Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 107

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 107

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the respective families were founded in early pioneer days. George Reitz was born in Beaver township and his wife in Oliver town- ship, and after their marriage they established their home on the farm above mentioned. George Reitz reclaimed much of his land to cultivation and both he and his wife died on their old homestead, each attaining to the age of seventy-two years. Godfrey and Jacob, brothers of George, were long and actively identified with lumbering in this county, and another brother, Daniel, followed the same line of enterprise in addition to farming. Of the ten children of George and Elizabeth (Dobson ) Reitz seven are living ( 1916), and the five who remain in Jefferson county are, besides Simon: Elizabeth, wife of Frank Brosius, of Clover township; Mary Ann, widow of David Shields, of Brookville; Daniel, who is a prosperous farmer of Beaver township; and Adam, who resides on his farm near Stanton.

Simon Reitz attended the pioneer schools when opportunity offered and early gained ex- perience in arduous work on the farm and in the lumber woods. He worked for others at lumbering, and his wages were given to his father until he had attained to his legal major- ity. At the age of twenty-three he wedded Sarah Malinda Holt, who was born Oct. 6, 1850, on the farm where she and her husband now reside, daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Matter) Holt.

Thomas Holt came to Jefferson county from Waterloo, Juniata county, and ten years after establishing his home here married Mary Mat- ter, who had come from Allensville, Mifflin county. Mr. Holt was a blacksmith by trade and after locating on his pioneer farm in Beaver township, established thereon a black- smith shop, the same having been practically on the site of the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Reitz. In connection with the reclaiming and improving of his land he continued at the work of his trade to a greater or less degree for several years. llis little blacksmith shop was the stage of much activity, as his services were in demand on the part of the other pio- neers of the locality. Finally he initiated lum- bering operations on what is now the Cloverdale farm, four miles distant from his home, in Rose township. There he gave his attention for a score of years to the getting out of square timber during the winter seasons, and at times he and his family would pass the winters in the lumber camps. Mrs. Reitz well recalls these experiences of her childhood, and that deer and other wild game were still plen-

tiful. Mr. Holt continued lumbering until he was of advanced age. His father, Thomas Holt. Sr., who came to the county in 1842, in- itiated the development of the farm of which his son and namesake later became the owner. The honored father of Mrs. Reitz passed away in 1900, at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow was seventy-six years of age at the time of her death, in 1904, she having been born at Allensville, Mifflin county, in 1828. After Thomas Holt, Jr., assumed charge of the home farm he made numerous improve- ments, in 1870 erecting the house which is now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Neill, she and her husband owning the portion of the old homestead upon which it stands. Thomas Holt, Sr., here passed the closing years of his life. Mrs. Reitz is the eldest of a family of four children: Martha Jane is the wife of Joseph Neill; William, who was for- merly engaged in the manufacturing of lum- ber, is now a piano dealer at Brookville; Dr. H. P. is a representative physician and sur- geon at DuBois.

After his marriage Mr. Reitz began farm- ing on a part of the old Holt homestead, but later he passed eleven years on the Cliff farm, owned by A. C. White. At the expiration of that period he returned to the Holt farm. he and his wife at this time coming into the ownership of sixty-seven acres of the same. lle has since purchased an additional tract of thirty-one acres, about one mile distant. His present residence was erected by him in 1900, and he has made other improvements. For ten years Mr. Reitz did a prosperous business in the raising of berries and other small fruits, and in this connection developed a large trade in Brookville and Punxsutawney. His politi- cal allegiance is given to the Republican party. and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the faith of which he was reared. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Reitz: Myrtle is the wife of Harry Fitzsimmons, of Coraopolis, Allegheny coun- ty: Everett W. is engaged as a general mer- chant at Pansy, and is mentioned elsewhere; Ilaven Il., who was a railroad engineer by vocation and maintained his home at Oil City, Venango county, was accidentally shot and instantly killed Nov. 17. 1915. while on a hunt- ing expedition in the forests of Maine, his companion having mistaken him for a deer.

DANIEL SYPHIRIT has lived on his pres- ent farm in Winslow township for over half a century. during which time he has developed the property from almost its primitive condi-

Daniel Syphit

THE NEW YORK CLIC LIETARY

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tion to a modern rural estate in profitable op- cration. In its improvement he has kept pace with the progress of agriculture along the broadest lines, having a reputation for enter- prise shown in his willingness to put advanced ideas into practice wherever feasible. His suc- cess in experimenting with new methods and appliances has kept him in the forefront of prosperous farmers in his vicinity.

Mr. Syphrit was born March 18, 1841, in Westmoreland county. Pa., son of Joseph Syphrit and grandson of Christian and Mary ( Shank) Syphrit. His father was a native of Canada, born Jan. 15, 1814, and came to Jefferson county in 1841, becoming one of the pioneers who settled Winslow township, where he reclaimed a farm from the forest. Mean- while he also followed lumbering a consider- able part of the time, rafting logs and square timber down to Pittsburgh and even to Cin- cinnati. Ohio. In 1835 Joseph Syphrit mar- ried Mary Campbell, daughter of J. K. Camp- bell. of Ligonier Valley, Pa., and they re- mained on their old homestead in Winslow township until they died. Their family con- sisted of thirteen children: Rebecca, Susan, Daniel, Mary, Noah, Christopher, Amanda, Lizzie. Priscilla, Joseph. Martin, Julia A. and Maggie.

Daniel Syphrit, eldest son of Joseph and Mary (Campbell) Syphrit, was brought to Winslow township in infancy, and was reared there. with the disadvantages for education and the advantages for practical training com- mon to the period. AAfter he reached his ma- jority he was ambitious to start on his inde- · pendent career, and in the year 1865 he set- tled upon the land in Winslow township which he has since occupied, a tract of one hundred acres now in prime condition. thanks to his unceasing care. Mr. Syphrit has endeavored to do his full duty in all the relations of life. Ifis business affairs have received the closest attention, his domestic obligations have been performed with scrupulous care for the wel- fare of his household, and he has not failed in the broader work of filling a place in the public life of the community. having been in- fluential in securing adequate measures for the protection of local interests. He has held the office of township supervisor, discharging its responsibilities intelligently, and no resi- dent of the township has a higher place in the sincere regard of his fellow citizens.

On Dec. 14. 1871, Mr. Syphrit married Mary A. Henry, daughter of John F. and Caroline Henry, well known pioneers of Jef- ferson county, and they have become the par-

ents of eleven children, born as follows: John M., Dec. 11, 1872 ( mentioned elsewhere in this work ) ; Sarah E., Nov. 4, 1874; George W., Feb. 22, 1877: Alice C., March 11, 1879; Anna Bell, Nov. 21. 1882; Noah W., July 9, 1884; Charles L., July 8, 1886; Venna May, Feb. 7. 1889: Twila E., Sept. 12, 1892 : Merty 1., Oct. 9. 1895; Dewey F., April 29, 1899. Twila E. and Merty V. are now engaged in teaching school. the former in McCalmont township, this county, the latter in her home township-Winslow. The parents are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES PHINEAS MCMINN has spent practically all his life at Hazel Fern farm, his fine home property in Snyder town- ship, which is the old homestead where his father, James McMinn, settled over sixty years ago. His efforts in its original making have been supplemented by the present owner in continued improvement. In citizenship as well as business he is accounted a worthy rep- resentative of the family in all that promotes the general welfare, ranking with the most highly esteemed residents.

The McMinn family originated in the North of Ireland,, whence came a number of the most valuable settlers in western Penn- sylvania, the present generation showing many of the sturdy characteristics for which the early representatives were famous. His grandfather, who died at the patriarchal age of one hundred and ten years, had several sons and daughters, all of whom lived for a time in or about Philadelphia and then settled in Jefferson county, the various constituents of the family making a large community of the sterling inhabitants of Snyder township. James McMinn, one of the sons, was the fa- ther of Charles Phineas. He was born at Groga, County Fermanagh, Ireland, and learned the trade of linen weaver, which he followed until 1840, when he came to Amer- ica. For a few years he was thus employed in cotton and woolen factories in eastern Penn- sylvania, becoming foreman with a large cor- cern, but when the factories closed because of hard times he sought other occupation. He was also engaged as a drover, and as a travel- ing salesman, and was interested in various other business ventures. In 1848 he came to the Beechwoods, and purchasing land be- tween Brockwayville and Lane's Mills, cleared and converted it into a fertile farmi, which continued his home through life. During the early years there Mr. McMinn followed lum- bering as much as farming, building and oper-

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ating a sawmill, his exertions being well rewarded, and he became one of the most prosperous men in the community. Endowed with keen intelligence and positive character, his influence was obvious, and always used for the betterment of the best interests of his fellow citizens, who recognized in him an unusual force for good. He early became a member of the Methodist Church at Brock- wayville, being one of a few who gave the financial aid necessary to keep the church building from being sold for debt, and ever continued his contributions to its support. He was one of the founders of Wildwood cem- etery. and was still serving as a trustee at the time of his sudden death, which occurred in the nineties, in his seventy-ninth year.

On Oct. 3. 1850, Mr. McMinn was mar- ried, at the Groves homestead, to Elizabeth Groves, the ceremony being performed by Rev. George Reeser. She survived him, pass- ing away June 14. 1907, at the farm which had been her home for over fifty years. hav- ing reached the age of seventy-five years, six months, two days, and being one of the oldest pioneer residents of the section, where she was widely known and esteemed, She was born near Londonderry, Ireland, a daughter of Daniel and Jean Groves, whom she accom- panied to America in 1833. the family ten years later removing to the Beechwoods dis- trict and establishing the homestead on the ridge at Grove Summit now occupied by J. M. Groves. They were among the pioneers, and one of the best families who aided in the development of this, one of the most attrac- tive agricultural districts in western Pennsyl- vania. "Auntie McMinn," as she was known to neighbors and friends generally, was en- dowed with exalted character, noble, self- sacrificing, industrious and true to the highest ideals. She joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at its formation in 1855. continuing a faithful member, and dying in the certain hope of eternal felicity.

Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. McMinn ten outlived the father, namely : Eleanor Ann, born May 17, 1852, married Ira Bowdish and is now the widow of Peter Hyer, residing in Brookville: Daniel Alexan- der and William John are mentioned else- where ; Wilhelmina, born Sept. 19, 1858. mar- ried Henry Herman, and died in California, Dec. 31, IQI0: James Taylor, born Feb. 8. 1860, married Margaret Creighton, and they reside in Punxsutawney: Thomas G., born Feb. 24, 1863, married Olive Whalen and is deceased. che surviving at Lane's Mills :

Sarah Frances, born Sept. 16, 1866, married Morrison Fisher, and they live in Indiana county, Pa. ; Robert Cook, born Dec. 30, 1868. is pastor of the Methodist Church at Slippery Rock (his wife was Jennie McIntosh) : Jane Eliza. born March 28, 1870, married Edwin Neiger, of Ridgway, Pa .; Charles Phineas was born Feb. 5. 1873: Jeremiah Samuel, born Dec. 16, 1875, died Feb. 12, 1800.

Charles Phineas McMinn was born on the home farm where he now lives, and attended school at Lane's Mills. He mentions his first teacher as Alice Brian, others being Anthony Groves and Edward Bartlett. Meantime he got adequate training in practical things by assisting in the work on the farm during the summer season, finding occasional employ- ment in the woods and mines. Buying the interest of the other heirs in 1897. he be- came owner of the homestead of ninety-one acres, lying along the Lane's Mills road. Be- sides the necessary attention demanded hy his farm operations, he has done his share in the affairs of local government, having for two terms been school director. Politically he is a Prohibitionist.

On Nov. 28, 1900, Mr. McMinn married Amelia Kohler, who was born April 15. 1877. at Ridgway, Pa., and she attended various schools in her girlhood, principally at Lane's Mills, her first teacher having been "Sis" Mc- Naughton. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McMinn, namely: Walter Ralph, born Oct. 11, 1901 ; Ruth Wilhelmina, Oct. 31, 1902 : Caroline Isabelle, April 14, 1905 : Prudence Margaret. Nov. 23. 1906; Royden Charles, Dec. 7, 1907: Edwin Kohler. Jan. 24. 1910; Luella Amelia, March 1, 1911 : James Robert, Aug. 16, 1913; and Mervin Adelbert. April 25. 1915. Mr. McMinn is an earnest member of the M. E. Church at Lane's Mills, now serving as a trustee.

Caspar Kohler, grandfather of Mrs. Mc- Minn, was a native of Switzerland, coming to America while young. In New York State he married Lucy Ruff, and they had children as follows: Jolin C .. Caspar, Emma, Lucy, Wil- liam, Charlotte, Wallace, Albert and Robert.

John C. Kohler. father of Mrs. McMinn, was born March 23. 1848, at Jeffersonville, N. Y., and died Oct. 6, 1898, at Island Run, Pa., being buried in the cemetery at Ridgway. For years he was engaged as a "jobber" in the woods, principally getting out bark and logs. In Sullivan county, N. Y., he married Caro- line Neiger, a native of that county, born March 18, 1850, who now lives with her chil- dren. They were the parents of the follow-

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ing family: Charlotte, Mrs. Charles Hobart, of Liberty, N. Y .; Amelia, Mrs. Charles P. McMinn ; Walter, of Marlinton, W. Va., who married Carrie Muffitt ; and Edwin, of Rock- ton, Pa., who married Vida McMinn, daugh- ter of Daniel A. McMinn. Mrs. Kohler is a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which her husband also belonged. . He was a Demo- crat in politics.

REED BRACKEN McDOWELL. of Brookville, is a business man of excellent standing and at present also connected with the local government in the capacity of coun- cilman. For some years Mr. McDowell has been operating on his own account as a car- penter and builder, for which fine he has shown himself so well fitted that it is logical to assume he has been gifted with natural capacity for his chosen calling, his father and grandfather having also been engaged in me- chanical work. His conscientious fulfilment of all obligations has gained him quite as much goodwill as his reliable workmanship.

Mr. McDowell is of Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather was the most prominent stone contractor in Bucks county, Pa. His father. Eli McDowell, was a wagonmaker and a most efficient tradesman. He lived to the age of seventy-one years, dying at Summer- ville, Jefferson Co., Pa., and the mother, Mary Ann ( Alexander), survived him eight years. She was Mr. McDowell's second wife. and to their union were born two sons. By the first marriage he had six children, three sons and three daughters.

Reed Bracken McDowell was born July 7. 1861, at Summerville, and in his boyhood had such advantages as the local schools afforded. But he has depended upon his own resources from the early age of twelve years, and he learned his trade of carpenter when a youth. laying a solid foundation for the prosperous career he is now following. For four years he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company as a carpenter. and subse- quently spent a number of years in the oil country, returning to the employ of the rail- road company until he commenced business on his own account. He has since heen estab- lished at Brookville, and has acquired a patron- age which keeps him busy all the year round. his prompt attention to all work intrusted to him making him a most desirable man to do business with. As a citizen he has done his share in the encouragement and promotion of all matters pertaining to the general welfare, and his public-spirited attitude is so favorably

regarded by his townsmen that they have chosen him for service in the council, of which body he has been a member at different times. In political issues he is a Republican, but in local affairs does not allow party considera- tions to interfere with what he considers his duty to his constituents. His church connec- tion is with the Presbyterian denomination.

When twenty-two years old, on Nov. 29. 1883. Mr. McDowell married Rose Garbin, of Corsica, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Wallace Kennedy) Garbin, who had a fam- ily of ten children. Mr. Garbin was a cabi- netmaker by occupation. Two children of Mr. and Mrs. McDowell survive : Mary Eliza- beth, born in 1884, is the wife of Clyde Rep- logle, a hotel man, and they have one child, Reed Harry: Sadie May, born in 1886, is married to Joseph O'Loughlin, a merchant tailor of Brookville, and they have four chil- dren. I.co Bracken, Coleman, John and Rose Mary. Mr. McDowell's daughters were both given the best advantages in the local schools. and are graduates of the Brookville high school. Mrs. McDowell is a capable worker in the church and W. C. T. U. activities.

PETER CLYDE BROSIUS is the owner of one of the fine farms of Clover township. and more than usual interest attaches to him as a representative agriculturist by reason of the fact that his present property was the old homestead on which his grandfather, Peter Brosius, settled in the early pioneer period. Adequate record concerning this old and hon- ored family is given in the sketch of the career of Christ C. Brocius. father of Peter C. Bro- sius.

Peter Clyde Brosius was born in Beaver township. Jefferson Co., Pa., on the farm now owned by Eli Johns, July 21, 1872. He profited by the advantages afforded in the public schools, and in the meanwhile developed strength and vigor through his participation in the work of the home farm. At the age of twenty-two years he married, and he and his bride, who was then twenty years of age, es- tablished their home on a small farm near his father's, where they continued for six years. He then sold the property advantageously to the Shawmut Coal Company, renting his present farm, which three years later he pur- chased from his uncle, Hiram H. Brosius. This fine old homestead of his paternal grand- father comprises two hundred acres, and to its area the present owner has since added by the purchase of an adjacent tract of ninety- two acres, so that he is the proprietor of a

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large as well as specially well improved estate. He has erected new buildings of modern de- sign and facilities, and has two hundred acres under an excellent condition of cultivation, having cleared nearly sixty acres of the addi- tional land which he purchased. He sold much of the old timber to aid in paying for the property. Mr. Brosius is conducting his farm enterprise with progressive policies, giv- ing his attention to diversified agriculture and rotation of crops, and raising a considerable amount of good live stock. To enhance the fertility of the land he is utilizing lime and other approved agencies, and has provided a model silo of large capacity. In the season of 1916 Mr. Brosius obtained from his farm five hundred bushels of wheat, sixteen hundred bushels of oats, and about twelve hundred bushels of corn.

Mr. Brosius gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party, and in 1915 was elected supervisor of Clover township, but soon re- signed, as he found the means and agencies for furthering the interests of the township entire- ly inadequate to the demands which he believed existed, his retirement from office being made with the explanation that he had "nothing to work with.'

On March 22, 1894. Mr. Brosius married Minnie M. Plyler, who likewise was born and reared in Jefferson county, daughter of David and Ellen ( Motter ) Plyler. Mr. and Mrs. Brosius have seven children : Nellie is the wife of Eugene Hall, who is a machinist in a roundhouse at Cloe; Chlorice is a student in the Clarion State Normal School ; the younger members of the home circle are Bessie. Ethel, Sadie, Hiram and Christopher. Mr. Brosius and family have their religious association with the Mount Pleasant M. E. Church.

J. PERRY HOFFMAN merits place in this history not only by reason of his per- sonal status as a representative agriculturist and successful coal developer in his native county, but also as a worthy member of one of its old and honored pioneer families. For fully a quarter of a century he was actively identified with lumbering operations, but though his special ability in this field of indus- trial enterprise led him at times far from his native heath he eventually returned to Jeffer- son county and assumed the management of the fine old homestead in Warsaw township. nine miles east of Brookville, where he has since given his attention to diversified agri- culture and to the development of the excellent vein of coal found on the place.

Mr. Hoffman was born at Brookville Sept. 4, 1852. He is a son of Martin C. and Eliza ( McGowan) Hoffman, the former of whom was born in one of the eastern counties of Pennsylvania and the latter in Ireland. Mar- tin C. Hoffman was a child at the time of his parents' removal to Jefferson county, in 1826, and here maintained his home for the long period of eighty-seven years, his death occur- ring May 24, 1913, at the patriarchal age of eighty-eight years, three months. His father, James K. Hoffman, became one of the pio- neer farmers and lumbermen of Jefferson county, where he purchased and instituted the development of the fine farm in Pinecreek township now owned by William McCracken and Mrs. Spore, on the Richardsville road, two miles from Brookville and near the Bethel Church. Later Jamies K. Hoffman removed with his family to Polk township, and there continued to reside until he died, at the vener- able age of ninety years. His wife, Barbara ( Mercer), who was one year his senior, was born in Clarion county, this State, about the year 1795, and survived him a few years. Mr. Hoffman was one of the first to engage in lumbering operations on Red Bank creek, and at the time when he established his home in Jefferson county the only settlement worthy of such designation was at Port Barnett. Mar- tin C. was one of the elder members of a num- erous family of children, and concerning the others we have the following record: John E. has been a successful luniberman and farmer and has maintained his home in Kansas for many years, his age at the time of this writing ( 1916) being eighty-six years; Melissa is the widow of John Greer, and resides near Ridg- way, Elk county : James K. went to Minnesota and there became a prosperous merchant ; Elijah was for a long period engaged in the lutinber business and was a successful carpenter and builder at Brookville, and he later became a merchant at Akron, Ohio, where he was killed in an automobile accident, in 1915, when eighty years of age; William now resides in the State of Oklahoma ; Harriet is the wife of Stephen Pettibone and they reside in the State of South Dakota : Alvin remains in Jefferson county and is a successful farmer in Polk township: Jesse is a substantial farmer in Washington township, this county ; David was a farmer in Pinecreek township and compara- tively a young man at the time of his death, (his wife was a daughter of the late Arad Pearsall, of Brookville ).

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 107

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