Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 81

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 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 81

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CAPT. VALENTINE PHIPPS. In time to come this volume will acquire added value as a repository of records whose historical signifi- cance will then be fully appreciated; but readers will doubtless peruse with special interest the stories of gallant service in that great struggle which settled once for all that this nation is, in truth, "one and indivisible." It has often been said that the letters sent home during the war by the soldiers of all grades would make, if pub- lished, a better history of the war than has yet been given, and the suggestive views of the con- flict in the individual experiences contained in this book certainly give new color to many his- toric scenes. Among those from Clarion county who took a prominent part in this great conflict none are more deserving of mention than Captain Phipps.

Captain Valentine Phipps was born Janu- ary 8, 1838, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth ( Cook) Phipps. The maternal grandfather, John Cook, was of German descent, and became an early set- tler of this section of Pennsylvania. Nathan Phipps, the paternal grandfather, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., of English and Irish extraction, and was also an honored pioneer of this region, having early settled in Ashland township, Clarion county. He died here at a ripe old age, and he and his wife Edith now sleep side by side in' the Phipps cemetery on the old home farm. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had the honest respect of all who knew them. Their children were: Nathan, Samuel, John, James,

yours Truly Capro Phipps

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Marshall, Andrew, Elijah, Anna, Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Ogden and Mrs. Middleton. Elizabeth (Cook) Phipps, the mother of our subject, was an ear- nest Christian woman, a faithful member of the Methodist Church, in which faith she died at the age of seventy-two years. Elijah Phipps gave his political support to the Whig party, and he was an advocate of all measures which he be- lieved calculated to advance the general welfare. Valentine is the oldest of his three children, the others being Emma, wife of J. T. Wilson, of Minneapolis, Minn., and J. F., now deceased, who was a member of a Pennsylvania regiment during the Rebellion. The father of this family passed away in middle life.

On the home farm Capt. Phipps passed the days of his boyhood and youth, and, after his own education was completed, he successfully engaged in teaching school for a time. During early life he also engaged in lumbering, rafting on the river and working in a sawmill, at Cooks- burg, Penn .; but when the Civil war broke out he laid aside personal interests to aid in the de- fense of his country. On April 15, 1861, he en- listed as second lieutenant in Company E, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves, and took part in many important engagements, including the bat- tles of Drainesville, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mills, second battle of Bull Run, South Moun- tain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg. the Wilderness campaign and Bethseda Church. At the third named he was wounded in the the left thigh by a minie ball. He was com- missioned captain of his company August I, 1862, and when the war was over was honorably discharged and returned home. He was in command of his regiment in the Wilderness when discharged. After returning home he was brevetted major for gallant service in the Wilderness campaign, For a time he resided in Oil City, first engaging in the lum- ber business, and later in farming; but in 1884 he purchased what is now the "Phipps House," in Shippenville, which he has since successfully con- ducted. It is the most popular hostelry in the town, and its service is such as to make it well worthy of the reputation it enjoys.

In 1867 Capt. Phipps married Miss Ada Shaffer, a daughter of Jacob Shaffer, one of the early settlers of Clarion county. They have three children: Emma E., Jacob W., and May E. The parents and children hold membership in the Lutheran Church, and the Captain is now serving as elder. He has been commander of Amos Keiser Post No. 475, G. A. R., and for three years was president of Clarion County Soldiers Association; politically he is one of the most prom-

inent and active members of the Republican party in Shippenville. He has most acceptably filled the office of county commissioner, and has ever discharged all duties devolving upon him in a prompt and commendable manner. A man of strict integrity and sterling worth, one who has attained a fair degree of success in the affairs of life, and whose influence has ever been in the direction of the good and the true, this honored veteran of the Civil war assuredly demands prominent mention in a work of this kind.

. The Phipps family is related to Joseph Phipps, who settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. He entertained William Penn at different times, and they worshiped in the same church. A picture of the house built by Joseph Phipps about 1686-1690 is in the possession of our subject.

G EORGE COOK, who throughout his business career has been prominently identified with the agricultural and lumber interests of Clarion county, was born there.

Mr. Cook is a son of Sebastian and Elizabeth (Smith) Cook, natives of Germany. The father's birth occurred in 1799, in Shewsheim, and in his native land he was married and continued to make his home until 1830, when he crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Lancaster county, Penn., where he worked at the wagon- maker's trade for two years. However, the year 1832 found him located in Paint town- ship, Clarion county, on the turnpike two. miles east of Shippenville, where he purchased eighty acres of wild land, and erected thereon a round-log house and a hewed-log barn. He. cleared a small portion of his land, and later erected a good frame dwelling, but devoted the greater part of his time to wagon making. His. wife, who had patiently shared with him all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, passed away in 1855, and he died in 1852.

In the family of this worthy couple were four children: (1) Catharine, born in Germany, in 1827, was brought by her parents to Clarion county, and on reaching womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Israel C. Bryner, of Centre county, Penn. For a time they lived in Crawford county, but now reside on his farm in Paint township, Clarion county. Their children are: Joseph, David, Sebastian, Israel, Cornel- ius, George, Barton, Ezra and Lillie. (2) George is the second in order of birth. (3) Sebastian, born in Paint township, in 1839, married Mar- garet A. Stover, of Elk township, Clarion county, and they began their domestic life upon a farm purchased by her father in Paint township, but

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since 1895 have lived in Forest county, Penn. In 1861, he enlisted in the Union service for three years, and later re-enlisted, serving until the close of the war. He was in all the battles in which his regiment participated, was wounded in the foot while making a charge at Black Water, and at Newbern, N. C., was taken pris- oner, being incarcerated in Andersonville for eleven months, during which time he suffered all the hardships known to Southern prison life. In his family were seven children, namely: Charles, Ida, Burton, Frank (a popular young man and an earnest Christian, who accidentally shot himself while out hunting), Sadie, Laura and Grace. (4) William, born in Paint township, Clarion county, in 1844, learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for some years, but nowowns and oper- ates a fine farm in Elk township, Clarion county.

The public schools afforded our subject his educational privileges, and in early life he learned the millwright's trade, which he has since success- fully followed in connection with other lines of business. Being a natural mechanic he engaged in contracting and building some time; in the em- ploy of Thompson Brothers, he has erected saw- mills in Virginia, Alexandria, W. Va., and Wy- oming, Jefferson, Clarion and Forest counties, Penn., and ranks among the expert and most successful millwrights of this section of the State. After his marriage he located on the old home- stead, and now devotes a portion of his time to the cultivation and improvement of his farm.

In 1859 Mr. Cook was married to Miss Opey Watkins, of Clarion county, a daughter of Jesse and Ellen Watkins, of Paint township, and they have become the parents of six children: Will- iam A., born in Paint township, in 1859, wed- ded Lottie Purcell, of Clarion county, by whom he has five children-Dessie, John, Grant, Et- tie and Margrie-and they reside on his father's homestead. John Ellsworth, born in 1861, died of typhoid fever at the age of twenty years. Jose- phine, born in 1863, married Willis Tenney, of Clarion county, and they now reside at Wall, Allegheny Co., Penn., where he is engaged in railroading. Mary, born in 1866, married Sam- uel E: Kiser, and with their eight children they live upon a farm in Paint township. George Al- bert, born in 1867, married Ettie Simpson, a native of Chatham, New Brunswick, and has three children-Ruth, Clarence and Mabel. He operates a part of his father's farm. James F., born in 1874, received a good common-school education, and was married in July, 1897, to Mary C. Bish, of Paint township. They live on the old homestead with his parents.

Mr. and Mrs. George Cook are consistent

members of the Lutheran Church of the General Synod, and are widely and favorably known in their native county. His political support is al- ways given the men and measures of the Demo- cratic party, and he has been called upon to fill various positions of honor and trust. For the long period of twenty-six years he has been an efficient member of the school board, was super- visor of his township one term, overseer of the poor ten or twelve years, auditor a number of terms, and when his present term expires he will have served as justice of peace for twenty years. It is needless to say that his duties have always been most faithfully and satisfactorily performed as his long retention in office plainly indicates that fact. He has the respect of all classes, and it is safe to say that no man in Paint township has more friends than George Cook.

L EONARD M. MONG owns and operates a valuable farm of sixty-seven acres in Beaver township, Clarion county, which is under a high state of cultivation and is well-improved with good buildings. In connection with agricultural pursuits he is also interested in the oil business, and upon his place are six wells, from which he derives a good inconie. He has made his special field of industry an eminent success, and in busi- ness circles stands deservedly high.

A native of Clarion county, Mr. Mong was born September 1, 1838, and is a son of Michael M. Mong, a prominent early settler of the county, and a worthy representative of a good old Ger- man family. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Miller, was born in West- moreland county, Penn., and belonged to a family which was well represented in both the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812. Our subject is one of a family of six children, but only three are now living, the others being: George W. ; and Jonathan M., of Beaver township, Clar- ion county. The father, who was a stanch Democrat in politics and a Lutheran in religious faith, died at the age of forty years, honored and respected by all who knew him. The mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-nine, and is one of the oldest ladies in the county.

Under the parental roof Leonard M. Mong spent the days of his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farmer lads, attending the local schools when his services were not needed at home. During the Civil war he served for four months as a member of the 98th P. V. I .. and when discharged he resumed his farm labors.

In 1866 Mr. Mong was united in marriage with Miss Anna, daughter of Francis Conner,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who was of English descent, and to them were born the following children: William F .; Cora E., wife of Samuel Wile; Charles Lester; George Edward; Effa M .; Ira B .; Leonard Alberta, who died at the age of two months; and John Calvin, who died at the age of two years and nine months. The parents and children are all con- nected with the Reformed Church, and the family is one of prominence in social circles. As one of the representative and prominent citizens of Beaver township, Mr. Mong has ever taken an influential part in political affairs, and is unswerv- ing in his support of the Democracy. He takes a genuine interest in the welfare of his com- munity, and is the encourager of all enterprises tending to its moral, intellectual or financial advancement.

J OHN SCOTT, an experienced farmer resid- ing in Madison township, Clarion county, has always made his home in the same coun- ty, his birth occurring there July 5, 1823. His parents, Ira and Jane (Smith) Scott, were natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively, and were early settlers in Clarion county, locating here before it was organized. The mother's death occurred in Toby township, December 25, 1839, and the father died in 1883. In their family were seven children, as follows: James, now deceased; John; Ira, deceased; Matthew, a resident of Ohio; Smith, deceased; George W .; Elizabeth; and Hilloman, of Armstrong county.

On the old homestead John Scott early be- came familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and in the common schools of the neighborhood he received his edu- cation. . He now owns a fine farm of seventy- six acres in Madison township, and to its culti- vation and improvement devotes his energies, making it one of the most desirable places of the locality. On April 1, 1864. Mr. Scott manifested his patriotism by enlisting at Meadville, Penn., in Company C, 82nd P. V. I., for three years or during the war, and was mustered into the United States service at Meadville, Penn. He partici- pated in the battles of the Wilderness. Spottsyl- vania and Cold Harbor, and at the last named engagement received a gunshot wound, which confined him in the hospital at Pittsburg for some time. On rejoining the army he was assigned to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and stationed at the defenses about Washington, D. C., where he was honorably discharged July 28, 1865.

In 1848, in Madison township. Clarion coun- ty, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Emma Frantz, a native of Armstrong county, Penn., and a

daughter of Isaac Frantz. He has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife. who died in 1885. The children born to them were as follows: Elizabeth Jane, wife of David H. Swartz, of West Virginia; Samuel, a resident of Washington county, Penn. ; Isaac F., of Mckean county; William L., who resides on the old homestead; Mary Catherine, wife of J. A. Sun- ville, of Madison township, Clarion county: Ira, a resident of Ringgold, Jefferson Co., Penn. : Mrs. Vianna Shay;, Mrs. Sarah A. Leonard; John, who is in the employ of a railroad company and lives in Pittsburg, Penn .; Delilah, who died in 1863; and Lucinda, deceased.

Politically, Mr. Scott affiliates with the Re- publican party, and has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of township supervisor. He is one of the prominent and representative citizens of his community, and no man in Clarion county is more deserving of the high regard in which he is held.

T HOMAS MCCLOSKEY. Clarion county has many enterprising and wide-awake citi- zens whose attention is devoted to both farming and lumbering, and among this class there is probably none who takes higher rank than the subject of this narrative. He is meeting with good success in his operations, and is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of Farmington town- ship.

The parents of our subject were Bernard and Catharine McCloskey, both of whom were na- tives of Ireland. The father on coming to this country first located in New Jersey. where he was married, but in 1843, with his family, came to Pennsylvania. locating on the boundary line between Forest and Clarion counties, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1865. His widow was thus left with ten chil- dren depending on her, but her older sons came to her rescue, finished paying for the homestead and cared for her until she, too, passed away.

In the family were the following children: (1) Margaret, born in New Jersey, was married in Forest county to Andrew Yagst, of Mill Creek township, where they now reside upon a farm. Their children are-John, Mary, Thomas, James, Joseph, Stephen, Bernard, and Rose. (2) Frank, born in New Jersey, was reared in Forest county, and in 1861 enlisted in Company F, 63rd P. V.I. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, from the effects of which he died in Wash- ington, D. C. (3) Mary is now the widow of Abraham Songer, of Red Bank township, Clarion county, and the mother of five children-Frank,

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George, Katie, Sarah, and Abraham. (4) Han- nah, born in New Jersey, married David McDon ald, of Farmington township, Clarion county, and died some years ago leaving a family. (5) Thomas is next in order of birth. (6) Catharine is the wife of John Dodson, a farmer of Virginia, and has six children. (7) Bernard and (8) Sarah both died in childhood. (9) Bernard, born on the old homestead in Forest county, still resides there. (10) Bridget married Charles Angles, of Farmington township, Clarion county, and died in 1896. (11) John is still living on the old homestead in Forest county.

In 1843, while his parents were en route from their old home in New Jersey to the new home in Forest county, Thomas McCloskey was born, and at the latter place he was reared, acquiring his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1871 was celebrated his mar- riage to Miss Catharine Heffron, of Farmington township, Clarion county, where he soon after- ward purchased ninety-six acres of woodland. Their first home was a log cabin, but four years later it was replaced by a pleasant two-story house, and in 1884 a good barn was also erected. He now has fifty-five acres of his land under a high state of cultivation, and has made many other excellent and valuable improvements upon the place. He is a thorough and skillful farmer and a business man of more than ordinary ability.

Thomas McCloskey and his wife became the parents of seven children, all born upon their present farm: Bernard F., born in 1872, is now working on the oil pipe line in Virginia. Mary Magdalene and Rose Elizabeth were educated in public and parochial schools, and later in the Clarion Normal School. They have successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of Clarion county. They keep house for their fa- ther, as their mother died in 1893. James F., Charles A., Sarah Alice, and J. Leo are all at home.

Our subject uses his right of franchise in sup- port of the Democratic party, and he and his family are all members of the Catholic Church at Crown. In all of life's relations Mr. McCloskey has been true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, and he enjoys the respect and esteem of the entire community.

J A. BEATTY, M. D., who is successfully en- gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in Knox, Clarion county, is a native of Monroe township, Clarion county, and is a repre- sentative of two of its oldest and most highly respected families.

Robert Beatty, his paternal grandfather, was a native of Chester county, Penn., was at one time a resident of Westmoreland county, and in 1810 became one of the pioneers of Clarion county. He was the first blacksmith in this region, and, in connection with work at his trade, engaged in agricultural pursuits, opening up a farm of over two hundred acres in Monroe town- ship, which is now owned by our subject and oc- cupied by his three sisters and brother-in-law. Robert Beatty married Miss Ann Henry, a daughter of Robert Henry, of Westmoreland county, Penn., and they became the parents of ten children-seven sons and three daughters- namely: William, father of our subject; John, who died in Strattonville, Penn .; Charles, a resi- dent of 'Saltsburg, Penn. ; Miles, who died in Frank- lin, Penn .; Miller, who died in Clarion; James, deceased; Robert, who now makes his home in Philadelphia; and Sarah, Esther and Jane, all deceased. The parents of these children died on the old homestead in Monroe township, but, after the death of Mr. Beatty, the mother became the wife of John Sloan, now also deceased.

The birth of William Beatty occurred in West- moreland county, March 10, 1808, and he was therefore two years old when brought by his par- ents to the new home in Clarion county, where he was reared amidst the primitive scenes of frontier life. He learned the blacksmith trade, and followed that occupation in connection with farming, never leaving the old homestead in Monroe township. In 1831 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Guthrie, who was the first female white child born east of the Alle- gheny river in Clarion county, her birth occur- ring February 2, 1802. Her parents were John and Jane (Maffett) Guthrie, honored pioneers of Clarion county and natives of Westmoreland county, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch-Irish extraction. Both died in Clarion township. John Guthrie was an officer in the army of the war of 1812, and was captain of a company in the 150th Regiment, Second Brigade, Fifteenth Division of the army.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beatty, as follows: Elizabeth R., now the wife of Samuel H. Williamson, a farmer of Porter township, Clarion county; Lavina M., who lives on the old homestead; Margaret, wife of George T. Henry, of Porter township; Jane B., wife of William F. Guthrie, who operates the old home farm of her father; Sarah A., widow of J. M. Turney, and a resident of Rockford, Ill .; Martha E., who also lives on the old homestead; J. A., of this review; and Mary A .. deceased wife of J. L. Dehner, who is engaged in the oil business in

L. a. Beatt I. D.

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Clarion county. They also had an adopted son, Charles M. The parents died on a farm in Mon- roe township, the mother on April 13, 1872, the father on April 30, 1878, and both were laid to rest in the Licking cemetery. Their sterling worth and many excellencies of character won for them a host of warm friends,. and they were honored and respected by all who knew them.

Reared on the home farm, Dr. Beatty acquired his literary education in the State Normal School at Edinboro, Erie county, and in other colleges of the State, later entering the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1878. In the follow- ing year he began practice, and in 1882 opened an office at Knox, Clarion county, where he is now located. He is a leader in thought and action in the medical world, has always been a progressive physician, and in his chosen calling has met with excellent success.

W N. WILSON has since 1872 been promi- nently identified with the business inter- ests of Shippenville, Clarion county. He began operations here as a harness maker, and as he prospered in his undertakings, he added to his stock a line of hardware and carriages, and is to-day one of the leading merchants of the place. He has admitted his son, CHAPIN E., to a partner- ship in the business, and the firm is one of the most reliable and progressive in the city. Ours is a utilitarian age and the life of every success- ful man bears its lessons, and as told in contem- porary narration perhaps is productive of the greatest good. The life of Mr. Wilson demon- strates what may be accomplished through energy, careful management, keen foresight and the utilization of the powers with which nature has endowed one, and the opportunities with which the times surround him.

He was born April 10, 1837, in Centre county, Penn., a son of John and Sarah Wilson, in whose family were three sons. The mother, who was an earnest Christian woman, lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years, but the father died in Centre county, in 1839. at an early age. The grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was of Scotch- Irish descent, and was a popular and influential citizen of Centre county. He was an active worker in the Methodist Church, and for many years served as a class leader.

W. N. Wilson spent his youth in Centre and Clarion counties, and received a fair education. During the war he served for a time in a Penn- sylvania regiment. He was married in 1861, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary J. Hos- 95

terman, who was born in Clarion county, July 29, 1835, and is a daughter of David and Susan (Reeser) Hosterman, natives of Centre and Bucks counties, Penn., respectively. Coming to Clar- ion county in 1828, they here reared their family of five children, namely: Henry, Jacob, John (who was a Union soldier during the Civil war), Mary J., and David. Politically, Mr. Hoster- man was identified with the Democratic party, and religiously was a Lutheran, being one of the officers and prominent members of his Church. Mr. and Mr. Wilson have three children, as fol- lows: CHAPIN E., who married Myrtle Hatch, of Cory, Penn., and has two children-William Newton and Margaret M. ; Mrs. Hattie M. Wolf, a resident of Toledo, Ohio; and Carrie E., wife of J. F. Bess.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 81

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