USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume I > Part 15
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James Kistler Mosser ( father) was born in Trexlertown, Penn- sylvania, in 1830. The early years of his life were spent in obtaining an education in the schools of his native town, and later he entered the tannery at Trexlertown which was conducted by his father, under whose supervision he learned the trade of tanning sole leather. In 1849 he removed to Allentown, and five years later his father, Jacob Mosser, turned over the tannery business to his two sons, William K. and James K., and the firm name became W. K. & J. K. Mosser. This business relationship continued until 1859, in which year James K. withdrew his interest. He then became associated with Thomas Keck and Alfred G. Saeger in the organization of a company at East Allentown, the same being known as Mosser, Keck & Company. In 1863 the same gentlemen established a commission house in New York city, under the style of
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Keck, Mosser & Company, and ten years later they established a branch house in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1875 Mr. Saeger withdrew from the firm, and the following year James K. Mosser and Thomas Keck built a tannery at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the name of the firm being J. K. Mosser & Company, which is the present style. In 1884 Mr. Mosser's three sons were admitted to partnership.
There have been many changes in the methods of manufacturing shoes, and corresponding changes in the methods of preparing the leather for the market. There is no waste material in a hide, as every part is used for some purpose or other, and the business is so conducted that no patron is compelled to purchase a portion which he cannot utilize in his business. By thoroughly understanding all the details of the business and having had a practical experience in the same for many years, Mr. Mosser developed a very extensive business, and became one of the leading representatives of the industrial circles of Allentown. Each of his sons has charge of a department, and the house is one of the largest producers in this line in the country. For more than twenty years Mr. Mosser served as a director in the Allentown National Bank, and he also filled a similar position in the Lehigh Valley Trust Company, having been appointed as such at its inception. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and a Republican in politics.
James K. Mosser was united in marriage to Miss Marie E. Keck, and the following children were the issue of the union: Henry Solo- mon, mentioned hereinafter; Jacob, who married a Miss Seiberling and their children are: Annie, Paul, Carl, Harris, John, Catherine, Philip, and Charles Richard. George, who married Ida Hauseman and their family consists of three children : Fred, Robert and Mary. Lucy, who became the wife of Dr. Irving Huebner, and their children are: James
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K. and Richard. James K. Mosser, father of these children, died Feb- -
ruary 6, 1905, and was buried at Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Henry S. Mosser obtained a knowledge of the rudimentary branches of education in the public schools of Allentown, and later pursued ad- vanced studies at Muhlenburg College. He gained his first business experience in the employ of the firm of Keck & Mosser, his father being one of the partners, with whom he remained until he was eighteen years of age. He then came to Williamsport to take charge of their tannery at that place, and shortly afterwards was admitted to membership in the firm, which then and now conducts business under the style of J. K. Mosser & Company, and he has since devoted his entire attention to this branch of the work. He is a man of practical experience and keen business sagacity, and therefore thoroughly competent for the supervi- sion of this important department of the work. The plant gives em- ployment to two hundred and seventy-five hands, and their annual out- put is one hundred thousand finished hides. Mr. Mosser is a member of the Williamsport Board of Trade, the Ross Club, and the Williams- port Athletic Club. In his political views he is an ardent supporter of the principles of Republicanism, but has never sought or desired public office.
Mr. Mosser married Mary R. Grim, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Mory) Grim, and granddaughter of Jesse and Hannah (Knabe) Grim. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mosser, as follows: Helen G., James K., Miriam L., Henry E., and J. Louis. The mother of these children, who was a most estimable woman in every respect, died in January, 1904. Mr. Mosser attends the Presbyterian church, to the support of which he contributes most liberally, and of which his children are members. Mr. Mosser has
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chosen Williamsport for his permanent home, and has built and fitted up the finest residence in the town.
GEORGE D. NUTT, M. D.
George D. Nutt, M. D., of Williamsport, widely known for his skill and eminent usefulness as a surgeon, and whose labors have ex- tended over more than a third of a century, is a native of New Jersey, born near Pemberton, Burlington county, April 17, 1845, a son of Noah and Beulah (Budd) Nutt.
He is of English ancestry, descended from two of the oldest New Jersey families, and in the maternal line from that of which John Budd, surveyor for the Lords Proprietors, and Dr. Bernard Budd, who was one of the founders of the New Jersey Medical Society in 1766 and a surgeon in the Revolutionary army, were prominent members. William Nutt, paternal grandfather of Dr. George D. Nutt, was a farmer in New Egypt, New Jersey, where he died. He married and reared a family of three sons and five daughters ; the sons were farmers, and the daughters all married men of the same calling.
Noah Nutt, father of Dr. Nutt, was born in Ocean county, New Jersey, and lived upon a farm, first in Burlington county, and later at Pemberton, New Jersey. He was a Baptist in religion, and a Democrat in politics. He married Beulah Budd, daughter of John Budd, and to them were born children: I. Martha, married William E. Gaskill, a school teacher and farmer, residing in Juliustown, New Jersey. 2. John B., dealer in agricultural implements and lumber, in Pemberton, New Jersey. 3. Thomas H., who was a commission merchant, and died at the age of thirty-five years. 4. George D., to be further referred to. 5. Beulah, married Davis Hendrickson, and resides in Pemberton,
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New Jersey. 6. Josephine, unmarried, resides in Pemberton, New Jersey.
George D. Nutt, of the family named above, was reared upon the paternal farm, and attended the district schools until he was sixteen years of age. For two years afterward he was a student in the Pem- berton Academy, and subsequently attended the Peddie Institute at Heightstown, New Jersey, for an equal period. With ample literary preparation he matriculated in the medical department of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1869. In July of the same year he located in Williamsport, Pennsyl- vania, which has been his place of residence to the present time. First engaging in a general medical practice, he soon diverted his attention to the eye, in connection with his duties with the Williamsport Dispensary. In 1895 he relinquished all else to devote himself to the field of sur- gery, in which his great ability soon won for him a wide fame and brought to him duties of a most exacting character, his practice for operations and in consultation extending over a radius of seventy or more miles of thickly populated territory. His prominence in the profession is attested likewise by his connection with professional insti- tutions and societies. To Williamsport he rendered a conspicuous service in being one of the founders of the Williamsport Hospital ; he has been a member of its board of managers from its institution to the present time, and for many years abdominal surgeon to the institution. During the first administration of President Cleveland he was a member of the local board of United States pension examining surgeons. He has been for many years an active member of various leading profes- sional bodies-the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, the West Branch Medical Association, and the
1
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Lycoming County Medical Society, serving for two years as president of the last named, and for a lengthy period as corresponding secretary.
Dr. Nutt stands with the foremost of Williamsport's enterprising citizens in support of community interests, and all efforts conducive to its development and prosperity. He is a member of its Board of Trade, and was one of the original projectors and stockholders of the Williamsport Electric Light Company. For forty years he has been a member of the Baptist church, and has long served upon its board of trustees. He is a Democrat in politics, cherishing the foundation principles of the party, and too loyal to his convictions of right to follow it blindly to inconsistency and false policies. He holds membership in the Ross Club, the leading social organization of the city.
Dr. Nutt was married, August 23, 1876, to Miss Katherine E. Tubbs, a daughter of James Tubbs, of Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. Of this marriage there are two living children: John B. and Abbie Louise Nutt.
HORACE GREELEY McCORMICK, M. D.
The medical profession of Lycoming county numbers among its ablest representatives Dr. Horace Greeley McCormick, of Williamsport. The long and honorable line from which Dr. McCormick is descended traces its origin to Ireland, where, no doubt, it was planted by an ances- tor of Scottish blood, forced, by the stress of some political crisis, to fly from his native land.
James McCormick (1), the first progenitor whose name appears on the family record, was a resident of Londonderry, Ireland, and among his other children were two sons : Hugh, mentioned at length herein- after; and Thomas. It is from these two sons that the Pennsylvania McCormicks trace their descent.
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Hugh McCormick (2), son of James McCormick (I), was born about 1695, in the province of Ulster, Ireland. He married and had four children: John; James; Samuel; and Hugh, mentioned at length hereinafter. About 1735, Hugh and Thomas McCormick, with their families, emigrated to the American colonies and settled in Lancaster (now Dauphin) county, Pennsylvania.
Hugh McCormick (3), youngest son of Hugh McCormick (2), was born in 1725, in Ireland, and was ten years of age when his parents sought a home in the New World. About 1770 he purchased thirteen hundred acres of land in White Deer Valley. His wife was Sarah, daughter of James and Mary Alcorn, of Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, and they were the parents of nine children, among whom was a son, Seth, mentioned at length hereinafter. Hugh McCormick, the father, appears to have been, for the times, a prosperous and wealthy man.
Seth McCormick (4), son of Hugh (3) and Sarah (Alcorn) Mc- Cormick, was born in 1756, in Paxtang township, in what was then Lan- caster county, and settled upon a portion of the land in White Deer Valley which had been purchased by his father, the remainder becoming the homestead of Thomas, another son of Hugh McCormick. Seth Mc- Cormick married Margaret, daughter of Samuel and Margaret ( Plunk- ett) Simmons, of Buffalo Valley, and niece of Dr. Plunkett whose name is prominent in the early history of Northumberland county. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick were the parents of the following children : I. Robert, who was born in 1782, married Nancy Foresman, and died in 1874. 2. Hugh, who was born in 1784 and died in 1826. 3. Samuel, who was born in 1787, married Elizabeth Piatt, and died in 1864. 4. Seth, mentioned at length hereinafter. 5. Thomas, who was born in 1791, married Maria Hammond, and died in 1818. 6. Sarah, who was born in 1793, married Robert J. Foresman, and died in 1874. 7. John,
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who was born in 1797, and was thrice married, his first wife being Hester Coryell, his second Sarah Bush, and his third Sarah Brown. He died in 1871. 8. Cynthia, who was born in 1800, married Samuel Eason, and died in 1880. 9. Susan, who was born in 1802, married Matthew B. Hammond, and died in 1883. 10. Joseph, who was born in 1805, married Margaret Schooley, and died in 1876.
Seth McCormick (5), fourth child of Seth (4) and Margaret (Simmons) McCormick, was born in 1789, and married Hannah Ham- mond. Among their children was a son, Seth Thomas, mentioned at length hereinafter. Mr. McCormick died while still a young man, being but thirty-two years of age at the time of his decease, which occurred in 182I.
Seth Thomas McCormick (6), second son of Seth (5) and Han- nah (Hammond) McCormick, was born January 27, 1817, in Washing- ton township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. His early life was spent in the work of a farmer and lumberman, and in 1861, being then forty- four years of age, he determined to study law, and therefore removed his family to Williamsport, where he entered the office of W. W. Wil- lard, Esq., then a well-known attorney of that place. With such dili- gence and assiduity did he apply himself to his legal studies that in 1863, after passing a creditable examination, he was admitted to prac- tice in the various courts of Lycoming county. By dint of his indom- itable perseverance and energy, joined to a close application to business, he soon built up a large and profitable practice, and after a few years took his son, Henry Clay McCormick, into partnership with him, thus founding the well-known law firm of S. T. & H. C. McCormick, which stood in the foremost ranks of the legal profession. He was the com- piler of the book of the charter, laws and ordinances of the city of Will- lamsport, and nearly every ordinance of the city was drafted by his hand.
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Mr. McCormick took an active interest in the development of every legitimate enterprise which tended to advance the interests of his chosen home. He was repeatedly elected a member of the common council, and during the period of his service constantly contended for honest municipal government. Through his watchfulness, care and courage the city was saved many thousands of dollars. In 1871 he received the Democratic nomination for the office of city recorder, but owing to the fact that the city was strongly Republican, he was defeated, although by a small majority.
Mr. McCormick married, in 1837, Eleanor Miller, of White Deer Valley, the Reverend Isaac Grier performing the ceremony. The fol- lowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCormick : I. Sarah Elizabeth, who was born in 1839, and married William D. Oakes. 2. Hannah Hammond, who was born in 1841 and died in 1847. 3. Henry Clay, who was born in 1844, married Ida Hays, and died on May 26, 1902. 4. William Miller, who was born in 1846, and was twice married, his first wife being Sarah R. Rothrock and his second Josephine Lawrence. 5. Horace Greeley, mentioned at length herein- after. 6. Hannah Hammond, who was born in 1853, and married Thomas L. Painter. 7. Frank Hammond, who was born in 1857, and married Marietta Culver. 8. Seth Thomas, who was born in 1860, and married Belle Herdic.
The death of Mr. McCormick occurred December 1, 1878. His career affords the exceptional example of a man capable in middle life of diverting his energies and purposes into new channels and thereby achieving the most successful results. Mr. McCormick's widow passed away May 27, 1897.
Horace Greeley McCormick (7), third son of Seth Thomas (6) and Eleanor (Miller) McCormick, was born May 16, 1850, in Wash-
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ington township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and attended the schools of his native place and of Williamsport, whither his parents moved when the boy was eleven years of age. Subsequently he became a student at Dickinson Seminary. For two years he took charge of a school in his native county, and at the same time read medicine with Drs. Pollock and McVicker. He attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and on March 1I, 1874, received from that in- stitution the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In April of that year he began the practice of his profession at Montoursville, where he remained until December, 1886. He then went to Philadelphia, where he took a special course in medicine, and in April, 1887, settled in Williams- port, where he has since remained, devoting himself to the active prac- tice of his profession. From January, 1876, to January, 1879, he served as coroner of Lycoming county, and during the administration of Presi- dent Cleveland held the position of examining surgeon of pensions in that district. On the formation of the State Board of Medical Exam- iners he was appointed by Governor Pattison a member of the board, and on its organization he was elected president, a position which he held for four consecutive terms.
Dr. McCormick is a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and in April, 1891, was made chairman of the committee on legislation, a position which he held until the passage of the Medical Act in 1893, in which year he was elected president of the society. He be- longs to the Lycoming County Medical Society, of which he was presi- dent in 1890-91 and 1891-92, and is connected with the Lycoming County Anatomical Society. He has always taken an active interest in the progress of education, and during his residence in Montoursville served three years as school director. In 1891 he was elected a member of the Williamsport school board, and in 1895 was elected president,
,
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being re-elected in 1896, 1897 and 1899. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport.
Dr. McCormick married, December 15, 1875, Margaretta Hill, and they are the parents of three children: Martha Brown, who was born May 17, 1877; Seth Thomas, who was born September 14, 1880; and Dorothy, who was born May 8, 1890.
Mrs. McCormick is the granddaughter of John and Margaretta Hill, who lived near Milton, Northumberland county, where their son George was born January 13, 1816. The early life of George Hill was spent on the homestead, where he nobly assisted his widowed mother by assuming many of the burdens involved in the management and cultiva- tion of the farm. In 1835, his mother, with her children, moved to White Deer Valley, whence Mr. Hill migrated in 1848 to Three Rivers, Michigan. He remained there but three years, and in 1851 returned to Pennsylvania and purchased a farm which was originally part of the estate of Matthew Brown. In the spring of 1869 he sold this property and removed to a farm near Williamsport which he had recently pur- chased. In 1880 he settled at Taberville, Missouri.
Mr. Hill married, February 6, 1840, in Lycoming county, Martha, born February 24, 1816, in Washington township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, tenth daughter of William and Jean Brown. They were the parents of ten children : I. Robert Brown, who was born in 1841. and married Martha Schooley. 2. John, who was born in 1842 and mar- ried Mary A. Coulthaird. 3. William Brown, who was born in 1844 and married Josie H. Good. 4. Jane Brown, who was born in 1846 and married G. N. Wagner. 5. George, who was born in 1848 and married Rose Etta Hays. 6. Samuel, who was born September 16, 1850, and died December 1, 1851. 7. Margaretta, who was born April 30, 1854, and became the wife of Horace Greeley McCormick, as men-
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Why Howard
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tioned above. 8. Martha Belle, who was born in 1856 and married Levi B. Wagner. 9. Charles, who was born in 1858 and married Josephine Moore. 10. Susan Lamont, who was born October 13, 1862, married S. W. Sherman, and died at Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 9, 1892. Mrs. Hill, the exemplary mother of this large fam- ily, died February 4, 1900, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. McCor- mick, in Williamsport, and is buried at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WILLIAM HOWARD.
William Howard, who was a member of the firm of Howard & Perley, lumber manufacturers, was one of the pioneer lumbermen of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, having been for many years actively and prominently identified with the lumber interests in this section of the state, dividing his time between Williamsport, Lycoming county, and Cameron county. He was born in Yorkshire, England, August 13, 1831, a son of John and Hannah (Lockwood) Howard, who lived and died in their native land, England.
William Howard received an excellent education in the schools of England, and upon the completion of his studies served an apprentice- ship at the trade of stonemason. Upon his arrival in the United States, in 1854, he located in Reading, Pennsylvania, and for a short period of time was employed by the Lebanon Valley Railroad Company in build- ing a bridge near the city of Reading. In August, 1854, he took up his residence in Williamsport, and for a time worked on the dam on the Susquehanna river near that city. His next employment was with the Water Mill Company, with whom he remained a few years, and in 1857 he went into the lumber woods and engaged in that business. Later he organized the firm of C. B. & W. Howard, their business being that of
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log stockers. In 1863 he purchased land in Cameron county, and operated there until 1887. In 1866 he entered into partnership with John R. Cook & Company, purchased the saw mill which was operated by Howard & Perley, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. Later he became a member of the firm of Sloanker, Howard & Company, which was merged into that of Howard, Perley & Howard, and finally became Howard & Perley.
Mr. Howard was one of the organizers and was a stockholder and director in the Frst National Bank of Emporium. He was one of the organizers of the Emporium Water Company, and a director in that in- stitution. He was also a stockholder and director in the Lycoming Rubber Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and he was an active factor in securing the removal of the Demorest Sewing Ma- chine Works to Williamsport, giving liberally of his means to the fur- therance of that project. He was also a stockholder in the West Branch National Bank. While a resident of Emporium Mr. Howard served in the capacity of burgess of that borough for two years, was a mem- ber of the borough council for several years, served two terms as county commissioner of Cameron county, and after removing to Williamsport served two years in the common council. Mr. Howard was a prominent Mason, and was connected with the lodge, chapter, commandery and consistory. At a stated meeting and anniversary of the Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite of Free Masons of the Valley of Williamsport held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 27, 28, 29, 1904, a statue of William Howard was unveiled. The statue is of the finest Carrara marble, of heroic size, and very faithfully produces the features and ex- pression of its subject. It presents Mr. Howard in his official robes as grand treasurer, seated in a chair, and the whole rests on a large block of grey granite, four feet square. It is placed in a conspicuous spot in
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the Howard Memorial Hall, the erection of which magnificent cathedral was made possible through the munificence of Mr. Howard, and the placing of the statue therein was determined upon by Scottish Rite Ma- sons of the Valley of Williamsport as a fitting, though inadequate ex- pression of their appreciation of his life-long devotion to the promulga- tion of the principles of Free Masonry, as well as his generosity. The dedication took place on Wednesday evening, and the exercises were open to members, visiting brethren, candidates and their ladies. The Rev. William H. Butts made an invocation to the Deity, the statue was then presented to the Memorial committee, then followed the presenta- tion of the statue from the donors to the trustees, then the unveiling in Memorial Hall under the direction of the Memorial committee, assisted by the sculptor, Mr. Edmund T. Quinn, of New York City, grand- children of Mr. Howard, and special committee of donors and officers of the bodies. This anniversary was a momentous event for all Scottish Rite Masons of the state, and there was an exceptionally large attend- ance from all parts of the jurisdiction of the Valley of Williamsport, as well as from other points. C. La Rue Munson, Esq., delivered the oration at the unveiling, this being followed by a reception and banquet of great brilliancy. Mr. Howard was a member and vestryman of Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, in which organization his wife also holds membership, and was a member of the board of trade and of the Ross Club. Mr. Howard died March 5, 1901.
Mr. Howard married, December 28, 1853, Mary Woodhead, a native of England, and they are the parents of one son, Samuel T., who is an employee of the firm of Howard & Perley.
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JOSEPH WOOD MUSSINA.
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