USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 91
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 91
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 91
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 91
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T HOMAS MORGAN, who is now successfully engaged in the oil business in Richland township. ~ Clarion county, was born there, in 1856, and belongs to a family that has been prominently identified with the industrial and busi- ness interests of this section of the State for many years. His parents, John and Anna (Thomas) Morgan, were natives of Wales, and became pio- neer settlers of Clarion county. The father was a puddler by trade, but spent his last years en- gaged in merchandising in St. Petersburg, Penn., where his death occurred March 18, 1893; his wife had passed away the year previous. In the family of this worthy couple were six children.
Thomas Morgan grew to manhood in his na-
tive township, and received his education in its common schools. He early became interested in the oil business, commencing operations in the Richey Run field, and putting down the first well on the Brown tract in Clarion county. With the firm of Morgan Brothers he opened up a number of wells in Venango county, and since 1893 has successfully engaged in business on his own ac- count as an oil operator.
As a companion and helpmeet on life's jour- ney Mr. Morgan chose Miss Mary Sloan, also a native of Richland township, and one daughter graces their marriage-Lillian. Socially, Mr. Morgan is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees at Emlenton, and politically is iden- tified with the Republican party, which has found in him a inost earnest advocate and stanch sup- porter at all times. He is one of the most wide- awake, energetic business men of the community, and is notably reliable.
TOHN C. BERLIN, whose name has been in- separably connected with the oil interests of this locality, he being a large producer and . owner of oil properties in the Clarion county field, is a native of the county, born in Elk township, in 1859.
George Berlin, his grandfather, was born in 1782 in York county, Penn. Later he became a resident of Centre county. He was a blacksmith by occupation. He married Elizabeth Neeley, and in 1820 they located in what afterward be- came Elk township, Clarion county, where they continued to make their home through life. He kept a hotel for years, but died on his farm No- vember 1, 1844. G. N. Berlin, a son of this couple, and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born August 15, 1820, in Clarion county. He attended the public schools of his township, and, in 1848, was married to Miss Susan Cook, of Forest county. Penn. He was one of the early men to engage in the oil business in the Clarion county field. He assisted in open- . ing up what is known as the Cogley oil field, and he has been an active operator in the same. He is a resident of the county, living on a farm in Elk township. To his marriage with Miss Cook were born: Hattie is now Mrs. H. Phipps, and resides in Ashland township; William H. is a farmer, stock-dealer, and oil producer, residing in Beaver township: Lizzie J. is now Mrs. Mar- tin, of Ashland township: John C. is our subject; and Lettie S. is Mrs. McConib, of Clarion.
John C. Berlin was reared in Elk township, and received only such educational advantages as the neighboring schools afforded. He began
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life in a business sense as a hardware merchant, at Fern, in Ashland township. On the outbreak of the oil excitement in 1888-89, he at once be- came largely interested in the oil business. Be- ing a man of energy, snap, and possessing busi- ness tact and ability, he soon forced his way to the front and became a successful producer of oil and a man of prominence in oil circles. He was at one time interested in some forty wells in the Clarion county field, and also was identi- fied in the oil business in the Wood county (Ohio) field, being associated in 1893 as part- ner with R. G Stitt and A. T. Wolf. Mr. Berlin was one of the first to develop the Cogley field in Ashland township. He opened the first well there in 1885, and subsequently developed some twenty-seven wells in that field. From that time to the present he has figured very exten- sively in the oil fields of Pennsylvania and Ohio, having bought, sold and developed many prop- erties. He is now interested in this line of busi- ness with D. O. White & Co. He is one of the substantial and well-to-do citizens of Clarion county, where he is widely and favorably known. In politics he is a Democrat. He has very ac- ceptably served as member of the borough coun- cil. He is a member of the K. O. T. M. ; also of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is iden- tified with the Lutheran Church. Since 1895 he has been engaged in the mercantile business at Knox, being a member of the firm of B. A. Kribbs & Co.
In 1885 Mr. Berlin was married to Miss Wilda Ochs, who was born in Venango county, Penn., a daughter of David Ochs, a native of this State, and whose death occurred in Septem- ber, 1896. To this marriage have come two children to bless the home: Harold, and Freda. The mother of these is a member of the Luther- an Church.
E LMER ELSWORTH FINEFROCK, one. of the intelligent and highly respected citi- zens-of Clarion county, is actively and. piomi- nently identified with the business interests of Piney township. He owns and conducts a gen- eral mercantile establishment in the village of Piney, and also deals in fire clay. An excellent judge of men, and time, and opportunities, he has conducted a successful business, and is ac- counted one of the substantial citizens of the community.
Mr. Finefrock was born December 13, 1862, about half a mile from his present home, a son of Jacob and Esther (Kifer) Finefrock, natives of Franklin and Clarion counties, respectively.
They became acquainted, however, and were married in Piney township. The paternal grand- parents of our subject were Henry and Barbe (Finefrock) Finefrock. They were cousins, and resided in Franklin county, Penn., whence they removed to Clarion county at an early day. Their children were: Henry and David, both deceased; Jacob; Louis, of Ohio; William, of Clarion county; and Ephraim, deceased. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Peter and Susanna (Haley) Kifer, natives of Westmore- land county, Penn. In 1820 they removed to Clarion county, locating on a farm. Their chil- dren were: Esther; Joseph, deceased; Polly, wife of George Gathers, both now deceased; Susan, deceased wife of Thomas Lyons, of Clar- ion county, Penn. ; Lavina, deceased wife of Paul Reegle, of Butler, Penn .; Vianna, deceased wife of Daniel McKee, of Michigan; Henry, of Clar- ion county, now deceased; and John, a resident farmer of Piney township.
Jacob Finefrock, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. He came to Clarion county in 1838, and was prominent in public af- fairs, holding a number of township offices. For forty-five years he was a member of the Lu- theran Church, and in his political faith he was a Democrat. He passed away in August, 1894, at the age of seventy-seven years, his remains being interred in Mt. Zion cemetery. His widow is now living with our subject. Their children are: Margaret, wife of S. S. Wensel, of Sligo, Penn .: Henry, deceased: William, a farmer near Clarion; Julina, wife of Ross Gathers, of Clarion county; Thomas J., a farmer of Piney township; Lavina, wife of W. B. Larimer, of Piney town- ship; Mary, widow of Daniel Ritter, of Fox- burg, Penn .; John C., a farmer of Piney town- ship: Daniel B., who resides with our subject; Sarah, deceased; and Elmer Elsworth.
On his father's farm Elmer Elsworth Fine- frock was reared, and in September. 1887, when twenty-five years of age was married in his native county, to Miss Altha Wise. the cere- mony being performed by Rev. Elder. Two children grace this union: Ira L. and Carlton A. Mrs. Finefrock was born in Beaver town- ship, Clarion county, March 7, 1871. and is a daughter of George W. and Arillea (Dunkle; Wise, the former a native of Delaware county, Penn., and the latter of Clarion county. They now reside in Licking township. Clarion county. The father, who was born August 27, 1830, came to the county in 1850, and for many years was bookkeeper for the iron furnace company. but is now living retired. His wife was born
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December 22, 1842. Their children are: Flora M., wife of Joseph Henderson, superintendent of an oil refinery in Philadelphia, Penn .; Waldo, Mary and George, all deceased; Cora E., wife of George Neely, a carpenter of Monroe township, Clarion county; Viola, wife of William Smith, a boiler-maker of Philadelphia; Altha; Edwin, of Verona, Penn .; Ora, wife of Charles Trent, a machinist of Verona; Edith, deceased; and Elsa, who is living with our subject.
A short time before his marriage our subject embarked in merchandising, and has a well-ap- pointed store, stocked with a large and complete line. His business methods are honorable and above question, and his courtesy to his customers has secured him a liberal patronage. He is also doing a profitable business as a dealer in fire clay, and his sound judgment and well-directed efforts have brought hini a comfortable compe- tence. In politics he is a Democrat, and for many years has efficiently and acceptably served as township auditor. Socially, he is connected with the Maccabees of Sligo, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is holding the office of steward. Public-spirited and progressive, he gives an active and com- mendable support to all measures calculated to advance the general welfare along material, edu- cational and moral lines."
W H. WHITLING has for many years been prominently identified with the conimer- cial interests of Clarion county, and is now suc- cessfully conducting the pioneer drug store of Knox, the leading store of the kind in that town. He carries a large and well assorted stock of drugs, oils, paints, books, toilet articles, etc., and gives special attention to his prescription trade, often filling as high as 3,200 prescriptions in one year. He is a registered pharmacist, having received a diploma from the State board, and he has now been in business for over twenty- two years. As he keeps only the best drugs and medicines, he well deserves the liberal patronage accorded him. On first embarking in his present business, he conducted a drug store in St. Peters- burg for several years.
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Mr. Whitling was born in Clarion county, September 23, 1847, a son of Frederick and Catherine (Ritz) Whitling, the former a native of France, the latter of Berks county, Penn. When a young inan the father came with his
. parents to this country, and after spending three years in New York State, he located in Salem township, Clarion county, where he carried on operations as a farmer throughout the remainder .
of his life. Politically he was a pronounced Democrat, and in religious faith was a Lutheran. He died at the age of sixty-five, and his wife when seventy-three years of age, honored and respected by all who had the pleasure of their acquaintance. In their family were nine chil- dren, namely: Daniel, who was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and is now a hard- ware merchant and jeweler of St. Petersburg, Penn. ; Ed, a soldier in the Union army, '61- 64, was for many years a prominent citizen of Salem, Penn., and is now deceased; Mary; Sarah: Re- becca; W. H .; Lydia; Emma; and Amanda.
On the home farm W. H. Whitling grew to manhood, and he obtained his education in the schools of the neighborhood. On attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Sipler, a daughter of Alexander and Cath- erine Sipler, and to them have been born chil- dren as follows: Sarah, now the wife of Martin Merton, of Toledo, Ohio; Mertie, of the same city; Minnie, wife of William Earp, of Toledo, Ohio; Esma, who graduated from a school of or- atory and elocution in Pittsburg, Penn .; and Stanton, who completed the high-school course at Knox, and was graduated from the Mt. Union Business College of Alliance, Ohio, July 13, 1897.
Mr. Whitling uses his right of franchise in support of the Democracy, and takes an active interest in political affairs. Fraternally he be- longs to the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has made for himself an honorable business record, and has ever taken a deep and commendable interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare of the town, withholding his support from no enterprise calcu- lated to prove of public benefit.
M ATTHEW MCNUTT, an honored and highly-respected citizen of Porter town- ship, was born on the farm where he still con- tinues to reside, February 4. 1825, and is a wor- thy representative of one of the leading pioneer families of Clarion county.
His father, William McNutt, was born in County Donegal. Ireland, of Scotch-Irish an- cestry, and was only three years old when brought to this country by his parents, Collon and Jane (McKinley) McNutt, who lived for some time in Philadelphia, where the graudfather followed his trade of cloth weaving, which trade he also con- tinued on the farin as the country settled up. Later he took his family to Westmoreland coun- ty, Penn., and in 1801 came to Clarion county, locating near the Leatherwood Presbyterian church, in Porter township. At that time the
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families of John Henry and Daniel Boyle consti- tuted the entire white population of the town- ship, and they lived two or three miles from the place where Mr. McNutt made his home. The land was all wild and unimproved, and the fam- ily were forced to endure all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. There were seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: William; Grace, wife of Thomas Smullen: Rob- ert; Margaret, who died unmarried; Collon, who reared a family, and died at the age of fifty-five years; Charlotte, who died unmarried; and Cath- erine, wife of William Smullen, of Armstrong county, Penn. The parents of these children both lived to the advanced age of ninety years, and died in Clarion county, honored and respect- ed by all who knew them.
In the primitive log school house, so cominon in his youth, William McNutt, father of our sub- ject, acquired his education. He aided in the arduous task of clearing and improving the home farm, and also learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for several years, erecting many of the first houses in Porter township. He married Elizabeth McKillip, who was also of Scotch extraction. One of her brothers was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was with Com- modore Perry on Lake Erie. To Mr. and Mrs. McNutt were born eight sons and two daughters, namely: Collon R., deceased; James Y., who lives near Greenville in Limestone township, Clarion county; Robert (was a soldier of the Civil war) and William Fullerton, both deceased; Mat- thew, of this sketch; Craig Hill is now a resident of Kansas; John C., deceased, was captain of a company in the Civil war; Lavina C., who married S. H. Hamm, but both are now de- ceased: Rachel Mary, who died single; and Sam- uel Porter, who died in Florida at the age of fifty-two. The parents were consistent Christian people. members of the Presbyterian Church, and reared a family, of which they had reason to be proud. The father was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death, and the mother at her death was forty.
Matthew McNutt, of this review, never left the old homestead, which he now owns. It com- prises 100 acres of valuable and highly productive land, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good and substantial buildings. After completing his education in the public schools, he successfully engaged in teach- ing for seven winters, and among his scholars were many who have in later life held prominent positions either in this State or in the West. These included the Boggs and Smullen families. and also C. E. Andrews, of Clarion county. 98
At the age of twenty-six Mr. McNutt was mar- ried to Miss Mary Kirkpatrick, a most estimable lady, who has proved a true helpmeet to him. She is a native of Clarion county, where her par- ents, William and Sarah (Corbett) Kirkpatrick, located at an early day. Her maternal grandfa- ther. John Corbett, was one of the first settlers on Piney creek, in Clarion county, and his primi- tive log cabin had at first only a quilt for a door, as no boards could be procured at that date (1800). Wolves made the night hideous by their howling, and many other kinds of wild animals still roamed through the forests.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McNutt: (1) Columbus Frelinghuysen, a gradu- ate of the Edinboro State Normal School, served nine years as county superintendent, and is one of the most successful educators of Clarion county. His children are-Wayne, James Clark, George Robert and Walter. (2) Sarah Elizabeth. (3) William Henry Wick died in O'Brien county, Iowa. leaving a widow and three children-Dollie Estella, Emma and Nellie. (4) Millard Fillmore is a prominent farmer of that county. His chil- dren are-Homer Brown, William Scott, Merl, Mary and Bessie. (5) Mary Laura is now Mrs. James M. Sloan, of Sedgwick county, Kans., and their children are-Matthew Hurst, Mary, Daryl, Oscar Brown (deceased), Edward and Roy. (6) Porter Scott is a graduate of the Edinboro State Normal School, also a graduate of Drake Uni- versity, Des Moines, Iowa: also a graduate of the Iowa College of Law, Des Moines, Iowa. He is now a lawyer and a member of the Faculty in the Iowa College of Law, Des Moines. He has one son, Merle Scott. (7) Fannie Caroline died at the age of nine years. (8) Anna Malissa is the wife of Addison Alvin Bowersox, of New Bethlehem, Penn. Their children were-Mary (deceased), Harry (deceased), Lulu (deceased), Stanley, Bes- sie and Oscar. (9) Matthew Brown is a gradu- ate of the Clarion State Normal School and of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and is at present studying in the McCormick Theological Seminary, of Chicago, Ill. (10) John C. is at home. (11-12) Two children died in infancy. Of the children of our subject and his wife. C. F., W. H., M. F., Anna M., Porter Scott and Matthew B. have all been popular and successful teachers. and the family is one of the highest respectability.
In his political affiliations Matthew McNutt has been rather independent, having supported both the Democratic and Republican parties at different times. He voted for Fillmore, twice for Lincoln and once for Grant. He has effi- ciently served as a member of the school board. I and has faithfully discharged every duty that has
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devolved upon him, whether public or private. , In religious belief he and his family are Presby- terians, and take an active and prominent part in all Church or benevolent work.
W ILLIAM A. SIPLER, ex-prothonotary of Clarion county, as well as the accommo- dating and obliging ex-deputy in that office at Clarion, was born in the county in 1842, having descended from Revolutionary stock.
Mathias Sipler ( 1), his great-grandfather, then a resident of New Jersey, where the family dates as far back as 1740, used to narrate his experiences during the Revolution, though he was not an enlisted man. His son, Mathias Sip- ler (2), was born in New Jersey, but located in Bucks county, Penn. His wife was Catherine Bidler, who, in about 1836, after the death of her husband, came, together with her aged father and her children, west of the Alleghanies, and settled in Richland township, Clarion county. Here at that time the lumbering interests were receiving considerable attention, and a Mr. Fox, the only man of means in the community, built a hotel which the widow Sipler kept for years, her patrons being principally among the lumber- men who, during the freshets in the Clarion and Allegheny rivers, were on hand to market their lumber. She was a native of the vicinity of Al- lentown, Lehigh county, Penn., and died in the fall of 1855, and her remains rest near Orion, Richland county, Wis., whither she had gone that year with her son Charles. She erected the first hotel at St. Petersburg. The son Charles, referred to, was born in Bucks county, Penn., and married Susannah Wessner, and among their children is the subject of this sketch. Charles Sipler returned to Clarion county in 1858, and here passed the rest of his life en- gaged chiefly in the hotel business at the mouth of . Clarion river. On the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in Company L, 11th P. V. ! Cav. and served his country faithfully for three years. He became quartermaster sergeant and was mustered out of service in the fall of 1864, then returning to Clarion county where he re- sumed his trade, also engaging in the hotel busi- ness. In his early life he had been engaged to some extent in lumbering. He lived retired for some years prior to his death, which occurred November 19, 1895, when he was aged seventy- six years. Susannah (Wessner) Sipler, who died in May, 1886, was a daughter of William and Margaret (Jackson) Wessner, the latter being a lineal descendant of President Andrew jackson. William Wessner's father was a patriot of the 1
Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the bat- tle of Brandywine.
1 William A. Sipler received a common-school education, attending the district schools of the neighborhood of his youth here and in Wisconsin, having in the latter State a distance of four miles to walk to the little rude school house. His boy- hood was mostly passed in St. Petersburg, Penn. During his three-years' stay in Wisconsin he spent most of his time in the woods, his father having bought heavily timbered lands there, from which he cleared out a farm. On the return of his family to Clarion county, in 1858, our subject performed general work until the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861, when, inspired by the patriotismn of his Revolutionary ancestors, he en- listed in Company H, 8th Penn. Res. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. He was in the numerous engagements in which the command participated, and shared the hardships of their various campaigns. He was shot at the battle of Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862, receiving a serious wound through the bowels. December 14, 1863, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve or Invalid Corps, in which he remained four months, and then rejoined his company. He was in the campaigns of the Po- tomac, Peninsula and Wilderness, Gen. Pope from Rappahannock to Potomnac, Maryland cam- paign under McClellan, and was mustered out at Spottsylvania Court House in 1864. At the close of the war he returned home and went to Oil City, Penn., and worked one year in the oil fields. Following this period he went to Clarion county, and there worked in the oil fields and also at lumbering, rafting logs at contract via the Allegheny and Ohio rivers to Pittsburg, Cincin- nati and Louisville, Ky. After 1875 his business extended only to Pittsburg. In 1890 he was elected prothonotary of Clarion county, and was re-elected in 1893 to the same office. He was conscientious, and served the people faithfully and acceptably, serving them a good administra- tion, and after the expiration of his second term of office, January 1, 1897, he served as deputy for his successor.
On July 6, 1865, Mr. Sipler united in mar- riage with Miss Margaret L. Collins, of Irish de- scent, who was born in the State of New York, February 25, 1846, and is a daughter of Michael Collins, who was born in Ireland, as was also his wife. Four children have come to the marriage of our subject and wife, namely: Emma S., wife of Victor W. Dittman, of Washington county; Charles W .; Margaret R. ; and Frances Eliza- beth, who died at the age of five years. The mother of these is a member of the Roman
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Catholic Church. Socially our subject has been a Mason since 1869. He is a member of the G. 1 A. R., being identified with Lookout Post No. 425, having served all the offices; has been five times a delegate to the State Encampment. In politics he is a Democrat, tried and true, and has been ever active in the interests of the party. He served as delegate at the Harrisburg Conven- tion, when R. E. Wright was elected State Chairman; served as one of the conferees for J. M. Fox at Ridgway, Penn .; elected delegate to the Allentown (Penn. ) Convention, June, 1896; present at the reconvening of delegates at Har- risburg, Penn., in September of the same year. W. A. Sipler has been interested in producing oil since 1872 in Clarion and Mckean counties, Penn., and Lucas county, Ohio; he is a member of the Piper Oil and Gas Co., and on January I. 1898. resigned as deputy prothonotary of Clar- ion county, Penn., to accept the presidency of the Piper Oil and Gas Co., which necessitated the removal of the family to East Toledo, Ohio, much to the regret of their many friends in the Keystone State.
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