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 16
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
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and Michael Quigley, who had embarked in the mercantile business at that place a short time before. After having charge of the store for three years he purchased his father's interest, and became a partner of Michael Quigley. He was appointed postmaster by President Fillmore in 1853, and held the position until 1868, when he resigned. He has held various township offices from time to time, and has always been one of the lead- ing men in his township. In 1886 was elected associate judge of Clinton county by the Democratic party, and re-elected to the same office in 1891. Judge Crawford was married September 6th, 1854, to Frances Quigley, a daughter of Michael Quigley. They have had seven children, five daugh- ters and two sons. Two daughters and one son are dead. Judge Craw- ford has followed farming and lumbering for a number of years, and he might truly be called a farmer, a lumberman and a politician.
JOHN F. BROWN.
John F. Brown, present prothonotary of Clinton county, was born on a farm in Bald Eagle township, November 8th, 1856. His parents moved to Lock Haven in 1864. He attended the public schools and different private schools until 1874, when he entered the prothonotary's office as clerk, under his father, W. H. Brown. One year later he was appointed deputy prothonotary, and held the position until June 1st, 1878, when he entered the mercantile business, which he followed for one year. He then entered Eastman's business college, where he graduated in 1881. January 1st, 1882, he secured a position as book-keeper for the firm of L. Allison & Co., boot and shoe manufacturers, of Canisteo, N. Y. In September, 1882, he was appointed deputy prothonotary by L. R. McGill. On the death of the latter, which occurred August 12th, 1886, he was ap- pointed prothonotary by Governor Pattison. In November, 1887, was elected to the office, and re-elected in 1890 Mr. Brown was married October 21st, 1883, to Maggie A. Sloan, daughter of J. N. Sloan, of Lock Haven.
ALVA S. GROW.
Alva S. Grow, the present register and recorder of Clinton county, was born at Mill Hall, Clinton county, Pa., July 28th, 1856. His father was Mathias Grow, who enlisted in Company C, 137th Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and who died at Findlay hospital, Washington, D. C., December, 1862. The subject of this sketch was educated at the soldiers' orphan schools of the state, attending for a time the orphan school at McAlisterville, Juniata county, Pa. In October, 1872, he entered the office of the Clinton Democrat, where he spent three years learning the art preservative, and assisting the editor, Hon. J. C. C. Whaley, with the local department of his paper. In October, 1877, he became a member of the Journal association, in company with Ira M. Harvey, John T. Noble and H. Byxbe. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Grow went to Bellefonte, where he became local editor of the Bellefonte Republican. In February,
A. S. GROW,
REGISTER AND RECORDER, AND CLERK OF THE ORPHANS' COURT.
.
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1879, he was elected assistant burgess on the same ticket with General D. H. Hastings, who was elected chief burgess. Mr. Grow remained in Bellefonte until July 1st, 1879, when he returned to Lock Haven and purchased the Journal newspaper establishment. He was the first person to introduce printing by steam in Clinton county, and was also owner of the most rapid press ever used in the county, even up to the present time. In December, 1883, the Journal fixtures were sold to a New York party, and for a time Mr. Grow occupied a position on the Philadelphia Times. In the spring of 1884 he became a member of the firm of George T. Bisel & Co., publishers and booksellers of Philadelphia, remaining with this firm until May, 1889, when he sold out his interest and came back to Lock Haven. The car which contained his household goods was de- stroyed by fire on June 1st, 1889, while standing in six feet of water in the railroad company's yard. It had just reached the city on the night previous to the great June flood of 1889, and caught fire from a car loaded with lime, which stood near. Upon his arrival in Lock Haven, Mr. Grow entered the insurance office of Charles O'Connor, as general man- ager of that gentleman's extensive business. In August, 1891, he re- ceived the nomination of the Republican party for register and recorder of Clinton county, and at the November election was elected by a majority of 582 over James C. Smith, the Democratic candidate. He assumed the duties of his office January 1st, 1892.
The Pennsylvania Grit, of October 25th, 1891, speaks of Mr. Grow, as follows: "During Mr. Grow's management of the Journal he was dis- tinguished for his persistent advocacy of the establishment of manufac- turing enterprises. The importance of Lock Haven as a lumber center was on the decline in the latter part of the "70's; one by one the mills were going, never to return. Mr. Grow saw that there must be a new Lock Haven or the place would become a mere 'way station' in the com- mercial and manufacturing world. His newspaper was often ridiculed for its constant hammering for something new. And yet how well his work and words told may easily be reckoned. But this constant ham- mering resulted in much good, and was a great agent in the establish- ment of the following industries: The Pennsylvania pulp and paper company, Lock Haven furniture manufacturing company, Lock Haven nail mill, Lock Haven clay works, Queen's Run fire brick works, West Branch furniture company. In the paper mill and both furniture fac- tories Mr. Grow performed personal work in addition to his newspaper utterances, and he has helped other men to permanent positions, and many of the friends of former days are now filling places of honor and trust in the factories he helped to build. Yet he has never profited di- rectly from any of the enterprises named."
WILLIAM MARSHALL EVERHART.
William Marshall Everhart was born in the village of Jacksonville, Centre county, Pa., March 5th, 1841; was educated in the public schools ; spent his boyhood days on a farm; upon the breaking out of the rebel-
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lion he volunteered in August, 1862, as a private in Company E, 137th Pa. Vols., and was discharged, as sergeant, in March, 1863; immediately re-enlisted in Company L, 16th Pa. Cavalry, for three years, or during the war; was commissioned second lieutenant Company B, of the same regiment, and afterwards was commissioned first lieutenant of the com- pany, and was mustered out of the service September, 1865, as brevet captain of the U. S. army : received a gun shot wound in each forearm ; was married in January, 1865, (when home on a furlough) to Miss Lizzie Worrick, daughter of Hon. George Worrick, of Mackeyville, Pa. Upon returning home he settled upon a farm, and continued in that business until the fall of 1890, when he was elected sheriff of Clinton county, which position he now occupies.
S. WOODS CALDWELL.
S. Woods Caldwell was born in Limestone township, Montour county, (then Cumberland) Pa., May 18th, 1845. He was educated in the public schools of Limestone township, and finished his school days with a few terms at the Limestone academy. In 1865, in company with a brother, who resided at Titusville, Pa., he engaged in the oil business in Western Pennsylvania for three years. In 1868 he came to Lock Haven, where he clerked in several of the different stores for a period of three years. In 1871, in company with J. R. Schmucker, he purchased the Irvin house. In a short time he purchased the interest in the hotel held by Mr. Schmucker, and since then has conducted the business himself. In 1878 Mr. Caldwell entered political life and became an irregular candi- date for state senator in the district composed of Centre, Clinton and Clearfield counties, against Hon. C. T. Alexander, the Democratic nom- inee. Although he was defeated, he reduced the majority of Mr. Alexan- der to fully one-half below his party's strength. In the winter of 1880 Mr. Caldwell was nominated for the legislature, by the Democrats of Clinton county, over Judge Rankin, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Hon. J. C. C. Whaley. At the ensuing election he was elected over General Jesse Merrill, the Republican nominee, by 751 majority. In 1882 he was presented as a candidate for state senator, by the Democrats of Clinton county, but withdrew from the contest because an attempt had been made to bribe or corrupt his conferees. In August, 1890, he re- ceived the nomination for county treasurer, and was elected in Novem- ber, and at present holds the position.
LYONS MUSSINA.
Lyons Mussina, one of the present county commissioners of Clinton county, was born at Aaronsburg, Centre county, Pa., February 24th, 1827. Mr. Mussina attended the public schools until 1844, when he went to Huntington, Pa., to learn the printing business. After working at Huntington two years he came to Salona, this county, where he clerked in the store of A. H. Best for three years. In 1850 he came to Lock
HENRY T. JARRETT, LOOK HAVEN, PA.
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Haven, and clerked in the register and recorder's office, under Thomas McGhee, for one year. In 1851, in company with George A. Crawford, he edited the Clinton Democrat for two years. In 1854 he was elected treas- urer of Clinton county. In 1856 he entered the mercantile business, as a member of the firm of Myers & Mussina. While engaged in the latter business he was elected paying teller, and afterwards cashier, of the Lock Haven Bank, afterwards known as the Lock Haven National Bank, of which L. A. Mackey was then president. Mr. Mussina held this posi- tion for twenty years. In the meantime he became a partner of Thomas Reed, in the coal, feed and ice business, and is yet one of the firm of Mussina & Reed. In August, 1890, he was nominated for county com- missioner, by the Democrats of Clinton county, and elected at the No- vember election by a flattering majority.
HENRY T. JARRETT.
Henry T. Jarrett was born at Allentown, Pa., September 2d, 1842. He is the eldest son of Colonel Phoan Jarrett, who died at his home, in Lock Haven, September 16th, 1876. The other members of the family are Mrs. H. Howard Otto, of Williamsport, and Frederick Jarrett, of this city. H. T. Jarrett received his early education in the schools of Allentown. Af- ter taking a course in the Allentown academy he entered Millersville nor- mal school, where he remained two years. He then spent several years at what is now Pennsylvania state college, then called the "Farm school." During the greater part of the term of George W. Batcheler as prothono- tary of Clinton county, H. T. Jarrett acted as his deputy. He also served as deputy in the register and recorder's office during the time James W. Clark held the office. In company with R. R. Bridgens he erected the Milton water works, and in company with P. W. Keller, the Bloomsburg gas works. In 1890 he secured the contract for laying what is known as the "Two Mile Extension" to the water pipes of the city of Lock Haven. He also erected the original water works of Renovo. In January, 1892, he was appointed deputy register and recorder by Alva S. Grow. Politically he is a Democrat, but is holding a position at the pres- ent time under a Republican official. Henry T. Jarrett was married in 1878 to Mary Brady, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Brady. Colonel Jarrett, as he is familiarly called, is one of Lock Haven's most respected citizens, yet, like Henry Clay, he is one whom his party has failed to honor. He has never held an elective office in the county, although much of his life has been spent assisting those who have been fortunate. Mr. Jarrett is at present a trustee of the Lock Haven Normal school.
D. IRVINE McNAUL.
D. Irvine McNaul, the present deputy sheriff of Clinton county, was born in Lamar township, Clinton county, May 24th, 1852. Heis a son of John McNaul, now a resident of Salona, but for many years a prominent farmer of Lamar township. The McNaul family moved to Curwens-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
ville, Pa., in 1852, and remained there until 1864, when they returned to this county and located on what is known as the "McNaul Farm," near Salona. D. I. McNaul attended the public schools, and became a teacher in 1871. He followed the profession for twelve years. In 1883 he turned his attention to farming, which vocation he successfully followed until he was appointed deputy sheriff of Clinton county by W. M. Everhart, Febru- ary, 1891. Mr. McNaul was married in 1879 to Kate Eldred, a daughter of Hon. George J. Eldred, of Mackeyville, Clinton county, Pa. Apart from the education he received in the public schools, Mr. McNaul attended one term at Lowell's business college, at Binghamton, N. Y. This com- pleted his educational advantages, yet few men possess superior business qualifications. Mr. McNaul has made a good official, and has acquired many friends.
ELLERY S. McNAUL.
Ellery S. McNaul, the present clerk for the Clinton county commis- sioners, was born at Curwensville, Pa., February 5th, 1860. Mr. McNaul received his early education in the public schools in Lamar township. In the fall of 1877 he began teaching, and followed the profession until 1882, when he went to Crookston, Minnesota, where he became business manager of an independent paper called The Northern Tier. He held this position until 1884, when he established a paper of his own at a place called Fosston, about four miles from the Red Lake Indian reservation. His paper was called the Thirteen Towns, and was started for the purpose of booming that section. The paper is still in existence. In the fall of 1884 Mr. McNaul returned to Clinton county, and for the next two years engaged in various occupations. He was appointed commissioners' clerk May 1st, 1886, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Smith. He was reappointed in 1888 and again in 1891. Ellery S. McNaul was married May, 1886, to Mary Hall, a sister of Henry T. Hall, attorney at law, Lock Haven.
JAMES A. WENSEL.
James A. Wensel was born in the borough of Beech Creek, and re- ceived his education in the public schools of that place. He left school in 1884 to become time-keeper on the construction work of the Beech Creek railroad, which position he held until January 1st, 1885, when he entered the office of Sheriff D. M. May as his deputy. In August, 1886, he was elected chairman of the Democratic county committee, which po- sition he held until he received the nomination of his party for sheriff in June, 1887. The Republicans and Knights of Labor being united, at the November election he was defeated, by a small majority, by W. J. Leahy, one of the most popular Republicans in the county. In Septem- ber, 1888, Mr. Wensel accepted the position of deputy prothonotary un- der John F. Brown, holding the position until January, 1891, when he resigned to become assistant county treasurer, under S. Woods Caldwell, which position he now fills.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
DAVID M. BRUNGARD.
David M. Brungard was born near Loganton, Clinton county, Pa., February 26th, 1849, and is of Pennsylvania German lineage. His an- cestors were among the early settlers of the lower portion of the county. His boyhood and youth were spent principally on the farm. During the winter season he enjoyed such educational advantages as the district school could give in the short term of four months. In 1864-5 he at- tended a select school, walking a distance of four miles. His career as a teacher began in 1866 in the log school house where, in boyhood, he at- tended school. In 1867 several terms were spent at a Normal institute, after which he taught one term in Centre county, five terms a mile east of Loganton, two at Booneville, seven at Loganton, two at Renovo, and three in Lock Haven, as principal of the Second ward schools, besides four summer terms in the Keatings. In 1887, while principal of the Sec- ond ward schools, Lock Haven, he was elected to the county superin- tendency of public schools, and again re-elected in 1890 without opposi- tion. During his superintendency the schools and institutes have risen to such a plane of efficiency that they have acquired a reputation for good among the best exponents of our school system in Pennsylvania. Much of this is due to his large experience in rural and the graded schools of town and city, and to his untiring energy and unswerving fidelity to duty. In June, 1891, Central Pennsylvania college conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts. In March, 1892, he was elected a member of the faculty of the Central state normal school for the spring term.
MEMBERS OF CLINTON COUNTY BAR.
HON. CHARLES A. MAYER.
H ON. CHARLES A. MAYER was born in York county, Pa., Decem- ber 15th, 1830. When yet a child his parents moved to Cham- bersburg, Franklin county, Pa., where he received his early edu- cation. After taking a thorough course of training in the academy of Chambersburg, he entered Franklin and Marshall college, and graduated in the class of '51.
He commenced the study of his profession with that well-known firm of lawyers, White & Quiggle. Judge Mayer was admitted to the bar in 1853, and located in Lock Haven, Pa., and became the partner of the Hon. J. W. Quiggle. In five years he distinguished himself as an advo- cate and lawyer, and at once stood at the head of the bar. In 1868 he was elected president judge of the judicial district composed of the coun- ties of Clearfield, Centre and Clinton. In 1878 he was re-elected in the same district by an increased majority ; and in 1888 was re-elected in his present district without opposition from either party. The judge is now serving his third term, and will have served, at the end of this term, thirty years. He seems to be growing in the affection and confidence of his people more and more each year. His decisions are hardly ever ques- tioned or disputed-nearly always affirmed by the Supreme Court; not another judge in the state has a record like his, and not another judge has the confidence of the court to a greater extent than he. The judge is now 60 years of age-but looks and acts like a man of 50-of fine ap- pearance, one of the most sociable and agreeable gentlemen in society, and the writer would not be surprised to see the judge fill his fourth term.
W. C. KRESS.
W. C. Kress was born in Anthony township, Lycoming county, Pa., June 14th, 1836. He lived with his parents upon their farm until he reached the age of seventeen, when he began teaching school, from which source he saved sufficient to pay his way at the Williamsport Dickinson sem- inary, whre he graduated in 1859. In June, 1861, he started the Lock Haven Press, a Republican weekly newspaper, in Lock Haven, which he published and edited until he entered the army. While he was in the army, December, 1862, his printing office was burned down in the great fire of that year. He enlisted in the army in August, 1862, in Company E, 137th Regiment Pa. Vols., and was elected first lieutenant of that company. He was discharged from his regiment in June, 1863, and in July, of the same year, he was elected captain of Company K, 37th Regiment Pa. Militia, and joined the army of the Cumberland valley.
W. C. KRESS, ESQ.,
LOCK HAVEN, PA.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
When his regiment was mu tered out of service, he was appointed deputy provost marshal of this district, in which position he served until the close of the war. While in the discharge of this duty he was shot by Isaac Gaines, Jr., in Keating township, Clinton county, Pa., the bullet entering his body under the right arm and passing through both lungs, but he was reserved for future usefulness.
. Mr. Kress had nearly completed his preparation for the bar when he enlisted, and after the close of the war he finished his studies and was admitted to practice in the several courts of Clinton county at the May term, 1866.
In 1867, 1872, 1885 and 1890 he represented Clinton county in the re- spective Republican state conventions of those years. He has several times served as chairman of the Republican county committee, and also has, on several occasions, been a member of the Republican state central committee. He represented the First ward of the city of Lock Haven in the city council from 1881 to 1884. He was a member of the electoral college in 1888. He was elected a member of select council, of the city of Lock Haven, as councilman-at-large, under the act of 1889, and served as president of that body for about one year, until the act was declared unconstitutional. In 1891 Mr. Kress was chosen by the Repub- licans of his district as their candidate for delegate to the constitutional convention. He is a member and past commander of John S. Bittner post, No. 122, department of Pennsylvania.
While always an active Republican, yet he has never sought office. His life-work has been the practice of his profession. He is a natural lawyer. Courageous, logical and adroit, he is, as a lawyer, regarded the peer of the best of his contemporaries. He has proved equal to every duty that has been put upon him. His practice has not been confined to Clinton county, but in many other courts he has sustained the well- earned reputation which he possesses at home.
CHARLES CORSS.
Rev. Charles Chapin Corss first settled at Kingston, Pa., as pastor of the Presbyterian church, where he married Ann, daughter of Ziba Hoyt. Their first child, the subject of this sketch, was born in Kingston on July 20th, 1837. His parents soon after moved to Athens, Pa., and after- wards to East Smithfield, Pa., where his father now resides, and, at the age of 89, still occasionally fills the pulpit of the church over which he was pastor for many years. Charles Corss was prepared for the Fresh- man class in college by his father at home, never having attended any school. In 1851 his mother died, when he went to Kingston to live with his grand parents. While there he was a pupil in Wyoming seminary, and also an instructor of certain classes in mathematics and latin. In the winter of 1852-'53, he taught a district school near his father's home, in Smithfield. In the spring of 1854 he entered the Sophomore class, half advanced, in La Fayette college, at Easton, Pa., where he graduated
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in 1856. He spoke one of the junior orations in college in 1855, the val- edictory in 1856, which was then the first honor in the class, and one of the three masters' orations in 1859, at which time he received in course the degree of Master of Arts. He was tutor in La Fayette college for two years, during which time he studied law in the office of Judge Henry D. Maxwell, and was admitted to the bar in Easton in the spring of 1860. In the summer of 1860 he united with his father's church in Smithfield, and on November 10th, 1860, took up his abode in Lock Haven, where he has continued ever since in the practice of his profession. For up- wards of twenty years he has been a ruling elder in the Great Island church, (Presbyterian,) at Lock Haven. On April 22d, 1862, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A. Kennedy, of Belvidere, N. J., who died in April, 1880, leaving to his care three children, one of whom died in infancy, a few months after her mother. In 1881 he went abroad with his two sur- viving children, Jeannie and James. Their trip covered Egypt, as far as Thebes and Karnak, the Holy Land, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. His daughter Jeannie graduated with the first honors of her class at Bradford academy, Haverhill, Mass., in 1883, and is now married to John F. McCormick, son of R. W. McCormick, Esq., and living in Lock Haven. James K. Corss graduated at Amherst col- lege, Amherst, Mass., in June, 1889, and is now in the university at Philadelphia, where he expects to receive the degree of M. D. in the coming May. The subject of this sketch was married in June, 1889, to Emma, youngest daughter of ex-Governor James Pollock, of Philadel- phia, Pa., with whom he is now living. They have a son, Charles Pol- lock Corss, born February 27th, 1892.
SEYMOUR DURELL BALL.
Seymour Durell Ball was born at Milton, Northumberland county, Pa., on January 30th, 1826. Francis Ball was his father. His mother's maiden name was Charlotte Jordan. He was educated in the public schools of Milton, and at the Milton academy, where he was mainly under the tutorship of Henry McGuire, a worthy successor of the well-known . and successful teacher, David Kirkpatrick. His father died while he was at school in 1840. In 1843 he applied for one of the Milton public schools. On account of his age he had considerable opposition, but secured the school. He studied law while teaching at Milton and at Bloomsburg, attended McCartney's law school at Easton, Pa., for a short time, and finally was prepared for examination and admission to the bar under Alexander Jordan, who was soon after elected president judge of the eighth judicial district of Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar at Sunbury in May, 1849; commenced the practice of law in Schuyl- kill county, Pa .; was married to Mary J. Pollock in 1855, and in August, 1859, removed to Lock Haven, Pa., where he has continued in the prac- tice of the law to the present time. He was a member of Captain Samuel H. Brown's Company A, 38th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, from which service he was honorably discharged, August 7th, 1863. In the
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