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 57
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 57
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 57
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 57
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BERNARD MCKEAN, farmer. P. O. Smethport, is a son of Patrick and Mary (Kiernan) Mckean, and was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1811, and in 1840 emigrated to America, locating in Long Island, where he married, in 1843, Bridget Graham, a lady of Scotch-Irish descent. He removed from there, in 1847, to Franklinville, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and from there to Keating township, Mckean Co., Peun., in 1849, and purchased a tract of wild land which he improved, and engaged in farming, and here he still has his residence. Mr. and Mrs. McKean's children were Thomas and Phoebe (twins), the latter the wife of George Garlick; James A., Mary and Willie (twins), the latter deceased; Charles; Edward; Mary is now Mrs. Henry Gallup, of Smethport. Mrs. McKean died July 18, 1888. Mr. Mckean is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics a Democrat.
JAMES A. McKEAN, farmer and lumberman, P. O. Smethport, was born at Glen Cove, Long Island, N. Y., August 11, 1845, a son of Bernard and Bridget (Graham) Mckean. In 1848 his father moved to Mckean county. Penn., and located on what is known as the "Bond farm," on Marvin creek. This he afterward sold, and then settled on the adjoining farm to the south. where he still lives. The mother died in the year 1888. They had a fani- ily of seven children: Thomas and Phoebe (twins), James A., Mary A. and William (twins), Charles and Edward B. James A. Mckean had the advan- tage of only a common-school education, but improved every opportunity to obtain a knowledge of the English branches. During the summer his services were required on the farm, and in the winter months he attended the district school, there being but one in a district of ten miles, and a tramp of miles through the snow of the valley was necessary each day. But it was this experi- ence in his youth that helped to form the character of young Mckean, and that has made him the successful business man of later years. When eighteen years old he entered the employ of James E. Butts, at Buttsville, for whom he worked two years, in the meantime having charge of the building of the high dam across Three-mile Run. Later, he worked at the carpenter's trade, and then went to Kane, where he was employed in the car shops of the Penn- sylvania & Erie Railroad, five years. In 1874 he bought the farm where he now lives, which adjoins his father's on the south, and since then has been extensively engaged in the lumber and bark business, employing during the bark and timber season from fifty to one hundred men. Mr. McKean has always been a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen.
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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.
Grant, in 1868. He has served two terms as supervisor of his township, and. in 1887, was elected a member of the county board of commissioners. In Jan- uary, 1869, he married Mrs. Julia S. Hubbard, and they have two children: William Hubbard and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. McKean are members of the Catholic Church.
LINN W. MASON, hardware merchant, Smethport, is a son of Lewis J. and Nancy Mason, and was born in Franklinville, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1848, and at an early age he removed to Smethport, where he attended the academy. after the completion of his studies he learned the hardware trade, and in 1859 became proprietor of a working interest in a wholesale flour and feed store at Emporium. He, however, returned to Smethport, and engaged in the hardware trade. In 1861 he went into the army with a sutler, remaining two years. He then purchased a hardware store of Mr. Nurse, but the Western fever had a strong hold upon him, and he is next found at Des Moines, Iowa. where he remained two years. He then removed to Tioga county, Penn., where he remained four years in a hardware store, and in 1879 he returned to Smethport, where he erected the very fine building he now occupies, and fitted it purposely for the hardware trade. Having started six hardware stores, it is not to be wondered at that the last was the crowning effort of all, and that his place of business is conveniently and elegantly arranged with everything acces- sible, and that he is enjoying a fine trade. He married Frances, daughter of David R. Bennett, and they have two daughters: Mary Louise (now Mrs. C. H. Kerns, of Smethport) and Cora. Mr. Mason is an active worker in the Democratic party. He and his family are members of St. Luke's Episco- pal Church.
MRS. G. R. MOORE, daughter of Mander and Elizabeth A. Farnsworth. was born in Erie county, Penn., in 1830, and in 1848 married George R. Moore, son of William and Elmira (Rice) Moore, after which they located in Liberty township, Mckean Co., Penn., where he was engaged in the lumber business, which was his life-work, with the exception of a brief time he was engaged in speculating in oil. He was at one time associated with A. M. Ben- ton, of Port Allegany, this county, and also with E. S. Johnson, and sent the largest raft ever run down the Allegheny river. In 1873, during the coal ex- citement, when the railroad was built to Clermont, he put up the first mill there for the railroad company. It, however, was burned, and having become associated with his son, they together erected another on the same site, and eventually a second mill, operating both successfully. Mr. Moore was com- pelled, however, by ill health to abandon active pursuits, and died October 24, 1888. Mrs. Elmira Moore, his mother, is still living. His son still con- tinues the business at Clermont. Mrs. Moore is residing at their old home in Smethport. They had four children, three of whom are living: Jennie E .. wife of John Eberspacher, of Texas; Ella E., wife of Henry Lehman, of Mount Jewett, Mckean county, and Charles H. Mr. George R. Moore was brought up in the Methodist Church, and in politics was a Democrat.
C. H. MOORE, lumberman, Smethport, is a native of Smethport, Mckean Co., Penn., born March 10, 1849. He was reared in his native city, and was edu. cated there and at Lima, N. Y. In 1876 he went to Clermont, Sergeant township. McKean county, and opened a hotel, which he conducted eighteen months, when he moved to Larrabee, same county, and there carried on a hotel until May S. 1882. He then moved to Smethport, where he engaged in the livery business, and in 1883 he moved to a farm at Farmers Valley, but in addition to super- intending his farm continued his livery business at Smethport until August, 1884, when he sold out and bought a tract of timber land and a saw-mill at
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Clermont, and he now carries on an extensive business, cutting 40,000 feet of lumber a day. Mr. Moore was married October 9, 1878, to Miss Mary A. Goodwin, daughter of Thomas Goodwin, of Farmers Valley, and they have two children: Lloyd M. and Leatha M. Mr. Moore is a member of Mckean Lodge, No. 388, F. & A. M., Chapter, No. 251, R. A. M., and Smethport Lodge, I. O. O. F.
THOMAS D. NASH, merchant, Smethport, was born in Vermont. He re- ceived a practical business education in the schools of his native State, and in 1863 came to Crawford county, Penn., where he was engaged as a clerk, and also worked in a printing office. In ISSO he came to Smethport, and same year married Miss Mary A. Tracy, a daughter of Edward and Bridget (Riley) Tracy, of Smethport. Penn. In May, 1883, he went to Harrisburg, Penn., under Hon. J. Simpson Africa, in the office of internal affairs, where he re- mained until May, 1887, when he returned to Smethport, and has here since remained, engaged in mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Nash are members of the Catholic Church.
JOHN E. OLDS, retired, P. O. Farmers Valley, is a son of E. C. and Jane (DeGolia) Olds, and was born in Prattsburg, Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1828. In 1840 his parents removed to what is now Bradford, Mckean Co., Penn., where the father engaged in farming, also starting a tannery and shoe- shop. In 1876 the parents came to Keating township, and made their home with their son, John E., the balance of their lives; the father's death occurring in 1878 and the mother's in March, 1880. Their children were Robert D .; Sibyl, the late Mrs. Edwin Colegrove, of Bradford; Marilla T., the wife of William Mckean, of Nebraska; James, who was married, was a resident of Marshburg, in Mckean county, and in blasting a well was killed; John E .; Rachel T., wife of Edwin Storms, of Michigan, and Abel W., of Nebraska, deceased. John E. Olds began his business life in the tan- yard and shoe shop of his father. He remained in Bradford until 1856, when he removed to Keating township and purchased a farm, which he cultivated in connection with his work in the tan- yard and shoe shop, for a period of ten or twelve years. In 1862 he purchased the farm where he now resides and erected a new and commodious residence, and now, in the evening of his life, is living at leisure, surrounded by his chil- dren and in the enjoyment of the results of his earlier labors. Mr. Olds was married March 7, 1847, to Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Tubbs, of Farmers Valley, and their children were Frederick C., married to Miranda C. Arnold; Hannah F., wife of Orren W. Godfrey, of Olean, N. Y .; Abner R. (deceased); John A., who married Jennie Heinline, and is now a resident of Olean, N. Y .. and Charles C., who married L. E. Cooper, also a resident of Olean. N. Y. In politics Mr. Olds is a Republican. Part of his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and part of the United Brethren Church.
F. C. OLDS, merchant and Iumberman, Farmers Valley, is a son of J. E. and Elizabeth Olds, and was born in Bradford, Mckean Co., Penn., in 1848. J. E. Olds was a native of Steuben county, N. Y., and with his father located at Bradford. F. C. Olds removed with his father to Farmers Valley in 1857, where he was reared. He purchased a steam saw mill, and is extensively en- gaged in the lumber trade, in addition to which he is a dealer in general mer- chandise at Farmers Valley. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in pol- itics is a Republican. He is one of the enterprising men of this portion of McKean county, and has been postmaster at Farmers Valley for the past twelve years. Mr. Olds was married December 18, 1872, to Miranda C. Arnold, of Cuba, N. Y., daughter of Gilbert and M. S. Arnold, and born in Stark county, Ill. They have one child, Ethel M., born in November, 1874.
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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.
FRANK E. ORMSBY, farmer and lumberman, P. O. Smethport, is a son of W. F. and Loretta Ormsby, and was born in Smethport, Mckean Co., Penn., in 1844. His father, who is a native of Vermont and a blacksmith by trade, located at Smethport, Penn., in October, 1842, where he carried on a blacksmith shop, but he is now a resident and fariner of Ormsby Junction, which place derives its name from him. His children are Mrs. Ella Newton. Mrs. Emma Helsel, Gideon I. and Frank E. The last named, who is the sub- jeet proper of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native town, and, in 1866. married Helen, daughter of Pardon Wright, and they have two children: Mrs. Clara Neeley and Mrs. Lottie Lamont. In 1887 Mr. Ormsby purchased the farm he now owns on Marvin creek, Keating township, MeKean county, where, in addition to his agricultural interests, he is engaged in lumbering. In politics he is a Democrat.
A. H. PIERCE, JR., hotel keeper, Smethport, was born in Troy, N. Y .. June 14, 1844, a son of A. H. and Esther (Oatinan) Pierce, the former a native of Albany, N. Y., and the latter a native of Vermont. A. H. Pierce, the sub- ject proper of these lines, left his home at the age of ten years, and worked on a farm for $25 a year, clothing himself, until 1861, when he enlisted in Com- pany D. Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and served faithfully until 1865, when he re- ceived an honorable discharge. In 1869 he married Miss Rosa A., daughter of Johnson and Fannie Glase, of Lymansville, Penn., and to this union were born four children, of whom two are living: A. H. and Hattie G. Mr. Pierce located in Coudersport. Penn., in 1867, rented a building and kept a restau- rant several years; in 1879 he came to Smethport, where he rented again and kept a restaurant two years, when he built for himself his present hotel, which
be very successfully conducts. Mr. Pierce is a member of Tent No. 9, K. O. T. M., and of Mckean Post, No. 347, G. A. R., at Smethport. In polities he is a Republican, and his family all attend church.
T. H. PURTLE, blacksmith, Smethport, was born in Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1854. He made his home with his parents until 1877, when he re- moved to Bradford, McKean Co., Penn., where he was in the oil business for five or six years; then removed to Jamestown, N. Y., and thence to Smethport, where he is now engaged in blacksmithing. In 1879 he married Lizzie Me- Nelly, and they have two children. They are members of the Catholic Church. and he is a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. In politics he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM RAMER, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Smethport, was born in Schuylkill county, Penn., in 1823. He learned the wagon maker's trade, at which he worked in his native county until 1856, when he removed to Smethport. In 1858 he purchased the farm he now owns, in Keating town- ship, where he has been engaged in farming and stock raising, selling the pro- ductions of his dairy in the borough of Smethport. Mr. Ramer married Matilda Fry, and they have had six children, four of whom are living: Louis, Nathaniel, Samnel and Alice (Mrs. Samuel MeClure). Mr. Ramer is a sup- porter of the Republican party.
A. REILLY, Smethport, was born in 1825, in County Cavan, Ireland. The Reilly family, consisting of father, mother, four sons (including our sub- ject) and two daughters, moved from Philadelphia to Mckean county in 1842. arriving, after a tedious journey with horses and wagons, in the then wilder- ness, locating three miles east of Smethport. Here they built a log-house, and began work to make themselves a home in the woods. The following recollec- tions of those times, as narrated by Mr. Reilly, will be found interesting:
"Deer. which were numerous, would come to browse upon the fallen
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brush, where they were killed for their skins, and a hunter who visited us killed seven in one day, taking their skins and leaving their carcasses in the woods. I was the first to buy and ship venison to New York and Philadel- phia, and one winter, in company with Judge Arnold, I shipped fifteen tons, the saddles selling at 4 cents and the rest at 2 cents per pound. In 1842, the year we came here, a drove of seven elk was driven past our home by Joseph Coleman, and at another time a full-grown elk was captured by two Indians and led through the town. A half-grown panther was trapped by Mr. Hugh Starkweather, bound with withes and taken to Smethport. Wolves and bears were so ravenous that the sheep had to be housed at night. at one time six- teen in my flock being killed by animals in one night. In the spring pigeons would come in immense flocks, at one time the nesting being ten miles long and five miles wide, every tree and limb in the forest being covered. Their last appearance was in 1870. Many made a business of catching them, and on Potato creek there were placed nets about one hundred yards apart for a distance of fifteen miles, each net capturing from ten to one hundred dozen per day. I was one of the first to buy them for shipping, and have shipped twenty to thirty barrels per day, each barrel holding twenty five dozen, and selling at from 25 to 50 cents per dozen, but discontinued shipping when ad- vised to do so by the commission men, who would no longer pay freight charges, as the market was glutted. In 1843 I walked all the way to Philadelphia, a distance of about 300 miles, sixty miles of the distance being through Potter county, a wilderness, with but one house in the sixty miles, and returned in 1844, also on foot."
Mr. Reilly was married in Philadelphia to Miss Ann Bryen, and became the father of six sons and four daughters: Joseph W .. Emmet R., James M., Andrew R. M., Grattan and John M., being the sons; the daughters were Mary, Ann Celia, Maggie and Emma B. The family belong to the Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. Reilly is a Democrat. He was elected county commissioner in 1878, and re-elected in 1881. As a contractor and builder Mr. Reilly built the county poor buildings, on the cottage plan, a style being now largely copied by other counties. He also built the Grand Central Hotel at Smethport, at a cost of $30,000, a large brick store and other edifices in Smethport, at a cost of $8,000 each. He cleared a farm of 150 acres from the wilderness, planting 300 fruit trees, and has always proved himself to be a worthy, industrious and useful citizen.
F. O. RICHMOND. conductor on the Bradford. Bordell & Kinzua Railroad, Smethport, was born in Smethport, Mckean Co., Penn .. July 27, 1840, a son of Nelson and Amanda (Chapin) Richmond, natives of New York State, who came to Smethport about 1812. They were the parents of six children, of whom F. O. is the fourth son. His father died in 1846. He has followed va- rious occupations, having been in a hotel in Smethport more or less for eleven years. He married September 4, 1861, Miss Mary E., daughter of Erastus and Mary (Star) Curtis, of Smethport, Penn. Since the completion of the Bradford, Bordell & Kinzua Railroad, at Smethport, he has been employed on it for nearly six years, and over four years as conductor. Mr. Richmond served at different times under Col. Wilcox as deputy sheriff.
LUCIUS ROGERS, proprietor of the Mckean County Miner, Smeth- port borough, was born in Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y. When he was less than a year old his father moved his family to Jamestown, N. Y., where they lived until two or three years after the father's death, which occurred in August, 1847. The subject of these lines received a comparatively limited ed- ucation, the public schools and Jamestown Academy being the extent of his
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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.
school training, and at the age of sixteen years he entered the Journal office at that place to learn the printing business. After serving about two and a half years he moved to Warren, Penn., where he worked in the Mail office for about a year; then went to Syracuse, N. Y., and worked in the Journal office of that city about six months. From there he proceeded to New York City, where he set type on the New York City directory, and afterward in the book and job office of Baker & Goodwin, in the old Tribune building, remaining in that city about fifteen months. Subsequently he worked about eighteen months in the city of New Haven, and the towns of Litchfield and Waterbury, in Con- necticut, also a few months in Dansville, N. Y. Returning to Warren, Penn., about the year 1851, Mr. Rogers soon after entered into partnership with Hon, E. Cowan in the publication of the Warren Mail. In the summer of 1854. he was nominated by the Whigs as a candidate for county treasurer of Warren county, and at the October election was elected by a majority of about 150 At the session of the legislature in 1857 he was elected transcribing clerk of the senate of Pennsylvania. a position he retained, however, only one session, the Democrats having resumed control of that body at the following session. Late in that year he entered into negotiations for the purchase of the Citizen, of Smethport, which was owned by Prof. F. A. Allen. The purchase was finally concluded, and Mr. Rogers took possession of the office February 27. 1858. At the session of the legislature in 1860, the county of Cameron was formed partly from Mckean county, and in the fall of that year he moved the Citizen office to Shippen (now Emporium), which would be the county seat, believing that the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Company would locate their shops there when the road was completed at that point. The first number of the paper was issued on December 28, 1860, and was the first paper ever published within the limits of that county. In a few months the war broke out, and the editor and printers shut up the office and enlisted. Under a commission issued by Gov. Curtin, Mr. Rogers recruited Company F, of the Fifty eighth Regiment, in July, 1861, with which regiment he served until the spring of 1863, when he returned to this county and purchased the Mckean County Miner, which was moved from Bradford to the county seat a year or two before. About the year 1870 he sold the paper and in January, 1884, repurchased it and returned to his first love. In 1864 he was a candidate for representative, and carried his own county by a handsome majority, but was defeated by Clinton county, which was strongly Democratic. In 1869 he was elected prothonotary, and in 1871 to the assembly in the district composed of Mckean and Potter counties, defeating F. W. Knox, of Potter county. He was a secretary of the State con- stitutional convention of 1873, and was several years secretary of the Republi- can State committee. Four years, from 1879 to 1883, he was deputy secretary of internal affairs, and for some eleven years was journal and reading clerk of the State senate. In the summer of 1889 he was nominated for county treas- urer by the unanimous vote of the convention, and was elected. Years before the discovery of oil in Mckean county Mr. Rogers had great faith in the exist- ence of extensive coal beds in the eastern portion of the county, and spent a small fortune in seeking to develop this theory. He was wedded to the belief that there was a great future in store for the county, and was ever ready to de. vote his energies in furthering its development in any direction that appeared in the least feasible. In the face of repeated discouragements he never lost hope. For a number of years he was president of the school board of Smeth- port borough, and it was through his persistency, with the support of other members of the board. that the present fine building was erected and the found- ing of Smethport's excellent schools laid. He built and operated the first steam
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saw-mill ever erected in the Potato creek valley, and has been identified with every effort for the development of the resources of the county. All earnest, aggressive men have their enemies, but though Mr. Rogers is a man very much in earnest in all that he undertakes, and has through life been an aggres- sive Republican, there is no bitterness in his warfare, and few men have come out of so many hard-fought political battles with so few personal enemies. In May, 1860, Mr. Rogers married Levia M. Goodwin, of Seneca county, N. Y .; this lady died July 27, 1889, at the age of fifty-two years. The result of that union was three daughters and one son, all of whom are living, excepting the first born, a daughter, who died in infancy. The family of Mr. Rogers attend the Presbyterian Church, but he is not himself a member of any denomination.
JOHN F. ROONEY, dealer in meats, fruits, etc., Smethport, was born in Portageville, Wyoming Co., N. Y., February 14, 1854, son of James and Ann (Lavelle) Rooney, both of whom died when John F. was comparatively young. The subject of our sketch received a common-school education in his native town, and since commencing life has been engaged in various occupa- tions. He first went into partnership in the hotel business, but six months later sold his interest in the hotel and opened a grocery, which he carried on two years; then sold his grocery business and moved to Bradford, Penn., where the following winter he found employment with the Standard Oil Company, at Custer City. When the "shut-down" came in the succeeding spring, Mr. Rooney, with the other new men, was laid off with promise of first vacancy. Becoming impatient, however, waiting for an opening, he went to Coleville, Penn., where he entered into a partnership in the meat business, and when the oil excitement was over at that place he took an interest in a 500-acre lease and wild-cat well, located three miles from Shongo, Allegany Co., N.Y., near the Allegany county oil belt. This well proving to be dry, the venture reduced Mr. Rooney's capital to $150, with which he came to Smeth- port, where he invested $132 in the meat business, which he has since suc- cessfully carried on. Mr. Rooney is a member of the Catholic Church, and of the C. M. B. A. ; in politics he is a Democrat.
ROBERT H. ROSE, attorney at law, Smethport borough, was born at Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, Penn., December 7, 1847. His grandfather, Dr. Robert H. Rose, of Philadelphia, was very prominently identified with the early history of Susquehanna county, buying from the Francis estate 100,000 acres of land, and building a beautiful residence on the banks of Silver Lake. where he finally took up his abode, Silver Lake still remaining the property of the family. Edward W. Rose, father of the subject of this sketch, moved from Silver Lake to Montrose, same county, where he was in the mercantile business for years, and here, at the academy, young Robert H. commenced his classical education. In 1868 he graduated from Cortland Academy, at Homer, N. Y., after which he became a student in the law office of Fitch & Watson, promi- nent attorneys of Montrose, Penn., and in 1873, he was admitted to the bar in Susquehanna county. In December of that year Mr. Rose came to Mc- Kean county, and to Smethport, as attorney and agent for the Bingham estate. The Binghams were the original owners of nearly all Mckean county, as well as Potter and adjoining counties, and the largest owners of oil territory in this field. Mr. Rose is still attorney for the Bingham estate and acts for Robert C. Simpson, attorney in fact for the trustees. The first law partners of Mr. Rose were Hon. David Sterrett, now of Washington, Penn., and Hon. W. W. Brown, now of Bradford, Penn., the firm subsequently changing to Sterrett & Rose, and now, by the retirement of Mr. Sterrett, after ten years' copartner- ship, Mr. Rose is alone, his office being in the Hamlin Bank building. In
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