History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics, Part 117

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > McKean County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 117
USA > Pennsylvania > Potter County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 117
USA > Pennsylvania > Elk County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 117
USA > Pennsylvania > Cameron County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 117

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HERBERT DAY, treasurer of the Emporium Tanning Company, Empo- rium, was born in Painted Post, Steuben Co., N. Y., July 21, 1860, and is a son of John and Abbie (Lindley) Day, who were natives of Webster, Mass. The father, who for some years practiced law in Painted Post, Steuben Co., N. Y., now resides in Boston, whither he moved in 1886, after a residence with his family in Emporium of eighteen years. Herbert Day, who is the second son in a family of six children, was reared in his native county, attending there the common schools, and subsequently going to Lock Haven Normal School. Mr. Day was employed (with the exception of two years, when he was teller of the First National Bank at Emporium, and five months as book-keeper for J. O. Brookbank & Co., merchants, Driftwood, Penn. ) from 1882 to 1886 as book- keeper for the tanning company, and in 1888 he was made the company's treasurer. He was married at the home of the bride's parents, Friendship, N. Y., February 22, 1886, to Myrtle Kate, daughter of John and Rachel (Horner) Lord. Mrs. Day was born in Friendship, Allegany Co., N. Y., November 22. 1863. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Her parents reside at Friend- ship, N. Y., Mr. Lord being employed as bridge inspector on the New York. Lake Erie & Western Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Day have one child, Ethel Blanche. Mr. Day is a Republican, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Emporium.

W. H. DELONG, M. D., Emporium. The gentleman of whom this sketch is written, is the oldest practicing physician in Emporium, where he has a large

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clientage. He was born in Washington county, N. Y., July 17, 1840, and is the son of Daniel and Anna (Coon) DeLong, former of Irish and German stock. and latter of English. Both parents were natives of New York, the father, a farmer by occupation, dying in Herkimer county, that State, in 1875. It was in this county that the Doctor was brought up and received his earliest school training. His medical studies were prosecuted at Albany, N. Y., where he graduated, after a full course, in 1867. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Dr. DeLong enlisted in Company C, Eighteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served upon detached duties as a non-commissioned officer of the medical staff of the Tenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-fourth Army Corps, and while thus engaged he was wounded slightly in the left leg. At the expiration of his enlistment he returned to New York, and there resided until his removal to Pennsylvania, in 1868. It was not until 1873 that he made his home in Em porium, where he opened a drug store, and at the same time began the practice of his profession. His duties, however, as a physician soon occupying all his time, he relinquished his store. Since his graduation, Dr. DeLong has taken a special medical course. He is devotedly attached to his profession; is a mem- ber and ex-president of the Cameron County Medical Society, and belongs also to the State and American Medical Associations. He is surgeon of the Phila - delphia & Erie Railroad, and United States examining surgeon and president of the Board of Pension Examiners, also holding the office of examiner for the E. A. U. In politics Dr. DeLong is a Republican, and in religion an Episco- palian, holding in that church the position of senior warden. He was married, January 27, 1867, to Miss Cordelia Maurer, a native of New York State, and of German descent.

REV. D. H. DENISON, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Emporium, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 12, 1848, and is a son of Harvey and Polly (Kline) Denison, natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin, respectively. The father was a farmer, and with him the son lived until his eighteenth year, receiving such education as the graded school in the neighboring village afforded. This education has since been supplemented by instruction under private tutors, and by careful applica- tion to study on his part. Rev. D. H. Denison was married, in 1869, to Ellen. daughter of John and Rebeckah (Haugh) Messenger, and of German origin. They have had six children, of whom four survive: John Harvey, Guy K., Roy Ernest and Charles. Mr. Denison was converted in November, 1871, at Mayville, N. Y., and there united with the Methodist Church. He subsequently, after careful study of the Scriptures, was led to change his views regard- ing the ordinance of baptism, and severed his connection with the aforesaid church. He became the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Spartansburg, Penn., in 1881, continuing in that relation one year when he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Townville, Penn. He served this church very acceptably till 1884, when he received an unamious call to become the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jamestown, Penn., where he remained till he was called to his present field in Emporium, Penn., in 1888. He is a conscientious student, and his work as a Christian minister has been characterized by success.

JAMES S. DOUGLAS, merchant, Emporium, has made mercantile pur- suits a success, a result that is largely due to his diligence and determination. He is courteous and obliging in his dealings, and carries one of the best assorted stocks in the county. Mr. Douglas was born in Lycoming county, Penn., August 24, 1857, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Tackaberry) Douglas, who were natives, respectively, of Ireland and Pennsylvania. The father was of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Scotch parentage, a farmer by occupation, and died in Lycoming county; the mother was of Irish parentage, and also died in Lycoming county. James S. is the youngest but one of six children, and was reared upon a farm, attend- ing the common schools, and finally the State Normal Institution. He taught for a time, and subsequently was engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store in Williamsport, Penn., coming to Emporium, Cameron county, in 1877, where he superintended a store for D. E. Olmsted, of Williamsport, for the space of three years. Mr. Douglas then went into business as a member of the firm of Edgeomb, Douglas & Co., but in 1885 the partnership was dissolved, and he has since been alone. He is ably assisted in his occupation by his wife, whose maiden name was Lena E. Youngs, a daughter of Matthew Youngs, of Ulysses, Potter Co., Penn., and whom he married in Emporium, August 13, 1881. They have one child, James Donald. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the former having been a steward of the church for two years. He is also assistant superintendent of the Sunday- school. Mr. Douglas is not a politician, but votes the Republican ticket.

HENRY EDGCOMB, merchant, Emporium, was born at Hollis, Me., March 17, 1828, and is a son of James and Joanna (Davis) Edgcomb, both of whom were natives of Maine, and of English descent, the father by occupa- tion a lumberman and farmer; they had a family of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. Henry Edgcomb attended the common schools in his native State, and afterward went into the lumber business which occupied his attention until he was about fifty years of age. He came to Penn- sylvania in 1864, and to Emporium in 1869, where he dealt in lumber until 1880, when he commenced mercantile pursuits, and has since met with success. Mr. Edgcomb was married in Maine, to Lucretia T., daughter of John Babcock, and of English descent. Their children were Clara (deceased), who was the wife of one Mullen, of Buffalo, N. Y., and Edith. Mrs. Edgcomb is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Edgcomb is a Republican in politics, and is a Master Mason.

C. C. FAY, proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel, Emporium, was born in Essex county, N. Y., November 5, 1825. He was a son of Ar- temus and Susannah (White) Fay, who were natives of Vermont, and of Eng- lish and Welsh descent, respectively. His father was a blacksmith and farmer, and died in the town of Saranac, in Clinton Co., Minn., in June, 1846. The gen- tleman of whom we are writing was the fifth in a family of eight children, and spent his early life on the farm. He attended the common schools, and when about eighteen years old he started in life for himself by working at whatever he could get to do. In 1856 he first embarked in the hotel business, and in 1859 he came to Cameron County, Penn., and opened a house in Emporium. For some time he was also interested in a saw-mill, and in 1872 he built the St. Charles Hotel, which he now manages. Farming also claims his atten- tion, and he possesses two hundred and fifty acres of land, seventy-five being cleared. Mr. Fay married, in 1849, Christina Vanornum, daughter of Edward Vanornum, and of German lineage. They have had three children, one of whom, Lida R., is now living. Mrs. Fay is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Fay is a Republican, and has been a school director and a mem- ber of the town council.

JOSHUA PITT FELT, Emporium. As a living example of what a life of energy, indomitable perseverance and thorough business integrity can ac- complish, the gentleman whose name heads this biographical memoir stands prominent among the worthy and progressive citizens of his adopted town and county. Mr. Felt is the eldest son of Eli Felt, a former influential

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

citizen and well-known lumber merchant and capitalist of Emporium, who came to the place (which was then in Mckean county, and called Shippen) in 1849. Eli Felt was a native of Smyrna, Chenango Co., N. Y., born April 3, 1819, and on April 13, 1842, he was married in that town to Olive Tal- cott, a lady of English descent. The children born to this union were as follows: Joshua Pitt (the subject proper of this sketch), De Witt (born June 2, 1847), Ida Adelaide (born June 23, 1850), Bessie Sarissa (born July 3, 1852), Olive Julia, born February 16, 1854), Eli Talcott (born June 8, 1856) and Charles Henry (born November 8, 1860). After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Felt lived one year in Smyrna, and then moved to Big Flats, Chemung, Co., N. Y., where he carried on a lumber business, thence moving after a five years' residence to Dansville, Livingston Co., N. Y., and from there after a sojourn of one year to Shippen, now Emporium, where he engaged very extensively in the lumber business as narrated above. Here Mr. Felt built several houses, a large block of stores, and the first hotel in the place, known as the "Emporium House." In 1861 he removed to Philadelphia, in 1870 to Warrenton, N. C., and in 1880, to Raleigh, same State, where he departed this life, February 5, 1885. Joshua P. Felt was born in Big Flats, Chemung Co., N. Y., December 7, 1844, and when five years of age was brought by his parents to the town, in the growth of commercial and social progress of which he was destined to become a leading factor. He received a limited edu- cation at the schools of the place, and when seventeen years of age (in 1861) he accompanied his parents to Philadelphia, but soon thereafter returned to Emporium, and started out to earn his own living. At the age of nineteen, we find him in the capacity of contractor on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. at that time building, and a little later as the owner of the only hardware store in the county. His parents, however, induced him to sell this business and take an interest in, and the general management of, the manufacture and introduction of a proprietary medicine, with headquarters at Philadelphia. This business proving distasteful to him, Mr. Felt withdrew from it, and in 1869 returned to Emporium, where he became interested in an extensive gen- eral merchandise store, and in a lumbering and milling business. The firm with which he at this time became connected did a very large and lucrative trade, but unfortunately made heavy purchases of real estate, considering such necessary for the further expansion of their business. Making only small payments thereon, the firm found themselves unable to contend against the great national panic of 1573, and had to succumb, the crash swallow- ing up all Mr. Felt's capital, and leaving him without a dollar in the world, and a wife and two small children to be cared for. But Mr. Felt was not one of those men who sit and bewail their loss, but cheerfully he went to work to redress his reverses. In the spring of 1874, we find him filling the posi- tion of manager of the "Emporium Mills," at that time a small country grist-mill, which he soon had running to its fullest capacity, night and day. supplying the increasing demand for flour and feed. In 1877 he was present at the convention held in Buffalo of the National Millers' Association, of which he had become a member. In 1878 he bought an interest in an oil well then being drilled in the McKean county district, this State, which led to the development of a very large and paying territory. Mr. Felt, however, gave only a portion of his time to his oil interests, and in the course of about two years he sold out at a handsome profit. Realizing that it was necessary for the success of the grist-mill that it should be remodeled to conform to the most modern system, Mr. Felt purchased the property, in 1880, on favorable terms, and immediately commenced the work of enlarging

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and changing its methods to what was then known as " the gradual reduction system." This was followed, in 1883, by another enlarging of the premises and remodeling to "the full-roller system," which has proved a success in every way; and Mr. Felt takes great pride in being possessor of one of the most complete modern roller mills in Western Pennsylvania. Aside from his ex- tensive milling plant, of which he is sole owner, Mr. Felt has one of the pleas- antest homes in Emporium; has a fine winter residence and large full bear- ing orange grove in Emporia, Florida, besides a plantation of 1,500 acres (bought as an investment) in North Carolina. In the general prosperity of the borough of Emporium, Mr. Felt has taken an active part, being one of the- first in organizing the water company, and being a director of and stockholder in the same. He assisted in starting the First National Bank, of which he is one of the principal stockholders and a director; took special and active in- terest in getting the "Cameron Iron & Coal Company " and the " Mankey Furniture Company " located in Emporium. He is a stockholder in the last named enterprise, and a director in the Pennsylvania " Millers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company." Mr. Felt was married May 24, 1869. to Alice E. Horner, and the names and dates of the birth of their children are as follows: Carl Lee (February 23, 1870), Jay Paul (July 26, 1872), Leon Rex (April 11, 1885), and Floyd Pitt (May 31, 1888). Mr. Felt is past master of Emporium Lodge, F. & A. M., and has a handsome regalia, presented to him by his lodge on the occasion of his retirement from the chair. He is past high priest of Emporium chapter, a member of Knapp Commandery, K. T., of Ridgway, Penn., of Adoniram Council, Williamsport, Penn., and of Caldwell Consistory Thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, Bloomsburg, Penn.

DE WITT FELT, miller, Emporium, has spent the greater part of his life in that borough, his father, who died in 1885, having been one of the pioneer settlers here, and having done in his lifetime a great deal to advance the inter- ests of the place. The mother of De Witt was Olive (Talcott) Felt, of English descent, and a native of New York State. His father, Eli Felt, was by occu- pation a lumberman, and his family consisted of seven children-three daughters and four sons. The subject of this sketch is the second son, and was born in Dansville, N. Y., June 2, 1847. The rudiments of his education were obtained in the schools of Emporium, afterward completed by a course at Freeland Academy. After leaving school, Mr. Felt began life as a farmer, but not liking the occupation, he turned his attention to milling, for his father erected a mill in 1855, and his son has now rebuilt it. Since going into the mill Mr. Felt has thoroughly mastered the details of the business, and is at present the managing miller and general superintendent of operations. He was married in the State of Delaware, September 16, 1867, to Eliza, daughter of David Stayton, a lady of English descent, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The union has been blessed with two children: Rena O. and Guy S. Mr. Felt's politics are Democratic.

CHARLES HENRY FELT, book-keeper at the Felt Roller Mills, Empo- rium, was born in Emporium, Cameron Co., Penn., November 8, 1860. He is a son of Eli and Olive (Talcott) Felt, the former of whom was a pioneer Ium- berman, and one of the first to make permanent improvements in Emporium. Mr. Felt is the youngest of seven children, and until he was nineteen years of age he lived in Philadelphia and in North Carolina. He attended school in Philadelphia and North Carolina, and afterward a business college in New York, where he graduated as a book-keeper in 1880. At New Hartford, N. Y., in 1885, he married Anna M., a native of Norwich, N. Y., and a daughter of C. H. and Sarah M. (Steere) Williamson, of Utica, N. Y., and has two chil-

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

dren: Frank Eli and Charles Williamson. Mrs. Felt is of English descent, and a member of the Presbyterian Church, while her husband is a Baptist, being a trustee of the church and a teacher in the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member and treasurer of the Emporium Legion, No. 30, Select Knights, and financier of Emporium Lodge, No. 163, A. O. U. W.

J. A. FISHER, blacksmith, Emporium, was born in Indiana county, Penn., November 25, 1859, and is a son of S. R. and Maria (McGaughey) Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. The subject of this sketch, who is the eldest of seven children, was reared on his father's farm, attending the common schools, and early in life learned the blacksmith's trade, an occu- pation he has since followed. Mr. Fisher came to Emporium in 1882, and being a first-class workman, has controlled a flourishing business of his own since 1885. He was married, in 1885, to Ida M .. daughter of James Pearsall. and of English descent. They have one child. Mr. Fisher has passed all of the chairs in the A. O. U. W., and is a member of the Select Knights and the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Republican.

H. E. FORTNEY, proprietor of livery stable, Emporium, was born in Clin- ton county, Penn., May 14, 1860, a son of William and Rosanna (Baldwin) Fort- ney, natives of Germany. He was given a good business education in his native county, remaining there until 1887, when he came to Cameron county, where he engaged in the lumber business, and July 16, 1SSS. he bought the livery stable in Emporium, where he is now located. He keeps a number of fine carriage horses, and is prepared to furnish any style of outfit desired, either for pleasure or business. Mr. Fortney was married September 29, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Smith, daughter of R. F. and Jennie (Richey) Smith, of Clinton county. Penn .. and they have two children: Ray and Rosa.

THOMAS GALLAGHER, ticket and freight agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad at Emporium, was born in Chester county, Penn., May 3, 1849, and is a son of John and 'Hannah (Lynch) Gallagher, natives of Ireland, former of whom was a farmer, and spent many years of his life in Pennsylvania, where he died in August, 1887. There were seven children in this family, five of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch being the youngest of

the survivors. He lived upon the farm with his parents, and attended the common schools until he was eighteen years old, since which time he has been connected with the railroad. From 1866 to 1870 Mr. Gallagher was a clerk at Renovo, Penn., in the latter year acting as extra division agent, but was soon promoted to agent at Kane station. a position he held until his transfer, in 1873, to Emporium. Mr. Gallagher is a courteous official, and highly re- spected. He was married in 1883, in Emporium. to Nancy, sister of Dr. De- Long, of Emporium, and daughter of Daniel and Anna (Coon) DeLong, all natives of New York. In politics Mr. Gallagher is a Democrat.

A. C. GOODWIN, farmer, P. O. Emporium, was born in New Hampshire, March 19, 1834, a son of Aaron and Nancy Goodwin, also natives of New Hampshire, who came to Cameron county, Penn., in 1850, and located in Shippen township, but in 1853 moved to Cattaraugus county, N. Y. He as- sisted his father in clearing the land, and worked on the farm until 1855. when he began working for himself. He was energetic, becoming a suc- cessful farmer, and in 1882 he bought the farm in Rich Valley where he now lives. Mr. Goodwin was married February 28, 1855, to Miss Susan A. Lewis, a native of Shippen township, and a daughter of William and Sarah Lewis, natives of New Jersey, and early settlers of Cameron county. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have had six children, four of whom are living: Albert D .; Anna, wife of Delmont Adams, of Emporium; Nellie M., wife of P. A. Peterson, of

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Pittsburgh, and Mark A. Mary F. and Eugenia D. are deceased. Mrs. Goodwin's grandfather, William Lewis, Sr., rowed the boat that carried Hamilton and Burr across the Hudson river, in 1805, to fight their famous duel, and the oars he used are now in a museum in Chicago, Ill.

C. B. GOULD, Emporium, editor of the Cameron County Press, a news- paper in the best sense of the word, was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., July 24. 1826, the youngest in the family of nine children of Cornelius and Mary (Tenant) Gould, who were natives of Otsego county, N. Y., and of English and German origin, respectively. The subject of our sketch, after attending the common schools in his native county, went to the city of Utica, and there learned the trade of printer. Here he worked as a compositor until 1848, when he moved to DeRuyter, N. Y., and there began the publication of the Central New Yorker. Subsequently he went to Homer, same State, and engaged as publisher of the Homer Whig. Binghamton, N. Y., was next the scene of his labors, and while there he acted as reporter for and business manager of The Republican until the year 1866, when he left for Emporium, Penn., and here established the Cameron County Press, as shown in the general chapter on the press. In politics Mr. Gould is an ardent Republican, taking an active inter- est in the management of the party in his county, and has a wide acquaintance throughout the State with public men of all parties. In national politics he always had the good-will and confidence of Grant, Conklin, Logan, Simon Cameron and other public men, having held the position of special agent of the post-office department under President Grant. When he ties to a man, politically, he stays by him; he is a hard fighter in political campaigns, and has assisted in elevating many men to prominent positions, both State and national. In social life Mr. Gould is very pleasant and jovial, and has always labored for the best advancement of society, and the upbuilding of Emporium and Cameron county; and too much credit cannot be given him for the ad- vancement of the county seat of Cameron. Always on the lookout for some plan to promote the interests of Emporium, he strongly advocated and assisted most effectually in securing the location of the extensive furnace works at Emporium, also the Mankey Furniture Company, and battled for years for the excellent water system now in operation. He is a zealous guardian of justice, as evidenced by his efforts to bring the murderer of Drum to the bar. To him is largely due the arrest of the alleged criminal, for, from the day of finding the body of the murdered man to the close of the trial, he left nothing undone toward fixing the guilt where it belonged- his training in the postal service fitting him well for such a duty to the community. In his declining years Mr. Gould has the good-will of all, and, as a measure of this good will. was com- missioned postmaster of Emporium in 1889. He was married at Utica, N. Y . to Miss Mary A., daughter of Lyman Scranton, a native of Otsego county, the Empire State. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have four children: Ella, wife of H. H. Mullin (clerk of the county commissioners); A. D. Gould, an editor, residing at Eldred, Penn. ; Jennie and Mary. The family are all members of the English Protestant Episcopal Church and of the Sunday-school, of which Mr. Gould was for many years superintendent.

E. H. GREGORY, inspector of lumber, and farmer, P. O. Buckwalter, was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., April 18, 1856, a son of Hamlin and Emily Gregory, natives also of Sullivan county. He was given good educational ad- vantages, and was thus prepared to enter upon the duties of life. He came to Cameron county in April, 1876, and entered the employ of J. R. Buckwalter and the Arthurs Coal & Lumber Company as inspector, and proved himself a reliable man to his employers. In 1880 he bought eighty acres of wild land on Lot

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320