Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 99

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 99
USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 99
USA > Pennsylvania > Centre County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 99
USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3 > Part 99

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G. V. Phillips was married to Miss Catherine Henry, and they became the parents of four sons: (1) F. P., born in 1853, in Porter township, be- gan his studies in the public schools of the

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neighborhood, but later pursued his studies at Reedsburg, Clarion county. He married Miss Maggie Slater, of Clarion county, and is engaged in business with his father; he has four children -Katie, Edna, Bessie and John. (2) The Doc- tor is the next in order of birth. (3) H. S., born in 1857, received a common-school educa- tion, and married Maggie Shanefelt, of Porter township, by whom he has one son, Earl. They reside on his farm in Porter township. (4) L. M., born in 1860, still resides on the old homestead in Porter township; he married Pearl Fulton, of Clarion county, and has four children -George Karl, Millie, Fred and James B.

Dr. Phillips attended the local schools until fourteen years of age, and then secured a posi- tion in the store of M. S. Arnold, where he was employed for some time. Subsequently he at- tended the Reedsburg Academy, graduating fromn that institution in 1873, and then commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. A. Wick, in New Bethlehem, Clarion county, where he was a student for one year. In 1874-75 he attended the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, and later graduated in a medical college at Cleveland, Ohio. He began the practice of his profession in New Salem, Armstrong Co., Penn., where he remained until 1878, when he located in Lickingville, Clarion county. In 1888 he came to Leeper, where he soon built up an excellent practice. He also erected a building, in which he has since conducted one of the best drug stores in the place.

In 1879 Dr. Phillips was married to Miss Elizabeth Gilford; of Clarion county, and to them were born three children: Katie E., who was born in January, 1880, and died the same year; George D., born in May, 1882; and Frank P., born in 1895. The parents both hold mem- bership in the Lutheran Church, and the Doctor is a member of the Clarion County Medical So- ciety. Dr. Phillips is descended from good old Whig stock, and is a pronounced Republican in politics. It is but just and merited praise to say that as a physician he ranks among the ablest in the county, as a citizen is honorable, prompt and true to every engagement, and as a friend a model worthy of all imitation.

J JOSEPH LOLL (deceased). Although of for- eign birth, Clarion county had no more patri- otic or loyal citizen than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. For three years and a half he valiantly aided his adopted country in her struggle to preserve the Union,

and subsequently was recognized as one of the most valuable and useful citizens of Fryburg.

Mr. Loll was born in the province of Alsace, France, August 29, 1840, a son of Anthony and Mary Ann (Keal) Loll, natives of the same coun- try, the former born November 17, 1797, and the latter June 16, 1803. For seven years the father was a member of the French army. When our subject was a lad of thirteen the fam- ily immigrated to the New World and took up their residence at Prospect Furnace, near Cal- lensburg, in Clarion county, Penn., where the parents spent their remaining years, the father dying January 29, 1890, and the mother October I, 1895, when both were in their ninety-third year. Becoming widely and favorably known, they made many friends, and their death was deeply felt throughout the entire community. Their children were asfollows: Anthony, George, Joseph, John, Catherine, Theresa, Mary Ann, and Frances. Of this number, John was a mem- ber of the 103rd P. V. I. during the Civil war, and, being wounded in the foot, died of lockjaw in a Washington hospital at the age of nineteen years.

From 1852 up until the time of his death June 7, 1897, Joseph Loll was a resident of Clarion county, and upon the home farm he grew to manhood. Here he completed his education, which was begun in France. On leaving the parental roof in 1856, he came to Fryburg, and for a time engaged in teaming to Pittsburg, but when the Civil war broke out he responded to the President's call for aid, and, in August, 1861, enlisted in Company F, 63d P. V. I. He partici- pated in the engagements at Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill, the second battle of Bull Run, and the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At the last named he was shot in the lung, May 3, 1863, and on the 5th of May, 1864, was shot in both ankles. For fifteen days he lay upon the field, and was then taken to the hospital, where he remained from June 15 to November 4, 1864, returning home in time to cast his ballot for Lincoln in that year. Having made for himself a war record both honorable and glorious, he was honorably discharged Feb- ruary 6, 1865.

After the war Mr. Loll engaged in the sawmill business for some time, and also became inter- ested in coal mining, but finding these labors too arduous, be embarked in the hotel business in Fryburg, conducting the " Eiseman House" for several years. Under his able management it became one of the most popular hotels in the county, and therefore proved quite profitable.

On May 1, 1866, Mr. Loll was married to

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Miss Helen Eiseman, a daughter of Lambert and Catherine (Fasenmeyer) Eiseman, the former now deceased. Ten children blessed this union, but only fine are now living, namely: Ed, James, Leopold, William, and Anselm. Leopold is a member of the regular army, and is now stationed on Davis Island. John A., who died at Buffalo, N. Y., October 19, 1893, at the age of twenty- seven years, was also in the service at the time of his death. The others deceased are: Cather- ine and Florian, who both died at the age of five years; Mary at the age of three years; and Louisa at the age of sixteen months.

In politics Mr. Loll was a Republican, and was honored with a number of local offices, the duties of which he most capably discharged. He was a prominent member of the Grand Army Post, No. 475, and had served as senior vice- commander in the same. He was a pleasant, genial gentleman, of high social qualities, and was very popular, had a most extensive circle of friends and acquaintances who esteemed him highly for his genuine worth.

R W. DINSMORE, retired, post office address Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, Pennsyl- vania, is favorably known in the locality where he resides.

J JOSEPH A. SUMMERVILLE. Men of marked ability, forceful character and culture leave their impress upon the world, written in such indelible characters that time is powerless to obliterate their memory or sweep it from the minds of men. Their commendable acts live long after they have passed from the scene of their earthly careers. In Mr. Summerville we find one of the most prominent citizens of Clarion county, where he is now acceptably serving as county surveyor.

Born January 4, 1833, in Franklin township, Armstrong Co., Penn., Mr. Summerville is a rep- resentative of a good old family of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather, James Summerville, was born near Belfast, in County Down, Ireland, and was a member of the Seceder or Presbyterian Church. In his native land he was reared and educated, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-six he was inarried in Greensburg, Westmoreland county, to Miss Sarah Scott, a native of that county, and a daughter of James Scott, who was born in Scotland. They became the parents of the fol- lowing children: William; Samuel; John; Joseph;

Azel; Ann, wife of Abram Titus; Margaret, wife of William Ferguson; Hannah, wife of William Minteer; Fanny, wife of J. D. Rankin; and two others now deceased. With the exception of one, all lived to be over seventy years of age. The father of this family was one of the first settlers west of the Allegheny river in Armstrong county, and there on the old homestead farm he and his wife died at a ripe old age, he having attained the age of ninety-eight years. He was first a Whig, and later. a Republican, in politics, and was a valued and honored resident of his com- munity.

John Summerville, father of our subject, was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. Later he there followed the tailor's trade until 1838. In 1827 he located on a farm three miles west of Kittan- ning, and there continued to make his home until called to his final rest in 1881. He married Miss Catherine Ferguson, who was born in Adams county, Penn., on what afterwards became the battlefield of Gettysburg, and was a daughter of William and Emily Ferguson, the former a na- tive of Ireland. While the battle was raging at Gettysburg a Confederate soldier conveyed her eldest daughter, then residing on the farm, on the back of an old gray horse, to a place of safety outside their lines.

Our subject is the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being as fol- lows: James H., a resident of Clarion county; William, a merchant at Chillicothe, Mo .; John F., who died in Clarion county; Samuel M., who was for three years a member of the 78th P. V. I. during the Civil war, and now lives at Vander- grift, Penn .; Emily J., wife of James Ferguson, of Vanderbilt; Sarah C., wife of Francis Dounze, of Armstrong county. The father was a stal- wart Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were earnest, consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.

Reared in a good Christian home, Joseph A. Sunimerville grew up to be honest, industrious and enterprising, and after attending the public schools he was for a time a student in the Free- port Academy of Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty he began teaching, and successfully fol- lowed that profession for nine years, or in all ninety months. In 1856 he came to Clarion county and first located in Porter township. It was in 1866 that he removed to his present farm of 100 acres in Madison township, and to its cul- tivation and improvement he has since devoted the greater part of his time and attention with most satisfactory results.

At Brady's Bend, Penn., Mr. Summerville

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was united in marriage with Miss Laura Sage, a native of that place, and a daughter of James and Margaret (Horn) Sage. Her father was born in Vermont. To Mr. and Mrs. Summer- ville were born six children: John F., who graduated with honor at McCorkle College of Ohio, in 1879, and is now a successful physician and surgeon of Monroe, Clarion county; William J., who for some time engaged in teaching, but is now a carpenter in Apollo, Penn .; T. B., a carpenter of Clarion county; J. E., a popular ho- tel proprietor of Rimersburg, Clarion county; Mary, wife of E. Conner, of East Brady; and Maggie, wife of H. H. Shafer, of Rimersburg. The wife and mother died in 1876, and two years later Mr. Summerville wedded Miss Mary C., daughter of John Scott, of Clarion, and by this union have been born the following children: Viola, Anna, Forest B., Ray Scott, Denny J., Amy, Maud, and Joseph A.

Mr. Summerville's political support is given the Democracy, and he is one of the best in- formed men in the county on the subject of Amer- ican politics. He ranks among the most hon- ored counselors of his party, and his opinion and advice are often sought on questions of greatest importance to the community. For thirty years he has served as justice of the peace, was secre- tary of the school board for sixteen years, tax collector ten years, and also treasurer, while he has been county surveyor for five years. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1877 and 1878. His popularity is shown very clearly by his elections to the numerous offices which he has so creditably and satisfactorily filled. He is one of the active and prominent members of the Associate Presbyterian Church of Rimersburg, and is now serving as elder. The cause of edu- cation finds in him a warm friend, and his deep and sincere interest in the welfare of his fellow men prompts his support of various charities and enterprises that are calculated to prove of gen- eral benefit.

R EV. FRANK P. BRITT, pastor of Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Corsica, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, is a gentleman well known and much respected.

A NTHONY H. BECK, ex-sheriff of Clarion county, for years a builder and contractor and a genial landlord, who is extensively known throughout the county where he has passed his life, was born November 16, 1836, at Salem, Clarion county.

George Beck, his father, was a native of Westmoreland county, Penn., but who upwards of sixty years ago located in Clarion county. He married Elizabeth Schotts, who was born in Clarion county in 1816, and died in 1897. The father of these died when our subject was so young that he does not remember him. The mother who lived her long life in this com- munity was widely known and greatly esteemed.

Sheriff Beck, as he is known to all, losing his father at so young a period in his life, received but few. school privileges and those in the schools of Salem, which he attended until fourteen years of age. Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it for years. He also learned millwrighting, and, in 1856, paternmaking which occupation he followed until the tocsin of war sounded, when he enlisted as a sergeant in Company H, 8th Penn. Res. Corps as a three-months' man; the company, however, was not accepted as such but was taken as a three-years organization. The command was assigned to the Army of the Poto- mac and performed good, and, at times, most thrilling service. Mr. Beck was in the various en- gagements in which his regiment participated. At the battle of Charles City Cross Roads June, 30, 1862, he received a gunshot wound in the face which shattered the left jaw. He was alsowounded slightly in the left leg and side in other engage- ments. He rose from second sergeant to first lieutenant, being mustered out as such with the command at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 18, 1864. On returning home on July 14th of that year, he raised a company to enter the service for ninety days, in the recruiting of which some of his associates joined another division and the company was filled up at Pittsburg, and it was assigned to the Ist Penn. Inf., and desig- nated as Company A. 100 days-service. Lieut. Beck was commissioned captain of the company, which instead of serving the specified time became a five-months' organization, being mustered out at Pittsburg in November, 1864. Capt. Beck then returned to Clarion county, and. at Cooks- burg assisted in building a sawmill. For some years following the close of the war he was act- ively engaged in following carpentering and build- ing, and during that time he erected many of the leading buildings of the county; among them are the beautiful Clarion Normal School Building, the "Jones House," and several of thechurch edifices. In 1873 he was elected sheriff of the county. and filled the position ably and creditably for upwards of three years. He was an efficient officer, and served the people satisfactorily. On retiring from office he engaged in the hotel business at Parker's Landing, then he kept the .. Jones

Anthony Ho Beck

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

House " at Clarion, and has since been interested in the houses at both places. He is a genial and affable gentleman, and, perhaps, no one in the county enjoys a larger acquaintance and is more favorably known. He is popular with the masses, and is a man that commands the respect of the community at large.

In 1866 Mr. Beck was married to Margaret Potter, who was born in Clarion county. Her death occurred April 10, 1860. No children were born of this union, but our subject and his noble wife shared their home with an adopted daughter, now Mrs. L. H. Frank. Socially, our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F., being next to the oldest past grand of his lodge. He is also a member of the G. A. R. In politics he has been a life-long Democrat He has served as chief of the fire department of Clarion. .

SAIAH J. WIREBACK, M. D., of St. Peters- burg, is one of the most prominent repre- sentatives of the medical profession in Clarion county. He was born in Hilltown township, Bucks Co., Penn., August 5, 1839.

The family is of German extraction. Isaac Wireback, his grandfather, was a native" of this country. He passed the latter part of his life in Lehigh county, Penn. His wife, Mrs. Catharine Wireback, had passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey when she was called to the world beyond.

Benjamin Green Wireback, the Doctor's fa- ther, was a native of Lehigh county, but was reared in Bucks county, where he married Miss Catharine Bitting, who was born in Hilltown township, that county. Her father, Abel Bitt- ing, was of Welsh descent. The Doctor is the oldest of their three children, the others being Thomas B., a resident of Philadelphia, Penn .; and Artemus, a bookkeeper for a mercantile firm in Philadelphia. The father was a farmer by oc- cupation, and a Democrat in politics. He held membership in the Reformed Church, took an active part in all Church work, and served as elder for many years. He died at the age of seventy- two, his wife at the age of sixty-two.

Dr. Wireback passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native county, attended an acad- emy in Allentown, and also A. R. Horn's Clas- sical and Normal School in Bucks county, Penn. He has throughout his entire life made a special study of higher mathematics, and is to-day one of the most proficient scholars in that science in Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen he be- gan teaching, and in 1863 commenced the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. James G.

Mensch, of Pennville, Bucks county, one of the best known and most successful physicians in that section of the State. Later he entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1866, and at once opened an office in Sellersville, Bucks county. Later he engaged in practice for six years in Evansport, Ohio, and on his return to Pennsyl- vania located in Scottdale, Westmoreland coun- ty, but since 1876 he has made his home in St. Petersburg; where his skill and ability soon won for him an excellent patronage.

On July 1, 1868, Dr. Wireback was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E. Fisher, a daugh- ter of Rev. P. S. Fisher, a minister of the Re- formed Church at Sellersville, who was taken sick in the pulpit while preaching. While in the midst of his discourse, he was unable to conclude his sermon, descended from the pulpit, was as- sisted to a neighboring dwelling where he expired before any of his family could be summoned. He was aged sixty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Veronica Heckert, is also deceased. To the Doctor and his wife were born six children, five of whom are still living, namely: Frank, who is now employed in the oil fields of West Virginia; Madge E .; Verona, a teacher of manual training, now residing in St. Louis; Joseph F., a bookkeeper; Nevin H., who is still in school; and Alice, deceased.

For years Dr. Wireback has been a recognized leader in the ranks of the Democratic party in Clarion county, and has been a delegate to many of its conventions, representing his district at the State Convention in Reading, in August, 1897. He has served as a member of the school board of St. Petersburg for nearly twenty years, takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare of the town, and withholds his support from no enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit. Fraternally, he is a member of Canby Lodge No. 520, F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the offices, and also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, the Royal Arcanum, the County Medical Society, the State Medical Society, the American and National Medical Associations, and the Associa- tion of Railway Surgeons, being surgeon for the Pittsburg & Western railroad. He is also a member of the Allegheny Valley Clinical Asso- ciation, and is widely recognized as one of the most successful and able physicians and surgeons of Clarion county. The Doctor is a prominent and active member of the Reformed Church of St. Petersburg: he was made an elder of this Church while residing at Scottdale, Westmore- land county, and he has also been choir leader

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for nearly eighteen years, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school for several years. His daughter Madge is a member of the choir. The family is one of prominence in social circles, and enjoys the hospitality of the best homes in St. Petersburg.

UINCY A. CRAIG is a well- known and promi- nent merchant of Greenville. Ofexcellent busi- ness ability and broad resources, he has at tained a leading place among the substantial citi- zens of Clarion county, and is a recognized leader in public affairs. He has won success by his well- directed, energetic efforts, and the prosperity that has come to him is certainly well deserved.

Mr. Craig is a native of Clarion county, born in 1851, and is a son of Washington and Nancy (Thompson) Craig, who were born, reared and married in Indiana county, Penn., but at an early day came to Clarion county, where they spent their remaining years. - By trade the father was a millwright, and followed that occupation for many years, but he also engaged in lumbering, milling, and merchandising. He owned a large tract of timber land in Clarion county, and also the store in Greenville which is now conducted by our subject. Public affairs also claimed his attention, and he"creditably served in a number of local positions of honor and trust, including that of justice of the peace and postmaster of Limestone, the last of which positions he filled during the war of the Rebellion and up to the time of his death. He departed this life in 1881, and his wife passed away in 1891. Seven of their eleven children are still living, namely: W. T .; John F .; Mary M., wife of James Todd; J. H .; R. M .; Nancy J. ; and Quincy A.

After attending the common schools near his home for some time, Quincy A. Craig, of this sketch, entered the academy at Callensburg, Clarion county, where he completed his literary education. His business training was received in his father's store, where he began clerking at an early age, and after being employed in that way for -a number of years he took a business course in Duff's Mercantile College, of . Pittsburg, Penn., graduating from that institution in 1871, after which he was given an interest in the busi- ness. On the death of his father he became sole owner, and has since successfully carried on opera- tions as a general merchant, receiving a liberal share of the public patronage.

In 1875 Mr. Craig was married to Miss Sarah J. Scott, a daughter of Andrew Scott, a native of Ireland. Seven children blessed their union, of whom five are now living, namely: Warren

C., who assists his father in the store; Elsie B. ; Helen T .; Hazel M .; and Emmons F. The parents holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Craig is now serving as Church treasurer, having filled that position acceptably for the past ten years. Socially, he is a mem- ber of the American Mechanics, and, politically, is identified with the Republican party. He, too, has served as justice of the peace, and has been postmaster of the Limestone post office at Greenville since 1890, discharging his duties in a prompt and commendable manner. He is not only one of the leading business men of his na- tive county, but is also one of its valued and representative citizens, whose name is honorably and inseparably connected with its history. He is very progressive, and has taken a most active part in promoting the county's interests and sub- ·stantial improvement.

D AVID O. ETTERS, Superintendent of the City Schools of Bellefonte, Centre county, Pennsylvania.

J E. MCINTYRE, foreman of the Venus Oil Company, with which he has been connected since 1895, was born in Shippenville, Elk township, Clarion county, in 1846, a son of John and Lucy (Wood) McIntyre, the former a native of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Michael McIntyre, a stone mason by trade, was born in Ireland, and educated for a priest, but rather than take up the priesthood he left his home at about the age of sixteen and came to Philadelphia where he clerked in a store for his uncle a year or so, or until the latter's demise. From there he went to New Jersey, where, later on, he was married to Miss Nancy Cunninghamn. On coming to Clarion county, Penn., he here purchased a partially-improved farm now owned by the Kahles, and to its further development and cultivation he devoted his energies for a number of years. In Shippenville, he died in 1847, and his wife in the year following. He left one sister, Margaret, better known as " Peggy," who conducted a store in the City of Dublin. His mother's or grandmother's maiden name was Mollie Townley.

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Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania : including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Pt. 3, Part 99

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