Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 33

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 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 33

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ture from Jefferson county. At each succeeding election he has been the successful candidate, and is one of the leading and influential members of the House, ably representing his district in that august assembly.

In 1880. Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe Griggs, then of Washington, D. C., and a daughter of Algerdon S. Griggs, quite a prominent politician of Morgan county, Ind .. who served in the State Legislature and as a judge. Four children grace this union, namely: Sidney S., Edward Griggs, Pierre, and Imogene. ! known and hold a high position in social circles. Fraternally, Mr. Smith is a Master Mason.

G EORGE S. WEAVER, a well-known citizen of Bell township, Jefferson county, is the owner of ninety acres of fine arable land, which he has brought to a high state of culture, and upon which he has put some very handsome and substantial improvements. The neatness and or- derly appearance of the property manifests to the most casual observer the thrift and care of the proprietor, and shows conclusively that he un- derstands his business thoroughly. Besides gen- eral farming he is also interested in lumbering. owning and operating a sawmill, where in 1896 he cut from 200,000 to 300,000 feet of lumber. In addition to the ninety acres of farm land he owns seventy acres of timber land which is cov- ered with pine hemlock, and hard wood. The

surface of this land is well adapted for farming.

Mr. Weaver was born in the township where he still resides, in 1839, and is a son of George and Elanora (Schoch) Weaver, who were born, reared and married in Germany. and remained residents of the Fatherland until after the birth of their second child. On crossing the Atlantic to America they located in Jefferson county, where the father followed the occupations of farming and lumbering until three years prior to his death, when he retired from active business life. Removing to Clearfield county, Penn., he there spent his remaining days, dying on the 25th of February, 1875. After surviving him for about ten years, his wife died in 1885.

In 1884, he came to Punxsutawney, where he established the Punxsutawney Tribune, which one year and a half later was consolidated with the Spirit, and is now conducted . by him under the latter name. He removed. in 1892, to Bradford. Penn., and edited the Bradford Era for about a year, when he returned to Punxsu- The common schools afforded our subject his educational privileges, and his business training was upon the home farin. On the 12th of June. 1866, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Cath- erine Snyder, a daughter of John A. Snyder, of Indiana county, l'enn., and six children bless their union: Harry W .; Clara, now the wife of George W. Weiss; Ella, the wife of J. W. Mar- tawney, and purchased a half interest in the Spirit. Under his able management this paper has become one of the leading Republican papers of Jefferson county, and enjoys the larg- est circulation. Mr. Smith has ever taken an active and prominent part in public affairs, is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and on that ticket, in 1889, was elected to the Legisla- : shall, of Du Bois, Penn. ; and Anna, Amos O.,

Penn., a son of John S. and Susan Smith. Valen- : Mr. and Mrs. Smith are widely and favorably

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and Cora, at home. The parents and children all hold membership in the Lutheran Church, and are widely and favorably known throughout the community. Mr. Weaver gives his unwavering support to the Democracy, and while not an offi- .cial aspirant, he has served in all the local posi- tions, including those of supervisor, tax collector, school director, auditor and jury commissioner. From 1880 until 1890, he was also justice of the peace, and he discharges every duty which de- volves upon him, whether public or private, with the utmost fidelity and promptness. He occu- pies a high place in the estimation of the people of the township, and is weli worthy of their high regard.

H T. BAKER, a successful miller, and one of the most energetic and enterprising busi- ness men of Corsica, was born July 1, 1864, in Clarion county, Penn., and is a worthy repre- sentative of an honored and highly respected family of this section of the State.

His grandparents, Hugh and Jane (Mullen) Baker, were of Irish lineage and natives of Nit- tany Valley, Centre Co., Penn. The former, also a miller, followed that occupation in Clear- field county and other places in central Pennsyl- vania, and died at Jones Mill, Clarion county, in 1877. His wife is still living, and resides at Corsica, at the ripe old age of ninety-three years.

John Baker, the father of our subject, spent the greater portion of his boyhood in Mercer county, and with his father learned the miller's trade. Responding to his country's call for troops during the Civil war, he enlisted in 1861, at New Bethlehem, in the 11th P. V. I., and during his long and faithful service of four years, he was for a time incarcerated in the loathsome Libby prison, and was four times wounded, be- ing injured in both arms, also in one leg, which he came nearly losing, and he still carries the ball he received in his hip at the battle of Gettys- burg. When hostilities had ceased he returned home, and after recuperating for some time, he resumed inilling, which he continued to follow until the disease known as miller's phthisic forced his retirement in 1890. Removing to Pittsburg in 1895, he has since been in the employ of the Standard Oil Company. In early manhood John Baker married Catharine Shick, a native of Clarion county, and a daughter of Christian and Christina Shick, who were of German descent and pioneers of Clarion county, but are now resi- dents of Michigan, where the former . follows farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker were born ten children, as follows: Edward, who is engaged

in the sawmill business; H. T., of this sketch; James, who died at the age of fifteen; Jennie, wife of Harry Walters; Arch, a resident of Boli- var, N. Y. ; Win, a farmer by occupation; Laura, wife of J. C. Moore; Frank, a tinner, of Corsica; and Cora and Frances, both at home. The par- ents hold membership in the Presbyterian Church.

The common schools furnished our subject his educational privileges, and by assisting his father about the mill he received a good business training, which he has since successfully put to the test. At the age of eighteen he took charge of an old-style burr mill, and as a miller entered the employ of Mr. Jones, of Corsica, in 1888, assisting in the construction of the plant and the placing of the machinery. After three months spent under the direction of a man employed in the mill, he took entire charge, and has since successfully conducted it. The building is four stories in height and equipped with the latest im- proved machinery, and under his able manage- ment the mill has become one of the best paying industries in Corsica. Mr. Baker assisted his brother in establishing a tin shop in the same place, but at present is not interested in the busi- ness. He is a firm Republican in his political views, and as an influential citizen takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs. In September, 1888, he was married to Miss Bertha J. Orr, who was born in Union township, Jeffer- son county, April 11, 1871, and is a lady of cul- ture and refinement. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. They are the parents of a son, Harry J., born November 2, 1896, died May 25, 1897.

The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Baker were natives of Ireland, and in 1837 crossed the Atlantic, landing at Philadelphia, where the same year was born Joseph D. Orr, her father. Coming to Jefferson county in 1839, he was reared here. At the age of nineteen he began lumbering, and for many years he was success- fully connected with that business, at one time owning an interest in a sawmill, which afterward was burned. He died March 27, 1894, leaving a host of warm friends as well as wife and family to mourn his death. From the age of nineteen he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, to which his wife (who in her maiden- hood was Mary J. Gaston) also belongs. She has spent her entire life in Jefferson county, and is now residing in Corsica at the age of fifty- eight years. Her children were: William R., who died at the age of eight years; Lizzie M., wife of A. J. Elder: Ferdinand W., who died at the age of six years; Matilda M., deceased at the age of nine months; Bertha J. (Mrs. H. T.

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Baker); Elva S., who died at the age of five months; Maggie J., deceased at the age of twenty- years; and Nannie O., at home.

F REDERICK CARL BONNETT is engaged in general merchandising at Sykesville, and is one of the leading representatives of commer- cial interests in that place.

Born August 24, 1864, in Henderson town- ship, Jefferson county, Mr. Bonnett is a son of John F. and Caroline (Priester) Bonnett, natives of Germany. His father was born April 28, 1833, in Charlottenburg, Prussia, a son of H. C. and Maria (Elizabeth) Bonnett. His ancestors were from France, and at the time of the perse- cution of the Protestants by Catherine de Medici, they fled to Germany, where Queen Charlotte, who was of their faith, gladly received thein and gave them land on which to make a new home. They afterward went back to France in order to try to recover their possessions left in that coun- try, but were unsuccessful in this, and the family lived peacefully in Germany until 1849. The father of our subject, until eight years of age, attended school for half of each day and worked in a mine the remainder of the time. He was employed in a silver mine for about one year, and then, with an older brother, who was mar- ried, started for America. They embarked on a sailing vessel, March 5, 1849, and reached New York after a voyage of fifty-one days, April 28, 1849, which was the sixteenth anniversary of Mr. Bonnett's birth: He went by boat to Albany, thence by rail to Erie, Penn., by canal to Beaver, then on to Pittsburg, and up the Allegheny river to the mouth of Red Bank creek. This circuit- ous route consumed almost as much time as the ocean voyage. Mr. Bonnett secured employ- ment in the Pike Furnace Iron Works, where he was employed for nearly eleven years. He then went to Reynoldsville, Jefferson county. and pur- chased eighty acres of wild land in Henderson township, which he cleared and improved with the aid of his children. His wife was born in Germany, and their children were: Louis L .. who died at the age of nineteen; Frederick C .; Bertha M., wife of Daniel Wise, proprietor of a hotel in Sykesville; Charles A. and Jacob J., who are farmers of Jefferson county; Caroline, who is keeping house for her two brothers; Henry A., at home; and Mary S., wife of A. D. Lydick, a merchant of Mahaffey, Penn., and two others, deceased.

Frederick Carl Bonnett, whose name opens this article, resided with his parents until twenty years of age, during which time he worked for

his father, and for others in the neighborhood. He also attended the public schools, and pursued a course in the commercial college of Mahaffey in 1890. On leaving home he was employed on a drilling machine, hauling and peeling logs, etc. On attaining his majority he went to Kansas, but after a year spent in the West returned home, and conducted a store for his brother-in-law, A. D. Lydick, in Clearfield county, for a year and a half. He was afterward in the employ of J. H. Ake, of Sykesville, for two and a half years, when he returned home, and in the following autumn entered school in Mahaffey. For two and a half years he was employed as a salesman in a store at that place, and on the expiration of that period he came to Sykesville, where he has since engaged in business on his own account. He carries a large and well-selected stock of gen- eral merchandise, and his enterprise, careful management and excellent business ability are bringing to hiin success. He is progressive in his methods, honorable in his dealings, and has won the public confidence, and therefore the pub- lic support.

Our subject is a popular member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Sykesville, and of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Mahaffey. He also belongs to the Reformed Church, and in his po- litical belief is a Democrat. He is an intelli- gent, broad-minded man, possessed of considera- ble poetic talent, and has written many able arti- cles for a number of the leading journals through- out the United States. In 1892 he was married to Laura I. Dickey, of Brady township, Clearfield Co., Penn., a respectable young lady, and an active member of the Reformed Church, to whose active work Mr. Bonnett owes much of his success in the mercantile business. Three chil- dren have been born to them, namely: Rachel C. C., born July 7, 1893; Ruth V., born May 9. 1895; and John F .. born July 2, 1897.

G EORGE ELLIS NULL, engineer at the Soldier Run coal mine, ranks among the self-made men of Sykesville, whose success in life is due to his sound judgment, intelligence and persistent labor. A native of Jefferson county, he was born in Henderson township, Oc- tober 20, 1855. and is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Hall) Null, natives of Lebanon and Centre counties, Penn., respectively. The father, now a retired fariner, still resides on the old homestead in Henderson township, where the inother died September 26, 1889, at the age of fifty-six years, her remains being interred in the Sykesville cemetery. She was a daughter of

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John Hall. The father was born in October, 1835, a son of Nancy and George Null, of Leba- non county. In religious belief he is a Baptist, and politically he affiliates with the Republican party.

Our subject is the fourth in order of birth in the family of six children, the others being as follows: John, a miner, residing in Sykesville; James, a teamster, of Lindsey, Penn. : Lodie A. (deceased); Milton and William, who are both engineers of mining machines at Sykesville. George Ellis. Null remained under the parental roof until the death of his mother, and assisted in the work of the farm until he had attained his majority, when he began lumbering in the woods, an occupation which he followed until he reached the age of twenty-five. For the following three years he engaged in contracting and jobbing on his own account, but since that time has had charge of the mining machinery at the Soldier Run coal mines in Winslow township, Jefferson county. In the meantime, however, he was for six months engaged in merchandising in Sykesville, in 1890 becoming associated with Seth Mc- Aninch in business, but at the end of that time · he sold his interest.

On September 30, 1896, Mr. Null was united in marriage with Miss Truzy M. Rupert, who was born in South Bend township, Armstrong Co., Penn., September 18, 1876, a daughter of Edward and Henrietta F. (Shellhammer) Rupert. also natives of Armstrong county, where their marriage was celebrated. The father was born July 30, 1847, a son of Adam and Louisa (King) Rupert, who spent their entire lives in Armstrong county. Adam Rupert, who was the oldest thresher in his community, died at the age of seventy-six, and his parents, George and Eliz- abeth (Smith) Rupert, also passed away in Arm- strong county. The mother of Mrs. Null, whose birth occurred April 21, 1859, is a daughter of Daniel and Betsy (Smail) Shellhammer, farming people of Arinstrong county, where her father

still resides, but her mother died in that county in 1862, aged fifty-three years. In 1884 Edward Rupert and wife left the county of their nativity. coming to Sykesville. Jefferson county, where he is engaged in weaving, but is by trade a filer. They are the parents of seven children: Truzy M., the wife of our subject: Charlotte S .. who died at the age of three years and a half; Lona W .. who died at the age of a year and a lialf; and Judson N., Newton, Esco and Edward B .. who are still at home.

Socially, Mr. Null affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and Patriotic Order Sons of America, belonging to both lodges in Sykesville, and is also

a member of the Baptist Church of that place. -His political support is given the principles of the Republican party. By his energetic and capable management of his business affairs he has niet with good success, which is certainly well deserved as he started out in life for himself in limited circumstances, and has persistently worked his way upward.

E CLARKE HALL. This skillful artist. who occupies a leading place among the photog- raghers of Jefferson county, and who holds a high rank among the prominent and influential citi- zens of Brookville, is justly entitled to worthy mention in this volume. He was born in that city on the 12th of June, 1844, and is a son of Enoch and Martha A. (Clarke) Hall.

The father was a native of Clinton county. Penn., but when a young man came to Jeferson county, where during his early life he followed the trade of a cabinet maker. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits on his own account, and subsequently owned and operated a planing-mill. following that occupation until old age caused his retirement. He died May 30, 1894. at the ven- erable age of eighty-four years. His estimable wife is still living at the age of seventy-eight. now making her home in San Diego, Cal. For many years they were numbered among the vai- ued and highly-respected citizens of Brookville.

E. Clarke Hall obtained his elementary edu- cation in the common schools of Brookville. and subsequently attended the Meadville High school. in Crawford county, Penn. At the age of four- teen he entered upon an apprenticeship to a drug- gist. where he remained for three and a half years, and in 1862 entered the studio of J. D. Dann, of Meadville, to learn photographing. After six months spent with that gentleman he returned to Brookville, where he opened a gallery and en- gaged in business on his own account. success- fully conducting the sanie until 1866, with the exception of thirty days, when he was a member of Company B, 157th P. V. I., and participated in the Morgan raid. On leaving the service, Mr. Hall resumed business at Brookville, but owing to failing health he went to Philadelphia in June. 1866, where he engaged in the wholesale drug business for two years, and for the same length of time was in the wholesale hardware business in the Quaker City. In September, 1;0, he returned to Brookville, where he again estab- lished a studio, and has since done a profitable business. His work is well known throughout this section of the State, wherein he has estab- lished an enviable reputation for satisfactory and

C. Clarke Hall

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artistic work. At this writing he has just fin- ished a contract for three hundred dozen cabinets," also sixty-seven 16 x 20 inch pictures for the class of 1896 of the Pennsylvania State Normal at Clarion, and twenty-three, 14 x 17 inches, of the Faculty.

On July 17, 1870, Mr. Hall married Miss Ella M. Myers, of River Falls, Penn., who died in March, 1882, and on the 17th of June, 1885, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Clara Pearsall, a daughter of George A. Pearsall. Two children were born to them, a son and a daugh- ter, but both are now deceased. The parents are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and socially Mr. Hall is connected with Hohah Lodge No. 276, F. & A. M .; Jefferson Chapter No. 225. R. A. M .; and Pittsburg Com- mandery No. I, K. T. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and to the Heb- pasaph insurance order. In his political affilia- tions he is a Republican, takes a deep interest in the success of his party, and has served as pres- ident of different political orders, being at the present time president of the Lincoln Club, of Brookville.

J AMES STOCKDILL. Prominent among the successful and energetic agriculturists of Por- ter township, Jefferson county, may be num- bered the subject of this historical notice, who, by his enterprise and perseverance in the direction of his chosen industry, has given to his work a sig- nificance and beauty of which few deem it ca- pable.

Thomas Stockdill, the father of our subject, was born in Ireland in 1814, and at an early day came to America with his parents, George and Margaret Stockdill, who located in Armstrong county, Penn., purchasing a farm on which they made their home until called to their final rest. In their family were nine children: James; Mar- garet, wife of Joshua Foster, of Armstrong coun- ty; Mary, wife of George Ready; Williamn, who married a Miss Beck, and lives in Armstrong county; Joseph, who married Catherine Foster, and lives in the same county; Thomas, father of our subject; George, who married a Miss Foster of Armstrong county; Mrs. Lizzie Zimmerman: and Rebecca, wife of John Foster, of Armstrong county.

Thomas Stockdill grew to manhood upon the old homestead in Armstrong county, and then came to Porter township, Jefferson county, where he bought 180 acres of timber land, from which he developed a fine farm. The first buildings he erected were a hewed-log house and round-log

barn. In 1838 he married Miss Eleanor Scott, of Armstrong county, a daughter of James and Fanny Scott, well-to-do agriculturists. He brought his bride to his new home in Porter township, where she shared with him all the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. Upon that place both died, the father in 1852, and the mother in 1865. This worthy couple had a family of six children, of whom our sub- ject is the eldest. (2) Margaret E., born in July. 1841, died at the age of sixteen years. (3) Rebecca J., born in July, 1843, received a good common-school education, and married Henry Coleman, of Indiana county, Penn. They now reside near Dayton, in Armstrong county. Their children are-Charlotte V., who is engaged in teaching in the public schools; Harry; Frank; Mary; and Grover C., who died in childhood. (4) M. Francis, born in August, 1845, resides with her brother on the old homestead. (5) Wesley, born in 1847, was educated in the common schools, and now lives in Warren, Penn. (6) Martha, born in 1852, died in infancy.

James Stockdill, of this review, was born April 22, 1839, on the old homestead where he still continues to reside, and pursued his studies in the public schools of the neighborhood. In November, 1866, he was married to Miss Jennie Travis, of Porter township, Jefferson county, a daughter of George and Martha Travis, prosper- ous farming people. The father was also one of the oldest teachers of his day in Jefferson county. In 1870 Mr. Stockdill built a large two- story house upon his place, but seven years later it was destroyed by fire, together with much of its contents. The following year, however, he erected his present fine residence, which is sup- plied with all modern improvements, making it one of the best country homes in the locality. He built a good barn in 1871, has cleared over sixty acres of his land, and made many other ex- cellent improvements. Ten children blessed the union of this couple as follows: (1) Martha E., born in 1867. upon the old homestead, was edu- cated in the public schools, and in 1885 gave her hand in marriage to William J. Domb, of Indi- ana county, where they now reside on the old Domb homestead. They have four children- Zilda V., Edna J., Elmer D. and Marion. (2) Thomas J., born in January, 1870, began his ed- ucation in the common schools, but later at- tended the Bellview Academy, and the Dayton Academy of Armstrong county, Penn. After teaching for two terms in the public schools, he was in the employ of Kilburn, in New Hamp- shire for two years, and then entered the Com- mercial College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., gradu-

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ating there in 1893. The following year he mar- ried Nana McFarland, of Alliance, Ohio, and they now live in DuBois, Penn., where he is engaged in general merchandising. They had one son, John, who died in 1895. (3) M. Virginia, born in 1872, pursued her studies in the common schools, Bellview and Dayton Academies, the Mt. Union College of Ohio, and is now attending the Clarion Norinal of Pennsylvania. She has successfully followed the teacher's profession for about six years, and resides at home. (4) George A., born in 1874, attended the common schools near his home, and was later a student in select schools at Smicksburg and Whitesville, Penn. He taught for one term in Indiana county, was also in the employ of Kilburn, canvassing in Lowell and other eastern cities, but is now a partner of Thomas J., in the store at 'DuBois. (5) Gertrude M., born in April, 1877. is clerking for her brothers in DuBois. . (6) Elsie and (7) Jessie (twins) were born in 1880, and the former is now studying music in DuBois, while the latter is at home. (S) Robert C., born in August, 1882, (9) Frank F., born in May, 1885, and (10) Harry C., born in May, 1888, are all at home.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 33

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