History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424

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J. F. McCLURE, physician and surgeon, was born along the west branch of Brandy Wine, Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1850, son of James and Francina (McCalmant) McClure. John McClure, the great-grandfather of our subject, and his brother, Joseph, with a colony of about two hundred persons, were banished from the North of Ireland on account of their relig- ious opinions, in the year 1680. They immigrated to America and John and Joseph purchased a tract of land from the sons of William Penn in Chester county, Pennsylvania, which is still owned by their descendants. James McClure, the father of J. F. McClure, died in 1860 and was buried in the Presbyterian grave-yard at Honey Brook, Chester county. His widow died

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in 1870 leaving four children: Sarah, wife of Wesley Good; Elizabeth, wife of George Prntsman; Hannah, deceased, and John F. The last named received his education at Kingston Seminary. He taught two years in Law- renceville Academy, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, after which he began the study of medicine with R. B. Smith of Tioga, this State. He then attended Bellevue Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1875, and the following April located at Watsontown, where he has built up an excellent practice. He was married, August 18, 1875, to Jennie Mills, of Steuben county, New York. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and one of the censors of the Medico-Surgical College of Philadelphia. He is a member of the Northumberland County Medical Society, has served in the borough council of Watsontown for three years, acting as secretary of that body, has been a member of the school board for six years, three of which he was secretary of the same, and in 1891 was elected chief burgess of Wat- sontown.

FULLER S. DERR, physician and surgeon, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1860, son of John F. and Sarah (Houseknecht) Derr, natives of Lycoming county. Our subject's paternal great-grandfather immigrated from Germany at an early date and located in Montour county, Pennsylvania, where his grandfather, Christopher Derr, was born, and from whom the present Derr family have descended. Christopher Derr removed into Lycoming county and died there. John F. Derr is a farmer, and in 1871 he moved from Lycoming to Montour county, where he has resided ever since. He has reared nine children: Judson; Alice, wife of John Krumm; Hiram H., deceased; Fuller S .; Phebe J., wife of Albert Muffly; Elmer B .; Miles J .; Homer M., and Annie F. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools and at Bucknell University. He began the study of medicine under Dr. E. H. Horner, of Turbutville, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 29, 1884. He immediately formed a partnership with his preceptor, which continued four years, when he removed to Watsontown, where he has since devoted his entire attention to the practice of his profession. Doctor Derr was married, December 27, 1888, to Annie Schmucker, of Watsontown, and has one child, Woods F. He is a member of the Masonic order, and one of the well known citizens of his adopted home.

DR. J. R. HOUSEL, dentist, was born in Milton, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1840, son of Isaac and Mary (Hougendobler) Housel, natives of this county. The Housel family originally came from Holland, but the grandparents came from New Jersey to this county. His paternal grandfather served in the war of 1812, and his great-grandparents on both sides served in the Revolutionary war. Isaac Housel was the father of the following children: J. R .; Annie, widow of William Everard; George, deceased; Miller, deceased; Frances E., widow of Lindsley Priestley; Sallie S. ;

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Johnston, of Milton, and Kate C., deceased. He died, August 28, 1872. The subject of our sketch was educated at the common schools of Reading and the Nickson Street grammar school of Philadelphia. He studied dentistry with Dr. H. H. Martin, of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, began practicing in Milton in 1860, and came to Watsontown in 1878. He enlisted in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Emergency regiment in 1862, and re-enlisted, February 28, 1865, as a private, in Company E, Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He was married, December 31, 1863, to Rebecca J. Smith, of Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, and to this union have been born two children: Edgar L. and Mary B. Doctor Housel and wife are members of the Methodist church, and he is a member of the G. A. R.

EDGAR L. HOUSEL, dentist, was born in McEwensville, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, son of J. R. Housel. He was educated at the Watson- town high school; and at the age of sixteen he entered the dental office of his father, and in 1886 the Pennsylvania Dental College at Philadelphia, and graduated in 1888. He located in Watsontown in the same office with his father, where he has devoted his whole attention to his chosen profession. He was married, December 12, 1888, to M. Clemence, daughter of Charles Heilman. Doctor Housel is a member of the Masonic order.

LEW C. FOSNOT, editor and publisher of the Watsontown Star, was born, February 8, 1848, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Fosnot, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1799, was a weaver by trade, and died in 1850. His mother, Mary Vanderbilt, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and died in 1872. Her union with Jacob Fosnot gave her twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity: William C .; Mary Jane; Martha M .; John C .; Joshua V .; Edward A .; Lew C., and Henry J. Our subject received his education in the common schools of Cumberland county, and began learning the printer's trade, working at that at intervals until 1864. He began his business career clerking in a country store, following this with labor on the line of the Cumberland Valley railroad for three years; he also drove a huckster wagon and worked upon a farm. June 30, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Battery G, Second Penn- sylvania Artillery, and served until January 29, 1866, with the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James. He was employed in the United States weather bureau for three months, and began the printing and publishing business in 1871, which he has continued to date. He is a member of the G. A. R. and the I. O. O. F., is a Democrat in politics, and somewhat liberal in his religious belief. He was married, January 23, 1871, at Newville, Pennsylvania, to Belle Westafer, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, who was born in 1850. To this union have been born the following children: Lula Maud, who died in 1879; Bessie Irene, who died in 1877, and John Clyde.

J. WARD DIEHL, editor and proprietor of the Watsontown Blade, is a son of Alfred Diehl, a baker of Watsontown, and was born at Laurelton, Union

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county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1867. He was apprenticed to the "art preservative" in a printing shop at his present home, and on the completion of his trade was tendered the foremanship of the Williamsport Sunday Break- fast Table, which position he accepted and held for eighteen months. He founded the Blade in 1889. During a vacation on the Breakfast Table given him on account of impaired health, he started for Colorado as a special con- tributor to the Philadelphia Sunday Press, but did not get farther than Kan- sas owing to sickness en route. Prior to going into the newspaper business, he was employed at the Cook & Pardee match-stick factory, where he earned his first money. His education was very limited, and he is a true specimen of a "print-shop educated man." His first contributions, under the nom- de-plume of Sam Sykes, were of a humorous nature and were "set from the case." They attracted considerable attention, and Sam Sykes soon gained a local reputation. Mr. Diehl was married, January 13, 1891, to Sadie C., daughter of Rev. S. P. Orwig, of Montgomery, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania.

THOMPSON BOWER, president of the Watsontown National Bank, was born in Washington township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1826, son of John and Sarah (Quinn) Bower, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Ireland, both of whom spent the greater part of their lives in Lycoming county. Thompson was reared a farmer, and has followed agri- cultural pursuits all his life. He lived in Lycoming and Union counties, successively, until 1884, when he came to Watsontown, where he has since resided. He has been president of the Watsontown National Bank several years, and is one of the substantial citizens of the town. Mr. Bower was married, November 15, 1849, to Catharine A., daughter of Christian Gosh, of Northumberland county. She was born in Lycoming county, and is the mother of three children: Laura E., wife of R. M. Griffey; J. G., of Wat- sontown, and Margaret J., wife of George W. Crane. Mr. Bower is a Democrat, and both he and wife are members of the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM BLY, ferryman, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania. His father, Captain John Bly, was born, December 18, 1814, and was married in 1835 to Lydia Rhoads, and to this union were born ten sons, all of whom grew to maturity but Edwin, the youngest, who died at the age of seventeen months. Those living are: Joseph; David, a broker of Williamsport; James, a ferryman of West Milton, and William, all of whom served in the war of the Rebellion; Manoah; Charles; Alem; Phineas, and John A., of Buffalo, New York. Captain John Bly was one of the original settlers of Watson- town, having resided there over fifty years. He was one of the first to establish the ferry at that place, and was captain on a canal boat on the Pennsylvania canal about fifteen years. In 1866 he bought the ferry across the Susquehanna river at Watsontown, and operated it until his death. William, the subject of our sketch, was married, December 23, 1869, to Mary

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Bower, who died, February 7, 1884, leaving four children: Elizabeth; John; Minnie, and William. He was again married, February 14, 1887, to Annie Wallize, of Watsontown. Mr. Bly enlisted in Company B, (Captain David Bly's), One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, August 1, 1862, and served nine months; he subsequently served three months in the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth regiment, and one year in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. He is a member of the G. A. R. and of the Masonic order.

JAMES W. MUFFLY was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1842, son of Samuel and Mary (Kleppinger) Muffly, natives of Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania. His father came to what is now Montour county in 1837, and located upon a farm. He was a leading Whig of his section of the country. He died, July 1, 1873; his wife died in December, 1868, leav- ing a family of six children: Samuel K .; Catharine Walter; Maria Kamp; George H., of Illinois; Stephen J., and James W. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, and at the age of twenty began to work at the carpenter trade, after which he was successively engaged in the coal and lumber business until 1876, when he, in company with Wagner Broth- ers, built the planing mill, and formed what is known as the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, from which he retired on the 26th of August, 1890. He was married, December 19, 1882, to Sarah E. Caldwell, of . Reading, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: Walter C. and William J. Mr. and Mrs. Muffly are members of the Reformed church, and he is a charter member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 401, of Watsontown.

J. H. WAGNER, of the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, son of Daniel and Catharine (Follmer) Wag- ner, who were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living: William, a lumberman of Virginia; G. N. and L. B., lumbermen of Michigan; C. A., living on the homestead in Montour county; J. H. and D. F., both of the Watsontown Planing Mill Company; Lucy, Mrs. William Hackenburg, of Emporium, and Amanda, Mrs. James Caldwell, of Titusville, Pennsyl- vania. The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of his native county. In 1863 he enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania militia, was mustered out, and then re-enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was with Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and took part in Wilson's raid through Alabama. After the war he located in Watsontown, and engaged in his present business. Mr. Wagner was married, December 23, 1880, to Mary, daughter of Mrs. E. H. Follmer, and they are the parents of five children: Elizabeth C .; J. H .; Edith M .; William C., and Ned F. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are members of the German Reformed church, and he is connected with the F. & A. M. and G. A. R.

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D. FRANK WAGNER, of the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1849, son of Daniel and Catharine (Follmer) Wagner. He was educated at the public schools, and reared upon his father's farm. He came to Watsontown in 1868 and worked in the planing mill two years, when he bought an interest, and has since been connected with the firm. He was married, November 22, 1882, to Mary I. Cooner, of Watsontown, and to this union has been born one child, Clara C., deceased. Mr. Wagner has served in the town council of Watson- town, and has for years been identified with the fire department, having been a member of Hope Hose Fire Company since its organization in 1873, and serving as the company treasurer for many years, a position he now fills, as well as that of chief of the borough department, which is composed of paid and volunteer firemen.

D. C. HOGUE was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1844, son of Joseph P. and Sarah A. (Caldwell) Hogue. William Hogue, his great-great-grandfather, was banished from Scotland on account of his relig- ious opinions, came to America on the ship Caledonia in 1680, and located at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Three of his sons went to Cumberland county and located at what is known as Hoguestown, opposite Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania; here they separated, one going south, to Virginia, one to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and John located in the West Branch valley. He was a Presbyterian minister, and a graduate of Princeton College. He had four sons and three daughters. Samuel, grandfather of our subject, was a farmer and blacksmith, and owned what is now known as the Rombach farm adjoin- ing Watsontown. He had five sons and two daughters. Joseph, father of D. C., kept a store at White Deer Mills, after which he went to South Bend, Indiana, thence to Logansville, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and back to White Deer Mills, where he bought a farm. In 1854 he returned to Wat- sontown, and continued in the mercantile business and as postmaster until his death, March 23, 1868; his wife died, September 9, 1863. Both are bur- ied in the upper cemetery at Milton, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters: D. C .; Davis, a physician of Clearfield county; Edmund B .; James H., a physician of Altoona; Grace, and Mary, both deceased. The former is buried at the Milton cemetery, the latter at Logansville, Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Milton and McEwensville Academies. On the 1st of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and served nine months. On the 18th of June, 1863, he enlisted for the emergency in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers to serve so long as the soil of Pennsylvania was invaded. In August, 1864, he again enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was discharged in August, 1865, by reason of the war being over. After the war, in company with others, he started the first planing mill in Watson-

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town. He then served as book-keeper for the Watsontown Lumber Company eleven years, after which he kept a general store seven years. He was secre- tary of the Watsontown Nail Works at its organization in 1886. Mr. Hogue was first married, June 10, 1869, to Rebecca B. Starr, who died, De- cember 8, 1880, and is buried in Watsontown cemetery. Two sons survived her: Charles J., and Frank, deceased. May 23, 1888, he married Sarah E. Parvin, of Leesport, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hogue is a member of the Masonic order, and of Bryson Post, No. 225, G. A. R. He served in the first council of Watsontown and several terms since, and has also served as burgess and school director.

J. P. STARR was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1838, son of John and Sarah (Parvin) Starr. The Starr family is of Scotch- Irish descent. His parents were natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania, who came to Lycoming county about 1831 and established a shoe factory at Muncy. His father in company with Enos Hawley bought the Franklin tan- nery, near Lairdsville, Lycoming county, and operated it until 1849, when he sold out and accepted a position as superintendent of the Madison tannery in Columbia county. In 1856 he removed to Watsontown and served as agent for the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company, after which he kept books for Marr & Griffey's woolen factory until his death in March, 1863. His widow died in March, 1884, leaving a family of six children: Mary, de- ceased; Ellen, Mrs. Clinton Robinson; Jacob P .; Rebecca, deceased; Charles E., of the firm of Starr, Durham & Company, and Henrietta, Mrs. P. Leiser. The subject of this sketch received his education at the common schools, the Academy of Millville, Columbia county, and Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He began clerking in a dry goods store when seventeen years old, and in 1861 took his father's place as agent of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company at Watsontown, remaining in this position until 1880, and had charge of the office at White Deer until 1888. Mr. Starr helped establish and was superintendent of the Electric Light Company of Watsontown, after which he was interested in the planing mill business. He was married, June 5, 1873, to Agnes Sloan, of Lock Haven, and to this union have been born four children: Sarah E .; Margaret A .; John E., and William P. Mr. Starr and wife are members of the Presbyte- rian church, and he was a charter member of the Masonic lodge of Watson- town.

T. H. KISTNER, foreman of the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1839, and is a son of George and Catharine (Confare) Kistner. The Kistner family are of German ancestry. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty years learned the carpenter trade with James Henderson at Turbutville, Pennsylvania. April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served for three months. At the

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expiration of said enlistment he returned home and engaged in the carpen- ter business at Picture Rocks, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, for a short time. In August, 1862, he again enlisted, in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and held the rank of second sergeant until mustered out at the end of nine months. He at once entered the United States Militia Railroad department as a carpenter and bridge builder, with headquarters at Alexandria, Virginia, and served in that department until after the close of the war. He was married, June 21, 1864, to Sarah E. Wal- lize, of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born: Flora I., wife of O. H. Hilliard; Dora E., wife of John L. Fisher; Ambrose P .; Sherman S .; Lewis W., and Loreda M. In 1868 he came to Watsontown and accepted his present position. Mr. and Mrs. Kistner are members of the Lutheran church, in which he has served as an active mem- ber in the church council. He is a member of Bryson Post, No. 225, G. A. R., and was its commander for 1890. He. is a Republican in politics, and has served a number of years in the town council, and also as school director.

JOSEPH BLY, machinist, was born, January 17, 1836, in Union county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Lydia (Rhoades) Bly. Our subject was edu- cated in the common schools and at the age of eighteen years began to learn the trade of machinist. He was engineer in a saw mill for Seth T. McCor- mick for some time, after which he assisted his father in running a canal boat. He helped to construct the first saw mill in Watsontown, in which he was employed until he enlisted in Captain David Bly's company, known as Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Au- gust 8, 1862. After serving out his term of enlistment he again enlisted, September 6, 1864, in Company D, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and remained in active service until the close of the war. After returning from the war, he, in partnership with the firm of Follmer & Cook, operated a planing mill for one year, when the mill was destroyed by fire, after which time he was connected with different lumber companies of Wat- sontown until 1876, when he was employed by the Watsontown Planing Mill Company, in which institution he is still working. In 1872, when the first fire engine was purchased by the citizens of Watsontown, he was chosen engineer, and in 1875 was appointed chief engineer, and has served as such ever since. He was married, December 30, 1858, to Harriet Slenker, who died, January 17, 1868. To this union were born three children, one of whom is living, Ida, wife of James Findley, of Iowa. He was again mar- ried, June 17, 1869, to a Mrs. Hogey, whose first husband died in the army. By this union two children have been born: Irman I. and Minnie, both deceased. Mrs. Bly had two children by her first marriage: Charles and Mary C. Mr. and Mrs. Bly are consistent members of the Reformed church of Watsontown.

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W. A. DURHAM was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 7, 1852, son of Joseph G. Durham. He was educated in the common schools and at Dewart Academy. He taught school three years, and then engaged in the mercantile business in Watsontown. Soon after he opened a general store at Coburn, Centre county, Pennsylvania, which still continues in the name of Durham Brothers & Company. From 1880 to 1884 he dealt in farm produce, agricultural implements, etc., in Watsontown. Since 1887 he has been engaged in the lumber business and in manufacturing doors, sash, and blinds. May 31, 1876, he married Mary A. Giffen, of Marion, Iowa, and to this union have been born four children: Joseph E., deceased; Glenn G .; W. Leigh, and James G. Mr. and Mrs. Durham are members of the Presbyterian church of Watsontown, of which church he is a trustee. He is connected with the Masonic order, is secretary of the town council, and in politics is a stanch Republican.

ALFRED HOCKLEY, manufacturer and dealer in carbonated drinks, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, son of Clement L. and Elizabeth (Keyser) Hockley, natives of that county. The father was a farmer by occu- pation, and was one of the first men to vote for the public school system in Montgomery county. He reared a family of nine children: Alfred; Jacob, agent for the Standard Pipe Line Company of Ohio; William, a school teacher, of Lycoming county; Irwin R., who has been principal of the high school at Emporium, Cameron county, ten years, but is now in the general merchandise business; Franklin C., deceased; Theodore; Amelia; Lucy, and Maggie. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Montour county, and worked as a carpenter ten years. He then opened a grocery and provision store in Mahanoy City, and remained there eight years, and three years was at the same business at Eldred, Mckean county, Penn- sylvania. In 1880 he came to Watsontown, and has since been engaged in the manufacture of carbonated drinks. He was married, December 1, 1870, to Hattie Fox, of McEwensville, and they are the parents of three children: Roscoe I., deceased; Chester F., and George A. Mr. and Mrs. Hockley are members of the Lutheran church; he is a member of the town council, and on the 1st of June, 1890, became chief burgess of Watsontown, being ap- pointed by the town council vice E. Sherman Follmer, resigned.

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CHAPTER XLVII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

NORTHUMBERLAND BOROUGH AND POINT TOWNSHIP.

THOMAS TAGGART was the first of the Taggart family to come to North- umberland county. He was born in Ireland, May 10, 1728, and prior to the year 1750 immigrated with his brother, Robert, to Philadelphia, where the latter became a merchant. It was about 1775 when Thomas made his ad- vent into the town of Northumberland, settling near the present site of Mor- gan's shoe store. He married Mary Vanderbilt, a native of Philadelphia, who died in Northumberland in 1805. The children of this union were: Elizabeth, who was born, January 15, 1753, married William Bonham, and died about 1780 (her son, Thomas, was for many years a tanner at Northum- berland, but finally removed to Wabash county, Illinois, where .he died); Christiana, who was born, May 17, 1755, married a Mr. Sample, and settled in Allegheny county, this State; Robert, born, February 18, 1757; John, who was born, June 30, 1759, and died, July 21, 1759; Catharine, who was born, September 6, 1760, married Captain John Painter, and died in 1840; Thomas, who was born, October 27, 1762, and died, January 16, 1780; Mary, who was born, January 19, 1765, and married a Mr. Patterson, a noted frontiersman of Pennsylvania; John, who was born, July 11, 1767, and died, February 8, 1773; David, who was born, February 21, 1769, and died, May 17, 1812; William, who was born, October 3, 1771, and died, January 24, 1773; Will- iam (2d), who was born, August 6, 1773, kept store at an early day in North- umberland, and in the latter part of his life resided on a farm in Chillisqua- que township, where he died at the age of eighty years, and James, born, January 1, 1780.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829- Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424