Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 45

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 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 45

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Skal Campbell

J. K.Livingod

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Indianapolis, and William, who died young. Of these, George Broadhead was born November 30,

1833, in Philadelphia. When five years old he came to Winslow township with his parents, and with them returned .to Philadelphia, where he learned the carpenter's trade. There, in June, 1855, he was married to Miss Hannah Hall, and three years later he returned with his family to the farm in Winslow township, which his father had cleared, and there he remained until his death, which occurred September 18, 1866. He is buried in Prospect cemetery, Jefferson county. In religious faith George Broadhead was a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a

Republican. His widow still survives. She was born in Philadelphia, October 17, 1834, daugh- ter of Thomas and Sarah (Wright) Hall, both natives of Philadelphia. Thomas Hall was a shoemaker by trade, and, in politics, a Whig. Church. Their children were as follows: Jane, wife of George Bitting, of Philadelphia; Mary, who died young; Hannah, mother of our subject; James, a painter of Washington, D. C. ; William, a painter of Alexandria, Va .; John (deceased); Harriet, wife of Michael Trucks, of Philadelphia; and Sadella, wife of Isaac Little, of Washington, D. C. The father of these is buried at Wash- ington, D. C., and his wife at Philadelphia. The children of George and Hannah Broadhead are as follows: Alfred I., born in February, 1856, a painter of Alexandria, Va. ; Thomas J., born Feb- ruary 20, 1858, a miner of Leechburg, Penn. ; Orion H., subject of this sketch; Edgar F., born November 5, 1861, died September, 1891; Sallie M., wife of Matthew Shockey, a miner of Rath- mel, Penn. ; and Hannah J., born May 24, 1865. wife of Alexander Oliver, a miner of Leechburg, Pennsylvania.

Orion H. Broadhead was but six years old when his father died. He lived among various people until, at the age of thirteen years, he be- gan to work at whatever employment he could find, in farming, lumbering, etc. In 1885, when twenty-five years of age, in partnership with his brother Edgar, he rented the farm upon which he now lives. Three years later the brothers purchased it, and after Edgar's death; in 1891, Orion H. became sole owner of the place. It was a dairy when they purchased the farm, and Mr. Broadhead has since conducted the dairy in connection with general farining. At present he owns seventeen cows, and has an excellent business.

24, 1865, daughter of Richard and Jennie (Slack) Humphrey, natives of Jefferson and Huntington counties, respectively, and now residents of In- dustry, Beaver Co., Penn., where Mr. Humphrey is proprietor of a hotel and engages in farming. He is a Republican, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. Their children are as follows: John, of Butler, Penn .. superintend- ent of the Electric Light Co .; William (deceased); George, a hardware merchant of Derry, Penn .; Anna M., wife of our subject; Alice, wife of M. J. McCreight, a bank cashier; Evert, now living with our subject; and Guy (deceased). The pa- ternal grandparents of Mrs. Anna M. Broadhead were William and Mary Ewing Humphrey, of Huntingdon county, Penn., and her paternal grandparents were John and Mary Nightwine Slack, of the same county. To Orion H. and Anna M. Broadhead have been born two chil-

In politics our subject is a Republican. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., at Rathmel. Although in his boyhood days he had few educa- tional advantages, he has been a bright student in the schools of experience and observation, and is considered by his fellow-citizens as one of the most progressive and intelligent men of the township. He is now serving his third terin of three years each as school director, and by his thrift and clever business management, aided by sterling integrity, has won a place in the esteem of many social and business acquaintances, cred- itable alike to his years and his opportunities.

C ASSIUS E. CUMMINGS, of Beaver town- ship, Jefferson county, is a general farmer and worthy citizen on whom his fellow citizens. recognizing his capability and fidelity, have seen fit to bestow the office of justice of the peace, and in that capacity he is now capably serving.

Born October 9, 1860, in Limestone town- ship. Clarion Co., Penn., Mr. Cummings is a son of George W. and Paulina (Mills) Cummings, the former born in eastern Pennsylvania, the latter in Jefferson county. The grandparents, John and Mary Cummings, were born in the eastern part of the State, and became pioneer settlers of Clarion county, locating there in the midst of the wilderness and bearing their part in its substan- tial development. The father of our subject was a fariner and lumberman who conducted his busi- ness interests with signal success, becoming the possessor of a handsome competence. Both he and his wife died on the old homestead in Clarion county, the former March 10, 1894, at the age

On September 22, 1887, at Reynoldsville, he was married to Miss Anna M. Humphrey, who was born in Richardsville, Jefferson county, July . of sixty-five, the latter November 29, 1888, at

He and his wife were members of the M. E. : dren: E. Clair and Alice.

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the age of sixty-two. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Cummings was a Republican. They had five children: Mary M., wife of W. B. Cowan, an agriculturist and coal operator of Jefferson coun- ty; Arthur M. (deceased); Nannie J., wife of P. M. Yaney, assistant cashier of the Second Na- tional Bank of Clarion; John D., who is living on the old homestead in Clarion county; and Cassius E.

On the farm where he was born Mr. Cum- mings (subject of this sketch) remained until twenty-four years of age. He then went to Cal- ifornia and traveled extensively through the West, both for the purpose of benefiting his health and of finding a desirable location. After four years, however, he was recalled home by news of the serious illness of his mother, and after remaining on the old homestead the following winter he located on his present farm, which was given him by his father. It comprises 132 acres of very valuable land, being underlaid with a nine- foot vein of coal.

On September 7, 1889, in Brookville, Penn., Mr. Cummings was married to Miss Jennie E. Weir. In politics the husband is a Republican, and in the spring of 1895 was elected justice of the peace. He is extremely fair and impartial in his rulings, and therefore makes a very capable officer. He is a leading member of the Presby- terian Church of Summerville, and he is now serving as elder. Mrs. Cummings is a member of the M. E. Church of that place. Their many excellencies of character commend them to the confidence of all, their well-spent lives have gained them high regard, and their genial man- ner has won them a host of warm friends.

B F. SMEYERS is one of the most progressive and energetic agriculturists and lumbermen of Bell township, Jefferson county. His fine teemed and honored citizens. Politically he is a farm invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler as being under the supervision of a thor- . ough and skillful farmer, and a man of otherwise good business qualifications. Upon the place Mr. Smeyers was born in 1860, a son of J. B. and Margaret (Rhinehart) Sineyers. His pater- nal grandfather was one of the honored pioneers of the county, where his children grew up to be numbered among its best citizens.

J. B. Smeyers, the father, was born in 1828, in Cambria county, Penn., and when a young man, in 1849, came to Bell township, Jefferson county, where he purchased a tract of timber land one mile northwest of Bells Mills, which he cleared, rafting the lumber down the Mahoning

to the Pittsburg markets. His first house and barn were built of round logs, but these were aft- erward replaced by more modern structures, and upon that place his wife died in 1873. There he continued to reside until. 1880, then went to Union township, Clearfield county, where he fol- lowed lumbering for two years. Removing to DuBois, he engaged in contracting for John Du- Bois until 1885, when he returned to the old homestead in Bell township, Jefferson county, living with our subject until his death, in Decem- ber, 1896. In his family were the following children: W. Scott is married; Adelaide died at the age of twenty-four years; Emma is married; B. F., of this sketch; C. May, John G. and Burtran D. are deceased; and R. W. is married.

In 1884 B. F. Smeyers, the subject of this sketch, purchased a partially improved farm in Bell township from Marion Dinsmore, and to its further development and cultivation devoted his energies. In June, 1886, he was married to Miss Laura M. Stigers, of Bell township, a daughter of Charles and Moranda Stigers, well-to-do people of that township. Mr. Smeyers brought his bride to the old homestead, where they have since continued to reside, and there their four children were born, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Sylvester H., February, 1887; Charles V .. September, 1889; Melzeana I., May, 1894; and Ethel G., November 24, 1897. The father of these has added to his farin until he now has 114 acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of culti- vation and greatly improved, having erected a large two-story residence in 1891, supplied with all modern conveniences. He also owns 100 acres of land in Union township, Clearfield county. He uses the latest improved machinery, and is everywhere recognized as one of the most thrifty, industrious and enterprising farmers of Bell township, as well as one of its highly es- stanch adherent of the principles of the Republic- an party, and religiously he and his wife are members of Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

C HARLES O. SPRAGUE. Any history of Jefferson county would be incomplete with- ont mention of this gentleman, and the family of which he is a member, for since an early period in this century the farm which he now occupies in Winslow township has been the home of some representative of the name. His paternal grand- parents, Samuel and Hannah (Farley) Sprague, located thereon in 1832, and made it their home

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

until their deaths. The maternal grandparents, James and Mary Broadhead, were natives of England, and became early settlers of Winslow township, where they remained during the rest of their lives. The parents of our subject were George G. and Prudence (Broadhead) Sprague.

Charles O. Sprague was born April 8, 1860, on the farin which is now his home, and contin- ued there to reside until twenty-one years of age, when he began working in the lumber woods, where he was employed for nine months. At the age of twenty-three he began work in the coal mines, and was thus engaged for a year. In 1887, on his parents' removal to Reynoldsville, he took charge of the home farm, which he has since operated. The place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating therefor his careful super- vision, and the well-tilled fields yield to him a good return for his labor.

Mr. Sprague was married on September 25, 1884, in Punxsutawney, to Miss Margaret M. Pierce, and their home is blessed by the presence of three children: George, born September 19, 1885; Norman, born December 29, 1887; and Ilda, born September 8, 1895. Mrs. Sprague was born November 3, 1866, in Indiana county, Penn., and is a daughter of Wilson and Margaret (Zeigler) Pierce. Her father was born in Indiana county, in October, 1813, and died in Virginia, in 1886. Her mother was born in Butlertown, Penn. By their marriage they became the par- ents of the following named: Margaret Z., wife of William Palmer, a plasterer of Punxsutawney; John S., a farmer and lumberman of Indiana county; Charlotte, wife of Hiram McCauley, a farmer and lumberman of Indiana county; Anna, wife of Isaac Bowser, an agriculturist of Jeffer- son county; William W., who follows agricult- ural pursuits in Indiana county; George, a miner of Winslow township, Jefferson county; Curtin (deceased), and Mrs. Sprague. The mother of this family was again inarried, becoming the wife of Jacob F. Shaffer, who was born in Germany, March 10, 1842, a son of George and Margaret (Snyder) Shaffer, natives of Germany, who, in 1854, located in Mercer county, Penn., but after two years removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, where the father followed mining for a short time. Hc then purchased a farin, making his home thereon until his death. Both he and his wife were members of the German Reformed Church. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Sprague were Joeb and Jane (Wilson) Pierce, natives of New Jersey, who died in Indiana county. Penn., where he followed farming and lumbering. The mater- nal grandparents were John and Rachel (Floyd) Zeigler. The former was born in Germany, and

died in Butlertown, Penn. The latter was born in Centre county, Penn., and died in Kansas.

Charles O. Sprague is an interested member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Sykes- ville. He exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Democratic party, but has never sought office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business efforts, in which he is meeting with good success. He is recognized as one of the leading farmers of Jefferson county. .

B J. MOORHEAD, of Warsaw township, Jef- ferson county, is one of the public-spirited citizens to whose energy and foresight the local- ity is indebted for many improvements. While he, as a prosperous business man, has given close attention to his private affairs, he has never for- gotten or ignored the bond of common interest which should unite the people of every commu- nity, and he has always been ready to promote progress in every line.

On the old homestead, where he still resides. Mr. Moorhead was born April 10, 1862, a son of Jackson and Evaline (Bartlett) Moorhead, who were natives of Maine, although married in Jef- ferson county. James Moorhead, the paternal grandfather, was of German descent, and on leaving Maine, first located in Indiana county, Penn., but later came to Jefferson county, pur- chasing the farm upon which our subject now re- sides. At that time it was still in its primitive condition, the country was sparsely settled, the only roads were Indian trails, and the nearest mill was in Indiana county. After building a cabin, James Moorhead began to clear and im- prove his place, and soon acre after acre was placed under the plow. There both he and his wife died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. They had children as follows: James, Rebecca, Mary, Sarah, Nancy, Robert. John, David, Will- iam and Jackson. Of these, Jackson Moorhead, the father of our subject, became one of the most energetic and successful business men of Warsaw township. On leaving the parental roof he ex- tensively engaged in mercantile pursuits in Rich- ardsville, where he conducted a store for a quar- ter of a century, hauling his goods from Maho- ning and Ridgway in the early days. He also owned and operated a grist and saw mill, and was the principal stockholder in a woolen-mill, all at Richardsville, and was actively interested in lum- bering and farming. He was prominently iden- tified with the moral and physical development of the county, took a commendable interest in public affairs, and was a liberal contributor to the

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Presbyterian Church, to which he and his wife belonged. In August, 1884, he passed away at Brookville, where she is still living at the age of sixty years. They had five children, namely: Pearl (deceased); Mrs. Laura Doutt; Mrs. Mary S. Hastings; B. J., of this sketch, and Robert W., a merchant of Richardsville.

B. J. Moorhead acquired a good education in the common schools, and obtained an excellent business training under the able direction of his father, with whom he remained until the latter's removal to Brookville. Remaining at Richards- ville, he continued in business for three years. On the death of his father he and his mother were appointed administrators of the estate, and in dividing the property he took the old home- stead as a portion of his share, and also a large tract of timber land, where he has since engaged in lumbering, dealing mostly in square timber. He and his brother purchased a store in Rich- ardsville, but the latter is now sole owner, hav- ing bought our subject's interest, while he gives his attention to farming and lumbering. He oc- cupies the home farm, which comprises ninety- one acres of rich and productive land and is im- proved with excellent buildings, including a pleasant residence which he erected. His grand- father and father had also built good houses upon the place, but these he replaced by a more mod- ern structure.

In 1885 Mr. Moorhead was married to Miss Laura, the accomplished daughter of John Sny- der and his first wife, who were the parents of eight children: Reed R., James, Frank, Har- vey. Quintis, Ida, Ella and Laura. Mr. Snyder was of German descent and a blacksmith by trade, which he followed in Richardsville for some time, but later purchased and improved a farm, where his death occurred in 1893. The mother passed away at the same place. Both were active members of the Baptist Church, in which he served as deacon, and to which Mrs. Moorhead also belongs. By her marriage she has become the mother of one child, Ethel, born in December, 1886. In his social relations Mr. Moorhead is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees, and in politics is a pronounced Re- publican.

R OBERT M. FUGATE. History leaves to future generations the record of events, but biography records the lives of those who brought about these events and formed the history of County, State and Nation. Biography has been called the home aspect of History, and its import-

ance cannot be overestimated, for many valuable lessons are gained from those who have been . worthy members of society.

Such a one is Mr. Fugate, one of the sub- stantial citizens of Winslow township, who fol- lows agricultural pursuits, carpentering and lum- bering. At an early day in American develop- ment his paternal great-grandfather, John Fu- gate, a native of Holland, came to Ainerica and was one of the early settlers at Jamestown, Va. He served in the Revolutionary war, as did the grandfather, John W. Fugate, who was in Wash- ington's army. He died at Port Matilda, Penn. Major John A. J. Fugate, father of our subject, was born in Centre county, Penn., and there married Elizabeth Bair, a native of the same county. For many years he conducted a hotel at Port Matilda, also followed the lumber business and built the plank road between Bellefonte and Tyrone, Penn. In the spring of 1882 he came to Reynoldsville, where he built a home and engaged in the lumber business. He afterward lived upon our subject's farm until 1892, but is now living retired in Du Bois. Prior to the war he went to Missouri, where he engaged in farm- ing and cattle raising until 1861, when, being opposed to Southern principles, he returned by wagon to Port Matilda. There he enlisted for three months in Company H, 148th P. V. I., and later.in connection with General Beaver, organ- ized a company and re-entered the service, in which he won the rank of major. His wife died Novem- ber 28, 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years, and was buried in Reynoldsville. The children of this worthy couple were: Stephen, a practicing physician of Du Bois; George, who operates a mine store in Fayette county, Penn. ; William, a telegraph operator and station agent in Wilming- ton county; Ill. ; James, a real-estate dealer and proprietor of a millinery store in Garden City, Kans .; Robert M., our subject; Mary, wife of C. H. Notter, who operates a gristmill in Du Bois, Penn .; Anna, who died September 6, 1882, at the age of sixteen years and eight months; and John, of Reynoldsville.

Robert M. Fugate was born in Laclede coun- ty. Mo., June 4, 1856, but has spent almost his entire life in Pennsylvania. He resided with his parents until 1882, during which time he attended school and worked on his father's farm. On leaving home he embarked in the lumber busi- ness, which he followed until the fall of 1886, when he engaged in merchandising in Reynolds- ville for a year. He then returned to the lum- ber business, and in addition operated a coal mine and stone quarry, and engaged in team- ing until 1892. He purchased his present farm

A Fregate

1 May

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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of eighty acres in 1885, and his father lived upon it until 1892, when our subject took posses- sion, and has since successfully engaged in its cultivation. He is an expert mechanic, and though he served but one year's apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, is very efficient in that line. He carries on carpentering and lumbering, and his excellent workmanship, capable manage- ment and honorable dealing have brought to him a well-deserved success. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Reynoldsville. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and is well infornied on the issues of the day, political and otherwise.

On the 3d of October, 1882, in Reynoldsville, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fugate and Miss Mary A. Reynolds, an estimable lady, whose friends in the community are many. She has two children: William P., born July 8, 1883. and Elizabeth R., born January 21, 1886. She was born in Rathmel, Jefferson county, March 31, 1844, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kyle) Reynolds, the former a native of Chester county, Penn., and the latter of County Derry, Ireland. Her paternal grandparents were Dr. Thomas and Ann Reynolds. The former was born in England, was a physician by profession, and died in New York. His wife died at Pros- pect, Jefferson Co., Penn. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Fugate were William and Agnes (Smith) Kyle, natives of Ireland. Coming to America, Mrs. Kyle located in Washington town- ship, Jefferson county, where she lived with her children. Her husband was a harness maker, and died on the Enierald Isle.

William Reynolds was reared on a farm, and in early life engaged in teaching. His last days were spent in retirement on the present site of Rathmel, which is built on a part of the Reynolds homestead. For many years he served as jus- tice of the peace, and was a very prominent and influential citizen, as well as successful business man. He died in 1854, at the age of fifty years, and his wife died December 4, 1870. at the age of fifty-six years. He was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, and she in the Presby- terian Church. Their children were Thomas J., who was born November 12, 1842, and died in February, 1895; Mary A., now Mrs. Fugate; Samuel T., of Reynoldsville: Abram, who was born September 26, 1847, and died January 7, IS54: William K., who was born August 11, 1849, and . died April 3, 1873; Margaret J. M., who was born June 30, 1851. and is the wife of Perry Thompson, a farmer and derrick builder of Jefferson county; and Matthew R., who was born July 13, 1853, and died Jannary 11, 1896. ;

J OHN J. RHOADS. Among the earliest set- tlers of McCalmont township, Jefferson coun-

ty, were John Rhoads, Sr., and his wife, Mary (Moyers), natives of Germany, and in the numerous descendants now living in that locality we find reflected the same sterling qualities of character which made those worthy pioneers prominent in their day. On coming to America they had made their home for a time in other portions of this State, spending some time in Lancaster county, and it was not until 1829 that the advantages of newly opened lands of Jefferson led them to locate permanently and clear a homestead. John Rhoads, Sr., was a weaver by trade, and his loom, still in the best of order, is among the treasured heirlooms in the home of his grandson, John J. Rhoads, one of the present own- ers of the homestead. The remains of John Rhoads, Sr., and his wife were interred in Rhoads cemetery, McCalmont township, the land having been dedicated to burial purposes by their son, John Rhoads, Jr. They had seven children, none of whom are now living: John, Jr., is mentioned more fully below; George died in Kansas; Samuel, in Clearfield county, Penn. ; Abraham, in McCal- mont township; Betsy was the wife of Daniel Graftus; Sallie married Isaac Packer; and Cath- erine married Abraham Rudolph.

John Rhoads, Jr., the father of the well- known gentleman whose name opens this sketch, was born January 31, 1815, in Union county, Penn., and after the removal of the family to Jefferson county remained there, engaging suc- cessfully in agriculture. His first purchase of land was made in 1836, when he took 120 acres "in the woods " and cleared it for a farmi. This is still in the possession of his children. He ac- quired a large amount of real estate, and although he gave a farm to each of his children as they settled in life, he owned at his death 300 acres in Nebraska, and 205 acres in the homestead. which was divided between his sons, John J. and H. D. He was a man of prominence, a member of the Evangelical Church, and, like all .the other members of his family, was a stanch Democrat in politics. On January 9, 1839, he married Miss Anna Bowers, who was born in Curwens- ville, Penn., May 2, 1819, the daughter of Philip and Catherine (Kipps) Bowers. She was the eld- est of a family of nine children, the others being William, a farmer in Gaskill township, Jefferson county; Andrew, a retired farmer, living in Punx- sutawney; John, deceased; Abraham, a farmer in Indiana county, Penn .; Isaac, who occupies the Bowers homestead in Gaskill township: Susan, wife of Joseph Kellar, of Du Bois, a retired farmer; Mary, Mrs. Isaac Wemer, deceased; and

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 45

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