Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 48

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 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 48

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Mr. Seeley was born June 25, 1833, on the and is a son of William and Polly (Eastman) Seeley, the former a native of Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., and the latter of Chautauqua county, same State. The father, who was a farmer and lumberman by occupation, died in the latter part of the year 1876, and the mother was called to her final rest in 1878.

During his boyhood Edwin D. Seeley attended the public schools of Warren county, Penn., where his parents had removed when he was but five years of age, and there he was reared upon a farm. At fourteen he began work in the lum- ber woods, and two years later took a raft of logs to Cincinnati, being at that time able to perform a man's work and command a man's wages. He successfully engaged in the lumber business until

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reaching the age of forty years. He was fifteen when he first came to Jefferson county, but three~ years later he returned to Warren county, where he remained until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years. Since that time, however, he has made his home in Reynoldsville, where for a number of years he engaged in the grocery business and also in the hardware trade, but is now practically living a retired life on his farm.

In 1861 Mr. Seeley was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, a daughter of Til- ton Reynolds, of Jefferson county. Nine children blessed their union, four of whom are now living, namely: Helen M., Ella E., Todd L. and Arthur. The wife and mother departed this life in 1882. Mr. Seeley was again married, this time in Sep- tember, 1890, to Mrs. Clara (Reynolds) Scott, a cousin of his first wife. They are now living in a pleasant home in the outskirts of Reynolds- ville, where they are spending the twilight of their lives in peace and retirement, surrounded by many loving kindred and friends; who delight to do them honor. In his political views Mr. Seeley is a stanch Republican, and has unbounded faith in sound money and protection. He has never aspired to official distinction, preferring to give his time and attention to his individual affairs.

E T. WILLIAMS, M. D., one of the promi- nent members of the medical fraternity of Jefferson county, who is now successfully engaged in general practice at Brockwayville, was born on April 15, 1851, in Clarion county, Penn., a son of Amos and Ruth (Lowrey) Williams, who were of Welsh descent, and were honored pio- neers of Clarion county.

There the father improved a farm in the midst of the forest, and became one of the influential and prominent citizens, always taking a leading and active part in public affairs. The town of Williamsburg was named in his honor. He served as the first county treasurer, and helped : the Rebels, and died in Andersonville prison in to organize the first Baptist Church in the county, in which he was a deacon for many years. His death occurred on the old homestead in 1853; his widow passed away in 1876. Her father, Walter Lowrey, was a prominent farmer, living on the Allegheny river, near Snodgrass. His children were: John, Robert, James, Sarah, Eliza and Ruth. Our subject was the youngest in a family of five children, the others being Amos, who died in 1861; Elizabeth, wife of J. Moore; Walter, a practicing physician of Ridg- way; and Albert, a farmer of Jefferson county. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Will-

iams married John McCormick, by whom she has one daughter: Ellen L., now the wife of Frank Case, a carpenter of the State of Washington.

The common schools afforded our subject his early educational privileges, and for a time dur- ing his younger years he successfully engaged in teaching. At the age of twenty-one he com- menced reading medicine with his brother, Dr. W. L. Williams, and subsequently attended lect- ures in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, for one year, and for the same length of time en- gaged in practice with his brother at Johnstown, Ohio; but at the end of that time he returned to Pennsylvania, opening an office in Clarion county in 1876. Two years later he went to Centre- ville, Elk Co., Penn., where the following decade was passed, and then, in connection with his practice, he engaged in the drug business at Cal- edonia Mines, in the same county. When the mines ceased operations the following year, he came to Brockwayville, where he has successfully engaged in practice since June, 1889, hisskill and ability gaining for him a liberal patronage throughout the surrounding country, as well as in the village. Being a close student of his pro- fession, he has kept well abreast with the leading discoveries and improvements made in the prac- tice both of medicine and surgery, and in 1883 he pursued a course of lectures in the medical department of the University of the State of Vermont, from which he graduated in 1883. Formerly he held membership in the Elk County Medical Society. In his political views he is a Republican; socially he affiliates with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; in religious belief both he and his wife are Baptists.

Dr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Clara Case, who was born near Reedsburg, Clarion county, July 26, 1849, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Mateer) Case, early settlers of that county, where the father followed the occupation of farming. Entering the Union service during the Civil war, he was captured by 1864. He and his wife, who passed away in 1876, were consistent members of the Baptist Church. In their family were four children: Mrs. Cornelia Arthurs; Clara, wife of our subject ; Frank, a carpenter by occupation; and James, an agriculturist of Elk county. The Doctor and his wife have four children: Amos, Clark. Edward and Ruby, all at home.

T MIMOTHY CALDWELL, one of the leading and representative agriculturists of Eldred township, Jefferson county, was born October

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26, 1826, in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he received a fair common-school education. His~ parents, Cunningham and Lydia (Porter) Cald- well, were farming people in Ireland, where they spent their entire lives, and both were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1848 Timothy Caldwell and his brother James emigrated to America, landing at Phila- delphia after a voyage of two months, and James, after a few months spent in that city, lo- cated in Pittsburg, where he successfully engaged in the retail dry-goods business until his death in 1890. In the old country he also engaged in merchandising. He never married. Our subject also remained in Philadelphia for about two months and then went to Pittsburg, where he was employed in a rolling-mill for a short time; but in December, 1848. he took up his residence in Eldred township, Jefferson county, where he has since made his home. He was first em- ployed by others in the woods, and later engaged quite extensively in lumbering on his own ac- count for many years. After his marriage in 1853 he located near Clarington, and in the fol- lowing year purchased his present farm, to which he removed in 1859. The place was then only slightly improved, but he has replaced the little log cabin with a commodious and substan- tial residence, and has also erected a large barn and good outbuildings. About 150 of the 200 acres have been cleared and placed under a high state of cultivation, and while engaged in the arduous task of clearing and developing the land Mr. Caldwell still continued to follow lumbering, in which he met with excellent success. His place is not only good farming land, but is also underlaid with a rich coal deposit.

In 1853 Mr. Caldwell married Miss Jane Steel, who belongs to an honored pioneer family of Jefferson county, and is a daughter of William Steel, a native of Centre county, Penn., and a Methodist in religious belief. Eleven children were born to this union: Ann E., deceased wife of J. H. Moore; Fillmore; James H. (de- ceased); David, a Presbyterian minister of Pen- field, Penn .; Edward; and six who died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. In poli- tics he is a stanch Republican, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office.

A DELBERT H. BABCOCK, D. D. S., a prominent dentist of Brookville, Jefferson county, stands very high in his profession, for his ability, professional knowledge and skill are wide-

ly recognized. He is numbered among the native sons of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Bay City in 1873. His parents, Charles and Martha (Hawthorne) Babcock, are natives of New York and Indiana, respectively, and are still honored residents of Bay City. When a young man the father migrated to Michigan, and throughout life has followed the occupation of a marine engineer.

Dr. Babcock received his literary training in the public schools of Bay City, and at the age of seventeen began the study of dentistry. Subse- quently he entered the University of Michigan, where he received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1894, and at once began the practice of his chosen profession in West Bay City, Mich., but later went to Chicago, Ill., where he worked in an advertising dental office for a time. He next removed to Pittsburg, Penn., where he re- mained until December, 1894, at which time he became a resident of Brookville, and until May, 1895, was in the employ of Dr. Bishop. He then established his present office, and has received flattering encouragement up to the present time, being now at the head of a good practice. He has had excellent opportunities for learning his profession, and has attained his present honorable position by his own unaided exertions. He is talented and skillful to a marked degree, and undoubtedly an honorable career lies before him in his chosen calling.

In politics, Dr. Babcock is an ardent Repub- lican; socially he is a member of the F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., the Foresters, the Elks, and of a college fraternity.

M C. MEEKER, a member of the well- known milling firm of Meeker Bros., at Brookville, Jefferson county, is among the young- est of the enterprising business men of that town. having been born in 1872. His parents, Martin and Florence (Corning) Meeker, were both na- tives of New York State, and in 1865 settled in Minnesota. Both are still living. The father, whose life has been devoted strictly to business interests, is now a commercial traveler, but for about twelve years after going to Minnesota he was engaged in the banking business. He and his estimable wife reared a family of four children, our subject being their eldest son. An- other son, G. N. Meeker, is a partner in the mill at Brookville.

M. C. Meeker was reared in his native State of Minnesota, receiving a high-school education. On completing his studies he became a commercial traveler, and spent five years in that line of work

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-an excellent preparation for a business career. In July, 1895, he went to Brookville and became connected with the Litch Flour and Feed Mill, which he has ever since conducted with great success. In 1895 he was united in matrimony with Miss May Shaw, daughter of William Shaw, a leading resident of Albia, Iowa. One daugh- ter, Lelia, has blessed this union. Mrs. Meeker is a member of the Christian Church, and is deeply interested in its various lines of cffort.

Our subject belongs to the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. In his political views he is a Republican, but so far he has not taken an active share in the work of his party, preferring to de- vote his time to his business interests.

T HOMAS RADAKER is one of the most en- ergetic and enterprising agriculturists of Winslow township, Jefferson county, where he owns and operates a good farm left him by his parents. He was born in Stanley, Clearfield Co., Penn., December 14, 1872, a son of Will- iam M. and Rosalia J. (Smiley) Radaker, and continued with his parents until the age of twenty-two when his mother removed to Salem, Clearfield county. He and his brother, Charles E., still reside on the home farm, though in separate houses, and have now divided the prop- erty, our subject having taken the tract across the road from his present residence, and where he intends to build in the near future. His school privileges were somewhat limited, but his training at farm work was by no means meagre, and he has become one of the most skillful and thorough agriculturists of the community. Po- litically, his sympathics are with the Democratic party, but he takes no active part in public affairs.

On May 5, 1893, Mr. Radaker was married to Miss Hattic Dilley, and two children have been born to them: Florence and Maud. Mrs. Radaker was born in Brady township, Clearfield county, July 1, 1876, and is one of the five children of John and Clara (Goodlander) Dilley, the others being Jennie, the eldest, who resides with her grandmother in Clearfield county; and Wear, Earl and Arthur, who are with their par- ents. Mr. Dilley, a laborer. by occupation, was born in Butler county, Penn., January 17, 1845, a son of Henry and Margaret (Breen) Dillcy, na- tives of Northumberland county, Penn. The fa- ther dicd at Salem, Penn., May 8, 18-, aged seventy-eight years, and was buried in the Luthersburg cemetery: the mother is still living in Salem. The paternal grandparents, George and Margaret Dillcy, were natives of Venango

county, Penn. Mrs. Dilley, the mother of Mrs. Radaker, was born in Clearfield county. Janu- ary 4, 1852, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth Goodlander, of Northumberland county. who were both of Irish origin.

D ANIEL O. NORTH, the efficient bookkeeper of the Mahoning Supply Company, at Elea- nor, Jefferson county, is a member of one of the best known families, the numerous representatives being all well-to-do, progressive citizens. John and Elizabeth (Pogue) North, the grandparents of our subject, came from Ireland in 1810, and spent some years in Philadelphia, but removed to Indiana county in 1818 to settle upon a farm. They had seven children: Deborah (Mrs. Joseph Pogue), Margaret (Mrs. John H. Henderson), Joseph, Elizabeth (Mrs. James Means), Daniel, Thomas P. and William P., the last two being the only survivors.

The late Daniel North, the father of our sub- ject, ably sustained the family reputation for gen- erosity and public spirit, his name being associ- ated with the building of every church in the vi- cinity of his home in McCalmont township. Jef- ferson county. He was a leading member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, holding office for many years as trustee and elder. He was born July 11, 1827, in Indiana county, and Oc- tober 5, 1847, was married in McCalmont town- ship, Jefferson county, to Miss Catherine Bell, a native of that township, born November 7. 1828. Their wedded life continued near half a century, being broken July 22, 1891, by the death of Mr. North. His widow still resides at the beautiful homestead, which his loving care has assured to her for a lifetime; and, although she is now near- ing seventy years of age, she takes an active in- terest as of old in all that concerns the welfare of the community. The Bell family may claim pioneer honors, Mrs. North's great-grandfather, Robert Bell, having come from Ireland at a very carly date to settle in Indiana county, Penn. Her grandparents, John and Elizabeth Bell, set- tled in Perry township, Jefferson county, and her parents, James W. and Hannah (Gordon, Bell, resided in McCalmont township, Jefferson county. during the greater portion of their lives. Her maternal grandparents, Alexander and Catherine (Pounds) Gordon, natives of Ireland, made their home ncar Smicksburg, Indiana county, in early days.

To Daniel and Catherine North the follow- ing named children were born: James B., of McCalmont township; Mary E. (Mrs. W. C. Smith. of Punxsutawney; John S .. of McCal-

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mont township; Anna R., who died in her fifth year; Emma H. (Mrs. W. R. Johnson), of Arm- 1 strong county; William H., who died at the age of four years; Martha J. (Mrs. A. J. McCreight), of Punxsutawney; Joanna R., wife of Dr. James B. Neale, of Reynoldsville, Penn .; J. Curtin, who resides with his mother at the homestead; Margaret L. (Mrs. John B. Nichols), of Eleanor, Penn .; Minnie C. (Mrs. W. S. Calderwood), of Kane, Penn .; and Daniel O., of Eleanor.

The subject of this sketch was born March 8, 1872, at the old homestead in McCalmont township, and remained at home, working on the farm and attending school, until he attained the mature age of fifteen years, when he started out in the world to see what "Dame Fortune" had in store for him. He spent one year as a clerk in the First National Bank at Du Bois, and then, finding further study desirable, he went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to take a course in the Eastman Business College, where, after twenty-two weeks, he was graduated from the bookkeeping department. A short visit at home followed, and he then entered the Mahoning Bank, at Punxsutawney, as assistant cashier. A year later he became cashier, and held the posi- tion until the bank suspended, and since April 10, 1893, he has filled his present responsible post. Mr. North is not especially active in po- litical affairs, but, like all his family, he is a steadfast adherent of the Republican party. In local movements of a non-political nature his in- fluence is always to be counted on the side of progress.

On December 24, 1891, Mr. North was mar- ried, at Salamanca, N. Y., to Miss Avanella A, Fulton, and two sons, Daniel C. and Don F., brighten their home. Mrs. North was born Sep- tember 1, 1871, at Reedsburg, Clarion county, where her father, the late George W. Fulton, was a prominent citizen. He was a native of Clarion county, and of Irish descent, his father having come from Ireland when a child. In early years Mrs. North's father operated an iron fur- nace, but at the time of his death he was con- ducting a farin and gristmill, and was also a suc- cessful merchant and lumber dealer, his estate, which included a large amount of land, being very valuable. He was an active politician, and was regarded as a leading Democrat of. his locality. He died February 12, 1886, aged sixty-one years, and was buried in the ceme- tery at Reedsburg. His widow, who was Sa- bina (Hindman), resides in Reedsburg. Of their four children, the eldest, Bertha, mar- ried David Long, a bookkeeper at Emlenton, Penn .; Avanella A. is the wife of our subject;

Mabel and George are at home. Mrs. Fulton was born January 23, 1845, in Clarion county, the daughter of Alexander Hindman, who came from Scotland when a boy. He married Hannah Frankton, and made his home at Reedsburg, where the remains of both now rest in the family burial plot. The town of Reedsburg was named after Hugh Reed, Mrs. Fulton's great-grandfather, who settled there when the locality was a wilder- ness, and when his first wife died he made a coffin for her by hollowing out an oak log.

P HILIP S. HAUCK, proprietor of the leading meat market at Big Run, Jefferson county, is an enterprising young man who well deserves the success which he has attained. He is a native of Jefferson county, having been born at the old homestead in Bell township, in 1865. His par- ents, Andrew and Sarah (Gruber) Hauck, were both born in Centre county, but their respective families moved to Jefferson county some years later. They grew to adult age there, and after their marriage they settled upon a farm in Bell township. The mother passed to her eternal rest in 1892, followed six months afterward by the father.

Philip S. Hauck received his early education in the common schools, and until the age of six- teen he remained at the home place. While still a mere boy, he began life's struggle for himself, and through persevering industry succeeded in a gratifying degree. In 1894 he engaged in the hardware business in Big Run, but two years later he disposed of that in order to open his present meat market, which is one of the best establishments of the kind in the vicinity. In 1894 he was united in marriage with Miss Ida Priester, daughter of Ludwig Priester, a native of Germany, now a well-known resident of Jeffer- son county. Mrs. Hauck is a member of the Re- formed Church, and is interested in philanthropic work.

Politically, Mr. Hauck is a steadfast sup- porter of Democratic principles, but his influence is exerted in a quiet way, his business demand- ing his attention to the exclusion of any work in public lines.

L AFAYETTE C. BOYD, a well-known and popular traveling salesman residing in Punx- sutawney, Jefferson county, is a representative of one of the most honored and distinguished fam- ilies of this section of the State.

Mr. Boyd was born in Wild Cat, Clarion county, October 7, 1863, a son of Samuel M.

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and Mary J. (Thompson) Boyd. The father first saw the light October 10, 1821, in Centre county, and was the only child born to Rev. William and Margaret (McWilliams) Boyd, also natives of Centre county, where the former died in 1822, at the early age of thirty-three years. In con- nection with his pastoral work as a Presbyterian minister, he also had charge of the Pennsyl- vania Furnace, and was buried near that place. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Boyd married James Patton, by whom she had six chil- dren: Henry, a farmer of Missouri; Robert, de- ceased; Mary, widow of David Rimer, formerly of Toby township, Clarion county; Margaret, widow of John Thompson, of Rimersburg; Jane, a resident of Curllsville, Penn .; and Nannie, who first married William Johnson, and after his death wedded Jackson Fullmer, of Rimersburg.

The maternal grandparents of our subject were William and Margaret (Morehead) Tilomp- son, of Indiana, who came to Clarion county, at an early day, and located upon a farm in Toby township when it still formed a part of Arm- strong county. The grandfather died upon that place, but the grandmother passed away while on a visit to Indiana. Their children were Alexan- der, John, James, Robert and Parks, all deceased; Nancy, deceased wife of John Potter, a farmer of Clarion county; Mary J., mother of our sub- ject; and Lucinda, wife of Adam King, a farmer of Dakota.

In 1824, Samuel M. Boyd, our subject's fa- ther, was brought by his parents to Clarion county, locating near Rimersburg, where he grew to manhood. Throughout the greater part of his active business life he engaged in bookkeep- ing. In 1865 he removed to Oil City, Penn., where he served as justice of the peace, but after a residence there of two years he returned to the old home farm in Toby township, Clarion coun- ty, where he continued to live throughout the remainder of his life. He was an ardent Repub- lican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religious belief. In early manhood he married Miss Mary J. Thompson, who was born in Clarion county, July 20, 1822, and they became the parents of the following children: Minnie E., born March 2, 1845, married J. H. Flickenger, and after his death wedded John Reinard, a real-estate dealer, of Braddock, Penn. William H. is engaged in farmning on the old homestead in Toby township. Mary I., born April 1, 1850, is the widow of Dr. John Criswell, and a resident of New Bethlehem. Penn. Parks W., born September 30, 1852, is a traveling salesman residing in Dubois, Penn. John A. C., born March 3, 1854, was a merchant of Uniontown, Penn., where he died July 16, .

1890, and his remains were buried at that place. James L., born November 3, 1855, died Septem- ber 5, 1881, in Rimersburg. Maggie B., born February 26, 1858, is the wife of Harry McMur- ray, a miller of New Castle, Penn. Lou K., born February 5, 1860, is the wife of Samuel Stewart, who is engaged in the real-estate busi- ness with Mr. Reinard, in Braddock. Lafayette C., born October 7. 1863, completes the family. The father departed this life June 21, 1868, the mother on January 17, 1893, and both were laid to rest in the cemetery of Rimersburg. They were earnest Christian people, whose benevolence was unostentatious and genuine. Their memory will be a sacred inheritance to their children, and will be cherished by a multitude of friends. Their influence was great and always for good, and their circle of friends was only limited by their circle of acquaintances. The Boyd family is one of social prominence, and its members also occupy honored positions in business circles.

0 REN D. BUTTERFIELD. For a half cen- tury the family to which this well-known citizen belongs has been identified with Jefferson county, and its various members have won for the name an enviable distinction by their in- telligence and worth. This high reputation is in no way diminished at the present time, and our subject, who is counted among the leading agri- culturists of Barnett township, displays in a marked degree the admirable characteristics which the name suggests.

In the house which he still occupies Mr. But- terfield was born in December, 1862, a son of Oren and Elizabeth (Spencer) Butterfield, both natives of New York State, the former born in Jefferson county, and the latter in Allegany county, where they were married. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Spencer, who was of Scotch- Irish descent, spent his entire life in New York State. Albert Adams, a half-brother of our sub- ject's father, was closely related to John Q. Adams, the President.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 48

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