USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II > Part 115
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board of West Reynoldsville, and served four years as a member of the borough council.
In 1882 Mr. Bollinger wedded Margaret Ann Best, daughter of William Best, another of the honored pioneers of Winslow town- ship, and the one child of this union is Miss Amy V. Bollinger, who since 1909 has been a successful and popular teacher in the Reyn- oldsville high school. Miss Bollinger was graduated from the high school in which she is now teaching, and later completed the full four years' course in Bucknell University, at Lewisburg. Union Co., Pa., graduating as a member of the class of 1909. The Bollingers are members of the Baptist Church.
FREDERICK WEISS came from Germany to America in 1881, as a young man of twenty- eight years, and in the land of his adoption he has found and made good use of his oppor- tunities, with the result that through his own efforts he has achieved definite success, as indi- cated by his ownership of one of the excellent farms of Jefferson county. He is one of the substantial and enterprising agriculturists and stock growers of Winslow township, his farm being about three miles distant from Reynolds- ville. His postoffice address is Rathmel.
Mr. Weiss was born in Prussia, Germany. in 1853, and is a son of Frederick Weiss, Sr .. who passed his entire life in Prussia, as did also his wife. Frederick Weiss, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared and edu- cated in his fatherland and served the custo- mary three years in the German army, which he joined Dec. 23, 1873, becoming a member of the 3d East Prussian Grenadier Regiment. No. 4, Danzig, with which he was connected until Sept. 26, 1876. He has five brothers, one of whom, Martin, is now in the German army. taking part in the European war. Frederick Weiss was employed as a coachman at the time when he decided to seek his fortune in America. In 1881 he came to the United States, disembarking at the port of New York City on the 6th of March. He passed only one night in the national metropolis and then came direct to Reynoldsville, Pa., where he found employment at the old Diamond mine, on the 9th of March. With the operations of this mine he continued to be identified until Aug. 3. 1881, when he made a trip to Ken- tucky, from which State he extended his jour- ney into Kansas. He remained in the West only a short time, and upon his return to Reyn- oldsville resumed his activities at the Diamond mine. Later he found employment at the Sprague mine, where he continued his labors
several years. He then went to the llenry mines, where he remained nine years, and for nearly ten years thereafter found employment at the Virginia mines. In 1907 he purchased three properties in Winslow township, includ- ing a farm and also real estate at Rathmel, and since that time has given his attention to the management of his well improved farm and his property interests in the village men- tioned. In 1882 and again in 1902 Mr. Weiss visited his old home in Prussia, where he found pleasure in renewing the associations of his youth. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are com- municants of the Lutheran Church at Reyn- oldsville.
The maiden name of Mrs. Weiss was Mary Borowski, and she likewise was born in Ger- many, where her parents were also born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss have eight chil- dren, namely : Martha, Martin, John, William, Ilenry, Edith, Frederick, Jr., and George.
SOLOMON W. SHAFFER, of Beaver township, has filled a place of conspicuous use- fulness in his section of Jefferson county, his position as one of the leading agriculturists having long been conceded. Moreover, he has shared the responsibilities of the local govern- ment to some extent, and has proved himself equal to all the demands of good citizenship. As a descendant of one of the old settled fam- ilies of the locality he has lived up to the traditions of a much respected name, enhanc- ing its prestige by an honorable record in all relations. Mr. Shaffer was born in Beaver township Feb. 13, 1851, a half mile north of Pansy, son of Solomon Shaffer. His great- grandparents, Phelda and Elizabeth Shaffer, were among the first settlers in Ringgold township.
Isaac Shaffer, son of Phelda and Elizabeth Shaffer, was the grandfather of Solomon W. Shaffer. He was born in what is now Schuyl- kill county, Pa., where he lived until after his marriage to Christina Geist, daughter of An- drew Geist, a Revolutionary soldier. In 1835 Isaac Shaffer and his wife made a settlement in the woods in Beaver township. The fol- lowing children were born to this couple : Lida died in childhood ; Solomon is mentioned be- low : Harriet died at the age of twenty years ; Lucy A. married Eli Thomas, of Beaver town- ship, whom she survived: Christina married Joseph Thomas, a carpenter, of Beaver town- ship; Rebecca married John Reitz, of Warren, Pa., whom she survived; Isaac became a farmer in Beaver township; Abraham engaged
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
in the lumber business at Mannsville, Pa. ; George became a farmer and lumberman in Ringgold township; John followed blacksmith- ing at Apollo, Pa. ; Sarah married John Mow- rey, a farmer of Ringgold township; Jacob was a lumberman on Sandy creek.
Solomon Shaffer, son of Isaac and Christina Shaffer, was born in Northumberland county Jan. 7. 1824, and was in his twelfth year when he accompanied his parents to Jefferson county. Until he reached his majority he as- sisted his parents, clearing and improving the home property. On Nov. 5. 1845, he married Elizabeth Wonderling, who was born June 17. 1826, in Northampton county, daughter of Frederick and Sophina ( Billman ) Wonderling, of Germany, who came to this country after their marriage. After residing for a time in Northampton county, they settled at Maysville, Clarion county, and there Mr. Wonderling died. His widow spent her closing days in Jef- ferson county. They were the parents of nine children: Henry, John, Caroline ( Mrs. Peter Hetrick, of Clarion county ), Elizabeth (Mrs. Solomon Shaffer ), Charles (a farmer of Oli- ver township, Jefferson county), Joseph (a carpenter, of Clarion county ), Reuben (a car- penter, of Jefferson county ), Mary ( Mrs. Sol- omon Young, of Maysville ) and Catherine ( Mrs. Solomon Glontz, of Beaver township, Jefferson county ).
For three years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Shaffer lived at Maysville, Clarion county, where he was employed by his uncle, Daniel Geist, who operated a grist- and sawmill besides carrying on farming. Then Mr. Shaffer purchased forty acres of land from his father, the price being two hundred dollars, of which he paid half in cash. Seven years later he bought eighty acres more, the whole making the fine property in Beaver township where his son Solomon was born. On May 13, 1869, he removed to another farm in Beaver township, which he bought from George Burkhouse. He continued to farm suc- cessfully throughout his active years, but gave up the arduous work of this place some years before his death. He and his wife died there, Mr. Shaffer on Sept. 10, 1905, when in his eighty-second year, Mrs. Shaffer two years later, at the age of eighty-two years, two months. Mr. Shaffer served his township two terms as supervisor, was a prominent member of the Zion congregation, and for some time was a classleader.
A large family was born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer, viz .: Maria married Jacob Shick, formerly a farmer in Redbank township, Clar-
ion county, now living at Ohl; Susanna, at Brookville, is the widow of Joseph Spare, for- merly an undertaker and furniture dealer of that place : Daniel, a farmer in Beaver town- ship, married Catherine Shingedecker; Solo- mon W .: Lavina died when three years old ; Elizabeth married Benjamin Sowers, a farmer and stonemason in Beaver township, and died in 1915 at the age of sixty-three years ; Rebecca married Emanuel Brosious, a farmer in Beaver township, near the Berkhouse Church ; John is now living in Ohio; Emanuel was drowned in Elk county when twenty-two years old; Ben- jamin, now living near Spokane, Wash., was formerly a barber and for some time one of the prominent citizens of New Kensington, Pa., of which town he was burgess (he mar- ried Orena McCriston) ; James died at the age of thirty years ; Olive Randa, who died at the age of forty-four years, was paralyzed in 1881. when but twelve years okl, and was helpless from that time until her death. but had an active mind and cheerful disposition which endeared her to all, and by her sweet forbear- ance during her long years of affliction exerted a remarkable influence upon a. wide circle of acquaintances ; two children died in childhood.
Solomon W. Shaffer was reared upon his father's farm in Beaver township, and had ordinary educational advantages. Ile remained at home up to the time of his marriage, which took place upon the twenty-first anniversary of his birth, the young couple settling upon a seventy-five-acre farm in Ringgold township. which he sold three years later at a profit and the two years following rented the Geist farm in the same township, removing thence to North Freedom, Pa. At the end of six months he purchased 132 acres in Ringgold township, but sold it after a year's ownership, and then bought sixty-nine acres in Beaver township, from Aaron Reitz, which turned out to be an excellent investment, the land being fertile, and underlaid with valuable coal deposits. He worked hard to develop this place, erecting the substantial dwelling which now stands thereon besides making numerous other im- provements. He remained there twenty-three years, selling out in 1904, with the intention of giving up farming. But in 1905 he bought the Joel Ressler farm of 116 acres, situated on the Little Sandy, in Beaver and Ringgold town- ships. It was run down but its present fine condition shows the result of systematic meth- ods of cultivation. The soil is profitably pro- ductive, and he has erected a new barn and remodeled the house ; improvements are ap- parent on every part of the property.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. Shaffer has been active in local public affairs as well as in the material advancement of his neighborhood, and his good influence and sincere interest in the general welfare have received substantial recognition from his fellow citizens, who have chosen him to the office of township assessor three times, and twice as constable. His first presidential vote was cast for Grant, and he has remained loyal to the Republican party ever since.
On Feb. 13. 1872, Mr. Shaffer was married to Louisa M. Milliron, who was born March 7, 1852, in Ringgold township, daughter of George and Netty ( Knerr ) Milliron. No chil- dren have been born to them, but they adopted a daughter, Anna B. Reitz, who was born Feb. 13. 1875. daughter of John and Rebecca ( Shaf- fer) Reitz, being a cousin of Mr. Shaffer. ller father died soon after her birth, and she lived with Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer from the age of three years until her marriage to L. L. Guthrie, of Reynoldsville, who is a traveling salesman for the Royal Baking Powder Com- pany. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are connected with the Evangelical Association.
GEORGE GOURLEY CHITESTER, a merchant at Brookville, was previously a resi- dent of Knox township, where the Chitester family has long been identified, its several generations having been characterized by ex- ceptional qualities indicating substantial traits and deserving the respect everywhere ac- corded them.
Daniel Chitester, grandfather of George (i., was born Aug. 12, 1808, at Hollidaysburg. Iluntingdon county, and on Aug. 21. 1828, married Elizabeth Shrum, born Nov. 9, 1802. at Fairfield, Westmoreland county. We find the following in a newspaper of a few years ago: "In the early history of Pinecreek township, before Knox township was thought of, before the county seat was even a borough, before a public road marked the way from the site of Punxsutawney to the small cluster of houses which later developed into Brook- ville, Daniel Chitester, of Huntingdon county. hearing of the timbered forests of Jefferson county which were thrown open to settlers at a few dollars per acre, started for the wilds in a covered wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen, with all his earthly possessions on board. Two men with axes preceded, brushing out the way. As they ascended the hill later known as Sentner hill, night came on them at what is now known as the Clyde Chitester farm. The following day they rolled up logs into a hut which became their home. Later the family
removed to the valley toward Port Barnett, as this village was then thought to be destined to a prominent sphere. Still later, in 1848, they moved to the fertile plain, which devel- oped into the Chitester homestead, four miles southeast of Brookville."
On the Clyde Chitester farm, and in the log house where Daniel Chitester originally built, his sons John and David were born. They had the typical pioneer experiences in a primi- tive country, their hardships including scarcity of money and, what was more important, scarcity of food supplies. Wild game was abundant and easily obtainable ; however, ferocious beasts not valuable for food were more plentiful, and kept the settlers in terror of ravages, which created havoc among the few domestic cattle. Daniel Chitester died at this homestead June 26, 1852, aged forty-three years, ten months, fourteen days. His wife's death occurred there Oct. 23, 1853, at the age of fifty-three years, eleven months, fourteen days, and they were laid in the old burial ground at Brookville. The following were their five children: Esther, the only daugh- ter, was born Nov. 2, 1820, and died Feb. 2, 1860; her first husband was Martin lloward, her second Daniel Bailey. John A., born June 17, 1831, died Dec. 10, 1912: he never married, and resided on the old homestead with his brother David : David was born Oct. 31. 1833: Daniel S., born June 6, 1836, died March 10, 1861, and is survived by a son, Daniel, of Falls Creek; Lyman B., born Oct. 25, 1841, was a soldier and is now living re- tired at Reynoldsville.
David Chitester. born Oct. 31, 1833, was a youth when the family moved to the home- stead, which he owned until he died, April 29, 1914. after a residence there of sixty-six years. In all his domestic and social relations he adhered to high standards which won him the affectionate esteem of family and friends. lle was brought up in the tenets of the Presby- terian faith, and ever upheld Christian doc- trines and practices. On March 2. 1858, he married Martha Ann Eckman, daughter of William Eckman and wife Phoebe ( Ford). She was born Dec. 7. 1837, in Armstrong county, and also reached an advanced age. passing away Dec. 21. 1913. They are buried at Meade Chapel, in which Mrs. Chitester was a zealous worker. In her early married life she joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the old Rice schoolhouse; when the Meade Chapel was built, in 1871, she became a inem- ber of the class, and remained one of its loyal supporters. Her home was noted for its
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
genial hospitality. Besides her immediate family Mrs. Chitester was survived by one brother, William Eckman, of Knox township, and two sisters, Mrs. W. W. Ford. of Rey- noldsville, and Mrs. Daniel Rhodes, of Knox township.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. David Chitester: Austin Ambrose, born in 1859, died in 1864; Clarence Clark, born Feb. 20, 1861, a resident of Brockwayville, where he owns the Brockway Garage ; George Gour- ley was born Jan. 6. 1863; Sherman, born April 3. 1864, died in infancy; Clara Eliza- beth, born Dec. 10, 1865, is the wife of Rush M. Mehrten ; Edith, born May 19, 1867, is the wife of Frank B. Hetrick. now living at Brookville; Robert Sterrett, born March 15, 1869, is living near Brookville in Pinecreek township, farming at what is known as Fair- view Heights; Joseph Matthews, born March 18, 1871, is residing on the old homestead where he looked after his parents in their declining years ; Amanda B., born Jan. 10, 1877, married Frank W. Swineford: resi- dents of Pinecreek township.
George Gourley Chitester was born in Knox township, where he spent his early years, at- tending the public schools and acquiring prac- tical experience on the farm. He remained there until twenty-three years old, when he purchased a property in Knox township, to whose cultivation he devoted most of his mature life. In connection with agriculture he carried on lumbering. In April, 1914, Mr. Chitester moved into Brookville, where he bought the John M. Brosius store at the Penn- sylvania railroad station, now conducting a large and growing general mercantile busi- ness. Mr. Chitester has always shown a live interest in matters of vital importance, holds membership in the Grange, and was one of the leading spirits in the Meade Chapel, acting as trustee of the church and superintendent of the Sunday school.
On May 12, 1886, he was married to Jennic J. Wiley, daughter of Huston and Mary ( Neill ) Wiley, and they have three children : Clyde N .. who married Dessie E. Barnett and resides on the original fract settled by his great-grandfather, Daniel Chitester, near Brookville, and besides farming operates a valuable coal bank located upon the prop- erty : Wilda Irene, wife of Charles Wood. of Knox township; and Lawrence K., who mar- ried Carrie McSparren, and lives at Brock- wayville.
FRANK L. SADLER, a Sykesville busi- ness man now engaged in the automobile
trade, and one whose public services have com- mended him warmly to the good opinion of his townsmen, is a native of Jefferson county and a descendant of an old Pennsylvania family. The branch to which he belongs was founded in western Pennsylvania by his great-grand- father, Robert Sadler, who was born in one of the eastern counties of the State and was a pioneer settler in Indiana county, where he died, in South Mahoning township. His chil- dren were: Isaac, Robert. James, Thomas, Rachel (married James Morrison ), Martha (second wife of Charles Bryan ) and Mary (first wife of Charles Bryan, who married her sister Martha after her death ).
Thomas Sadler, son of Robert Sadler, was a native of Indiana county, and during his early manhood was engaged in milling in South Mahoning township. . Later he bought a farm of 130 acres situated in Young town- ship, Jefferson county, the property now owned by his son, Thompson M. Sadler. Here Thomas Sadler lived and died, living to the age of eighty-one years, and is buried in the old cemetery at Punxsutawney. He was mar- ried three times, by his first wife, Mary (Mc- Bride), having two sons, Martin and John ; the latter was killed in the Civil war, at the second battle of Bull Run. One son, Thomp- son McGee Sadler, was born to his second wife, Nancy McGee, daughter of Hugh Me- Gee, who was a captain in the Revolutionary war. There were no children by the third union, to Mary Hopkins Work.
Thompson McGee Sadler, father of Frank L. Sadler, was born in Young township Nov. 26, 1846, was reared amid rural environ- ments, and for many years engaged in farni- ing. Having acquired his father's homestead in Young township, a tract of 130 acres lying three miles north of Punxsutawney, he lived upon that place and gave all his time to its cultivation until 1902, since which year he has resided at Jenks Hill, Punxsutawney. His sow llomer is now operating the farm, while the father is janitor of the Jenks schoolhouse. While living in the township Mr. Sadler was a local official for many years, serving as school director, supervisor and overseer of the poor, and in that connection, as in his personal transactions, maintained a high repu- tation for integrity. On Oct. 6, 1866, he mar- ried Mary Jane Mogel, daughter of George Mogel, and they have had a family of seven children : Minta, now deceased; Nora N .. wife of James Casper; Florence, at home ; Clark, of Punxsutawney ; Frank L .; Maleska W., a trained nurse : and Homer M.
Frank L. Sadler was born April 14, 1876, in
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Young township, where he grew to manhood, attending public school up to the age of four- teen years. He then commenced work, with the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Com- pany, remaining with that concern for twelve years, and changing to the employ of the Mahoning Supply Company, with which he was associated four years. For a year after severing his relations with the latter he man- aged a branch store at Sykesville for the Reynoldsville Hardware Company, buying it at the end of that time and continuing it for eleven years in the same quarters. During that time his patronage expanded greatly, and he then built a brick building 50 by 80 feet in dimensions, two stories high, with stores on the ground floor and flats above, occupying the business rooms himself, partly with a hardware store and partly for undertaking, which he added to his oki line. He was busily engaged with both until he sold out, in the spring of 1916, in order to devote most of his time to the automobile business, which he had started in 1912. He is agent for the Stude- baker cars, for which he has found a good (lemand in the local field, proving a most suc- cessful salesman.
Mr. Sadler has been very public-spirited in advancing interests of importance to the de- velopment of Sykesville, and was particularly active in securing the establishment of the waterworks, a public utility of special worth to the citizens generally. He was also a prominent member of the school board, and was president of that body at the time the new Sykesville high school was built. In political issues he is a Republican.
Mr. Sadler married Ada Mary McCreight, daughter of the late Thomas S. McCreight, of Winslow township, and they have one daugh- ter, Frances Vaughn. The family occupy a fine bungalow on Park street which Mr. Sadler erected in 1916. They are interested in the religious and social life of the borough, belonging to the Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Sadler affiliates with the Knights of Pythias at DeLancey and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Anita.
WIN S. SPENCE is another of the vigor- ous and enterprising citizens who have been prominently concerned with lumbering opera- tions, and now resides on his farm in Barnett township, where he is not only giving his at- tention to agricultural pursuits but is also identified with oil and natural gas develop- ment, his farm lying in the gas-producing ter- ritory and being the old homestead of his
father-in-law. John Agnew, who, now vener- able in years, remains with his daughter on the old place.
Win S. Spence was born in Indiana county, Pa., on the 13th of August, 1852, and is a son of William and Sarah ( Maze) Spence. His father was born in the same locality, on Crooked creek, in 1812, which indicates that his parents were numbered among the pio- neers. About the year 1836 William Spence became identified with lumbering activities in Jefferson, Forest and Clarion counties. In Barne.t township Squire Butterfield pro- nounced the words that united the life des- tinies of William Spence and Sarah Maze, who was born near Pittsburgh and was but a child when her parents, John and Sallie ( Wolfe ) Maze, came to Forest county and es- tablished their home at the point that became locally known as Maze Eddy, on the Clarion river. Mrs. Spence was a descendant of General Wolfe, the gallant English officer. John Maze reclaimed a farm from the forest wilderness and was closely identified with early lumbering operations in this section. After his marriage William Spence worked at the old Coleman sawmill, on the Clarion river, and incidentally assisted in transporting the machinery of the same from Watterson's Ferry, on the Allegheny river. He worked in the mill and also in getting out square timber that was rafted down to Pittsburgh. After remaining in Forest county until the birth of his first three children he returned with his family to Indiana county, where he passed two years on his father's homestead, this be- ing the place on which his son Win S. was born. At the expiration of the period noted William Spence removed to Jefferson county and settled on Hominy Ridge, near the post office of Ella. He there began developing a farm and also continued contracting, getting out squared timber that was rafted down to Pittsburgh. At Troutman and Cooksburg he gave his attention at intervals to the building of flatboats, used for lumber and coal, and in his various operations he gave employ- ment to several men, especially in his log contracting business. Indefatigable industry marked the course of this sterling pioneer while reclaiming his farm, and working in the lumber woods. His farm comprised one hundred acres, and even when in advanced years he would not retire from the outside activities that frequently demanded his atten- tion away from home. He passed to the life eternal on the 2d of July. 1884, at the age of seventy-two years, and his widow, who was
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