USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 73
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PAYNE, T. J. Mr. T. J. Payne was born in Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., in- 1839. He received his education in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of eighteen he began an apprenticeship at carriage manufacturing, completing his term in three years. He then worked at his trade as journeyman until the breaking out of the Civil War. During the years of 1862-64 Mr. Payne served the government in a civic capacity, building bridges for the Army of the Cumberland, having fifty men un- der his charge.
73
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
In December, 1864, he removed to Warren county, Pa., where he engaged in the lumber business. Three years later he came to Tylersburg, Clarion county, where he has been engaged in the lumber business, and along with the same has conducted a mer- cantile business during most of the years of his residence in this county.
He has been interested in the oil business since 1872, and since 1880 has had inter- ests in the Bradford oil field, which have engaged a portion of his attention up to the present time.
In 1858 Mr. Payne married Miss L. L. Lewis, of Broome county, N. Y., who con- tinued to share with her husband the vicissitudes of life until her death in October, 1885.
While at Tylersburg, Mr. Payne erected a fine residence, but after occupying it two years he sold it on account of the ill health of Mrs. Payne, and in company with his wife visited a number of cities and watering-places in the hope of restoring her health. In August, 1886 he married Miss M. E. Hicks, of Clarion county. During the present year (1887) he purchased from the Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company their extensive prop- erty in Paint township, and on the first of April moved to Arthurs to take personal charge of this business. Mr. Payne has been successful in his business career, and by his integrity and executive ability has attained a high position in the estimation of his neighbors.
R
EYNOLDS, DAVID, was born in Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pa., October 12,
1840, and received his education in Turtle Creek, and Sewickly Academy in Alle- ·gheny county. His father, Alexander Reynolds, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., in 1808, and married Martha Deniston, of Indiana county, Pa., in 1838, to whom were born David, Sarah D. (Cunningham), John D., at present a partner in Redbank Furnace), Ellen T. (Thompson), Eliza P., who married Captain Mays, now in the regu- lar army ; and Alexander, jr., living in Kittanning. He, in company with Ritchey, built Redbank Furnace, in Armstrong county. It is located about eight miles above the mouth of Redbank Creek. He afterwards became a partner in Redbank Furnace, in Clarion county, Pa. He was a substantial business man, and thoroughly understood the manufacture of iron, and the management of furnaces. Died in October, 1881.
David Reynolds married Martha M. Detrich, of Birmingham, Huntingdon county, Pa., January 31, 1867, by whom he has had two sons and two daughters, all living-Sa- rah D., Harry A., Kizzie D., and David, jr. In 1859 Mr. Reynolds came to the present site of Redbank Furnace, where he has lived ever since, taking charge of the store and superintending the building of the furnace, in which he was a partner. He has had the general management of all connected with the furnace through all its changes in own- ership, improvements, etc., a position which he still holds.
The firm known as Mccullough & Reyonlds purchased at and about the mouth of Redbank, in 1859, fifteen hundred acres of land rich in iron ore, coal, and fire-clay, and built the furnace during the same year. Mccullough retired from the firm in 1865, John Moorhead buying his interest. Moorhead retired in 1879 and the firm became Alexander Reynolds &&Sons. After the death of the senior member of the firm, it be- came David and John D. Reynolds, the present owners and managers. During the panic of 1873, and during all the fluctuations in the iron industry, this furnace under the effi- cient management of David Reynolds has stood the severest tests. During the Parker oil excitement he was engaged to some extent in the oil business, and is at present deal- ing in real estate in West Virginia. Though scarcely in the prime of life, yet he has
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DAVID REYNOLDS. - COL. CALVIN AUGUSTUS CRAIG.
already accomplished a fair life's work. He is courteous to everybody, always trusted by the other members of the firm and all persons with whom he has dealt; his word is never questioned. His modesty, untiring energy, and excellent judgment, have been of value to him and all others with whom he has had business relations.
RAIG, COLONEL CALVIN AUGUSTUS, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania ( Veteran Volunteers. " Calvin Augustus Craig, third son of Washington and Nancy (Thompson) Craig, was born in Clarion county December 7, 1833. At an early age he gave evidence of an unusually active and studious mind, and, with only the advantages of the public schools, made rapid progress in learning, soon mastering the branches there taught. He was a careful reader, profiting by what he read, and was more intelligent and cultivated than many who possess all the advantages of a collegiate course. In the fall of 1858 he graduated from Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburgh, Pa., having de- termined to devote himself to a business career, for which he was eminently fitted."
Afterwards, in the spring of 1859, he spent some time in traveling in the South and Southwest, with a view to enlarging his knowledge by coming in contact with the citi- zens of these localities. Rev. James S. Elder (now pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Clarion), his friend and pastor, in the address delivered at Colonel Craig's funeral, says of this trip :
" His opinions and criticisms showed how closely and narrowly he scanned the cus- toms and views of the people among whom he sojourned, and proved him to be a shrewd and careful observer. He closely scrutinized the workings and influence of the institu- tion of slavery. His observations, confirming what every intelligent man knows to be true, that whoever seeks to degrade the low himself must sink. He had witnessed the evil workings of slavery himself, and ever afterwards cherished an in- creased antipathy to the inhuman institution."
On his return from this trip he engaged in lumbering, afterwards engaging in the mercantile business with his father, at Greenville, Clarion county. His success in both these enterprises showed him eminently fitted for a business career. But when the tocsin of war rang through the land, his soul was filled with patriotic ardor, and he at once enlisted in Captain A. A. McKnight's company of three months men, and at the close of that term of service he returned home and recruited a company in Clarion county for Colonel McKnight's regiment, which company was known as Company "C," of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, his commission as captain bearing date of September 6, 1861. On the 29th of May he was promoted to the lieutenant- colonelcy, made vacant by the resignation of Colonel Corbet, and to colonel, May 4, 1863, upon the death of the gallant McKnight, his friend and cousin, whom he deeply mourned. In asking his promotion, General Graham, commanding the First Brigade, First Division of the Third Corps, to which the One Hundred and Fifth was attached, wrote to Governor Curtin as follows :
"Colonel A. A. McKnight, of the 105th Reginent Pa. Vols., having been killed while gallantly leading his men in a charge against the enemy, on which occasion Lieu- tenant-Colonel Calvin A. Craig succeeded him in command, and behaved with equal coolness and courage, I consider it a duty to the service to recommend that Lieutenant- Colonel Craig be promoted to the vacancy occasioned by the death of the heroic Mc- Knight. In soliciting this promotion, I am influenced alone by a desire to keep up the
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
high standard of the 105th Regiment, one of the noblest regiments in the United States service."
That he was worthy of this confidence and capable of filling this responsible posi- tion, the conduct of Colonel Craig on many desperately fought fields bore witness. His heart was ever true to his country ; his letters to his friends all breathed of this great devotion to the cause for which he was fighting. With him, duty was a watchword, and duty to his country paramount to all other considerations. This is exemplified in the following extract from a letter received from him by the writer, just after the fall of Colonel McKnight, and his own promotion :
" When I entered the army, during the three months service as a private, I did so because I thought it was a duty I owed my country. I have risen from the ranks to be colonel of this regiment ; and as private, captain, and lieutenant-colonel, I think I have had but this one object in view, and that is to serve my country to the best of my ability. If I have failed, it has been an error of the head and not of the heart."
Colonel Craig was ardently attached to the brave men of his command, and they in turn gave him their love, respect, and prompt obedience. This feeling of pride and confidence in the officers and men of his regiment is fully illustrated in the following extracts from letters written by him while in the service. In writing of the battle of Gettysburg, he says :
" The regiment never fought better in the world. It rallied some eight or ten times after all the balance of the brigade had left it. I could handle them just as well on that field of battle as though they had simply been on drill. This is a state of perfection in drill that is gained by but few regiments. Confidence on the part of officers and men in one another is what makes troops perfect. This is the case in this regiment. I have full confidence in my men, and I believe that they have confidence in their officers; that they will not ask them to do anything that they are afraid to do themselves."
Again, of the same battle:
"The regiment never did better. When they moved forward on the charge at ' double-quick,' and with scarcely an inch of difference in their glittering bayonets, every man at his post-oh ! but I did feel proud of them. I know I have a kind of weakness for this regiment ; for I tell you, it is a regiment to be proud of."
In the same letter, in writing of the dangers attending his position, he says :
" I love my country, and am willing to fight for her; and, if needs be, to die for her."
In writing of the battle of Auburn, he says :
" I know it is in bad taste to write or talk about one's self, and I suppose it is equally as bad to write or talk about one's own regiment or company, and you may think that I write this in praise of my own regiment to make myself appear in a favorable light ; but I trust that you, who know me so well, will not think so. When I speak of the regiment, I mean the regiment, and not myself. People are at liberty to think of me as they will; but I do insist that the actions of the regiment shall appear in a proper light, whether that places me in an honorable or disgraceful position. I will close this by simply saying that the One Hundred and Fifth is one of the best regiments in the ser- vice. At the affair at Auburn, no men could have behaved better, and the officers equally as well ; in fact, not a man shrank from duty, but each stood up manfully, as if the destiny of the Republic rested on his individual shoulders."
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COL. CALVIN AUGUSTUS CRAIG. - HON. W. W. BARR.
These extracts go to show the true patriotism of the man, and the unselfishness of his character, for he was no reckless adventurer, but one for whom the ties that bound him to his home were of the strongest nature. On the Ist of February, 1864, while at home on veteran furlough, after the re-enlistment of his regiment, Colonel Craig was married to Miss Elmira J. Craig, of Greenville, Clarion county, and when he again re- turned to the field it was not only affectionate parents and fond sisters and brothers, but a loving wife, the bride of a few short weeks, with whom he was called to part.
Colonel Craig was in all the battles in which his regiment took part, from the siege of Yorktown to that of Petersburg, with the exception of the battles of Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, when he was at home on account of wounds. He was wounded in the head slightly during the Seven Days battles before Richmond; at the Second Bull Run his horse was killed, and he was severely wounded in the ankle; at Gettysburg he had three horses shot under him ; at the battle of the Wilderness he was shot in the face, severing the facial artery, and but for the devotion of some of his men, who, for thirty-six hours, stood with fingers pressed to the wound, until he could obtain surgical aid, he would have bled to death; at the siege of Petersburg he was slightly wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell; and at the battle of Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864, while in command of the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Second Corps, he was mortally wounded in the head, and lingered in unconsciousness until the next day, when he redeemed his pledge to " die, if needs be," for his country.
Colonel Craig's remains were taken in charge by his young brother, J. H. Craig, who had served with him all through the war, and sadly borne to his home, where, amid the tears and bitter grief of the young wife, who yet mourns her dead hero, and of the aged father and mother, brothers and sisters, who so dearly loved him, and the sor- row of the entire community, he was laid to rest in the shadow of the pines overlooking his boyoood's home .-
ARR, HON. W. W., was born in Penn's Valley, Centre county, on the 15th day of B February, 1827. In early life he worked on a farm and attended the public schools, and later attended Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, Pa. In August, 1850, he com- menced the study of law in the office of Joseph Alexander, esq., at Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., and two years afterwards was admitted to the bar of that county.
In April, 1853 he removed to Clarion and began the practice of law, and soon ac- quired a lucrative business. After a residence here of one year Mr. Barr was elected dis- trict attorney of the county, and was re-elected in 1857. In 1861 he was elected county treasurer of Clarion county, serving two years, and in 1864 was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. He was re-elected in 1865, and served two full terms. He was again elected district attorney in 1869, and re-elected in 1872, having served in that office four terms, covering twelve years. He also served many years as a member of the town council of Clarion. In all these positions he served with integrity and ability.
In politics Mr. Barr has always been a Democrat, and an active worker. He was chairman of the County Committee as early as 1856, and has served in the same capac- ity several times since, as well as in that of delegate to County and State conventions. He has also on several occasions been a member of the State Central Committee of his party.
1 Principally condensed from sketch of Colonel Craig, in History of One Hundred and Fifth Regi- ment P. V.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
Mr. Barr has been a Mason since 1854, being a member of the lodge in Clarion. He served as master during the years 1859, '64, and '68, and was District Deputy Grand Master for the district composed of the counties of Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Indi- ana, and Jefferson, for the years 1868, '69, and '70, and has always been a close attend- ant on the meetings of the lodge, and taken an interest in the success of the fraternity.
On the 31st of March, 1859 he married Mary, daughter of Dr. J. T. Pritner, of Clar- ion. Two children, a son and a daughter, have blessed this union. The son died in in- fancy, and the daughter is married to W. A. Hetzel, of Allegheny.
Mr. Barr assisted in the organization of the first agricultural society in Clarion county, and was the first secretary of that association. For a number of years he has been a trustee of the Presbyterian Church of Clarion, and has been liberal in his contributions for charitable purposes.
Before the war, Captain Barr commanded a military company, and thus acquired the title by which he is generally known. In manner Mr. Barr is modest and pleasant, having a kind word for all whom he meets. These traits have made him many friends. Having earned the money to pay for his education, he may truly be said to be a self- made man. By close application to business and judicious investments, he has gained a moderate competence, and his fair dealing has placed him in the front rank among the substantial business men of Clarion.
OLLNER, W. F., was born in Richland township, November 21, 1845. His early C life was spent in the public schools of his native township, and at eleven years of age, along with his school duties he kept the books in his father's store. He remained his father's book-keeper until July, 1862, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Cap- tan Charles Klotz's Company (G), One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Pennsylva- nia Volunteers. After entering active service he was appointed fifth sergeant of his- company, and was promoted successively to orderly sergeant, second lieutenant and first lieutenant. The last named grade he held when he was discharged June 2, 1865.
Mr. Collner commanded his company in several engagements, and participated with his regiment in the following pitched battles: Antietam, Fredericksburg, in which his brigade lost 1,760 out of 4,000 ; Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, where his division wrested Little Round Top from the enemy after a desperate struggle; Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, the Wilderness, on the fifth day of which battle he was wounded; Spottsyl- vania, Jericho Ford, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg. In a single charge on the enemy's works the regiment lost, in the space of ten minutes, eighty-three men in killed and wounded. The regiment was engaged in numerous severe actions during the siege of Richmond and Petersburg, as Reams Station, Peeble's Farm, Hatcher's Run, Dab- ney's Mills, Deep Bottom, the Quaker Road, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox Court-House, in the last of which the regiment was in the skirmish line, and was hotly engaged when the word was brought that Lee had surrendered, and all fighting ceased. The subject of our sketch passed through all these battles, receiving two wounds, which attest his gallant service for his conntry.
He was discharged at the close of the war after serving within one month of three years, and on returning home he worked on his father's farm, and assisted in the store until the autumn of the same year, when he went to Forest county to engage in the lum- bering business.
1
Jacob Black
659
W. F. COLLNER. - JACOB BLACK.
November 14, 1866, he married Miss Celia F. Brandon, at Clarington, Forest county, Pa.
In April, 1868, he went to Salem, Clarion county, and there engaged in the mercan- tile business in which he continued with success until January, 1880, when he removed to Clarion to assume the duties of sheriff of Clarion county, to which office he had been elected the preceding November. He held the office three years, and at the expiration of the term he returned to Salem and resumed business in his old store.
In 1884 he was elected prothonotary of the county, which position he now holds. When he returned to Clarion to assume the duties of his new office, he erected a hand- some residence on Wood street, and will probably make his home at the county seat for some time.
Mr. Collner has always been a Democrat in politics, and is an influential member of his party in the county. He is a genial companion, a trusty friend, and possesses many elements that combine to make him popular. As a business man he is industrious and attentive, and as a public officer he has proved himself courteous and efficient.
BLACK, JACOB,1 was born in the State of Maryland on the 25th day of January, A. D., 1809. He was the son of Frederick and Mary Black, who emigrated to this State early in this century, first to Waynesburg, in Green county, and a year or two after- wards to Beaver township, Venango (now Clarion) county, Pa. Jacob was the next to the oldest of a family of five children, four boys and one girl. When he was not over eight years old his father was killed by the falling of a tree. His maternal grandfather, William Rupert, was the owner of the land on which Shippenville Furnace was after- wards erected, and which on his death became the property of his favorite grandson, Jacob Black, who has resided on the property ever since.
In 1832 John Shippen, Richard Shippen, and Jacob Black formed a co-partnership for the purpose of manufacturing pig metal and iron, and in 1833 the Shippenville Fur- nace was built, metal made and hauled to the Clarion River above the turnpike bridge, and run to Pittsburgh in boats. Some years afterwards the other partners bought out John Shippen's interest, and the furnace was operated by Shippen & Black for many years. Jacob Black lived at the furnace, and was the active partner and manager. The firm built the forge a mile below on the creek, and made blooms and bar iron. A saw and grist-mill were erected, and a large number of hands found employment in cutting cord-wood, digging ore, burning charcoal (all the smelting was done with charcoal), hauling coal, ore, and metal, and operating the works. The " furnace " became the mar- ket for all kinds of produce. Farmers came there with grain and marketing from all over the county. Money was paid out for everything and circulated throughout the county, and the " works " became an important factor in developing and improving the neighborhood around. By able management and careful financiering, the firm success- fully weathered the disastrous times of 1837, 1847, and 1857. The partners became large real estate owners. At one time they bought three thousand acres of timber land on the upper waters of Paint Creek.
Mr. Black was recognized as one of the most successful and able iron masters in the county, and the poor or unfortunate had no better friend than he. Many of his workmen became farmers and property owners through his assistance and liberality. Although in
1 By F. S. Maffett.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
years of great depression the firm lost money, it was more than made up in prosperous times, and throughout the years the furnace was operated the partners accumulated a handsome competence. On the 18th day of July, 1833, Mr. Black was married to Mar- garet, the sister of his partner, Richard Shippen. The issue of the marriage was nine children, five of whom, three boys and two girls, are still living. In 1859 the furnace blowed out, and the partnership was dissolved. At that time the firm owned a large amount of land in Beaver, Elk, and adjoining townships, and it was agreed that Mr. Shippen should make a division of all the real estate owned by the firm, and Mr. Black was to have the choice of the two parts into which it was divided. In this way an am- icable partition of the property was made, and deeds were executed to each for his purpart. The awkward result of Mr. Black's choice was that it left the house and property at the furnace, where Black lived, in Shippen's division, but a subsequent trade again vested the homestead in Mr. Black, and he continues to live where he started in business almost sixty years ago. After retiring from the manufacture of metal he bought and sold real estate. The timber tract north of Shippenville, some fifteen hundred acres, was sold to Hahn, Metzgar & Wagner for about fifty thousand dollars.
When the First National Bank of Clarion was organized Mr. Black became a stock- holder, has been an officer, and is now president of that institution.
When the oil excitement broke out in Clarion county he became an operator and producer in the vicinity of Edenburg and Shippenville, having wells drilled on his lands in several localities, and spending a considerable amount of money in developing new territory, and is still interested in that business. Being now in his seventy-ninth year, with impaired health, he has retired from active business, but still overseeing his private interests and discharging his duties as president of the bank.
IZ LINGENSMITH, JOHN, was born August 26, 1809, in Westmoreland county, Pa.
In 1811 his parents, Peter Klingensmith and Susannah (Kifer) Klingensmith, came to this county and settled near Madison Furnace. The following year they re- turned to Westmoreland county. In 1824 his father came again to this county and settled with his family on what is now called the Cribbs farm, in Monroe township. After a few months' residence here he removed to Williamsburg, and a year later to the Cathers farm. From thence he went to Reidsburg. During the residence of the family at Reidsburg the subject of this sketch, assisted by his brother Samuel, cleared a farm at Williamsburg, to which the family removed, and where they lived about twenty years.
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