USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 80
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
way to the brisk. thriving town. They were strictly honest, hospitable and worthy people, and were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been identified with that church from its first organization in Brookville. They had. during a long life-time, accumulated considerable of this world's wealth. and so straightforward had been Mr. John Long's dealings with his fellows, that his son says of him : " In' settling up his estate I was never called upon to pay a single debt, and I do not think that he owed a single cent in the world."
In the spring of 1863 J. E. Long engaged in the mercantile business in Brookville, in which he continued for three years, when he sold out to David A. Paine, and in com- pany with G. A, Pearsall, went into the general hardware business. This firm was a prosperous and lucrative one. In the fire of 1873 they were burned out, and the fol- lowing year built the large brick building in which Pearsall & Son now conduct the same business. In 1875 Mr. Long sold his interest in the store to Mr. Pearsall, and in, 1879 sold his half of the building to him. While they were partners. Mr. Long and Mr. Pearsall both built handsome residences on Western avenue, South Side. After selling out to Mr. Pearsall, Mr. Long went into the same business in Du Bois, in company with his nephew, Lewis A. Brady. In 1863 he became a stockholder in the First National Bank of Brookville, and was a director and subsequently president of that bank. In 1877 he again engaged in the lumbering business in Brookville, in company with the late A. J. Brady, under the firm name of Brady & Long, and leased the old Philip Tay- lor mill, and ran it for about four years. They then bought the R. D. Taylor mill, on Five Mile Run, and in 1883 put up a new mill at the mouth of the run. This, the cel- ebrated " Blaine Mill," has a capacity of 6,000,000 feet, and 500,000 lath per annum. It cost $15.000, and they are still operating it, with stock to run it for ten years. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Long bought half of the Philip Taylor homestead and farm, laid it out in lots, and quite a flourishing town has already sprung up. He also built an addition to the Taylor mansion, and made it into one of the finest hotel buildings in the State.
Mr. Long has taken an active part in the politics of the county, and has always been an unswerving Republican. In 1880 he was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, to which he went instructed for James G. Blaine. He was on the ground two days before the convention assembled, and in company with four other delegates got up papers to oppose General Grant in the convention. He was the first to sign this paper, and with one other delegate worked two days and nights to accomplish the measure, securing twenty three names to the paper, which, with another signed by nineteen dele- gates from New York, setting forth the fact that Grant could not carry that State. is supposed to have been the cause of Grant's defeat in the convention. The convention lasted seven days, and was one of the most important ever held in this country. Mr. Long voted thirty-five times for James G. Blaine, and once for James A. Garfield, the nominee of the convention. In 1880 Mr. Long was nominated for the Legislature in' Jefferson county, and at the election defeated the late R. J. Nicholson, one of the most popular democrats of the county. While a member of the Legislature, he was one of those who were instrumental in passing the " store order bill," voted for the pipe bill, for the measure requiring railroad companies to erect fences along their tracks, and for all temperance measures that came before that body. Mr. Long has represented Jefferson county three times in State convention, and has the credit of making some of the State nominations. In 1884 he ran for the nomination in Jefferson county for State Senator
695
JAMES ELLIOTT LONG. - UPTHEGRAPII JAMES GILLESPIE.
in the district that was composed of the counties of Jefferson and Indiana, but was defeated by Senator W. J. McKnight. He had, however, the satisfaction of carrying his own town. where he always received a majority when a candidate for any office. Mr. Long was the first lumberman to adopt the monthly pay system in the county. In ad- dition to his business interests in Jefferson county, he is largely interested in Du Bois. In the year 1875 he purchased the large farm of Henry Shaffer, laid it out in town lots which he sold at liberal rates and on exceptionally good terms to purchasers, often ex- tending the time of payment over a period of five years, thus giving rare opportunities to laboring men and others of limited means to secure homes of their own on the most easy terms. This liberality showed that Mr. Long possessed business talent of the first order, as in the end it redounded to his own advantage, and to the town itself, as the rapid increase of population created a still greater demand for real estate, at advancing figures. The farm, when first laid out, was known as " Long's addition to Du Bois," and is now covered by what is known as Central Du Bois, the heart of the business part of the town, and is, in fact, the Second Ward of the place. In the spring of 1876 Mr- Long opened a large hardware store, in which he subsequently associated with himself his nephew, L. A. Brady, constituting the firm of Long & Brady, which has built up an immense trade. This venture, like all the enterprises in which he has been engaged, proving a success from the first, and continues in the lead to-day. His last but crown- ing effort in Du Bois was his untiring efforts which resulted in the establishment of the First National Bank of Du Bois city. Early in the spring of 1883, in company with Mr. F. K. Arnold. of Reynoldsville, aided by other citizens of Du Bois and Reynolds- ville, the plan was matured, and sufficient stock, amounting to $50,000 secured, to war- rant the purchase of a lot, and the erection of a brick bank building, commodious and modern in all its appointments. This building is located on Long street, the identical street which his own name suggested in 1875. On the ist of August, 1883, the new bank opened its doors for business, with F. K. Arnold, president, and James E. Long, cashier. The venture proved successful beyond expectation, and stands to-day an honor to its projectors. Since January 1, 1887, Mr. Long has been president of the bank, and M. W. Wise, cashier. Thus we see in this brief biography how pluck, push, and energy, combined with honor and integrity, have made James E. Long successful in all his business enterprises.
In his domestic relations he has been equally favored. On the 28th of May, 1861, he was married to Miss Carrie A. Brown, daughter of the late Orlando Brown, of Brook- ville. Three children have blessed this union. Little Maggie was early transplanted into the heavenly home. leaving one daughter and one son. Meribah (or, as she was familiarly called, Maimie), was married December 18, 1884, to Malcolm W. Wise, cashier of the First National Bank of Du Bois, while Lewis Benton still remains with his parents. Mr. Long still resides in his beautiful home on Western avenue, where he has gathered about him many valuable works of art and literature, and where the utmost hospitality is dispensed.
ILLESPIE, UPTHEGRAPH JAMIES. Mr. Gillespie is of Irish parentage, and was G born in Ligonier Valley. Westmoreland county, June 26, 1820. In 1826 his father removed to Washington township, Indiana county, where Mr. Gillespie was raised and educated. In 1842 he came to Punxsutawney, where he read medicine for two years, and in 1845 went west, and practiced for one year in the State of Michigan. In 1846
696
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
he returned to Punxsutawney and became engaged in lumbering. in which business he was actively engaged until 1874. In 1858 he removed to Clayville, where he has since permanently resided. Mr. Gillespie is now engaged in farming, milling and merchan- dising. March 25, 1848, he was married to Miss Lydia Smith Winslow, third daughter of Honorable James Winslow. They have five children - Amanda J., married William B. Sutter; William M., Kate L., wife of John W. Parsons ; James L. and Anna. Mr. Gillespie has always been prominently identified with the political affairs of the county, being one of its leading Democrats. He represented Jefferson county in the State Legislature during the sessions of 1877 and 1878. He was a delegate to the Demo- cratic National Convention held at Cincinnati in 1880, and at different times he has been honored with all the official positions in the gift of the citizens of the borough in which he resides.
Mr. Gillespie is a man of decided opinions ; but the practical worth of his business skill and ability is well appreciated by the people of the county, and he has added largely by his example and liberality in advancing the interests of the town where he has so long resided. In religion he is a Catholic. and as the representative man of that church in the south side has contributed largely to the upbuilding of that denomination, and has now the satisfaction of seeing a beautiful and commodious house of worship erected in Clayville.
ITCH, THOMAS K. The Litches are of Scotch-Irish descent. Thomas, the father, L' died in 1818, at Fitchburg, Mass., at the age of fifty years. His wife was Hannah Kimball, of English parentage, who died at Fitchburg, Mass., in 1870, aged about eighty years. Thomas K. Litch was born at Fitchburg on the 22d of December, 1808. His tastes were for mechanics, and at the age of fourteen he commenced to learn a trade with Martin Newton. at Fitchburg. While learning the business he attended school part of the time, as well as some of his youth previous to his apprenticeship. He served six years and then worked for a Mr. Harvey, in Worcester, Mass. He moved to Pittsburgh in the month of February, 1829, and engaged with a Mr. Bemis, a founder and machinist, with whom he remained five years. He then became the senior mem- ber of the firm of T. K. Litch & Co., founders and machinists who were located on the ". point," Water street. Pittsburgh. Their business was very extensive, and included the manufacture of steam engines (stationary and portable), sugar mills, etc. At that time there were only ten foundries and machine shops in the city. Some of the older citizens of Pittsburgh will remember the then celebrated " Clipper engines," invented by Mr. Litch, and used on steamboats of importance plying between Pittsburgh and New Or- leans. Engines of this pattern are being used on government vessels of to-day. It was Mr. Litch, who built the first steamboat launched on the waters of Lake Chautauqua, and then doing business between Mayville and Jamestown. He also built the first hand fire engine used in Allegheny city. In 1837 he was elected a member of the city council and served three terms, and was counted an able and invaluable guardian of the city's interest. He was also a charter member of the old Reliable Western Insur- ance Company of Pittsburgh, and was one of its board as long as he remained in the city. In 1850 he removed to Brookville, having, previous to his location, purchased the timber lands and the saw and flouring-mills of Robert P. Barr. A short time after his arrival he erected a new saw-mill, and made the necessary arrangements for manag- ing the business on a more extensive scale.
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THOMAS K. LITCH.
In 1854 he organized the Redbank Navigation Company, obtaining through Judge Isaac G. Gordon (now of the Supreme Court), a charter from the Legislature, and be- came the president. This position he occupied until his death. The charter was a very liberal one on the part of the incorporators, as all they asked was to have their capital returned, and the tolls were so fixed that they barely kept the river in good raft- ing condition. This movement was of incalculable value to the lumbermen and was of more account to Jefferson county than the railroad or any previous or subsequent event. Before its inauguration the lumber business was on a very small scale, and the timber arrived in market, if it reached there at all, in a condition which prevented its sale as first or even second class lumber.
In 1856 the new and old saw-mills were burned, but were immediately replaced by another steam saw-mill with a capacity of three million feet of boards per annum. He rebuilt the grist-mill in 1869-70 and made it one of the largest in the county.
Mr. Litch knew just how work should be done, and when he secured a good workman he would keep him in his employ. He was kind and just to his employees, always paying them promptly good wages for their labor, which he expected done in the best possible manner, and his employees honored and respected him, and were never desirous of a change. Among those longest in his employ were Silas Miller, who came with him from Pittsburgh in 1850, and is still engineer in the mills of T. K. Litch & Sons; Charles Sitz, William Goss and John D. Smith also were in his employ from ten to twenty years.
Mr. Litch took an active interest in all matters relating to the good of the town, and his purse was ever open to aid any enterprise that promised to be of public benefit.
In 1878 he was one of those instrumental in organizing the Jefferson County National Bank of Brookville, of which institution he was made president, an office he held until his death. He was also one of those who were foremost in organizing the cemetery company; and purchasing and improving the same.
In 1876, owing to the declining health of the father, the whole lumbering and flour- ing interests were turned over to his two youngest sons, Harry and Edward, under the firm name of Litch Bros., and by them successfully carried on until the death of their father, since which time the firm has been a family one, viz., Mrs. Thomas K., Thomas W., Harry C. and Edward A., under the firm name of Thomas K. Litch & Sons. The mills built in 1856 being about worn out by long and continued service, and the flood of June, 1884, doing it much damage, as well as tearing out and washing away bracket dam-cribs, booms and bridges, was replaced by the present owners in 1884, with a magnificent steam-feed mill at a cost of $25,000, with a daily capacity of fifty thousand feet of lumber.
Thomas K. Litch was married in 1834 to Margaret Black, of Pittsburgh, a daughter of Widow Martha Black. She died in 1842. He was again married on February 17, 1848, to Rebecca M. Eaton, a daughter of Joseph Eaton, of Massachusetts, to whom four children, three sons and one daughter, were born - Thomas W., Harry C., Ed- ward A. and Annie, now married to S. S. Henderson, all of whom reside in Brookville.
Mr. Litch died Monday evening, August 14, 1882, after an illness of several month's duration. The preceding evening he had taken a carriage drive with a portion of his family, which he enjoyed very much, but about 3 o'clock A. M. the next day, he fell from his chair with an attack of heart disease, from which he suffered for some time, and though conscious to the end was unable to speak again. He was a kind husband
698
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
and father, an obliging neighbor. a man of candor, and whose honesty and liberality was unimpeachable.
IZ ELSO, CAPTAIN JOSEPH C., was born on the 19th of July, 1835; on his father's K farm (then only a clearing of twenty-five acres), on one of the Redbank hills, three miles southwest of Brookville. Pa. Thus the first fifteen years of his life were spent in a small, rude log cabin, and by force of circumstances he was early made acquainted with the labor of clearing and fencing land, and erecting better buildings. He also worked at lumbering in the winter seasons in order to pay taxes. make improvements, and other necessary expenses. He worked on his father's farm (with the exceptions of a few short terms at a common school) until there was about one hundred acres cleared, and he then moved to another farm which he partly cleared and fenced, replacing the little log cabins with good farm buildings.
By close application he had obtained a fair common school education. and taught school a few terms, but has always said that for the same wages he would prefer to cut saw-logs. At the breaking out of the war of 1861-5. he was a member of Captain E. R. Brady's company of uniformed militia, the " Brookville Guards," but owing to party predjudice. he did not at first see the necessity of going to war, and therefore did not turn out with the first three months volunteers. But the development of events soon convinced him that duty called him to the line which separated the government and its destroyers. Accordingly, he was one of the first to enlist in Captain Dowling's com- pany, which afterwards became " B, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers." The fact that he made his will before going to the front, is sufficient evi- dence that he fully realized the gravity of the situation. At the first organization of the company, Captain Dowling gave him the appointment of fifth sergeant. He afterwards was promoted through every rank to captain. He is one of those to whom were awarded the bronze medal known in the First Division, Third Corps, Army of the Potomac as the " Kearney cross."
Having no wealthy or influential friends to secure for him unmerited promotion, his advancement was slow but sure, and never envied by others. The " Captain," as he is called, is a man of strong convictions, and pure and honest motives, intentions, and de- sires. It is admitted on all hands that he " has done the State some service," and is not unworthy of the respect shown him by his fellow-citizens. He was in the army four years. and carries four scars on his person which are the remains of wounds received in battle, yet he thinks that the glorious Union is worth all it has cost, and on this subject says : " I thank God that I am a sovereign citizen of the best government in the world. and that as a citizen soldier I have had the honor of helping to sustain it. It has done much for me, and I would not hesitate a moment to defend it against foes without or within. if it were again in danger." He resides on his farm on Redbank Creek, six miles below Brookville, and although having some reputation as a warrior, he is now striving to be at peace with his Maker, and to be a promoter of peace and good will amongst men.
ARLING, PAUL, was born in Smethport, Mckean county. Pa .. November 5, D 1823. and was the second son of Dr. George Darling and Darling, née Canan. His mother died when he was quite young, leaving two other children, Dr. Jedediah Darling and Charlotta, married to Dr. J. Y. McCoy, of Smethport. His
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PAUL DARLING.
brother has been dead for a number of years, but Mrs. McCoy, now well advanced in years. yet resides at Smethport.
In 1834 Dr. Darling came to Brookville and engaged in the practice of medicine, where he soon afterwards married Miss Julia Clark, daughter of Elijah Clark, of Knox township, and about the year 1837 his son Paul joined him. Though but a boy in years when he came to Brookville, he was obliged to make his own living, and sup- ported himself by teaching school. His first " teacher's certificate," which he had pre- served among his papers, read as follows :
" We, the undersigned School Directors of Pine Creek Township, do hereby certify that we have examined Paul Darling, and have found him qualified to teach Reading, Writing & Arithmetick and the principal rules of Grammar & Geography.
" Signed, JAMES MOORE, " ARCHD MCMURRAY, " JOHN LONG, " GEORGE S. MATHEWS."
He afterwards entered the store of the late Thomas K. Litch as a clerk, and by his aptness at learning the business and careful attention to his duties, he soon won the commendation of his employer, and after a few years was made general manager of his extensive lumber business, and Mr. Litch was ever one of his warmest personal friends. He was extremely frugal and saving in his habits, and as soon as he had accumulated a little money he embarked it in the lumber trade and soon gained quite a competency, which. by judicious investments in western timber lands, he augmented to a large for- tune. being worth $500,000 at the time of his death. Mr. Darling was one of the founders of the Jefferson County National Bank, of which institution he was vice-presi- dent at the time of his death.
He took care of his father and step-mother in their later years, both of whom pre- ceded him to the grave, and after the marriage of his half-sister, Mary, to W. H. Gray, of Brookville. he made her house his home, where he died, after a painful illness of several weeks' duration, November 4, 1881, passing quietly from earth just one day before his fifty-eighth birthday dawned.
Paul Darling was a man whose word was as good as his bond, and his strict regard to truth in all matters, whether large or small, was one of his characteristics. He was a shrewd, careful business man, and a sociable, companionable friend. He was well read, and his well-balanced mind retained what he culled here and there from the best authors. While busy in accumulating his large fortune Paul Darling was not accounted among the benevolent ones of the earth. but when brought face to face with death he dwelt much upon that portion of the Lord's Prayer which says, " Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," and in his will, one of the most remarkable on record, which is given below, he released his debtors from the payment of judgments and securities he held against them.
Paul Darling made the most of his fortune in Jefferson county, and to the people of the town and county that for so long was his home he left the bulk of it, and the mon- ument he erected when he made these bequests will never be obliterated as long as one of those from whom he lifted the burden of debt survives, or as long as the beautiful Methodist Church, or the elegant Presbyterian parsonage, both largely erected by his bounty, or the soldiers' monument, remain. The children of the public schools of Brookville, too, as they are surrounded and refined by the beauties his thoughtfulness has lavished about them, will revere and bless his memory.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
PAUL DARLING'S WILL.
The following bequests were made by Paul Darling, as found in his will, which was admitted to probate November 1, 1881 : "To W. H. Gray and Mary Gray, his wife, my bank stock and interest in the Jefferson County National Bank, about $30,000 ; to Paul Darling Robinson, Paul Darling Wright, Paul Darling Hamlin, and Paul Darling Sco- field, my namesakes, each $200 ; to Edward Scofield $3,000; to R. G. Wright, Henry Hamlim, Byron D. Hamlin, Thomas K. Litch, Dr. W. Y. McCoy, Mrs. Charlotta Mc- Coy, Delano C. Hamlin and Geneva, wife of Delano C. Hamlin, Mollie Forrest, each $100 ; to Dr. Henry L. McCoy $200, and to his wife $100; to Ellen, daughter of Charlotta McCoy, Ed. McCoy and Frank, his wife, Mrs. Lotta Hamlin and to her chil- dren, Willie, Orlo, Aline and Mary, each $100 ; to Emma Hamlin and Mrs. Lena Rose, each $100; to Harry C. Litch $100; to Mrs. Blanch Litch $25; to E. A. Litch $100, and Allie, his wife, $25; to Mrs. Thomas K. Litch, Anna Henderson, daughter of Thomas K. Litch, C. B. Clark, Amelia Clark, Maggie Clark, Mattie Gephart, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Darrah and Mary A. Corbett, each $100; to Dr. J. E. Hall and C. R. Hall, each $50; to Mr and Mrs. Joseph Henderson, each $25; to Joseph B. Hender- son $100; to Mrs. Joseph B. Henderson $25, and to each of her children $5; to Charles Corbett $50 ; to Thomas E. Espy and Thomas M. Carroll, each $100; to W. D. J. Marlin $50 ; to Dr. Henry L. McCoy, in trust for Geneva Bard, $500 ; to Mrs. John T. Reed $1,200; to Mrs. Emma Kimble $1,300 ; to Mrs. Skillen, sister of Mrs. Kimball, $1,300 ; to J. B. Henderson, in trust for Mrs. Martha Hall, judgment against Enoch Hall ; to John Guyther and D. A. Henderson, two-thirds of about $2,000; to N. G. Edelblute $3,280 ; to H. F. Burris one-third of balance of article of agreement ; to Robert and Mary H. Stewart, life interest in property in which they now live; to S. M. Tinthoff, judgment against him ; to Benewell Kroh, judgment against him; to I. J. Y'aney, judgment against him ; to Thomas Stewart, judgment against him ; to George M. and Theodore Irvin, judgment against them ; to S. H. Croyl and William Kennedy, judgment against them ; to William Walters, what he owes me; to T. B. McLain and Coleman, judgment against them ; to Con Fink, judgment against him ; to A. J. Davis, judgment against him ; to M. R. Reynolds and E. A. McClelland, judgment against them; to Joseph Darr, judgment against him ; to Dennis, Silas and Alma Bevier, one- half of judgment against them ; to Samuel Yount, judgment against him ; to A. J. Brady, interest on judgment and note for $125; to Silas Miller, what he owes me ; to Sheridan Mccullough, what he owes me; to Mrs. Mary McLain, privilege to purchase lot for $700 ; to James Chambers and Martha Chambers, farm in Rose township. Jefferson county ; to Samuel Chambers and sister, farm in Redbank township, Clarion county ; to P. Ford and wife, $50 each ; to Hon. G. A. Jenks, the sum of $25, because I am proud of him as a Jefferson county production, and like him as a man; to Hon. I. G. Gordon, $25 on account of long friendship : to Hon. W. P. Jenks, whom I have known so long-when we were not worth $200-but we have both since dug along-$25 ; to George Zetler, senior and junior, judgment they owe me : for a soldiers' monument in Brookville Cemetery $2,000 ; for a monument to myself $2,000 ; to the school district of Smethport, McKean county, P'a., $15.000 to aid in the erection of a school building, if erected within two years : to help them in business, to J. N. Garrison, John J. Thomp- son and Joseph Darr, each $5,000; to E. and B. Reitz $2,000; to lift him out, I give to James A. Cathers $5,000; to James M. Canning $2,000; to Carroll and Espy $2,000, in addition to amount mentioned above ; to D). F. Hibbard $1,000 ; to
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