Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 126

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 126

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The only scholastic advantages received by William Manners were given by the primitive schools. IIe remained with his father in the work and management of the farm until he enlisted. Nov. 17, 1861, in the same com- pany as his brother, and he continued in active service at the front until honorably discharged, on the 17th of October, 1862, for physical disability. He participated in ten battles, in- cluding those of Fair Oaks and the Seven Days' battle, was shot seven times, and finally was incapacitated by typhoid fever, supple- mented by the dreaded "spotted fever," dis-

ease making such ravages upon him that he was reduced from one hundred and twenty to but eighty-four pounds. More than eighteen months elapsed ere he had sufficiently recuperated to do active work, the first being as an employe of his brother-in-law, Levi Cochran, in the lumber woods, at fifteen dol- lars a month. Later he was similarly employed by Lawson Gear, until the spring of 1864. Getting married, he remained on the old home- stead two years, removing to North Fork to re- sume work in the woods, where he continued three years. In 1877 lie purchased 125 acres in the northeast corner of Polk township, cleared this of timber, made excellent perma- nent improvements and developed a valuable farm. In 1904 he sold and removed to Brook- ville, conducting for the following five years a prosperous draying business.

Mr. Manners is a liberal and progressive citizen, belongs to the Republican party, and with his wife holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Since 1910 he has served continuously as chaplain of E. R. Brady Post, G. A. R.

On the 29th of September, 1864, Mr. Man- ners married Susanna Shaffer, daughter of the late Samuel and Leah ( Kahler) Shaffer. They celebrated their golden wedding anni- versary on the 29th of September, 1914, the occasion being a memorable one, as about three hundred relatives and friends assembled to pay tribute, his comrades of the Post coming in a body. They have no children, but for sev- eral years gave a home to Edward Miller. Christopher and Edward, sons of his brother Albert, were likewise members of the family for six and nine years respectively. Rose Mil- ler, a niece, was taken when five months old and remained with them until grown, now be- ing the wife of E. I .. Adams, and living in the vicinity of Tampa, Florida.

SAMUEL HOLT was one of the leading farmers of Snyder township, where he lived about sixty-five years, having come here with his parents during the forties. He was held in high esteem by many friends and neighbors, his influence having been effective in shaping local matters. Mr. Holt was a native of York- shire, England, born Dec. 17, 1832, son of John and Jane ( Schofield) Holt. As a lad of nine he came with the family to America, living a few years in Philadelphia, where his father followed the occupation of a spinner in a cotton mill. When he brought his family to Jefferson county he located on a tract of 160 acres at Sugar Hill, and engaged in farming,

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dying on his farm when eighty-one years old. Of their three children to reach maturity, James remained in Philadelphia. He served three years as a cavalryman in a New Jersey regiment, and had three horses shot from un- der him. Being sent to hospital in Philadelphia on account of sickness, he there died. Mary Ann Holt came with her parents, married James Ross and died soon after.

Samuel Holt was fifteen years old when the family settled on the 160-acre farm at Sugar Hill, of which he became the owner upon his father's death. He continued to cultivate it, making material contribution to the advance- ment of local agricultural interests. His death occurred June 1.,1913, when he was past eighty years of age. He is buried in the Episcopal graveyard at Sugar Hill, having been a mem- ber of that church. Politically he was a Re- publican.

Mr. Ilolt was married at Sugar Hill to Eliza Butler, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Roy. a Presbyterian minister. His widow lives at the old home. Fifteen children were born to this marriage: Matthew, a farmer of Sny- der township, married Sophia Nofsker ; Sadie, Mrs. William Shaw, lives at Sugar Hill; Jen- nie S. is at home ; James R. is deceased ; Han- nah E., Mrs. Charles McCauley, lives at Brock- wayville ; Louisa. Mrs. Emanuel Nofsker, is a resident of Grove Summit : William B., of Snyder township, married Elizabeth Longwell ; Elizabeth J., Mrs. James H. Marshall; Samuel H., of Snyder township, married Mary Steele ; Susanna, deceased, was the wife of William Steele: Caroline is the wife of Gillie Long- well, of Snyder township: Mary E. is the wife of Rev. Shirl Bartlett, a minister of the Meth- odist Episcopal denomination, now at Ashville, N. Y .; Essie B. is Mrs. James Penfield, of Snyder township; Emma J. is Mrs. Emanuel Alshouse, of Snyder township: John R., of Brockwayville, married Minnie Grant.

Mrs. Eliza ( Butler ) Holt was born May 2. 1838. in Yorkshire. England, and was nine years old when she came to America with her parents and five brothers and sisters, landing at New York. For a time they lived at Worth- ington, thence removing to Bradys Bend. where the father worked on a coal bank. Mrs. Holt went to school in England and also at Bradys Bend. Her brothers and sisters were as follows: Charles, who died at Bradys Bend, was twice married ; William, who died at Adair, lowa, married Tane Elliott : Joseph. who died at Reynoldsville, married Hannah Hoon: Mary Ann, Mrs. Henry Young. died in Jefferson county ; Caroline married John

Robinson and lives at DuBois. The father of this family died in Adair, Iowa, at the home of his son William. The mother's maiden name was Sarah Elliott.

SAMUEL R. BROSIUS. When it is stated that in a modest dwelling that stood on the site of his present attractive home, in Rose township. Samuel R. Brosius was born on the 6th of December, 1849, it becomes evident that he is of a pioneer family of this county. With equal assurance may it be stated that he has long held prestige as a progressive and influ- ential exponent of agricultural and livestock industry, his finely improved farm constituting one of the attractive and valued estates. As a citizen and man of productive enterprise he has well upheld the honors of a family name long and worthily identified with civic and industrial development and progress.

MIr. Brosius is a son of Peter and Christi- ana ( Schumacher) Brosius and is a scion of stanch German pioneer stock. Peter Brosius was born in Northumberland county, Pa., in the year 1821, and was a lad of sixteen when, in 1837, his parents settled in Jefferson county. He was a son of Michael Brosius and the fam- ily name of his mother was Delp. These ster- ling pioneers settled at Old Town, Beaver township, one and a half miles from the pres- ent home of Samuel R. Michael Brosius at- tained to venerable age and died in the year following the close of the Civil war. After the death of his first wife he married her sister. Elizabeth Delp. and of this marriage Peter Brosins was one of the children; Mrs. Brosius survived her husband by several years.

Peter Brosius remained at home until he at- tained the age of twenty-two, when he married Christiana Schumacher, then eighteen years of age. The young couple soon established a residence on the farm now owned by their son Samuel. the original habitation being a primi- tive shanty, built primarily as a place in which to make shingles by hand, only three acres of the land having been cleared. For the ensuing fifteen years Peter Brosius labored unremit- tingly in reclaiming his land, which implied active association with lumbering. At the ex- piration of that period he removed his family one mile east of Summerville, in Clover town- ship, where he felled pine timber for lumber and where he developed one of the best farms of the day. He brought under cultivation about one hundred and forty acres of land, which area since has been increased to fully 180 acres ; the place is now owned and operated by a grandson, Clyde P. Brosius. On this

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homestead Peter Brosius resided until his death, at the age of seventy-six years, on the 17th of October, 1897. His widow, born.Dec. 28, 1825, was summoned to eternal rest on the 29th of June, 1915, about six months prior to her ninetieth birthday. This remarkable woman, one of the revered pioneers of the county, retained to the last splendid control of both her mental and physical powers, and was held in affectionate regard by all who had come within the compass of her gentle and gracious influence. In this connection it may be noted that she was an appreciative and val- ued friend of Dr. McKnight, author of this history.

Peter Brosius was long and prominently identified with lumbering operations on Beaver run for forty years. He was an expert hewer of timber and cut the timber on fully four hundred acres of land, which he hauled to the banks of the creek, and received for his share half of the amount realized from the manufactured product. He was one of the energetic and resourceful pioneers who aided largely in the material development and ad- vancement of the county and was a loyal and public-spirited citizen who commanded un- qualified esteem. His political support went to the Democratic party and for some time he served as supervisor. Both he and his wife were zealous members of the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Brosius was a charter member; she outlived all her associates in the early membership of the church. Both are interred in the cemetery at Ohl. In the early days Peter Brosius and his five brothers were "mighty hunters," like Nimrod of old, and many deer and other wild game fell as trophies of their skill. Daniel, Michael and Jacob all reached advanced age and lived and died in Beaver township, the other brother, Joseph, having been a young man at the time of his death. All of the four sisters married and reared children and three of the number re- mained in Jefferson county. Of the children of Peter and Christiana ( Schumacher) Brosius the eldest is Benjamin, who is a substantial farmer in Beaver township ; the next is Chris- topher, whose well improved farm in Beaver township adjoins that of his brother Samuel; Hiram H. resides at Brookville; Corson H. died at the age of thirty-two years; James B. is a prosperous farmer in Clover township ; John M. is a member of the executive corps in the First National Bank of Brookville ; Mary N. married Harrison Clyde, of Elk county : Ellen is Mrs. Brose Eisenman, of 40

Brookville; Eliza Jane is the wife of Joseph Jamison, of Clarion ; Enima married William Lehman, of Clover township.

In the boyhood and youth of Samuel R. Bro- sius he was not denied a full share of fellow- ship with arduous toil, and in the meanwhile attended the local schools when opportunity offered. When a lad of twelve he drove a team and assisted his father in lumbering. He squared timber in the autumn and hauled it over the snow, later helping in running the loaded rafts down the river to Pittsburgh. With such lumbering activities he continued during a period of forty years, ten years of which were on his present farm, which he pur- chased of his father in 1886. He remained at the parental home until he was thirty years of age, and in his independent career as a lum- berman and farmer he has brought to bear that energy and discrimination that are certain to bring success and prosperity. His farm com- prises 100 acres of fertile land, and the major part of the same has been cleared and brought under cultivation. He has further manifested his thrift and progressiveness by the erection of good buildings, including an attractive com- modious house. The land has been found un- derlaid with a vein of coal, but no develop- ment work in this connection has as yet been instituted, though he has given leases for the development of natural gas. In addition to the homestead Mr. Brosius owns a tract of thirty acres lying one mile to the east, twenty acres of this farm being available for culti- vation. On this also is one of the best of the producing wells of the Phillips Gas Company, the royalties being an important addition to his income.

Mr. Brosius is independent in politics, but is vigorously opposed to the liquor traffic and was for a number of years actively aligned with the Prohibition party. He has at all times taken lively interest in local affairs, and has been called upon to fill a number of township offices. He and his family are zealous mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for fully a half century he has been one of the active and influential members of the church at Belleview. He has given many years of effective service in the offices of class leader and Sunday school superintendent and has on several occasions represented his church as a lay delegate to the annual Conference. For twenty years Mr. Brosius was a member of the board of trustees of Belleview Academy, in which excellent institution hundreds of young men and women have received their educa- tion; he assisted his brothers and sisters in

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acquiring their higher education, all of them becoming successful teachers.

On the 12th of June, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Brosius to Elizabeth Agnes Stahlman, born and reared in Limestone town- ship. Clarion county, and who was twenty- eight at the time. She was but a lass at the time of her mother's death, whose family name was Himes, and upon her devolved the domes- tic affairs of the home and caring for the two younger children. Under such condition she remained with her father, Moses Stahl- man, until her marriage. Mrs. Brosius, de- voted wife and mother, was summoned to life eternal on the 20th of February, 1906, and is survived by six children: Newton Webster holds a clerical position in a general store at Old Town ; Henry Clay attended Iron City Business College, and is now a successful teacher in Jefferson county : Rena Maude is the wife of Ladd M. Reitz; Jessie Ruth is the wife of Harry W. Reitz, and prior to her marriage had been a popular teacher in the district schools; Hilda Esther is the wife of Frank Galbraith, of Oliver township, and she likewise had an excellent reputation as a teacher; Mamie Graham, a graduate of the common schools, remains at the paternal home.

On the ist of October, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Brosius to Anna Harp. daughter of Jonathan llarp, who was for many years successfully engaged in business as a wagonmaker at Brookville. Mrs. Brosins has a wide circle of friends in Jefferson county.

ALEXANDER MAXWELL is the owner of Maple Valley farm, a fine property lying in Washington and Snyder townships, which is a credit to the locality and to his executive ability. Mr. Maxwell is the oldest man, as his wife is the oldest woman, residing in the Beechwoods district, both being highly es- teemed by all.

Mr. Maxwell was born Feb. 28, 1838, on a farm in County Donegal, Ireland, his father, John Maxwell, of Scotch descent, being a farmer and laborer. By his marriage to Re- becca Maxwell there were twelve children, namely : William, who married Eliza Iddings, removed to Scotland from Ireland, and died there: Thomas married and died in Dublin, where he had served as a policeman ; Mary married a Mr. Kelley, of Boston, Mass., where she died; Margaret became the wife of Wil- liam Davenport, and both died in Creston, Iowa; Jane married William McManigle and moved to Creston, lowa, and is living at the

age of eighty-three years; Joseph, who mar- ried Mary Brookens, died in Philadelphia, as did John, who married Eliza Boggs; Samuel married Catherine Campbell, and both died in Philadelphia ; Alexander is next; Isabella, Sarah and James died young. The father died when Alexander was but three weeks old, but the mother lived to the age of seventy- three years; her latter life was passed with Alexander. They were Presbyterians in re- ligious faith.

Alexander Maxwell was still a boy when he came to America with his mother and older brother, Samuel. Taking passage at London- derry on the sailing vessel "Provincialist," the voyage to Philadelphia took several weeks. In that city they spent two years, Alexander tak- ing advantage of the excellent schools. He also had some schooling here, Dr. Charles Matson being his teacher. In 1852 they moved westward to Jefferson county, where his uncle, William Maxwell, lived, and made their home with his sister, Margaret Davenport, in Wash- ington township, until Alexander married and went to housekeeping, after which his mother lived with him. For two years he worked on his uncle's farm, and then found employ- ment at Blue Rock, driving oxen, hauling logs, in the woods, etc. On July 19, 1858, he and his young wife moved into a plain two-room pine board shanty, 16 by 20 feet in dimensions, of one story, which continued to be their home for over twenty years, until a substantial resi- dence was erected in 1881. But they were more comfortable than the average settler, for they possessed one of the best stoves that had ever been brought into the county. It was large and consumed a great amount of wood. Only three acres was cleared, and there was much hard work to get more ready for cultivation. This property now contains one hundred acres of fertile land, highly im- proved, and devoted to general farming. In 1806 he built the present barn, the third. The farm is admirably situated, one mile from Lane's Mills and three miles from Brockway- ville. In about 1868-69 he drove the stage which then plied between Ridgway and Brook- ville, for James Clark, carrying the mail and passengers, and was so engaged for two years. Mr. Maxwell has given all his time to his own affairs and though a stanch Republican has not taken special part in political affairs. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Beechwoods, six miles distant, in early days often walking to services.

On May 6, 1858, Mr. Maxwell married Mary Ann Smith, who was born in Phila-

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delphia Nov. 2, 1837, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth ( McElheney ) Smith, and was four and a half years old when brought to the Beechwoods. She attended the Andrew Smith school, when taught by Rev. Boyd McCul- lough. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, namely : Rebecca, now Mrs. William T. Patton, of Washington town- ship; Elizabeth, Mrs. Orman Sibley, of Fre- donia, N. Y. ; William, a farmer in Washing- ton township, who married Sarah Smith ; John, of Brockwayville, who married Caroline Weiss, of New York; Margaret, Mrs. George Kelts, of Warren, Ohio; Rose Anna, who died in infancy; Kosie Annie, Mrs. J. B. Curry, of Falls Creek; Mary Alvira, Mrs. James M. Marshall. of Snyder township; and Jennie, Mrs. Vernon Thomas, of Warren, Ohio.

EARL E. CHESNUTT, D. D. S., was born at Brookville Jan. 11. 1884, son of Jacob Miller Chesnutt and grandson of Samuel Chesnutt, who lived near Lewisburg, in Mif- flin county, and whose death was caused by accidental injuries received while hunting, a brief note at his side giving the circumstances.

Jacob Miller Chesnutt was born in Mifflin county, and in 1872 came to Brookville, for some time thereafter working at the trade of tailor. He subsequently conducted the "Com- mercial Hotel" for two years. In November, 1899, he was elected sheriff, taking office in Jannary following, but resigned before the expiration of his term, his son Edward W. Chesnutt being appointed to succeed him. When he gave up his office Mr. Chesnutt went to DuBois, conducting a hotel about four years, when he removed to Falls Creek, and remained three years, eventually returning to Brookville. where he again worked at his trade. He died in 1914, his wife, Annie Elizabeth (O'Connor). passing away a few months previously, in May. 1913. Their five surviving children are: Edward W., of Falls Creek; Ray M .; Earl E. ; Clair C., and Anna E.

Earl E. Chesnutt attended the public schools, and prepared for his profession at the Pitts- burgh and the Philadelphia Dental Colleges, graduating in May, 1905. He practiced at DuBois, and at Pittsburgh until August, 1907. when he opened his present office.

Dr. Chesnutt finds recreation in music, be- ing a member of the Brookville Band. So- cially he maintains membership in the Xi Psi Phi, a dental fraternity. His religious connec- tion is with the Presbyterian Church. He married Encie H. Solomon, daughter of Henry A. Solomon, of Williamsport, Pa. Two chil-

dren have been born to them, Elizabeth and Encie Jane.

ROBERT F. LAW, living in well carned retirement in Punxsutawney, has been a resi- dent of Jefferson county since he was a lad of eight years and has now passed the age of fourscore years, a condition that establishes him as a pioneer of this section of the State. His active career was marked with worthy and productive endeavor in connection with agricultural and lumbering operations, and he developed one of the fine farms of Young township, where he resided until 1906, since which time he has lived with his youngest daughter. Mrs. Steffy, all his children accord- ing him in his venerable years the deepest filial solicitude, the while all who know him give him full measure of confidence and esteem as one of the sterling pioneer citizens of Jefferson county.

Mr. Law was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., on the 26th of June, 1831, and in 1839 his parents came to Jefferson county, his father, Samuel Law. having been a native of Lancaster county and a scion of a family that was founded in America in the colonial period. Samuel Law lived for varying in- tervals on what are now the George Work and the Carmalt farms in Young township, and the Straitiff farm, in Bell township, after which he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Young township, where he remained until his death, on the 18th of April, 1883, at the age of seventy-eight years, three months, four days. He was a skilled mechanic and in the pioneer days did much work as a car- penter and wagonmaker. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Beighel, died Aug. 15. 1887, and the remains of both rest in the old cemetery at Punxsutawney. Of the chil- dren Eveline became the wife of Samuel Curry : George was a resident of Blair county at the time of his death ; Robert F. was next : Nancy died when a young woman ; Elizabeth became the wife of John Fleming, of Indiana county, and after his death married Richard Evans, of Punxsutawney.

Robert F. Law was reared under the con- ditions that marked the pioneer epoch in the history of Jefferson county, and his educa- tional advantages were those of the primitive schools. Like other youths of the locality and period he early gained close fellowship with arduous toil. as he assisted in the reclamation of farm land in lumbering. He gained expe- rience in rafting timber down to Pittsburgh, and after initiating an independent career re-

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claimed a good farm in Young township, where he continued successful operations as a farmer for many years, up to the time of his retirement from the labors that long marked his course and brought to him well earned prosperity. He served eleven months in the 200th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and proved himself a loyal soldier of the Union in the Civil war. In politics he has been a stanch Republican and has always been ready to do his share in the furtherance of enterprises projected for the general good. His wife was a zealous and devoted member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.

On the Ist of January, 1855, Mr. Law mar- ried Mary E. McQuown, born and reared in Young township, a daughter of Lawrence McQuown. She was born on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1839, and died in 1910, her remains being laid to rest in beautiful Greenwood cemetery, at Punxsutawney ; her memory is revered by all who knew her. To Mr. and Mrs. Law were born eleven children : Samuel, born Nov. 14. 1855, resides at Horatio ; Lavinia, born Sept. 6, 1857, died at the age of eighteen months; Rhoda A., born Oct. 15. 1859, became the wife of Thomas Shaffer and after his death married Daniel B. Sutter, their home being at Covode, Indiana county ; Sarah S., born Dec. 4. 1861. is the widow of Thomas Mauk and resides at Horatio; John F., born April 2, 1864, was killed by an accident, at Brookville, on the 13th of April, 1907: Susan- nah Jane, born Aug. 26, 1866, married Oscar Ilaugh, of Perry township : Malinda, was born May 26, 1868, died on the ist of March, 1886; Alonzo D., born Sept. 7, 1870, died on the 5th of October, 1809: Nannie, born Dec. 28, 1873, is the wife of Elmer C. Willard, and they reside in Indiana county : Robert P., born Feb. 12. 1878, lives at Horatio; Mame, born Aug. 18, 1883. wife of David B. Steffy, of Punxsutawney, has four children, Carrie Irene, Victor, Margaret Ellen and Martha, living, one, Mabel Jane, having died in early childhood.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 126

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