Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 106

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II > Part 106

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of the model farms of the county. He has remodeled and modernized the substantial old house which his father erected in 1861, and the original barn erected by his father like- wise has been enlarged and remodeled. Both of these buildings were constructed by Capt. Arthur Tracey. a skilled carpenter, who shortly after he had completed the structures went forth as a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war, serving as captain of a com- pany.

Mr. Patterson and his wife are zealous and influential members of the Beechwoods Pres- byterian Church, which he has served several years as a trustee. He believes firmly in the basic principles of the Prohibition party, but in national elections he consults consistent expedieney by voting the Republican ticket. He has served as school director.

At Ridgway. Elk county, on the 20th of October, 1890. Mr. Patterson married Cora Ann Dinger, who was born in Redbank town- ship, Armstrong county, on the 8th of July. 1867, and who was there reared and educated. She is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hendricks) Dinger, the latter still residing at Oak Ridge. Armstrong county. Mr. Din- ger was born May 10, 1844. in Redbank town- ship, that county, where his grandfather. Michael Dinger, born in Pennsylvania of Ger- man ancestry, was one of the pioneer settlers. and his grandson. John. became the owner of a farm of 106 acres of the old pioneer landed estate. John Dinger. Sr., grandfa- ther of Mrs. Patterson. was born in Schuyl- kill county and was a child at the time of the family's removal to Armstrong county. He was long one of the representative farmers of that county, being eighty-three years of age at the time of his death, in 1001. His wife. whose maiden name was Sarah Baughman, died in 1897, at the age of seventy-seven years. Of their ten children six attained to maturity. John Dinger, Jr .. was reared on the pioneer farm, and he continued his activities as a farmer in his native county until he subordi- nated all personal interests to go forth as a Union soldier in the Civil war. On the 20th of August. 1862. he enlisted as a member of Company A. 78th Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and with this gallant command served until the elose of the war. receiving his hon- orable discharge at Nashville. Tenn .. June 28. 1865. Among the more important engage- ments in which he took part may be noted the following : Stone River. Resaca. Buzzard's Roost, Dutch Gap. Chickamauga, Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge. New

Hope Church and Kenesaw Mountain. After the war he continued his farming operations in Armstrong county until 1892, from which time he was for twelve years in the employ of the Oak Ridge Mining Company, of that county. After that he lived virtually retired on his old homestead farm, where he died Feb. 4. 1916. He was a Republican in poli- tics, and served in several township offices. With his wife he held to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, as a valued member of the post at New Bethle- hem.

On Jan. 3, 1867, Mr. Dinger married Eliza- beth Hendricks, daughter of John and Molly ( ITolben) Hendricks, of Redbank township, Armstrong county. Of the children of this union nine are now living, Mrs. Patterson be- ing the eldest of the number: the others are William F., Mrs. Idella Mills, Bird D., Mel- vin A., John C., Ralph I ... Joseph E. and Harry E.

In conclusion is given a brief record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson: Jennie Irene, who was born May 7, 1892, completed the curriculum of the Beechwoods high school and supplemented this by a higher course of study in Grove City College; since 1900 she has been a successful and popular teacher in the publie schools. John R., who was born Jan. 12, 1894, was graduated from the Beech- woods high school and later attended Grove City College ; he is now a traveling salesman for an important business concern in the city of Columbus, Ohio. Elizabeth Lucille, who was born Nov. 23. 1895. likewise prolited by the advantages of the Beechwoods high school and at the present time ( 1916) is preparing herself for the profession of trained mirse. by a course in the school maintained in con- nection with the Meadville eity hospital. Mar- garet Belle was born Nov. 26, 1897, and with her younger brothers and sisters remains at home. Cora Helen was born Sept. IS. 1899: Mary Idella, Aug. 10. 1001 ; Joseph William, Dec. 4. 1903; Samuel Clyde, May 12, 1906. Ray Elwood died, aged six months, fourteen days. Paul Clayton was born June 8, IQII.

FITZ JOJIN POSTLEWAIT, a represen- tative of an important family of this section, is now residing in North Mahoning township. Indiana county, on land which has been owned by the Postlewaits for three generations. The family history is found in detail in the sketch of William Perry Postlethwaite.

Joseph Warren Postlewait, father of Fitz

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John, was born Jan. 20, 1832, on the old farm of his father, David, in Ringgold town- ship, where his early boyhood was spent. Later he lived on the Perry township farm, helping with the agricultural work during the summer seasons and lumbering in the winter time, also rafting the product of his operations in the latter line to market. He inherited his father's Indiana county property, comprising the farms in North Mahoning township now occupied by his sons Fitz John and Jesse Scott Postlewait, and was there engaged in general farming and the operation of a coal mine until his death. Possessing the family traits of enterprise and application, his efforts were well rewarded with a considerable estate. He filled several of the township offices with characteristic efficiency. On political ques- tions he was allied with the Democrats. His wife, Sarah Ann ( Heemer), of Perry town- ship, is a native of Armstrong county, but her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Heemer, were old residents and thrifty farmers of Perry town- ship. Mr. Postlewait died in the fall of 1903, and Mrs. Postlewait. now ( 1916) sixty-five years old, resides with her son Scott at the homestead in North Mahoning township. Seven children were born to them: Fitz John is the eldest ; Monroe Barclay is a merchant and ranchman at Montrose, Colo .; Jesse Scott is next ; Lena Ann, deceased, was the wife of Jesse Hicks and the mother of three children ; Bessie is the wife of Lester Wise, a railway engineer, of Albion, Erie Co .. Pa., and they have two children ; Elizabeth died in infancy : Ruth is married to Samuel Gamble, a farmer in North Mahoning township, and has one child.

Fitz John Postlewait was born Feb. 17. 1872, at the farm where he yet resides. It is situated along Big Mahoning creek, on the line of Jefferson county. After attendance at the local school he was sent to an acad- emy. His practical training has all been in the line of agriculture, which he follows success- fully, being considered one of the leading agriculturists of his vicinity. He was married in 1902 to Edith Ruth, daughter of A. J. and Ann (Swisher) Ruth, of Valier, old residents of Jefferson county. She died in JOLI, at the early age of twenty-six years, the mother of three children : Allen, born in 1903; Andrew, 1905; and Cordie, 1908 (died 19II). For his second wife Mr. Postlewait married in Jan- uary, 1915, Mrs. Edna Alice ( Mauk) Horn- ing, widow of Daniel Horning, and daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Law) Mauk, early settlers in Jefferson county. Mr. Mauk was

a competent veterinary surgeon, as well as rural mail carrier, and died in 1910, at the age of fifty-five years; his widow is now living at Horatio. Their family consisted of eight children, viz .: Anne Elizabeth, Mrs. Samuel Prosser: Daniel, of Horatio; Dora, wife of Clarence Mitchell, a farmer of Perry town- ship: Edna Alice, Mrs. Postlewait, born at Horatio Dec. 16, 1887; Hamilton, a railroad man, living at Punxsutawney; Minnie, wife of William Ross, a farmer near Punxsutaw ney : Ira and Bernice, living with their mother.

Mrs. Postlewait had one child by her first marriage, Kenneth Albert Horning, born April 3, 1911. One child has also been born to her present union, William Henry Scott, Dec. 11. 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Postlewait hold mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His political support is given to the Demo- cratic party.

JESSE SCOTT POSTLEWAIT, third son of Jos- eph Warren and Sarah Ann Postlewait, was born in 1876 at his parents' homestead in North Mahoning township. Indiana county. and was brought up there. His education was obtained in the public schools of the district, and he has spent his life at his birthplace, he and his sister Ruth owning the 146-acre tract upon which he now lives with his mother. Farming has been his constant occupation, and though conservative in his business ventures he is progressive in everything pertaining to his chosen calling, putting forth every effort to maintain his place according to the high standards of his father's management, and continuing the work of improvement steadily. He has never married. Mr. Postlewait's re- ligious connection is with the Craig City Lutheran Church. He follows the family pre- dilection in the matter of politics. being a stanch adherent of Democratic principles.

JOHN WINTERBOTTOM, retired lum- berman and farmer, residing at Lane's Mills. where he has been established for the last half century, is among the influential and respected citizens there. He is of English birth and ancestry, having been born Aug. 28, 1843, in Holden, Lancashire, son of Benjamin Winter- bottom, who was also a native of Holden, and was employed as engineer in a cotton mill. He died when John was fourteen years old. the widow later remarrying. They had five children : John ; James and William, who died in England, as did Sarah. Mrs. James Lord : and Mary. Mrs. James Hinkle, still living in the native land.

After his father's death John Winterbot-

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tom lived for about four years with an aunt, Ann Holt. When he began work in a cotton mill he went to school half a day, working the other half, but at the age of fourteen was put on full time, receiving five shillings a week for ten hours' work daily, all of which was needed for his support. He left his aunt's when eighteen years old, and she, with whom he did not get along well, for weeks there- after drew and kept his pay, leaving him in hard straits. Deciding to get where he could be independent, he hired to a farmer at six shillings a week and board, and while so employed saved enough to bring him to New York, in the fall of 1863. Soon he was hired by a hotel man in New York to work on his farm at Rockaway, N. J., at twelve dollars a month for three months, at the end of which he went to Philadelphia. Thence he pro- ceeded to Philipsburg, Pa., and worked about the mines, driving a one-horse sled which was loaded with props and hauled to the mines. Some months later a Mr. Burdell, a farmer of Clearfield county. Pa., came seeking a sub- stitute to go to the army for him, and John accepted his proposition. He accompanied him to Philipsburg, passed the examination, and went on to Ridgway, where he was about to enlist when word came that Lee had sur- rendered. He was paid one hundred dollars for his trouble. At Ridgway he worked six years for J. S. Hyde, lumbering, driving team, etc., his next employer being D. D. Cook, for whom he put in square timber on the Clarion river, at Gillis' Island. When this job was finished, he worked for Jacob Houck during the four years following and then changed to the employ of George Dickinson, until he came to Brockwayville in 1877. His first work here was as barn boss for the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Company, who were just building the road. At the end of nearly two years he was made section boss on the Erie railroad, when it was built through this section. He began as a day laborer. working up by industry and intelligent attention to his duties. When he gave up railroad work he removed to his present location, at Lane's Mills, and for a number of years worked for Mr. Lane, in the mill. on the farm, in the lumber camp, etc., being an all-around useful man, until the death of Mr. Lane. No citizen of the neighborhood is more generally es- teemed.

On Jan. 1. 1872, Mr. Winterbottom was married, at St. Mary's, Pa., to Margaret Mc- Govern, a native of Canada, born Nov. 28. 1844. about thirty-six miles from Toronto. John McGovern, her father, was born in Ire-

land, and came to Canada when a young man, subsequently marrying Ann Doyle, also a na- tive of Ireland. He was a farmer in Canada, where he died. Two years after his death the widow brought her children to Ridgway, Pa., where she passed the remainder of her life, dying in Ridgway when seventy-seven years old. Her family consisted of six children : Daniel, Thomas, James and Alice, all de- ceased ; Mary, living at Joliet, Ill .; and Margaret, Mrs. Winterbottom. Mrs. Winter- bottom attended school in Canada. She was reared a Catholic and is a devout member of that church, which Mr. Winterbottom attends with her. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Winterbottom have had six children : J. J., of Salamanca, N. Y., a railroad fireman ; Alice, widow of Thomas Hag, of Warren, Pa .; A. J., a railroad employee at Brockway- ville ; Louisa, wife of Noget McClure, at Du- Bois ; Edward, an Erie railroad man at Brock- wayville ; and Sarah, who married James Lord and died in England.

JOSEPH M. CHITESTER owns and re- sides upon the fine old homestead in Knox township that was the place of settlement of his paternal grandfather. Daniel Chitester, at a time when this section was little else than a forest wilderness. Nearly seventy years ago, in 1848. Daniel Chitester came from Garri- son's Mill, this county, where he had super- vised the erection of a waterpower mill on Red Bank creek, and established his home on the place now owned by Joseph M. Chitester. He had been a resident of the county for sev- eral years, and his first place of abode was a pioneer log house on the hill, in sight of Brookville, where his son David was born Oct. 31. 1833.

Daniel Chitester was born at Hollidaysburg, Pa., on the 12th of August, 1808, and passed the closing years of his life on this farm, his death occurring June 26, 1852. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Shrum, was born at Fairfield, Westmoreland county, on the 9th of November, 1802, and died on the 23d of October, 1853. Of their four sons, John A. was born June 17, 1831. and remained a bachelor until his death, which occurred Dec. 10, 1912; David was the next; Daniel, who was born June 6, 1836, died at the age of twenty-five years ; Nyman, who was born Oct. 25, 1840, resides at Reynoldsville. The daugh- ter Esther was the eldest of the children, and became the wife of Martin Howard; after his death she married a man named Bailey, and her death occurred Feb. 21, 1860.

David Chitester was born Oct. 31, 1833, and

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he was reared and educated under the condi- tions that marked the early pioneer epoch in the history of Jefferson county. Ile assisted in the reclaiming and other arduous work of the home farm and finally became associated with his brother John in purchasing the inter- ests of the other heirs. A portion of the old homestead had been sold, but he repurchased this part and thus came eventually into full control of the original estate acquired by his father. His brother John, as previously stated, remained a bachelor, and he willed his share of the property to David, in whose home he had lived till the time of his death. The original log house built by Daniel Chitester occupied the site of the present farm structure. which was erected by David Chitester about the year 1888 to replace the little frame house which his father had built after the old log house became inadequate. In 1893 David Chitester built the large and substantial barn, its predecessor having been a log building, the type common to the pioneer days. David Chitester, a man of prodigious energy and pro- gressiveness, cleared the major part of his land from timber and stumps and from the age of fourteen years until his death resided on the old homestead, devoted to his home and family. He was a Democrat, but had no ambition for public office of any kind. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, and the little church of this denomination from which the Knox Dale Presbyterian Church eventually grew was organized in the little log barn on the Chitester farm. David Chitester killed many deer at the salt lick on the old home farm, his plan being to climb into cer- tain trees and shoot the animals when they came for their salt. In later life he frequently expressed a desire to see once more the beau- tiful animals which were so much in evidence in his youth, and it is worthy of note that since his death deer have again appeared in this part of the State, though he thought they had been entirely obliterated. He remained on the old homestead until his death, which oc- curred April 29, 1914, his wife passing away on the 21st of the preceding December. The maiden name of Mrs. Chitester was Martha Eckman, and she was born in Armstrong county. Dec. 7, 1837. They were married March 2, 1858, and are survived by seven chil- dren, namely: Clarence Clark, George Gour- ley. Clara Elizabeth, Edith, Robert Nicholson, Joseph Matthews and Amanda Barbara.

Joseph Matthews Chitester was born March 18, 1871, and was named in honor of Joseph Matthews, a cousin as well as a neighbor of his

father, who was drowned at Garrison Mill, when engaged in rafting timber. Mr. Chi- tester was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and profited effectually by the ad- vantages afforded in the local public schools. After the death of his parents he purchased the interests of the other heirs and thus came into sole ownership of the old home farm, where he has since continued his progressive activities as an agriculturist and stockgrower, developing a fine dairy herd and being a stock- holder in the creamery at Brookville. He is fertilizing his land and utilizing the most ap- proved scientific methods in bringing the soil up to the best condition. He is treasurer of Pleasant Hill Grange, whose assembly hall is located on his farm, and has been a popular and influential figure in the affairs of this organization, which he has served as master ; now he has the further distinction of being the incumbent, for the third consecutive year, of the office of master of the Pomona Grange of Jefferson county. His wife and three of their children also are active in the affairs of the local grange, and Mrs. Chitester is a popular figure in the representative social life of the community. Mr. Chitester is essentially a wide-awake and progressive farmer, and is well upholding the honors of his name. There are still seven acres of hardwood timber on the home farm, its preservation having been pro- vided for in the will of his father, and the same provision was made for the preservation. so far as possible, of the attractive pine grove about the old homestead. The father likewise expressed an earnest wish that the farm be held intact in the possession of the family. Mr. Chitester takes a lively interest in all things touching the civic and industrial wel- fare, and in this connection it may be men- tioned that he is treasurer of the local tele- phone company. He and his wife are zealous members at Meade Chapel, in which he is a steward, having also formerly served as a trustee.

On Oct. 7. 1806, Mr. Chitester married Mary Elizabeth Hawthorne, who was born and reared in Knox township, daughter of the late Joseph Hawthorne who is mentioned else- where.

Mr. and Mrs. Chitester have four chil- dren: Lawson Chalmers, Paul Revere. Joseph Leroy and Lois Elizabeth.

JOSEPH HAWTHORNE marked the passing years with large and worthy achieve- ment in industrial activities, and was long considered a representative farmer in this

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county. He belonged to that Scotch-Irish stock which has played a most important part in the social and material development and progress here, and he passed the closing years of his life at Reynoldsville, where he died in 1906.

Mr. Hawthorne was born Oct. 29, 1822, in County Down, Ireland, and was a young man when he came to the United States and num- bered himself among the pioneers of Jefferson county. On Nov. 8, 1854, in Beaver township, he married Margaret Ferguson, born Sept. 10, 1834, daughter of John C. and Anna ( Alcorn ) Ferguson, whose ten children were born in Beaver township. Mr. Ferguson moved with his family to the West, all his children except Mrs. Hawthorne having left Jefferson county. Mr. Hawthorne had sold his property in this county previous to 1865 and removed to Iowa, but after a few months he returned and pur- chased the farm now owned by the widow of William MeAninch, in Knox township. There Mr. Hawthorne reared his children and there he remained until the death of his wife, Feb. 15, 1899, whom he survived about seven years. Both were active and valued members of the Covenanter Church at Belleview. Of their children the eldest is David Milligan Haw- thorne, who is a resident of Brookville ; Rachel Anna is the wife of Thomas MeClure, of Reynoldsville; Margaret Jemima is the wife of Joseph Hutchison, of Pancoast; Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Joseph M. Chitester ; Martha Emma is the wife of Levi Beebe, of Sherwood.

HARRY TAYLOR is not only conducting a specially successful general merchandise business at the village of Westville, in Wash- ington township. but he is also giving efficient service as postmaster, a position to which he was appointed on the 5th of June, 1912. He is one of the progressive young business nien of the county, and a popular citizen, well entitled to consideration in this history.

Mr. Taylor was born at Stoneboro, Mereer Co., Pa., Aug. 8. 1884, son of Richard and Mary (Hodgson) Taylor. He was a child at the time of his parents' removal to Centerville, Elk county, where he was reared to adult age, and where he made good use of the advantages afforded in the public schools. After leaving school he became a clerk in the general store of Abbott & Blakesly, at Coal Glen, Jefferson county, in this connection gaining an excellent knowledge of the manifold details of this line of enterprise, so that he was well prepared when, in 1906, he established his present busi-

ness enterprise at Westville. He has a well appointed store, in which he carries full lines of general merchandise such as are demanded by his large and appreciative trade. Ile shows marked discrimination and progressiveness in the conduct of his prosperous business, and his administration as postmaster of the village has proved most efficient. His political alle- giance is given to the Republican party and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Coal Glen, which he has served as an officer.

In the year 1904, at Coal Glen, Mr. Taylor married Lela Thompson, of Westville, and they have one son, Leroy, who was born in 1905. Mrs. Taylor was born at Bernice, Sulli- van Co., Pa., Aug. 19, 1887, and was nine years old at the time of the family removal to West- ville, Jefferson county. She received her early education in the public schools at DuBois, Westville and Coal Glen. Mrs. Taylor is a popular factor in the social life of her home community. She is a daughter of Thomas M. and Mary Emma Thompson, both of whom were born and reared in England, where their marriage was solemnized and where their first three children were born. Mr. Thompson. who was born in the north of England, in 1846, came with his family to the United States and first lived at Bernice, Pa. He has been identified with mining activities during his entire active career, and he and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Emma Brown, now reside at St. Benedict, Cambria county. Of their children six are living: William, the eldest of the number, married Maude Keys, and they reside at St. Benedict ; Walter, who married Rose Potter, resides at Pansy, Jeffer- son county : Jennie is the wife of Archibald MeDonald, of DuBois, this State; Mrs. Tay- lor was the next in order of birth ; Blanche and Charles remain at the parental home.

SIMON REITZ is one of the progressive farmers and respected citizens of Beaver township, a worthy member of a family foun- ded in Jefferson county in the pioneer period. His homestead is situated one mile south of Belleview and seven miles southwest of Brook- ville, the place being a part of the estate for- merly owned by the late Thomas Holt, father of Mrs. Reitz and an honored citizen.

Mr. Reitz was born on a pioneer farm three miles southwest of his present home and a short distance north of the little village of Pansy, on July 5, 1848. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Dobson) Reitz, both of whom were born and reared in this county, where

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 106

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers Number of Pages: 972

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 972