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 27
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1843, which business was afterwards carried on by James Council, D. W. Council, John McGhee, William Sterling, H. H. Berry, George Wensel, Nelson Caldwell and William Trexler.
About 1853 Cline Quigley and Andrew White built a saw mill south of the grist mill. This mill was operated until 1858.
In 1850 Houzeal & Miller erected the first circular saw mill on Beech creek. In 1852 they sold out to Klapp & Knarr, who run the mill until 1854, when they sold to Shonce, Saylor & Co. This firm erected a large water mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1865. The firm rebuilt the mill in 1868, and added a planing mill. The mill was run until the failure of the firm in 1876. It was the leading in- dustry of the Bald Eagle valley, and in fact we might say it made the borough of Beech Creek. The industry gave em- ployment to a great many persons. After the firm failed every laboring man was paid in full. The mill was sold to Hon. Joseph Merrey, and by him torn down and removed.
M. E. CHURCH.
The M. E. church was organized in 1833, and a small church built in 1834, at the western border of the borough. The first class leader was David Crouse. The Methodists occupied the building regular, and the Presbyterians occa- sionally until 1868, when it was sold to John Nestlerode, and afterwards torn down. Its site is now occupied by the dwelling of Mrs. Jane Romick. Many of the most eminent preachers of that day have occupied the pulpit of that little church, and in it the aged Dr. Benjamin Hamilton preached his first sermon.
In 1868 the same congregation erected a large building on a lot purchased from Samuel Clark, at a cost of about $9,000, which was entirely completed in 1873. Rev. J. W. Langley, then stationed at Lock Haven, preached the dedicatory sermon. Since then the pastors have been : 1868 to 1870, Thomas F. McClure; 1870 to 1873, J. W. Buckley; 1873 to 1875, J. Foster Bell; 1875 to 1876, John
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Z. Lloyd; 1876 to 1878, Elisha Butler; 1878, Bruno Graham and Charles Buck; 1879 to 1882, T. S. Faus; 1882, M. P. Crosthwaite; 1882 to 1885, Owen Hicks; 1885 to 1887, Elish Shoemaker; 1887 to 1890, George E. King; 1890 to 1891, N. B. Smith.
The present board of trustees are: John Liggett, Ira N. McCloskey, H. C. Williams, W. P. Bullock and C. C. Quay.
This church has kept up a Sunday school for the last fifty years; most of the time the whole year round, and at the present time the school is in a flourishing condition. The present superintendent is Ira N. McCloskey.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Most of the early settlers of the borough were Presby- terians, the Quigleys, Leitchs, Clarks, Fearons and Hayses, but they had no organized congregation here until about 1868. Some associated themselves with the church at Jacksonville, Centre county, and others at Mill Hall; but they had preaching in the borough every four weeks for many years from the pastors of those two churches. The first preachers were: Daniel Barber, Samuel Cooper, William Gibson, from Jacksonville, and William Doolittle and others from Mill Hall. The church was organized in 1868, and for a time supported a pastor; Revs. Warrington, Vancickle - Bunstein and Hawthorn up to 1881. Since that time the church has been associated with the church at Mill Hall.
The congregation sustained and kept up a Sunday school ever since the organization of the church. The present superintendent is George D. Hess, who has been an active Sunday school worker ever since the organization of the school.
The first school house erected within the limits of Beech Creek borough was a log building, erected on what is now called Leyden's Corner. In 1832, after the adoption of the public school system, another was erected at the west end of the borough.
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In 1856 a graded school building was erected, and in 1866 the house was remodeled and enlarged, and is still in use.
The business of Beech Creek borough to-day is two shoe- maker shops, run by W. F. Berry and Jerome Antis; one meat market, conducted by Williams & Pollock; one sad- dler shop, run by James Pollock.
The only hotel in the town is the Lingle house, kept by George W. Lingle. This house is well kept, and run on the temperance plan. Mr. Lingle also runs a livery, sale and exchange stable in connection with the hotel.
The general merchandise business is carried on by John McGhee, George D. Hess, Albert Bergner, George Williams and Messrs. Mobley & Hall.
The Beech Creek postoffice was established in 1832, with Michael Quigley as postmaster. The office was then called Quigley's Mills. The office was afterwards moved to Eagle- ville, and for a time Joseph Bomgardner was postmaster. In 1840 the office was returned to Beech Creek, and given its present name. Austin Leonard was then appointed postmaster, and the office was located in the store of George Furst. In 1853 Joseph Brownlee was appointed post-
master. He held the office until 1861, when C. Bolinger became postmaster. He was succeeded by V. S. Smith, who in his turn was succeeded by C. R. Keyes. In 1888 M. L. Packer succeeded Mr. Keyes, and retained the office during the administration of President Cleveland. Mr. Packer resigned in favor of V. S. Smith, who held the office until he was succeeded by E. H. Hastings, present post- master. Mr. Hastings is a very courteous and popular gen- tleman, and makes one of the most efficient postmasters Beech Creek borough has ever had.
For many years the town of Beech Creek flourished. The merchants did a rushing business. The failure of the lumber industry sadly effected the place, and to-day the town, while in a flourishing condition, is not what might be termed a business centre of any great importance.
BIOGRAPHIES.
PROFESSOR ISAAC A. HARVEY, A. M. PH. D.
P ROFESSOR ISAAC A. HARVEY was born at Salona, Clinton county, Pa., November 30th, 1850. He is a son of the late Dr. George C. Harvey, and a brother of H. T. Harvey, Esq., of Lock Haven. Professor Harvey received his early education in the schools of Lock Haven, his parents having moved to the town when he was but five years old. In 1868 he entered Bethany college, West Virginia, where he remained until he graduated, in 1872, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He next entered the law office of his brother, H. T. Harvey, where he re- mained until he completed his law studies, in 1874. Owing to ill-health he did not apply for admission to the bar. When the Central State Normal school was opened, in 1877, Professor Harvey was elected teacher of Greek, Latin, History and Literature. The following year he was ap- pointed professor of Latin and History in the Pennsylvania State college. Sickness prevented him from accepting the position. He was offered other positions in different educational institutions, but accepted none. In 1880 he was elected principal of the Beech Creek schools. In 1881 he was an unsuccessful candidate for county superintendent. During the year 1881 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Bethany college. About this time he began interesting himself in the geological profession, which he has followed up until the present time with the greatest success. In 1887 Butler university at Indianapolis conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., in recognition of his skill and reputation as a geologist. Professor Harvey was married in 1882 to Mary E. Devling, of Beech Creek. His reputation as a geologist has gone abroad, and his services have been required in other states and territories. His chief work in this state has been the locating of fire clay, iron ore and coal. On one occasion he spent several months in Sonora, Mexico, investigating the mineral wealth of that section. Professor Harvey is now a resident of Beech Creek, where he is highly respected. He is a trustee and elder in the Disciple church of Eagleville, and a school director of Beech Creek borough.
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY.
William Montgomery was born in Philadelphia, October 6th, 1815. He remained in Philadelphia until 1839. He then enlisted in the marine service of the United States, shipped aboard the man-of- war Brandywine in July, 1840, and cruised in the Mediterranean sea for two years, Mor- rocco being their headquarters during the greater part of the time. The ports of London, Marsailles, Gibraltar, Naples, Genoa, Leghorn, Pompeii
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY,
BEECH CREEK, PA.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
and many others were visited. In 1842 Mr. Montgomery came home, and was again sent to the Mediterranean, returning the same year. In 1843 he received an honorable discharge. He then followed cabinet making until December, 1844, when he again entered the marine service, and was transferred to the sloop-of-war John Adams, and went to Pensecola and Vera Cruz. The John Adams cruised in the Gulf of Mexico until the breaking out of the Mexican war. At the time of the battle of Palo Alto the John Adams was within hearing of the sound of strife. The men were landed and sent to the assistance of General Taylor. When General Scott arrived before Vera Cruz Mr. Montgomery belonged to the division sent to assist in storming the fortifications surrounding the city. After the city was captured he was returned, with General Worth's com- pany, to the vessels, and for a time was under the command of Commo- dore Perry. After cruising for a time the yellow fever broke out in the John Adams, and the men were transferred to the Saratoga, and from there Mr. Montgomery was transferred to the gunboats. He was pro- moted to orderly sergeant and sent to Pensecola, and from thence to Washington, where he was discharged, August 6th, 1848. At the break- ing out of the Civil war he lived at Osceola, Pa. Although beyond the age military service was required, he enlisted in Captain Richards' company, Independent Cavalry, August 5th, 1861. After serving in this company until January, 1862, he was transferred to the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry until June 6th of same year, when he was discharged on account of sickness. After recruiting his health he again enlisted, August 8th, 1862, in Company H, 148th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He followed the fortunes of that company until February, 1863, when, by reason of disability, he was discharged. After returning home, and once more regaining his health, the echoes of Grant's campaign reached his ears. Ill health, old age and all were forgotten, and August 27th, 1864, he once more enlisted in the same company he had left, February 28th, 1863, and fought in its battles and endured its hardships until June 6th, 1865, when he once more secured an honorable discharge and retired to private life. It would take a volume to give a complete sketch of the life of this veteran. Space only permits us to make but a slight mention of his military career. Mr. Montgomery now resides in Beech Creek. He is yet a hale old man. He is proud of his military life, as any man might be who can boast of such a record. Through all his stirring life he has never drank spirituous liquors or used tobacco in any form.
JOHN MCGHEE.
John McGhee came to reside within what is now the borough of Beech Creek in 1848. The first two years he spent with D. W. Council as an apprentice to the shoemaking trade. After that he purchased the shop which was located where the dwelling house of Richard Berryhill now stands, and continued at tlie same business until 1863. In 1852 he pur- chased the first lot sold by Solomon Strong, and in 1854 erected a dwell- ing house on the same, in which he still resides. He was elected one of
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the Beech Creek auditors in 1851, and was one of the first auditors of Beech Creek township. He was continued in the auditor's office for fifteen years, and continued on after the borough was organized, in 1869. He has held the offices of school director, overseer of the poor, town council and chief burgess at various times. Although never having the means or the opportunity of obtaining any education, except that which he picked up in a few months of common school, he has by close applica- tion obtained a fair education. At the age of about twenty-six years he was elected justice of the peace, and re-elected seven times. In 1863 he enlisted in the 183d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, in Philadelphia, but could not pass the examination on account of defect in speech. In the same year he enlisted in the 38th Regiment of Pennsylvania Troops, and served until the emergency men were discharged. On April 1st, 1866, he was appointed by Buckley, Saylor & Co., superintendent of all their logging operations, which position he held for over ten years. In the fall of 1881 he purchased the wood on 200 acres of land on Beech creek; put thirty men to cutting cord wood for charcoal, and by April, 1882, had about 6,000 cords cut. He then commenced with fifteen men to burn the coal, and ten teams to haul, and by the close of the season of 1882 had 209,000 bushels of coal delivered to the furnaces at Howard and Mill Hall. In 1885 he built a saw mill at Mill Hall, afterwards add- ing lath, paling and shingle machines to it, and in 1891 put in a box factory, and is now manufacturing all the boxes used by the axe factories at that place. He signed the pledge when the old Washingtonian Tem- perance organization was made in Beech Creek, and has been an active worker in the cause of temperance for over fifty years, and though ad- vanced in age, is still actively engaged in business. In 1890 Mr. McGhee was elected one of the county auditors, and remains in the position at the present time.
GEORGE D. HESS.
George D. Hess was born at Easton, Pa., May 28th, 1843. He received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen years accepted a clerkship in a grocery store, where he remained three years. From Eas- ton he went to Hickory Run, Carbon county, Pa., where, for two years, he was employed as book keeper by a lumber firm. He returned to Eas- ton, and at the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania went out in the 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania militia. He returned to Easton, and soon after came to Beech Creek. For a time he engaged in the lumber and mercantile business with the firm of Hess, Knecht & Miller, and after- wards continued in business with the firm of Furst, Hess & Co. For the past three years he has been doing business under his own name. George D. Hess was married, in 1868, to Annie Furst, daughter of George Furst, of Beech Creek. They have four children, three daughters and one son. Mr. Hess is a director of the Lock Haven Trust and Safe Deposit com- pany, and was for many years a director of the First National bank of Lock Haven. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, and has been superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school for the past fifteen years.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
JOHN LIGGETT.
John Liggett was born in Howard township, (now Liberty,) Centre county, Pa., April 20th, 1834. After receiving a common school educa- tion he entered Dickinson seminary, where he received higher educational advantages. He also took a commercial course at Iron City college, Pittsburg, Pa. In 1856 he went to Ohio, where he remained two years; then returned to the east and followed farming and lumbering for ten years. He gave up farming in 1868 and moved to Beech Creek town. From 1870 to 1875 he was engaged in the mercantile business. Since 1875 he has followed lumbering and contracting, one of his contracts being the building of the public road from Beech Creek to Renovo, in 1887. In April, 1890, he was commissioned justice of the peace for the borough of Beech Creek. Mr. Liggett was married, December 25th, 1857, to Hannah D. Longshore, of Nashville, Ohio. John Liggett is quite a hunter, and while enjoying this favorite sport has met with ac- cidents which, on two occasions, came near costing him his life.
F. P. TREXLER.
F. P. Trexler was born at Jersey Shore, Pa., July 13th, 1846. In 1852 the Trexler family moved to Beech Creek, where Mr. Trexler was edu- cated in the public schools. In 1862 he began an apprenticeship at the shoemaker trade with his father. He followed the trade for sixteen years. In 1878 he went to Ohio, but returned to Beech Creek in 1880. In 1882 he entered the store of Furst, Hess & Co., as clerk, and has held the position ever since. Mr. Trexler was married in August, 1867, to Clara Burchard, of Rathbonville, Steuben county, N. Y. His wife died in 1868, and in July, 1870, he was again married to Josephine Stout, of Beech Creek. F. P. Trexler is a prominent Democrat. He has frequently been requested to become a candidate for sheriff, and on one occasion did allow his name to be used, but withdrew before the nomination. He has been school director for the borough of Beech Creek two terms, and a member of council one term.
JAMES CLARK.
'Squire James Clark was born in what is now Beech Creek borough, July 26th, 1821. He received his education in the common schools of that day. During the early part of his life he followed farming. At the age of twenty years he studied surveying, an occupation he has followed ever since. In 1862 he was elected justice of the peace, and re-elected every five years since. Mr. Clark was married, in 1850, to Rebecca Ann Quiggle, a daughter of Nicholas Quiggle, of Beech Creek township. They have had seven children, four sons and three daughters, all living. His sons are William Q., Robert H., Harry B. and James M. Clark. His daughters are Frances E., Josephine and Carrie B. William Q. and Frances E. are married. 'Squire Clark has been chief burgess of Beech Creek borough for the past ten years. His father was William Clark, who settled in what is now Beech Creek township over one century ago.
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J. S. HALL.
J. S. Hall was born in Beech Creek township, in 1852. He is a son of Samuel Hall. After receiving a good common school education he en- tered the Millersville Normal school, where he remained three years. He entered the mercantile business in 1874, at Beech Creek, and followed the said business until 1881. He then engaged as traveling salesman for Landis & Co., of Philadelphia, and has been in the employ of that firm ever since. Mr. Hall was married in March, 1875, to Sarah B. Owens, of Birmingham, Pa. He has filled the various offices of the borough at different times, and is at present a progressive member of the school board. Politically he is a Republican. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and a useful citizen of the town of Beech Creek.
H. H. MOTHERSTAUGH, M. D.
Dr. H. H. Motherstaugh was born January 22d, 1841, at Holidays- burg, Blair county, Pa. When but a child the family moved to Lewis- town, Pa., where the subject of this sketch received his early education. He afterwards attended the Pine Grove Mills academy, and received higher educational training at the Pennsylvania State college. In 1874 he read medicine with Dr. C. W. Fisher, of Boalsburg, after which he entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and graduated from there in March, 1877, and located at Beech Creek the same year. Dr. Mothers- taugh was married September, 1878, to Susan Hartswick, of Boalsburg, Pa. He is the father of two children. He has been a prominent resident of Beech Creek since 1877, and is at present the leading physician in the town. He has held the various offices of the borough at different times, and was for twelve years a member of the school board. He is a man of progressive ideas, and during the time he filled the latter position he did much to raise the standard of the schools of Beech Creek borough.
MILL HALL BOROUGH.
M ILL HALL borough is situated at nearly the south- east end of Bald Eagle township, on both sides of Fishing creek, about one and one-half miles from its mouth. The first settler of whom we have any note was the pioneer Nathan Harvey, who came from the vicinity of Philadelphia in 1798, and built a log cabin where the Mill Hall drug store now stands. Mr. Harvey, recognizing the importance of the site, being the outlet of two valleys, in 1804 built the stone mill, which still stands at the southern end of town, and in 1805 laid out the town, with Fishing creek traversing it from south to north, and the Main street was surveyed along the line of the old Juniata war trail, which crossed the country from the headquarters of the Juniata river to the mouth of Fishing creek. He named it Mill Hall. Shortly after Mr. Harvey's arrival Saul Mc- Cormick came, and in 1806 erected the stone building on the east side of Main street, now occupied by G. W. Bar- nett as a bakery, restaurant and residence. Mr. McCor- mick used it many years for a store in the early part of the century. After laying out the town Mr. Harvey built a saw mill, blacksmith shop, store, hotel and dwelling. He had the only mill in this section of the state, and parties brought grain to it for a distance of thirty miles.
The blast furnace that still stands on the commons north of the town was built in 1827, the same parties building a forge in the narrows, south of the town. The furnace has been run at intervals since that time, but never proved a success financially, the parties who have operated it being invariably sold out by the sheriff in the course of a few years. The ore which was procured from the Bald Eagle mountains, close at hand, does not appear to be rich enough
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to pay for reduction to iron, and shipping ore in from other points has proved too expensive. The forge was sold by the sheriff with the furnace the first time, the site finally coming into the hands of Robert Mann, who built an axe factory, which is still in successful operation.
About the time the furnace and forge were built Saul McCormick erected a saw mill near the forge, on the oppo- site side of the creek, and a starch factory on the hill, back of where the late S. R. Stover lived. It was converted into a tannery in 1852. The woolen factory was built in the year 1833, and burned down in the year 1845, while owned by Saul McCormick, and leased to William Lee. It was rebuilt at once and burned again in 1863, rebuilt in 1864 and burned down the third time June 24th, 1882, being then owned by Robert Mann, and operated by F. M. Welsh. It was quite a loss to the town, as Mr. Welsh was working about fifteen men when it was destroyed.
A saw mill was built by George Bressler in the year 1815, where the lower axe factory now stands. A clover mill was built near it by Saul McCormick, and a foundry erected on the same property. They all finally proved unprofitable, and the property was sold to George S. Garth, who leased it to the Diamond Cement company, who manufactured cement from stone brought from the farm of James Snod- grass, in Nittany valley. The panic of 1873 stopped the sale of cement to the railroads, and the business was sus- pended, and the property afterwards sold to Robert Mann. He and his eldest son, Thomas R., started the only factory in the United States for the manufacture of double-bitted axes exclusively.
The manufacture of axes is the principal industry of Mill Hall. Robert Mann settled here in 1848. The first factory was built by Saul McCormick on the site of the forge in the narrows. In connection with Mr. Mann the business was conducted under the firm name of R. Mann & Co., until the death of Mr. McCormick, in 1857. Mr. Mann began the business by the manufacture of twenty axes per
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
day, and brought his material from and hauled his product to Lewistown, Mifflin county, his nearest railroad shipping point. The history of the increase of his business is the history of the town. The factory was enlarged in 1854, in 1863, and again in 1876. On September 11th, 1877, it was totally destroyed by fire. Plans were immediately perfected by Mr. Mann for rebuilding, and by April, 1878, the new and enlarged factory was in operation. And, as arranged since, the lower factory was built below the town. The upper or original factory makes only single-bitted axes, and has a capacity of 800 axes per day, and employs about seventy-five men. The lower factory makes double-bitted axes exclusively, having a capacity of 400 axes per day, and employs sixty-five men. The old grist mill is now being used for polishing and packing their goods, an addition having been built to it for grinding and tempering. Mr. Mann associated with him his sons, T. R., A. C., J. R. and R. Mann, Jr., as they got old enough to take part in his business. He has now retired from the active management. The factories were both merged into the American Axe and Tool company a few years since, with the main office in New York, and A. C. Mann was made superintendent of the upper or single-bit factory, and R. Mann, Jr., superin- tendent of the lower or double-bit factory.
The feed cutter and wagon shops of George S. Garth & Sons are the next manufactory of importance. Mr. Garth, Sr., was born in Philadelphia, and came to Mill Hall in 1845 or 1846, and soon after he bought the Island north of town from George Fredericks, who then owned the saw mill and clover mill property adjoining, and banked it up and im- proved it, putting thereon a dwelling and several shops, . The floods of 1847, 1865, and, worst of all, 1889, washing away the banks, carrying lumber, vehicles, and, everything that would float away, disheartened him, but he had the pluck to repair the damage, pocket his loss and go on again. and is still on the Island. They now employ ten men, and their "Try Me" feed cutters have a large sale.
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