Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 112

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 112

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Thomas Haggerty

٢٠ ٣٧ ٠٢

YORK

LILRATY

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America, as a valued coadjutor of John Mitch- ell, the honored and distinguished leader of this great national organization.

Mr. Haggerty was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, in May. 1865, son of Hugh and Mary Haggerty, both representatives of sterling old Irish families. Hugh Haggerty became iden- tified with the mining industry in his native land when he was a youth, and there he con- tinued his activities as a sturdy coal miner until 1870, when, leaving his family at the old home in Scotland he came to the United States and settled in Clarion county, Pa. There he readily found employment as a skilled work- man in the coal mines, which work he followed in this State during the remainder of his active career. Later he and his wife were residents of Washington township, Jefferson county, un- til they died, and their remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at DuBois, Clearfield county. Mrs. Haggerty and some of the children joined the husband and father in America in 18So. The eldest two sons. Hugh, Jr., and Andrew, were residents of Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, at the time of their deaths; Mary still resides in Scotland; John and Jane died in their native land ; Elizabeth resides near Glas- gow, Scotland ; Susan is deceased, and her re- mains rest beside those of her parents, at Du- Bois, Clearfield county : Agnes and Catherine died in Scotland: Thomas completes the family.

Thomas Haggerty gained his early education in the schools of his native land, and the ex- periences of an active and useful life have broadened his mental ken and made him a man of wide information and mature judg- ment. He early began work in the coal mines of Scotland, whence in 1880 he came with his mother and others of the children to the United States. IIere he first found employment as a miner at the West Mountain coal mines, where he remained until 1888. For the ensuing three years he was employed in the mines at Horatio, Jefferson county, after which he gave two years of similar service at Coal Glen, this county. For two years following he conducted a hotel at Clayville, near Punxsutawney, selling this business to engage in the same line of enter- prise at Sugar Hill, this county. One year later he resumed his work as a skilled miner. and in this line he continued his activities three years.

With deep and abiding sympathy for the laboring classes, and with intense interest in conserving the rights of the worthy and pro- ductive laborer, Mr. Haggerty has proved spe- cially fortified as an organizer among men,

whose confidence and respect he invariably commands. In 1899 the great leader of the United Mine Workers of America, John Mitchell, appointed Mr. Haggerty national la- bor organizer for this great body of workmen, and he retained the position until 1901. when he was elected a member of the national board of the organization for the United States and Canada, five of the twenty-eight members of this board being from Pennsylvania. In the interests of the organization Mr. Haggerty traveled extensively through the Middle West, and has given most effective service as an or- ganizer and counselor of mine workers in Kan- sas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ken- tucky, West Virginia and Alabama. He is spe- cially well known in mining circles in West Virginia, in which State he passed about ten years, and as one of the still active and influ- ential members of the official board of the United Mine Workers of America he now maintains his official headquarters at his attrac- tive and valuable landed estate in Winslow township, where he is the owner of a well im- proved farm of 272 acres. This represents the tangible results of his years of earnest en- deavor, and he takes great satisfaction in giv- ing his supervision to the fine farm, the while he is zealous and loyal in looking after all reg- ular details and contingent affairs appertaining to his influential official position with the United Mine Workers of America, of whose official board he is now the oldest member. As the dean of this body he has the unqualified esteem of his confreres.

For many years Mr. Haggerty gave his al- legiance to the Democratic party and was ac- tive in the support of its cause. In consonance with his well ordered convictions he finally transferred his political affiliation to the Re- publican party, of whose principles and policies he has since continued a stalwart supporter. He is a strong and convincing public speaker, specially well known for his leadership as a representative of the United Mine Workers. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic Church, and he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Mr. Haggerty married Jennie Kitzel, a daughter of Frederick Kitzel, and we give a brief record of their children: Mary is the wife of Walter Hetchner, of Morgantown. W. Va. ; Susanna is the wife of William Hummel. of Punxsutawney, Jefferson county : Alice re- mains at the parental home ; Hugh is a pro- fessional ball player, a skilled and well known

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pitcher, and maintains his home at Reynolds- ville ; Elizabeth is the wife of Charles McKin- ney. of Blairsville. Indiana county ; Thomas re- mains at the parental home, as does also .Agnes, who is the wife of Carlisle Wells; Catherine likewise is a member of the home circle : Maggie is deceased, as are also John and Fred- crick, who were twins; the younger children of the home circle are Andrew and John, both of whom are attending school.

DANIEL ROBERT KEARNEY, who is honored as one of the representative farmers and influential citizens of the section known as the Beechwoods, in Washington township, has passed his entire life thus far in Jefferson county. He is a member of one of the es- teemed pioneer families of Washington town- ship, and has achieved personal independence and definite prosperity through his ability and well ordered endeavors.

Mr. Kearney was born on the farm now owned by his brother, William G. Kearney. in Washington township, this county, on the 3d of August. 1861, son of William Perry and Jane ( Groves) Kearney, who were numbered among the early settlers of the township. where they continued to reside to the close of their lives. He continued to attend the Beach- tree school at intervals until he attained the age of twenty years, and in the meanwhile gave effective cooperation in the work and manage- ment of the home farm. When he married. he and his bride established their home at Brockwayville, where he conducted a store for five years, and during the ensuing six years he was engaged in the draying business. For a few years thereafter he conducted a general store again, and after his retirement from this enterprise he devoted about one year to the drilling of wells. He then purchased a por- tion of his present farm, in Washington town- ship, and later added to the original area by the purchase of adjoining land, so that he now has a well improved farm of 113 acres. the very appearance of the place definitely be- tokening thrift and good management on the part of the fortunate owner. He is energetic and progressive as a farmer and loval as a citizen. though never manifesting aught of ambition for public office. His political alle- giance is given to the Democratic party.

It is interesting to record that William Perry Kearney, the father of Daniel R. Kearney. was familiarly known in the community as "Civil Bill Kearney." in contradistinction to another William Kearney, to whom was given the title of "Divil Bill Kearney."

On the 24th of December, 1889, was solemn- ized the marriage of Daniel R. Kearney to Emma Louisa Britton, who was born in Sny- der township, this county, on the 25th of June. 1866, daughter of George J. and Mary J. (Crawford ) Britton, concerning whom more specific mention is made elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Kearney have no children, but the gen- crous hospitality of their pleasant home is graciously extended to old and young alike. Mrs. Kearney is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN CULP is a sterling representative of highly regarded pioneer stock, and owns and resides upon the fine old homestead farm, in Henderson township, five miles north of Big Run, which was the place of his birth Nov. 2. 1844. Thus it will be seen that his memory covers the period from the pioneer past to the twentieth century of opulent prosperity and progress in this favored section of the State. He has witnessed and aided in the development and upbuilding of Jefferson county, is a man of broad mental ken, strong individuality and well fortified opinions, and has never lacked the courage of his convictions, which he per- mits none to impugn, even as he is ready to give to others the same just privilege. His well improved farm lies one mile north of Sugar Hill, a prosperous mining town, and is one of the valuable rural properties of Henderson township.

Mr. Culp is a son of George and Barbara ( Best) Culp, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Armstrong county, Pa. Soon after their marriage George Culp and his young wife came to Jefferson county and established their home on the farm now owned by their son John, which at the time was little more than an untrammeled forest wilder- ness. The father began the work of clearing his land and also became, almost by virtual necessity, concerned actively with lumbering operations incidental to clearing away the timber. He had been in the employ of others in the lumber woods and had assisted in the rafting of timber down the creeks and rivers. his activities in the latter line having culmi- nated in his tragic death, as he was drowned at the Troy dam, on Red Bank creek. while engaged in rafting. in 1847. John Culp was but cighteen months old, and the bereaved and widowed mother soon afterwards gave birth to a posthumons child. William ; the other two children of her marriage to Mr. Culp were Catherine and John. Mrs. Culp later became the wife of Jacob M. Shaffer, and they re-

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moved to the State of Illinois, but after a time returned to Jefferson county and established their home on the farm of ninety-six and a half acres now owned by John Culp. The father of John Culp had died before he had been able to make more than minor improvements on this land. After the lapse of many years Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer removed to a small farm near Reynoldsville, and there his death oc- curred. his widow now making her home with one of her daughters by the second mar- riage ; she celebrated her ninety-first birthday anniversary on the 25th of June, 1916. Catherine, the only daughter of the first nar- riage, died unmarried, Feb. 12, 1912, and the. fourth child, William. who was born shortly after the death of his father, was fourteen years of age when he died.

After the untimely death of his father John Culp was taken into the home of his maternal uncle, William Best, near Frank's Tavern, one of the old landmarks of Jefferson county, three iiiles west of the present borough of Reynolds- ville. He was reared to manhood under pio- neer conditions, attended school at intervals. and found early fellowship with arducus toil and endeavor. As a lad he worked in the lui- ber woods, and it was not until Mav, 1870, that he assumed control of the landed estate that had been secured by his father. At the time when he came into possession of his farm there was still on the place thirty acres of the native timber, from which he sold off the hemlock timber. The farm now has about sixty acres available for effective cultivation. Through the sale of the coal deposit underlying his land Mr. Culp has received handsome returns, much of his financial prosperity and independence having been gained through this medium. He has been loyal as a citizen, but has consented to serve in no public office save that of school director. He holds membership in the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Mr. Culp is unmarried.

JOHN H. KERRY. Success is never a matter of accident or spontaneity, but is somc- thing that must be won by honest and resolute effort. Thus when a man is designated as one of the successful and valued citizens of his community it is to be inferred naturally that he has worked for the prosperity that is his. Such is true in the case of Mr. Kerry, who is not only conducting a prosperous general merchandise business at Westville, in the fine Beechwoods district of Washington township, but whose steadfast integrity and executive ability are also indicated by the fact that he holds the responsible office of superintendent

for the McConnell Coal Company, of DuBois. Clearfield county. Born at Plymouth, Luzerne Co .. l'a., on the 26th of July. 1874, he is a son of William E. and Rachel ( Cummings) Kerry, the former of whom dicd at Westville, Jeffer- son county, at the age of fifty-two years, the latter being now the wife of George Higgins, of DuBois. Of the three children of her first marriage, John Henry is the eldest ; Sarah be- came the wife of Harry Weiser and was a resi- dent of Creekside, Indiana county, at the time of her death; Laura is the wife of Leonard Facett, of Fulton Run, Indiana county, this State. William E. Kerry was born at Clay- cross, in the County of Durham, England, in 1842, and when but seven years old began working in the mines in his native land, where he grew to manhood as a sturdy workman, but with few educational advantages. About 1868 he came to the United States and found employment in the coal mines of Luzerne county, where he met and married Rachel Cummings, who was born at Newark, N. J. Mr. Kerry finally came with his family to Jefferson county, Pa., and here passed the re- mainder of his life.

John H. Kerry was a child when his parents removed to Bradford county, where they re- sided only a comparatively brief period. They then returned to Luzerne county, remaining there until their removal to Jefferson county in 1886. when they established their home at Westville, which was then known as Craven- town. There the father was identified with coal mining operations until his death. John H. Kerry began to work in the mines before he was ten years old. in Bradford county. and after the return to Luzerne county found similar employment, picking slate at the coal breakers. He had not yet celebrated his tenth birthday anniversary when he met with an accident that resulted in the breaking of his right leg. He was working with his father in the mine, and just after his father had fired a blast to loosen coal the boy went into the room in which the blast had been made, for the pur- pose of dislodging a hanging chunk of coal. The heavy piece of coal when dislodged fell upon and fractured his leg, and he was inca- pacitated for active labor for some time there- after. In the meanwhile he had little or no opportunities for education, and it was not until the family removed to Jefferson county that he was able to enter school. Even then his discipline was destined to be limited, but he made good use of such advantages as he had, and he reverts with satisfaction to the kindly interest and assistance of his teacher at Beech-

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tree, Miss Ida Faust. For the long period of twenty-seven years Mr. Kerry continued in the employ of the Jefferson Coal Company. In the beginning of that association he was with Pat- rick Ryan, commonly known as "Paddy" Ryan, laboring around the mines, and by his ability and effective service won advancement to the position of assistant foreman. His health becoming impaired he was obliged to leave the mines, but later he was made superinten- dent for the McConnell Coal Company at Beechtree, holding that position at present. Since 1913 he has conducted a prosperous general merchandise business at Westville. He is independent in politics, and is affiliated with 1.odge No. 559, Free and Accepted Masons, at DuBois. With his wife he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Coal Glen.

At Westville, on the 30th of January. 1899, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kerry to Julia Alburgh, a daughter of John and Mary Alburgh, of this place, and the following chil- dren have been born of this union: Walter, William John, Newman George, Charles Ilenry. Harold, Goldie May and John Emerson.

JAMES M. SMITH. Among the sterling pioneer families of the ideal section of Jef- ferson county known as Beechwoods, there is none whose influence has been more potent in the furtherance of the civic and material development of the county than that of which James M. Smith is a scion, and this publica- tion exercises a consistent function when it gives mention of him and others of his family, while just tribute and historical data of local importance are preserved in a memoir to the late Matthew Smith, on another page.

James M. Smith was born on the old home- stead of his father, adjoining Green Hill Farm, May 8, 1843, the family name having been prominently identified with the history of Jef- ferson county from the very early period when this section of Pennsylvania was little more than an untrammeled forest. He was reared to manhood under the conditions and influence of pioneer days and wonderful, indeed, has been the transformation wrought since his boyhood and of which he has been a witness and to which he has contributed his full quota. His parents, folk of strong intellectual grasp, wished to give their children the best possible educational advantages, and James M. was af- forded good opportunities along this line, as gauged by the standards of the locality and period. He was about eighteen years old at

the inception of the Civil war, and while con- ditions made it virtually impossible for him to go to the front, he manifested loyalty and patriotism by becoming a member of Com- pany G. 57th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia, an organization formed for emergency service and to act as a home guard. After seven weeks with his company Mr. Smith re- turned home, having been stationed most of the time at Camp Howe, in Pittsburgh, and for a while at Camp Swearingen, at the time when General Morgan made his famous raid through Ohio.

Mr. Smith continued to be actively asso- ciated with the work and management of his father's land until marriage, in 1880, when he assumed control of a portion of the home farm. Of this fine tract of one hundred acres he is the owner and vigorous and effective man- agement has made it one of the model farms of western Pennsylvania. In the summer of ISSO, shortly after his marriage, he completed the commodious and attractive residence which he and his wife still occupy, and the large and substantial barn was erected in 1885, though to the original house and barn he has since made additions.

Like other members of the Smith family in Jefferson county, James M. Smith is arrayed as an ardent and uncompromising supporter of the I'rohibition party, and casts his ballot in harmony with his convictions. He served one year as road supervisor, but has had no desire for public office. Soon after marriage he joined, when Rev. Robert A. Hunter was pastor, the Beechwoods Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a devoted adherent.

On the 19th of August, 1880, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Smith to Sarah A. Smith, who was born in the Beechwoods April 23, 1848. In addition to receiving the ad- vantages of the public schools she took a course in the Pennsylvania normal school at Edinboro, Erie county, and for a period of twelve years was numbered among the able and popular teachers of Jefferson and Elk counties. She is a daughter of Andrew and Jane ( McIntire) Smith, is a woman of culture and high ideals, and has made her home a center of gracious hospitality. a home in fact as well as in name.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are : AA. Roscoe, who remains at home and is asso- ciated in the management of the farm, as is also Matthew Maurice; Eleanor Grace, who was graduated in the Beechwoods high school and the Pennsylvania normal school at Indiana, Indiana county, and has been a popular teacher

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in the public schools for a decade, in the spring of 1917 presiding in the village school of Coal Glen ; Mary Elizabeth, who graduated from the Beechwoods high school, and at- tended the normal school at Clarion one year, devoted two years to teaching in the schools of Jefferson county, and still remains in the home circle.

SAMUEL M. SOWERS has a thriving business in building and contracting, which he has followed in Brookville and vicinity for a number of years. His thorough training and varied experience proved a proper foundation for success as the high reputation he bears will testify. Many well constructed houses stand as examples of his conscientious fulfil- ment of contracts, mechanical skill and intel- ligent supervision.

Mr. Sowers comes of a substantial German family established in this country by his grand- father, Samuel Sowers, who was born Nov. 30, 1802, and came to America in young man- hood. He was at first in Clarion county, later in Clover township, Jefferson county, and be- before the Civil war moved to Michigan, dying there Feb. 26, 1867. He was a blacksmith. and farmer. His wife, to whom he was mar- ried March 27, 1827, was Eliza Ann Hanold, born May 1, 1806, and died Sept. 28, 1891, in Kansas. Their family were: Franklin, born Dec. 31, 1827, died in Michigan ; William H., born Nov. 4, 1829, died in Florida ; Andrew Jackson was the father of Samuel M. Sowers ; Margaret, born May 4, 1834, now living in Kansas, wife of William Hayes; David R., born Aug. 1. 1836, died in Michigan; Joseph M., born Dec. 27. 1838, resides at Stratton- ville, Clarion county; John J., died young ; Rachel Catherine, born Aug. 6, 1843, married James Rogers, and resides at Franklin ; Isaac died young ; Samuel Wilson, born Aug. 21, 1850, resides in Kansas; James G. also died young.

Andrew Jackson Sowers was born Feb. 2, 1832, in Clarion county ; was an invalid over forty years, and died March 19, 1910, at Brook- ville, where his widow now resides. lle is buried in the Jefferson cemetery in Clover township. Mr. Sowers there followed farm- ing, owning a tract of fifty-six acres. On March 25, 1856, he married Mary Morrison, who was born Oct. 21, 1833, in Clover town- ship, and four children were born to them, namely : Nancy Elizabeth, married William P. Black, a merchant of Brookville; William M .. born April 24, 1863, died in Jefferson county April 4, 1912; Samuel M .; James

Franklin is a roofer and slater in Brookville.

William Morrison, father of Mrs. Sowers, was born in Ireland in 1788, coming to Amer- ica in 1819, with wife and three children. They first settled in Huntingdon county, where Mr. Morrison taught school for two winters, later moving to near Baxter, Jefferson county. He owned four hundred acres in Clover township, upon which he spent the rest of his active life, retiring a few years before his death, which occurred on his farm Feb. 5, 1875, at the ripe age of eighty-seven, his wife ( a McGill), whom he married in this county, dying the 17th of the following January in her 84th year. They are buried in the Jefferson cemetery in Clover township. Their children were: James, born June 27, 1813, died Sept. 16, 1901 ; Margaret, born Aug. 27, 1815, married Harvey Dunn, and died June 4. 1856; William, born June 25, 1818, died April 4, 1900; John, born May 15, 1821, died June 6, 1891 : Samuel, born May 4, 1823, died Sept. 1, 1891; Robert was born March 7, 1825, died during the Civil war; Agnes, born April 10, 1827, married William Thompson and secondly William Keck, and died June 11, 1913 ; Hugh died aged eighteen ; Mary, born Oct. 21, 1833, is the widow of Andrew Jackson Sowers; Ann died in child- hood.

Samuel M. Sowers was born April 30, 1865, in Clover township, where he was reared and educated. He helped with the farming oper- ations, and also followed teaming. He learned the carpenter's trade at Marienville, return- ing to take employment with James Caldwell, then county surveyor. After five years with Mr. Caldwell he located at New Castle, where he worked at his trade five years, and then established himself at Brookville, where he found a profitable field of operations as builder and contractor. Mr. Sowers completed many important contracts, and has a faculty for meeting the requirements of his patrons. He not only knows how to construct a building substantially, but has a gift of making the most of space and finishing the structure in the ar- tistic manner creditable to a master builder. Outside of business he is probably best known in his connection with the Knights of Pythias, in the work of which he has been a leading factor and representative to various State con- ventions. He has served as president of the Morrison Family Reunion.

On Jan. 25, 1899, Mr. Sowers married Clara S. Walters, daughter of William Walters, of Clarion county, and they have three children, Dora 1 .. , Mary M. and Pearl M. The family are Presbyterians.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 112

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