Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 108

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 108

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Martin C. Hoffman as a lad lived in Brook- ville, when that place was a mere hamlet in

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the midst of the forest, he having often stated in later years that he was as a boy able to jump from stump to stump on the present site of the "American House." With an ox team lie early assisted in hauling logs to the old sawmill, equipped with the primitive upright saws, that manufactured lumber for his father. Within a short time after attaining to his legal majority he wedded Eliza McGowan, who was twenty years old at the time and who had come to Brookville about three years pre- viously, as a seamstress in the home of William Furley. After his marriage Mr. Hoffman found employment as sawyer in the mill pre- viously mentioned, and later he and his brother David purchased the Charles Horn farm, near Brookville. He soon sold his share in this property and purchased a tract of land one inile north of the present village of Hazen. He set out an orchard for a man named Weeks, who owned a large tract of land in that locality and who was at the time a resident of New York State. He soon effected the purchase of the old homestead now owned and occupied by his son J. Perry Hoffman, paying for the fifty-four acres at the rate of fifty cents an acre. He erected a frame house that is still standing, cutting off oak timber in sufficient quantity to make a clearing for the house and also to supply lumber for the unpre- tentious dwelling; the lumber for the purpose was sawed in a mill at Richardsville, three miles distant. As a boy he had assisted in cut- ting the timber to give place for the first build- ing erected at Richardsville, so that he had his full quota of arduous pioneer experience. He reclaimed his land to cultivation, and later proved a successful and popular pioneer real estate man, buying and selling farm lands. Thus it was his privilege to own at one time what are now several of the fine farms of Warsaw township. This sterling citizen con- tinued his activities as a farmer until he was venerable in years, and about 1900 his son Perry relieved him of the care of the old home- stead. he himself continuing to reside on the old place until his death, in May, 1913. His devoted wife had passed away about fifteen years previously. Both were earnest and zeal- ous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Martin C. Hoffman gained his early educa- tion in the pioneer schools. He was a young man when he joined the church, on the occa- sion of an earnest revival service held on the Weeks farm, seven miles distant from his home, about seventy years ago. which resulted in the organization of what was probably the

first Methodist Church within miles of Brook- ville. Mr. Hoffman became a charter men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hazen, where the church edifice was erected about 1861. About 1876 he and his family withdrew from this church and he became one of the six charter members to organize a Pres- byterian Church. For a time the services of the new congregation were held in the Metho- dist edifice, in which was maintained a union Sunday school for the two denominations. Within comparatively a short time, however, the earnest Presbyterian society built and dedicated a church of its own. Mr. Hoffman and J. R. Trimble having raised three thou- sand dollars to build the new church, which is still used for religious purposes. Mr. Hoff- man was made a licensed exhorter of the Methodist Church, and after his change of affiliation continued his zealous service in religious work until the close of his long and useful life. He had the record of never hav- ing missed a protracted meeting of his church for a period of more than sixty years. He was a man of superior mentality, of broad views and of abiding human sympathy. As an effective public speaker he was frequently called upon as an orator on 4th of July cele- brations and other occasions, and politically he was a stalwart and effective advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He aided much in the recruiting of men for the Union at the time of the Civil war, his loyalty being of the most intense type. He had under all conditions and circumstances the courage of his convictions, and would never compro- mise as a matter of personal expediency. He commanded unequivocal confidence and es- teem, served ably as school director, and was called upon to give service in various other township offices. He stood for lofty ideals in all of the relations of life, and ordered his course upon the highest plane of integrity and honor. This honored pioneer will long be remembered with veneration in the county in which virtually his entire life was passed. He is buried with his wife in the Temple cemetery. in Warsaw township. Of their children we give the following brief data : Margaret is the wife of John R. Johnson, of Warsaw township; J. Perry is the second ; Benson is an engineer by vocation and resides at Erie, this State; Mary is the wife of K. C. Jolinson, of Warsaw township; Barbara died in childhood, as did also Malcolm: Cora was long a loved and successful teacher in the public schools. her labors having included service not only in her home county but also

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at DuBois and elsewhere in Clearfield county, and she was forty-two years of age at the time of her death; Eliza. the youngest of the family, is unmarried, and resides in Denver, Colorado.

J. Perry Hoffman was but six months old when his parents removed from Brookville to the farm, and his early education was received in the local district school. As a lad of four- teen he began work in the lumber woods, and continued his association with that line of industry in this section of Pennsylvania dur- ing the time when the lumber business was at its height in Jefferson and adjoining counties. In his youth he thus had opportunity to assist in rafting logs down the streams, and in this way he has gone as far down the Ohio river

as Cincinnati. At a later period he was actively concerned with lumbering operations in Ohio and also in Michigan. At the age of twenty-five he wedded Mary Shadle, who was born in Clarion county, daughter of John Shadle, and who was seventeen years of age at the time. Thereafter Mr. Hoffman con- tinued his association with lumbering until his experience had covered a period of fully a quarter of a century. He became an expert in the sorting and piling of lumber at the mills, and when he finally severed his connection with this line of industry began prospecting for coal, in which connection he opened on his present farm a fine three-foot vein. one of the best and most productive in Warsaw town- ship. About the year 1900 he returned to the old homestead. taking charge of the same, and here he and his wife gave to his venerable father the deepest filial care and solicitude until his death. Mr. Hoffman has since found ample demand upon his time and attention in carrying on general agriculture and coal min- ing on his farm. He has a circle of friends limited only by that of his acquaintances. He gives allegiance to the Republican party, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hazen. Mrs. Hoffman died April 22. 1905. They became the parents of ten children, of whom five died in infancy. Of the surviving children the eldest is Jessie, who is the wife of John Weaver, of Punxsutawney ; Hattie is the wife of John Foss, a railway station agent at Curwensville. Clearfield county : Harry is a railroad man and main- tains his headquarters at Big Run, Jefferson county ; Vesta remains at the parental home : Chester is a clerk in the railway office at Cur- wensville.

WILLIAM JOHN MCMINN, of Snyder township, is one of the prosperous farmers

there. cultivating a fertile tract which has been made valuable entirely by his labors. He was born April 8, 1856, on Hazel Fern farm, the parental homestead, and belongs to an old family of the neighborhood. whose early history is fully given in the sketch of his brother, Charles Phineas McMinn.

Mr. McMinn attended the old school which stood close by on the farm of his uncle Robert McMinn, for about three months each year. When but thirteen years old he worked in the woods for N. B. Lane, receiving five dollars a day. boarding himself and team. His wages went to his parents, even for some time after he was married. In the summer he worked on the home farm, following lumbering and other work during the winter seasons, and was in the employ of Mr. Lane for twenty-three years, the latter's real goodness and kindliness in all his dealings with the men winning their unqualified regard. After his marriage Mr. McMinn began housekeeping at Lane's Mills. where he resided for a year and a half, buying the property on which he has since made his home. It is a tract of fifty-two and a half acres known as Mountain Cliff. With the help of his sons he finished the work of clearing and placed the whole under cultivation, mak- ing other valuable improvements. He built the home in 1895 and the barn in 1904. it being considered one of the best in the county, and well adapted to modern farm uses.

Mr. McMinn is a member of Lodge No. 488. K. P .. of Brockwayville, and is Past Chancellor of that body. As a stanch Demo- crat he has been an effective party worker. He attends the M. E. Church at Lane's Mills. and is much esteemed in all the relations of life.

On Oct. 28. 1878. Mr. McMinn married Mary Jane Humphreys, who was born Jan. 28, 1859. at the village of Hokendauqua, Le- high Co., Pa., daughter of Henry and Cathar- ine (McLaughlin) Humphreys, and was but six months old when they moved to the farm near Lane's Mills now owned by Marshall Mclaughlin. She attended the country school at Lane's Mills, being taught by Ellen Smith. Mary Groves, D. D. Groves, James Groves. Anthony Groves. Lottie McMinn, Jane E. Smith and Will Cooper. Her early life was spent on the home farm. Six children were horn to Mr. and Mrs. McMinn : Nettie Verona, born Aug. 21. 1870, is married to William Wertz, of West Virginia, and has six children, Helen. Florence, Warren, Bert. Martha and Ernest ; Ella Irene, born Aug. 3. 1882, married John Muir, and died at Brock- wayville Nov. 14. 1914, leaving four children,

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Mary Ellen, John Robert, Ronald McDonald and Harry McMinn; Harold Wilton, born May 13, 1885, now living at Eriton, Pa., mar- ried Grace Cunningham; James Ernest, born .Aug. 21, 1887, was educated at Lane's Mills and is now living at home; Katherine Eliza- beth, born April 15, 1891, married William Vibbert and resides at St. Mary's, Pa. (they have one child, Clarence Leroy ) ; Harry Fran- cis, born July 7, 1892, is at home.

Mr. McMinn is prospering in his farm work, and he has attained his present position by industry and good management. Ile has worked hard in his day, but his strong physique has stood the strain. The last work he did in the woods was particularly severe. He hitched his horses at twelve o'clock mid- night on Sunday night, ate a meal, and from that time until the following Saturday never took the harness off his horses and put in eighteen hours almost every day himself. It was the busiest week of his active life.

FLEMING MCCORMACK HAYES. One and a half miles south of Brookville. on the Punxsutawney road, is situated the fine farm on which is centered the well established and prosperous dairy enterprise conducted by Mr. Hayes, who has shown both energy and progressiveness in the development and up- building of this enterprise, his being one of the four principal dairies that supply Brook- ville with milk and cream delivered daily and directly to customers. All of the product is delivered in bottles, according to the most ap- proved methods of the modern system. The homestead of Mr. Hayes is known as Chest- nut Ridge Dairy Farm, and he is making such improvements from year to year as will result in giving his farm a reputation as one of the model places of this section of the State.

Mr. Hayes was born in Clinton county, Pa., Feb. 17. 1870, and he is a son of William R. Hayes, who was a miller by vocation and for fourteen years owned and operated a grist- inill at Big Run, Jefferson county, continuing his residence in this county until his death. Fleming M. Hayes gained his early education in the public schools, and he was fifteen years old when, in 1885, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Jefferson county, the fam- ily home having been established at Big Run, where the father engaged in the milling busi- ness. The son became associated with his father in the operation of the mill, and con- tinued his active identification with the milling husiness at Big Run for fifteen years, or until he was thirty years of age. In the meanwhile

he had attended Grove City College, when nineteen years of age, but he did not complete the full course. For two years Mr. Hayes held the position of lumber inspector at the Diamond mill, and in the year 1900 established his residence at Brookville, where he pur- chased a news agency, through the medium of which he handled all of the daily papers that circulated in the county seat during the ensuing eight years. He then retired from this line of enterprise, and two years later, in 1910, located on his present farm. That he initiated his dairy enterprise there on a mod- est scale becomes evident from the statement that he began operations by supplying the milk from one cow to his neighbors. From this inception he has gradually evolved the large and prosperous business which he now con- trols. His trade for the past two years has demanded the upkeep of a herd of twenty- four milch cows of high grade, of the Jersey and Guernsey strains, and he supplies by direct delivery one hundred and fifty patrons. His original farm comprised only thirty acres, but lie now owns a well improved landed estate of 180 acres. The milk from his dairy is known for its superior quality, and thus finds demand among the best element of patronage in the borough of Brookville. The Hayes farm has springs of pure cold water which add materially to the facility with which the dairy product is handled and kept at high standard. Mrs. Hayes has proved a most effi- cient and valued coadjutor of her husband in the development and upbuilding of the pros- perous dairy business, and in large measure he attributes his success to her earnest cooper- ation. Mr. Hayes has never had any ambition for public office or for the activities of prac- tical politics, though he has been ready to sup- port measures and enterprises advanced for the general good of the community and mak- ing for civic and industrial progress.

On Jan. 27, 1904, Mr. Hayes was married to Pearl Smith, of Armstrong county, and they have three children, Ralph, Paul and Helen.

REV. CHARLES A. J. SMELKO, pastor of St. Tobias Roman Catholic Church at Brockwayville, has been stationed in Pennsyl- vania since entering the priesthood, having his present charge since 1914. He is of Austrian birth and parentage, eldest of ten children of Louis and Victoria (Smorada) Smelko. The father was born near Budapest some sixty years ago, and brought his family to America when Charles was five years old, becoming a

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miner at Punxsutawney, where he still resides. Many of the name of Smelko have been offi- cers in the Austrian army, or have held responsible position in civil life in that great empire.

Charles A. J. Smelko was born near Buda- pest June 13, 1883, and retains vivid recollec- tion of the journey via Berlin to New York, and thence to Punxsutawney. His early edu- cation was acquired in the parochial school conducted by the Sisters of Mercy. He then entered St. Bonaventure's College, at Alle- gheny, N. Y., to prepare for professional life, and after graduating from the college, in 1905. entered the seminary there, completing the established theological course. He was or- dained June 13, 1908, by Rt. Rev. Charles Col- ton, Bishop of Buffalo, and immediately there- after was assigned to the Church of the Holy Family at Erie, Pa. On Oct.'10, 1910, he was transferred to St. Anne's Church at Farrell. Pa., of which he was incumbent until 1912. He then went to Winburne, Clearfield county, as pastor of three congregations, Sts. Cyril and Methodius at Winburne. Sts. Peter and Paul at Hawk Run, and Sts. Peter and Paul at Grassflat. On Aug. 2, 1914, he was in- stalled pastor of St. Tobias congregation. where he has done characteristically excellent work, the parish having been notable progres- sive under his ministrations. During his pas- torate at Erie the affairs of the church were placed upon a sound financial basis, a new church building and parsonage were erected, and several enterprises of benefit inaugurated. At Brockwayville his sincere devotion to the community welfare has won him good-will in all circles, regardless of creed. He also serves St. Anastasius congregation at Brockport, and the mission church at Beech Tree. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Knights of St. George. Politically he acts independently, supporting the candidates he thinks worthy, and the measures he considers wise, without reference to party.

While at college Father Smelko had an envi- able record in athletics, particularly in base- ball, excelling both as a catcher and pitcher. and his enthusiasm and skill on the football team contributed materially to its many vic- tories.

ANDREW W. MCCLELLAND has so brought to bear his energies and individual re- sources as to gain secure status among the representative business men of the younger generation in his native county, owning and conducting a prosperous hardware business at

Falls Creek, a borough that is situated in Jef- ferson and Clearfield counties at the virtual line of division. The major portion of his trade is derived from Jefferson county.

Mr. McClelland was born in the ideal Beech- woods district of Washington township, Jef- ferson county, June 20, 1878. He acquired his rudimentary education in the schools of that township and was a lad of eight years at the time of his parents' removal to the city of Du- Bois, Clearfield county, where he continued his studies in the public schools until he had com- pleted two years of the curriculum of the high school. He supplemented this by a course in the DuBois business college, and after leaving this institution he became an assistant in his father's hardware store at Falls Creek. This association continued until his father sold the business, and he then went to the city of Pitts- burgh, where he was employed in different stores for varying intervals and where he re- mained about one year. He then returned to Falls Creek and for several years was em- ploved in the hardware establishment of his father's successor, F. B. Weaver. Finally he purchased an interest in the business, which was thereafter continued three years under the firm name of Weaver & McClelland. At the expiration of this period Mr. McClelland pur- chased his partner's interest, and he has since continued in sole control of the substantial and representative business, which is one of the most prosperous of the kind in this section, with an excellent supporting patronage from both Jefferson and Clearfield counties. Mr. McClelland is a Democrat in politics and though he has had no desire for official pre- ferment he gives loyal support to measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community. His wife is an active mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Falls Creek.

On June 21. 1905, Mr. McClelland wedded Blanche Jones, daughter of John L. Jones, a successful contractor and builder at Falls Creek, and the three children of this union are Josephine, John and William.

John JJ. McClelland, father of Andrew W. McClelland, was born July 21, 1846, on one of the pioneer farmsteads in the Beechwoods district of Washington township, Jefferson county, near Allen's Mills. He was afforded the advantages of the pioneer schools, one of his first instructors having been Miss Abbie McCurdy. and his last teacher having been Miss Martha Dennison, who achieved special prominence as one of the teachers in the Jef- ferson county schools of that period. Mr. McClelland continued to attend school at in-

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tervals until he was seventeen years of age, but he also had his full quota of experience in connection with the productive activities of the pioneer period, as he assisted in the re- claiming of land and in the lumbering oper- ations that were then carried on extensively in this section of the State. His parents were numbered among the sterling Scotch-Irish citi- zens who early established homes in the Beech- woods district and the house in which he was born was a primitive cabin built of logs, twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions. In the construc- tion of this rude domicile no nails were used, and the roof was of shakes, or clapboards, which were held in place by long transverse poles. Later a more pretentious house of liewed logs was erected, and this, like the for- mer dwelling, was equipped with the old-time fireplace in which great sections of logs could be burned, John H. having had among his duties that of cutting the wood for this yawn- ing fireplace. Within a short time after leav- ing school he found employment on the Big Windfall tract of timber, for Osborn, Baum & Carrier, leading lumber operators of the local- ity and period. He felled the trees, hewed the timber into square form and assisted in rafting the same down the streams to Pittsburgh and even down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, Ohio, in which city he chanced to be at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln, the news of which calamity came to the city while he was there. He maintained his active asso- ciation with lumbering operations until about 1875, on the 3d of June of which year was sol- emnized his marriage to Margaret Smith, who was born in the Beechwoods in 1851, a daugh- ter of Andrew Smith, who came from Ireland and became one of the honored and influential pioneers of Jefferson county.

After his marriage Mr. McClelland began the reclamation and development of a farm in the midst of the forest of Washington township. He purchased a tract of ninety- eight acres, cleared the same, made good im- provements in the way of buildings, and there carried on his activities as a farmer until 1886, when he removed to DuBois, Clearfield county, and engaged in the draying and trans- fer business. After the big fire had wrought havoc in DuBois he turned over his business to his brother Oliver, who had returned from Kansas, and thereafter he remained on his farm for a time. In 1896 he returned to Du- Bois, but shortly afterwards removed with his family to Falls Creek, where he purchased a hardware store, to the conduct of which he gave his attention until he sold the business to

Mr. Weaver, as previously noted in this con- text. In 1899 he purchased the Osborn farm in Washington township, and there had his home until 1901. when he sold the property and returned to Falls Creek, at which place he has since lived virtually retired and where he is a member of the directorate of the Falls Creek National Bank. He is one of the hon- ored and influential citizens of this section of his native State, where through earnest and well ordered endeavors he has attained a large measure of temporal success and prosperity. lle and his wife have the unqualified esteem of all who know them. Andrew W. McClelland is their only child. They are zealous members of the Presbyterian Church at Falls Creek, and Mr. McClelland has always given unswerving allegiance to the Democratic party. While a resident of Washington township he served as township trustee, but he has had no desire for political office. He is affiliated with DuBois lodge of Odd Fellows.

John McClelland, father of John H., was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., and his wife, Sarah Jane, was a sister of William C. Smith, of whom mention is made on other pages of this work. These sterling pioneers continued their residence in the Beechwoods district until they died, and both were devout members of the Presbyterian Church. Of their children John H. is the eldest; William died at the age of seventeen years; Oliver is now a resident of Kansas City, Mo. (the maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Steib- ler ) ; Annie E. is deceased.

John McClelland, Sr., the great-grandfather, was born and reared in the North of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and the maiden name of his wife was Nancy Boyles. Their marriage was solemnized in Centre county, Pa., whence they came in an early day to Jefferson county and numbered themselves among the first set- tlers of the Beechwoods district, where he purchased a tract of two hundred acres, other members of the McClelland and Smith families having come to the county at later periods. The old home farm of John McClelland, Sr., is situated near Allen's Mills, and is now owned by the Raybuck family. Of the children, Oliver married Mary Ann McConnell; Nancy Jane became the wife of Hugh Dougherty ; Eliza died at Bellefonte, Centre county, as a child : John, Jr., was the next in order of birth ; and Mary Ann became the wife of Robert Dougherty.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 108

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