Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 25

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 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 25

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D ANIEL BISH. Many of the leading citi- zens of Jefferson county served their coun- try during the Civil war, making a record honor- able and glorious. Among these was the subject of this sketch, a son of David and Rebecca (Con- fare) Bish.

David Bish, the father, was born and reared at McNicholas Furnace, Butler Co., Penn., and when a young man removed to Clarion county, where he was married. He then took up his residence in Madison township, Armstrong county, where he purchased fifty acres of woodland, cleared a farin and erected good buildings, making a well-im- proved property of the place. In 1855, how- ever. he sold his farm, and he and our subject bought one hundred acres of partially-improved land in Porter township. Jefferson county, from Henry Byers. In connection with the further de- velopment and cultivation of his land, Daniel Bish followed wagon making until August, 1863, when he offered his services to his country, be- coming a member of Company B, 82nd P. V. I., under Colonel Basset and General Terry. At Pittsburg he was mustered in, then joined the regiment at Catlet Station, Va., and took part in his first battle at the Rappahannock, where the Rebels were driven back, and a whole bri-

gade of cavalry and several hundred infantry -were captured. The Union troops then marched to Culpeper, and after the engagement at that place fell back to Brandy Station in November, 1863. They were next engaged in skirmishing at Mine Run for about a week, after which they returned to Brandy Station. In the fall of 1863, Mr. Bish was injured by a fall, and all winter was confined in the hospital. Being unfit for regimental duty, he joined the ambulance train in the spring of 1864, and remained with the Sixth Army Corps until the close of the war. After the surrender of General Lee, his command marched to Greensboro to head off Johnston's army, and at that place the latter general sur- rendered. After a week spent at Birkville Sta- tion, the Union troops marched to Richmond, then by boat proceeded to Washington, D. C., where they participated in the grand review, and where our subject was discharged. After being paid off at Philadelphia, he returned home and resumed farming upon his present place.

In 1867 Mr. Bish was married to Miss La- vina Young, a daughter of George and Mary Young, well-to-do people of Jefferson county. He brought his bride to his present home, which has been brightened by the birth of. ten children: Mary R., who died in childhood; Sarah J., who died at the age of two years; Rebecca, an invalid residing at home; Agnes, who died in infancy; M. Walter, who assists his father in the opera- tion of the farm; Lucetta C. and Joseph H., at home; George Elmer, born in November, 1882; David S., born in 1884; and Margaret Ida, born in 1887, all at home. In 1879 the father of these had the misfortune to lose his house, wagon shop and all his household furniture by fire, leaving him without a shelter for his family, but with characteristic energy the same year he built a commodious two-story frame residence. He has made many other useful improvements which add greatly to its valuable and attractive appearance, making it one of the best farms in Porter town- ship. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, and has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of supervisor. He has led an honest, honorable life, is always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy, and is held in deservedly high repute by the entire community. In religious belief he and his wife are Lutherans.

J OSEPH H. AKE, postmaster and general merchant, ranks among the leading and pop- ular citizens of Sykesville, Jefferson county. He is a man to whom the most envious can scarcely grudge success, so well has he earned

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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it, so admirably does he use it, so entirely does he lack pride of purse. His integrity stands an unquestioned fact in his history. Endowed by nature with a sound judgment and an accur- ate discriminating mind, he has not feared the laborious attention to business so necessary to achieve success, and this essential quality has ever been guided by a sense of moral right which would tolerate the employment only of the means that would bear the most rigid examina- tion, by fairness of intention that has neither sought nor required disguise.

Mr. Ake was born December 20, 1857, at Gettysburg, Hillsdale post office, Indiana Co., Penn., a son of Jacob G. and Eliza (Notley) Ake. David Ake, the paternal grandfather, was of German extraction, and became a successful farmer and extensive land owner in Blair county. Penn., where he was buried. He and his two brothers, John and Joseph, were the founders of Williamsburg, where their heirs still own about 130 lots. Jacob G. Ake, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Blair county, but the mother was a native of Ireland, and, in 1830, when ten years of age, came to America with her parents, John and Eliza Notley. The sailing vessel on which they embarked was about one hundred days in crossing the Atlantic, and on reaching the shores of the New World they went at once to Indiana county, Penn. Her parents were laid to rest in the cemetery of Cherry Tree, that county.

Upon their marriage the parents of our sub- ject located in Williamsburg, Blair county, and during early life the father followed farming and lumbering, and also conducted a hotel for a time, but subsequently turned his attention to merchandising, conducting a store in Gettysburg and in New Washington, Clearfield Co., Penn. As one of the prominent and influential citizens of his cominunity, he was called upon to serve in several township offices, and was a leader in the local Democracy. He died in April, 1882, at the

age of seventy-one years, in the faith of the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he was a consistent member. His estimable wife still resides at the old homestead in Gettysburg. In his family were the following children: David S., a prominent business man residing on the old homestead, is extensively interested in rail- roading, merchandising, farming and lumbering; Mary J. is the widow of John Mahaffey, late a hotel keeper of Gettysburg; James D. is in partnership with his brother, David S .; Agnes B. is the widow of George Prothero, of Indiana, Penn .; Joseph H. is next in order of birth; John N. is a merchant of Burnside, Clearfield

county; Anna B. is the wife of George McKeage, who is engaged in business with her brothers in Gettysburg; and Amanda is the wife of A. B. Clark, a liveryman of Hastings, Cambria Co., Pennsylvania.

Until twenty-four years of age, Joseph H. Ake remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in the work of the farm and attending school. After completing his education by two terms' attendance in the Purchase Line Academy, he taught school at Mahaffey, Penn., in the fall of 1879; but as that profession did not agree with his health, he began teaming in the lumber woods, following that occupation for a few months. Subsequently he engaged in the lum- · ber business in Clearfield and Cambria counties until 1882, when he returned home and operated the farm for one season. The following fall he embarked in merchandising in Armstrong county, Penn., but at the end of a year returned to In- diana county, where he carried on the same busi- ness until the spring of 1886. Since that time he has been numbered among the wide-awake and successful merchants of Sykesville, and on locating here he purchased the site of his present store, but later sold 50 x 150 feet to the Knights of Pythias, of that place, who erected the building.

At Purchase Line, Indiana county, on June 21, 1882, our subject was married to Miss Sarah J. Robinson, and to them were born five chil- dren: Grace, at home: Mahlon R. and Golden, now deceased; and Norman E. and David F., at home. Mrs. Ake was born January 31, 1862, near Hollidaysburg, in Blair county, Penn., a daughter of Mahlon and Mary ( Moore) Robinson, natives of Blair and Clearfield counties, respect- ively, who were married in the latter county. The father, who was a prominent farmer and lumberman, died on the old homestead in Blair county, in 1864, at the early age of twenty-six years, and was buried at Hollidaysburg. He was i a consistent meinber of the Presbyterian Church, to which his wife also belongs. Two children were born to thein: Sarah J., wife of our sub- ject; and Maxamella, who died at the age of six years. The mother, who is now living on a farm in Indiana county, was born August 27, 1841, and, after the death of her first husband, became the wife of Joseph Nichol, of that county. By this union there are six children: Joseph F., who operates a farm adjoining the old homestead in Indiana county; William, who is on the hoine farm; Laura, wife of William Mundorf, a ma- chinist of Punxsutawney, Penn. ; Horace, a drug- gist of Barnesboro, Penn .; Clara, wife of Bert Long, a merchant of Sykesville; and Walter, at

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home. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Ake were David and Sarah Robinson, of Blair coun -~ ty, where the former engaged in farming. He was killed by falling from a buggy. The ma- ternal grandparents were William and Jane (Ul- ric) Moore. William Moore was also accident- ally killed, being drowned in the Susquehanna river while rafting. By occupation he was a · farmer and lumberman:

Being a pronounced Democrat in politics, Joseph H. Ake was appointed postmaster of Sykesville, in 1886, and has since creditably filled that office, with the exception of the four years of Harrison's administration. Socially he is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 185, of Sykesville, of which he was trustee for fome time, and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 753, of Troutville, and John M. Reed Lodge No. 536, F. & A. M., of Reynoldsville, Penn. Although he is not con- nected with any religious denomination, he con- tributes to the support of the Baptist Church, of which his wife is a faithful member. As a pub- lic-spirited, enterprising citizen, he has done much to promote the welfare of his community, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life.

W ILLIAM JOHN BONER. There are in every community men of great force of character and exceptional ability, who by reason of their capacity for leadership become recognized as foremost citizens, and bear a most important part in the development and progress of the Io- cality with which they are connected. Such a man is Mr. Boner. who is now prominently con- nected with the agricultural and commercial in- terests of Jefferson county. He was born March 23, 1835, in Beaver township, Jefferson county, now follows general farming in Winslow town- ship, and is a general merchant and railroad agent at Sherwood Station.

John Boner, his paternal grandfather, died in early life (in 1812), leaving two sons who were reared by the grandmother, Mrs. Esther Boner, who was of Scotch lineage. She died in 1848. One of these sons. Charles Boner, the father of our subject, was born August 6, 1806, in West- moreland county, Penn., and was married there, October 25, 1832, to Martha McGarey, a native of the same county. A year later they came to Jefferson county, locating in Beaver township, where they remained three years. They then went to Brookville, and. in 1842, the father be- gan lumbering near that place. In 1846 he re-

inoved to the McCauley farm, where he carried on blacksmithing and farming. In 1851 he lo- cated on the Boner homestead in Rose township, Jefferson county, where he followed farming and blacksmithing for some time, but spent his later years in retirement. During the last four years of his life he was a cripple, owing to a kick re- ceived from a horse. He died November 5, 1877, and his wife, who was born March 11, 1812, passed away in February, 1897, and was buried by his side in Beaver Run cemetery.

This worthy couple were the parents of the following children: Sarah A., born January 14, 1834, is living on the old homestead; William John is our subject; Mary Jane, born November 20, 1836, became the widow of John Fitsim- mons, of Rose township, Jefferson county, and died November 7, 1897; Esther, born March 20, 1839, lives on the old homestead; George, born February 15, 1841, is now proprietor of a meat market in Brookville; Elizabeth, born March 8, 1843, is the wife of James McGee, a lumberman and farmer of Winslow township; Rachel M .. born January 18, 1845, is the wife of John Mc- Giffin, an agriculturist of Rose township; Nancy, born October 12, 1846, died July 24, 1847; Mar- garet, born April 21, 1848, became the wife of Andrew Smith, and died May 5, 1881; Matthew T., born July 29, 1850, is a lumberman of Elk county, Penn .; Maretta, born April 1, 1853, is the wife of Calvin Yoman, of Elk county, Penn. ; and David M., born February 15, 1857, follows farming in Knox township, Jefferson county.

William John Boner spent his childhood days upon his father's farm, and assisted in the labors of the fields during the summer, while in the winter season he worked in the lumber woods. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty-two he followed the carpenter's trade, and gave his earnings toward the support of the family. A year after attaining his majority, he went to Wash- ington township, Jefferson county, where for two years, in connection with his uncle. David McGarey, he engaged in contracting in the lum- ber woods. On the expiration of that period he purchased 150 acres of land, largely covered with pine timber, and since that time he has suc- cessfully operated as a lumber merchant. He is also an enterprising, progressive farmer, and owns 200 acres of good land. He conducts a general mercantile business, which was estab- lished by his wife in 1885. She successfully conducted the store for seven years, and then leased it to Mrs. N. J. Steele, whose time ex- pired in 1894, when Mr. Boner assumed the management of the business. He is a wide- awake merchant, carrying a large and well-

off & Banen

G & Bones

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

assorted stock, and from the public he has secured a liberal patronage.

On October 23, 1861, at Sandy Valley, by Rev. John Rea, pastor of the Beach Wood Presbyterian Church, Mfr. Boner was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Burrows. She was born Octo- ber 23, 1841, in Warsaw township, Jefferson county, and is a daughter of Gilbert B. and Lucina (Barlow) Burrows. Her father was born May 9, 1798, at Groton, Conn., her mother on February 1, 1802, at Barnard, Vt., and was probably descended from one of three broth- ers who came to America in the "Mayflower." George Burrows, the paternal grandfather, was a sea captain, who died at his home of yellow fever. The parents of Mrs. Boner were married February 15, 1824, in New York, and in the spring of 1841 removed from that State to War- saw township, Jefferson Co., Penn. In 1847 they came to what is now Sandy Valley. and the father sold the first corn-brooms in Beech Woods. He was an extensive land owner, lum- berman and farmer, and a very prominent and influential citizen. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he was a licensed exhorter. He took an active part in politics, aided in establishing the " Underground Railroad" before the war, and for many years was justice of the peace. By the capable management of his business inter- ests, he became quite wealthy, and contributed $1,000 to Adrian (Mich. ) College, being a stanch adherent of the cause of education.

The children of Gilbert B. Burrows and wife were as follows: Eliza A., born July 4, 1827, married Benjamin Jaquet, and, after his death, she married Daniel Gove, but is again a widow, living in Delavan, Wis .; Timothy, born Septem- ber 15, 1829, was a minister of the Baptist Church, became captain of a company in the Union army during the Civil war, and died in hospital at Paducah, Ky .; Sarah J., born Octo- ber 7, 1831, died in the spring of 1841; Phoebe A., born September 20, 1833, is the wife of Will- iam R. Cox, of Millville, Columbia Co., Penn. ; Daniel B., born December 30, 1836, died Octo- ber 15, 1851; George, born in November, 1838. died in 1840: Elizabeth J. (Mrs. Boner) is next in order of birth; Julia Ann R., born January 22. IS44, died in 1856; and Miran S., born August 19, 1847, died October 14, 1850.

Our subject and wife have reared an inter- esting family, namely: (1) Orpha, born in Au- gust, 1863. married John Waite, of Winslow township (ex-treasurer of Jefferson county), and they had two children, both now deceased. The mother's death occurred September 3, 1889.

(2) Charles G., born in September, 1865, is en- gaged in lumbering at Bobo, Coahoma Co., Miss. (3) Martha L., born in October, 1870, died in October, 1880. (4) Alvin K., born September 1, 1872, died in November, 1878. (5) Frank B., born May 18, 1876, is now a student in Grove City College, in Pennsylvania. (6) Edgar H., born in April, 1881, is at home. The family is one of prominence in the community. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boner are highly cultured people of superior literary, taste, and are recognized lead- ers in society circles. They hold membership in the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Boner has served as elder for the past twenty years. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has been honored with various public offices, having served as school director for three years, as supervisor three years, and as overseer of the poor for the past fifteen years. In 1876 he was appointed postmaster at Sandy Valley, and for twelve years has occupied that position, having been again appointed to it in 1897. His public career and his private life are alike above reproach, and he is one of Jefferson county's honored and promi- nent citizens. Mrs. Boner has for the past twelve years been president of the Pancoast W. C. T. U .; helped to organize the Jefferson County W. C. T. U .; and is one of the county superintend- ents of that work.

J TOSEPH W. WILSON, EsQ., who is now ac- ceptably serving as justice of the peace of , Punxsutawney, was born in that city in 1857, a son of John B. and Caroline B. (Winslow) Wil- son, natives of Indiana and Jefferson counties, Penn., respectively. From the age of nineteen years the father made his home in Punxsutawney, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for many years, and took quite a prominent part in public affairs, serving as associate judge of Jefferson county for some seven years, and afterward as justice of the peace. He was called to his final rest in 1894, and his estimable wife died in May, 1896.

Our subject received his literary education in the public schools of Punxsutawney, which he attended until thirteen years of age, and then entered his father's store, where he served as clerk for about six years. For the following twelve years he engaged in the sale of pianos and organs, after which he was appointed postal clerk in the mail service, and was on the road between Bellwood and Punxsutawney for two years and a half. Returning to the latter place on the expiration of that time, he resumed the sale of musical instruments, which he continued

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until 1892, when he was appointed assistant deputy under Sheriff Young, of Jefferson county, and filled the position during the entire term. It was in February, 1895, that he was first ap- pointed justice of the peace at Punxsutawney, and at the following election was elected to that office, which he has since filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned.

In 1877, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Martha J. Mitchell, of Punxsutawney, and five children now grace their union, as follows: Max M., Daisy D., Winifred W., Edith E. and Doro- thy D. Mrs. Wilson died May 5, 1897, of pneu- monia, after an illness of five days. She was a member of the Baptist Church, with which her family have for several generations been con- nected, and Mr. Wilson's grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was a pioneer Baptist minister of · Penn- sylvania.

Our subject takes an active interest in civic societies, and is now Exalted Ruler of Punxsu- tawney Lodge No. 301, Benevolent and Protect- ive Order of Elks; he also is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees, the Senior Order of American Mechanics, and the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a past chancellor and now keeper of records and seals. On political questions he always votes with the Democratic party, is an ardent advocate of its principles, and in 1892 was elected and served as chairman of the county Democratic committee. He may truly be con- sidered one of the representative men of Punxsu- tawney, with whose interests he has long and prominently been identified.

On the death of Mrs. Wilson one of the Punx- sutawney papers contained the following notice:

Although Mrs. Wilson expressed a strong desire to re- main here, yet her friends know that when she realized that death was inevitable, her spirit rejoiced. She seemed to relinquish her grasp of friendly hands here only when she saw others extended to her from some better world. Those who witnessed her departure from this life can testify that she was fully conscious of a life beyond. Her friends, and that includes everybody who knew her in this life, her broth- ers and sisters, and her family can never forget the dying words uttered seemingly after the soul had vacated its earthly tenement. Her spirit seemed to linger and hover near the little ones she was leaving behind, in a world which to her must have appeared cold and gray by contrast with the bright visions ahead, trying to tell them of the future that awaits the Christian. The friends and relatives who as- sembled at the household on Saturday and the family, over- come with grief, reflected the influence of her last words on carth. The beautiful floral offerings, the rich draperied cas- ket, the words, the sobs, the tears, all spoke eloquently of the esteem in which she was held by her acquaintances and family.

At the head of the casket rested a large wreath of flow- ers, the offering of the Punxsutawney Elks, which was com- prised of white lilies, pink and white roses and daisies, mounted on a platform and arranged with a heavy back- ground of ferns and green vines. To the left of the wreath stood a miniature monument covered with an arrangement of calla-lilies, red and white roses, pink and red coronets,

smilax and daisies, the gift of the Elks' Lodge of D: Bois. On the foot rested a large tent of flowers consisting of lilies. coronets, tulips, roses, smilax and many other rare nowers, which was contributed by the Punxsutawney Maccabers. The Ladies' Aid Society of the Baptist Church arranged some beautiful floral designs, which were placed on the casket and around the form of their dear sister to be buried with her.

The funeral services occurred at the residence on Penn street on Saturday, May 8, at 11:30 A. M., conducted by Rev. Palmer, of the Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. J. G. Noble. The choir sang, with much feeling, two selected hymns which were the request of Mrs. Wilson shortly before she expired. Rev. Palmer read a selection from the Bible and offered a solemn prayer for the departed, after which he spoke some touching words of sympathy to the friends as- sembled. Rev. Noble spoke in broken tones of grief about the lost sister, and pointed the family to the road that leads to her future home. Mrs. Burt sang " Flee as a Bird " by re- quest, with such pathos that nearly every one present was moved to tears, as the selection was the favorite song of Mrs. Wilson. A large concourse of people followed the hearse to Circle Hill cemetery where the last sad rites were performed that the living can pay to the dead.

Mrs. Martha J. Wilson ( nee Mitchell) was the daughter of Thomas L. Mitchell, brother of Judge James Mitchell, late of Punxsutawney. Her parents both preceded he: many years ago. Of her family, six are vet living, four brothers and two sisters. Her brothers are Cam Mitchell, of Reyn- oldsville; Frank W., of Driftwood; John F., of seattle, Wash., and Elmer, of Richmond, Ky. Her sisters are Mrs. W. S. McClain, of Pittsburg, and Mrs. C. K McCartney, of this place.

She was wedded to Joseph W. Wilson, of Punxsutawney, October 6, 1877, the result of the union being one son, Max, and four girls: Daisy, aged sixteen; Winnie, fourteen : Edith, eleven, and Dorothy, five. Her husband and children real- ize deeply their loss, but as the years go by her mentory will become more and more cherished. Mrs. Wilson had been a member of the Baptist congregation for more than five years, but her goodness and religious temperament were always marked. She and her bereaved husband both have lived in this town all of their lives, and both have alike eni ved the friendship of everybody. The influence of her memory will always be the guiding star of the family.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 25

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