Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 61

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 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 61

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A. W. Barr

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

government. This prediction has been more than verified. He was again elected to the office of district attorney in 1869, and was re-elected in 1872, serving in all twelve years in this office. At that time, owing to the great oil business of the locality, the office of district attorney was a very important one, there often being upward of a hundred cases to a term of court. On the death of Hon. T. S. Wilson, in 1891, Mr. Barr was appointed by Gov. Pattison to the judgeship of the Eighteenth Judicial District (composed of Clarion county, with Jefferson county attached), serving out the unexpired term with dignity and ability. On his retirement, as an evidence of the appreciation of his friends of his worth as a citi- zen, and his services on the Bench, he was ban- queted by the Clarion Bar Association, which adopted the following resolutions:

WHEREAS-During the past six months Hon. W. W. Barr, by appointment of the Governor of the Conmonwealth, has presided over the courts of Clarion county, and by reason of the expiration of his term of office is now about to retire from the position, and, whereas, the members of the Bar of said county desire to give formal expression of the respect and confidence in which they hold the said retiring Judge; therefore, be it resolved, that Judge Barr, in his judicial career has amply demonstrated that his sole purpose in every judicial act was to intelligently and honestly admin- ister the law without fear, favor or partiality, in furtherance of the cause of Justice. That by his uniform kindness and courtesy, his fair and impartial discharge of duty, and his intelligent and conscientious administration of the position of president judge, he has deservedly won the esteem and confidence of the members of the Bar, and in his retirement from the Bench carries with him their good will and best wishes for his future prosperity and happiness. That these resolutions be spread on the records of the court as an en- during testimonial of a good and upright judge, and a copy thereof be handed Judge Barr.

The Judge was presented by the Bar with a pair of bronze statuettes. The Jefferson Court Bar formed similar resolutions, and presented Judge Barr with an elegant gold-headed cane. He is now the oldest practitioner at the Clarion Bar, and though he has reached man's allotted years he is still engaged in active practice, which is large.

On March 31, 1859, Judge Barr was married to Miss Mary Pritner, who was born at Curlls- ville, Penn., November 22, 1838, and is a daugh- ter of the late Dr. John T. Pritner, one of the prominent physicians of Clarion county. Two children blessed this marriage: An infant (de- ceased), and Lulu (Mrs. W. A. Hetzell), of Pitts- burg. Judge Barr and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Socially he is a meni- ber of the F. & A. M .. and was master of his lodge for three terins: he also served three years as deputy grand master. For a number of late years he has served as a trustee of his lodge, also as a trustee of the State Normal School at Clarion, and has held many other places, such

as burgess of the town and member of the town council, etc. In politics he has always been a Democrat.

R EV. JOSEPH W. SIEVERDING. Only the history of the good and great comes down to us through the ages. The true religion has been the strongest influence known to man through all time, while the many false doctrines that have sprung up have flourished only for a day and then vanished. More potent at the present time than at any other period in the world's history are the work and influence of Christianity, and among those who are devoting their lives to its inculcation among men is Father Sieverding, pastor of St. Michael's Catholic Church, in Washington township, Clarion county.

He was born in New York City, in 1865, a son of Anthony and Justina (Leineweber) Siever- ding, natives of Germany, who came to the New World when young, and were married in that city. They now reside in Jersey City, N. J., where the father has engaged in merchandising throughout the greater part of his life. Reared at that place, Father Sieverding there began his education, and for some time was a student in St. Peter's College, Jersey City. In 1881 he entered St. Vincent's College, Westmoreland county, Penn., where he completed the theolog- ical course, and was then ordained, in 1889, by Bishop Mullen, of Erie. He has since been con- nected with his present diocese, and began his pastoral labors at Mckean, Erie county. Later he was located at Hammett, in the same county, and in November, 1894, was transferred to Frenchville, Covington township, Clearfield Co., Penn., where he remained until coming to Wash- ington township, Clarion county, December 29, 1895. He preached his first sermon in St. Michael's Church on the ist day of January, 1896, and has since been the beloved pastor at that place. Father Sieverding is a man of thoughtful, earnest purpose, of strong intel- lectual endowments, of broad charity and kindly nature, and by all denominations, as well as by his own people, is held in the highest regard.

Mass was first held in Washington township at the home of Jacob Eisenman, in 1826, and ten years later a log church, 24 x 25 feet, and 16 feet high, was erected. The day before the dedica- tion Rev. Kundig built the altar, and on the 27th of September, 1836, the building was conse- crated. The pulpit was first filled by supplies, those officiating being Bishop Kendrick, Father O'Conner and Rev. P. Steinbacher, from 1841 until 1843, and then Fathers J. A. Berhe, H. P.

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Gallagher, John Brady, Peter Browne, Robert Kleinadam and Hay. In 1846 Rev. Skopez be- came the first resident pastor, and while he was in charge two spires were built to the log church. In 1870 he was succeeded by Rev. John Kuehn, who remained until IS78, when Rev. George Meyer became rector in charge. Rev. John C. McEntee was pastor from 1894 until the time of his death, which occurred at Erie, Penn., in 1895. He was succeeded by Rev. M. J. Des- mond, who remained only a short time, and then services were conducted by supplies until Father Sieverding took charge, December 31, 1895.

St. Michael's Church is one of the oldest churches in the county, and was established by Jacob Eisenman and Messrs. Dietz, Weaver, Fehsenmyer, Siegel, Groner and Hergenroether. From the beginning it has steadily grown, and the congregation now numbers 220 families. In con nection with the church there is a good parochial school conducted by the Benedictan Sisters, and there is an average attendance of 150 pupils. The substantial brick school building was erected in 1878, and the parsonage, which is also of brick, was commenced by Father Kuehn and completed by Father Myer. In 1826 twelve children of the parish were baptized by Rev. Mc- Geir, and in 1829 the first mass was celebrated by Rev. O'Neill. Five years later the first chance for confession was given to the German pioneers by Rev. Markaliz. The present beautiful stone church was erected under the pastorate of Father Meyer, and the members of the building commit- tee were Augustine Deitz, Joseph Faseninyer, Ferdinand Granar, John Laur and Richard Ly- num. The approximate cost of the edifice was $70,000 in work and cash. The building was consecrated August 28, 1887, and is the finest church in the county.

E ALIJAH M. LEE, a retired merchant, and for eight years the efficient postmaster of Curllsville, Clarion Co., Penn., but now a resi- dent of Clarion, was born in Bald Eagle Valley, Centre Co., Penn., February 25, 1842.

Andrew Lee, his father, was born in Hunt- ingdon county, Penn., November 19, ISTO. His boyhood days were passed there on a farmn. Early in life he learned the trade of a wagon maker, and followed that as an occupation for many years in Centre county. He came to Clar- ion county in 1844 and entered the employ, as a

. wagon maker, of the parties operating the Judge Myers furnace on Little Toby creek, two miles west of Clarion, remaining with them until 1847. at which time he went to Curllsville and engaged ; March, 1898.|

in the foundry and flouring-mill business. He continued in these lines of business until 1865, then purchased a farin in the borough of Curils- ville, and was actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits until his death, October 11, 1887. His widow, whoin he married in 1838, is Nancy ( Mer- ryman) Lee, who still resides at the old home- stead at Curllsville, loved and respected by a large acquaintance. She was born in 1820 in Bald Eagle Valley, Centre Co., Penn. Their children were ten in number, six boys and four girls.

Elijah M. Lee passed his boyhood days on his father's farm at Curllsville, where he attended the public schools. Later on he went to the Collegiate Institute at Rimersburg, and also at- tended a select school at Curllsville. At the age of sixteen years he began working in his father's foundry and learned the moulder's trade, which he followed four years. In 1862, when twenty years of age, he went into the Civil war, enlist- ing as a private soldier in Company H, 155th P. V. I. For nearly three years he was in active service and participated in all of the forty en- gagements in which the Army of the Potomac took part. from Antietam to Appomattox. He was made a corporal, sergeant, orderly sergeant, and later a second lieutenant. After the close of the war he returned to Curllsville, and in Feb- ruary, 1866, he engaged in mercantile business at that point. From that time until 1893 he was actively engaged in that business and with suc- cess, retiring at the close of that period and re- moving to Clarion, where he resides in one of the spacious and modernly built homes of that borough. He is a most capable business man, and his eight years of service as postmaster at Cnrllsville was characterized by a business-like administration. Politically he is a Republican, active in party affairs, not in the hope of political preferment, as he is not an aspirant for office. He is one of the substantial citizens of Clarion.

On February 16, 1869, Mr. Lee was married to Miss Martha A. Pritner, daughter of Lindsey C. Pritner, a former prominent merchant of Curllsville, now deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion, the former being a trustee of the Church. Socially, Mr. Lee is Commander of Capt. J. B. Loomis Post No. 205, G. A. R .; Senior Warden of Clarion Lodge No. 277, F. & A. M .; Most Excellent High Priest of Eden Chapter No. 259, Clarion, Penn .; member of Commandery No. 1. Knights Templar, Pittsburg, Penn .; and a thirty-second-degree member of Gourgas Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R., sitting in the Valley of Pittsburg, Penn. [Clarion. Penn.,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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P ORTER HASKELL, ex-president of the Sec- ond National Bank of Clarion, and who for more than fifty years has been actively identified with the business interests of Clarion county, is a native of this State, born December 10, 1819, in Mckean county.

Gideon and Polly (Beckwith) Haskell, his parents, were natives of Maine and Connecticut, respectively, the father born about 1772 and the mother about 1791. Gideon Haskell was of Scotch descent. Reared in a lumbering State, it was but natural that, locating in a timbered country, he saw in that line a promising industry, which, in connection with farming, he followed throughout life, his field of operations being on what is yet known as Haskell's creek. He later moved to New York, thence to Pennsylvania, and finally to Illinois. He stood well as a cit- izen in the estimation of his neighbors and those with whom he had business dealings. His last home was in the State of Illinois, where he died about 1856. His widow survived him many years, dying about 1870. The children born to this marriage were: Eliza, Joel, Porter, Anna, Esther, Lorenzo, Gideon, Amanda, Howard, Eveline and Lafayette.

Porter Haskell is older than the county in which his long and busy life has been passed, having come to this locality with his parents be- fore Clarion county was organized. He received a limited education, attending only, for a short time in the year, the neighboring schools. At all early age he. began working in the lumbering business for others, which he continued to do until he attained his majority. He then became engaged in mercantile business in connection with lumbering, and his half century's busy, tireless life in the county of his adoption has not been without results. Enterprising and progressive, he has left his impress upon the several genera- tions among which he has mnoved; and in the de- velopment of the resources of Clarion county he has played his part. He has been a successful business man. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Clarion, and was for years identified with the Second National Bank, of which he was president. He is extensively and favorably known throughout this region, and is a highly-esteenied citizen of the borough of Clar- ion. He is identified with the M. E. Church; is a member of the F. & A. M. Politically he is a Democrat.

whom the following are yet living: James, Mar- tha (Mrs. Archibald Gilfillan), Hattie (Mrs. Wal- ter Brown), Sarah A. (Mrs. F. I. McCormick), Josephine (Mrs. H. E. Emery), Porter M., and Charles H. James, the eldest child, married Maria Bartlett, of Clarion county, and of their children, Wade Porter is a prominent merchant- tailor of Clarion. Mrs. Porter Haskell's death occurred November 28, 1895.

J OHN T. RIMER, M. D., a physician of high standing in Clarion county, and a resident of the borough of Clarion, was born in the county, January 16, 1855.

Jacob Rimer, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Northampton county, but in August, 1815, settled in Clarion county, locating near Curllsville, and later removing to the vicin- ity of the present borough of Rimersburg, where he remained permanently. His wife was Eliza- beth Hilliard, and their children were: John, Susan, Christ, David, Catherine, Mary A. (who married Henry Miller, of Redbank township), and Daniel, all now deceased. Of these, John Rimer settled on the present site of Rimersburg, where he kept a hotel, and froin him the place derived its name. David A. Riiner was born in Northampton county March 4, 1815; on April 11, 1854, at Rimersburg, he was married to Mary G. Patton, who was born at the homestead where she now resides, September 23, 1833, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Mc Williams Boyd) Patton, natives of Centre county, but who came to Clarion county in the spring of 1833, settling on the farm referred to above. To the marriage of David A. Rimer and wife were born children as follows: John T. is our subject; Alva J. mar- ried Ada Hogan, and is a farmer; Mary E. married Rev. Andrew Fleming, who is an Episcopal clergyman of Ashland, Ky .; James P. married Roda Wilson, and is a farmer; Margaret married Fred Gruble, who is in the bakery business at Rimersburg; Harry M. is an attorney of Clarion; David A. married Bessie Kerr, and is a farmer of Perry county; and Edward S. is at home. The father of these farmed extensively, and was one of the substantial men and highly esteemed citizens of the county. He was a Christian man, and for many years was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church. In political affilia- tion he was a Democrat, and served the people of his township as school director, and for a number of years was a major in the State Militia. He died February 1, 1895, and his remains were interred in the Bethesda Cemetery. James Pat-

On February 2, 1848, Mr. Haskell was mar- ried to Miss Nancy J., daughter of John Hoover, now of Clarion county, but formerly of West- moreland and Arinstrong counties, respectively. To the marriage were born nine children, of i ton, who was an extensive farmer of this locality.

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! COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

owning some two hundred acres of land near Rimersburg, lived to the advanced age of eighty years, dying in 1880. His wife died in 1843. aged forty-six years, and both are buried in the Bethesda cemetery. Their children are: Mar- garet is the widow of John Thompson, and resides at Rimersburg; John H. is a farmer residing in Missouri; Jane resides at Curllsville; Mary G. re- sides on the homestead; Nancy B. inarried J. J. Fulton, a farmer of Rimersburg; Rebecca and Robert T. (twins), the former being the wife of John Spear, and residing at Braddock, Robert T. being deceased. The parents of these chil- dren were each twice married; the father for his second wife married Eliza Lawson, and the chil- dren of this union were Isabella, David L., Marcus L., Charles E., James and Anna B. The mother of the children of the former marriage was, when married to Mr. Patton, the widow of Rev. William A. Boyd, by whom she had one son, Samuel M. (deceased). Mary McWilliams, the maternal grandfather of Mary G. (Patton) Rimer, was a Scotchman, who settled in Centre county, and was there occupied as a farmer and surveyor. He became a man of wealth, owning at one time some eight hundred acres of land in Clarion county.

Dr. John T. Rimer received quite a liberal education. He attended the common schools of his locality, then took an academic course in the Clarion Collegiate Institute at Rimersburg, in which he was later a teacher. Subsequently he furthered his studies at Wooster, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two he began the study of medicine at Rimersburg under Dr. F. A. Lim- berg, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., from which he was graduated in 1881. After his graduation he at once began the practice of medicine at Curlls- ville, Clarion county, where he remained. doing successful and acceptable work, until 1889, when he came to Clarion, where he has since been act- ively engaged in the pursuit of his profession, building up a good practice and winning for him- self a creditable place in the profession.

In 1882 the Doctor was married to Miss Car- rie Hesson, of Philadelphia, who died February 9, 1890, and June 24, 1896, he was married to Miss Myrtle B. Collner, who was born April 1, 1870, at Salem, Clarion, and is the daughter of William F. Collner, of Clarion, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. To this sec- ond union one son, William Collner, has been born. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church. The Doctor is president of the Clarion County Medical Society, and is a member of the State Medical Society. He is also one of the

pension examiners for Clarion county, and secre- tary of the Pension Board. He has for the past four years been physician of the board of health of Clarion borough. Socially he is a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of F. & A. M., Clar- ion borough. Politically he is a Republican, and is quite active in the party.

A LEXANDER WILSON, of Callensburg, Clarion county, js the possessor of a hand- some property, which now enables him to spend his years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his ac- cumulations. The record of his life, previous to 1895, is that of an active, enterprising, me- thodical and sagacious business man and farmer, who bent his energies to the honorable acquire- ment of a comfortable competence, but is now practically living retired. In 1895 he erected a pleasant cottage in Callensburg, which town was platted by a Mr. Callen about 1827 on land that William Elliott had received from the gov- ernment. Abram Frampton built the first house there.

Mr. Wilson was born June 22, 1821, in what was then Armstrong county, but is now Clarion county, and is a son of Alexander and Jennie (McCombs) Wilson, both natives of Westmore- land county, Penn., where their marriage was celebrated. His grandfather, Parks Wilson, and Allen McCombs, were of Scotch-Irish descent. and natives of South Carolina, whence they came to Pennsylvania at a very early day, taking up their residence in Westmoreland county when Indians formed the greater part of its inhabit- tants. They lived there during the early Ind- ian wars, and assisted in the development and improvement of the county until their deaths. Mr. Wilson was a wheelwright by occupation, while Mr. McCombs was a farmer. The latter was a teamster for the Americans during the Revolutionary war. Both were faithful mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. In Mr. Wil- son's family were the following children: Jos- eph, Robert William, John Lewis. Alexander, David, James, Polly, Elizabeth, Mrs. Crow and Mrs. Seright.

On the farm in Westmoreland county the father of our subject grew to manhood, and on first coming to Clarion county in 1801, he en- tered land, which he afterward sold. Return- ing to his native county, he was married, and in 1803 he brought his family to Clarion county. where he purchased another tract of 260 acres of land at the mouth of Licking creek, paying sixty cents per acre. He trans- formed the wild land into a good farm, and also

Entre.

Alexander Miljon

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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built and operated the first gristmill in his sec- tion of the county. Late in life he migrated to Iowa, and lived there seven years; then returned to Clarion county, where he died September 10, 1878, at the extreme old age of one hundred years and six months. He was three times mar- ried, and survived all his wives. His children were all of the first union, namely: Allen (de- ceased), Esther (deceased), Mrs. Hannah Murray, Jane (wife of H. Elliott), Elizabeth (wife of J. Elliott), Robert (a resident of Iowa), Mary (wife of G. Doherty), Alexander, John M. (of Iowa), and Jemima A. (wife of A. Wilson). The parents were both Presbyterians in religious belief, and the father was an elder in the Church for many years.

In the subscription schools Mr. Wilson, of this review, acquired his education, and upon the home farm he early became familiar with agri- cultural pursuits. When a young man he en- gaged in freighting, taking iron from the furnaces to the Pittsburg markets; but he has made farm- ing and stock raising his principal occupations throughout life. He has owned three different farms in Clarion county, has dealt quite exten- sively in real estate, and still owns land in Kan- sas. At an early day he also entered land in Iowa, which he afterward sold. He has prospered in his transactions, having always conducted his business on a strictly cash basis. He still owns a valuable farm in Licking township, but has laid aside business cares.

In 1854 Mr. Wilson married his cousin, Miss Sarah M. Wilson, who died in 1887, and in 1890 he wedded Miss Lizzie .A. Mandaville, of New York, who died in 1895. In the following year he was united in marriage with Mrs. A. E. Peck, of Ohio. All have been members of the Pres- byterian Church, to which Mr. Wilson also be- longs. He has served as elder since 1861, and takes an active interest in all religious or benev- olent work. He is a man of exemplary habits, commendable purpose and unbending integrity. and in all life's relations merits the confidence which is so freely accorded him. His residence in Clarion county covers seventy-six years, during which time he has ever borne his part in the work of development and progress, and is therefore deserving of honorable mention among the pioneers. His political support is given the Re- publican party.

J C. RAIRIGH, publisher of the New Beth- lehem l'indicator, was born in Indiana coun- ty, Penn., in 1849. His youthful days were spent on the farm, in timber mills and in school.

He commenced to teach in the public schools at the age of seventeen years, which vocation he followed a number of years, spending his summer months as a student in Academies or in a printing office. In 1878, jointly with Hon. John Lowry, he founded the Indiana Times, but soon disposed of his interest, after which he spent some time in Ohio, as publisher of a county newspaper. In 1888 he bought the Vindicator, and has made it one of the most widely read county papers in this part of the State.

R EV. EDWIN NELSON ASKEY# is the well- known pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of New Bethlehem, Clarion county. * Excellence encourages us about life in general," says that thoughtful observer, George Eliot. This saying is true even in the case of that care- ful discharge of duty which leads to well-doing in worldly enterprises, but the life which reveals religious ardor and suggests the uplifting force of consecrated purpose does indeed demonstrate to humanity new and lofty possibilities. The life of Mr. Askey is a constant inspiration to those who see his zealous and self-sacrificing work in the advancement of the cause of religion

Mr. Askey was born in Rockland township, Venango county, Penn., December 21, 1865, and is a son of James H. and Mary J. (Smith) Askey, natives of the same township, where they are still residing. The father, an extensive and prominent farmer, was born in 1830, and the mother in 1834. They are earnest Christian people, and take an active part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they be- long. In politics the father is a Prohibitionist.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 61

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