USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
On the 18th day of September, in the year 1845, then being twenty-five years of age, John M. Chase united in marriage with Tobitha, daughter of William Williams. Of this marriage eleven children have been born, nine of whom are still living.
Being possessed of indomitable courage, and good, sound judgment, Mr. Chase suc- cessfully overcame the poverty, trials and hardships incident to pioneer life, and happily and deservedly acquired a home in the county, bordering on Clearfield Creek, but, in 1852, moved over into the northwest part of Woodward township, where he made a comfortable home, and where he has ever since resided. His chief occupation in life has been lumbering, and it is a well and authenticated fact, that in this pursuit, he has been eminently successful, and acquired vast tracts of land, aggregating about seven thousand acres in extent, and on these tracts there still stands some of the best timber in the county ; moreover, large areas of the land are known to be underlaid with valu- able coal deposits, but the latter have not been developed to any considerable extent.
On the 14th day of August, 1862, in pursuance of what he believed to be a plain duty, Mr. Chase enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and, at the organization of the company he was elected to a lieuten- ancy, but Governor Curtain, whose personal friend he was, soon after appointed him to the position of regimental quartermaster. Mr. Chase remained in the service about nineteen months, when, having lost the use of his limbs, he was discharged upon the surgeon's certificate of disability.
No less noticeable and no less eventful than his life as a man of business, has been the life of John M. Chase as a Christian gentlemen. In early life he was, in a measure,
696
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
under the teachings and influences of Universalism, to which, for a time, he had strong inclinations ; but, having been brought into frequent residence with families whose faith and tendencies was more orthodox, and where daily prayer was observed, he gradually changed his views, and, as a result of earnest thought and deep conviction, he became converted. Later in life he was led under the influences of the Baptist Church, of which he became a member, and still later, a minister He was regularly ordained in the year 1870, and for a period of nine years, officiated in various localities in the county, but his health failing, he was advised by physicians to retire from active ministerial labor.
Although he has never been an aspirant for political preferment, Mr. Chase has been an active thinker and worker in such causes as he believed to be for the general well- fare. He was before the war, a thorough and proclaimed abolitionist, and as such " shouldered a gun." He afterward held to the principles of the Republican party, but finally became an outspoken advocate of prohibition, working zealously in that cause.
M CENALLY, HON. JOSEPH BENSON, was born in Lycoming county, this State, on the 25th day of January, in the year 1825. Of the children born to Rev. Peter and Margaret (Bloodhart) McEnally, he was the youngest, and the only one that sur- vived the years of childhood. His father was a traveling minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was twice pastor of the church of that denomination in Clear- field ; first in 1831, and again during the years 1848-9.
Following that which seems to have been an established precedent among those who, at that time, aspired to professional life, our subject, after having acquired an ele- mentary education, became a teacher, and, as such, taught school at various places, among them Philadelphia, the vicinity of Baltimore, Md., and Curwensville, in this county. He underwent a preparatory course at Carlisle, after which he entered Dick- inson College at that place for the regular classical course, and from which he graduated in the month of June, of the year 1845. During his years of study, however, Mr. Mc- Enally had in mind an intention of becoming a member of the legal fraternity, and to this end devoted his leisure time to the examination of such works as would best school his mind for that profession ; and still later he registered as a law student in the office of Alexander (afterward President Judge) Jordon, at Sunbury. In the year 1849 he was admitted to the bar of Northumberland county. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, where he remained about one year, after which he came to Clearfield and was admitted to practice at the bar of this county. After a short time he was appointed deputy attorney-general of the county, succeeding in the incumbency of that office Clinton Welch, esq., and was in turn succeeded by Joseph S. France, esq. He applied himself diligently to the labors of his profession, and at once assumed, and to this present time has maintained a distinguished position among its ablest members. In the conduct of his legal business he is methodical, cautious, laborious. It is his policy to discountenance, rather than to promote litigation, and in his intercourse with clients, mature deliberation always precedes counsel. Before the jury, he addresses the understanding of his hearers instead of appealing to their passions, and approaches the subject in hand with dignity, self-possession, and in the light of principle and common sense.
Naturally enough, a man possessed of these characteristics, and possessing, more- over, the respect, confidence and esteem of his fellow-men, could not well avoid being drawn somewhat into the arena of politics. Having, in the course of his extensive
697
JOSEPH BENSON MCENALLY. - WILLIAM PORTER.
practice, become familiar with the law bearing on all such cases as might arise within the jurisdiction of the courts of the district, he was, on the 2d day of July, 1868, ap- pointed by Governor John W. Geary to the office of president judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District, in place of Judge Linn, resigned. The district then comprised the counties of Clearfield, Centre and Clinton. Although his incumbency of the office was of brief duration, it was, however, characterized by that fairness, candor, earnestness, and entire impartiality, together with a thorough knowledge of law principles, and of the rules of evidence as well, that have ever marked the man. So pleasant, indeed, were the relations that existed between Judge McEnally and the laymen of the legal profes- sion, that, upon the occasion of his retirement from the bench, he was the recipient of a most gratifying testimonial of appreciation and regard from members of the Centre county bar, the largest and strongest of the district. At the earnest solicitation of friends, members of the profession and others, Judge McEnally became the candidate of the Republican party for election to the office that he had held by appointment, against Charles A. Mayer, the Democratic nominee. The latter was elected, there being a majority in the district so great that even the personal and professional popularity of Judge McEnally could not overcome it. After leaving the bench our subject resumed the practice of his profession at Clearfield. In the year 1872 he formed a law partner- ship with Daniel W. McCurdy, a former student in his office. Upon the occasion of the formation of Clearfield county into a separate judicial district, Judge McEnally was made the candidate of his party for the office of president judge, but being so engrossed with the care and importance of his business, absolutely declined the nomination.
As may be seen from this, Judge McEnally has been no office-seeker, but, on the contrary, a man whose elevated tone rendered him the reverse of all that constitutes that character. However gratifying might have been the confidence of his fellow-citizens, so often expressed in his behalf, the offices he has held, and the nominations he has re- ceived, always came entirely unsolicited. Upon all the political issues of his time he entertains clear and well-settled convictions, and is frank and open in the expression of them. His sentiments, too, are emphatically conservative-naturally inclined to adhere to the established order of things, and not easily drawn into the advocacy of any of the isms of the day. The principles he has maintained and advocated are not in accordance with those of the dominant party of the county ; nevertheless, a man of his mark could not well avoid being occasionally pressed into the political arena, when personal influence and popularity, it was hoped, might turn the scale of doubtful contest.
In the year 1852 Joseph B. McEnally united in marriage with Amelia, daughter of Abram K. Wright, an old and respected resident of this county. Of this marriage one child, a son, has been born.
In affairs pertaining to religion Mr. McEnally takes a deep interest in the progress and welfare of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the maintenance and support of which society he generously contributes of his means.
PORTER, WILLIAM, the subject of this sketch, was born in the County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 3d day of April, 1807. His father's name was Patrick, and his mother's, Elizabeth Porter. In the family were six children, viz .: Eliza, William, Rob- ert, John, Sarah, and Jane. The father died while the children were still young, the care of the family thereafter devolving upon the widowed mother.
In the year 1829 William Porter emigrated to this country, and lived for four years
698
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
in Lycoming county. He then came to Clearfield county and settled on the ridges, in the south part of Lawrence township. Subsequently, the mother and other children came to this country and made this county their home.
William Porter first turned his attention to lumbering, and, through his business life, this was his chief occupation, although at different times he has engaged in other enter- prises. We find him first employed on Clearfield Creek, near the site of the old bridge, where he, with others (Boone and Long), built a mill and commenced manufacturing lumber for the market. This business relation was continued until 1837, when, through the treachery of his partners, the business failed of success. He then made a contract for the construction of a part of the Snow Shoe turnpike, one section of which he built entire, and completed another that had been partially built by other parties. About this time he met with a serious accident, by which his leg was injured, and from this cause was unable to work for about one year. During this time he was employed in teaching school; first at the old Thompson school-house, and afterwards at the Reed school- house, both in Lawrence township. He also held at the same time some lumbering in- terests, but could not give it his personal attention. Mr. Porter, as a teacher, proved efficient, and soon had charge of the Wolf Run school, on the river below the county seat ; still later, in 1844, he was advanced to the position of teacher in the academy at Clearfield. In this same year he purchased a farm in Lawrence township, but did not move there until the following spring. In the fall of 1847 he again started into lum- bering by stocking, during the following winter, the Lick Run mills; but another acci- dent soon befel him, by which his leg was broken, and he was again incapacitated for work. He soon afterward started a boarding-house at Bald Hills, the center of an ex- tensive lumbering region in Girard township. In the fall of 1848 he returned to his farm and remained there about two years.
In the year 1850 Mr. Porter became the Democratic nominee for the office of pro- thonotary of the county, to which office he was elected. He then moved to Clearfield, where he purchased, from Josiah W. Smith, esq., the property at the corner of Second and Walnut streets, and where he has ever since resided.
In such public offices as he has been chosen to fill, Mr. Porter always proved faithful and efficient. Upon the expiration of his first term he was re-elected, serving in all six years. In 1858 he was elected justice of the peace, and held that office twenty con- secutive years. Besides these he has held various other offices of the borough and county. In political affairs Mr. Porter has always taken an interest in the success of Democratic principles, but has been by no means radical in his support of that party.
Notwithstanding the losses suffered by him through the acts of his partners, and de- spite the personal injuries received by accident, necessitating frequent changes in occu- pation, Mr. Porter's business life has been successful, and enabled him to accumulate a comfortable fortune. Honesty and integrity have characterized his every act; his pa- tient toil, prudent investments, and exemplary habits have been rewarded.
Many years ago he became a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of his means has made generous contributions to that society and other worthy institutions. William Porter never married.
G WOODLANDER, GEORGE BREON, was born in Lycoming county, this State, on the 27th day of April, in the year 1827. His father, Henry Goodlander, was a native of Pennsylvania, born near West Milton, Union county, March 17, 1805, and his
699
GEORGE BREON GOODLANDER.
mother, Margaret (Breon) Goodlander, was born at New Berlin, Union county, March 5, 1809. In the month of March, 1837, the family came to Clearfield county and set- tled near Luthersburg, Brady township, where the father worked at his trade (shoemak- ing), and also farming.
At the age of eighteen years George, who was the oldest of thirteen children, was apprenticed to Miles Hartsock, of Curwensville, to learn the trade of wagon-making. He remained at work with Mr. Hartsock for a term of three years and three months, the only compensation received by him, besides instruction in the art referred to, being board and clothing. It is a well authenticated fact that George B. Goodlander was the first regularly apprenticed person of Curwensville, who served the full time of indenture, and went therefrom with a full and complete knowledge of the craft that he had chosen. After the expiration of the term of his apprenticeship, Mr. Goodlander returned to Luthersburg, where, from 1848 to 1858, he was established in business, working at the trade he had previously learned. During eight of the ten years in which he was so em- ployed, Mr. Goodlander held township offices, three years as constable and five years as justice of the peace.
In the year 1859, having acquired an extensive and favorable acquaintance through- out the western portion of the county, and being well supported in other quarters, he was nominated as a candidate, on the Democratic ticket, for the office of county treas- urer, and, in the fall of the same year, was elected.
In the month of March, 1860, Mr. Goodlander became a resident of Clearfield. During the same year, at the earnest solicitation of some of the leading citizens, among them Governor Bigler, Judge Barrett, Senator Wallace, Judge Leonard, and others, he purchased a half-interest in the Clearfield Republican, and became associated in the management of that paper with Daniel W. Moore. From July, 1864, to July, 1865, he held the position of deputy sheriff of the county. In the last named year he became sole owner and editor of the Republican, and immediately commenced the task of placing that paper upon a substantial and profitable basis. His success in this direction is shown by the paper itself, as it soon became, and still is, the recognized organ of the Democratic party in the county, and leads all others in point of circulation and influ- ence. Three times during Mr. Goodlander's occupancy of its editorial chair has the paper been enlarged : first, in 1867, from a six to a seven-column; second, in 1869, to an eight-column ; and lastly, in 1874, from an eight to a nine-column paper. It now appears as a thirty by forty-six sheet. The present circulation of the Republican reaches nearly two thousand.
The fixed and determined policy of this publication has been to represent the inter- ests of the Democratic party and the public weal, and not for individual advancement, or the advocacy of the cause of personal friends or relatives ; and any perversion of this policy by other papers, or requests to the contrary by political aspirants, meets with vigorous opposition on the part of its editor. Of these principles he has always been a warm advocate. At a convention of the State Editorial Association, held twenty-two years ago, he favored this position ; ever since has he battled for it, until at last, the policy has been adopted by a majority of the papers of the State.
In the year 1849 Mr. Goodlander united in marriage with Sophia Jane Evans, daughter of Josiah Evans, an old and highly respected resident of Curwensville. Of this marriage no children have been born.
700
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
OYNTON, JONATHAN, was born in the town of Monkton, Addison county, Vt.,
B on the 9th day of September, in the year 1810. His parents were Jonathan and Betsey (Lawrence) Boynton. In the family were five children, of whom, save one, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest.
During the infancy of our subject the family moved to Franklin county, New York State, where they lived about seven years, when they moved to Onondaga county, and resided there about ten years; after this the family took up their residence at Oswego, from which place Jonathan came to this county. His boyhood days were spent at home attending school and working with his father, who was a cooper by trade, and with whom young Jonathan learned that trade, but not to follow it as an occupation after leaving home.
In the year 1832, then being arrived at the age of twenty-two years, he came to the Sinnamahoning (then a part of this county, but now Cameron county), where he received his first experience in the lumber business. With ax in hand he went into forests, where his first winters were passed. During the warm months, however, he was employed at such work as presented itself and furnished the means of an honest livelihood. Having accumulated a small sum of money, he commenced dealing in timber, buying and running to market. In the year 1836 he formed a copartnership with Ai Fitch, under the name and style of Fitch & Boynton, and at once commenced dealing more extensively. As this business increased they extended their field of oper- ations, and soon became recognized as one of the heaviest and most successful lumber dealing firms on the West Branch. The relation of these partners was one of the most agreeable character, and continued for a period of thirty-six years, having dissolved in the year 1872.
The business of this firm, however, does not represent the entire interests of Mr. Boynton in this line, as he has been extensively engaged with various other persons, and in other locallties, but the latter were not under his personal supervision.
In the year 1837 Mr. Boynton resided at Smith's Mills, in the south part of the county. Five years later, 1842, he married Mary Nevling, daughter of Adam Nevling, by which marriage there has been born three children, viz .: Ai F., of Clearfield; Edith, the wife of Rev. William H. Dill, and Ira N., who died August 29, 1865.
After a residence at Smith's Mills of about eight years, Mr. Boynton and family came to Clearfield, where he purchased from Robert Wallace, esq., the property on Second street, upon which he erected an elegant house and in which he still resides.
At the time of the organization of the First National Bank of Clearfield, December, 1864, Mr. Boynton was elected as its president, and has so continued, without inter- mission, to the present time.
Although he began life with but small means, his prudent habits, excellent judgment, and firm adherence to the rule that " whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well," brought to him most gratifying success and enabled him to accumulate a fortune. Of quiet disposition, kind of heart, and generous to all good causes, he has won the respect and esteem of all who know him.
During his long and varied business life and intercourse with his fellowmen, no man has ever had just cause to doubt his honor and probity. But his worth does not arise merely from his capacity as a man of business. His kindly disposition, his quiet, yet earnest support of the church, his tenderness and kindness as a husband and parent, relative, and friend have endeared him to them all. The land upon which the Metho-
701
JONATHAN BOYTON. - JOHN IRVIN.
dist Episcopal Church now stands, the memorial windows that adorn that edifice, the commodious pastor's residence, and a goodly cash contribution to the society were his free and voluntary gift. These, with his recent munificent provision for his son and daughter, are but characteristic of the man.
TRVIN, COLONEL JOHN. A correct and intelligent narrative of the events of the business career of John Irvin cannot be stated without referring, in a greater or less degree, to the persons who laid the foundation for that business, and which has been continued and extended by him ; and inasmuch as his early experience and education in that direction was transmitted from father to son, it is eminently proper that the earliest years of that business and its extent should be reviewed in this connection.
The pioneer ancestor of this family that became a resident of Clearfield county was William Irvin, a native of Ireland, but before settling in this region was a resident of Penn's Valley, Centre county. The exact time of his coming here cannot be definitely fixed at this time. His first purchase of land (three hundred and thirty acres) was made on the 2d day of November, in the year 1811, and it is quite probable that he perma- nently located here soon after that purchase was made. His children were : John, Will- iam, jr., Alexander, Matthew, David, Jared, James, Margaret, and Mary.
John Irvin, father of our subject, and the oldest of these children, seems to have been his father's chief assistant and advisor. The land referred to above as being acquired by William Irvin, was situate on the West Branch River at or very near Cur- wensville. One of their first business ventures was the construction of a dam across the river, that sufficient water-power might be obtained. This work was performed during the year 1819. The land was William Irvin's, the funds, also, for its prosecution were his ; but the work was mainly performed under direction of John Irvin. It may here be stated as a fact, that it was the first dam constructed on the river from its head to tide- water. The dam being finished, a mill was, in due time, erected. William Irvin main- tained and conducted this mill and its consequent business until February, 1828, when it was sold to his sons, John and William, jr. The father died during the latter part of the year 1830, or in the early part of the year 1831. John was chosen to settle the estate.
John Irvin was born in the year 1796. As before remarked, he was the chief adviser and assistant to his father, and had, during the father's life, the charge of his business. About the time that the mill was completed, and its financial success became an assured fact, he started a mercantile business on the hill, a short distance from the river; still later he bought lands just northeast of the town, from George F. Curwen, upon which he built a store and distillery. In 1830 John Irvin purchased from his brother, William, his interest in the mill property, and became sole proprietor of the entire business. He was an energetic, thorough and competent person in the transaction of every branch of business. He acquired considerable real estate and lumbered extensively ; he also ran large quantities of coal and grain down the river to the markets.
Mr. Irvin married Eliza Lee, daughter of Jacob Lee, of Chest township, but for- merly a resident of Centre county. Of this marriage seven children were born, viz : Martha, who married Dr. H. P. Thompson; William, who died in 1872; John, who died in infancy ; John (the second), Jared F., James A., and Annie M. John Irvin, the father of this family, died in October, 1848. His widow still lives, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-four years.
89
702
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
John Irvin, the second child so named, of the sons and daughters of John and Eliza Irvin, was born on the 8th day of March, in the year 1836, at Curwensville. At the time of his father's death he was but twelve years of age. He attended the common schools in season, and spent the remainder of his time in the store as clerk for his mother, who continued the business after the death of her husband. In the spring of 1854, William and John Irvin were given, by their mother, an interest in the business, the firm thereafter being known under the style of E. Irvin & Sons. This relation was maintained until the year 1859, when John Irvin purchased the entire business, and conducted it about one year, when, in 1860, he took as a partner, his brother, Jared F. Irvin. They managed the business until the latter part of the summer 1862, when John, the senior partner, entered the army. Jared continued the business thereafter in his own name, but eventually closed the store.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.