Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 93

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 93
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 93
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 93
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 93

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Mrs. Craig is the fourth in order of birth in.a family of six children, of whom the others are as follows: Rev. William, a minister of the Asso- ciate Presbyterian Church, who now resides with our subject; Margaret, wife of John Langley, a farmer of Armstrong county; Sarah, wife of Na- thaniel S. Coulter, a druggist of Sligo; Dr. Auley, who died at the age of fourty-four years: and Rebecca A., who was twice married, first to I. M. Smith, who died in 1887, and second (1893) to Aaron Ellenberger, a farmer in Armstrong county.

Mr. Craig is an honored and popular member of the Grand Army Post of Sligo, and in this way keeps up his acquaintance with his old army com- rades. He is a stalwart supporter of the princi- ciples of the Republican party, and is a faithful member of the Associate Presbyterian Church. He has a good library of his own, is a great reader, and is well posted on the leading topics and issues of the day. His loyalty as a citizen and devotion to his country's interests have never been question, it being as often manifested in days of peace as when ou Southern battle-fields he followed the old flag to victory. He is there- fore recognized as one of the most valued citizens of his community, and all who know him have + for him the highest regard.

A RTHUR B. COLLNER, the genial and popular prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Clarion county, is of the third genera- ation of the Collner family, who have been iden- tified with the growth and development of this section of the State. Lewis Collner. his grand-

has been prominent in the public affairs of the county for many years, having served as sheriff and being twice elected prothonotary. A sketch of him appears elsewhere in this volume.

Arthur B. Collner was born in Farmington township, Clarion county, April 21. 1868. He received his education in the public schools of the county, clerking at intervals in his father's store, and in the store of his uncle ( H. Collner & Bro.), at St. Petersburg. In 1879, on his fa- ther's removal to Clarion to perform the duties of sheriff, he came with' the family, and during their three-years' residence there attended the public schools of the borough. During his fa- ther's first term as prothonotary, from 1884 to 1887, young Collner attended the Clarion State Normal School, working during vacations, and mornings and evenings, in the office. and during his father's second administration he served as deputy; he held the same position through the six-years' administration of W. A. Sipler, the successor of William F. Collner. Such was the popularity of the deputy prothonotary that in 1896 he was nominated for that office and elected in November of that year by the largest vote ever given a candidate in the county, running far ahead of his ticket. He is making a very efficient and capable officer, and is the youngest man ever elected to this office in the State of Pennsylvania. He is a most genial, social and obliging man and a very accommodating official, which has given him the great popularity he enjoys.

On April 6, 1894, Mr. Collner was married to Miss Minnie K. Wilson, and one child-Evelyn -- has come to bless the union. The parents are identified with the Baptist Church. Socially, Mr. Collner is a member of the F. & A. M., and he has served five years as secretary of the lodge to which he belongs: he is also a member of the I. O. O. F., joining these orders when twenty- one years of age. In politics he is a Democrat.

R EUBEN A. WINGAR, who is numbered among the native sons of Clarion county, has assisted materially in the development of its agricultural resources, and is one of its most en- ergetic and progressive farmers. Since i88; he has resided upon his present place in Beaver township, which is a valuable farm of rich and arable land, improved with a good and substan- tial residence, barn and other buildings. Every- thing upon the place testifies to the careful man- agement of the owner, and shows that he is a thorough and skillful farmer of progressive ideas.

· father, of German birth, was for a period of sixty years a resident of Clarion county, engaged principally as a merchant and in the oil business. A representative of one of the old and hon- William F. Coller, the father of our subject, i ored families of the county, Mr. Wingar was

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born in Beaver township, November 15, 1846, and is a son of Daniel Wingar, and grandson of Frederick Wingar, who was of German descent, and a soldier of the war of 1812. The father " was born in 1801, in Westmoreland county, Penn., where he was reared, and, on reaching man's estate, married Miss Anna Dalo, who died when our subject was only four months old, leav- ing seven children, the others being: Susie A., Kate, John, George, Simon, and Mary E. George was for four years a faithful soldier in the Union army during the Rebellion, and is now a resident of Michigan. The father departed this life in 1882, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. He voted for Fremont in 1856, and continued an ardent supporter of the Republican party, while in religious belief he was a Methodist, taking an active part in all Church work and serving as class-leader and steward.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in his native township, where he attended school. In 1.863, at the early age of seventeen years, he offered his services to his country and became a member of Company G, Ist Maryland Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, taking part in thirty-two engagements, including the battles of the Peninsular campaign north of the James river, and those before Peters- burg. After the surrender of Gen. Lee he was honorably discharged as a non-commissioned officer, and returned home to resume agricultural pursuits.

At the age of twenty-one. Mr. Wingar was married to Miss Mary E. Frost, a lady of in- telligence and refinement, who has proved a true helpmeet to himn. Ten children blessed their union, of whom May Bell is the only one de- ceased. The others are: Saphrona, LeRoy B., Laura, Lizzie, Mabel, Maggie, Omer, Ethel and William.

In politics Mr. Wingar is devoted to the in- terests of the Republican party, and is an ear- nest advocate of its principles. He is an active and prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which he has served as class leader and steward. and he gives a liberal sup- port to all enterprises calculated to advance the moral or material welfare of the community. His sterling worth has gained him the uniform regard of all, and Clarion county is glad to num- ber him among her citizens.

A NSON BEATTY, of Knox, Clarion county, has attained distinctive preferinent in po- litical circles, and through his official positions has been an important factor in promoting the

best interests of his city. He is now serving as burgess, and as such has materially advanced the work of development and progress. He is a dealer in harness, and is also one of the repre- sentative business men of the place.

Mr. Beatty was born in Sheakleyville, Mer- cer Co., Penn., in 1845, and is a son of Matthew and Rebecca (Dunn) Beatty, both natives of Crawford county, this State, but the paternal grandfather was born in Ireland. The father was born in 1796. On French creek, Crawford Co., Penn., he learned the tanner's trade, and after his removal to Sheakleyville built a tannery, which he operated for several years. He died at that place in 1859, and his wife, who was born on French creek. in Crawford county, departed this life in Sheakleyville, in 1887. In the family of this worthy couple were the following chil- dren: William enlisted in Crawford county, in 1863, serving in the Union army until the close of the war, and later represented that county in the State Assembly for two terms, and died in Williamsport in 1870. Mary Ann died in Craw- ford county. Alexander is a resident of Erie, Penn. Mrs. Merob Devore lives in Cochranton, . Crawford Co., Penn; Miss Eleanor Beatty lives in Madison, Wis .: Mrs. Lucy Couse is a resi- dent of the same place; Mrs. Catharine Yard died in Sheakleyville, Penn; and Wilson is also deceased; Anson completes the family.

Anson Beatty pursued his studies in the pub- lic schools of Mercer county, and on laying aside his text books learned the tanner's trade, at which he worked for four years. He next mas- tered the harness maker's trade at a shop in Sheakleyville, and has since followed that occu- pation. In 1868 he removed to Meadville, and on going to Shippensville, in 1877, entered the employ of W. W. Wilson, a harness manufact- urer, with whom he remained for two years. He then came to Knox, where he embarked in the saddlery business on his own account, and in 1894 erected his present commodious store build- ing. He is an energetic, progressive business man, and the success that he has achieved is cer- tainly well deserved.

In 1875, in Meadville, Penn., was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Beatty and Miss Arie Arena Carr, a native of that place and a daughter of John and Jane ( Hageny) Carr. Her father was born in Lock Haven, and died in Meadville at the age of eighty-two years, and the mother, also a native of the Keystone State, died in the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have four children: Walter, Wilbur. Myrta and Harold. Mr. Beatty is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and has ever taken an active

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and influential part in political affairs. He served as a member of the city council of Knox for three years, and in 1897 was elected to his present position of burgess, which he is now so acceptably filling. He is a member of Knox Lodge, K. P., and also of Knox Lodge No. 954, I. O. O. F.

J TOHN EHLER has for almost half a century been identified with the interests of Shippen- ville, and in those years he has wrested from the hands of fate a handsome competence for. himself, while at the same time he has in many ways promoted the best interests of the city by his support of measures calculated to prove of public good, and by his advancement of business enterprises which, promoting commercial activ :- ity, have added to the general prosperity.

The birth of his father. George Ehler, oc- curred in Germany, but during his childhood he came to the United States and located in Venango county, Penn., where he was reared. As a young man he came to Clarion county, where he mar- ried Miss Sophia Wiseman, also a native of Ger- many, who when a girl came with her father, Frederick Wiseman, to America, being numbered among the first settlers of Meadville, Venango county, whence they came to Clarion county. George Ehler was a blacksmith by trade, and for some time worked in the furnaces of Clarion county. About 1842 he took up his residence in Shippenville, becoming its third blacksmith, and in that place his death occurred in 1863, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a Republican in politics, and was an active and prominent mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church, of which he was one of the trustees. He was one of the hon- ored pioneers of Shippenville, as well as one of its highly esteemed and valued citizens. His estimable wife is still living, and is a faithful mem- ber of the Lutheran Church.

The subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth in their family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom Hannah and George ( 1) are now deceased. The others are: Frederick. a resident of Shippenville; Mary, wife of J. T. Hovis: Andrew; George; Jacob. a resi- dent of Bluffton, Ind. ; and Lizzie, wife of Walter Hovis, of Gibsonburg, Sandusky Co., Ohio.

John Ehler was born April 20, 1848, in the village where he still continues to reside, and in its public schools obtained his education. His business career was begun as a laborer for Rich- ard Shippen, and during the seven years he was in his employ he lost only one day. Later he engaged in bridge building for a time, after which

he went to the oil fields near Pleasantville, where he-found employment. Returning to Clarion county in 1872, he located at Hahn's Mill, where he engaged in lumbering until injured by falling froni a tree and causing heart trouble.

In 1873, with a capital of only $150, Mr. Ehler embarked in the grocery business in Ship- penville, and had to compete with good, strong and well-established firms. He has capably demonstrated his ability as a business man, how- ever, for to-day he carries a stock which, with his real estate, is valued at $10,000; his trade is constantly increasing. His present commodious store building, 100 x 22 feet, was erected by him in 1887, and is stocked by a fine line of general merchandise. By fair and honorable dealing Mr. Ehler has won a liberal patronage, and secured the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.

On November 24, 1880, our subject was united. in marriage to Miss Hattie E. Huntsbrager, a native of Venango county, Penn., and to them have been born four children: Sydney, Frank Melvin, Helen Clara, and Emma Marie, who died when three weeks old. The wife and mother is a sincere and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the exercise of his elective franchise Mfr. Ehler supports the Republican party, and he takes quite an active and influential part in public af- fairs. He has acceptably served both as a mem- ber of the school board and a member of the city council. Socially, he belongs to the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen. A man of keen per- ception, of unbounded enterprise, his success in life is due entirely to his own efforts, and he de- serves prominent mention among the leading and representative business men of Clarion county.

W H. THOMAS, an enterprising and pros- perous fariner of Beaver township, Clarion county, was born October 10, 1837, in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.

George Thomas, his father, was born near Philadelphia, of Welch ancestry, and, on reach- ing manhood, was married in Montgomery county, to Miss Catherine Stung, a native of Pennsylva- nia, and of German extraction. After their marriage they located in Armstrong county, where the father followed the occupations of farming and blacksmithing. Politically, he was a Democrat and, religiously, was a member of the Reformed Church. He died at New Bethle- hem, Penn., at the age of seventy-one, and his wife, in Beaver township, Clarion county, at the age of seventy. In their family were the follow-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing children: Catherine, Elizabeth, George, Isaac, Maria, Margaret, W. H., and two who died in infancy.

Mr. Thomas, whose name introduces this review, was reared amid rural scenes, and pursued his studies in the public schools. Resolved to strike a blow in defense of his country, he enlisted in August, 1861, in Com- pany C, 78th P. V. I., and took part in the bat- tles of Stone River, Chickamauga, and Chatta- nooga; later he was in the Atlanta campaign, and was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea, which occupied forty days. After three years of arduous and faithful service, he was honorably discharged with the rank of ser- geant, which office was conferred upon him at date of enlistment. After he was discharged from the service at Kittanning, Armstrong Co., Penn., he engaged in the oil business as driller.

Since 1871, Mr. Thomas has made his home upon his present farm of fifty acres in Beaver township, and has successfully engaged in its operation. The place is improved with a com- fortable residence and substantial outbuildings, and the fields are well cultivated, yielding abund- ant harvests in return for the care and_labor be- stowed upon them.

In 1865 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Martha Fowles, whose parents were Reuben and Snsan (Loughner) Fowles, promi- nent early settlers of Clarion county. Her father, who was a Republican, and a member of the German Reformed Church, died at the age of seventy-eight years; her mother is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-two. In their family were the following children: Erred. Amanda, Martha, Elizabeth, William, Reuben, Addison, Sarah, and Clarissa and Edwin, both deceased. Two of the sons, Erred and William, were sol- diers during the Civil war, and the former died from wounds received in battle, but the latter is now living in Wood county, Ohio, engaged in the oil business.

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thomas have tive chil- dren: Mrs. Anna McConnell; George, a success- ful teacher, who is now a pupil in the Commer- cial College at Oil City, Penn .; Sarah; Minnie, and Martha. The parents and three of the chil- dren are faithful members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and the father has served as trustee, steward, superintendent and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. His polit- ical support has always been given the men and measures of the Democratic party until the Mc- Kinley campaign, when he supported the Repub- lican party. No man takes a deeper interest or greater pride in the moral and financial welfare of

Clarion county than W. H. Thomas, who is num- bered among its valued and honored citizens.

In November, 1897, when Pennsylvania ded- icated her monuments on the battlefields, Mr. Thomas, in company with some of his old com- rades, again visited the old battlefields of Chat- tanooga. Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Stone River, and they were present at the dedication of the monument to the 78th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was placed upon the battlefield of Chickamauga. .

F RANK DALE, a dealer in hardware and oil well supplies of all kinds, in Foxburg, Penn., comes from across the sea, his birth occurring in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, January 8, 1838. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Wilkin- son) Dale. the former born and living in London for several years. When he was fourteen, in 1852, the family came to the United States and located in Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, where they were numbered among the pioneers. After working upon a farm in the Hawkeye State for two or three years, Mr. Dale accepted a posi- tion with the firm of Frink & Walker, which was composed of two well-known Western stage-coach men of those days. After driving on their two and four horse stages for a time, he was pro- moted to a position in their Dubuque office, and later held a responsible position with the Amer- ican Express Company for thirteen years, being messenger agent and route agent of their lines in northern Iowa.

Feeling that his adopted country needed his services during the dark days of the Rebellion. Mr. Dale enlisted in the 21st Iowa V. I., and was commissioned first lieutenant of Company C. He proved a gallant, brave and popular officer, and i for a time was a member of the general's staff of the Second Brigade and Fourteenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps. He participated in the battle of Hartsville, the siege of Vicksburg, the : battle of Jackson, Miss., and many other engage- ments of less importance, and while serving in Texas, having broken one of his legs, he was honorably discharged after two years of arduons and faithful service. He always had the con- fidence of those under him and the respect and esteem of his fellow-officers, with whom he was very popular on account of his cheerful and lively disposition. After his return home he was com- missioned a captain and later colonel of the First ! Regiment Black Hawk Co. Militia of Iowa, which i numbered about 900 menl.

Mr. Dale continued to reside in Iowa until 1870, making his home at Cedar Falls, and then

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

came to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, where he engaged in producing and putting down wells for ten years in connection with the A. S. Palmer Company, and Grant, Dale & Co. In 1880 he went to Hungary and Roumania on the Black sea, and in that section of the country also en- gaged in drilling wells for two years. On his re- turn, Mr. Dale located at Foxburg and served a term as postmaster, and later went into his pres- ent business.

In Iowa, Mr. Dale was united in marriage to Miss Mary Pike, a lady of English birth, and a daughter of George Pike, who died in Yankton, S. Dak., a few years ago at the age of eighty years. He was a member of the Ohio troops during the Civil war, and also had two sons in the service, Captain Fred and George Pike. The former was an officer in the 23rd Illinois V. I., was with Col. Mulligan at Lexington, Mo .; and served for nearly four years and a half-George Pike served in Dakota Cavalry under Gen. Alfred Sully. Mr. and Mrs. Dale have three children: Mrs. Florence Grant, of Morgantown, Va .; Frank B., who is superintendent and engineer of water works, Foxburg; and Mrs. W. B. Peters, of Mc- Keesport, Pennsylvania.

Since voting in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln (first term), Mr. Dale has been a pronounced Re- publican in politics, and acceptably served as postmaster of Foxburg 1883-6. He has filled all the offices in the Grand Army Post to which he belongs, and has been regent of the Royal Ar- canum council for ten years, and warden of the Episcopal Church of Foxburg. The late W. J. Hancock, general manager of the Wells-Fargo Express Company, received his first lessons as a messenger under the direction of our subject, Mr. Hancock being the son of a shoemaker of Du- buque. Since coming to Foxburg Mr. Dale has made many warm friends, has gained the respect and confidence of all who know him, and occu- pies a prominent position in business circles.

J UDGE CHRISTIAN BRINKER was one of the prominent and influential citizens of Porter township, Clarion county. He was a recognized leader in political affairs, and won high honors at the hands of his fellow citizens. In | business he won that success which crowns well directed and energetic effort, and his trustworth- iness gained him the confidence and respect of all.

from Westmoreland county, Penn .. to Toby township, abont 1820. Later they took up their residence in Porter township, where they spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the age of seventy-eight, while his wife died at the age of seventy-three years. He was a suc- cessful farmer and accumulated a good property. In the Reformed Church, he held membership, and at all times faithfully discharged his duties to society and to his country. His family num- bered five children, namely: Christian; Mrs. Beck, of Florida; Capt. John, now a prominent railroad man and coal dealer in Buffalo, N. Y. ; formerly engaged in the mercantile business at Fairmount (not far from Bethlehem, Penn.), and later in the coal business there; Mrs. Jacob Bitt- bender, of Porter township; and Mrs. John Cole- man, of Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania.

Judge Brinker was reared under the parental roof, and early became familiar with all the du- ties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He acquired his education in the public schools, and, entering upon his business career, turned his at- tention to the pursuits to which he had been reared. He owned an excellent farm, placed his land under a high state of cultivation, and ex- tensively engaged in stock-raising. His careful attention to his business interests, good manage- ment and enterprise brought to him a success that was well deserved.

On January 21, 1865, Judge Brinker was united in marriage with Margaret Stallman, a daughter of Samuel Stallman, who was a native of Schuylkill county. Penn., and of German descent. He married Margaret Reed, and resided for some time in Clarion county, but both are now deceased. They had a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, of whom the following are living: Lewis (of Jefferson county, Penn.), Catherine, Caroline, Mrs. Brinker and Sarah. Mrs. Brinker was to her husband a faithful companion and helpmeet. who by her able management of the household affairs con- tributed not a little to his success. Three chil- dren came to bless their union: A. A., now a prominent and well-known citizen of. Clarion county. was born September 19, 1866, and mar- ried Lou Emina Mohney, by whom he has five children-Bertha B., Estella A., Edgar F., Charles Christian and a baby boy. Philip Ed., the second son of Judge and Mrs. Brinker, died at the age of four years: and George Scott died at the age of fifteen months.

Judge Brinker was born in 1825, in Toby The Judge was a man of the utmost reli- township, Clarion county, a representative of : ability, and had the unqualified confidence and one of the pioneer families, his parents, John , regard of his fellow townsmen, who, appreciating and Elizabeth ( Horn) Brinker, having removed "his worth; frequently called him to public office.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He served as county treasurer, and county judge, and twice represented his district in the State Legislature, where he served with distinguished ability. His public duties were discharged with conscious fidelity, and won the commendation of all concerned. He passed away September 4, 1895. and the community mourned the death of one of its most valued citizens, for he left a deep impress on the public life. He was a stanch friend, a faithful husband and father, and com- manded the regard of all with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Margaret Humes, formerly widow of Judge Brinker, had a very pleasant, commodi- ous and modern residence at Brinkerton. Her friends are many, won by her excellencies of character.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 93

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