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 25
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In 1873 he came to Renovo, and leased a small store room from John Collins, on Erie avenue, for the purpose of establishing a hardware busi- ness. At that time there was no business of the kind in Renovo, the character of all the stores being general merchandise. This business ven- ture prospered from the day it was opened, and it soon became necessary to lease a larger room to meet the daily increasing wants of the hardware
A. N. STEVENSON,
RENOVO, CLINTON COUNTY, PA.
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY. 279
trade. In November, 1874, he leased the new store building, 24 by 50 feet, erected during that year by John Mullins, on Erie avenue, below Sixth street. This room was completely stocked with a general line of hardware, cutlery, paints, oils, glass, &c. The business continued to prosper, and in 1877 Mr. Stevenson purchased the property. As the years rolled on it became necessary for a still larger room to conduct his increasing business, and, in the spring of 1888, he built a fine two-story brick addition to the rear, making an extension of the room from 24 by 50 feet to 24 by 90 feet; the completion of this addition gives him one of the finest and best arranged hardware stores on the line of the Philadelphia & Erie railroad, between Harrisburg and Erie. This capacious room is now filled from one end to the other with a well selected stock, compris- ing everything from a Winchester rifle to a saddler's awl. The upper part of the building is beautifully arranged, and sumptuously furnished for dwelling purposes, and there Mr. Stevenson and his estimable wife reside, surrounded with all the comforts and conveniences that could be desired. The store and dwelling are heated by steam, with hot and cold water. The heating apparatus is one of the best in the town. During Mr. Stevenson's residence in Renovo he was elected one term as a mem- ber of the town council, over his Democratic competitor, by a handsome majority. The last year of his term he was chosen president of council, a position which he filled with credit to himself and honor to the town.
Mr. Stevenson is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1873, while residing at Penfield, Pa., he became a member of Clearfield lodge, No. 314, F. & A. M .; of Renovo lodge, No. 495, in 1882; of La- fayette chapter, R. A. M., No. 163, in 1883; of Hospitaller commandery, K. T., No. 46, at Lock Haven, Pa., in the same year; of Philadelphia consistory, S. P. R. S., in 1884, and of Lu Lu temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in 1887. Mr. Stevenson was a charter member of Bucktail post, No. 142, G. A. R., organized in Renovo September 24th, 1879, at which time he- was elected quartermaster-a position which he held for five successive years. He took an active interest in bringing into this organization many of the old soldiers of the Civil war. The post has a large member- ship, and continues in a flourishing condition.
JAMES O'HAGAN.
James O'Hagan was born at Newry, Blair county, Pa., in 1850. At the age of ten years he became clerk in a store at Bedford, Bedford county, Pa. He held that position for three years, and then went to East Free- dom, Pa., where he followed clerking for six years. In 1869 he came to Renovo and entered into the mercantile business with John Reiley, under the firm name of Reiley & O'Hagan. In 1871 he went into the mercantile business with his father, under the firm name of P. O'Hagan & Son. P. O'Hagan died in May, 1861, but the firm name remains unchanged. In connection with the mercantile establishment of P. O'Hagan & Son, on Erie avenue, the firm has another general store on Eleventh street, and
-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
still another at North Bend. James O'Hagan is one of the heaviest prop- erty owners in the town of Renovo, and is prominently connected with other business interests of Clinton county. Mr. O'Hagan is a member of the South Renovo Land company, and, as an individual, has done much to boom the borough of South Renovo. He owns a number of properties in the said borough, among the number being two large brick blocks, which he erected for private dwellings. He is an ardent Democrat, and has held several positions in the town of Renovo, among the number being those of councilman and school director.
R. M. GLENN.
R. M. Glenn was born in Clarion county, Pa., February 9th, 1851. The family moved to Milesburg, Centre county, Pa., in 1853. In 1866 they moved to Renovo. After locating in Renovo, the subject of this sketch clerked for one year in the store of Wells & Murphy; then entered the Renovo shops, being the first apprentice in the wood department. He served the usual apprenticeship of four years, and remained in the em- ployment of the P. & E. railroad company until 1873, when he went to Wilmington, Del., where he was employed in the car shops of Jackson & Shoop for one year. From there he went to Swissvale, Allegheny county, Pa., where he worked for the Allegheny Car and Transportation com- pany until February, 1876, when he returned to Renovo, and opened a grocery store on the corner of Erie avenue and Seventh street. He con- ducted business at that stand until he built the Red Front, on Erie avenue, where he is located at the present time. In 1887 Mr. Glenn was elected treasurer of Clinton county, serving one term. He was also a member of Renovo council for three years. R. M. Glenn is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a thirty-two degree member of the order. He was married February 9th, 1871, to Sarah C. Hawks- worth, of Renovo. He is engaged in the grocery, flour and feed busi- ness, and the Red Front grocery under his supervision is one of the most flourishing business places of its kind in Renovo.
M. L. CLAY.
M. L. Clay was born at Gardner, Me., in 1839. His boyhood days were spent in the Pine Tree state. In 1853 he was sent to Boston to school, where he remained until 1859, when he came to Lock Haven, and entered the drug store of Dr. E. L. Shultz, on Water street. He remained with Dr. Shultz four years; then went to Williamsport, and started in the drug business for himself. After a few years he sold out his store, and entered the planing mill business. After a short time he was burned out, losing every cent he possessed. He returned to Lock Haven in 1878, and entered the drug store of Dr. Prieson, where he remained until 1880. He then succeeded in securing sufficient means to once more embark in business for himself, which he did by purchasing the drug store of James Huston, located on Erie avenue, Renovo. Here he has continued in
M. L. CLAY,
RENOVO, PA.
281
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
business up to the present time. Mr. Clay was married in 1862 to a daughter of Levi Livingstone, of Lock Haven. They have two children, one son and one daughter, both married, with children of their own. Mr. Clay has been in the drug business for thirty-seven years. He now con- ducts one of the leading drug and stationery stores in the town of Renovo. Although he started twice in life without a dollar, he is now owner of his store and residence, and on the sure road to financial success.
E. T. SWAIN.
E. T. Swain was born at Lewistown, Pa., in 1839. He remained in Lewistown until the war broke out. He then entered the army as an noncommissioned officer. In the spring of 1862 he was appointed second lieutenant of Company K, 49th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and. in the fall of the same year became first lieutenant of the same company. The regiment to which he belonged was consolidated into four companies, A, B, C, D, and he was appointed first lieutenant of Company B. In the spring of 1864 he was appointed captain of Company H, a new com- pany organized to fill up the regiment. He held the latter position until October, 1864. At the close of his soldier life Mr. Swain returned to Lewistown, where he remained a few months, and in April, 1865, located at Renovo, where he has remained ever since. He now conducts the old- est drug store in the town. It is located on Erie avenue, in the Swain block. The store room was erected in 1869, and, as business increased, additions were made to the rear of the structure, until it now reaches from street to alley, a distance of 130 feet. It is the oldest block built for business purposes in the town.
Mr. Swain deals largely in real estate, and is to-day one of the leading real estate owners in the town. Besides the business block before men- tioned, he owns another block used for business purposes, and eight dwellings in different parts of the town. He was first married in 1863 to Annie Davis, of McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa. This wife died in 1865, and in 1882 he married Mrs. Crewett, of Huntingdon, Pa. With the exception of four years he has conducted his extensive business in the same room. He has held the position of councilman for four terms, at different times, and has always been a leading citizen of Renovo.
JOHN E. HOULAHAN.
John E. Houlahan, present chief burgess of Renovo, was born and ed- ucated in Lock Haven. In 1880 he entered the machine shops of the P. & E. railroad at Renovo, and remained there until he had completed his trade. He was then appointed shipping clerk for the railroad com- pany; a position he has held for the past eight years.
In February, 1892, he was elected by the Democratic party chief bur- gess of Renovo.
Mr. Houlahan is a prominent member of the P. & E. Fire brigade, and secretary to J. R. Shuster, the chief engineer. He is a charter member 19
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
of the Father Matthew C. T. A. B. society, and a strong advocate of temperance. He has been manager of the Renovo base ball club for sev- eral years, and, under his management, the said club has won a reputa- tion of which it may well feel proud.
In politics he is an uncompromising Democrat, and for the past ten years he has been a prominent worker in the ranks of his party. He has repeatedly represented his district at the county conventions, and has held various positions in his ward.
Mr. Houlahan has been a total abstainer from youth, and it may be truthfully said of him that he has never touched, tasted or handled in- toxicating liquors. He has been three times elected president of the F. M. C. T. A. B. society, and has always been one of its most active work- ers. He has been closely identified with the temperance interests of Renovo for the last ten years, and his work in this line has resulted in much good.
PATRICK H. MULVIHILL.
Patrick H. Mulvihill was born April 20th, 1860, in Clare, Ireland. He was brought to America by his parents when an infant. The family settled at Youngwomanstown, (now North Bend) this county, in the summer of 1863, and removed to Renovo in 1865. He was educated in the public schools of Renovo, graduating from the Renovo High school April 18th, 1873, standing first in its several classes. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad company October 1st, 1873, and has been employed by that company since in clerical capacities, except for an interval of about a year and a half in 1888 and 1889, which was spent in the Lake Superior country. Mr. P. H. Mulvihill is engaged as chief clerk of the Middle division of the Pennsylvania railroad, with head- quarters at Renovo. He was elected school director in Renovo in the spring of 1882, being the youngest person ever elected to that position in the town. He served three years, and was re-elected in 1885, but resigned before the completion of the term of office on account of pressure of busi- ness. He has never held any other political office. He is a prominent member of the Father Matthew C. T. A. B. society, and at present its treasurer.
J. H. KEPPERLEY.
J. H. Kepperley, present chief burgess of South Renovo, was born at Hopewell, Bedford county, Pa., April 1st, 1847. Nearly his whole life has been spent in railroading. Previous to coming to Renovo, in 1866, he was employed as fireman on the Broad Top railroad. After locating at Renovo, he was for a time brakeman on the P. & E. road, later fire- man on a freight, and then engineer. In June, 1874, he was promoted to his present position as engineer of a passenger train, between Renovo and Kane. Mr. Kepperley was first elected chief burgess in 1891, and re-elected in 1892, and is now serving his second term as chief burgess and school director.
LOGANTON BOROUGH.
T HE lands upon which Loganton now stands was origi- nally surveyed to Dr. Casper Wistar, professor of anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania. The tract con- tained several thousand acres. The Wistar lands were afterwards sold to other parties, the portion upon which Loganton now stands being purchased by John Kleckner, and they afterwards fell into the hands of his son, Colonel Anthony Kleckner, who laid out the village of Logansville in 1840. The name was afterwards changed to Loganton. The village was incorporated as a borough by an act of the grand jury, September 17th, 1869. The act was confirmed by the court January 18th, 1870, and the first election held February 12th, 1870. The first officers of the borough were : Dr. Jonathan Moyer, chief burgess; J. L. Cole, Daniel Kar- stetter, Adam Huber, Samuel Stamm, J. F. Berry, council- men; George A. Achenbach, clerk; D. M. Morris, T. J. Berry, justices of the peace; Robert Karstetter, constable; Cornelius Karstetter, assessor; George A. Achenbach, Emanuel Heller, C. W. Conser, auditors. The present officers are: Chief burgess, Dr. J. A. Houtz; justices of the peace, W. F. Moyer, W. K. Berry; constable, M. Fietter- hoof; high constable, Peter Rishel; assessor, F. M. Gramly; tax collector, A. W. Herlacher; councilmen, D. M. Morris, H. S. Cole, John Gramly, George C. Bacon, John Brown ; school board, Dr. W. R. Goodman, E. E. Morris, Israel Bierly, John Brown, D. W. Reighard, J. B. Barner; auditors, F. F. Morris, M. E. Brewer, A. L. Heller.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The first and present frame church was built in 1852, and in 1874 an addition was built to it. Since its organi- zation, March 4th, 1844, the following pastors have served the congregation: 1844-46, John M. Sindlinger; 1846-48,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Daniel Kehr; 1848, Rev. Lindemann; 1863, M. Zuloup; 1864-66, Philip Wagner ; 1866-68, Philip Graham; 1868-70, Z. Hornberger; 1870, John Heller; 1871-72, A. Longsdorf; 1873, E. Stambach; 1874, D. P. Rumberger; 1875-78, R. Young; 1878-81, D. P. Kline; 1881-84, J. G. M. Swengle; 1884-86, T. M. Morris, M. I. Jamison; 1886-88, C. H. Good- ling; 1888-89, P. C. Weidemeyer and E. L. Kessler; 1890, P. C. Weidemeyer and H. B. Barslinger; 1891, P. C. Wei- demeyer; 1892, F. P. Jarret.
The pastor also preaches at the following places: Price's chapel, Bicksler's chapel, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Zion, Green Grove, Booneville, Logan Mills and Tylersville. The Sunday school is largely attended and is in a flourishing condition. Present officers are : Superintendent, John Brown; assistant superintendent, Daniel Kister; secretary, William Greninger ; treasurer, F. M. Gramly; librarians, Adam Bierly and Mary Morris; organist, Mrs. Lizzie S. Morris; assistant, Miss Minnie Conser.
The young folks have also organized a Christian Endeavor society, with some fifty members.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
St. Paul's Lutheran and Reformed brick church was built in 1851, and in 1882 was remodeled and improved.
The Reformed pastors since 1851 have been : Jacob Zeh- ring, Daniel Tobias, J. F. Hoffmyer, W. H. Engle, W. H. Landis; at present supplied by Rev. J. R. Brown.
Since 1864 the Lutheran pastors have been: 1864-68, Peter Gheen; 1868-70, J. H. Davidson; 1870-77, W. H. Gotwald; 1877-80, J. K. Bricker; 1880, J. K. Miller; 1882- 88, E. Lenhart; 1888-91, E. E. Dietterich.
The Sunday school has an average attendance of ninety, with the following officers: Superintendent, C. W. Conser; assistant superintendent, J. H. Boone; treasurer, 'D. K. Heckman; secretary, Miss Josie Karstetter; librarians, Cal- vin Karstetter and Mary Dow; organists, Grace Barner and Ida V. Royer.
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285
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Loganton has three public schools. The public school building is a large two-story frame structure, containing three rooms and a town hall. The first board of directors were: Levi Conser, I. C. Smith, Michael Karstetter, John Reighard, W. F. Moyer, Henry Wirth. The present board are: Dr. W. R. Goodman, J. B. Barner, D. W. Reighard, E. E. Morris, John Brown, Israel Bierly. The teachers for 1891 and 1892 were: W. R. Berry, grammar grade; H. G. Lupold, intermediate grade; Miss Hattie R. Heller, primary grade.
The following points concerning Sugar Valley were fur- nished us by Levi Conser: "The schools of Sugar Valley prior to 1840 were rather of a low grade, partly for want of. competent teachers and a lack of intelligence on the part of the citizens of the valley, for it was thought sufficient if the boys could read and write and had a little knowledge of arithmetic; as for the girls, it was said, what is the use of sending the girls to school ? If they can learn to read, that is all that is necessary ; writing was not considered necessary for girls. Grammar and geography were not taught in any of the schools prior to 1840. The school books were few and of poor quality; Byerly's spelling book was the best school book of its kind. Pike's arithmetic was the only arithmetic then in use, and that was all £ s. d. (pounds, shillings and pence). The Bible and Testament were com- mon reading books in the schools. The teachers that taught prior to 1840 were : Rev. Banky, Adam Wolf, Samuel Hetner, Samuel Bower, Walter Chatham and John Chatham. In 1840 we had four school houses in the valley, one in the east end of the valley, known as the Brungard school house, one in Loganton, one near Logan Mills, and one at what is · now Tylersville. There had been a log cabin school house where Loganton now is, but it had gotten so poor that it could not be used, so during the winter of 1838 and 1839 there was no school at Loganton. During the summer of 1839 Anthony Kleckner built a school house on his land in
286
PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
the town, and gave the use of his'school house free of rent. During the winter of 1839 and 1840 Hiram Kline, of Col- umbia county, taught in Loganton and Samuel Bower taught in the Brungard school house. During the winter of 1840 and 1841 James Stevenson, of Porter township, Clin- ton county, taught the Loganton school and Samuel Bower taught the Brungard school. During the winter of 1841 and 1842 Levi Conser taught the Loganton school and Samuel Bower taught the Brungard school. Samuel Bower from that time on taught the Brungard school, until the adoption of the public school ; when that was adopted he would not teach any more. While the greater part of the state had accepted the public school system, Sugar Valley always voted "no school." The friends of the public school, finding there was no hope of getting their end accomplished by vote, George A. Achenbach, Dr. Jonathan Moyer, Anthony Kleckner and other friends of education, through the influence of Hon. George A. Achenbach, obtained from the Legislature of the state an act to establish a special school district, known as the Loganton school district. In designating its boundaries it was made large enough to con- tain territory for two schools-the Loganton school and the Wise school, one mile east of Loganton. The special district received all the back (or former) state appropria- tions, amounting to over $400, out of which the cost of the school house was then paid to Anthony Kleckner. The other part of the valley continued to vote "no school," until the school system was made general all over the state. The old prejudice against the free school has now passed away. For many years it was called the force school, and loud and bitter the complaints. But because they had to pay the taxes, they would send their children to school so as to get even, and the children got the benefit. So the force school had the effect of getting children into the school who otherwise would have gotten little or no schooling. Our . schools in Sugar Valley are now supplied with as compe- tent teachers as those in any other part of the county.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Thirty years ago we were obliged to employ at least nine- tenths of the teachers we needed from other parts of the county, but now we can furnish teachers enough to supply our schools who were born and raised in the valley. The teachers that taught in Sugar Valley after 1840 up to 1849 or 1850 were: Hiram Kline, of Columbia county; M. D. Rockey, of Logan township; James Stephenson, of Porter township; L. Conser, of Loganton; Oswald von Koenig, a Prussian, well educated in English and German; John McElarney, of Mifflinburg; A. L. Hatfield, of Lewisburg; Reuben McGee, of Centre county; Maldon Watson, of Por- ter township; William Banghart, of New Columbia; J. Q. Adams, of Sugar Valley ; J. A. Wilmot, of Bradford county.
Sugar Valley is noted for the number of its churches, there being twelve church edifices in the valley proper and five on the mountain belonging to the valley, making seventeen churches. The denominations are: Lutheran, German Reformed, Evangelical, Dunkard and some United Brethren.
The inhabitants of the town of Loganton March Ist, 1839, were: George A. Achenbach (single man), merchant; Solo- mon Knarr, tailor; David Barner, laborer; James Wilson, shoemaker; David Gearhart, laborer; John Kitchen, retired farmer; Henry Wohlfort, tanner; Jacob Warner, black- smith; Peter Bierly, wagon maker; David Moyer, laborer. Sugar Valley was at that time a wonderful forest of white pine, but the sturdy farmer and the stump machine have done the work of cleaning up the valley."
SUGAR VALLEY JOURNAL.
The Sugar Valley Journal, published by D. Scott Currin, launched into the newspaper world April 8th, 1884, as a five-column folio, and published semi-monthly, and after- wards was enlarged to a seven-column folio, and published weekly. A job printing office is attached to it. The Journal is an independent paper, which furnishes all the local news of the county, and is a good advertising medium. Its circulation is daily increasing. The Journal is an eight-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
page paper, which has entered upon its seventh year, and bears evidence of prosperity and careful management, both editorially and otherwise. Mr. Currin was but eighteen years old when he embarked in journalism in Southern Clinton county, and was the youngest newspaper publisher in the state. The people of Sugar Valley have cause for entertaining pride in the Journal, which faithfully records the occurrences in the valley, and thus keeps its readers posted on matters which interest them locally. Mr. Currin, to whose energy is due the fact that Sugar Valley has such a bright and vigilant advocate and news medium, is a prac- tical printer, a concise writer, and an industrious worker, and is meeting with increasing success.
J. A. HOUTZ, M. D.,
LOGANTON, PA.
CORPORATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
LOGANTON WATER COMPANY.
L T OGANTON WATER COMPANY was incorporated July 15th, 1861. The first officers were: President, James F. Berry; secretary, Dr. Jonathan Moyer; treasurer, William Smith; managers, George C. Breon, Daniel Reber, John Berry, Michael Karstetter and Jacob Keister.
The present officers are: President, C. W. Conser; secretary, W. F. Moyer; treasurer, J. B. Barner; managers, C. W. Conser, W. F. Moyer, Dr. J. A. Houtz, Jacob Keister and J. J. Fiddler. The water is received from a never-failing spring near the sulphur spring, north of town.
SUGAR VALLEY LODGE, NO. 829, I. O. O. F.
Sugar Valley lodge, No. 829, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 1st, 1873, by J. M. Messimer, of Renovo lodge, No. 595, with the following charter members: H. R. Achenbach, A. B. Conser, John Morris, Samuel Kahl, William F. Moyer, L. W. Dunn, D. M. Morris, B. F. Klepper, J. B. Barner and Daniel Mark.
The present officers are: N. G., A. W. Herlacher; V. G., E. E. Her- lacher; treasurer, J. B. Barner; Per. Sec., W. F. Moyer, recording sec- retary, W. E. Conser: N. G. R. S., D. M. Morris; N. G. L. S., B. F. Klepper; warden, W. R. Berry; conductor, John Morris; chaplain, John Engle; O. G., John Brown; I. G., J. C. Berry ; R. S. S., F. F. Morris; L. S. S., J. W. Lupold. Its present membership is forty-one, and up to date it has not lost a member by death.
SUGAR VALLEY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
A meeting was held at Logansville, March 18th, 1861, for the purpose of organizing a fire insurance company, at which time John B. Schrack was elected president, and J. E. Roush secretary. A charter was soon granted, and Joseph Snook appointed temporary president. The com- pany is conducted on the mutual plan, and has been in successful opera- tion since the date of its charter, and up to date of settlement, December 31st, 1891, there were fourteen assessments laid and paid $28,122 losses. They do not insure in towns, and only take $3,000 on one risk.
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