History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 145

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

who married Mary Heim; Christian, deceased; Ephraim, who married Malinda Koch, and William F., who married Mattie Beidlespacher. Mr. Shafer is a member of the Dunkard church, and is a supporter of the Democratic party. His son Ephraim, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the homestead farm, and received a com- mon school education. August 17, 1882, he was married to Malinda Koch, who has had four children: Miriam; Mabel, deceased; Edna, and Horace. The family are adherents of the Baptist church; in politics Mr. Shafer is a Democrat, and has filled the office of school director six years.

E. W. LUNDY was born in Fairfield township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1830. His father, Samuel Lundy, was born in Fairfield township, Lycom- ing county, in 1807, and was a son of one of the early settlers of that locality. His mother, Mary (Milnor) Lundy, was born in 1806, and by her marriage to Mr. Lundy became the mother of five children: E. W .; Jerome B .; Anna Eliza, who married John Entz; Mary Jane, who married Lewis Casner, and Sarah Emily, who married Jacob Smithgall. The subject of this sketch was married to Mary Guinter in 1854. She bore him the following children: John B., who married Margaret Jane Smithgall; Samuel I., who married Alice Sweeley; Catharine, who became the wife of Charles P. Hoover; Joseph W., who married Emma Reecer; George Alva; Cora A .; Michael E., and Nathan B. In politics Mr. Lundy is a stanch Democrat. He has been a justice of the peace for fifteen years, has filled nearly all of the important offices in his township, and has been a member of the school board about thirty years. For the past twenty-five years Mr. Lundy has been engaged in the tanning business, in which he has been quite successful, and is one of the well-to-do citizens of Eldred township.

NATHAN BURROWS KIMBLE was born in Upper Fairfield township, Lycoming coun- ty, March 20, 1836, and was the eldest of five brothers. He was educated in the common schools. When quite young he was employed by J. W. Milnor as a clerk in his store. In 1856 he was appointed postmaster at Warrensville and filled the position until 1858, when he located in Williamsport. He served as deputy prothonotary during the official terms of Jacob S. Runyon and Charles D. Eldred, beginning, respectively, in 1859 and 1862. In 1865 he was elected prothon- otary and served out the term to the eminent satisfaction of all, and retired from office greatly respected for the faithfulness and ability he had displayed. He after- wards devoted most of his time to clerking in the various offices of the court house, and was able to render valuable service to incoming officials, especially the prothon- otaries, sheriffs, and recorders of deeds. For several years he was frequently called on to act as administrator in the settlement of estates, to serve on commissions to take testimony, and to attend to the auditing of accounts, arbitrations, etc. When the McBrides were murdered in 1873, Mr. Kimble was appointed administrator. In 1876 he was nominated and elected to the legislature and served with credit. In politics, Mr. Kimble was a Democrat of the old school, and never sought to dis- guise his sentiments or shirk his duty in a partisan sense. For his firmness and candor he commanded the respect of his political adversaries and the admiration and confidence of the members of his own party. He possessed the wonderful faculty of closely forecasting results in local political contests, and his estimates of majorities, in advance of elections, often proved marvelously accurate. On

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this account he was regarded as a political oracle about election times, and men of all parties eagerly sought his opinion and advice. His political sagacity was not unlike that possessed by Samuel J. Tilden, although it was confined to a narrower sphere, and those who knew him best regarded him as the political "sage" of Williamsport. After a long and severe sickness, he died at his rooms in the Henry House, May 29, 1890. He lived and died a bachelor. He was a man whose friend- ship was always warm and true, and one whose honesty, purity of purpose, and fidelity were never questioned. His memory, therefore, will be fondly cherished and kept green in the hearts of those whom he numbered among his associates and friends.

JOHN FISHER was born in Germany in 1831, and came to this country when he was fifteen years old. He lived in Ohio three years, and subsequently came to Anthony township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and bought a tract of forest land, upon which he settled. He went to work clearing and improving it, and in the course of time brought it under cultivation. By his first marriage, to Mary Ulmer, Mr. Fisher was the father of two children: Mary and Jacob Henry. In 1861 he married Mary Ann Deiffenwait, who bore him the followingchildren: John D .; Charles F .; Peter M .; Lavina; Louisa; Abraham, deceased; Lucinda; Rosella; David, deceased, and Jeanette. Towards the close of the war Mr. Fisher enlisted in the Union army and served until mustered out of the service. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a supporter of the Democratic party. He still resides upon the farm which he cleared and improved, enjoying the fruits of his rigid industry.

CHARLES F. FISHER, son of John and Mary Ann (Deiffenwait) Fisher, was born on the homestead in Anthony township, Lycoming county, February 2, 1865. He lived with his parents until he was fifteen years old, and then commenced working out as a farm hand, which he followed until his marriage, February 13, 1890, to Hannah Heim; he then removed to his present homestead in Eldred township. Politically he is a Democrat, and is an adherent of the Baptist church.

CHAPTER LVI.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LEWIS, PLUNKETT'S CREEK, CASCADE, GAMBLE, MCINTYRE, AND McNETT TOWNSHIPS.

ROBERT INNES was born in Linlithgow, Scotland, July 27, 1845, and is the eldest son of Adam and Helen (McNeil) Innes, natives of Scotland, and late residents of Bradford county, Pennsylvania. His parents immigrated to Norwich, Connecticut, in July, 1848, and his father found employment in a tannery at New London until October of the same year, when he removed to Ulster county, New York, and took charge of A. I. Shultz's tannery. He filled that position for seven years, and then

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bought an interest in the plant and continued in business there for ten years longer. In September, 1865, he sold out and purchased the tannery at Granville Centre, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he carried on business up to within two years of his death, March 10, 1886, when he was succeeded by his sons, Daniel, John A., C. A., and Judson K. The subject of this sketch was three years old when his parents came to the United States. He grew to manhood in Ulster county, New York, and learned the tanning business with his father. He was connected with the latter until the spring of 1877, when he removed to Bodines, Lycoming county, and purchased a tract of land of Abel DuBois, upon which he erected a tannery. He soon estab- lished a prosperous business, and now gives employment to thirty hands. He manu- factures Union Crop leather, and operates one of the leading tanneries in the West Branch valley. He also carried on a general mercantile business at Bodines up to May 1, 1891, when he sold out to his nephew, J. D. Bunyan. In 1883 he erected a flour mill, and under the firm name of Neyhart Brothers & Company, Limited, conducted the business until the spring of 1888. Mr. Innes then carried it on alone up to August, 1891, at which time he took into partnership S. L. An- drews, and the firm has since been S. L. Andrews & Company. The mill possesses a full roller process system, and has a capacity of fifty barrels a day. In 1889 he erected a creamery, but soon afterwards it was swept from its foundation by the great flood of that year. He immediately brought it back to its site and put it into operation. The creamery was burned, January 27, 1891, was at once rebuilt, and has since been running constantly. He also carries on an undertaking establish- ment for the accommodation of that part of the county. The tannery, mill, and creamery are named "Bruce," after Robert Bruce, the celebrated king of Scotland. Mr. Innes also operates a farm of over 300 acres surrounding the village of Bodines. and is one of the most prosperous business men in the county.

He was married, March 12, 1868, to Miss B. A., daughter of John and Olive (Savage) Sayles, natives of Sempronius, Cayuga county, New York, and residents of Granville Centre, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Innes was born at the latter place, and the old Sayles homestead is now the property of her husband. Six children have been born of this union: Marion; Theodore S., who has charge of Elmhurst tannery, in Lackawanna county; Adam R .; Agnes, deceased; Anson J., and Helen A. Since arriving at manhood Mr. Innes has been an ardent Repub- lican, and has always taken an active interest in the local affairs of his township. being now one of the supervisors. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is connected with the commandery and consistory. He is one of the prominent and successful business men of Lycoming county, and owes his prosperity to his rigid industry and close attention to the details of his various interests.

JOSEPH GRAY, a native of Vermont, and a veteran of the Revolution, was born about 1749. Prior to the war of Independence he removed to Pennsylvania and settled on Loyalsock creek, Fairfield township, Lycoming county, built himself a log cabin, and resided there until his death, at an advanced age. He was one of the earliest settlers of the county, and left quite a large number of descendants. He was twice married, and by his first wife had one son, Timothy, who married Eliza- beth Clendenin. Eight children were the fruits of his second marriage: Joseph; Samuel; James; Daniel; Ann, who married Oliver McCaslin; Deborah; Lottie, and.

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Margaret, all of whom are dead. Mr. Gray was an adherent of the Methodist church.

TIMOTHY GRAY, eldest son of Joseph Gray, was born in Fairfield township, Lycoming county, in 1778. He lived with his parents until the breaking out of the war of 1812, when he enlisted and served throughout that struggle against the same old foe of liberty. He attained the rank of first lieutenant. He returned to his home in 1814, and settled at the mouth of a small stream, since known as Tim Gray's run, April 5, 1820, and resided at that point the balance of his life. Mr. Gray married Elizabeth Clendenin in 1810, and was the father of the following children: Hannah, who married Joseph Younkin; Charles C .; Robert; George; John; Abigail, who married Samuel Dale; William; Mary, and Henry. He was a member of the Methodist church, and his wife of the Baptist denomination. Polit- ically he was a Democrat, which principles he had imbibed from his father. He died at the age of eighty-eight years.

CHARLES CLENDENIN GRAY, eldest son of Timothy Gray, was born on the Clendenin farm, December 29, 1815. He assisted his father during his boyhood days, and remained with him until his marriage, which occurred in 1849, to Harriet Arrance. Seven children were the fruits of this union: Elizabeth, who married Adolphus Sutton; Charles, who married Anna Snyder; Ellen, who married John Rice; Emma, who married Corda Smith; William, who married Minnie Packard; Robert, and Margaret, the two last mentioned being dead. After his marriage he farmed for about three years, and then went into the lumber business, at which he has con- tinued ever since. He has been a jobber for F. R. Weed for thirty years, on Tim Gray's run. Mr. Gray is living at Penn's Dale, where his business keeps him, though a property owner in Trout Run. He is a member of the Methodist church, and at one time was connected with the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat, and has filled the offices of supervisor, overseer of the poor, and constable, and has been a school director for twenty-one years. In 1869, while serving as constable of Lewis township, Mr. Gray was instrumental in capturing John Fields, who murdered his brother-in-law, William Matthews, through some misunderstanding arising from the division of money paid to them by the Northern Central railroad for ties. In attempting to arrest Fields, Mr. Gray was severely wounded by the former, who struck him with an axe, the marks of which he carries to this day.

JOHN CLENDENIN was a soldier of the Revolution who served throughout that struggle for liberty. He was born at Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, about 1757, and when the Revolution broke out he immediately offered his services in defense of his native land. He was present and witnessed the execution of Major Andre. His widow drew a pension as long as she lived. Mr. Clendenin was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and was a delegate to the convention that nominated Thomas Jefferson for President of the United States. He married Rebecca De France about 1777, and she bore him a family of ten children: Margaret, who married John Allen; Charles, who married Martha Hughes; Elizabeth, who married Timothy Gray; Marjaroie, who married Henry Harmon; Robert, who married Harriet Black- well; Rebecca, who married Robert Carson; Ann, who remained single; Mary, who married William Thomas; Jane, who became the wife of John S. Apker, and John, who married Ellen Landon. Mr. Clendenin removed from Easton to Bennezette,

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Elk county, Pennsylvania, where he lived several years, and then located on the "Long Reach," and subsequently at the mouth of Tim Gray's run, on Lycoming creek. He died on the homestead, on Lycoming creek, and was interred at New- berry. His widow survived him thirty-three years, and died at the age of eighty- four.

ROBERT CLENDENIN, son of John and Rebecca Clendenin, was born on the " Long Reach," March 2, 1798. After his father's death he helped to take care of the homestead, and assisted his mother in supporting the family. He was married in 1826 to Harriet Blackwell, a native of England, and erected a log house on the Clen- denin farm, now the homestead of his son, Robert Carson, where he spent the whole of his life. Ten children were born to Robert and Harriet Clendenin, as follows: Priscilla B., who was twice married, first to George Mudge, and afterwards to S. R. Borden, and was killed in the great railroad wreck at Chatsworth, Illinois; . Henry H., who married Mary Hall; Thomas B., who was twice married, first to Isabella Turner, and then to Esther Moore; Rebecca W .; Robert Carson; Matilda, deceased wife of G. I. Perry; Charles W., who was killed in the rebellion; John R., who married Lucy Bodine, and is dead; Richard J., deceased, and Harriet C., wife of Dr. John Eldred. Mr. Clendenin was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a trustee in that organization a great many years. He was an old-line Whig, and subsequently a Republican, and filled nearly all of the offices in his township. He was recognized as an honest, upright man, and died, honored and respected, in 1881,. at the ripe old age of eighty-three years.

THOMAS B. CLENDENIN, second son of Robert and Harriet Clendenin, was born on the old homestead in Lycoming county, September 16, 1829. He lived with his- parents until he was twenty-four years old, and then went to Trout Run and engaged in the lumber business, which he prosecuted four years. He then returned to the homestead farm, and built a new house for his family. He assisted his father to clear off the forest and erect buildings. In the fall of 1869 he formed a partner- ship with his brothers, Robert Carson and John R., under the firm name of Clen- denin Brothers, and engaged in the lumber business. They carried on operations about five years, and then dissolved partnership. He was married to Isabella Turner of Bradford county in 1865. She bore him two children: Harriet, and Eugene, deceased. She died about three years after her marriage, and in 1870 he married Esther Moore. Both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and he has been an elder in the church about six years. He was at one time an active member of the I. O. O. F., but has not affiliated with the society for some time. Politically he is a Democrat, and has filled all of the offices in his township.

ROBERT CARSON CLENDENIN, son of Robert Clendenin, was born on the old home- stead, November 6, 1834, and has always resided thereon. He was in the lumber business about five years, as a member of the firm of Clendenin Brothers, when the partnership was dissolved. He resides with his sister on the old homestead, which he has improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has been a trustee in that body a number of years. Polit- ically he is a Republican, and is known as a man of enterprise and public spirit.

CHARLES W. CLENDENIN, son of Robert Clendenin, was born on the homestead farm, April 12, 1839. He remained with his parents until he was eighteen years

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

old, when he entered the employ of Richard Mackey, merchant and lumberman, of Trout Run, with whom he remained until 1861. He then enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered in as first sergeant of Company K. He served with his regiment in all of the marches and battles in which it participated up to the battle of the Wilderness, where he was severely wounded. He was removed to Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C., where he died from the effects of an amputation, thus yielding his life in defense of his country.

JOHN FIELD was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1799, and during the war of 1812 he commenced boating on the Delaware river, between Riegelsville and Trenton, which occupation he followed four years, and then engaged in the carpenter business. In 1817 he married Margaret Powlson of New Jersey. Her parents, Cornelius and Margaret (Malone) Powlson, were natives of the same State, and had a family of eight children, Margaret being the eldest. Her father owned 500 acres. of land opposite Easton, Pennsylvania, which he sold about 1812, taking in payment Continental scrip. This money afterwards proved worthless, and he was thus reduced to poverty. The Powlsous then went to live with a kind neighbor, Peter Sharp, the father taking charge of the farm and general business affairs of that gentleman. On the death of Mr. Sharp and wife, who left no descendants, a will was found in a secret drawer of his private desk which left all his property to Mr. Powlson, and at the death of the latter it was divided among his children. John and Margaret Field were the parents of eight children, as follows: Furman; Cornelius P. ; Burrows M .; Sharp P .; Josiah; William, deceased; Sarah, deceased, and Rosilla, deceased. Mr. Field removed to what is now known as Quaker Hill, Eldred township, Lycoming county, in 1827, followed his trade in connection with farming for a short time, and then came to Williamsport. He worked at his trade until he moved up Lycoming creek, to the site of Field's Station, which was named in his honor. Mr. Field was a large contractor in the construction of the Northern Central railroad. He was also engaged on the West Branch canal, and built the lock at the mouth of Lycom- ing creek and two locks at Farrandsville. He subsequently had contracts in the building of the Blossburg and Tioga railroad. Returning to Lycoming county he assisted in erecting the first iron furnace at Astonville, the ruins of which may yet be seen near Ralston. He afterwards turned over his business affairs to his son Furman, and spent the remaining years of his life at his home at Field's Station. He died in 1881, at the age of eighty-two years. His life was a very active one, and he accumulated through the passing years a comfortable competence. In politics he was a Democrat, and was liberal in his religious opinions.

FURMAN FIELD, eldest son of John Field, was born in Northampton county, New Jersey, July 14, 1818, and came to this county with his parents when eight years old. He remained with his father until the death of the latter, and towards the close of his father's life he took charge of his business, and at his death assumed all the liabilities. About 1838 he went into the lumber business at Field's Station, and has continued lumbering up to the present. His father traded the Quaker Hill farm for one-half of the lumber tract and saw mill, and Furman bought the other half from Joseph Keys. The first tract contained 220 acres, to which they subse- quently added until they owned 5,000 acres of timber land. Dr. Lehman, a Ger- man capitalist of Philadelphia, sent out Dr. Holler to the site of Field's Station for

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

the purpose of establishing a German colony on his land in that vicinity. Dr. Holler did not like the appearance of the land at Field's Station, and finally selected Blooming Grove as the site of his home. He resided there until his death, and was recognized as the leader of the German settlers in that part of the county. Through some technicality or flaw in the title he lost three out of the five tracts which he had entered. The remaining two he traded to a Mr. Williams, for a lot on the banks of the Schuylkill river, which he subsequently sold for $4,000. This was all he realized out of his timber tracts, which cost him $80,000 and afterwards came into the possession of Mr. Field. The latter purchased 2,000 acres from Ward & Mason, of Towanda, 1,100 acres of the McIntyre & Robinson estate, and 900 acres of the Joseph Keys estate. All of this land now belongs to Thomas E. Proctor. The mill which Mr. Field operated burned down about 1877, and was immediately rebuilt. It still stands as a landmark of his prosperity. Politically he is a Democrat, and has been township commissioner for twelve years.

THOMAS NOON was a native of County Galway, Ireland, where he was born about 1803. He grew to manhood in his native land, and was married on reaching his majority. His wife, Mary, bore him a family of eight children: Patrick W., who married Margaret Tooley; Catharine, who married Thomas Kinsley; Maria, who . married John J. Lyons; Jane, who married George Batton; Daniel, who died in infancy; Thomas, who was drowned in West Virginia; Edward F., who married Ada Guinter, and John J., who married Ella Kane. After immigrating to Penn- sylvania he came to Lycoming county and found employment at the Crescent Nail Works, and subsequently worked in the old iron furnace at Astonville. While at the latter place he purchased a small tract of land and commenced clearing off the forest, but his money gave out and he was compelled to return to the furnace to earn sufficient means to pay for and improve his land. His farm was situated in Cascade township, and he spent the balance of his days thereon, dying in 1880 at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a plucky, energetic, and industrious man, a good citi- zen, and an obliging neighbor. He was a member of the Catholic church, and lived and died in that faith. In politics he was a Democrat, and served as supervisor of Cascade township for a number of years.

EDWARD F. NOON, son of Thomas and Mary Noon, was born upon the homestead farm in Cascade township, April 19, 1849. He lived with his parents until he attained the age of twenty-four years, and then entered the service of George W. Moore for the purpose of learning the millwright trade. He completed his appren- ticeship in 1877, and then began contracting, erecting the Catholic church in Cas- cade township, and various other buildings, chiefly saw mills. He took charge of Abel DuBois's lumber business at Bodines in 1882, and continued with him until September 2, 1885, when he lost his left arm by an accident in the mill, his shirt sleeve being caught in the roller, and his arm severed by the gang edger. Mr. Noon afterwards took a course in the Williamsport Commercial College, and in February, 1886, he formed a partnership with his brother John J., under the name of Noon Brothers. This firm carried on the lumber business for three years, when our sub- ject bought his brother's interest, and has since continued the business alone. Mr. Noon was married in 1885 to Ada Guinter, and has three children: Harry; Winfred, and Flossie. Both he and wife are members of the Catholic church. He is a

Julius Lewis .

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Democrat in politics, and is now the auditor of Lewis township. He was once a candidate for the legislature, but was defeated by a very close vote. Mr. Noon has erected a fine residence on his farm, also a new steam saw mill, and is recognized as one of the energetic and enterprising business men of his locality.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 145

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650