Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 75

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 75
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 75
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 75
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1471

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tilda E. is now the widow of David McClain, and a resident of Highland township. Her children are-Mary, wife of Alexander Whitmer; Thomas B., who is married and lives in Clarion county; John, Rufus and William J., still with their mother. (7) Thomas C., during the Civil war, enlisted in December, 1861, in Company F, 103rd P. V. I., under Capt. J. B. McDonald, and served with the Army of the Potomac. At Williamsburg, Va., near Yorktown, he contracted typhoid fever and died. (8) J. Nelson still re- sides upon a part of the old homestead. (9) W. W. married Jane Morehead, of Clarion county, and also lives upon a part of the home farm. His children are-Rosie, Margery, Lawrence, Reynolds and James Bird. (10) Oliver owns and operates a part of the old homestead in High- land township. He married Margaret Eberline, of Clarion county, and has three sons-Edward V., Wallace L. and George.

On the farm where he still continued to re- side, W. L. Reed was born in 1840, and was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys. He manifested his patriotism in December, 1861, by enlisting in Company F, 103rd P. V. I., un- der Capt. M. B. McDowell, of Rimersburg, and after being sworn into the United States service at Camp Orr, Armstrong Co., Penn., was equipped at Washington, D. C., and joined the Army of the Potomac under Gen. McClellan. During that winter the regiment was in campat Meridian Hill, and their first engagement was at Fair Oaks, Va. Mr. Reed was detailed to look after the sick at Yorktown, where he remained for some time, and was then sent to Carvers Hos- pital. On rejoining his regiment he went by boat to Washington, D. C., and while en route, John Borts and Robert C. Platt, of Company F, from Clarion county, died. From Suffolk, Va., our subject went with his command to Newbern, N. C., where, under Gen. Foster, they destroyed the Goldsboro railroad, tearing up the rails and fighting the Rebels all along the road. During

a hard fight at Kingston, December 14, 1862, his brother Hiram and Jackson Boyd were killed. The next engagement was at Whitehall. and at Goldsboro they met the enemy, driving them back and destroying the bridge and rail- road. The winter of 1863 was spent in camp at Newbern, and in the following spring the bri- gade to which Mr. Reed belonged was sent by boat to Plymouth, where they did guard duty, and also cut off the Rebel supplies by boat. Later they were on guard duty at Washington, were in the battle at Swift creek, and after go- ing to Newbern, they retraced their steps to Plymouth, where they remained for about a year.

Mr. Reed, with his company, was captured at that place, and for four months was confined in Andersonville prison, whence he was transferred to Florence, remaining there the same length of time.'In December, 1864, he was exchanged and sent to Charleston and later to Annapolis. where he was granted a furlough. After two inonths spent at home, he rejoined his regiment at Annapolis, but as his term of service had ex- pired, he was soon afterward discharged at Pitts- burg, and returned. home with a war record of which he may be justly proud.

Mr. Reed has since resided upon a part of the old homestead, and in connection with its oper- ation he has successfully engaged in lumbering. In 1869 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Bren- neman, of Clarion county, a daughter of Chris- tian and Maria Brenneman, the former a lumber- man by occupation. They have become the par- ents of six children, namely: Iantha attended the common schools, but completed her education at the Clarion Normal, and is now successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of Clar- ion county. Burdette W. died from typhoid fever at the age of twenty-four. Hiram, who re- sides on a farm adjoining his father's place, mar- ried Chloe Johnson, of Clarion county, and has two children-Florence and Pearle. Nancy M. is now preparing for a teacher at the Clarion Normal. Sadie L. is also a student at the Clar- ion Normal. Eva E. resides at home.

In his political affiliations Mr. Reed is a Demo- crat, and he has been called upon to serve as constable and supervisor in his township. He and his family hold membership in the Presby- terian Church at Shiloh, and he is now one of the elders. His career has ever been such as to com- inand the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and his friends are many.

D AVID SMITH, an influential and prominent citizen of Shippenville, Clarion county, is a native of Crawford county, Penn., and a son of John and Elizabeth (Brookman) Sinith, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. The father was interested in a num- ber of business enterprises, being for some time a river pilot and also a lumberman and barge builder. He was a good workman, and in his undertakings met with a fair degree of success. but his business career was short, as he died at an early age. He left two sons, David and John. Later the mother became the wife of John Camp. an officer of the war of 1812.

In the county of his nativity David Simth

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was reared and educated, but at the early age of gaged principally as a merchant and in the oil eleven years his school days were over, and he ~ business. He died in April, 1894, aged eighty- started out to make his own way in the world, three years, a respected and esteemed citizen of Clarion. His wife, whom he married in Octo- ber, 1840, was Sarah Fry, born in Westmore- land county, Penn., in 1819. She was the daughter of Samuel Fry, a soldier of the war of 1812, who came to Clarion county when it was but a wilderness; her death occurred in Septem- ber, 1895 .. The children of this couple were Levi. W. F., Samuel, Harrison, Joseph, Lemuel, Calvin and George, all living except the last two, Calvin and George. working first as a farm hand. Later he learned the wagonmaker's trade, which he made his life work. On June 25, 1861, he laid aside all per- sonal considerations and joined Company E, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves. He took part in the battle of Gaines' Mills, the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, the seven-days' fight on the Peninsula and Fredericksburg, where he was wounded in the left leg below the knee. He was also captured by the Rebels, and for three months was confined in Libby prison, where he endured all the hardships and privations incident to South- ern prison life. On being exchanged he was sent to Annapolis, Md., and later to Pittsburg. Penn., where he remained in the hospital until honora- bly discharged, June 11, 1864, when he returned to Shippenville. He never recovered from his injury, and was forced to have his limb ampu- tated on May 7, 1886.

In 1864 our subject was married to Miss Mary Wiseman, also a native of Crawford county, and a daughter of Frederick and Magdelena (Hershle- man) Wiseman, who were born in Germany, and were the parents of eleven children. One son, John Wiseman, was a soldier of the Civil war. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but three died in childhood. Those living are Mrs. Emma E. McCall; Mrs. Margaret Lubold, who has four children-Hattie, Emma, May and Edward; and Mrs. Harriett Hart, who has one child, Cecil Quay. 'Mr. Smith and his family all hold membership in the Methodist Church, and in social circles occupy an enviable position. He is a Republican in politics, and is an honored member of Amos Kiser Post No. 475, G. A. R. As a citizen he meets every requirement, and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the city's welfare in any line. In manner he is pleasant, genial and approachable, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth.

W ILLIAM F. COLLNER, who with little exception has lived among the people of Clarion county from boyhood, where he has been among the leading citizens as a prominent business man and county official, was born in Richland township, this county, November 21, 1844.

Lewis Collner. his father, was a native of Germany, born May 11, 1811, at Eltman. He caine to America and located in Clarion county in early life, where for sixty years he resided, en-

William F. Collner received only limited school privileges. His father not being a man of much means, young Collner was kept in the store and given a practical business education. which, however, was for a time interrupted by his service of three years in the war of the Rebel- lion. He enlisted July 24, 1862, when but six- teen years of age, as a private in Company G, 155th P. V. I., his command forming a part of the 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was in all of the many engagements in which the reg- iment participated, and left a record which his posterity may well review with just pride. Dur- ing his period of service he was subjected to many hardships incident to army life. He was slightly wounded at the battle of the Wilderness May 5, 1864, and at Peebles Farm, near Peters- burg, Va., September 30, 1864. Proving him- self a gallant soldier, he was rewarded by a pro- motion to a second lieutenancy, later becoming a first lieutenant, and was in command of the company at the surrender at Appomattox. A highly prized souvenir now in his possession is a sabre which he captured from a Confederate major at the Battle of Five Forks, Va., April 1. 1865. At the close of the war he returned to Clarion county, and again entered his father's store, where he assisted him in business for a year. then went to Forest county, where he engaged in the lumber business for two years. At the expi- ration of this time he returned to Clarion county and became engaged in mercantile business in Salem. He continued in business for seventeen years, until 1879, when he was elected sheriff of Clarion county. This necessitated his removal to the county seat, where he remained during his term of office, returning to Salem in three years. and again was occupied as formerly. In 188; he was elected prothonotary. and in 188; he was re- elected to the same office. serving six years in all. On his retirement from office in 1891, lie became engaged in the insurance business at Clarion, which has since been his vocation. Ilis official career was a mnost creditable one to him :-

Wh Colleen

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

self and a very satisfactory one to his constitu- ents, and his business career has been an honora- ble one; he has enjoyed the confidence and held the esteem of his fellow-citizens.

On November 14, 1867, Mr. Collner was married to Celia F. Brandon, daughter of John G. Brandon, of Clarion county, Penn. To this marriage were born eight children, of whom the following four are still living: Arthur Brandon is the prothonotary of the county; Myrtle B. is the wife of Dr. J. T. Rimer, of Clarion; Ira E. is at home; and Lewis is in the law department of the University of Pennsyl- vania. The mother of these children is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church. Socially Mr. Collner is identified with the F. & A. M. and with the A. O. U. W., having passed all of the chairs in the latter. In politics he is a Democrat. .

J W. SIMPSON. Among the progressive, en- ergetic and successful agriculturists of Farm- ington township, Clarion county, is the sub- ject of this sketch, who thoroughly understands the vocation he follows, and is therefore carrying on operations most profitably. Being a Scotch- man by birth, he possesses the sturdy and ad- mirable characteristics of that race. He was born in the land of hills and heather, in 1829, a son of Peter B. and Jeannette(Wilson) Simpson, also natives of Scotland, and the latter a daugh- ter of Robert Wilson.

The father was born near Dundee, and dur- ing the war of 1812, when about seventeen years of age. first came to America in the British serv- ice. When the war was over he returned to his native land, but in 1833, accompanied by two brothers, he sought a home in the New World, and purchased 300 acres of land in Farmington township, Clarion Co., Penn. In 1883 he sent to Scotland for his wife and family, and brought them to his new home in the midst of the wild- erness. His first log cabin he replaced by a more commodious hewed-log house, and made many substantial improvements upon his farm. His wife died there in November, 1863, and he passed away in 1877. In religious belief they were strict Presbyterians, and they gave liberally to all Church or benevolent work. Mr. Simpson was also one of the most prominent and influ- ential citizens of Clarion county, and was called upon to fill a number of responsible official posi- tions. For two terms he served as county com- inissioner, was county auditor several terms, justice of the peace a number of years, and filled all the township offices, in a most creditable and satisfactory manner.

Our subject is one of a family of ten children, the others being as follows: (1) Margaret, born in Scotland, came with her parents to Clarion county, where she married Michael Bigby, of Farmington township, and died in 1863. Of her children, three sons-Jacob, William, and David -- live in Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Greenwalt resides in Farmington township; Mrs. Euphena Mehan lives in the same township; and Mrs. Janet Hag- erty, a widow lady, lives in Forest county, Penn. (2) Euphena married Samuel Bartlett, of Clarion county, and died in 1863, leaving four children. One son, James Bartlett, is a leading business man of Scotch Hill, and Samuel is a successful farmer in Farmington township. (3) Janet, born in Scotland, married George Howe, who died in 1890, leaving a wife and large family of children. (4) Jane, born in Scotland, was married, in 1849, to Michael Bartlett, and they live on a farm in Farmington township. They have several chil- dren. (5) John B., born in Clarion county, makes his home in Farmington township. He married Elizabeth Knight, and has two children --- Wallace and Wade. (6) Eliza, born in Clar- ion county, married William Harriger, who was drowned in the Allegheny river, and she later wedded Frank Hezlep, of Clarion county, by whom she has one son-James. They now live in Butler county, Pennsylvania.

J. W. Simpson, whose name introduces this sketch, was only four years old when brought by his parents to the United States, and upon the old homestead in Farmington township, he grew to manhood. In 1851 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Rosanna Elliott, of Farmington town- ship, a daughter of John G. and Esther Elliott, and fifteen children were born to them: (1) Robert, born in 1852, married Susan Shafer, of Elk county, Penn., by whom he has two chil- dren-Ula and Jay-and they live at Scotch Hill. Clarion county. (2) Esther died in child- hood. (3) John G., born in 1854, married De- linda Elder. of Clarion county, and lives upon a part of his father's farm. He has five children- Carrie, James S., Bessie, Howard and Annie. (4) Samuel S., born in 1856, and a resident of Scotch Hill, married Jennie Carson, of Clarion county, and has six children-Gearie. Ora, Glenn. Wayne. Clair and Gny. (5) Sarah is the wife of William Foy, who lives on a farm in Farmington township adjoining her father's place. (6) Janet is successfully engaged in dressmaking at Eden- burg. Clarion county, and owns real estate in Clarion and Scotch Hill. 7) Priscilla is the wife of James Beatty. of Clarion, and has three chil- dren- Irene, Turner and Lenore. (8) Clara was the wife of A. D. Neill, a druggist of Marionville,

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1 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Forest county, and died in 1896, leaving one son, Alfred. (9) Euphemia was educated in the Clar- ion Normal and the Corsica schools, and is now a successful teacher in the public schools. She resides with her father. (10) Laura B. was also well educated, and for three terms taught school, but since then has engaged in dressmak- ing with her sister in Edenburg. (11) James H., a resident of Scotch Hill, married Lillie Smith, and has two children-Gladys and Gafred. (12) Benton works in the lumber woods, and re- sides at home. (13) Wayne died in infancy. (14) Elva, born in 1878, was engaged in the Clarion Normal, and is now engaged in teaching in the public schools, making her home with her father. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in October, 1891.

After his marriage, our subject located .upon a part of his father's first purchase, and from the wild land developed a good farm, making it his home for fourteen years. In 1869 he sold, and purchased the James Fitzgerald farm, a partially improved tract of 129 acres, on which he has erected a large barn and good two-story resi- dence, besides making other necessary improve- ments. He has cleared a large portion of his land, planted a fine orchard, and now has one of the best and inost highly cultivated farms of the locality.

In his political affiliations Mr. Simpson is a Democrat, and he has filled the offices of su- pervisor and school director in an efficient man- ner. He is a meinber of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, to which his wife also belonged, and is an earnest and conscientious Christian gentleman. His success in life may be ascribed to positive, determined pursuit of business, and to the fact that he is a man of honesty and integ- rity. He has reared a family of which he may be justly proud, and among its members are sev- eral of the most successful teachers of Clarion county.

H ENRY HARRISON HARTMAN, a well- known general farmer of Toby township, Clarion county, resides on a part of the old Full- mer farm at Mt. Airy-the ancestral home of his mother. He was born December 14, 1836, near Bloomsburg, in Columbia county, Penn., and is a son of John William and Susan (Fullmer) Hart- man, natives of Bucks county, Penn., who after their marriage removed to Columbia county. In 1840 they came to Clarion county, and located on the present site of Mt. Airy, where the father successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until life's labors were ended. 'He was born March 5.

1807. and died March 7. 1848, while his wife was born June 30, ISII, and died August 2, 1895. They were faithful members of the Reformed Church, and were laid to rest in Churchville cemetery, Clarion county.

The family of this worthy couple consisted of the following children: Elisha, born July 2. 1834, died in 1882; Henry H., born December 14, 1835, is a farmer of Mt. Airy; Josiah is also engaged in farming in Toby township: William D., born August 10, 1838, follows the saine pur- suit in Porter township, Clarion county; Sarah J., born November 1, 1839, died in 1851 ; Lewis, born March 11, 1841, is a farmer of Mt. Airy; Rebecca, born March 29, 1842, lives with our subject; Samuel J., born October 15, 1843, is a farmer of Monroe township, Clarion county; Jeremiah, born March 6, 1845, died September 6, 1851 ; Aaron, born August 1, 1846, is a farmer of Clarion township; and Henry Harrison, of this review, completes the family.

George Hartman, our subject's grandfather, was born and reared in Bucks county, where he married a Miss Jacoba, and continued to engage in farming and distilling throughout life. Their children were: William, Jacoba, Joseph. Samuel and Catherine, all now deceased. The maternal grandparents, Daniel and Margaret (Boyer) Full- mer, were also natives of Bucks county, and came to Clarion county in 1840, locating on a two-acre lot on the present site of Mt. Airy, where he lived retired throughout the remainder of his life. To his children-Charles, Aaron, and Susan, our subject's inother-he gave 100 acres of land in Clarion county, but his other daugh- ter, Sarah, wife of Jeremiah Hogenbaugh, re- mained in Columbia county.

At the age of seventeen Henry Harrison Hartman began serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade with Samuel Kifer at Callens- burg, and, after mastering the business, worked at the same for several years, in the meantime spending six months in Kentucky. After his marriage, in 1868, he purchased forty acres of land at Mt. Airy, and after two years spent upon that place, he traded it for a farm one mile from Mt. Airy, belonging to him and his brotber Lewis. There he made his home for fourteen years, and in 1884 purchased his present farm from his uncle Charles and the Fullmer heirs; it consists of 108 acres of rich and arable land. which he has placed under a high state of cul- tivation and improved with good and substan- tial buildings.

On May 26, 1868, in Callensburg, Mr. Hart- inan was married to Miss Susan Stewart, Rev. J. G. McIntire, a Presbyterian minister, perform-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing the ceremony. The children born to this union are as follows: Sarah J., who died in childhood; Thomas S., a pumper in the oil fields at McDon- ald, Penn .; Samuel E., who married Agnes Winters, and is also employed as an oil pumper; Eva A., wife of Charles Henry, a school and music teacher of Forest county, Penn. ; Mar- garet R., wife of John Rankin, a school teacher of Rimersburg, Penn., and Aaron B., William A. and Nora E., all at home.

Mrs. Hartman was born September 6, 1842, in Toby township, Clarion county, a daughter of Hon. Thomas and Susan (Loffer) Stewart, the former a native of Clarion county, and the latter of Black Rock, N. Y. At the age of four years the mother also became a resident of Clarion county, where her marriage was celebrated. Her parents, Adam and Elizabeth Loffer, lived for some time in Ohio. Her father was killed while aiding in the defense of his country during the war of 1812, and was buried near Niagara Falls. Mrs. Hartman's paternal grandparents were william and Sarah (McCibben) Stewart, who died in Clarion county, and were buried in Concord cemetery. By occupation the grand- father was a farmer.

To Hon. Thomas and Susan (Loffer) Stewart were born eight children: William, who died in 1895; Milton, who was a private in the Union army during the Civil war, and was killed in bat- tle; Loffer, a farmer of Toby township; Sarah, who married D. R. Summerville, but both are now deceased; Reuben, a farmer of Nebraska; Elizabeth, who died in 1860; Allen, a farmer of . Toby township; and Susan, wife of our subject. The mother of these children was born in 1804, and departed this life June 9, 1864. The follow- ing year Mr. Stewart niarried Mrs. Jemima Mil- ler, but by the second union he had no children. She was the widow of Benjamin Miller, and by her first marriage becaine the mother of the following children: Oliver, deceased; Frank, a farmer of Butler county; William and Johnson, deceased: Hon. George E., who lives in the West and has represented his district in the State Legislature; Sarah, widow of Mr. Lloyd, and a resident of Sharon, Penn. ; and Lorinda, widow of William Cristwell, of East Brady. Penn. The mother of these children died in 1893, at the age of eighty years, and was buried near East Brady. Mr. Stewart was born in 1812, was a blacksmith by trade, but in later years turned his attention to farmning. For some time he acceptably filled the office of associate judge of Clarion county, and was always recog- nized as one of the valued as well as one of the honored citizens of his community. His death

occurred October 1, 1883. In the Presbyterian Church he held membership, was an elder in the Church for many years, and superintendent of Sunday-school. He had always been identified with the Deniocratic party.

A prominent and active member of the Re- formed Church, our subject has served as elder for the past four years, and is a cheerful sup- porter of all objects which he believes calculated to promote the condition of his fellow-men. His political support is given the Democracy, and he has capably filled the positions of school director and assessor of his township. He has accumu- lated a handsome property, and his life illustrates what may be accomplished through industry, perseverance, good management and a determin- ation to succeed.

F FRANK L. HARVEY, an active, energetic and reliable business man of Foxburg, has for the past ten years most creditably and satis- factorily served as superintendent of the Fox es- tate, which is the most valuable property in Clarion county, comprising large tracts of land and numerous oil wells.

Mr. Harvey was born December 28, 1864, in Westmoreland county, Penn., a son of J. \V. and Anna E. (Haymaker) Harvey, well-known and prominent citizens now living about one mile west of Foxburg in a comfortable home. In Westmoreland county, this State, during the Civil war the father enlisted in an infantry regi- ment, and faithfully fought for the preservation of the Union for three years. His family numbered four sons: Frank L., of this review; Harry R., assistant cashier in the Foxburg Bank; Angus McAlister, bookkeeper in the same institution; and Thomas, who died at the age of six years.

Frank L. Harvey completed his education in a high school in Clarion county; but through his extensive business operations and subsequent study he has greatly added to the knowledge there obtained. For five years before accepting his present position he was also connected with the Foxburg Bank, where he gained a practical knowledge of business affairs, which has been of great benefit to him. Although quite young when chosen superintendent of the Fox estate, his ability as a manager was soon demonstrated, and he proved thoroughly competent to attend to the extensive business connected therewith. He is perfectly familiar with every branch of the vast business connected with the estate, and is therefore able to obtain the best results. Al- ways ready to reward faithful service, he has the respect and confidence of those under him, and

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 75

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