Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 78

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 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 78

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Mr. Huefner was born July 19. 1848, in Ba- | for $24,000. It was principally through his ef-

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forts that, in 1897, a large creainery was erected in Lucinda, and as general manager for a time he successfully operated the same.

Mr. and Mrs. Huefner have become the par- ents of eleven children, three of whom were born in McKean county, and the others upon the home farm in Paint township, Clarion county. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: George L., August 21, 1879: Edward and Frank, twins, March 3, 1881; Stephen C., December 25, 1882; Tracy B., August 7, 1884; Barbara J., May 23, 1886; Anthony, June 4, 1888; Leo J., April 10, 1890; Theckla A., February 15, 1892; Peter W., November 26, 1894; and Mary E., January 26, 1896. With the exception of Frank, who died August 1, 1892, all are still living and reside at home. The parents and older children all hold membership in the Catholic Church. In his political affiliations, Mr. Huefner is a Demo-

crat. As a financier he ranks among the ablest in Clarion county, and the remarkable success he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own in- dividual efforts. One of his leading character- istics in business affairs is his habit of giving careful attention to details, without which suc- cess in any undertaking is never an assured fact. He is a man of intrinsic worth, esteemed in all the relations of life, and has made many warm friends in his adopted country.

L UKE OCHSNER, a leading carpenter and contractor of Fryburg, Clarion county, is a man of excellent business ability and broad re- sources, and has won success in his chosen call- ing by his well-directed, energetic efforts. He is a native of Clarion county, born near Shippen- ville, October 16, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Magdalena (Groshartz) Ochsner, both na- tives of Loraine, France (at that time), whence they came to the United States in 1839. In Clarion county the father followed the occupa- tion of farming throughout his active business life, and there died at the advanced age of nine- ty-one years. while his wife reached the age of eighty-one. He was a stalwart Democrat, and both were devout Catholics, in which faith they reared their family of eight children, namely: Joseph, Mary, Mathias, Luke. Victoria, Lina, Lizzie and Josiah.

Our subject's opportunities for an education were such as the country schools of his day af- forded. On leaving the home farin he learned the carpenter's trade, which lie has since suc- cessfully followed, having erected many of the best residences and barns in his section of the county. Being himself an expert workinan, he

employs only skilled hands, and he conscien- tiously fulfills his part of every contract. His work, therefore, has always proven entirely sat- isfactory, and has won for himn an enviable repu- tation in business circles. On February 15, 1863. he enlisted in Company B, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and with his command took part in the hotly-contested engagements at Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, besides many other im- portant battles and shirmishes. Although he had two horses shot from under him, and his clothing pierced. by bullets, he was never seriously wound- ed. On receiving his discharge, April 9, 1865, he returned home with an honorable war record, and resumed work at his trade.

In 1868 Mr. Ochsner married Miss Theresa Eiseman, of Fryburg, a daughter of Jacob Eise- Inan (now deceased), who was one of the promi- nent early settlers of the county. Several chil- dren were born of this union, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Theodore J .. June 8, 1871; Mary M., February 2, 1873 (died November 13, 1878); Katie E., December II, 1874; Jacob J., September 26, 1876; Alexander, February 27, 1878 (died November 10, 1878); Frank H., October 13, 1880; Martha T., Octo- ber 23, 1881 (died April 5, 1882); Philomena, August 29, 1883; Anna, August 19, 1885; and Genevieve, August 8, 1887.

Fraternally, Mr. Ochsner affiliates with Amos Kiser Post No. 475, G. A. R., of Shippenville; politically he is identified with the Republican party. While possessing the qualities of a suc- cessful business man and a desirable social com- panion, perhaps his most strongly-marked char- acteristic is his unswerving fidelity to duty. His private interests must always give way to the public good, and thus he has always become hon- ored and esteemed by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, or who have met him in a business way.

P F. WILL, of Beaver township, is one of the leading carpenters and contractors of his sec- tion of Clarion county, and on all sides may be seen many buildings which stand as monuments to his skill and handiwork.

Mr. Will is a native of the county, born in Beaver township, August 3, 1843, a son of Peter and Catherine (Master) Will. both natives of Berks county. Penn., and of German extraction. In 1842 they came to Clarion county and took up their residence in Beaver township, where the father died at the age of seventy-six. The inother died at the age of eighty-four years in Porter township. Clarion county. To them were

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born thirteen children, as follows: Joel, Leah, Magdelene, Angeline, Ellen (deceased). Evan, Sarah and Lydia (deceased), Kate, Mary, Frank, and two who died in infancy. As a life work the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in his political views he was a stalwart Democrat.

On leaving the old home farm, P. F. Will learned the carpenter's trade, and has since successfully engaged in contracting and building, with the exception of when in the service of his country during the Civil war. In 1862 he en- listed for three years in Company G, 155th P. V. I., and participated in the battles of Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilder- ness, Round Top and Petersburg. Hostilities having ceased, he was honorably discharged June 2, 1865, and returned home.

On June 5, 1870, Mr. Will was married to Miss Samantha Neely, a daughter of Israel and Rachel (Lenderman) Neely, whose other children were: Eber; Henry; Frances, wife of O. C. Knight; Alfred, who died in infancy; Mahala, deceased; and Richard, who died at the age of thirty-three years, leaving a widow and six chil- dren. The father of this family departed this life in June, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Will have five children, who in order of birth are as follows: Maud O. (Mrs. Harry Armagast), Flora B., Belle, Clyde O. and Beulah Irene.

Mr. Will is a charter member of Lookout Post. G. A. R., of St. Petersburg, with which he is still connected, and with his wife he belongs to the Reformed Church. He is easily approach- able, showing courtesy to all with whom he comes in contact, and is a companionable, genial gen- tleman, having a host of warm friends. His genuine worth and many manly virtues are widely recognized.

and his brother David H. built the French Creek feeder or canal from Meadville to Conneaut Lake, to provide a feeder for the Erie and Pitts- burg canal. He engaged in Government con- tracting for many years, and also built a section of the Erie railroad in the vicinity of Elmira, N. Y., in 1849 and 1850. He died at his home in Meadville, in 1855, and his wife passed away at the same place in 1879.

In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, three sons and five daughters, namely: Elizabeth, who married Dr. Best, and died in Meadville, in 1893; Margaret, who is still a resident of that city; Catharine, who mar- ried J. H. Siggens, and died in Youngsville, War- ren Co., Penn., in 1892; Anna, a resident of Meadville; Samuel D., who died in 1879; Henry S., of this sketch; D. Webster, of Meadville; and Agnes M., wife of T. Baron Kelsey, of Brooklyn, .New York.

Henry S. Lockart was reared and educated .in Meadville, where he continued to reside until going to Titusville, Penn., in 1860. In August, 1862. he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred Thirty-sixth P. V. I., and was sworn into the United States service as third corporal. Soon after the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, and with the Army of the Potomac participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was honorably dis- charged at Harrisburg, May 29, 1863, at which time he weighed only 108 pounds, while the fall previous he had weighed 184.

Returning to his home in Titusville, Mr. Lockart served as assistant postmaster of that place for three years, and was then employed as a traveling salesman for the following eleven years. In 1876 he became a resident of Ship- penville, where he first engaged in the livery business, but is now interested in oil producing. He owns two oil wells, from which he derives a fair income.

H ENRY S. LOCKART. one of the active. energetic, and enterprising inen of Shippen- ville, now devotes his time and attention to the : oil business and is meeting with a fair degree of On the 13th of January, 1876, in Shippen- ville, Mr. Lockart was united in marriage to Miss Emma Louise Black, a native of that place, and a daughter of Adam and Mary G. (Eckert; Black. Her father, a native of Maryland, was interested in the iron business and opened up an iron for- nace. He died in 1878, but Mrs. Black is still a resident of Shippenville. Mr. Lockart has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who passed to the unseen world Angust 22. 1896. success in his undertakings. He is proud to claim Pennsylvania as his native State, his birth having occurred in Montgomery county, Novem- ber 13, 1838, and he is a son of James and Mary (Shrauger) Lockart. His father was born in 1802, in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and when a young man came to America, landing in Phila- delphia. From there he proceeded to Mont- gomnery county, where he was married, and in 1840 he inoved over land to Meadville, Craw- ford Co., Penn., making that place his home In his political affiliations Mr. Lockart is a ; stalwart Republican, and he is now acceptably throughout the remainder of his life. He was a well-known contractor on public works, and he | serving as secretary of the city council. Socially

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he belongs to Clarion Lodge No. 277, F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs, and is a charter member of Eden Chapter No. 259, R. A. M., of Clarion, of which he is a Past High Priest, and is now serving his tenth consecutive year as secretary. He has also served as commander of Amos Kiser Post No. 475, G. A. R., and is now adjutant of the post, having filled that position for several years. He is one of the representative citizens of Shippenville, is public-spirited and progressive, and is widely and favorably known throughout his adopted county.

J OHN BOVARD GWINN, ex-county treas- urer and a substantial agriculturist of Monroe township, Clarion county, has been a resi- ident of the county nearly.sixty years, and of his present home a half century. ,

John Gwinn, his grandfather, came from Ire- land to America during the Revolutionary war in 1776, and entered the Continental army, serving five years. He settled in Westmoreland county, Penn., and, being a good scholar, taught school. He married Miss Mary Bovard, and then became a farmer of Washington township.

John Gwinn (2), a son, was a native of West- moreland county, where he was born in 1784. He married Miss Mary McClode, also born in that county, daughter of William McClode, a native of Scotland, who served in the British army, being at the siege of Gibraltar, but who became one of the early settlers of Westmore- land county, Penn. John Gwinn took part in the war of 1812, being roll-master and also serving in the commissary department. In his early life he was a tanner, but later became a farmer. From 1823 up until the adoption of the new State Constitution, he served as justice of the peace, and was an active worker in the Poke Run Presbyterian Church, which was one of the first Churches organized in Westmoreland county. His death occurred in 1871. His wife died in early life, passing away in 1833 when she was aged thirty-three years. The children born to this marriage were: William B. was a ship carpenter, and died at Louisville, Ky .; Mary; John B. is our subject: David McClode died in 1852 at Rimersburg, Penn. ; Samuel, a carpen- ter, died at Quincy, Ill. ; and Rev. Robert M., of the M. E. denomination, now in Idaho, was a soldier of the Civil war.

John Bovard Gwinn was born on his father's farm in Westmoreland county, April 18, 1823. He remained at home until the death of his mother in 1833, then worked on farms in that vicinity until seventeen years of age. At that

age he came to Perry township, Clarion county, working on a farm for an uncle some four years. He then rented a farm in Toby township, upon which he resided one year, then, in the spring of 1846, came to the farm upon which he now re- sides, where by good management, by industrious habits, and by the practice of economy he has become well-to-do. Since nineteen years of age he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for forty- six years. He has been a very useful citi- izen, an- upright, honorable man, of unques- tioned integrity, and has held the esteem and re- spect of the community in which he has so long mingled. Politically he is a Republican, and to him belongs the honor of being the first and only treasurer of Clarion county of that political complexion. He was elected to that office in 1875, and served one term of three years very acceptably to the people and with credit to him- self.

Mr. Gwinn has been twice married, the first time, on April 2, 1846, on his present farm, to Elizabeth J. Rankin, and to them were born nine children, namely: William H. is a farmer in the State of Washington; Jennie married John Goheen, a farmer and lumberman of Oregon; Edward is a farmer in Nebraska; Mary L. mar- ried Theodore Orr, a farmer of Clarion county; Elizabeth is unmarried and lives with her brother, Frank L., in Garfield, Washington; David H., formerly a farmer in Nebraska, is now publishing the Garfield Enterprise, at Garfield, Wash .; Charles A. is postmaster at Garfield; Anna M. . married John J. Shick, who is publisher of The Watchman in Walla Walla, Wash .; and Frank L. is in the furniture business at Garfield. Wash. The mother of these died in 1877, at the age of fifty-three years, and is buried in the Lick- ing cemetery at Clarion county. On August 6, 1889, at Brookville, Mr. Gwinn was married to Miss Hannah Mary Reynolds, which marriage is without issue.

The ancestors of Mrs. Hannah Mary Gwinn have been identified with the affairs of the Com- monwealth for many years, and some of them have resided in what is now Clarion county for sixty years. William Reynolds, her grandfather. in company with four brothers, came from Eng- land to America and settled near Kittanning, Penn., in the early history of that section. John Reynolds, a son of William, was born in Kittan- ning, Penn., and there on June 7, 1832, was mar- ried to Rebecca Chamberlain, whose ancestors came from Scotland to New Jersey, thence to Pennsylvania, where her father ever afterward made his home, dying on a farm near Chambers-

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burg. Her grandfather, McNay, served all through the Revolutionary war. After his mar- riage John Reynolds remained at Kittanning until 1837, then came to what is now Clarion county, locating at Curllsville, where his death occurred July 7, 1884, when he was aged nearly seventy- eight years. By trade and occupation he was a tanner and harnessmaker, and in his religious faith he was a member of the Seceder Church, and was a most devout and consistent Christian; and could always be found in attendance at divine service, though the house of worship was five miles distant from his home. A most honor- able gentleman, kind-hearted and generous, al- ways contributing largely to benevolent purposes, he was a useful citizen, and a man whose upright life commended him to all. His most estimable wife, too, was a pious and very religious woman -a woman of fine character, beloved by a large acquaintance. She died on December 24, 1892, in her seventy-eighth year, and was buried at Rimersburg. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Reynolds children as follows; Joseph C. died in youth; Candace died at the age of seven years; N. Rebecca is the widow of Dr. E. B. Sharpe, formerly of Rimersburg, Penn .; Hannah Mary is the wife of our subject; and Margaret M. married James Grier, a hardware merchant of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Hannah Mary Gwinn was born at Curlls- ville, Penn. She is quite an accomplished lady, and in her home is displayed art of her handi- work; she has exhibited great talent in wax work, and after taking a few lessons therein be- came an adept in the art. She has taken lessons also in painting, and is quite proficient in tax- idermy. The work in these lines with which her home is adorned are most life-like and real, and great taste has been displayed in their arrange- ment.

PROSPER E. WELLMAN, a man of extend- ed business experience, is now successfully en- gaged in the manufacture of nitro-glycerine at St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania.

A native of New York, Mr. Wellman was born in Chautauqua county, July 3. 1828, and is a son of Eli Wellman, whose birth occurred in Vermont, in 1797. The grandfather, Adam Wellman, who was of Welsh descent, married Phœbe Livermore, of Scotch lineage. At an early day they emigrated to Orleans county, N. Y., where they were numbered among the pioneer set- tlers, and there the wife died. Subsequently the grandfather went to Wayne county, Penn .. where his death occurred. His children were: Ed, Obed, Eli, Polly, Clarissa. Lurena and Patty. 94

Eli Wellman was reared upon a farm and educated in the country schools of his day. Throughout his active business life he continued to follow agricultural pursuits with a fair degree of success. On attaining to man's estate he mar- ried Miss Melinda Nash, a native of Orleans county, N. Y., and a daughter of Jacob and Polly (Nicholas) Nash. Her father was born in Vermont, while her mother was of Irish descent. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Wellman were in order of birth as follows: Mary died when young; George E., a minister, is a resident of New York State; Jacob \V., a physician, is de- ceased; Prosper E .; Melissa and Harriet are now living in Pennsylvania; Edwin F. is a resident of Michigan; Mary Jane died in childhood; Philan- der is a physician of Kansas; Byron is a farmer of Pennsylvania; and Lodusky died in Kansas. All of the children were provided with good edu- cational privileges, and Jacob and our subject successfully engaged in teaching for a time. The father died at the age of seventy-three, and the mother when seventy years of age. Both were consistent members of the Free Will Baptist Church, and in politics the father was first an Old- line Whig and later a stanch Republican.

Amid rural scenes Prosper E. Wellman passed his early life in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day. After attending the common schools of Chautauqua county for some time, he engaged in teaching, and then learned the car- penter's and joiner's trade, which he successfully followed for twenty years. On September 12, 1864, he enlisted in the 15th New York Engineer- ing Corps, and during most of his service was stationed at City Point, Va. In 1865, when the war was over, he was discharged and returned to his home in Chautauqua county, where he con- tinued to reside until coming to St. Petersburg, Clarion Co., Penn., in October, 1876. Here he embarked in the manufacture of nitro-glycerine, and in his new undertaking met with a fair degree of success.

On February 16, 1857, Mr. Wellman was married to Miss Jane Hull. who was born, reared and educated in New York, and is a daughter of Daniel Hull and Polly (Rutenbur) Hull, of that State. Two children graced this union: James D. is a resident of Pasadena, Cal .; and Ellen J. is the widow of Robert Wilson, and is also a resi- dent of Pasadena. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Wellman was again married, this time March 15, 1885, to Miss Rosa Keeney, a native of Armstrong county, Penn., and a daughter of George W. Keeney, who was drowned when Mrs. Wellman was only two years and a half old. Her mother is now the wife of George Miller, and

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lives in Richland township, Clarion county. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Prosper E. Wellman: Charles A. and Harrison McClain, but the former died at the age of nineteen months.

Our subject is unwavering in his support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and is identified with Lookout Post No. 425, G. A. R., in which he is now serving as chaplain. He also belongs to the Royal Templars, and is an active and prominent member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church of St. Petersburg, has been choir leader and has taken an important part in all Church and Sabbath-school work. During the years of his active business life he has been looked upon as a model of honor and an example of a truly honest business man, and it may be truly stated that there never was a resident of St. Petersburg more highly respected than Pros- per E. Wellman.

E F. SCHELL, who for over a quarter of a century has now been a trusted employee on the Fox estate in Richland township, Clarion county, was born in Beaver township, the same county, in 1844, a son of E. D. and Leah (Fink) Schell, natives of Berks county, Penn .. where their marriage was celebrated. The father was born in ISIo, and in 1835 became a resident of Richland township, Clarion county, where he opened up a farm and made his home until his death, which occurred in November. 1866. In early life he was a contractor in the iron furnaces, and at the time of his death was a contractor on the Allegheny Valley railroad, being engaged in grading at the mouth of the Red Bank. His wife passed away at St. Petersburg, Penn., in 1883.

The subject of this sketch is ninth in order of birth in a large family of children (ten reached years of maturity and six are yet living). The others are as follows: J. A., who resides in Rich- land township, and also works on the Fox estate; Celina, who married E. Porter, and died in Rich- land township, in April, 1894; Washington, who died in Beaver township, Clarion county, in 1875; Frank, a farmer of Richland township; Mrs. Hannah Alsbach, of Salem township, Clarion county; J. D., a merchant and oil producer of Byron Center, Penn. ; Mrs. Lucinda Wilson, who died in South Oil City, Penn. : William, who died when young in Salem township, Clarion county; Elizabeth, who married John Best, and died in Los Angeles, Cal. ; Milton, who died in infancy; and Mrs. Mary Cosgrove, a resident of St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania.

Reared in Clarion county, E. F. Schell ob- tained his education in the public schools of Rich- land and Madison townships, Clarion county. On leaving school he engaged in mining until February, 1871, when he entered the service of the Fox estate, first as a common laborer, but the following June was made a pumper at well No. S, on the Allegheny river, near Foxburg, where he remained until November. He was then transferred to Nos. 10 and 12, east of Fox- burg, where he was stationed for five years, and then took charge of the wells near the Clarion river. He is now pumping twelve wells, two of which are at Blue Rock, and has faithfully served the interests of his employers for almost twenty- seven years.

In St. Petersburg, in 1869, Mr. Schell was married to Miss Mary M. Fritz, a native of that place, and a daughter of Johnand Leah (Cresh) Fritz, who were both born in Berks county, Penn., and at an early day located in St. Peters- burg, where the mother is still living. The father died in 1856. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schell: W. E., Myrtle (Mrs. H. H. Fritz, of Richland township), Clara B., John, Grace and Zoe.

In his political affiliations Mr. Schell is a Democrat, and, socially, he is a member of Val- ley Lodge No. 51, A. O. U. W. He is now serving his third term as a member of the school board, and has done much to advance the cause of education in his community. He is a public- spirited, progressive citizen, who has the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.

J TAMES T. SHARROW, a well-known lum- berman and farmer residing in Farmington township, Clarion county, owns a valuable farm of 115 acres, whose well-tilled fields and excellent improvements indicate the progressive and enterprising spirit of the proprietor.

Mr. Sharrow was born in the same township, in 1851, a son of George and Margaret (Redon) Sharrow. The father was reared in Punxsutaw · ney, Penn., but after his marriage removed to Brookville, and later to Cooksburg on the line between Forest and Clarion counties, where he continued to make his home for several years. Subsequently, he bought a farm in Farmington township, three miles north of Scotch Hill; where he spent his remaining days, dying some years ago. He survived his wife some time. In the family of this worthy couple were the fol- lowing children: (1) Annie is now the widow of Jerry McDonald, of Farmington township, who

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 78

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