Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 77

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 77

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So much for Mr. Sober's sueeess in chestnut growing as a business proposition. As a benefit to those who have waste land to convert into pay- ing property the value of his enterprise is inesti- mable. His idea for the reclaiming of waste land, of which there are hundreds of thousands of aeres in Pennsylvania alone, is the transplanting there- on of young chestnut seedlings. The grafted trees begin bearing the seeond or third year, the vield inereasing annually. There is comparatively little expense beyond the initial cost of grafting, Chestnut Grove Stock Farm, the beautiful mod- el farni of which the chestnut groves are a lead- ing feature, has been described as "destined to be one of the most famous farms in the United States." There is an abundant water supply from never failing springs located on the tract. twenty- five of them, and one situated 160 feet above the house feeds a large reservoir from which the dwell- ing and buildings are supplied with running wa- ter. The main house, a beautiful three-story frame residenee, is situated to the north of the main road leading to Sunbury, and there are four modern tenement houses. The big barn, 50 by ized wire netting and granaries lined with iron. practically rat-proof. Farm machinery in almost endless variety, for performing and facilitating the work, is at hand, and there is perhaps no bet- ter equipped blacksmith shop in the region than the one on this place. There is a large acetylene gas generator, of Mr. Sober's own manufacture. which lights the house and barn, and all the other buildings in which artificial light is useful. The but care expended in keeping a grove in apple-pie order is more than repaid in results. In the ease of the Sober groves, seientific management pre- vails even in attention to apparently unimportant details. Every experiment is elosely watched, and sueh reliable statistics have been kept that the Sober Chestnut plantation has become the objeet of 'observation by government experts, who have invited Mr. Sober to contribute to the department sueh advice and instruction as he thinks necessary for the guidanee of those about to undertake chest- nut culture. He is always ready to give others the benefits of the knowledge he has acquired. Spe- 125 feet in dimensions. and 75 feet from the cial devices which he has developed or invented in ground to the top of the eupola, is a model of the course of his work have been patented, but convenienee. Underneath are twenty box stalls he is willing to explain his methods in any. branch of the most approved type. There is a hay shed of the business, to share his ideas, to assist any of 100 tons eapacity, corncribs lined with galvan- who are earnestly interested in the subjeet. He invented a wax for holding in place the "tongue" or "whip" graft, which on his place has entirely superseded the old wedge graft, and has published the formula. Mr. Sober has this wax eolored, ar- ranging to have eaeh man he employs at grafting use a different color, thus enabling him to follow up the work of any one man. when necessary. Mr. Sober's early experiences with the wedge graft were so discouraging, in spite of the fact that he chestnut groves border that part of the estate de- engaged professionals to do the work, that he de- voted to ordinary agricultural purposes, and be-

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sides there are thousands of bearing fruit trees the gas being also usable for cooking purposes, on the land, ranged along the publie and private clean, economical, convenient, the business is in thoroughfares which intersect the property, apple, thriving condition. cherry, peach, pear and other fruits, all 40 feet Mr. Sober has always been a public-spirited citi- apart, stretching along three miles of highway. zen, ready to give aid and encouragement to wor- These include over two thousand gratted cherry trees.

thy enterprises affecting the welfare of his com- inumity. He has been active in promoting agri- cultural fairs, and has been a prominent figure at such gatherings for years, not only as a land owner and stock breeder, but also as a "drawing

Mr. Sober has made a specialty of raising high- bred horses, and has a number of fine pedigreed horses, some with excellent track records. There is a full half-mile race course on the farm, unique- card" in his capacity of expert marksman. This Iv located on a knoll a short distance south of the brings us to another side of his remarkable ca- road. reer. A fine shot and an enthusiastic huntsman Mr. Sober has made numerous experiments on his land, and he was one of the first in the State to become interested in alfalfa. He has also tried Alaska wheat, having put five acres under culti- vation in the latter crop one season to test its from his youth, Mr. Sober has gone into the field of sport with the same zeal and keen intelligence that he brings to bear in all his other interests. So he has not only become an expert, but he has made it possible for others to enjoy hunting and possibilities in the neighborhood. He grows the similar pastimes under the most favorable condi- finest cantaloupes raised in this region. He has demonstrated in numerous ways the possibilities of a well managed farm property.

tions. Iu the pursuit of his lumbering opera- tions, covering a period of forty years, Mr. Sober has found great opportunities to familiarize him- self with the habits and habitat of game, and his keen powers of observation, together with his ua-

thority on such matters. He took the position of game commissioner with an object. In this offi- cial capacity he has been able to influence the en- actment of many of the wisest provisions now embraced in the game laws of Pennsylvania. The preservation and propagation of game have been guarded carefully, with the result that conditions are improving steadily, and hunting facilities are increasing yearly, adding much to the enjoyment Sober himself has purchased large numbers of birds, particularly quail, and liberated them in different localities in the various fertile valleys of the Susquehanna. His love for trout fishing has led him to stock numerous streams in Center,

. The farm has been the object of wide attention and many prominent men have visited the prop -. erty, particularly to investigate the chestnut proposition, a number of the States having men- tioned the Sober groves in their annual agricul- Clinton and Lycoming counties with brook and

tural reports. Frequent mention is made in the National reports. A trip to this place is not only interesting, but instructive in the highest degree. There have been many press notices re- garding it in the papers and magazines. A writ- er who visited the estate early in September, 1911. a man widely traveled and familiar with the beau- ties of art and nature in many parts of the world, after a drive over the four hundred acres of bend- ing. bearing trees spoke of the scene as one pass- ing description. At the season when the green of the chestnut burrs was changing to autumn tints, it was a picture which defied the best efforts of brushı or pen.

other varieties of trout. He is noted as a hunter throughout central Pennsylvania, in whose remot- est recesses large numbers of bear, deer and wild- cats are still to be found. For weeks during the open season he will desert his office, abandon the industries with which he is connected, and, seek- ing the seclusion of the forests or mountains, ac- companied usually by another noted sportsman. will spend a large portion of the hunting season in rudely constructed camps far from the haunts of men.

A number of years ago his love for field sports led him to join a syndicate composed of promi- nent Pennsylvania capitalists iu the purchase of a large game preserve, which is probably unequaled pose. The syndicate purchased Wallop's island.

Mr. Sober is the inventor, patentee and manu- facturer of acetylene gas generators, conducting in the many advantages it possesses for the pur- this business at Lewisburg. l'a. He has donc much to popularize this method of lighting, and on the eastern shore of Accomac county, Va., just

The working force on this extensive domain has naturally been added to to mieet requirements as the property has been developed, and in the' tural inclination for systematizing his knowledge month of October. 1910, when the chestnuts were on any subject, have made him a recognized au- being gathered, Mr. Sober had 115 helpers on his farm payroll. Ordinarily. twenty-five men are employed on the estate, and five teams of horses and mules are required to carry on the work. As previously stated, when Mr. Sober began grafting chestnuts he did all the work himself, having one or two farm hands to help him. From twenty to forty nurserymen, who graft on an average 300 to 500 trees per day each, are now engaged for

several weeks in the spring. The property is un -. of those who indulge in this recreation. Mr. der the management of Mr. Sober's son.

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south of Chincoteague island. Wallop's island between the traps forty-one yards apart, shooting has an area of twenty-five hundred acres and is one pigeon from the left shoulder, the other from said to shelter more game than any similar spot the right shoulder. in the south-a section of this country which is highly favored with game-and the island has one of the finest sea beaches on the Atlantic coast, six miles in length. The men have on the island a clubhouse of thirty rooms and a good wharf; and with the oysters, fish, all varieties of shore birds, waterfowl, and the delightful climate for which Wallop's island is noted, they have every facility for enjoyable outings. Mr. Sober sold his. inter- ests in this property in 1911.

For several years past Mr. Sober has hunted ruffed grouse only, as that is the quickest bird in America to get in full flight upon discovery, and gives him the rapid work which he enjoys. During the fall of 1890 he shot thirty-two of these birds without a miss, and in the last fifty that he killed that year he shot at fifty-five only. The press of this and other States has often made ex- tended mention of his wonderful feats, and from the "American Field" of Jan. 9, 1892, we glean the following :

"In the spring of 1880. he shot 537 wild pigeons in three days at Kane, Pa., while the birds were flying to and from their feeding grounds, and at no time did he kill more than one bird at a shot. For a number of years, how- ever, the increased pressure of business cares has prevented Mr. Sober from attending trap shoots, from which fact some people think he cannot shoot over a trap. but his scores on record show he had no difficulty in winning when he did at- tend. He broke 452 King-birds straight, at the York fair. He has never killed 100 live pigeons straight, but he killed ninety-six ont of 100, at twenty-one yards rise, using one barrel only. At a match at twelve live bats to each man, in which seventeen shooters contested. Mr. Sober won with a score of eleven killed, it being the only match at bats in which he had contested.

"When he attended trap shoots he often made clean scores at glass balls, King-birds and live pigeons, often making from fourteen to thirty straight kills, and readily defeated all who shot against him. The most remarkable exhibitions of Mr. Sober's skill, however, are in trick shooting, or as he terms it 'rough and tumble shooting,' in which he handicaps himself in many different ways, shooting from all sorts of positions at King- birds, glass balls or live pigeons sprung from a trap, in which his scores are fully equal to those made by many trap shooters who shoot from the, shoulder and are not in any way handicapped. Through long practice of these feats-many of which he originated-Mr. Sober has become so expert that he can perform more unique shots with the double-barreled shotgun than any other liv- each shot being more marvelous than the preced- ing one, all from different positions or nnder new forms of handicap. He breaks glass balls or King- birds from either shoulder, with handkerchiefs tied around both barrels of his gun, with the bar- rels thrust through objects of different sizes, vary- ing from a cigar-box up to a flour barrel, with

Mr. Sober's record as champion gunshot of the world, as "wizard of the gun." deserves more than passing notice, though it is only in a somewhat limited manner that we can speak of his marvel- ous skill, . for his wonderful gun feats number over two hundred, and he can entertain a multi- tude of spectators three full hours with his fancy shooting alone. It is but just to say of him that he is not only the champion trick (or trap) shot of the world, but the champion all-round shot of the universe. We have here used the word "trick" as a sort of colloquialism, but it is not the cor- reet term, as, in truth, Mr. Sober's feats with the gun are not mere "tricks." but the effect or re- sult of scientific and skillful calculation. He says he does not know how he acquired his experience, but "guesses it was born in him." Indeed, inheri- tance, as has already been mentioned, has no little to do with this astounding skill of his, in which he has no rival the world over, and this same in- heritance has clung to him from early boyhood, through every .change in occupation and fortune. His expertness in the use of the gun has been acquired through pure love of the sport. When, as a boy, he began to handle a gun. he determined to excel in its use, and often he would do his farm work at night in order to gain time for practice in the woods by daylight. Many an hour he has also spent at night in practicing some difficult feat. or some new method of handling his weapon. With such persistent exercise in rapid and accurate use it is no wonder that he does marvels, and his constant travel in the forest in connection with the business enables him to con- tinue his favorite sport almost constantly.

It will be seen that in 1875 he was but little more than a boy, and, to show that he has from ing man. He performs over two hundred feats, early boyhood been a prodigy, we cite some remark- able local sweepstake exhibitions given by him between September, 1875, and Angust, 1877. Dur- ing this time he participated in varions contests- shooting at 481 live pigeons, and killing 440, an astounding record of more than 91 per cent! It must be remembered, also, that these birds were killed at twenty-one yards rise-and with the use his gun either side up, and in many other ways, of only one barrel ; excepting that out of this num- with wonderful! acenracy. Ho even springs his ber he shot nineteen doubles, standing midway own target (single or double), and then breaks

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the targets. He shoots from almost every con- be unnecessary in this article; but his achieve- ceivable position, standing or lying, holding the ments cannot by any means be passed lightly over. gun over his head, between his legs, at his neck or breast, etc.

"Mr. Sober commences with simple shots, single and double, and goes from one feat to another, handicapping himself, not only as we have'. de- scribed, but in many other ways. At Lewisburg, Pa:, in the fall of 1886, he gave his fourth public exhibition, when he shot at 130 glass balls from fifty-one different positions, and missed but eight. At the tournament of the Elmira (N. Y.) Gun Club, in July, 1887, Mr. Sober made a phenome- nal record. He shot at 108 glass balls, from sev- enty-nine difficult positions, and missed but four- teen.

Mr. Sober has proved himself to be, beyond a peradventure, the champion all-round shotgun shot of the world, a title he does not assume, but which belongs to him by right, and by virtue of his challenge to the whole world to enter the lists with him. This challenge has never been accepted : but a critical view of Mr. Sober's mar- velous shots will remove all doubts as to his abil- ity to vanquish any other specialist in his line. The case stands as follows : In the "American Field" of Feb. 23, 1889. Mr. Sober "issued a chal- lenge to any man in the world-Dr. W. F. Car- ver preferred-to shoot an exhibition match against him with a double-barrel shotgun for a stake of five hundred dollars a side; and he of- fered to pay the -expenses of any one who would meet him and shoot at Sunbury, Pa., the follow- ing May." Previously Mr. Sober and Dr. Car- ver had correspondence through the columns of the "American Field," and the former had de-

"The most difficult of Mr. Sober's shooting feats cannot be photographed for the purpose of illus- " tration, such as placing his gun on the ground at a distance of eighteen feet, springing his own trap, then, after running and picking up his gun, breaking single or double targets-King-birds or glass balls. In many of the feats which he per- posited fifty dollars forfeit as an earnest of his forms Mr. Sober can turn back to the trap, call sincerity. Subsequently H. C. Fuller aud Mr. 'pull,' piek up his gun with the box. keg or barrel . Sober had some correspondence through the same on it, as the case may be, turn around and score 'dead bird' on either single or doubles.

medium, but in neither case was a match made, and Mr. Sober's money was returned to him after the lapse of a couple of years. In this connection it must be borne in mind that he is not a pro-

"He can break double King-birds, one with his gun overhead and the other from his shoulder, or one from between his legs and the other from fessional shot, nor has he ever posed as such, not- the shoulder. Scoring doubles, one from each withstanding his well known ability; and, more- shoulder, is to him but a simple pastime. The over. he never performs for money, his public feats Mr. Sober performs in shooting with boxes, . exhibitions being for the benefit of some public barrels, tables and similar obstructions around his charity, or to aid in the attraction to State and gun barrels are rendered successful only by rea- county fairs, Grange picnics, Grand Army reun- son of the nicety of calculation which he has ac- ions, or similar affairs, and he is always sure to quired by long practice. Many who see the King- birds, glass balls or live pigeons fall before his unerring aim wonder how he had got sight over or under such obstructions. He does not take sight; for that would be impossible. His success is due to remarkably accurate calculations. When it is remembered that there are at least two hun- dred different trick shots on his list, many of them more difficult than we have described, and the fact is considered that Mr. Sober's challenge to the world in his line of shootings remained open two years, and that he has never been- de- feated in that line in a match, it is not strange that he is called the champion of the world by many admirers in his native State."

be a "drawing-card" as the wonder-shot of the world, thousands of delighted spectators witness- ing with interest his bewildering feats. What adds a charm to the occasion is his modest. un- assuming manner. He comes on the scene with a calinness and unobtrusiveness that at once win the attention of the spectators, then what he does is square business, with nothing to attract but the merits of the very fine work he does with the shotgun. An article in the Meadville Republican of September 10, 1894. written by an eyewitness of one of these exhibitions, covers in a few words what might be said of all Mr. Sober's performan- ces, and we quote therefrom in part: "The mem- bers of the Gun Club visited him in large num- bers, and got from him many points of instruc- tion, which he seemed very nich pleased to im- part. His skill with the gun was even more than

There is hardly a sportsman in the State of Pennsylvania who has not seen him shoot, and few in the United States who have not read of his accomplishments with the gun. He takes advertised. He shot with effect in almost every pleasure in showing the world what perfection conceivable position, and the gun in every variety can be attained in the handling of the shotgun, of grasp-under him, over him, to right. to left, and there is scarcely an exhibition of importance. sitting, standing, lying, with gun above his head, in the State to which he is not invited. To give between his feet, upside down, thrust through a. full detailed account of his exhibitions would barrels, boxes, tables, and in every position. ex-

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cept with the muzzle in his hands. Loud applause barrel in the box as described) held at arm's length greeted his numerous, wonderful shots." Indeed, directly above his head. Thus handicapped, the we might quote page after page of similar en- marksman pulls the trigger and the bird drops cominins, did space permit ; vet a just tribute to "ereation's greatest. shot" we plead as exeuse, were such necessary, for dwelling longer on this high- ly interesting subject. In addition to newspaper and other extraets in this article we quote the fol- lowing :

"At Center Hall, in 1889, Mr. Sober commenced shooting. The wind was blowing a regular gale. and no one of the ten thousand visitors expected to see more than a few plain shots. But Mr. So- ber is not built that way. He believes in giving every piece on the program, gale or no gale. All the fancy shots were made. and in all his shooting he missed but one King-bird. which was caught by the wind, and darted down in such a manner as to make it impossible to hit it. Everybody ex- pressed astonishment at the remarkable work, no one having any idea that it was possible under the circumstanees : and no one will believe hereafter that there is a man on the face of the earth that ean compete with C. K. Sober. when it comes to fancy wing shooting."-Mifflinburg Telegram.

"Dr. Carver, Buffalo Bill, Captain Bogardus, and many other renowned marksmen have given exhibitions, but none have exeelled Mr. Sober's." -Elmira Daily Advertiser, July 2, 1887.

"He handles a shotgun as a boy would a tin rat- tle-is as quiek as lightning and as sure as fate. He accomplishes all-oven the most difficult- shots with the greatest ease and grace, and by the time the ordinary marksmen get through aiming Mr. Sober will have broken a barrel of King-birds." -Middleburg (Snyder County) Post, Sept. 24, 1891.

"But the greatest feature of the day was the that, although he has hunted with many expert shooting of Mr. Sober and his son. This was a revelation to the visitors to the fair. Mr. Sober is.a wonderful marksman. He shot at. 147 targets yesterday, from a great number of different posi- tions, and at all sorts of disadvantages, yet he did not miss a single one. This is, perhaps, the great- est exhibition Mr. Sober ever gave and this is equivalent to saying that the York county fair grounds have been the seene of the greatest sloot- ing ever done in the world. Nothing can prevent him from scoring. He shoots just as accurately with the gun turned upside down and thrust through a flour barrel as he does in the usual po- sition."-York Gazette. October, 1894.

We will conclude our description of Mr. So- ber's trap shooting with an account of a couple of amazing and almost incredible shots that he made: A bird is thrown from the trap thirty yards away from the shooter, who stands with his side toward the trap, with inverted . gun, near Adamsburg, Pa., he shot sixteen pheasants the barrel of which is passed right through a wooden box, 14x16 inches in size, the gun (with

to the ground. This feat has been accomplished by no other being, and reads like one of Baron Munchausen's fictions, but it is nevertheless true in every particular. Another remarkable feat Mr. Sober accomplishes with ease is to spring two King-birds from a trap, shoot one of them from between his legs while standing with his baek toward the trap, then turn quickly and drop the second King-bird. We cannot avoid giving special emphasis to the four exhibitions given by Mr. So- ber at the York county fair, before a multitude of fifty thousand people, where he shot at 588 targets with but five misses, two of which were made on his first day's trial, three being lost on the fourth day toward the close of his final ex- hibition. At one of Mr. Sober's shooting enter- tainments given at Brook Park (Lewisburg), in October, 1897, he killed 65 pigeons without a miss and broke 200 targets without an error. And it must be borne in mind that not a shot was made without some form of handicap-shooting from both shoulders; gun inverted, and above his head ; with gun thrust through powder kegs, flour bar- rels, boxes, etc .- vet he seemed to experience neither hindrance nor inconvenienee. It was like the legerdemain of some great wizard.

For several years past Mr. Sober has passed most of his time in the forest, hunting out timber- lands, and' superintending lumber operations. These pursuits have rendered it possible for him to follow his favorite sport of shooting ruffed gronse (Bonasa umbellus) ahnost uninterrupted- ly during the proper season, and a gentleman who has accompanied him on sueh expeditions says wing shots. it has never been his privilege to meet any one in field or eover who was able to demon- strate the phenomenal skill which Mr. Sober dis- plays at different times when grouse shooting in the wilds of Pennsylvania.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 77

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co. Number of Pages: 1090

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090