Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 77

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 77
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 77
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 77
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 77

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Martin Wagner.

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strong county, Penn. Five children have been born to them, namely: Christine, born at their present home, in 1872, attended the common schools, and later graduated at the Clarion Nor- mal. She is a very bright and accomplished young lady, has visited Germany, and is now suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in the public schools. Jacob, born in 1874, also attended the common schools, and subsequently the schools of Germany and the Clarion Normal. He now owns and operates a fine farm in Armstrong county, and also attends to his father's oil inter- ests in Clarion county. Charles, born in 1877, received a good common-school education: he owns a tract of land in Paint township, Clarion county, given him by his father. Anna B., born in 1879, began her education in the common schools, and later pursued her studies in the Clarion Normal. Alfred, born in 1884, is also attending school.

After his second marriage, Mr. Wagner, in partnership with Messrs. Metzger and Hahn, bought 1,700 acres of timber land in Paint town- ship, Clarion county, and in 1870 erected there- on a steam sawmill, where they engaged in the manufacture of boat lumber and square timber for a number of years, doing a very extensive and profitable business. Some years they owned and ran as many as fifty coal boats on the Clar- ion river for the Pittsburg and Allegheny mar- kets, and at the same time carried on a large lum- ber business in Piney. Mr. Wagner was general manager of the property in Paint township, 1. 700 acres of which had cost $40 per acre. In that township he erected a large two-story residence, in IS70, for his own use, and also built a number of houses to rent. In connection with his other business he conducted a general store for a num- ber of years. In 1873 our subject and Mr. Hahn purchased Mr. Metzger's interest in the business. and five years later Mr. Wagner became sole owner, having paid $30,000 for his partner's in- terest. In 188; he also embarked in the oil business, sinking a number of wells on his own property, and leasing others, all of which he op- erated. He still owns a number of pumping wells which pay him a good royalty, and has large and valuable tracts ot land in both Arni- strong and Clarion counties. 400 acres of which are under a high state of cultivation and well- in- proved.

Lutheran Church, and occupy an enviable posi- tion in both business and social circles. Mr. Wagner has had a remarkable career in many respects. On reaching this country he was with- out a dollar; but he was young, strong and am- bitious, and through his own energy, enterprise and perseverance he has become one of the most prominent and wealthy lumbermen and land owners in Clarion county, and is now living re- tired. Although he has taken many risks, he has been remarkably successful in his speculations owing to his sound judgment and good business ability. He has not only aided his children in starting out in life for themselves, but has also been a liberal contributor to all charitable objects which he believed deserving of aid. Honest and upright in all his dealings, he has won the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, and the warm regard of many friends.

TSAAC McCOY, one of the most industrious and enterprising farmers of Beaver township, Clarion county, was born in 1838, in Butler county, Penn.

Mr. McCoy traces his ancestry back to Thomas McCoy, a native of Berkeley county, W. Va., who was born in 1754, and after reaching manhood cleared and improved 600 acres of wild land in Pine township, Mercer Co., Penn., where he made his home for many years. His son, Joseph McCoy, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that county, November 24, 1779, and was also an agriculturist. He was a soldier of the war 1812, and was a valued and honored member of the community in which he made his home. His death occurred in 1820, in Louis-

ville, Ky. In his family were the following children: Thomas, John, William, Lewis, Da- vid, Hiram, Mrs. Betsy Mitchell and Mrs. John- son, all now deceased,

John McCoy, our subject's father, was born in 1813, in Mercer county, where he was reared to habits of industry and thrift. During early life he engaged in farming and lumbering, and also learned the stonemason's trade, at which he was employed. He married Miss Margaret Jane Richmond, also a native of Mercer county, and a daughter of Isaac Richmond, who was born in Pennsylvania, on the Susque- hanna river. In 18- Mr. McCoy brought his family to what is now Clarion county. and in 1842 purchased a lot in Clarion borough. and resided there until 1856, then he moved to Beaver township to a tract of 160 acres of tim- berland, which he converted into a good farm.

Politically, Mr. Wagner is a stanch Demo- crat, and he has acceptably filled the offices of overseer of the poor, township auditor, school director and justice of the peace, being elected to the last named in (872, but refused to serve. He and his family are all connected with the , There he died in 186;, and his wife passed away

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ten years later. In their new home they had made many warm friends, and their deaths were deeply mourned.

The subject of this sketch is one of a family of five children-four sons and one daughter; the others are: Joseph served for three years during the Civil war as a member of Company E, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, Army of the Potomac, and died July 3, 1897, and is buried at St. James, Mo .; Mrs. Harriet Cobler makes her home in Beaver township, Clarion Co., Penn .: John Lewis during the Civil war enlisted March 1, 1863, in the 103d, P. V. I., and died June 18, of the same year at Newbern, N. C .; and Milton resides on the old homestead.

Isaac McCoy, who is second in order of birth in this family, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Clarion borough, Clarion county', and obtained a good practical education in the bor- ough schools. Learning the blacksmith's trade, he successfully followed that pursuit for over forty years, and he has also engaged to some ex- tent in lumber, but now gives the greater part of his time and attention to farming. He is the owner of a valuable farm of 105 acres in Beaver township, which he has under high cultivation and improved with good and substantial build- ings.

In 1866 in Beaver township, Mr. McCoy was married to Miss Catharine Ann Cope, a native of Clarion county, and a daughter of Jeremiah and Anna E. (Graffe) Cope. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born in Montgomery county, Penn., and died in 1897, while her mother was born in Beaver township, Clarion county, and died in 188o. To Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were born the following children: Mrs. Margaret Mays (of Beaver township), Moneela (now Mrs. Fisher), John, Anna. Jeremiah, Ella, Allen, Susan, George, Verne, and Fredie. The McCoy family holds an annual re-union in Mer- cer county, and at the last there were four hun- dred in attendance. It is one of the most prom- inent and highly respected families in this section of the State. In his political affiliations Isaac McCoy is a Republican, and he cheerfully gives his support to all measures which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit. As a citi- zen, friend and neighbor, he is true to every duty, and justly merits the high regard in which he is held.

J OHN F. MOHNEY, proprietor of a livery, feed and sale stable in New Bethlehem, is a representative of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of Clarion county. He i

traces his ancestry back to Adam Mohney, a na- tive of Germany, who crossed the Atlantic to the New World in the latter years of 1700, settled in Northampton county, Penn., and in 1808 came to Clarion county, Penn., and purchased 1, 100 acres of land near West Millville. Returning to Northampton county, Penn., he brought to his new home his large family of children, some of whom were already married. He died in West Millville, and was laid to rest in Oakridge ceme- tery in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.

John Mohney, the son of Adam and the great- grandfather of our subject, married Catherine Wagner, and they became the parents of the following children: Maria, Elizabeth, Susanna, Mary, Catherine, Sarah, Lydia, Christina, Fred- erick, Jacob, Adam, John and Abram. It was in 1811 that John Mohney and wife came from Northampton county, Penn., to Clarion county and located upon a portion of the land which his father had purchased, erecting a large stone house thereon in 1824. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, and a Democrat in politics, while re- ligiously he was a member of the German Re- formed Church. Both he and his wife died on the old homestead, and were buried at Oakridge.

The grandfather of our subject, Frederick Mohney, was born in Northampton county, in 1801, and was therefore but ten years of age when brought by his parents to Clarion county, where he subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits. Here he married Miss Ann Maria Kaster, a native of Northampton county, and a daughter of Philip Kaster, who was of German descent, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. Of the twelve children that graced this union, three died in infancy and nine reached years of maturity, namely: David, Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Catherine, Sophia, Mary Ellen, Christina. Cal- vin F. and Mathias. The father of this family died at the age of sixty-nine, and the mother at the age of eighty-two years. They were con- sistent members of the Reformed Church, and highly respected by all who knew them.

David Mohney, our subject's father, was born, reared and educated in Porter township, Clarion county, and in early life successfully engaged in general farming. When the war broke out, how- ever, he laid aside civil pursuits, and on August 29, 1861, enlisted in the first call for three years' men, being commissioned first lieutenant of Company C. 78th P. V. I. He was a brave and fearless soldier, always found at his post of duty, and for seventeen months was in active service in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. Having seriously injured his right ankle while climbing a stone wall, he was then honorably

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

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discharged on the surgeon's certificate, and re- turned home.

In Clarion county, in April, 1848, was cele- brated the marriage of David Mohney and Miss Elizabeth Emhoff, a native of the county, her parents, John and Catherine Emhoff, being old settlers here, where their deaths occurred. To Mr. and Mrs. Mohney were born eight children, namely: Mrs. Mary C. Silvis; Martin M .; Mrs. Elizabeth Wensell; William Bigler; John F., of this review; Era May Fink; Mrs. Elva Nora Hutson, deceased; and Warren R., a traveling salesman. As a stanch Democrat, David Mohney has always taken an active and prominent part in political affairs, and has done all in his power to insure the success of his party. For three years he served as county commissioner, and since 1876 has most acceptably filled the office of justice of the peace. He has been commander of Colonel Lemon Post No. 260, G. A. R., and in all the various relations of life he has always discharged the duties devolving upon him in a prompt and able manner.

In the county where he still makes his home, John F. Mohney was born December 14. 1860, and in its schools he acquired his education. During his younger years he was variously em- ployed, but for the past eight years has success- fully engaged in his present business. His stable is located in the rear of the Commercial Hotel, and he gives special attention to the wants of the traveling men. He has a fine line of carriages of all kinds, good driving horses and experienced driv- ers, and he thoroughly understands the business in every detail. He is one of the promoters of the telephone line, which has been established in Indiana, Jefferson and Clarion counties, and is still a stockholder and director of the company.

On July 15, 1880, Mr. Mohney was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Dunkle, who was also born, reared and educated in Clarion county, and is a daughter of John K. Dunkle, a Union soldier. Her father is now deceased, but her mother is still living and makes her home in Reynoldsville, Penn. Politically, Mr. Mohney is identified with the Democratic party, and socially affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has served as health officer and chairman of the bor- ough, and is one of the most popular citizens as well as one of the leading and enterprising busi- ness men of New Bethlehem.

L EWIS SWAB, who was one of the brave boys in blue during the Civil war, has throughout the greater part of his life been act- i

ively identified with the interests of Clarion coun- ty. He was born in Clarion township, November 24. 1832, a son of Joseph and Mary .(Pentz) Swab. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and when a young man came to Clarion county, where he married and engaged in farming until his removal to Venango county, in 1865. In Pine Grove township he opened up a farm, which he successfully operated until his death, which occurred in 1871. The mother died at the home of our subject in September, 1890, at the age of eighty-four.

Of the thirteen children born to them, twelve reached years of maturity, namely: Mrs. Martha Meely, a resident of Washington township, Clar- ion county: Reuben, who made his home in Venango county until enlisting in 1862, in the 155th P. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg; Eliza Jane, who died in Forest county, Penn .; Lewis, of this review; Myra and Susan, both deceased; Mrs. Hannah Beck, of Venango county; John Henry, of Elk township, Clarion county; George E., who was a member of the 155th P. V. I., during the Civil war, and now resides in Forest county: Mrs. Mary Cath- arine Ralston, of Clarion county; Joseph, of the same county; and Bradford, of Ohio.

The public schools of Clarion county afforded our subject his educational privileges, and in a blacksmith shop at Shannondale he learned the trade which has been his life occupation. He was married in Red Bank township, Clarion county, in 1854, to Miss Catharine Hetrick, a native of that township, born December 1, 1834, a daughter of Peter and Catharine (Himes) Hetrick, natives of Pennsylvania, and early set- tlers of Clarion county. Her father developed a number of farms here, and is still living in Red Bank township at the age of eighty-four years, but her mother died in Jefferson county, Penn .. in 1881. To them were born fourteen children, of whom nine are still living. John died at the age of twenty-three, and Jacob, William and George Henry, all at the age of eighteen; David A. is a resident of Jefferson county; Sarah died in that county; Martin lives in Winslow town- ship. Jefferson county; Reuben in Falls Creek; Mrs. Elizabeth Smith and Amos, in Winslow township, Jefferson county; Mrs. Caroline Thomp- son, in Brockwayville; and Lewis and Mrs. Ma- tilda Curll, in Winslow township.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swab, but only three are now living: Mrs. Sarah Ann Swaringer, of Millville, Red Bank township, Clarion county; Mrs. Mary Ellen Doverspike, of Clarion county: and Mrs. Amanda M. Dietrich, of Salem, Clarion county. Those deceased are

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Mrs. Eliza Jane Keefer, who died in Oil City, Penn., in 1891; John Henry, who died when young; and Ammon, who died in infancy.

Mr. Swab manifested his loyalty and patriot- ism in August, 1864, when he enlisted at Brook- ville, Jefferson county, in Company B, 211th P. V. I., for one year or during the war. He was mustered into the United States service at Camp Reynolds, and with the Army of the Potomac participated in the battle of Petersburg. After the surrender of Lee, he was honorably dis- charged at Alexandria, Va., June 2, 1865, and returned to Brookville. .

Mr. Swab had removed to Jefferson county, in 1855, and continued to work at his trade in Heathville until 1869, when he returned to Clar- 'ion county, but in 1875 he located in Pine Grove township, Venango county, where he has since " conducted a shop. He is one of the best and most successful blacksmiths in his locality, and from the public receives a liberal patronage. He is an honored meniber of Amos Kiser Post No. 475, G. A. R., of Shippenville, and in politics is identified with the Republican party. He is a progressive man, pre-eminently public-spirited, and all that pertains to the public welfare re- ceives his hearty endorsement.

S GRIER SLOAN, who occupies a beautiful farın, nicely improved, comprising some 140 acres situated just outside the borough of Clar- ion, is a native of the county, born in Limestone township, August 14. 1847. His parents, Sam- uel and Eliza (Sloan) Sloan, were born in Clar- ion and Armstrong counties respectively, the former in 1808, and the latter in 1815. They were farming people, and worthy and respected citizens of the community in which they lived. They were married in 1833, and the union was blessed with the following named children: Wil- helmina, Montgomery, Margaret, Harriet, Mary, Caroline, J. Walter, S. Grier, W. Hall, David Everett, and Rosanna. The mother of tliese died in June, 1882, and the father on April 10, 1887.

S. Grier Sloan was reared on his father's farnı, receiving his primary education in the neighboring schools. Subsequently he attended, for a time, the more. advanced school of State Normal and the academy in Armstrong county. At the age of eighteen years he came with his par-

· ents to the farin upon which he now resides, and has partially followed agricultural pursuits thus far through life. In connection with farin- ing he is engaged in the oil business, having on his land three oil-producing wells. He is one of

the substantial farmers and citizens of Clarion county.

On June 1, 1881, Mr. Sloan was married to Esther Ehrenfeld, daughter of Rev. George Frederick and Esther (Hill) Ehrenfeld, both old families of Pennsylvania. Rev. Ehrenfeld was born in Philadelphia, Penn., the eldest son of Augustus Clemens Ehrenfeld, M. D., who had three sons and two sons-in-law in the Gospel ministry of the Lutheran Church. He was edu- cated at Gettysburg, in College and Seminary. After his ordination he was a pioneer minister of the English Branch of his Church for a number of years as Missionary President in Western Pennsylvania. His fields of labor were Shippen- ville, Clarion, Kittanning, Leechburg, Brook- ville and many other rural points. His active religious experience reaches far back in the his- tory of his Church and its institutions. His min- isterial life was always identified with the Gen- eral Synod until his death, July 26, 1876. His youngest brother, Rev. Charles Lewis Ehrenfeld, was at one time State Librarian, and is at pres- ent vice-principal of Southwestern State Normal School at California, Pennsylvania.

The father of Rev. George Frederick Ehren- feld was Doctor (of Medicine) Augustus Clemens Ehrenfeld, who came to this country in 1805. He came not as an emigrant, but to visit and as- sist the return of his father, George Frederick Ehrenfeld, Sr., who had been in Philadelphia a number of years on commercial business, but who was now detained by large financial losses and broken health. Diligent effort was made to close his affairs in order to facilitate the return of both, as soon as possible, to their home in Europe; but further heavy losses occurring, and a partial stroke of paralysis overtaking the fa- ther, so complicated the situation that their de- parture was indefinitely delayed, and, finally. neither got back. The father, G. F. Ehrenfeld, Sr., died in Philadelphia, November, 1809. The son, Doctor A. C. E., had meanwhile married, and at his home the father died.

Doctor Augustus Clemens Ehrenfeld was now the only male survivor of the line, and thus the family was, providentially, transferred to this country. Doctor A. C. Ehrenfeld had left in Europe an only sister considerably older than himself, who had married John Weber (treas- urer of the estate of the Count of Erbach), from whom have sprung not a few men of emi- nence in science and the professions.

Very full records of the family exist in the public archives of their native country, reading back to 1601. These give the names of each preceding family of ancestors, accompanied in

B. S. Grier Sloan

I Gnier Sloan

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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some instances with considerable biographical sketches. Copies of these, as well as authentic traditions of the family from a date much earlier, are in the possession of the family in this coun- try. For ten generations previous to Dr. Augus- tus Clemens Ehrenfeld, there was either only one son, or only one that had a family and kept the line of descent alive. But, in the case of Dr. A. C. Ehrenfeld, he had six sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to marry and to rear families.

All of the ancestral line, both male and female, were educated people, a number of the men hav- ing had university education. Most of the men were at some time in the public service. This was the fact in both the male and female ances- tral lines of Doctor Augustus Clemens Ehren- feld. [The above is a brief statement from the mass of records. ]

The Hill family was one of the pioneer fam- ilies of the Commonwealth, and of Revolution- ary fame. . To the union of our subject and wife were born: George Frederick (deceased), Jeane Grace, John Walter, Esther Charlotte Ehren- feld. The father of these in his religious belief is a Presbyterian, while the mother is a Lu- theran. Mrs. Sloan was for five years president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Alliance of Clarion county, and has repeatedly been a delegate to State and National Conventions. Mr. Sloan is a member of the A. O. U. W., and has passed all the chairs in that order. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and has filled several local offices, among which is that of school di- rector, for about twelve years, but he has never aspired to political honors.

John Sloan, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Westmoreland county, Penn. He and his sister were captured by the Indians in that county, and held in captivity for three months. Subsequently he lived in Armstrong and Clarion counties, and died in 1863, in his eighty-sixth year.

V ALENTINE HUEFNER. Among the en- terprising and wide-awake business men of Clarion county, whose place of birth was the far-away German Fatherland, and who. with the industry and thrift so natural to the people of that country, are rapidly progressing toward the financial condition so coveted by all, is the sub- ject of this personal history. Coming to Amer- ica a poor boy, he has steadily advanced along the highway to success, and is now one of the most prosperous citizens of Paint township.

varia, Germany, where his parents, George and Barbara (Newland) Huefner, spent their entire lives. He had two brothers and a sister who also came to the New World. (1) Charles crossed the Atlantic when a young man and be- came a resident of Clarion county. He now lives in Huefner, where he is engaged in the hotel business and is serving as postmaster; he is also in partnership with our subject in the dis- tilling business. He married Barbara Rumble, of Clarion county, by whom he has five children, namely: Emma, Aloysius, Josephine, Mary and Frances, all at home. (2) Joseph located first in Clarion county, but later removed to Colum- bus, Ohio, where he is still living; he married Julia Reidelbach, of that city, and now has one son, John. (3) Theckla remained for five years in Clarion county, at the end of which time she, too, removed to Columbus, Ohio, where she inarried Joseph Reidelbach, and they still make their home in that city.

In his native land Valentine Huefner was reared and educated, but in 1869 he took passage on a vessel bound for the United States. On landing in New York, he came direct to Fry- burg, Clarion Co., Penn., where he worked on a farm for one year. He next secured a position in the distillery of Nicholas Tritch, in Clarion, where he soon became thoroughly familiar with every branch of the business. . In 1876 he em- barked in the oil business on his own account at Edenburg, Clarion county, and also in .Mckean county, Pennsylvania.

In 1878 Mr. Huefner was married to Miss Amelia Guth, of the city of Clarion, a daughter of Leopold Guth, a jeweler. They began their domestic life in Dallas, Mckean county, where he continued to engage in the oil business until 1881. He then removed to Arkansas, where he purchased a tract of land, but after a short resi- dence in that State, he returned to Pennsylvania and located in Paint township, Clarion county, where he purchased a tract of wood land. He first erected a small house on this place, but in 1894 built a more commodious and imposing residence, together with a good barn. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Huefner also built a distillery for the manufacture of liquors, and has since turned out a fine brand of whiskey. His plant is one of the largest of the kind in the county, and he carries over $25,000 in bonded liquors. In connection with his other business he. in 1890. became interested in oil drilling in Clarion county, as a member of Lucinda Oil & Gas Com- pany, and in this speculation he met with excel- lent success; the business was subsequently sold

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 77

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