USA > Pennsylvania > Clinton County > Historical and biographical work, or past and present of Clinton County, comprising a sketch of every town and township of the county from date of settlement up to the present time > Part 15
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FALLON HOUSE.
The Fallon house, one of the finest hotels in the city of Lock Haven, is a four-story brick structure, located on Water street. It was erected in 1885 by a stock company. After several changes in its management it passed into the hands of Judge John W. Smith in 1874. The house affords ample accommodations for 200 guests. John Schuyler, Jr., is the present proprietor of the Fallon house.
MONTOUR HOUSE.
The Montour house (now Hotel Meitzler) was erected in 1834 upon the first lot sold by Jerry Church. The house was partially destroyed by fire in 1855, rebuilt and improved by Proctor Myers; and again partly de- stroyed by fire in 1873. In 1891 the place was purchased by Peter Meitz- ler, greatly improved and thrown open to the public as the Hotel Meitzler, September 3d, 1891. Its present landlord is Lewis Weaver. The house contains fifty sleeping rooms with ample accommodations for 100 guests.
IRVIN HOUSE,
The Irvin house (formerly called the Mansion house) was built by John Moorehead, in 1838, with the view of its becoming the court house. Moorehead sold the house to W. W. Barker. The latter conducted the place several years, then sold it to Dr. Irvin, who changed the name to Irvin house. S. Woods Caldwell purchased the place from Dr. Irvin in 1870, and has kept the place as a hotel ever since. The Irvin house has recently been greatly remodelled and improved. The Irvin house affords ample and pleasant accommodations for fifty guests.
KELLER'S HOTEL.
Keller's hotel was built by Peter W. Keller in 1862-'63, and remodelled and greatly improved by him in 1889. It is a handsome three-story brick structure, located on Grove street. The house has forty comfort- able rooms, and furnishes suitable accommodations for sixty guests. Keller's hotel is one of the finest places of its kind in Lock Haven. Its
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present landlord is Philip Keller, who assumed entire control of the place at the death of his brother, Peter W. Keller, which event occurred December 31st, 1891.
CENTRAL HOTEL.
The Central hotel, located at the corner of Main and Grove streets, is a two-story frame structure with a finished attic. It was used as a dwelling by Dr. Lichtenthaler, Sr., for about five years, and was then pur_ chased, in 1870, by Simon Bros., who remodelled and improved it. From that time until the present it has been used as a hotel. Its first propri- etor was Peter Meitzler. Its present landlord is Aaron Kyler, who suc- ceeded George Ronian, in January, 1891. The Central contains twenty- one sleeping rooms, with accommodations for fifty guests. It is a well- kept house and does a good business.
KEATING HOUSE.
The Keating house, a three-story brick structure, is located on Vesper street, between Water and Main. It was built about twenty years ago by Morris Messimer. Its present landlord is John H. Smith, who took charge of the place in November, 1891. A first-class restaurant is run in connection with the hotel. This house affords ample accommodations for about forty guests.
HARMONIA HOTEL.
The Harmonia hotel is a three-story brick structure, located on Jay street, between Water and Main. It was built by George Scheid in 1869. Mr. Scheid opened the Harmonia in 1870, and continued as its proprietor until 1889, when he was succeeded by ex-Sheriff D. M. May, the present landlord. The Harmonia has eighteen sleeping rooms, with accommoda- tions for forty guests.
ST. CHARLES HOTEL.
This hotel and restaurant building was built by C. P. Lambert in 1866. It is a two and one-half-story frame building, located on Main street. Its first proprietor was Mr. Lambert himself, who conducted the hotel and restaurant business until his death, which occurred in 1880. He was suc- ceeded by Jacob Henry, who kept the place until his death, in 1887. The present proprietor is W. G. Draucker, who assumed the management of the hotel in March, 1888. The St. Charles is the leading place of its kind in Lock Haven, and enjoys a liberal patronage.
EAGLE HOTEL.
The Eagle hotel was built in 1855 by Jacob Smith. It is a frame building, located at the corner of Bald Eagle and Vesper streets. Its first landlord was Jacob Smith, who sold the place in 1860 to John W. Smith, who in his turn sold it to J. W. & K. D. Smith in 1864. The latter was proprietor of the Eagle hotel until 1880, when P. B. Smith, its present landlord, took possession. The Eagle hotel contains twenty five sleeping rooms, with accommodations for fifty guests.
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KROM'S HOTEL.
Krom's hotel was erected by Charles Scheid in 1876. It is a three-story brick structure, located on Clinton street, nearly opposite the P. & E. passenger station. Its first proprietor was Jacob Rodgiver. He was suc- ceeded by Augustus Krom, from whom the place took its name. Mr. Krom died, and his widow run the place until 1888, when she was suc- ceeded by Aaron Kyler, who in his turn was succeeded by George Reed, January, 1891. This house has sixteen sleeping rooms, with accommo- dations for forty guests. It is a popular resort among railroad men, on account of its close proximity to the station, and is well patronized by the public in general.
ST. CLOUD HOTEL.
The St. Cloud hotel, a large three-story brick building, located at the corner of Clinton and Washington streets, was built by its present pro- prietor, Daniel Gross, in 1885. The house has twenty-two sleeping apart- ments, and affords ample accommodations for fifty guests.
JUNCTION HOUSE.
The Junction house was built by John Gaudam, its present proprietor, in 1873. It is a neat frame structure, located on the corner of Walnut and Washington streets, near the passenger station. This house affords accommodations for forty guests.
FIRST WARD HOTEL.
The First Ward hotel, located at the corner of Church and Henderson streets, is a two story frame building, erected by Philip Fabel in 1852, and opened as a hotel in 1853. Its first proprietor was Mr. Fabel himself. The house contains fourteen sleeping rooms, with ample accommodations for thirty guests. Its present proprietor is Alexander Zessinger.
FRANKLIN HOUSE.
The Franklin house, a frame structure, located on Bald Eagle street, between Vesper and Grove streets, was originally intended as a dwelling, and was built by John Greninger in 1868, and improved and occupied by him as a hotel in 1870. Its present proprietor is Daniel McRae, who took possession of the place in January, 1890. The Franklin house has sixteen rooms, with accommodations for thirty persons.
CLEARFIELD HOUSE.
'T'he Clearfield house was built in 1879 by Henry Bantlon, who was its first proprietor. It is a two-story brick building, located on Jay street, between Main and Church streets. It has nine rooms, with accommoda- tions for twenty persons. Its present proprietor is Daniel Lachat, who took possession of the place in 1882, and purchased it in 1891.
FARMERS' HOTEL.
The Farmers' hotel, located on Church street, between Grove and Jay streets, is a two-story brick structure, built by Bartley Smith in 1878. Its present proprietor is Michael Lucey, who took possession of the place September 29th, 1891.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
CUSTER HOUSE.
The Custer house, built by P. J. Keller in 1857, is a frame building, located on Jay street, near its junction with Main. Its first proprietor was George Scheid. The house has nineteen sleeping apartments, and room for forty persons. Its present proprietor is Hugh McLeod, who purchased the Custer house in 1883, and took possession in 1884.
PENNSYLVANIA HOTEL.
The Pennsylvania hotel was built by A. C. Mckinney in 1872. It is a three-story brick building, located on Bellefonte avenue, near the P. &. E. railroad. It has a large number of sleeping appartments, and can ac- commodate about eighty persons. The building was used for mercantile purposes until 1880, when it was purchased by Valentine Sohmers, its present proprietor, who opened the hotel the same year.
OPERA HOUSE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT.
The Opera House hotel and restaurant was opened by Dr. Preison and afterwards conducted by George Ronian and others. It was at one time the finest place of its kind in Central Pennsylvania. Its present landlord is C. C. Jacobs, who assumed control of the place in 1889. The house has some fine rooms, and suitable accommodations for about ten persons. Although the place is not considered a regular hotel, yet its doors are always open to the right class of individuals, and the accommodations are on a par with those of the best hotels in the city.
UNITED STATES HOTEL.
The United States hotel (formerly called the Girard house) was erected in 1863 by Jacob Smith, its present owner. It is a large three-story frame building, located at the corner of Grove and Church streets. Its present landlord is Peter Meitzler, who has had charge of the place since 1882.
BRAINARD HOUSE.
The Brainard house is a frame structure owned by Scott Bros. It is located on Jay street, between Church and Main streets. Its present pro- prietor is Leonard Lachat. This hotel is a popular resort for woodsmen, and is well and successfully kept.
BECK'S HOTEL.
Beck's hotel was built by Peter Beck in 1871, and kept by him as a hotel until W. H. Beck, its present proprietor, took possession. This house has sleeping apartments with room for thirty guests. It is a brick structure, located at the corner of Church and Grove streets.
NATIONAL HOTEL.
The National hotel, a three-story brick structure, located on Bald Eagle street, was built in 1860 and 1861. Its first landlord was a man named Hartranft. Its present proprietor is J. C. Schank, who took possession of the place in May, 1891. The house is large, and has sleeping apart- ments for about eighty persons.
CITY OFFICERS.
GOVERNMENT.
T' HE government of Lock Haven is vested in a mayor, city council (three members from each ward), four aldermen (one from each ward). The other city officials are school directors (three from each ward), city treasurer, city solicitor, city engineer, superintendent of water works, overseer of the poor, chief of police and city auditors.
The mayors of Lock Haven, since 1870, have been: Hon. L. A. Mackey, elected in 1870; Hon. J. W. Smith, elected in 1873; R. R. Bridgens, elected in 1875; R. R. Bridgens, re-elected in 1877; Samuel Christ, elected in 1879; W. S. Clawater, elected in 1881. He resigned April 8th, 1882, and S. D. Ball was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. James Jefferies, elected in 1883; James Jefferies, re-elected in 1885; R. S. Barker, elected in 1887; George W. Mason, elected in 1889 ; Major John Wynne, elected in 1891.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The first regular police department of Lock Haven, was organized by Hon. L. A. Mackey in March, 1870. Thomas McGhee was the first chief of police ; John H. McGill and A. W. Fowler were his subordinates. During the last year of Hon. L. A. Mackey's term as mayor he appointed W. J. Westbrook chief of police, a position he has held nearly ever since.
The present police force consists of W. J. Westbrook, chief; Patrick Ludden, Frank Griffin and John McGill, subordinates. Jacob Strunk and A. J. Schuyler are special officers. Charles Waits is a policeman at the P. & E. station, and H. B. Geary is police constable, with power to make arrests for non-payment of city taxes.
ALDERMEN.
The present aldermen of Lock Haven are as follows : J. W. Harris, Joseph Parsons, Orrin T. Noble and J. P. Anthony.
CITY COUNCIL.
The present city council of Lock Haven consists of the following named persons: First ward, S. R. Quigley, president, Charles Scheid and Hugh McLeod; Second ward, R. D. Peck, L. M. Patterson and X. B. Ringler; Third ward, Wilson Kistler, G. W. Hipple and B. F. Geary ; Fourth ward, R. W. Schell, Samuel Fulton and William Ely. Present city treasurer, George P. Shaffer ; superintendent of water works, Charles Keller ; overseer of the poor, P. C. McCaffery; city engineer, A. J. Bigony.
BIOGRAPHIES.
MAJOR JOHN WYNNE.
M AJOR JOHN WYNNE was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Sep- tember 6th, 1817. He began life as a railroader on the old Portage railroad. Later he was employed by the New York & Lake Erie rail- way as their Southwestern agent, headquarters at St. Louis, Mo. From there he entered the army in 1861, and was placed in control of the military railroad for the Western army, which position he held until the close of the war. In 1866 he came to Lock Haven and entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad as train dispatcher, which position he held for over twenty-five years, when, for long and meritorious service, he was placed on the retired list by the company. In February, 1891, Major Wynne was elected mayor of the city of Lock Haven, a position which he holds at the present time. Major Wynne was married March, 1858, to Miss Sarah Evans, of Pittsburg, Pa. They have two children, Mrs. J. P. O'Brien, of Erie, and Miss Sadie Wynne, at present a teacher in the public schools of Lock Haven. Mayor Wynne has made a good official, and shown by word and deed that he has the best interests of our city at heart.
ORRIN T. NOBLE.
Orrin T. Noble, one of the organizers of the Lock Haven public schools, was born in Troy township, Bradford county, Pa., November 22d, 1822. He received his education in the Genessee Wesleyan seminary and at the Troy academy, and was for a time an assistant in the latter institution. In 1846 he came to Howard, Centre county, Pa., where he taught school for four years. In 1855 he was called to Lock Haven, to assist Professor A. K. Brown in organizing the public schools of the town. He acted as assistant for one vear, and then succeeded Professor Brown as principal for one term. Mr. Noble gave up teaching in the spring of 1858, having been admitted to the Clinton county bar in February of that year. In 1860 he was elected justice of the peace, which position he held until the city received its charter, and since then he has been elected alderman from the Fourth ward for five successive terms. Mr. Noble is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows and Free Masons. During the time he has filled his official position, he has married 320 couples. He is a prominent member of the Disciple church, and one of the organizers of the church in Lock Haven. He has always been greatly interested in the public schools of the city, and has the honor of being one of the organizers of the first graded school in Central Pennsylvania. Mr. Noble was married June 17th, 1847, to Catharine Long, of Howard, Centre county, Pa. His children are E. T. Noble, of English Centre, Pa., John and James Noble,
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both of the Democrat News and Publishing company of Lock Haven, Alonzo T. Noble, now a resident of York state, and a daughter, Mary, who died June 22d, 1882, aged 23 years.
JOHN W. HARRIS.
John W. Harris was born in Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pa., on February 25th, 1833. His father, William Harris, at the time of his death, was sheriff of Lycoming county. The education of Mr. Harris was obtained at the public schools of Williamsport, with the exception of one term at Dickinson seminary, of that place. In September, 1859, he came to Lock Haven, and engaged in the mercantile business, on Water street, in company with his brother, under the firm name of J. G. Harris & Brother. For several years he continued in this establishment.
In 1867 Mr. Harris was elected treasurer by the borough council, though the majority of its members at that time were Democratic. He was appointed postmaster of Lock Haven April 5th, 1869, at which time he sold his interest in the store to his brother. He was reappointed post- master March 13th, 1873, to serve a term of four years, and again reap- pointed in 1877, and served until 1881, when he was succeeded by General Jesse Merrill. In 1885 he was elected alderman from the Third ward of Lock Haven, and re-elected in 1890. Mr. Harris was married in Feb- ruary, 1862, to a daughter of Andrew White, of Bald Eagle. Their children are Andrew W. Harris, at present station agent and operator for the Beech Creek railroad company at Castanea, and Charles S. Harris, agent for Adams express company at Renovo, Pa. J. W. Harris is a gentleman whose merits are recognized by the public. He is one of the best aldermen Lock Haven has ever had.
JOHN P. ANTHONY.
John P. Anthony was born at Jersey Shore, August 3d, 1853. His father moved his family to Lock Haven in 1857. John P. Anthony was educated at the public schools of Lock Haven-Lock Haven Normal school, Dickinson seminary and at Union seminary, now called Central Pennsylvania college at New Berlin, Pa. He was educated for the min- istry, but his tastes were at variance with the profession, and he began teaching school, which profession he followed for twenty years. He was for many years principal of the First ward schools of Lock Haven. He has frequently been spoken of as a can lidate for county superintendent, but would never consent to become a candidate for the office. In Feb- ruary, 1891, he was elected alderman from the First ward of Lock Haven. His store of learning, combined with sound judgment, makes him a man suited in every way for the position he now fills. John P. Anthony was married in 1877 to Nannie E. Snyder, of Nittany valley.
W. J. WESTBROOK.
W. J. Westbrook, the present efficient chief of police of Lock Haven, was born in Tioga county, November 16th, 1833. He came to Clinton county in
W. J. WESTBROOK,
CHIEF OF POLICE, LOCK HAVEN, PA.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
1852 with a team of horses to work on a lumber job at Ferney Run. The following year he went to Kettle Creek and took charge of a lumber con- tract on Cook's Run for Dyer & Little, and afterwards acted as shipping clerk for the same firm. In 1855 and 1856 Mr. Westbrook ran a bakery wagon for Parson, Gray & Co., of Lock Haven. He afterwards was em- ployed in the planing mill of Hawkins & Co., and remained with the firm until they were burned out, in 1859. He then secured employment in the mill of White, Hipple & Co., where he remained until January, 1865, when he had the misfortune to cut off part of his right hand. In the spring of the same year he was elected constable of the borough of Lock Haven, which position he repeatedly filled until the borough was made a city, in 1871. He was appointed chief of police under Hon. L. A. Mackey, the first mayor of Lock Haven, and also during the term of John W.Smith, which followed that of Mr. Mackey. He then lost the position by the change of administration, but was again appointed by Mayor James Jefferies, and held the position of chief until 1889, when he resigned to accept the position of special railroad detective, offered him by the P. & E. railroad company. He held the latter position until June, 1890, when he resigned, and was again appointed chief of police by Mayor Mason. From 1865 until the present time W. J. Westbrook has been an officer of the law, and a good one. He has brought many criminals to justice, among the number being the notorious Luther Shaffer, who was arrested by Chief Westbrook at a lumber camp in Potter county.
Mr. Westbrook was married New Year's eve, 1857, to Martha Bittner, a daughter of Daniel Bittner, one of the organizers of the Trinity M. E. church, of Lock Haven.
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COUNTY OFFICIALS. HON. JAMES C. QUIGGLE.
H ON. JAMES C. QUIGGLE was born at Lock Haven, December 29th, 1851. He is a son of the late Hon. James W. Quiggle; his mother, who still survives, being a sister of Judge C. A. Mayer. In 1856 his parents removed to Philadelphia, and in 1859 he accompanied them to Antwerp, Belgium, his father being United States consul at that port, where he sojourned for about two years and a half, and attended French and German schools. In November, 1861, he returned to Phila- delphia with his parents, where he resided, and attended school and commercial college. He was intended for the law, and was regularly entered as a student in the court of common pleas of Philadelphia, but after reading about a year he was compelled to abandon seeking a pro- fession, owing to defective eyesight. In October, 1871, before he was twenty years of age, he was tendered the office of United States consular agent at Cornwall, Can., which he accepted, serving until March 10th, 1872, when he resigned. In 1873 he removed to his father's farm in Wayne township, this county, where he has since resided (except while in Canada), engaged in agricultural and lumbering pursuits. In 1876 he was selected to fill an important position in the office of the chief secre- tary of the United States centennial commission at Philadelphia, which he held for five months. He has been treasurer and auditor of Wayne township, and in February, 1879, he was unanimously elected justice of the peace, and served until September 1st, 1887, when he resigned to ac- cept the post of United States consul at Port Stanley and St. Thomas, Can., to which he had been appointed by President Cleveland on August 31st, 1887, which office he held until April 19th, 1890, when he was superseded for purely political reasons by the Harrison administration, he having represented his country so acceptably as to call forth the com- mendation of the department of state in a special dispatch, thanking him for the satisfactory and economical manner in which he conducted the business of his office. Before his return from Canada he was unan- imously re-elected justice of the peace for Wayne township for five years from May, 1890, but resigned December 1st, 1890. In August, 1890, he was nominated by acclamation for member of assembly by the Demo- cratic convention of Clinton county, and elected in November following over Captain James W. Fredericks, Republican, and served in the legis- lature as a member of the committees on ways and means, federal rela- tions, manufacturers and bureau of statistics. Mr. Quiggle has always been a consistent Democrat, and taken an active interest in politics. He has been a delegate to county conventions, and in 1885 to the Democratic state convention, and for five years he was a member of the Democratic
HON. JAMES C. QUIGGLE,
PRESENT MEMBER OF LEGISLATURE, MCELHATTAN, PA.
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standing committee of Clinton county; in 1884 serving as its secretary. On February 23d, 1882, he was married by the Rev. Joseph Nesbitt to Miss Ella L. Quiggle, eldest daughter of Jacob Quiggle, Esq., of Pine Station, but who, though of the same name, is only distantly related.
HON. JAMES W. CLARK.
Hon. James W. Clark was born at Mill Hall, Pa., July 28th, 1843. He is a son of David and Eliza Clark. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Mill Hall. In November, 1857, he entered the office of the Clinton Democrat as an apprentice, under H. L. Dieffen- bach. He remained in the Democrat office until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, 137th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served during the nine months' service. On receiving his discharge . he returned to Lock Haven, and secured a clerkship in the post-office, under Postmaster Coe. In June, 1864, he was appointed mail agent on the train, with a run from Lock Haven to Ridgway, receiving the appoint- ment under Lincoln's administration, and re-appointed under Johnson. After filling the position for several years, he entered the office of the Clinton Democrat, under Whaley & Orth, and followed his trade until the summer of 1876, when he received the nomination for register and re- corder of Clinton county ; was elected in November, and duly sworn into office January 1st, 1877; re-elected in 1879, and again re elected in 1882. After his third term had expired, he opened a book and stationery store in the opera house block, and continued in the business until February, 1890, when he sold out to Seltzer & Rhimestine. In August, 1890, he re- ceived the nomination of his party for the office of associate judge; was elected, and is holding the office at the present time. Judge Clark was married in June, 1880, to Barbara Brady, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Brady. They have no children. He is a member of the Dem- ocratic News and Publishing company of Lock Haven, and its heaviest stockholder. Politically he is, of course, a Democrat; socially, a jovial companion; as an individual, noted for his liberality and kindness of heart, as his purse strings are always open to aid any charitable object.
HON. JAMES W. CRAWFORD.
Judge James W. Crawford, one of the present associate judges of Clinton county, was born at Chatham's Run, Clinton county, Pa., Oc- tober 15th, 1832. His father, James Allison Crawford, was one of the early settlers of the West Branch. He was a tanner by trade, and fol- lowed the business at Chatham's Run until 1842, when he purchased what is known as the "Duncan Farm," on Pine creek. The family moved on their farm in 1842, and remained until they moved to Lock Haven, in 1847. Judge Crawford attended school for a number of years in the old school house that stood on the lower end of Main street, and also attended the Lock Haven academy. In the fall of 1851 he was sent to Young- woman's town (now North Bend), to take charge of a store for his father
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