Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 82

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 82
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 82
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 82
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 82

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To-day Mr. Wilson is not more honored on account of the enviable position which he occu- pies in business circles than on account of his blameless life, over which there falls no shadow of wrong. He is public-spirited and enterpris- ing, and in advancing his own interests he has never overlooked the rights and privileges of others. He therefore enjoys the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life.

R L. SHOUP, although young in years, is one of the most energetic and enterprising busi- ness men of Richland township, Clarion county, where, as a member of the firm of Shoup Broth- ers, he is extensively engaged in the oil business. He was born in that township, in 1865, and is a son of James and Lydia (Frederic) Shoup, na- tives of Clarion and Berks counties, Penn., re- spectively. The paternal grandfather, John Shoup, was one of the first settlers of Richland township, where his son James grew to manhood and continued to make his home throughout life. In the midst of the forest he cleared and im- proved the farin on which our subject is now liv- ing, and upon that place his death occurred in 1894. The mother now lives in Clarion county.

In the family of this worthy couple were twelve children, of whom nine are still living, namely: Miles, a resident of Sharpsburg, Penn. : Mrs. Sarah Shakely, of Emlenton; Mrs. Lizzie Burnap, of Denver, Colo. ; Amanda, wife of Oliver Neely, of Richland township; John, who is en- gaged in business with our subject, and is a resi- dent of Emlenton; James, of Sackett, Elk Co., Penn .; R. L., of this sketch; Mrs. Hahn, of St. Petersburg; and Willis, at home.

Reared on the old home farm, R. L. Shoup obtained his education in the schools of the

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neighborhood. Since 1889 he and his brother John have successfully engaged in the oil business in Clarion county, their first well being in Rich- land township on the Montgomery farm. Later they purchased two wells on the Myers & Brown farm in Venango, and two on the Crawford farm in Clarion county, to which they have added from time to time until they now have twenty- five wells located in those counties, and are do- ing as large a business as any firm of the kind in their community. They are interested in wells in the Richey Run fields, and being upright, re- liable business men, the success that they have achieved is well merited. They are worthy rep- resentatives of one of the most prominent and honored families of the county, and their popu- larity is established on a firm basis-that of their own well-tested merit.

S OLOMON FOUST, one of the most success- ful horticulturists of Clarion county, now carries on operations in Richland township.

Mr. Foust was born in Centre county, Penn., in 1831, a son of Philip and Catharine (Ware) Foust, also natives of that county, where they continued to make their home until coining to Lycoming county. They bought a 200-acre farm, remained on it three years, then sold it, came to Jefferson county, remaining five years, thence came to Clarion county in 1844. Here the fa- ther purchased 106 acres of partially-improved land adjoining St. Petersburg, and to its further development and cultivation he devoted his en- ergies until called from this life in 1885. He laid out a portion of the tract into town lots, forming an addition to St. Petersburg, and some of the lots he sold, while he leased others on which buildings were erected. His political support was given the Democracy. After the death of the mother of our subject, which occurred in St. Petersburg, the father was married in that place to Miss Lydia Snyder, now deceased. In his family were nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: Susanna, a resident of Ly- comning county, Penn .; Joseph, who died in St. Petersburg in 1889; Mary, a resident of Salem township, Clarion county, now a widow; Will- iam, who was accidentally killed in 1892, and left a widow, now a resident of Akron, Ohio; Samuel, of St. Petersburg, who purchased the old homestead in 1894; Philip, who was a Union soldier during the Rebellion, and now lives in St. Petersburg; Benjamin, who died at that place in 1886; and Catharine, who is yet single.

Mr. Foust left his native county at the age of seven years, going to Lycoming county, Penn.,

where he remained three years, thence went to Jefferson county, Penn., but five years, later came to Stt Petersburg, where he completed his education and grew to manhood. At an early age he began working on the Fox farm, and later engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own ac- count for twenty-four years upon the same place. remaining there altogether thirty years. Return- ing to St. Petersburg in 1884, he erected his present residence, and now owns two good dwell- ing houses there. For some time he was inter- ested in the oil business, but since 1894 he has turned his attention to the raising of fruit, mak- ing a specialty of raspberries. . He has four lots, or about three acres planted in this fruit, and the plants, which are now two years old, are of an even growth, well kept and in a healthy condi- tion. He raises some of the finest varieties to be found anywhere, and in his new undertaking is meeting with well-merited success. He also gives some attention to the raising of grapes, and by experience he has found that gas pipes make the most durable support for the vines, so he now. uses them altogether. He takes a just pride in the appearance of his well kept raspberry patches and vineyards, which cannot be excelled in this section of the State.

In 1853, in St. Petersburg. Mr. Foust was married to Miss Hannah Gongler, who was born in Richland township, Clarion county, a daugh- ter of Henry and Catharine Gougler, honored pioneers of the county, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Foust have five children: Barney, who owns and operates a farm in Venango county, Penn .: John, a resident of Parker, Penn .; Nel- son, of Burlingame, Kans .; Albert, of Foxburg, Penn .; and Mrs. Phebe Ann Ferringer, of Clar- ion county.

Politically, Mr. Foust is identified with the Democratic party, and has most creditably served as street commissioner and tax collector in St. Petersburg. He is a prominent member of Ivan- hoe Lodge No. 166, R. A., and is now serving his tenth year as treasurer of the same. His life has been one of usefulness, wherein he has faith- fully performed all duties devolving upon him, and has gained the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

J OHN H. ZIEGLER. The excellent farm in Elk township, Clarion county, now owned and occupied by our subject, invariably at- tracts the eye of the passing traveler as being under the supervision of a thorough and skillful agriculturist, and a man otherwise of good busi- ness qualifications. Like many of the intelligent

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men around him, Mr. Ziegler is a native of Ger- many. his birth occurring in Wurtemburg, in 1845. He is the only child of John and Margaret (Wooster) Ziegler, also natives of Wurtemburg, who in 1852 bade adieu to the Fatherland and sailed for America. Locating in Clarion county, Penn., the father purchased fifty-two acres of timber land in Elk township from Mr. Baugh- man, and devoted his energies to its cultivation and improvement. The mother died in 1859, and the father afterward married Mrs. Margaret Alt, of Beaver township, Clarion county, who passed to her final rest in 1886. His death oc- curred in 1885. He was a member of the Lu- theran Church, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him.

Being but seven years of age when brought to this country, John H. Ziegler was reared in Elk and Washington townships, Clarion county, and in the schools near his home he acquired a good practical education which has been of great use to him in his business career. He has always given his attention to agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of the old homestead in Elk township, which comprises seventy-two acres of rich, arable land that he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and the larger part of the farm is underlaid with seven feet of coal.

In 1888. in Elk township, Mr. Ziegler was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Cohlhepp, a native of that township, and a daughter of Balser Cohlhepp, an early pioneer of Clarion county, who now makes his home in Porter town- ship. Four children bless this union, namely: Louise, Charley, Viola and Emma.

Politically, Mr. Ziegler is a stanch Repub- lican, and he ever takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs, supporting those meas- ures which he believes calculated to advance the public welfare. He is a prominent member and trustee of the Emanuel Lutheran Church of Washington township, and is one of the most progressive, enterprising and public-spirited cit- izens of his community. He is also a member and director of the Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany of Jamestown, Penn. Those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends, and no man in the county is more hon- ored or highly respected.

E LIJAH COOK, a leading farmer and lumber- man of Farmington township, is one of Clarion county's native sons and a representative of one of her most prominent and honored fam- ilies, whose identification with her history dates

from an early period in the development of the county.

John Cook, his father, was born east of the Alleghany Mountains, in Centre county, and when a young man came to Clarion county, where he married (first) Susan Helpman, (second) Katie Ritter, in 1832, the mother of our subject. He first located in Beaver township, where he cleared and improved a farm, making it his home for some years, but in 1826 removed to what is known as Cooksburg, and purchased a large tract of land, lying partly in Forest and partly in Clar- ion counties. He owned two mills on Toms run, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of sawed lumber, which he floated down the Clarion river to the Pittsburg and Allegheny mar- kets. He also cleared and improved a farm, which he made his home until life's labors were ended in 1858. He was a progressive, energetic and reliable business man, who gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in con- tact.

The subject of this sketch is one of a family of seven children, the others being as follows: (1) Mary J., like the other members of the fam- ily, was born at Cooksburg. She is now the wife of William Henry, of Forest county, Penn., whose farm is on the Clarion river. (2) Sebas- tian married Sarah Morgan, of Forest county, and with his family still resides in Cooksburg. (3) Sarah wedded John Lindsey, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and died some years ago leaving a family of six children. (4) Martha is the wife of Levi Snyder, of Farmington township, Clarion county, and has a family of children. 5) Levanca mar- ried Wilford Slocum, of Farmington township, and died leaving one son, Frank. (6) Squire S. H. married Emma Mays, of Clarion county, by whom he has four children, and they live on his farm in Forest county.

Elijah Cook was born April 19, 1835. on the old homestead at Cooksburg. where he was reared, obtaining his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. With his father he learned both farming and lumbering, and became quite an expert sawyer. In 1862 he was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Violet Phipps, of Clarion county, a daughter of Samuel and Tenny Phipps, and they began their domestic life in Cooksburg, at Judge Cook's mill, where our subject engaged in the manufacture of lumber for some years. In 1884 he removed to the Leeper mills, and there made his home until moving in 1889 on his present farm in Farmington townshir. Clarion county, known as the Peter Bartlett farm, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with all the accessories

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and conveniences found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. In connection with ag- ricultural pursuits he is still interested in the saw- mill business, and is meeting with a well deserved success in his undertakings.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Cook are as follows: Samantha, born at Cooks- burg, in 1863, married James Henry, of Clarion county, and they now reside in West Virginia, where he follows lumbering. Their children are: Lyman, Edney Elvirty, Elsey Irene, and John. L. C., a native of Cooksburg, is the wife of George Colmar, a farmer living near Scotch Hill, in Clarion county, and they have one daughter- Nora. Walter C., born in Cooksburg, resides at home on the farm. Alverda, born in Clarion county, is the wife of James Crossgrove, a farmer of Forest county. Carrie Jane, born in Clarion county, married George H. Suter, by whom she' has one son-Roy, and they are at present liv- ing in Forest county. Marion E., Samuel E. and John H. are all at home. Dellia Louewell, died June 11, 1876, aged seven months and eleven days.

Reared as a Whig, Mr. Cook joined the Re- publican party on its organization, and on that ticket was elected auditor of Forest county, a position he filled with credit to himself and satis- faction to his constituents.' He also served as school director in Barnett township, Forest county, and wherever he has made his home, he has been numbered among the valued and hon- ored citizens. He belongs to one of the most prominent and highly respected families of this section of the State. One of his brothers was for a number of years associate judge of Forest county.

J JACOB WEAVER. A native of Clarion coun- ty, where his life has been passed as a farm- er, merchant and hotel-keeper, Mr. Weaver is at present the accommodating and obliging landlord of the "Coulter House" at Clarion. .

Charles and Elizabeth (Aaron) Weaver, his parents, were natives of Baden, Germany, and Westmoreland county, Penn., respectively. Charles Weaver was brought to this country when seven years of age. He was reared on a farm. and was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Clarion county throughout his lifetime. He

passed away at the old homestead in Washing- ton township in 1869; his wife survived him

· wany years, dying in 1890. Both were estima- ble people. Of their three sons, Jacob is the only one now living, and is the youngest. He was born in 1840, and was raised on the home

place in Washington township, there remaining until he attained the age of twenty-three years. From 1863 until 1873 he stayed on the farm, and from 1873 until 1891 he engaged in merchan- dising in his native township. In 1891 he pur- chased the well-known hostelry at Clarion styled the "Coulter House," and has since conducted a first-class hotel, and established a reputation as a landlord second to none in the borough. The "Coulter House" is large, and centrally lo- cated. It has fifty rooms, of which thirty odd are sleeping apartments, all are well furnished, light and airy rooms. There is a good bar, well- stocked, billiard and pool room in connection with the house, where the wants in this line of the guests and patrons can be gratified. A com- modious feed barn and other stable arrangements for the accommodation of the farmers is attached. The landlord is popular, he and his good wife understanding how to cater to the tastes and pro- vide for the comforts of their many patrons.

In 1863, Mr. Weaver was married to Susan Eisenman, daughter of Christian Eisenman, who died February 9, 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, one month and twenty-one days. Thirteen children have come to this union, the names of those living being: Clara (Mrs. O. V. Fulton), Ida (Mrs. Frank Frederick), Vincent, Bertha, Jennie and Otto. The children deceased are: Emma, John, Frank, Oscar, - Edward, George and James. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Po- litically, he is a Democrat.

B F. NEELY, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Beaver township, has spent his entire life in Clarion county, his birth having occurred on the old Neely home- stead in Beaver township, May 28, 1841. The family is of German origin, and the name was originally spelled Neighleigh. Members of the family have been prominently identified with both the civil and military history of the country. Capt. H. Neely, an uncle of our subject, com- manded a company of 100 men at the battle of Erie, during the war of 1812, and was a brave and gallant officer. His death occurred in Clar- ion county.

John Neely, our subject's father, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., in 1791, a son of Paul and Frances (Shoup) Neely, the latter of Holland descent. On attaining to man's estate, John Neely wedded Miss Mary Berlin, who died, during the infancy of our subject, at the age of forty-four. By her marriage she became the. mother of the following children: Hezekiah.

. .

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mahala, Polly Ann, Israel (who died in 1897), Lavia, Susan, Cyrus, Humphrey, John, Mary Ann, Betsy Jane, Frances, Paul M., and Richard H. Lee and B. F., twins. The father was a suc- cessful agriculturist, and became the owner of a valuable farm of 212 acres in Clarion county. He was an active and influential meinber of the German Reformed Church, and served as elder for some years.

The subject of this sketch lived with his brothers throughout the greater part of his boy- hood and youth, and was reared in much the usual manner of farmer lads, aiding in the work of the fields and attending the district schools when his services were not needed at home. Later he spent some years in the oil fields, and then again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, locating upon his present farm in Beaver township, Clarion county, in 1873. Here he has thirty-three acres under a high state of cul- tivation and improved with good and substantial buildings.

At the age of twenty-five Mr. Neely was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Fillman, who was born, reared and educated in Richland township, and is a daughter of Michael and Susan Fillman. She is one of a family of eight children, six still living, namely: Sarah; Lucinda; Josiah (who was a sol- dier in the Union army during the Civil war), Mrs. Mary Rupert, John and Chistopher. Mr. and Mrs. Neely have three children: (1) Elmer died in June, 1897, leaving a widow, and two children-Percy Merle and Alma Clove. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his funeral was one of the largest ever held in Clarion county. (2) Elsie is the wife of B. F. Way, of Richland township, and has three children-Lotta, Cleveland and Dolly Marie. (3) Oliver, also a resident of Rich- land township, is married and has three children -Alverta, Lester Franklin and Mary Ann.

Our subject gives his support to the men and measures of the Democratic party, and, socially, affiliates with the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his wife are both earnest and consistent members of the Reformed Church, and have the confidence and high regard of all who know them.

SAMUEL FOUST, a well-known agriculturist residing in St. Petersburg, Penn., was born in 1846, in Centre county, Penn., and is a son of Philip and Catharine. (Ware) Foust, who were born. reared and married in castern Pennsylvania. In 1849 the family removed to Clarion county,

and the father purchased an improved tract of land upon which St. Petersburg is now located. Dividing some of his property into town lots, he commenced selling the same in 1872, which now constitutes the northern part of the village. Here he continued to make his home until life's labors were ended in 1881. He was widely and favora- bly known throughout this section of the State.

When our subject was only three years old he lost his mother, and Philip Foust later mar- ried Mrs. Lydia Snider, who died in St. Peters- burg in 1892. There were six sons and three daughters by the first marriage, namely: Joseph, deceased; Solomon, a prominent citizen of St. Petersburg; William, deceased; Philip, a resi- dent of St. Petersburg; Samuel: Benjamin, de- ceased: Mrs. Susan Eck, of Jersey Shore, Penn. ; Mrs. Mary Kribbs, of Salem township, Clarion county; and Catharine, who is now housekeeper at the Fox mansion. Mrs. Snider's children were: Mrs. J. W. Shoup; Mrs. Andy Lowars; Mrs. Edinger, of Richland township, Clarion county: and Mrs. Miller, of Pittsburg, Penn. There were no children born to the second mar- riage of Philip Foust.

Coming to St. Petersburg at the age of three years, Samuel Foust was here reared and edu- cated in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day. Since starting out in life for himself he has always engaged in teaming and farming, and now owns twenty-nine acres of the old home- stead, which is well improved and under excel- lent cultivation.

In 1868, in Richland township, Clarion coun- ty, Mr. Foust was married to Miss Esther Gough- ler, a native of the township and a daughter of Henry and Catharine (Beck) Goughler, who were pioneers of the county, and are now both de- ceased. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Foust are as follows: W. H .. who is married and now lives in Lockhart, N. Y., is a teacher in Clark's Business College, and previously taught in New Castle and Oil City, Penn .: E. C., a fireman on the Pittsburg & Western railroad, is married and resides in Richland township. Clar- ion county; Anna is now Mrs. Horam, and still lives with her parents.

As a Democrat Mr. Foust takes quite an act- ive interest in politics, and on his party ticket has been elected a member of the city council. Socially he belongs to Ivanhoe Lodge No. 166, R. A., and religiously he is a member of the German Reformed Church, while his wife and family are connected with the Lutheran Church. Throughout his active business life he has been prominently identified with the growth and pros- perity of his adopted county, and has given his

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

support to all objects tending to its upbuilding. He is therefore justly numbered among its val- ued and useful citizens.

D AVID MONTGOMERY, who throughout his entire business career has been interested in farming and oil producing, and now carries on operations in Richland township, Clarion county, was born December 19, 1843, in Venango coun- ty, Penn., a son of David and Julia (Kephart) Montgomery, the former of Yankee stock, and the latter a daughter of Elias Kephart, who was of German descent. For many years they made their home in Venango county, where the father served as foreman in the different iron works, and he died there in the faith of the Methodist Church, of which he was a consistent member.". He left a widow and three children, namely: Barbara, now Mrs. Taylor, of Butler county, Penn .; Henry, also of that- county; and David. of this review. The mother afterward married William Layton, by whom she had eight chil- dren.

On a farm in Venango county, Mr. Mont- gomery, whose name introduces this sketch, grew to manhood, and in-connection with agri- cultural pursuits, he became familiar with the work in the oil fields. In February, 1863, he laid aside all personal interests, and enlisted in the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, but was later assigned to Company I, 190th P. V. I., under Capt. WV. Coleman. The regiment was assigned to the Fifth Army Corps, under Gen. Crawford, and with that command participated in many im- portant battles, including the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Being seriously wound- ed by a ball in the back of the head, he was sent to hospital, where he remained some nine months, and since his discharge has never regained his former health and strength. After the war he spent eleven years at Oil City, Penn., and in 1 882 removed to his present farm of twenty acres in Richland township, Clarion county, where he has four good oil wells in successful operation.

In 1871 Mr. Montgomery was married to Miss Mary Sutton, a native of Butler county, Penn., and a daughter of John and Mary Sutton, who had a family of eight children, five of whom are still living: Jeremiah, James (who was a Union soldier during the Civil war), John, Sarah and Mary; those deceased are Joseph, Eliza . Jane and Jonathan D. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, and a Democrat in poli- tics, died at the age of sixty-four, and the mother was called to her final rest at the age of seventy. Three children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs.

Montgomery, namely: Anna Laurie, David

Vernette and Florence Helen. The parents are Methodists in religious belief. Fraternally, Mr. Montgomery affiliates with Emlenton Post No. 248, G. A. R., while his wife belongs to the Wo- man's Relief Corps. Their genuine worth and many excellencies of character commend them to the confidence and esteem of all who know them. Politically, Mr. Montgomery is identified with the Republican party.

W K. GIBSON, one of the leading and popular citizens of New Bethlehem, is now successfully engaged in contract sawing in Clarion county. He is a native son of Pennsyl- vania, born in Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, August 15, 1841, and is a representative of two of the prominent pioneer families of that region, both his grandfathers having assisted in the erection of the old block house on Plum creek, in that county, that served as a place of refuge for the early settlers during Indian dis- turbance.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 82

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