Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 92

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 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 92

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A MOS SILVIS is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, who valiantly aided in the defense of the old flag and the cause it repre- sented. He now resides in Fairmount City, and is as true to his country in days of peace as he was when he followed the starry banner on South- ern battle-fields. He represents one of the old and well-known families of Clarion county, and was born in Red Bank township, March 1, 1833.

His parents were Conrad and Anna (Nulph) Silvis, natives of Westmoreland county, Penn., of German descent. The father was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit throughout his entire life. His political support was given the Republican party, and in religious faith he was a Lutheran. He died at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife passed away at the advanced age of eighty-one years. They had a family of ten children, namely: Amos; Lydia, deceased: Joseph and William, who were soldiers in the Union army; Jeremiah, deceased, who was also numbered among the boys in blue; Isaac, de- ceased; Simon, Daniel, Mary Ann and Eve.

Amos Silvis was reared to manhood in Clarion county, and in his early life learned the shoe- maker's trade, becoming an expert workman. He followed that pursuit for many years, and gained therefrom a comfortable living. In Au- gust, 1862, however, he put aside all personal considerations to respond to President Lincoln's call for 300,000 men, and ,joined Company C,

78th P. V. I., commanded by Capt. John M. Brinker. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga and a number of heavy skir- mishes in that vicinity, the defense of Fort Negley and the battle of Lookout Mountain. He be- longed to the Starkweather Brigade, and was under command of General Rosecrans. Prior to his enlistment he had never taken any medicine in his life, but the hardships and exposure of war brought on rheumatism, and on a surgeon's certificate of disability he was honorably dis- charged February 18, 1864, after which he re- turned to his home in Clarion county.

Mr. Silvis has been three times married. On October 10, 1861, he wedded Anna M. Hilliard, who died in 1862. His second wife was Anna M. Shaffer, and after her death, he was married on August 11, 1878, to Elnora Frazier, who was born in Monroe township, Clarion county. Her parents, Henry and Margaret Ann (Delph) Fra- zier, are both deceased; they had three sons who were soldiers in the Civil war, George W., W. Henry and Thomas, the last named dying in the struggle. Mr. and Mrs. Silvis have four sons and one daughter-Amos E., Clinton Lewis, Maggie May, John Reed and Franklin ..

In politics Mr. Silvis has always been a stanch Republican, unswerving in support of the party principles. In his business dealings he is honorable and upright, and his sterling worth in all of the affairs of life commends him to the confidence and respect of friends and neighbors.

TOHN ROBINSON WICK, cashier of the Bank of Rimersburg, has won a foremost position among the prominent financiers of this section of the State. Self-reliance, consci- entiousness, energy, honesty-these are the traits of character that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success, and to these may be attrib- uted the success that has crowned the efforts of Mr. Wick.

A native of Armstrong county, he was born in Sugar Creek township. March 3. 1823, and is a son of Elisha and Ann (Moore) Wick, natives of Westmoreland county. Penn. The birth of the paternal grandfather, Elisha Wick, Sr., occurred in New Jersey, whence he removed to Westmore- land county, Penn., and as early as 1796 took up his residence in Sugar Creek township. Arm- strong county, where he engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life. His chil- dren were: John, Elisha, Jerry, Sallie twife of John Starr), and Elizabeth (wife of Andrew Bull- man).

James Moore, the maternal grandfather of

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our subject, was born in Cranbury, N. J., August 3, 1750, and in that State, on December 10, 1789, was married, by Thomas Smith, a Presbyterian minister, to Miss Mary Carson, who was born March 4, 1774. Five children blessed this union, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: Henry, August 23, 1790; Mary, wife of William Cowan, September 30, 1792; Ann, mother of our subject, October 18, 1794; Susanna, wife of James Parker, January 1, 1797; and Sarah, wife of Elijah Davis, February 5, 1799. After the death of James Moore, the grandmother married Ebenezer Davis, in 1803, and four children were born to them: James, born March 4, 1804; Nancy, who was born October 16, 1805, and married Samuel Porterfield; Carson, born March 28, 1809, and Mrs. Rachel Davis, born Septem- ber II, 1811. All are now deceased.

In 1796 Elisha Wick, Jr., accompanied. his parents on their migration to Armstrong county, where, on April 2, 1811, he married Ann Moore. He died in that county-in September. 1855, aged seventy years, and was buried at Middlesex. In 1868 his widow came to Rimersburg, and made her home with our subject until she, too, was called to her final rest, January 7, 1879, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, two months and nineteen days. Her remains were interred in the Rimersburg cemetery. Both held membership in the Presbyterian Church, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them. Their chil- dren were as follows: James P., born October 21, 1812, is now deceased; Henry M., born July 6. 1815, was a prominent physician, and died in New Bethlehem, Penn .; Elisha C., born March 26, 1818, died in Illinois; Jeremiah H., born August 21, 1820, was also a leading physician of Clarion county, and died in New Bethlehem; John R., of this sketch, is next in order of birth; Sarah A., born September 24, 1825, is the widow of Watson Maze, and a resident of Annisville, Butler Co., Penn .; Rachel, born February 5. . 1828. died at the age of two years: Benjamin F., born July 29, 1830, died in infancy; William W., born March 8, 1832, was a successful physician of Rimersburg, where his death occurred; and Alvira, born September 27, 1834, died at the age of seven years.

John R. Wick was reared on the old home- stead, and acquired a good practical education in the local schools. At the age of nineteen he be- gan teaching, and for seventeen winters success- . terian minister of Brownsville, Fayette Co ..

fully followed that profession, while during the summer months he engaged in farming. In 1849 he embarked in merchandising in Matildasville, Clarion county, where he also served as post-

sold out to J. B. Grasor. He was then married, Land returned to the old homestead, which he hired cultivated, while in partnership with another gentleman, he engaged in selling the old-fash- ioned bee hives. He also engaged in cattle deal- ing and in teaching until coming to Rimersburg, in 1868, to settle up his brother's estate. At first it was not his intention to remain, but he has since made this place his home, and has been actively identified with its business interests. He is regarded as one of the most reliable business men of the county; and has been called upon to administer a number of different estates. The Abrams Savings Bank, which was founded in 1870, was the first institution of the kind in Rimersburg, and William M. Abrams was presi- dent, and Mr. Wick cashier, until it ceased to exist, in 1877. On the organization of the Farm- ers Bank, in the same year, our subject was chosen cashier, and Dr. McCandles president, but the latter resigned in 1880, and was succeeded by Andrew Fox. The Bank of Rimersburg was organized in 1888, with Miles Smith as president, our subject as cashier, and his son, William Addi- son Wick, as assistant cashier. This is one of the most solid financial institutions of the county, and its officers have the confidence and support of the entire community.

In Pine Hollow. Clarion county, May 6, 1856, Rev. David McCay, a Presbyterian minis- ter, performed the marriage ceremony which made Mr. Wick and Miss Hannah R. Watson man and wife. Their children are as follows: Mary E., born October 17, 1859, was married July 20, 1882, to Rev. W. G. Warner. a Meth- odist Episcopal minister. now residing in Mason, Ohio; Curtis W., born April 23, 1861, was mar- ried November 22, 1894, to Blanche E. Hosey, and is engaged in merchandising in Rimersburg; Anna R., born May 2. 1862, was married Sep- tember 7. 1886, to Dr. John Hepburn, of War- ren, Penn. ; William A., born February 2, 1864, was married May 7, 1894, to May Gibson, of Illinois; Sarah J., born March 14, 1866, was married December 2, 1886, to C. G. Graham, a traveling salesman of Butler. Penn .: Carrie P. A., born July 21, 1869, died on September 2 of the same year; John R., Jr., born December 27, 1870. is now in Warren, Penn. ; Maggie M .. born November 15, 18;2, was married Novem- ber 7, 1892, to Rev. W. S. Bohman, a Presby- Penn. ; and Blanche P., born August 15, 1874. was killed February 24, 1883, while coasting on a hill at Rimersburg.

Mrs. Wick was born near Callensburg. in master, but at the end of two years and a half , Clarion' county. January 19, 1832, and is a

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughter of Abraham and Rachel (Black) Wat- son, natives of Mifflin, Penn., and New Jersey, respectively. They were married near Callens- burg, and both died in Pine Hollow, Clarion county, the mother in 1865, aged fifty-seven years, and the father in 1873, aged seventy-six, their remains being interred at Concord. He was a noted river pilot, and also devoted consid- erable attention to farming. His parents, Thomas and Hannah (Wilson) Watson, emi- grated from Ireland to America in an early day and located on Big Lick, in Clarion county, where the former operated salt works. Mrs. Wick's maternal grandparents were Henry and Jane (Clements) Black, who on leaving their old home in Scotland became pioneers of Clarion county, their residence being near Callensburg, where the grandfather engaged in the manufact- ure of chairs and in the cooperage business.

To Abraham and Rachel (Black) Watson were born the following children-Prof. Cle- ment, who was for many years principal of different schools, but is now living retired in Whiteside county, Ill .; James B., a hotel keeper and merchant of Marionville, Penn .; Jane, wife of Harrison Elliott, an electrician of Cleveland, Ohio; Hannah R., wife of our subject; Columbus, who died at the age of eight years; Margaret, wife of Morrison Howe, professor of public schools in Iowa; Sarah, who married Samuel Ruppert, and lives on the old homestead in Clar- ion county; Thomas I., who died at Fortress Monroe, and was buried under a cherry tree at that place; and Anna R., wife of John Reichert, who has a nursery near West Freedom and con- ducts the largest business of the kind in Clarion county.

Since December 11, 1870, Mr. Wick has served as elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which he is one of the most active and promi- nent members. He has been identified with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Rimersburg since 1868, and he always affiliates with the Republican party. For seventeen years he acceptably served as postmaster of Rimersburg. Under date of December 20, 1855, James Pollock, Governor of Pennsylvania, because of his especial trust and confidence in the zeal, valor, patriotism and fidelity of Mr. Wick, appointed him to be one of his aids-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant- colonel in the Militia of the Commonwealth. Endowed by nature with a strong character, Mr. Wick was so surrounded in his childhood that his latent powers were developed and strengthened and he became a successful busi- ness man, and is also possessed of broad sym- pathy and charity. To-day he is not more hon-

ored on account of the enviable position which he occupies in business circles than on account of the many kindly deeds of his life, which have ever been quietly and unostentatiously per- formed.

A DAM SHINDLEDECKER. The subject of this personal history is a well-known agriculturist of Red Bank township. Clarion county, and is esteemed as a man of industry and. enterprise, besides being a worthy citizen, and having to his credit an unblemished war record.

Born October 9, 1838, in that township, Mr. Shindledecker is a son of Adam and Utilla (Fike) Shindledecker, who were born, reared and mar- ried in Germany, and continued to reside there until after the birth of their sons, Peter and Jacob. The next son, Mathias, was born on the ocean while the family were on their way to the New World. Here the family circle was increased by the birth of the following children: Godfrey, Charles, William, Adam, Elizabeth, Fulton, John, Christina, Mary E., and Utilla (deceased). The father was a fariner by occupation, and on coming to this country operated a farin in Red Bank township, Clarion county, until eleven years before his death, when he removed to Haw- thorn, where he died at the age of eighty-one. He was officially connected with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was a inan well liked by all who knew him. His estimable wife died Feb- ruary 11, 1893, aged eighty-five years.

The common schools afforded our subject his educational privileges, and upon the home farm he was reared to habits of industry. His patri- otism having been awakened by the imminent danger to the country from the hands of the Rebels, he enlisted August 28, 1862, at the Presi- dent's call for 300,000 more volunteers, beconi- ing a member of Company C. 78th P. V. I., un- der Capt. John Brinker and Col. Sornell. He participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Stone River, Franklin, Tunnel Hill. Dalton, Ga., Til- ton, Resaca, Calhoun, Morrisville, Kingston, Car- tersville, Allatoona, Acworth, Marietta, Chicka- mauga, and Atlanta. During the heavy cannon- ading at Resaca, he lost the hearing of his left ear, at Chickamauga he was internally injured while carrying rails, and while fording streams the veins in his leg burst. Hostilities having ceased, he was honorably discharged at Nash- ville, Tenn., June 20, 1865, and returned home to his wife and children in Clarion county. He has since devoted his time and attention to agri- cultural pursuits, and now has a fine farm of

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ninety-one acres under a high state of culti- vation, and well improved with commodious buildings.

On February 21, 1857, Mr. Shindledecker was married to Miss Catherine Rader, a native of Clarion county, and a daughter of George Rader, one of the honored pioneers of this region, who spent his last years here. He had one son, Isaac Rader, who was a soldier of the Civil war, and is now a resident of Tennessee. The follow- ing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shindledecker: Utilla, who died at the age of five years; Sarah Jane, wife of Samuel Hulbon; Adam Ira; Eliza, wife of W. H. Kroh; John Sol- omon; Emma Lovilla, wife of Michael Rutch- duckel; L. H., a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, now located in Byrontown, Elk Co .. Penn. ; and Cora May.

In early life Mr. Shindledecker was a mem- ber of the Evangelical Church, and held offices in the same, but is now an active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as treasurer. He is a great Sunday-school worker, and has ever labored un- tiringly in the Master's vineyard. His politic- al support is given to the men and measures of the Republican party, and, as a private citizen, soldier and Christian gentleman, he is certainly deserving of the high regard in which he is uni- formly held.

J JONATHAN D. MURPHY. a prominent music teacher of St. Petersburg, Penn., was born February 2, 1840, in Steubenville, Ohio, and is a representative of a good old Pennsylvania family, of Irish origin.

sketch was reared in Pennsylvania, and acquired his literary education in its common schools. He was provided with a good musical education un- der private instructors, and has become very pro- ficient in that art. He is still a devoted student, and for many years has successfully engaged in teaching music, among his pupils being many who have become quite prominent abroad as well as in this country.

Responding to the President's call for 75,000 volunteers. Mr. Murphy, in 1861. enlisted in Company F, 78th P. V. I., of which he was made orderly sergeant. On November 30, 1862. he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He commanded his company at the battle of Chicka- mauga, though in such ill health at the time that after the conflict he had to be carried off the field in an ambulance. With the exception of the battle of Murfreesboro (being on detail at the time) he participated in all the engagements in which his regiment took part.

On November 4, 1864, he was honorably discharged, having served his country three years and two months. For a time after the war he made his home in Marietta, Ohio, and then lo- cated in Oil Creek, Penn., devoting his attention to the oil business for about twenty years. Since 1894, however, he has resided in St. Petersburg. where he owns a comfortable and pleasant home.

In 1866 Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Mary W. Bowman, of Pittsburg, Penn., a daugh- ter of Robert and Eliza (Alexander) Bowman, now deceased. Her father was at one time a prominent architect and builder of Pittsburg. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are as follows: John D., a bookkeeper now em- ployed in Pittsburg, Penn. ; William R., a lawyer and member of the Pittsburg Bar; Sarah B. (a noted pianist) is at home; and Eddie, deceased.

His grandfather, Jeremiah Murphy, was a sol- dier of the war of 1812 under Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie, and was wounded in the service, and also taken prisoner by the enemy. William Mr. Murphy is an ardent Republican in poli- tics, and has most efficiently served as a member of the school board for thirteen years. He affil- iates with the Royal Arcanum, and also with Lookout Post No. 425, G. A. R., in which he served as commander. He is one of the leading and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years has been the leader of the choir. Murphy, our subject's father, wedded Miss Mary Dungan, who also belonged to a prominent Pennsylvania family, in which were many dis- tinguished musicians, having gained enviable rep- utations both at home and abroad. Mr. Murphy died at the age of eighty-five, and his wife in 1843, when in the prime of life. They were Presbyterians in religious belief. and most estima- ble people. In politics the father was first a Whig, and later an Abolitionist. His children were as follows: Jeremiah, a resident of Mc- W WASHINGTON A. CRAIG, proprietor of the Craig Roller Mill in Toby township, is Donald, Penn., and a soldier of the Civil war; | Mrs. D. A. Martin; Thomas D., a minister of the | unquestionably one of the strong and influential Congregational Church: Jonathan D .; and Mrs. ; business men whose lives have become an essen- Mary J. Davidson, of AAllegheny, Pennsylvania. Although born in Ohio, the subject of this

tial part of the history of Clarion county. He is enterprising, energetic, and always abreast with

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the times, and has been rewarded by a comfort- able competence. 1

Mr. Craig was born October 22, 1841, on the old homestead which forms a part of his present farm, his parents being James and Jane (Fergu- son) Craig, who were born, reared and married in Indiana county. After various removals they located at the present home of our subject, in 1830, and being a millwright as well as a farmer, the father erected the mill which is still owned and operated by his son. He was a public-spirited and progressive man, was first a Whig and later a Republican in politics, and although he never aspired to .office, he creditably filled several local positions of honor and trust. He was a leading member of the Associate Presbyterian Church, and in 1858 united with the U. P. Church, and served as elder for many years prior to his. death, which occurred in February. 1877, when seventy- four years of age. The mother departed this life in April, 1857, at the age of fifty-three, and both were laid to rest in the Associate Church cemetery of Rimersburg.

Our subject is the seventh of the children born to this worthy couple, the others being: William F. ; John R., deceased, who was a school teacher and farmer by occupation, and was an elder in the United Presbyterian Church; Mary J., who died at the age of nine years; James, a retired attorney living in Clarion county; Alexan- der R., a farmer of Madison township, Clarion county; Rufus, a farmier and contractor of Mad- ison township; Robert, who was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and is now a farmer of In- diana county, Penn .; David M., who died De- cember 27, 1862, from sickness contracted in the army (in which he was a member of Company H. 155th P. V. I.), and was buried in Clarion county; and Amanda C., who died at the age of nine years. After the death of his first wife the father wedded Mary A. McCane, by whom he had six children, namely: Harvey McC., an ag- riculturist of Sandy Hollow, Clarion county; Thomas H., a farmer of Toby township; Pro- fessor Samuel R., who is engaged in teaching in the public schools of Clarion county, Penn. ; Charles F., a farmer of Sligo; and Eva R. and Anna C., who live on the old homestead in Toby township.

Washington A. Craig spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the home farm, where he remained until August 22, 1862, when he laid aside all personal interests to aid his country in her struggle to preserve the Union. He became a member of Company H, 155th P. V. I., under Capt. John Ewing, and among the various en- gagements in which he participated were the

hard-fought battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Ann River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. He was never wounded and was never off duty for a single day during his entire service. At the time of Lee's surrender, our subject, with Corp. G. H. Clever, privates J. C. Barnett, A. G. Lewellen, C. M. Smith, G. Kribbs, of Company K, and William Eich, of Company E, all of the 155th Regiment. P. V. I., in the town of Appomattox captured 116 Rebels, including sixteen officers, of whom a colonel was the highest in rank, and marched them into the Union lines. Of the two swords Mr. Craig se- cured at this time, one he gave to his second lieutenant and the other he still has in his pos- session. On joining the army he was made ser- geant, was promoted to the rank of corporal March 24, 1863, sergeant April 25. 1864, and when the war was over was mustered out June 2, 1865, at Washington, District of Columbia.

During his youth, Mr. Craig worked on the home farm and in the mill until the age of twenty years, when he began learning the carpenter's trade, working for David Gwin, of Rimersburg, for one season. On his return from the armny he entered the employ of his father and brothers, William and John, who then owned the mill, and at the end of a year he purchased John's interest. When the father died, he and his brother Will- iam bought the interest of the other heirs, and together they operated the mill until the spring of 1888, when our subject became sole owner. The building was erected and equipped in 1831, but in 1891 was remodeled by Mr. Craig, making it one of the best roller mills of its size in the county, its capacity being from twenty-five to thirty barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. It can be run both by water and steam power, and the race is supported by Licking creek. In his business ventures, Mr. Craig has prospered, and now owns besides his mill property two or three fine farms, and also has ready money.

On September 21, 1871, at Curllsville, Rev. Dr. Mateer performed a wedding ceremony which united the destinies of Mr. Craig and Miss Mary E. McAuley, who was born in Toby township, Clarion county, November 27, 1847. a daughter of Rev. John and Jeannetta E. (Reed) McAuley, natives of Wythe county, Va., and Cincinnati, Ohio, respectively. Her parents met and were married near the town of Hanover. Ind. For many years the father was a minister of the Se- ceder Church, but in 1869 he joined the Cove- nanter Church. His last two years were spent in retirement and he died at Sligo, in August, 1883, at the age of seventy-six years and seven

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

months. His wife passed away May 2, 1892, aged seventy-six years, and both were buried in the Seceder cemetery at Rimersburg. They had come to Clarion county in 1838 and first located near Rimersburg in Toby township, but after a few months removed to Jefferson county, where he was engaged in preaching for a time. He had charge of the congregation in Rimersburg from 1840 until 1869, and then removed to Sligo, where his last days were spent. His parents were Daniel and Margaret (Rains) McAuley, na- tives of North Carolina, who died in the West. : By occupation, Daniel McAuley was a farmer. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Craig were William and Sarah (Bigham) Reed, of Pennsyl- vania, where the former engaged in agricultural pursuits.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 92

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