds House"), in Reynoldsville, the oldest hotel building in Jeffer- son county. He has refitted the house through- out, introducing all modern improvements, and now prides himself in having one of the best equipped and foremost hotels in central Penn- sylvania. He owns other real estate in Reynolds- ville, and has an interest in some coal fields in Jefferson county, which return a good royalty.

On May 22, 1890, Frank A. McConnell was inarried to Alice S. Miller, a native of Indiana county, Penn., and a daughter of John Miller, a resident of that county. Three children have graced this union: Bert, Fay and Zoe. Mrs. McConnell is a member of the Lutheran Church. Socially Mr. McConnell is affiliated with the F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F. and the Royal Ar- canum. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. Mr. McConnell's success in business has been worthily achieved, being the outcome of earnest effort and capable management.

TACOB K. JOHNSTON, of Winslow township, belongs to that class of citizens whose sterling worth, public spirit and progressiveness have been the means of procuring the substantial de- velopment of Jefferson county. He is a worthy representative of one of the old and honored fan- ilies of the county, and was born in Shelocta, Indiana Co., Penn., March 25, 1834, a son of

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William and Margaret (Keener) Johnston. The birth of the paternal grandfather, Andrew John -- ston, occurred in Ireland, but when only four years old he crossed the Atlantic and first located in Cincinnati, Ohio. He died, however, in In- diana county, Penn. Jacob Keener. the mater- nal grandfather, was a native of the Keystone State, and became a farmer of Indiana county, where his death occurred. All of the grandpar- ents lived to a ripe old age.

William Johnston, the father of our subject, . was born in Butler county, Penn., December 20, 1796, and the birth of his wife occurred in Indi- ana county, February 10, 1810. In 1841 they migrated to Winslow township, Jefferson Co., lo- cating upon the farm where our subject now re- sides and there spent their remaining days. They had traveled by wagon, and located here when it was almost an unbroken wilderness. The father, who was very fond of hunting, had ample oppor- tunity to indulge in that sport, as deer, bears and other wild animals were still quite numerous. Only a quarter of an acre of his land had been cleared. He was a gunsmith by trade, but after locating in Jefferson county he engaged in team- ing for some years, hauling iron from Bellefonte to Erie, and returning with Ohio cheese. He successfully engaged in speculating, and became one of the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of his community. He died December 17, 1872, and his wife, who was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, passed away March 29, 1879, both being buried at Prospect, Winslow township. In the family of this worthy couple were the following children: Mary, now the widow of Henry Gray, of Winslow township; Nancy, who died in childhood; Andrew, a resi- dent of Washington county, Penn. ; Jacob K., of this review; Harriet, a resident of Westmore- land county, Penn., and the widow of Thomas Rutter, a millwright; Reuben, who engaged in sawmilling, but is now deceased; William, a blacksmith of West Virginia; Joseph S., of Rath- mel, who is now serving as supervisor of Wins- low township, Jefferson county; Maggie, wife of George W. Mohney, a miner of Rathmel; Anna, widow of John Hendricks, of Reynoldsville, Penn .; Evaline, wife of Elisha Evans, who is en- gaged in clerking; George, a miner of Winslow township; and James, who died when about a year old fromn drinking a bottle of aquafortis, which his father used for staining wood, stocks of knives, etc.

Our subject continued with his parents until they were called to their reward, and is still living on the old homestead, where also his entire life has been spent. In 1847 he went to Wilkins-

burg, Penn., where for a year and a half he cut logs for railroad ties, receiving fifty cents per day and board. Saving his wages, he helped pay off the debt on his father's farm. The place at first contained but sixty and a half acres, which cost $3 per acre, but he has added to it, and now has a good farm of eighty acres, and has sold the coal underlying it for $60 per acre. Being a natural mechanic, he has given considerable attention to various trades, and early in life be- came a competent wheelright. In 1874 he established a shop in Reynoldsville for the man- ufacture of carriages, wagons, etc., and there con- tinued to reside for four years, but at the end of that time returned to the old home farm, where he had also built a shop in 1865. He continued business along that line until 1892, when it be- came unprofitable owing to the many cheap machinery-made vehicles placed on the market. Mr. Johnston was married, August 22, 1872, to Miss Margaret Smouse, and six children were born to this union: Ed, at home; Iris, who is successfully engaged in teaching; Almeda, the youngest daughter, died on December 11, 1897. of diphtheria, aged twenty years, one month and eighteen days (she was a successful teacher); Hettie and Frank, who died in childhood; and John, at home. Mrs. Johnston was born in Punxsutawney. Jefferson county, August 5. 1842, and is a daughter of Conrad and Margaret (Thomas) Smouse, natives of Bedford and Arm- strong counties, Penn., respectively. Her pater- nal grandfather, George A. Smouse, was also born in Bedford county, and died in Armstrong county at the advanced age of ninety-six. John Thomas, the maternal grandfather, who also passed away in Armstrong county, was a native of Westmoreland county, Penn .. and became an extensive land owner.

The parents of Mrs. Johnston were married in Armstrong county, and came to Jefferson county in the spring of 1842, where the father continued to follow the occupation of farming until called to his final rest. He was born September 28. 1804, and died July 30, 1885, while his wife was born February 27, 1810, and died June 30, 1885. Both were members of the Lutheran Church, and were held in esteem by all who knew them. They were parents of the following children: Rosanna, now the widow of Joseph R. Craft, and a resident of Punxsutawney; Caroline, wife of Adam B. Hoeh, a farmer of Kansas: Mary A., wife of William R. McGee, a lumberman of Jeff- erson county; Sarah A., who died in childhood; Margaret M., wife of our subject; Elizabeth, wife of William Charleton, a miner of Winslow town- ship. Jefferson county; Sophia, who died in

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childhood; Fidelia, wife of Jacob Kuntz, a farmer of McCalmont township; and Henrietta, who re- sides on the old homestead, and is now the wife of James A. Sweeney. Our subject is unfalter- ing in his support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and withholds his aid from no interest calculated to prove of public benefit. His well-spent life has won him the unqualified regard of all, and his name is high on the roll of Jefferson county's most eminent and worthy citizens.

J OHN S. MILLER, who has long been con- nected with the farming and lumbering inter- ests of Gaskill township, Jefferson county, is a man whose well-spent life commends him to the confidence and regard of all. Esteemed for his sterling worth and manly character, he well deserves mention in this volume. Born in West- moreland county, Penn., in 1819, he is a son of Henry and Catherine (Wilkins) Miller, both na- tives of Somerset county, Penn. After their marriage they removed to Westmoreland county, where the father died at the age of seventy-five years, the mother when ninety-eight.

They had children as follows: (1) John S. is the eldest. (2) Jacob was married in West- moreland county, where he spent the greater part of his life; he served for four years as a sol- dier in the Civil war. (3) Margaret became the wife of Simon Fultz, of Westmoreland county, and died some years ago. (4) Susanna is the wife of Samuel King, and is living in Westmore- land county. (5) William died in that county, leaving a wife and one child. (6) Samuel, a soldier of the Union army. died in Westmore- land county. (7) Daniel served for four years in the Civil war, and died in the same county. (8) George, a native of Westmoreland county, who was also numbered among the "boys in blue," married, and spent the remainder of his days in his native county. (9) Lavina became the wife of Lewis Brinker, and died leaving three chil- dren. (10) Sarah became the wife of Paul Wal- ter, and died leaving three children. (11) Lizzie is the widow of Simon Fultz, by whom she had three children. and her home is now in Greens- burg, Penn. (12) Isaac died at the age of one year. (13) Henry, born in Westmoreland coun- ty, married Miss Poorman; he joined the Union army, but at Pittsburg was taken ill and started home, his death occurring a few days after his arrival.

John S. Miller was reared in his native coun- ty, and in 1842 married Elizabeth Fultz, of West- moreland county, daughter of George and Maria

Fultz. In 1846 he removed to Winslow town- ship, Jefferson county, where he followed lum- bering until 1871, when he went to Bell town- ship, Clearfield Co., Penn. There his son Noah purchased the Samuel Woodward farm of 114 acres, and one hundred acres were placed under a high state of cultivation, our subject making his home thereon until a few years since. He was a progressive, enterprising business man, and by his close application and earnest purpose ac- cumulated a comfortable competence.

In 1889 Mr. Miller was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in November. They had six children: (1) Isaac W., the eldest. born in Westmoreland county, in 1843, enlisted at the age of eighteen years in Company K, 105th P. V. I., under Capt. Wilson, of Punxsutawney. He was sworn into the service of the Army of the Potomac, and in the Seven-days' battle was seriously wounded by the bursting of a shell. He was taken to Mill Creek hospital, where he died of his injuries. (2) Noah, born in West- moreland county, in 1846, married Miss Nancy Bender, of Jefferson county, and is now living on a farm in Bell township, Clearfield county. They have seven children-(a) Lizzie and (b) Rachel are twins, the former of whom is now the wife of Peter Rupert. of Newtonburg, Clearfield county, by whom she has three children-Earl, Minnie and Glenn; Rachel is the wife of Curtis Kerr, of Newtonburg, and they have children. Edward, John, Elmer and Bell. (c) Martha died in early womanhood. (d) Jane is the wife of John Hellyard, of Clearfield county, and they have two sons, Henry and Miller. (e) Alice, (f) Andrew and (g) William H. are at home. (3) David, born in Jefferson county, in 1850, died at the age of seven years. (4) Maria C., born in Jefferson county, in 1855, is the widow of Thomas Miller, who resides in Henderson township. Jeffer- son county, until 1887, when he was killed by the falling of a tree while engaged in lumbering. He left a widow and three children, the eldest being John, who is now twenty-one years of age. The second, Hannah E., born in Gaskill township, in 1878, was married in September, 1895, to Frank Frampton, of Clearfield county, now residing on a farm near Newtonburg, by whom she has one child, Olive L. The third. Noah S., was born in 1880, and is with his mother. In 1886 Mrs. Miller became the wife of Samuel De Haven. who died two years ago. She is still living on a farm in Gaskill township. (5) Mary S., the fifth child of John S. Miller, was born in Jefferson county, in 1858, and is the wife of John Sheh- ley, of Jefferson county, who is now following lumbering near Sykesville. They have five

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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children-Ellen, Catherine, Myrtle, Harry and Herman. (6) Malinda J., born in Jefferson county, in 1859, is the wife of August Reiter, of Du Bois, Penn., in which town he was engaged in the dairy business.

John S. Miller has voted both the Republican and Democratic tickets, but is now a Prohibition- ist. He belongs to the United Brethren Church, and his has been a consistent Christian life, com- mending him to the confidence and respect of the entire community. He is numbered among the honored pioneers of the county, wherein by the careful prosecution of his business interests he has secured a comfortable home.

G ILBERT W. PALEN, superintendent of the West Pennsylvania Tannery or Elk Tanning Co., Reynoldsville, Jefferson county, has attained the management of this extensive plant through merit and his thorough knowledge of the indus- try. He has been a tanner all his life: his father was a tanner; and his grandfather followed the same vocation. It would be strange if, with this family history, and with the diligent and con- scientious application of Mr. Palen to his work, he were not a most efficient craftsman. The en- viable reputation which he enjoys, as superintend- ent of one of the largest tanneries in the State of Pennsylvania, is therefore pre-eminently a deserved one.

Born in Fallsburg, Sullivan Co., N. Y., June 19, 1856, Mr. Palen is a son of Gilbert W. and Caroline (King) Palen, natives of Dutchess and Greene counties, N. Y., respectively, and grand- son of Peter Palen. The last named emigrated to America from Holland and settled in Dutch- ess county, N. Y. In religious conviction he was a Quaker, and in business affairs a man of considerable prominence. He owned and opera- ted several tanneries, and died in Acra, N. Y .. where at the time he was operating a tan- nery, Gilbert W. Palen, Sr., father of our sub- ject, was born in 1818. He learned the trade of his father, and followed it at Acra and Falls- burg, N. Y., and elsewhere up to his death, which occurred at the latter place in 1870. His wife died at Cairo, Greene county, N. Y., in Septem- ber. 1895, aged sixty-eight years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. The three children of Gilbert W. and Carlone Palen are: Frank W .. a produce merchant at Madison. Neb. : Rose K., wife of W. R. Vedder, civil en- gineer for the city of Syracuse, N. Y. ; and Gil- bert W., of whom we more particularly write.

years he clerked in a dry-goods store at Middle- town, N. Y., and he attended the high school at that city for a year, after which he spent a year on a farm with his grandparents, and in 1876 he went to Limestone, N. Y., where he worked for a year in a general store. Then he took up the work of his father and grandfather. For five years he was employed in a tannery at Corbetts- ville, N. Y .; thence he went to Clearfield county, Penn., and for two years was with J. B. Alley & Co., tanners at Curwensville and at Osceola Mills. In January, 1884. he became yard fore- man in the tannery of Hall & Vaughan, Rey- noldsville, now owned by the Elk Tanning Co. In 1890, when the superintendent resigned, Mr. Palen was appointed by Hall & Vaughan as his successor, and he has since continuously filled that important position. The Reynoldsville Tan- nery is one of the largest in the State, and is one of twenty-six now owned by the Elk Tanning Co., a company which was organized in May, 1893. and in that year acquired possession of the Rey- noldsville Tannery. All the buildings were de- stroyed by fire in 1893, but were rebuilt in 1894. The plant at present covers twenty acres, upon which are located ten buildings. When running full time, about 150 men are employed, and 660 sides are finished per day. The general offices of the Elk Tanning Co. are located at Ridgway. Pennsylvania.

Our subject was married, June 14, 1888, at Greenville, Greene Co., N. Y., to Miss Gertrude Hartt, daughter of Edgar and Augusta Hartt, residents of that place, where Mr. Hartt is now engaged in general mercantile trade. Mr. Palen is a member of the Presbyterian Church; in poli- tics he was formerly a Republican, but he is now an advocate of the principles of the Prohibition party. He is universally regarded as one of the intelligent and prominent men of Reynoldsville, and he wields an influence that is always directed toward the improvement of the people among whom he lives. He is public-spirited, and thor- oughly alive to all the leading issues and ques- tions of the day.

W ILLIAM NULL, a well-known agricult- urist and lumberman of Henderson town- ship, Jefferson county, may justly take pride in his fine homestead near Sykesville, which was cleared and brought under cultivation by him nearly a half century ago.

Mr. Null is a member of an old Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, family. George Null. his father, who was born in that county, was a sol-

Our subject remained at home, attending the schools until he was sixteen years old. For five , dier in the war of Iste, and by occupation was a

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farmer, owning a good estate near the city of Leb- anon. His death in 1859 was caused by an ac- cident, a limb of a tree falling upon him. Our subject's mother, whose inaiden name was Nancy Gibbony, married a second husband, Henry Ise- hower, and moved to Fayette county, Ind., where she died in 1892. By her first marriage she had four sons, all of whom were born at the old home in Lebanon county: (1) Peter married a Miss Bucher, and for sonie years resided in his native county where he was employed as a lock-tender on the Pittsburg & Pennsylvania canal. Later he removed to the State of Indiana, where he now resides. He has three children. (2) John, a veteran of the Civil war, enlisted in 1861 from Lebanon county and served throughout the strug- gle. He married Miss Shepler, of Lebanon county, and now resides in Annville, seven miles west of Lebanon, where he follows huckstering as an oc- cupation. He has one son, John, Jr. (3) Jos- eph, who accompanied his mother to the West, enlisted in the Union army from Indiana, and met a soldier's death. (4) William Null, of this re- view.

William Null was born in 1834, and until he was eight years old he remained at the old home- stead in Lebanon county. He was then taken to Clearfield county to make his home with an un- cle, John Elniger, and five years later he began to earn his own livelihood, working in the woods and at the carpenter's trade. In 1850 he was employed by William Irwin, of Curwensville, with whom he remained one year, and then he located in Henderson township, Jefferson coun- ty, where he has ever since resided. On May 17, 1851, he married Miss Elizabeth Hall, of Lawrence township, Clearfield county, and in 1853 he bought his present homestead of fifty- one acres, then a mere tract of woodland. His energy and industry enabled hini to clear the place and sell the timber, and it was not long be- fore he had built a comfortable house and a good barn, and had made other substantial improve- ments. In 1889 Death invaded the family circle, taking his beloved wife, who had shared help- fully in all the toil and hardships of his early days. Of their six children, five are living, and by their excellent character and standing reflect credit upon their parents. (1) John, born Janu- ary 7. 1854, received a public-school education, and is now a successful contractor and builder at Sykesville. He married Miss Sallie Duff. of Jefferson county, and has nine children: Clifton, who died in childhood; Edith, Aden, Edward, Harry, Ray, George, Ivan C. and Delbert Ag- new are at home with parents. (2) James, born September 8, 1858, married Miss Bertha Rogers,

of Jefferson county, and now resides in Clay- ville, where he follows farming and manufactures brick. He has two children-Mary and Walter. (3) Lodiana, born September 26, 1861, died February 20, 1866, in her fifth year. (4) George, born October 20, 1865, married Truzy Rupert, of Sykesville, and he now resides in that town, following mining as a business. They have no family. (5) Milton, born October 30, 1867. married Miss Polly Clayton, of Brady township, Clearfield county, and located in Sykesville, where his wife died in 1893, leaving three chil- dren, Elizabeth, Emma and John, all at home. (6) William Grant, born March 29, 1872, mar- ried Miss Mary Walker, of Sykesville, Jefferson county, and now resides in Sykesville, where he follows mining for the Jefferson & Clearfield Coal & Iron Co. They have one child, Pearl.

Our subject affiliated with the Old-line Whig party in early life, and later became a stanch Republican. While taking a keen interest in the questions of the day he has refrained from parti- san work, his influence being exerted in quiet ways. In religious faith he is a Baptist, and he and his family are all active members of the Church at Sykesville.

C H. BUTLER & BRO., of Brookville, Jef- ferson county, prominent dealers in general merchandise, are among the most enterprising and progressive citizens of the county. They are descended from one of the early families of Jefferson county, and their father, James Butler, was born there, and has always had his home within the county limits, his attention being mainly given to agriculture. His years of quiet usefulness have left him in good physical health, and he is still active in the management of his farm. His wife, Mary Huhn, to whom Time has also been kind, was born in Germany. and came to America with her parents when she was only five years old.

The Butler Brothers were both born in Jef- ferson county, C. H. in 1856, and Morton E. in 1862. The education of the former was limited to an attendance at the district schools near his father's home, and at eighteen he left the farm to work in a sawmill. After a time he went to Du- Bois, Penn., and secured employment in a print- ing office, where he acquired the trade of type setting. Owing to the failure of his health he took a trip to the Far West, and spent two years traveling through that region. On his return to his native county he became clerk and business manager for J. K. Moore, the lumberman, re- maining with him four years. He then went to

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Brookville, and, after spending two years as clerk for M. W. Dickey, he engaged in his present busi- ness. In addition to that, he is now the secretary and business manager of the Brookville Furniture Company, in which he and his brother are stock- holders. He was married, in October, 1888, to Miss Carrie Steele, daughter of James Steele, one of Brookville's leading citizens, and four children -- Steele, Wade, Guy and Marvin-make their home merry. Mrs. Butler is a prominent member of the M. E. Church. C. H. Butler belongs to the Ancient Order of Artisans. In politics he is a Republican, but he has no in- clination to enter the arena as a candidate for public honors, although his keen desire to secure better educational advantages for the youth of to-day has led him to serve in positions where he could best promote those interests.

MORTON E. BUTLER supplemented his district school training by a course in the Williamsport Commercial College, graduating in 1886. He taught school for about eight years, but for the past five years has been connected with the busi- ness in Brookville. In 1896 he was united in matrimony with Miss Eva Cooley, of Brookville. Like his brother, he is a believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, and he belongs to the fraternal order of Foresters.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 24

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