Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 65

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 65
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 65
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 65
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 65

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Mr. Rulofson was born in Kings county, New Brunswick. October 18. 1822, and is a son of William H. and Priscilla Amelia ( Howard; Rulof-

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some years later. After the death of his parents our subject's paternal grandfather offered to give- him his farm if he would live with him upon the old homestead. For two years an aunt, who is still living at the advanced age of ninety-four years, cared for him, and after a short interval spent with his grandfather he went to St. Johns, New Brunswick, making his hoine with another aunt until able to make his own way in the world. She is still living at the advanced age of ninety- six years.

At the age of twenty Mr. Rulofson spent one month in learning the millwright's trade on the St. Croix river, and then accepted the foreman- ship over eight men at St. Stephen. Although he received only one month's instruction in the work, he thoroughly understood the business, and in 1843, at Milltown, Calais, Maine, he built the first gang sawmill in the United States. He then entered into a contract to build mills, for five years, and later was superintendent for a lumber company at Saccarappa, Maine, for a year and a half.

Coming to Pennsylvania, in 1851, Mr. Rulof- son located in Elk county, where he constructed a mill for a Mr. Blake, having brought the machinery with him. Later he formed a part- nership with John Cobb, and under the name of Cobb & Rulofson they engaged in the manu- facture of lumber until 1857. In the following year our subject came to Strattonville, Clarion county, where he has since made his home. Dur- ing the thirty-nine years he has engaged in the lumber business at this place, he has seen nine of his partners buried. He is one of the most extensive lumberinen in western Pennsylvania, has at different times been interested in about ten thousand acres of timber land, and to-day still owns and operates a mill at the mouth of Mill creek, where he is doing a large and profitable business.

In 1843 Mr. Rulofson married Miss Amanda Jane Emerson, of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and to them were born eight children, five of whom are still living, namely: Priscilla Jane, wife of Samuel R. Stratton, of Washington, D. C .: Jeannette, wife of George W. McCaslin, of New York City; Elizabeth, wife of David Clover, of Strattonville, Penn .; William R., who mar- ried Etta Smathers; and Merta, wife of T. H. Hoover.

In April, 1851, Mr. Rulofson's wife and fam- ily were on board the steamer "Admiral " when the Minot Lodge lighthouse at Boston was blown down, and the steamer was driven out to sea for twenty-four hours owing to the storm. Mr. Rulofson met with a very unpleasant experience

in 1893. On the 13th of March, that year, he went to Pittsburg to meet a party of capitalists on business. Stopping at the " Seventh Avenue Hotel," he retired at eleven p. M., and for thirty- three hours thereafter was unconscious, having been asphyxiated by gas. He was sent to the hospital on the morning of the 14th, as an " un- known." His friends, after learning of his whereabouts, through persistent efforts finally saved him.

Mr. and Mrs. Rulofson are earnest, consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take quite a prominent part in all Church work. Socially, he has for fifty-three years be- longed to the Ancient York Masons, and for four consecutive years was master of the Clarion lodge: he has also been for over fifty years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which order he is past grand, and was district deputy grand master for fifteen consecu- tive years. In his community he is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party, and has served as chairman of the county committee, but has never aspired to official honors, preferring to give his undivided attention to his extensive business interests. Mr. Rulofson is a man to. which the most envious can scarcely grudge suc- cess, so well has he earned it, so admirably does he use it, so entirely does he lack pride of purse.

P HILIP BITTENBENDER, one of the prom- inent and well-to-do farmers of Clarion county, where his nearly seventy years of well- directed effort in life have been passed, was born December 19, 1827, in Redbank township, Arm- strong (now Clarion) county, Pennsylvania.

It has now been three-quarters of a century since Philip and Magdalena (Good) Bittenbender, his parents, settled in this locality. They were both born in Northampton county, Penn .. were. married in Columbia county, and in 1822 came to Armstrong county. In 1839, on the fornia- tion of Clarion, that portion of Armstrong in which they had located became Clarion county. They were honest, upright and well-to-do people, who passed their lives amid agricultural pursuits. Their good deeds were many, and their lives were spared to advanced years. She died in Septem- ber, 1861, at the age of seventy-six years. He lived to be ninety-two, passing away in October. 1872. Their children were: Sarah A. married Adam Mooney; Elizabeth married Jacob Ober; Hannah married Rev. George Wolf; Mary mar- ried A. Fox, and resides in Monroe township; Catherine is the widow of Edward Lurch, and resides in Monroe township: Jacob resides on the

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old homestead in Porter township; and Philip is our subject. Sarah A., Elizabeth and Hannah, and their husbands, are deceased.

Philip Bittenbender was raised on the old homestead, his early years being passed in a man- ner not unlike the general farmer's son, assisting in doing the chores, working on the farm, and attending the district schools during the winters. Residing in the country and staying at home rather closely, naturally he has not had a very eventful life, yet it has been a busy one.

On March 15, 1858, he was married at Curlls- ville to Miss Sarah B. Curll, the Rev. Meteer, a Presbyterian minister, officiating. This marriage was blessed with the following children: Mary E. (Mrs. E. H. Wilshire) is a resident of Cali- fornia; William is at home: Maggie died Octo- ber 5, 1878, and is buried at Churchville; Anna Bell died December 4, 1878, and is buried at Churchville; Philip W. is living on the home farm in Porter township; Lizzie J. died Novem- ber 20, 1878, and is buried at Churchville; and Horace H. is at home. The parents, until 1896, resided on the homestead in Porter township, this being the old farm of his parents (the name of Redbank township was changed to Porter when Clarion county was formed). The parents are members of the Reformed Church, and have been active in its affairs; the father has been a deacon and elder in the Church three and nine years respectively. He has been prominent in the affairs of the county, and useful in the com- munity in which he has so long resided. He is a genial and pleasant gentleman, residing now on a farm of some seventy odd acres within the limits of the borough of Curllsville. Their home is one in keeping with the times and the good taste of its occupants. Mr. Bittenbender is one of the successful agriculturists and substantial citizens of Clarion county. In politics he is a Democrat.

Sarah B. (Curll) Bittenbender, was born No- veinber 26, 1834, in a log cabin at Curllsville, Clarion county, the daughter of William D. and Eliza J. (Frampton) Curll. natives of Chester and Armstrong counties respectively. John Curll, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Bittenbend- er, a native of Ireland, came to America in 1795. locating in Chester county, Penn., where he and a son James died of yellow fever contracted cu route on the vessel. This left William Curll his only heir in America. William was born in Antrim, Ireland. in 1781. He was reared in Chester county, and married Sarah Van Lier. In ISO1 he located on the site of Curlsville, then in Armstrong county, and froin the family came the name given to the place. He became a man of

prominence and influence throughout this section. He was one of the commissioners of Armstrong county, was a justice of the peace in Redbank and Clarion townships; his commission which is now in the possession of Mr. Bittenbender, reads: "To have and to hold this cominission and the office hereby granted unto you, the said William Curll, so long as you shall behave yourself well." It was signed by Gov. Andrew Schultz. On Feb- ruary 28, 1842, he was appointed postmaster of CurlIsville by Charles A. Wickliffe, then postmas- ter-general of the United States. On the second Tuesday of October, 1851, he was commissioned associate judge of Clarion county for five years. He had farmed some and taught school in Clar- ion county, and for several years resided in Centre county, where he was similarly occupied. His death occured in June, 1862, and his remains were interred at Churchville. His wife was a daughter of George VanLier, a native of Holland. David and Hannah (Lowball) Frampton, the maternal grandparents of Mrs. Bittenbender, were natives of Western Maryland and Juniata county, respectively. They came to what is now Clarion county in 1802, locating near Reedsburg. They had six daughters and one son -- David. The father was a large land owner. He was the son of William Frampton, of England.

In the iminediate family of William D. Curll and wife were: Sarah R. (Mrs. Philip Bitten- bender); William T. (deceased); David R., who was born on the farm at Curllsville, upon which he now resides; George V., and Emily Jane.

A LEXANDER STEWART, who is now suc- cessfully conducting the " Sligo Hotel," at Sligo, has throughout life been actively identified with the business interests of Clarion county, and through his own efforts has secured a handsome competence. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual, and is the means of bringing to man success when he has no advantages of wealth or influence to aid him. It illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is possible to accomplish when perseverance and determination form the keynote to a man's char- acter.

Mr. Stewart was born May 20, 1837, in Perry township. Clarion county, of which township his parents, William and Eliza ( McCall) Stewart. were also natives. The birth of the grandfather. William Stewart, Sr., occurred in Ireland, but at an early day he immigrated to the United States and took up his residence in Perry town- ship, Clarion county, where he owned and oper- : ated a large tract of land. He wedded Miss Mary

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McCibben, and to them were born the following children: Thomas; Robert; John; William; Polly, who married William McCall; and Margaret, wife of Alexander McCall, a brother of her sister's husband. All are now deceased except Margaret, who lives on the old homestead in Perry town- ship. After the death of the mother of these children, William Stewart, Sr., married a. Miss Parker. While they were out walking he became ill, and they sat down on the roots of an old tree, where he died, in 1821, at a ripe old age. His remains were interred at the Concord Church, in Perry township.

Robert McCall, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was also born in Ireland, and on coming to the New World located in Perry town- ship, Clarion county, on the banks of the Alle- gheny river, where he secured a large tract of land. He first married a Miss-Thompson, who bore him the following children: Esther, who died unmarried; William; John; Thomas; Alex- ander; Sallie, wife of Robert Stewart; Eliza, mother of our subject; and Margaret, who died unmarried. For his second wife, Robert Mc- Call chose Hannah McGarrah, and the children born to them were as follows: James, deceased; Mathew, a resident of Perry township; Eleanor. who married John McCibben, and both are now deceased; Jane, widow of William Stewart, is a resident of Toby township, Clarion county; Har- riette, wife of Samuel Logan, a farmer of Perry township; Robert, an agriculturist of Butler coun- ty, Penn .; Allen, a farmer of Perry township: and Lavina, wife of Isaac Latchaw, who is also engaged in farming in that township.

William Stewart, Jr., our subject's father, was a farmer by occupation, and became quite well-to-do. Becoming blind, he spent the last twenty years of his life in retirement from active labor. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, and he was a consistent member of the Presbyter- ian Church. In October, 1892, he was called to his final rest at the age of eighty years and two months, and his estimable wife died in March. 1867, at the age of sixty-one, both being buried at the Concord Church in Clarion county. Their children were: David, a farmer of Perry town- ship, Clarion county; Alexander, of this sketch; Robert, an extensive farmer of Porter township, Clarion county; Amos. an agriculturist of Perry township; William, who died on the old home- stead, where his widow and family still reside: and Roslinda, wife of Israel Butler, a farmer of Madison township, Clarion county.

On the home farm Alexander Stewart grew to manhood, was married in Callensburg. Jan- uary 28, 1858, to Miss Sarah J. Livermore, the

ceremony being performed by Joseph Reynolds, Esq. The following children blessed this union: George W., a traveling salesman for an imple- ment house of Johnson & Company, who married Vira Henry, and resides in Pittsburg; Williani 1., who married Jennie Sloan, and is a contractor living in New Kensington, Penn .; Boartley B., who married Anna Craig, and is engaged in the hardware business in Rimersburg, Penn .; Amos, who married Laura Altinan, and follows farming in Licking township, Clarion county; Lizzie, wife of W. J. Reichert, a farmer of Piney township, Clarion county; Maggie, wife of Jesse Wyman, of Sligo: Maud, Elzora, Walter and Nora, all at home: Dalla A., who died at the age of four years; and Carrie E., who died at the age of nineteen months.

Mrs. Sarah J. Stewart was born in Mercer county, Penn., March 20, 1837, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth ( Shaffer) Livermore, who spent their entire lives in that county, where the father followed farming as a life work. He died January 20, 1881, aged eighty years, and his wife passed away in 1875, aged sixty-one. The re- mains of both were interred in the Cottage Church cemetery of Mercer county. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically the father was a stalwart Democrat. His parents were Jeremiah and Barbara (Keit- linger) Livermore, who were of English extrac- tion. Hearing that he had inherited a fortune, Jeremiah Livermore started after the same, and was never again heard from, having probably been murdered. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Stewart were Obediah and -- ( Fisher) Shaffer, of New Jersey, where the former engaged in farming and carpentering.

In the family of Abraham and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Livermore were the following children: Rebecca, the widow of Patrick Gallagher, is a resident of Dutch Hill, Clarion county; Jere- miah and William (both deceased); Wilson died in California: George is a farmer of Mercer county, Penn .; Sarah is the wife of our sub- ject : James and Joseph both died in childhood; John is an agriculturist of lowa; Watson was a Union soldier during the Civil war and is now a resident of Clarksville, Penn. ; Nancy is the wife of William Cook, a farmer of Mercer county; Catherine is the wife of W. A. Laughlin. a mer- chant of Leatherwood, Clarion county; and Sam- nel is deceased.

After his marriage our subject purchased ninety-six acres of land in Porter township. Clarion county. for $1,600, to which he later ad- ded a tract of fifty acres, paying $1,600 for that amount. As he prospered and his financial re-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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sources increased, he bought more land until he owned four good farms in that township. Much of his land he has given to his sons, and also es- tablished one son in the hardware business. Coming to Sligo in April, 1881, Mr. Stewart pur- chased a farm of 104 acres within the corpora- tion limits, which place he still owns, and which has principally been operated by hired help. Two years after locating here he purchased his present hotel, which contains thirty large and comfortable rooms, and he has since successfully conducted the same in a most approved man- ner. For some years he devoted considerable attention to buying and shipping cattle, but dis- continued that business in 1893. In his busi- ness enterprises he has ever met with a well- deserved success, and is to-day numbered among the prosperous and wealthy citizens of his com- munity.

Alexander Stewart has been called upon to serve in a number of local offices of honor and trust. In the spring of 1884 he was appointed to fill an unexpired term of three years as mail agent between Clarion and Parker, under Presi- dent Garfield, and made a daily trip twenty-five miles each way. Later he served in the same position for eleven months after the death of the regular mail agent, and in 1893 was appointed to carry the mail between Clarion and Sligo, his term expiring June 30, 1897. In politics he is a pro- nounced Democrat, and is one of the leading mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has served as trustee. Two years previous to this writ- ing (in 1897), Mr. Stewart was in very poor health, in fact the doctors gave him no hope of recovery, but to-day he weighs about 200 pounds and en- joys excellent health. He is always courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him per- sonally have for him high regard. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the start was uniform and rapid, and he is looked upon as a model of honor and an example of a truly honest business man.

JACOB BLACK (2), a worthy citizen of the J borough of Clarion, and bookkeeper of the Second National Bank, was born at Shippen- ville Furnace, Clarion county, August 13. 1846, descending from an ancestry which has been most prominent in business enterprise in this locality.

Jacob Black (1), his father, was born in Mary- land in 1809. the second child of Frederick and Mary (Rupert) Black, who came to Pennsylvania early in this century, stopping first at Waynes- burg, Greene county, for a year or two, thence

to Beaver township, Venango ( now Clarion ) county. William Rupert, the maternal grand- father of Jacob Black (1), was the owner of the land on which the Shippenville Furnace was after- ward built. and which on his death became the property of Jacob Black (1), who was his favorite grandson. In 1832 the latter, in connection with John and Richard Shippen, formed a partnership for the purpose of manufacturing pig iron. In 1833 the furnace at that point was built, made metal, and it was hauled to the Clarion river above the turnpike bridge and boated to Pitts- burg. Some years later John Shippen dropped out of the firm and the business was for years carried on by the other members. The firm built the forge located a mile below the furnace on the creek where they made blooms and ore iron. These men were active and enterprising in their business and were successful. Mr. Black resided at the furnace, and was the active partner and manager of the business. He was recog- nized as one of the most successful and able iron- masters in this section. The poor and unfortu- nate had no better friend than he, ever kind and thoughtful for their welfare, even to great per- sonal inconvenience. Through his assistance and liberality many of his employees became property holders and farmers. The business of the firm was large and many men were given employment in its various branches, and in this way it was a great boon to those living near it. In addition to their iron interests these men had several thousand acres of timber land. This partner- ship lasted until 1859. when the furnace was blown out and the firm dissolved, both men having accumulated a handsome competence. They owned large tracts of land in the ad- joining townships, and so amicably had all their affairs been carried on that the division of the lands was left to be made by Mr. Shippen, who gave the choice of the two parts to his part- ner. On retiring from this firm Mr. Black be- came engaged in the real-estate business. On the organization of the First National Bank of Clarion he became a stockholder, and was for years its president. On the breaking out of the oil excitement in Clarion county he became an extensive operator and producer in the vicinity of Edenburg and Shippenville, and was interested in this business up to the time of his death, which occurred April 20, 1888, he being an octogenar- ian. His wife, who was Margaret Shippen, was born in June, 1809, at Little Britton, Lancaster Co., Penn., a daughter of Robert Shippen, and died February 16, 1874.

Jacob Black (2) received a common-school education, also attended the Paradise Academy.

Jacob Black

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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in Lancaster county, Penn., and later took a business course in Duff's College, Pittsburg, graduating in 1866. He remained at home un- til twenty years of age, and then went to Sligo furnace, where he was occupied as storekeeper for three years. In 1870 he went to Kittanning, Penn., and was for three years deputy sheriff of Armstrong county. In'1875 he located at Clar- ion, and until 1883 was engaged in the oil busi- ness. He was one of the promoters of what is now the P. & W. R. R., and became one of its first directors. For seven years he was connect- ed with the First National Bank of Clarion, first as teller, and then as assistant cashier. About the time of his father's death he went to New- castle, Penn., and for a year was engaged in merchandising, then he went to Oil City, where he was engaged in the tobacco business some three years. In February, 1894, he returned to Clarion, and has since been bookkeeper in the Second National Bank.

On January 4, 1877, Mr. Black was married to Miss Mary E. Wilson, who was born August 8, 1858, in Rimersburg, and is the daughter of Johnson Wilson, of Clarion county, and to the marriage has been born two daughters: Marga- ret Shippen, and Ada May (deceased). The mother of these children is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Black is a Knight Templar F. & A. M. ; he also belongs to the A. O. U. W. Politically he is a Republican, and is active in party work. In 1878 he received the nomination for county treasurer, and made the race, but his party being greatly in the minority in the county, he was defeated, but by only com- paratively a few votes. In 1880 he was the nominee for the General Assembly. On January II, 1898, Mr. Black was elected to the position of teller in the Second National Bank of Clarion, still retaining his position as bookkeeper. He is one of the substantial citizens and well-to-do men of Clarion; is a meinber of the town council and board of trade.

Mr. Greer was born March 5, 1839, in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany. His parents, John Adam and Elizabeth (Dasch) Greer, were natives of the

same province, where the father was employed as a shepherd for many years. When our sub- ject was eighteen months old the family sailed for the United States, and on landing came direct to Clarion county, Penn. They first located in Beaver township, and later in Elk township, two miles from Venus, where the mother is still living at the age of eighty-four. In this country the father followed the occupation of farming, and died when aged eighty-six years. He merited and received the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His children were: Margaret, John P., Elizabeth, Mary, Frederick, Anna, Matilda, and Henry, who died at the age of nine months.

On the home farm, John Peter Greer early became familiar with agricultural pursuits, and his literary education was obtained in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood. When Pres- ident Lincoln called for 300,000 more inen to help put down the Rebellion, he enlisted July 25, 1862, in Company G, 155th P. V. I., and with his command took part in the battles of Antie- tiam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Aldie, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania C. H., Talopotomy, Bethseda Church, Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Peebles Farm, Hatcher's Run, Quaker Road, Dabney's Mill, Boydon Road, White Oak Road, Five Forks, Sailor's Creek and Appomattox. He served with the Army of the Potomac. When his term of service expired he was honorably discharged and returned home with a war record of which he may be justly proud.

In 1872, Mr. Greer purchased his present farm and mill in Washington township, and has since greatly improved his property. He is a practical miller, and is meeting with excellent success in that line of business, and as an agri- culturist ranks among the best of the commu- nity. His farm comprises thirty acres of rich and arable land, improved with a comfortable residence and good outbuildings. The mill is run with water power, and the products turned out are first-class in every particular.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 65

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