USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 72
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Mr. Shanafelt's second marriage was to Armina Jane McNutt, daughter of Robert
647
WILLIAM SHANAFELT. - A. J. DAVIS.
McNutt, and granddaughter of Colon McNutt, an early pioneer, who settled in this township in 1806. To the old homestead he has added what was formerly the W. D. Latimer farm, and other additions, making 250 acres. He and his wife also own an- other tract of 112 acres. He has always been a progressive farmer, and was among the first in this county to adopt improved methods and implements of farming. He has de- voted much attention to raising blooded stock, especially Shorthorn cattle, adding at dif- ferent times to his herd selections from the best known stock growers of Ohio and Ken- tucky. All of his herd are registered in the American Shorthorn Herd Book.
Mr. Shanafelt's early education was obtained in the common school. He taught some; has been a diligent reader of the Bible, history, and current literature, and has always been strictly temperate. In early life he united with the Baptist Church, and for many years has held the office of deacon.
His maternal ancestors were Nathan Greenland and Sarah Corbin, his wife. They came from Maryland to Huntingdon county, Pa., about the beginning of the present century. They were descended from Richard Greenland and Benjamin Corbin, of Eng- land.
AVIS, A. J.1 Professor Davis is probably more fully identified with the educational D interests of the county than any other man. He was born in the county June 21, 1847, attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, and then a term at the Clarion Collegiate Institute at Rimersburg. In 1863 he was employed as a farm hand at six dollars per month, working from early morn to evening twilight.
On the 20th of February, 1864, he enlisted as a private in the Civil War, and was assigned to Battery B, Third Pennsylvania Artillery, One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers; was attached to the " Naval Brigade," and did gunboat service in Eastern Virginia and Eastern North Carolina; was with the armies of the James and the Potomac during the siege of Richmond and Petersburg. On his discharge, in July, 1865, he returned home and again took up his studies at the school in Rimersburg; then taught in the public schools of the county, alternately teaching and attending schools, among others the State Normal School, until the summer of 1869, when he took charge as principal of the West Freedom Academy, which position he held for three years, conducting the institution with marked success.
In 1874 Mr. Davis was elected principal of the Clarion Collegiate Institute, where he remained until chosen superintendent of public schools of Clarion county, May, 1875. He entered upon the duties of his office with a degree of energy, perseverance and tact, that merited the two re-elections to the same position that followed in succes- sion, and during the eight years and fifteen days that he remained superintendent it is safe to say that no other county in the State experienced a more rapid advancement in the grade of her common schools or in the proficiency of her teachers.
While at West Freedom Professor Davis organized the first company of the National Guard of Pennsylvania in the county, and was elected captain of the same. In May, 1876, he was elected major of the Seventeenth Regiment National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, and in 1877 was appointed judge advocate of the Seventh Division on the staff of General Huidekoper.
He was married December 23, 1875, to Miss Anna M. Kerr. In March, 1883, he was tendered a position as statistic clerk in the department of public instruction, which
1 By F. J. Maffett.
648
HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
he accepted after some deliberation, and was appointed April Ist. During the incum- bency of this clerkship he was sent to Alaska under the joint auspices of the National Bureau of Education and the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, and spent several months in that territory, organizing industrial and training schools for native children at Sitka. On his return he resumed his position in the department of public instruction, and continued to hold the same until February, 1887, when he resigned, having accepted the position of principal of the State Normal School at Clarion, Pa.
He is a regular graduate of Edinboro State Normal School, and holds an honorary diploma from the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio. In 1886 he was ten- dered the nomination for Congress in his district, which he declined.
RESSWELL, DR. JOHN, was born in Indiana county, Pa., November 8, 1830. C He taught in the public schools of his native county about six years. While en- gaged in teaching he educated himself by attending school during the summer vacations ; one term being spent in Indiana Academy, and the remainder of his academic course was acquired in Jacksonville Academy, same county. In 1852 he commenced the study of medicine, completing his course in the medical college in Cleveland, O., in 1855-56. He then came directly to New Bethlehem, Clarion county, Pa., where he has ever since resided, and been continually engaged in the practice of medicine.
December 24, 1856, Dr. Cresswell wedded Eliza Ellen Wilkinson, of West Lebanon, Indiana county, Pa. She bore him one child, John Ackley, who died in 1880, at the age of twenty-three. Two weeks later. the wife and mother also found rest from the " cares of this world. On February 7, 1882, he married Lallia M. Boyd, by whom he has a son, Austin B., born July 17, 1883.
As a physician, Dr. Cresswell has been quite skillful and successful, and has always had the confidence of his patrons. He is a man of liberal views and excellent judg- ment ; and his cool and deliberate manner of expressing himself always gives weight to what he says, and leaves no doubt about what he intended to convey.
He has been connected with the Presbyterian Church since 1852, part of the time having served as elder.
DERLIN, GEORGE NEELY, was born near the present site of Valley post-office, August 15, 1820, and lived with his parents until his marriage.
His father, George Berlin, was born in York county, Pa., September 12, 1782. Dur- ing his youth he learned the blacksmith trade. He married Elizabeth Neely, of Greens- burg, Westmoreland county, in 1805. He settled and built the first blacksmith shop in East Liberty (now Pittsburgh), Pa., the same year. Their children are Jesse, now liv- ing in Clarion ; Sarah, who married William Black ; Mary Ann (Booth), Henry Nich- olas, a hotel-keeper in Rimersburg; Fanny (Hugus), George N., Margaret, Hezekiah, Solomon, Jeremiah, William M., and Paul; also a daughter dying in infancy. In 1810 he moved to the wilderness in Venango county, settling near where his son George now lives. Part of his time was spent in clearing and improving his land, and during wet and cold days he worked at his trade. Men would often plow or grub for him while he would sharpen their mattocks and do other smithing for them. During the War of 1812 most of his neighbors left their work and bore arms for their country. Mr. Berlin having lost the sight of his right eye was left at home, but made himself useful in har- vesting his neighbors' crops, working day and night, and to increase his burdens mid disadvantages his wife was bitten by a rattlesnake while assisting in the harvest-field.
649
GEORGE NEELY BERLIN. - J. FRANK ROSS, M. D.
During the grading of the turnpike which crossed their farm, Mrs. Berlin did the baking for the graders, receiving one dollar a barrel for converting twenty-six barrels of flour into bread. Mr. Berlin kept hotel after the pike was finished for fifty-three years, and at the time of his death owned five hundred acres of land, which is now as good farms as are in the county. He died November 1, 1844, and his son Henry, then the main helper at home, died shortly afterwards. His wife and mother of his family died February 5, 1879, at the age of ninety-three years.
George N. Berlin wedded Susan Cook, of Forest county, Pa., January 9, 1848, and moved to present site of Valley post-office, where he has lived ever since; living at first in a log-house ten by twelve feet. The farm at that time was all woods but three acres. Since then it has been nearly all cleared, and is at present under a good state of cultiva- tion. In 1849 he built the present brick building in which he has kept hotel nearly ever since. In 1856 he had the contract for carrying the mail from Warren to Franklin, using twelve horses and six men. Mr. Berlin has been engaged in the oil business ever since the first excitement about Oil Creek and Oil City. His first adventures did not prove profitable. He devoted most of his time to testing territory, but found no oil. In 1872 he had a test-well drilled on his own farm at Valley. The well is yielding some oil yet. He was subsequently interested in the locality of Elk City, and was one of the first persons to open the Cogley field. He has profited by his early experience in the business, and of late years has operated quite extensively and with much success. He has some thirty producing wells at present.
Besides the farm containing two hundred acres on which he lives he has three other fine farms.
The Kossuth post-office was moved to his place during Buchanan's administration, and Mr. Berlin was postmaster. He is at present postmaster at Valley, an office kept at his place. He sold farm machinery for twenty-five years. He has raised a family of seven children - William H., an oil merchant living near Eik City; Harriet L. (Phipps), Lizzie J., who married J. H. Marten ; John C., an oil merchant, also has a hardware store and the post-office at Fern ; Lettie S. Milton, their first child, and Jacob, their youngest, each died at the age of three years.
Mr. Berlin has always been active and industrious. He will be gratefully remem- bered by the many friends he has made during his active and successful business and so- cial life.
R OSS, J. FRANK, M. D., was born in Clarion, Pa., January 27, 1844. After acquir- ing such an education as was afforded by the public schools of Clarion, he took an academic course at Elder's Ridge Academy, Indiana county, Pa., and upon graduating from this institution returned home and began the study of medicine in the office of his father, Dr. James Ross. Later he attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in March, 1868, and entering upon his professional career in his native town the same year. Here he has remained ever since, enjoying a large and lucrative prac- tice, extending over the greater portion of the county.
Dr. Ross is a member of the Clarion County Medical Society, also of the State Med- ical Society, and the American Medical Association. During the Centennial year he was elected vice-president of the State Medical Society at its meeting held in Philadel- phia. He is Assistant Medical Director of the P. and W. R. R., and has been presi-
650
HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
dent of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions, located at Clarion, ever since the organization of the board.
June 12, 1877, Dr. Ross was married to Miss Sadie Markillie, of Hudson, O. This union has been blessed with two interesting daughters - Alice B. and Mary M. Ross.
A RNOLD, FRANK M., was born in the village of Reidsburg, Clarion county, Pa., on the 14th day of October, 1847. In March, 1848, with his parents, he moved to the borough of Clarion, Pa., the county seat, and has resided there ever since.
In July, 1865 he became teller in the First National Bank of Clarion, and is at pres- ent acting as assistant cashier in the same bank, making nearly twenty-two years in the banking business. In 1869 he was commissioned by Governor Geary as notary public, and was re-commissioned in 1872, and has held the same position during the adminis- trations of Governors Hartranft and Hoyt, continuously until 1884. He was elected the first president of the Clarion Fish and Game Association in -, and has held the po- sition to the present time. He has been engaged in the lumber business in the firm of Leeper, Arnold & Co., and he has been very successful. He is also one of the firm of C. Leeper & Co., which is a lumbering firm, and has over forty million feet of pine timber.
Mr. Arnold by his industry and business sagacity has acquired a handsome compe- tence, and is now one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Clarion. He is lib- eral in his gifts to worthy charitable institutions, and his beautiful homestead attests his taste, which his ample means enables him to gratify.
He has a family of five interesting children - Frank M., George E., Turner S., Al- vin F., and Clara.
CIEGWARTH, ANTHONY L., was born near Fryburg, in what is now Clarion county, Pa., January 1, 1826.
His father, John David Siegwarth, was born in Metzingen, Province of Wurtemburg, Germany, May 16, 1786. When seventeen years of age he started to America without any money. At that time emigrants who had no money to pay their passage were sold on reaching America, to the highest bidder, and in this way their passage was paid. John Siegwarth was one of those emigrants, and worked to pay his ship-fare three years in Lancaster county, Pa., for the party to whom he was bound. This obligation being fulfilled, he married Rosanna Henlen, of Lancaster county, started West, and became one of the early settlers in the present locality of Fryburg, Clarion county, Pa., where he bought a tract of land, improved it, and endured the many hardships along with the dis- advantages of early pioneer life. He had a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Mr. Siegwarth took an active interest in organizing the Fryburg Lu- theran Church, and during his subsequent life was one of its earnest and liberal support- ers ; he also took an active part in establishing schools, and gave a helping hand to va- rious other improvements. He died January 30, 1858, and his wife died ten years after- wards.
A. L. Siegwarth was educated in the schools of his native township, and spent his youth on the farm with his father. Soon after he set out for himself he became a part- ner in Licking Furnace, and kept the books of the firm. He was afterwards book- keeper for two years at Hemlock furnace, for F. & W. M. Faber, who owned the furnace but lived in Pittsburgh.
651
ANTHONY L. SIEGWARTH. - JOHN V. RITTS.
In May, 1851, he wedded Eliza Moore, of Farmington township. They have had five sons and five daughters-Mary (Magee), Rose A., Horace G., now clerking in the store of M. Arnold, in Clarion ; Elizabeth A., John M., telegraph operator in Columbus, O., An- thony J., Jacob, Loretta J., Alice C., and Lewis F. Three of the children -Jacob, Lo- retta, and Lewis were called home before they reached the age of five years.
Mr. Siegwarth was book-keeper for Judge Cook ten years ; for Buzard, Ritts & Co. three years; and for C. Leeper & Co. one year. He was commissioner of Forest county for six years, being elected in 1859; was auditor of Clarion county, the first Republican elected to that office in the county ; was also engaged in the lumber business. At pres- ent he is a well-to-do merchant in Scotch Hill, and owns and superintends the cultiva- tion of a fine farm where he lives. It is located near Scotch Hill. As a book-keeper he is neat, careful, and painstaking, and has always had the entire confidence of his employers. He has always been strictly honest and straightforward in all his dealings with his fellow-men ; believed, trusted, and respected by all who know him. His cour- tesy and liberal hospitality also are deserving of special mention.
R ITTS, JOHN V., a son of Mr. Elias Ritts, one of the leading pioneers, and an esti- mable and successful business man of Clarion county, was born in St. Petersburg, in the year 1852. His early life, outside of school days, was devoted to agricultural em- ployments on one of his father's farms. He received an academic education, and after- wards entered the Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburgh, Pa. His aptitude and stu- dious habits won for him not only class honors, but the esteem of the faculty and patrons as well. Upon his graduation he was tendered, without solicitation, a special profess- orship in book-keeping and banking in the institution, which he accepted and filled with marked ability for nearly two years. Desiring to complete a classical education, he determined to enter Yale College and resigned his position, notwithstanding persistent efforts made to induce him to remain permanently in the faculty of the Iron City Com- mercial College.
But fate determined otherwise, and the crisis was precipitated by the discovery, development, and large production of petroleum in territory contiguous to St. Peters- burg. The necessity of banking facilities was soon apparent, and resulted in the estab- lishment of the St. Petersburg Savings Bank, in the year 1872. Its organization was effected by the election of the officers named : Hon. Jno. W. Hammond of Erie, presi- dent ; Hon. Jno. Fertig of Titusville, vice-president ; and Charles Horton of Erie county, cashier.
Young Ritts, who was then not twenty years old, was called home, and assumed charge of the books and accounts. The business rapidly increased, and within a year he was promoted by the unanimous vote of the board of directors, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the then cashier. The original stockholders, in obedience to the demand, established additional banking houses at Foxburg and Turkey City. The business at the St. Petersburg bank exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the parties in interest, and required the employment of several assistants. During the years 1876 and 1877 the price of oil advanced from below one dollar to four dollars and twenty-five cents per barrel. Deposits increased in proportion until the amounts exceeded seven hundred thousand dollars daily.
The resources of the " Boy Cashier" responded to this volume of business, which culminated in a daily aggregation in excess of one million of dollars. This immense
652
HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
business continued down to the year 1878, when the owners of the three banks men- tioned conferred on Mr. Ritts the honorable and responsible post of general mana- ger of their banks. After the first few years the personal attention of the stockholders, who were non-residents of the county, gradually decreased until after the year 1878, their visits were limited to the semi-annual dividend periods, and they recorded on the minute books of the banks resolutions attesting their approval of all the efforts made by Mr. Ritts to advance the welfare and prosperity of the several banks, and expressing their personal regard for his integrity and ability in management. Certainly few men of his age in the State were ever more rapid in advancement, more implicitly relied on by the commercial community, or more deserving of that advancement and reliance. After these years of prosperity the oil production declined in Clarion county, and active ope- rations were transferred to the Bradford and Richburg regions. Many of the bank's largest customers removed, but continued their banking business with Mr. Ritts. The Turkey City and Foxburg banks were disposed of, and subsequently the stock in the St. Petersburg bank was purchased by Elias Ritts, J. V. Ritts, C. H. Martin, J. J. Ashbaugh, S. Foust, W. S. Blakslee, and others, and Elias Ritts was elected president, J. V. Ritts continuing as cashier, and C. H. Martin assistant cashier. The retiring shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the result of their financial ventures, and indorsed the high reputation of their cashier for business knowledge, justice, and economy.
Prior to this time Mr. Ritts became largely interested in the field production of oil in the upper oil districts, and having opportunities to sell, disposed of the greater part of his interests, realizing a handsome competency. He is yet extensively engaged in pro- ducing oil in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Enterprises of importance were constantly seeking his advice and co-operation. In railroad interests he was identified with the Foxburg, St. Petersburg and Clarion Rail- way (now the Pittsburgh and Western) as its treasurer, and was for many years a director of the company, and was also treasurer of the Foxburg, Kane and Bradford Railroad; a large stockholder in the Parker, Karns City and Butler Railroad, and in the Parker Bridge Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Foxburg and St. Petersburg Turn- pike Company.
He was interested in, and assisted in organizing, the following banks: the Eldred Bank; First National Bank, of Salina, Kansas; Seaboard National Bank, New York ; Dallas National Bank, of Texas; Meridian National Bank, of Mississippi, and the Key- stone Bank, of Pittsburgh. None of the banks mentioned in Clarion county were in- volved in unsuccessful litigation, and their per centage of uncollectable assets was the lowest average known in the history of banking. The counsel retained for the banks were Hon. Theophilus S. Wilson, now president judge, Hon. George A. Jenks, solicitor- general of the United States, and John W. Reed, whose successors are Reed & Wilson. In the year 1884 the St. Petersburg Bank had hundreds of thousand of dollars loaned out, principally on oil collaterals, and when the financial panic of that year caused a rapid and ruinous decline in the price of oil, the safety of the institution seemed endan- gered, and it was deemed prudent by the management to withhold general payments for two months ; at the end of that period business was resumed, and has continued unin- terruptedly in the usual way.
During this time it was fully developed that Mr. Ritts was possessed of an energy which no ordinary impediment could resist, and an ambition that difficulties only served to strengthen.
A LITTLE.
J. J. Payne
653
JOHN V. RITTS. - DAVID BOWMAN. - T. J. PAYNE.
In August, 1882 he was united in marriage to Irene C. Blakslee, daughter of the late W. Z. Blakslee, of New York City, an amiable and accomplished lady. Their conjugal relations have been most happy, and the union blessed with two lovely and interesting children. For the past fifteen years Mr. Ritts has been a member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To this, as to all other Christian churches in the neigh- borhood, he has been generous, and his liberal contributions have established a record that has endeared his name and acts as worthy of emulation.
ROWMAN, DAVID, was born in Scotland, May 24, 1814. When he was ten years old his father, Thomas Bowman, died, and his mother died one year afterwards. David was one of a family of eight children, all of whom died before the age of matu- rity, except himself and his brother John, who came to Canada in 1833, where he lived until his death in 1880. David Bowman came to America in the spring of 1834, land- ing in Quebec, Canada, but went to Pittsburgh the following October. After staying in Pittsburgh about two years he went to Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pa. While here he married Ellen Robinson, a resident of Pottsville, June 22, 1839, and the following October came to Lucinda Furnace, Clarion county, Pa. He was a coal miner and fol- lowed that occupation in Scotland and in America until 1843, when he bought a farm of one hundred acres near Tylersburg, in Farmington township. He dug coal and ore for three years at Beaver Furnace before coming to Tylersburg. After spending some twenty years on his farm he built a store at Newmanville, in Washington township, in 1866. He came to Tylersburg in 1871 and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has followed in that place ever since.
In 1873 he, in company with C. Leeper, Porter Haskell, and Daniel Curll, purchased a fourteen-hundred-acre timber lot, known as the Higbee tract, at and around Leeper. After he sold his interest in this tract he bought a one-fourth interest in a seventeen- hundred-acre tract of timber land in Forest county in 1881. He is at present a stock- holder and director in the Second National Bank of Clarion. He has lately taken six thousand dollars stock in the Clarion State Normal School, and is one of its trustees. He is now postmaster at Tylersburg, and was the first postmaster at Newmanville, an office established through his influence.
He was blessed with a family of thirteen children -ten boys and three girls. Thomas, James C., Frank S., William W., Edward, Charles R., and Jane (Alt), are liv- ing at present, most of them near Tylersburg.
Mr. Bowman has profited by the adage, " Industry and economy means thrift." When he reached Pittsburgh in 1834 he had but one English sovereign left, was in a strange land with not a relative in this great republic. His excellent judgment and force of character, along with his successful business career, has won for him a promi- nent place in the community in which he lives.
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