Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 109

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 109

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ARTHUR L. DUNKLE, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Heath township, has

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shown much energy and circumspection in developing and improving his land, which he has brought up to an excellent state of produc- tiveness. His attractive home is situated six- teen miles north of Brookville and three miles distant from the Clarion river. He was long and closely identified with lumbering opera- tions, and the lure of the lumber camp and rafting activities on the creeks and rivers still makes a definite appeal to him. Mr. Dunkle is a native son of Jefferson county, his birth having occurred at the point where Clear creek flows into the Clarion river. in Heath town- ship, May 31. 1859. He is a son of George W. and Elizabeth J. ( Harriger) Dunkle, the latter a sister of Andrew J. Harriger, con- cerning whom specific mention is made on other pages of this work.

George W. Dunkle was born near Callens- burg, Clarion county, and the major part of his active life was devoted to lumbering opera- tions along the Clarion river, in Jefferson and Clarion counties. In 1860 he settled on the farm now owned by his son Arthur Luvern, and he had started the work of clearing off the timber and developing a farm when he subordinated these and all other interests to go forth in defense of the Union. Soon after the inception of the Civil war he enlisted as a member of Berdan's Sharpshooters, and with this gallant command continued in active ser- vice until disability resulting from varicose veins made him ineligible for active field duty and resulted in his receiving an honorable dis- charge, after he had been at the front for three years. During his absence his wife was left with their two children on the pioneer farm, the younger of the children, Sarah Ann. dying at the age of five years. The devoted mother, by supreme effort and self-abnegation. managed to provide for her children, assisted to the extent of his ability by her brother, Andrew J. Harriger, at the time a young man and living in her home. On his return from the army George W. Dunkle turned his atten- tion to lumbering operations, his plan being to buy the timber on certain tracts and to fell the same for manufacturing into lumber, much of the timber being hewed inte square form and thus transported in rafts to Pitts- burgh. He was successful in this field of industrial enterprise and in 1882 erected and equipped a sawmill near Schoffner's Corners. Polk township. This mill he continued to operate until his death. The wife of his youth died on the 4th of May. 1880, and in the fol- lowing autumn he married Mrs. John Brown, a widow with three children. Guy, the only

son of the second marriage, died at the age of eighteen years. On July 2, 1885, George W. Dunkle was shot and instantly killed by C. H. Terwilliger, with whom he had had a disagree- ment. In the meanwhile Arthur L. Dunkle had assumed charge of the farm, his father having removed to the vicinity of his sawmill.

Arthur L. Dunkle attended the district schools in his boyhood and early youth and soon became associated actively with his father's lumbering and farming operations. For three years prior to assuming charge of the home farm he worked in the lumber woods in the vicinity of Ridgway, and shortly after his marriage he became a full-fledged farmer. His course as an agriculturist in that period of his career was beset with difficulties, as nearly all of his land was covered with stumps and underbrush, necessitating much strenuous toil ere the work of effective cultivation could be instituted. The years have shown results, and of his tract of one hundred acres about sixty-five are now in an excellent state of pro- ductiveness. He has made good improve- ments of a permanent nature, including the erection of his present attractive house, which he built about the year 1900. He has contin- ued his activities in the lumbering industry to a greater or less degree, and his experience has virtually covered every detail of that work, including the cutting, hauling, skidding, squar- ing and rafting of timber, and, as previously stated, the lumber woods and the streams still have a distinct attraction for him. He is a progressive and successful farmer, a loyal and public-spirited citizen, a Republican in poli- tics, and has served three terms as supervisor of Heath township, besides having held the office of school director.

On Feb. 20, 1883, Mr. Dunkle was married to Minnie Edeburn, the seventeen-year-old daughter of Samuel and Berthinda (Wyn- coop) Edeburn, who were early settlers of Heath township. Mr. and Mrs. Dunkle have become the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living except the ninth, Howard Vincent, who died at the age of fourteen years. In respective order of birth the names of the surviving children are: Frances Roselia, Syl- vester Wade. Nora Berthinda. Ralph Merl, Mabel Gertrude, Arthur Roy, Warren Curtis, Stella May, ITazel Blanche and Anna Eliza- beth. Ralph M. now has the active manage- ment of the old homestead.

WILLIAM ELMER KEARNEY, proprie- tor of Grand View Farm, in Snyder township, was born in that township March 30, 1866. on

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the old homestead now owned by his brother John.

Mr. Kearney attended the public schools until eighteen years of age, in the meanwhile giving effective aid in the work of the home farm. At his marriage, in 1898, he established his residence upon his present farm, which he has made a veritable scene of thrift and pros- perity, it being one of the best improved farms of one of the best sections of Jefferson county. In 1900 the house was destroyed by fire, but he promptly erected on its site his present modern dwelling. He is loyal and public- spirited in his civic attitude, and independent in politics, giving support to the men and measures meeting his approval. He is affili- ated with the Royal Arcanum, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Brockwayville, their farm being about one mile distant from that borough.

On Feb. 2. 1898. Mr. Kearney was united in marriage to Adelia Honeywood McGill. who was born at Castanea, Clinton Co., Pa .. Aug. 24, 1871, daughter of Edgar Alonzo and Anne Clarissa ( Shadel) McGill, the former of whom was born at Lock Haven, Clinton county, Feb. 22, 1844, and the latter at Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Pa., in the same year. a daughter of Daniel and Flora ( Baker) Shadel. Edgar A. McGill was a son of John and Harriet (Straub) McGill, and his father is supposed to have been born in Ireland. John McGill was a member of the police force at Lock Haven at the time of his death. Edgar A. McGill passed his entire life at Lock Haven, where he served as superintendent of the waterworks until ill health necessitated his retirement. His wife died when their daugh- ter Adelia H. was fourteen years of age, he surviving her several years. Mrs. Kearney was the third of six children: Claudia M. is the wife of M. A. Deuel. of Falls Creek, Clear- field county ; Herbert Grayson married Eliza- beth Bair, and they reside at Oil City, Ven- ango county: Minnie Anne is the wife of James Griggs, of Sunbury, Northumberland county ; Anne Clarissa is the wife of Alexan- der F. Adam, of Clearfield county ; her twin brother. Edgar Alonzo, is still unmarried. Mrs. Kearney gained her early education in the public schools of her native place, and being but fourteen years old at the time of her mother's death came with her older sister. Claudia, to Jefferson county, thereafter resid- ing the greater part of the time in Punxsu- tawney until her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Kearney have three children.

whose names and respective dates of birth are : Romaine Eleanor, Feb. 25, 1902; Elaine Mc- Gill, April 18, 1905; Dwight S., Dec. 1, 1910.

WILLIAM PATTON, one of the pioneer settlers in the Beechwoods district, was a na- tive of Ireland, born May 4, 1818. He was about fifteen years old when he and an older brother, Samuel, and their sister Isabella, came, to this country to make a new home for their parents. Landing at Philadelphia, they lived there for a few years, Samuel following his trade of blacksmith at the forges and William working as a meat packer. About six years after their arrival they removed to west- ern Pennsylvania, settling in the Beechwoods. having bought a tract of 160 acres in Wash- ington township, later divided into two farms. The sister married James Cooper. The par- ents, Robert and Sarah (Smith) Patton. joined their children in this country and lived in the Beechwoods district the rest of their lives. They had the following family. Sam- tiel, William, Isabella, James, Andrew, Thomas and Robert.

William Patton established his home on a farm in the Beechwoods and there spent prac- tically all of his active years, dying at West- ville Dec. 2, 1890. He married Sarah Jane Welsh, also a native of Ireland, whose parents. James and Margaret (Carrothers) Welsh. came from that country to Philadelphia when she was five years old: she was fifteen when they moved to the Beechwoods, making the journey in a covered wagon. Mrs. Patton was born Sept. 3, 1826, and died May 2. 1915. She and her husband were devout Presby- terians all their lives. They reared a large family, viz .: Sarah Ann, born April 17, 1847. married James Hepburn Sept. 14. 1872. and resided at Mahaffey, Pa., where she died Oct. 6. 1914; Margaret Jane, born July 4, 1848, married Alfred M. Stack, and thirty years ago they removed to the State of Wash- ington, where she died July 23. 1906; Isa- bella, who married Robert Hunter, of Beech- woods, was next in the family : Elizabeth. born April 17, 1852, died Jan. 17. 1854: Harriet Elizabeth, born April 29 1854, married Alex- ander Mckay. being his second wife, and died at Westville April 2. 1900 ; Robert Smith. born Sept. 6, 1855, married Mary Ann Morri- son Sept. 23. 1885, and lives on the old Patton homestead in Washington township; James W., born July 22, 1857, married Margaret H. Hendricks. and died in Washington township May 4. 1888: William John, born Aug. 23. 1859. married Annie L. Burkett, and lives in

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Washington State; Mary H. and Samuel H., twins, born July 13, 1861, died respectively Aug. 20, 1863, and March 7. 1864; Violet L., born' Nov. 8, 1864, married James M. Moore Sept. 20, 1883. and lives in Detroit, Mich .; Thomas Andrew Curtin, born Nov. 20. 1865. lied Oct. 22, 1872.

GEORGE B. DINGER has passed his en- tire life in northwestern Pennsylvania, and though he still shows the vigor and undaunted energy of a man many years his junior he has had a prolific career. His work has been prin- cipally in the line of agriculture, since 1903 on his well improved farm of 129 acres sitit- ated in Knox township, one mile south of the village of Knox Dale.

Mr. Dinger was born in Clarion county, this State, July 14, 1866, and is a son of William and Maria ( Kuntzelman) Dinger. He was a lad of about seven years at the time of the family's removal to Jefferson county, his father first settling at Summerville. About eighteen months later removal was made to a farm four miles south of Brookville, and six years thereafter the father purchased a farm near that now owned and occupied by George. Both he and his wife passed the rest of their lives on this homestead, his death occurring about a score of years ago. Mrs. Dinger died Dec. 21, 1909.

George B. Dinger attended the district schools during the winter terms, and early be- came associated with arduous farm work, be- sides which he was identified with lumbering operations for a period of about ten years. In his individual enterprise, marked by distinc- tive industry and good management, he has found in agriculture ample scope for success- ful and productive effort. His first farm was a small tract near the homestead of his father, and in 1903 he purchased his present place, formerly known as the Anthony Eshbaugh homestead. Through his discrimination and thrift the productiveness of the land has been increased remarkably. He has used the best methods in fertilizing and has revitalized the soil, that had been permitted to run down to a low standard, with the result that he gains yields far in excess of those formerly ob- tained ; special attention is given to the propa- gation of grain, hay and potatoes. The place is improved fairly well with buildings which were erected by the former owner.

Mr. Dinger has had no inclination to enter politics or to seek public office of any kind, but he gives a loyal support to the cause of the Prohibition party. Both he and his wife are

earnest communicants of St. Matthew's Lu- theran Church, near Ramsaytown.

In April, 1887, Mr. Dinger married Della Campbell, daughter of John and Margaret ( McSparrin) Campbell, of Belleview, this county, and of this union have been born nine children : Harry resides at Knox Dale ; John is identified with coal mining; Mabel is the wife of Blair Shaffer, a farmer of Knox town- ship: Bertha is the wife of Joseph Martin, a miner, and they reside in Knox township; the children who remain members of the home circle are Earl, Milo, Wade, Hazel and Jessie.

CLAUDE K. HAWTHORNE is not only one of the successful representatives of the basic industry of agriculture in his native county but is also incumbent of the position of bookkeeper in the National Bank of Brook- ville, and he is of the third generation of a sterling old family of Jefferson county, where his grandfather, Isaac Hawthorne, a native of Ireland, established a home within a short time after his immigration from the Emerald Isle to the United States.

Isaac Hawthorne reclaimed and developed a farm in Ringgold township, incidentally be- came actively concerned with lumbering operations, and also gained somewhat of prom- inence in connection with railroad contracting. He constructed the first railroad line along the Kiskiminetas river in Westmoreland county, and he was one of the alert, vigorous and upright citizens who. contributed to early civic and material progress in this section of the State. He continued his activities until the time of his death, which occurred when he was fifty-three years of age. His widow sur- vived a number of years. Their children were five in number : Joseph, John, James F., Mary Ann and Sarah E.

James F. Hawthorne, father of Claude K. Hawthorne, was born at Clarksburg, Franklin Co., Pa., and was young at the time of the family removal to Jefferson county, where he was reared to manhood. That he made good use of his educational advantages is assured when it is recalled that for twenty years he held prestige as one of the successful and pop- ular teachers in the schools of Jefferson county, and at one period of his pedagogic ca- reer he was in charge of the historic old Cool- spring School, at Reynoldsville. He became one of the representative farmers of Beaver township and finally removed to Brookville, where he passed the closing period of his life in well earned retirement, and his memory is revered in the county in which he long main-

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tained his home and wielded benignant influ- ence in all of the relations of life. His patri- otism was significantly shown at the time when the integrity of the nation was thrown in jeopardy through armed rebellion, and he proved a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war, in which he served as a member of Company I. 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was a man of broad mental ken and well fortified convictions, giving his politi- cal allegiance to the Republican party, and both he and his wife were earnest and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He served for many years as Sunday school superintendent while residing in Beaver town- ship, and later served the Methodist Church of Brookville in a similar capacity. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah C. Johnston. was born on a farm near Reynoldsville, this county, daughter of James Johnston, and she survived her husband by about nine months. Of their children the eldest is Minnie, wife of Dr. John K. Brown, a representative physi- cian and surgeon engaged in practice at Brook- ville : Claude K. was the next in order of birth : Carolee is the wife of James S. Canning, one of the enterprising merchants of Brookville ; Virginia is the wife of Ross C. Deible, who is engaged in the jewelry business at Brook- ville.

Claude K. Hawthorne was born on the homestead farm of his father in Beaver town- ship. Jefferson county. May 1, 1872. He at- tended the public schools of his native town- ship and supplemented this discipline by a course in Belleview Academy, at Stanton, one of the excellent educational institutions of Jefferson county. Like his honored father. Mr. Hawthorne became a popular and efficient representative of the teacher's profession, in which thirteen terms of successful work stand to his credit. He taught in Jefferson, Elk and Clearfield counties, was principal of the West Reynoldsville schools for one term, and for two terms held the position of principal of the First ward schools at DuBois, Clearfield county.

After his retirement from the vocation of teacher Mr. Hawthorne served for a period as timekeeper for the Buffalo. Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, and thereafter held the office of supply agent with the same company until 1908, when he assumed his pres- ent incumbency, that of bookkeeper of the National Bank of Brookville, in which he is giving characteristically effective service. He maintains his home on his well improved farm in Rose township. the same comprising eighty-

one acres, eligibly situated about two miles west of Brookville on the old Clarion turnpike. He is thus enabled to give a general supervi- sion to his farm without interfering in the least with the discharge of his executive duties in one of the leading banking institutions of his native county.

Mr. Hawthorne's loyalty to his home county has been of appreciative and insistent order, for as a citizen he is essentially progressive and public-spirited. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and though he has had no ambition for public office his deep interest in educational matters caused him to make special efforts toward good service dur- ing his four years' tenure of the position of school director in Rose township. He is affil- iated with Garfield Lodge, No. 559. F. & A. M .. and Jefferson Chapter. No. 225. Royal Arch Masons. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the year 1896 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Hawthorne to Louisa Koehler, who was born in Mountain Home, Monroe Co .. Pa., daughter of Philip Koehler, her fa- ther having long been a prominent citizen of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne have three children. Lois, Philip and William.

SAMUEL T. SIMPSON has resided on his farm in Union township, situated along the Clarion pike one mile east of Corsica, for over forty years, and is one of the substantial agri- culturists of his section of Jefferson county as well as a citizen of worth, a man who has done his duty faithfully in all the relations of life.

Mr. Simpson was born Nov. 26. 1845. on the old family homestead in Jefferson county, situated a mile and a half south of the borough of Corsica, in Union township. His father, John G. Simpson, was a native of Ireland, settled in Union township about 1836, and developed a farm there upon which he lived and died. He began in the primitive fashion, building a log house. and for many years was principally engaged in lumbering, like most of the pioneers in this region. who depended upon the timber cut from their lands for reve- nue until the clearings became productive. He and his sons worked in partnership in lumbering. running timber to Pittsburgh, Mr. Simpson following this occupation for ten win- ters. He married Ellen Simpson, his first cou- sin, a native of Philadelphia, and she survived him, his death occurring in 1898. hers in 1903. They were the parents of eight sons and two

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daughters, all the sons now (1916) surviving but one: Joseph Calvin, of Summerville, this county ; Samuel T. ; Margaret Jane, who mar- ried William Love (both deceased) ; George Winfield, a farmer of Union township; John D. ; William J., who died at the age of twenty- three years ; James Harvey (twin of William J. ), living on the old homestead ; Isaiah Miles, who lives near his brother Samuel ; Levi M., residing in Eldred township, this county; and Sadie, wife of Adelbert Smith, a farmer of Clarion county, Pa. The three brothers George, John and Samuel have adjoining farms.

Samuel T. Simpson was born in the old log house on the homestead which his father erected when he first settled there, was reared on the old home place, and had only such educational advantages as the neighborhood boasted at that day-not many. But he had a practical training just as valuable, and he be- came self-reliant and independent at an early age. He was but twenty-two when he mar- ried, and he continued to work at home for four years afterwards, at the end of that time coming to his present place in Union town- ship, six miles west of the county seat. The property consists of one hundred acres, and though most of it had been cleared before he purchased it it was in a rundown condition when he took possession. In fact, he had to fertilize it thoroughly for several years before he could grow grass successfully, but he kept steadily at the work of improvement and now has the tract in fine and profitable shape. He follows general farming, grows stock, keeps five cows, and sells butter as well as consider- able produce. Though in debt when he started here he worked his way out and made a suc- cess by persistent attention to all the details of cultivation, and besides tilling the soil care- fully he has erected three thousand dollars' worth of substantial and well planned out- buildings. He had to clear some of the land himself, and for some years after settling there carried on lumbering, but he has devoted him- self entirely to agriculture for a number of years past. Trusting to hard work and untir- ing industry, with the help of his devoted wife he made an excellent home for himself and family, and gained a place among the estima- ble residents of his neighborhood. He has served as one of the school officials of the township, and has been a worker as well as member of the Presbyterian Church. having held the office of trustee for years. In politi- cal opinion he is a Republican.

Mr. Simpson married Mary Elizabeth Flem-

ming, of Clarion county, Pa., who died in September, 1915. She was one year older than Mr. Simpson. They became the parents of seven children, viz .: Alverdi J., now a practic- ing physician, established at Summerville, this county ; Myrta Belle, wife of Parker B. Cor- bett, of Freeport, Armstrong Co., Pa., and mother of three children ; Elizabeth Ann, who married John E. Guthrie, present postmaster at Summerville, and has had five children, two of whom are living; Jay T., a railroad man, of Summerville, who is married and has seven children, four sons and three daughters : Effie Pearl, wife of Ed. A. Smith, a merchant at Heathville, Jefferson county (they have three daughters) ; William Gilkey, who lived at home until his death, when twenty-two years old; and one that died in infancy.

HARRY C. REPLOGLE, of Brookville, has been a hotel proprietor in that borough for a number of years, and has been as successful in his independent business operations as he was previously during a thorough experience at railroad work. Being self-reliant and cap- able, ready to assume any duties that will con- tribute to the prosperity of his undertakings, and full of purpose in whatever enterprises he allies himself with, he has shown many qualities valuable in his special line, with re- sults to show for their application to it. His personality, too, is well adapted to his chosen calling. His social tastes have led him into numerous fraternal associations, in all of which he has been popular for his likable traits and sincere friendliness.

Mr. Replogle is a native of Indiana county. Pa., where his father, Jacob J. Replogle, spent most of his life. He was a merchant at Penn Run, that county, for some time, later at Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Pa., and then at Johnstown, Cambria county. His death occurred at Mechanicsburg, Indiana Co., Pa .. when he was but thirty-nine years of age. Of the ten children born to his marriage with Nancy Empield the following survive: Eliza- beth, Harry C., Chalmers, Clyde B., and August P.

Harry C. Replogle was born Feb. 6, 1870. and spent practically all his early years in his native county. He had public school advan- tages for an education, and began work in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, starting as a section hand. Subsequently he was employed in the shops, and following that experience was on the road as fireman and engineer, in turn, gaining an all-around familiarity with railroad work. When he gave

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 109

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