Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 133

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 133

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FRANK McNEIL, a progressive farmer of Eldred township. may well consider himself favored in maintaining the ownership of the fine old homestead on which he was born and reared and to the supervision of which he is giving his attention. His well improved farm is situated six miles north of Brookville and two miles south of Sigel.

Mr. McNeil is a son of Thomas E. and Nancy ( Matthews) McNeil and was born on the farm which is now his place of abode, April

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18, 1873. Thomas E. McNeil was born in Elk county on the 29th of May, 1837, and his wife was born in Indiana county on the 15th of February, 1840. their marriage having been solemnized in Jefferson county, on the 10th of May, 1860. No names are held in more rever- ent memory in Eldred township than those of these sterling citizens, whose lives were marked by consecration to high ideals and by kindly and generous deeds. Mr. McNeil died on the 3d of May, 1909, and his widow passed away on the 17th of December, 1914. Mrs. McNeil was reared and educated in Eldred township and was a daughter of William Matthews, an honored pioneer. She was one of a family of two sons and three daughters, and her sister Martha is now the only surviving member. William, Jr., the elder of the two brothers, sacrificed his life while serving the Union in the Civil war: Albert was one of the substan- tial farmers of Eldred township at the time of his death, which occurred about the middle of the first decade of the present century ; and the other sister, who became the wife of James Henderson, was a young woman at the time of her death.

Thomas E. McNeil early became identified with lumbering operations in Jefferson county and also developed a farm near Sigel. In 1878 he purchased the homestead now occu- pied by his son Frank, comprising 122 acres, of which fifty acres were available for culti- vation. He cleared about thirty acres more and placed the same under effective cultivation, and in the meanwhile continued active associ- ation with the lumber industry. He took con- tracts for getting out square timber, and for several years also operated a sawmill. He erected the present substantial and commodi- ous house which adorns the old homestead. commanding a fine view of the beautiful country surrounding it. Mr. McNeil was an energetic and successful farmer and lumber- man and for more than a quarter of a century (lid a prosperous business in the transporting of goods by team and wagon to the village of Sigel. He was a man of superior mentality and his course was guided and governed by the highest principles, so that he ever com- manded the confidence and good will of his fellow men. He had no political ambition, but was called upon to serve in various township offices and was a stalwart advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. Ile and his wife were most zealous and valued members of the Mount Tabor Presbyterian Church. which he served many years as ruling elder. being first elected on the 31st of December.

1874, and continuing the revered incumbent of that position until his death; he was familiarly and affectionately known in the community by the title of Elder McNeil. His home was al- ways open to clergymen of the church, and he took great pleasure in extending entertainment to the pastors who ministered in this com- munity. He was active and devoted in all departments of church work and was fre- quently a lay delegate to the presbytery and the Synod. He was a deep student of the Bible and served many years as Sunday school superintendent, besides which his earnest efforts resulted in the establishing of a Union Sunday school in his community and incident- ally the organizing of several others. Rev. Mr. Leason, who was for twenty-five years pastor of Mount Tabor Church, was the warm and valued friend of Mr. and Mrs. McNeil, and the remains of this noble couple were laid to rest in the burial ground of the church in which they labored so long and faithfully. Of their ten children one died in infancy : Mary is the wife of Albert Lyle, of Strattonville, Clarion county ; Leason is a substantial farmer in Pinecreek township: Jennie is the widow of Elmer D. Carrier and resides in Clover town- ship : Blanche died at the age of fourteen years ; Howard resides at Mckeesport, this State; Frank was next in order of birth ; Emma is the wife of Edward C. Wallace, of Sigel; Clifton resides in the home of his brother Leason ; John, a barber by vocation, is a resident of Sigel.

Frank McNeil acquired his early education in the public schools of his native township and early began to assist his father in farming and lumbering. He finally assumed active charge of the homestead, and after the death of his parents purchased this valuable prop- erty, which is improved with good buildings and maintained under effective cultivation. Since 1910 he has held also the position of mail carrier on rural route No. 1. from the village of Sigel, but this work does not interfere with his careful supervision of the farm. He is aligned as a stanch supporter of the Republi- can party, and as an active and influential member of the Presbyterian Church he is up- holding the prestige of the family name. He succeeded his father as ruling elder of the Mount Tabor Church and, after having previ- ously served for a number of years as Sunday school superintendent, he was again called to this office after the recent death of the former incumbent, the late Harry Larimer.

On Aug. 12, 1896, Mr. McNeil married Anna 1 .. Young, a daughter of Stephen and Mary

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Jane ( Hall ) Young, of Eldred township, Thomas llall. the maternal grandfather of Mrs. McNeil, having been one of the repre- sentative pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. McNeil have two children, Foster and Mary. The family is one of distinctive popu- larity in connection with the social life of the community and, like her husband, Mrs. Mc- Neil is an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOSEPHI STEELE. Save for the period of his service as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war the entire life of the late Joseph Steele was passed in Jefferson county, his par- ents having been pioneers and himself having so ordered his course as not only to achieve substantial success but also to gain the confi- dence and good will of his fellow men. Mr. Steele owned and developed one of the finest farms in the county, and on this homestead continued to reside until his death, February 19. IQII. The farm, situated in the extreme eastern part of Warsaw township, on the main highway, is improved with the best type of buildings and is maintained under a high state of cultivation. The old homestead is still the residence of Mrs. Steele, and is endeared to her by many hallowed associations, now that her honored companion has passed from the stage of life's endeavors.

Joseph Steele was born at Stanton, Rose township, the 16th of November, 1842, his early educational advantages being those afforded in the common schools. He was a son of Jacob and Nancy ( Miller) Steele, his father being born and reared in one of the eastern counties and his mother being a daugh- ter of Hugh Miller, a pioneer settler at Stan- ton. Jefferson county. Jacob Steele was a skillful carpenter, his activities as a journey- man leading him to the western part of his native State. Here he became a successful artisan, and many of the substantial houses erected by him are still enduring monuments to his workmanship and fidelity in the carry- ing out of contracts. Though he gave atten- tion principally to his trade he also developed a farm in Rose township. Both he and wife died when about fifty years of age and there was an interval of less than two weeks in their passing away, both having succumbed to typhoid fever. Of their four children the eldest is Hugh, who served as a soldier during virtually the entire period of the Civil war and is now living at DuBois: Joseph was the second son; John W. died at the age of forty years ; and Robert James, a carpenter, resides in a Western State,

an employe of the well known Chicago house of Fairbanks, Morse & Company.

Joseph Steele gained in his youth due expe- rience in lumbering and farming operations, and was not yet nineteen years old when the Civil war was precipitated. As soon as possi- ble he enlisted for a period of "three years or during the war," in the 11th Pennsylvania Cav- alry, and with this command continued at the front until discharged. He participated in the various engagements in which his regiment was involved during the last eighteen months of the great conflict. He then remained on his father's farm for two years, in the meanwhile working in the lumber camps in this section during the winter months. He continued these activities until his marriage, in 1869; but, about two years prior to this important event, he had purchased the present farm of one hundred acres. He had erected a modest frame house, and this, with various additions and improve- ments, continued the domicile until 1909, when Mr. Steele erected the present commodious and modern house. The land was originally cov- ered with heavy timber, principally hardwood and hemlock, interspersed with pine. In con- verting this into lumber he added to his finan- cial resources, the while reclaiming the land to the uses of agriculture. With the passing years the forest wilds gave place to beautiful and productive fields. He erected good buildings and availed himself of the most approved ma- chinery and other facilities, with the result that he gained precedence as a progressive and successful farmer. He had looked forward to passing the evening of life in the companion- ship of his wife and in the attractive home he had erected according to his own plans and with modern improvements. Within eighteen months after taking up their abode in the house their plans for the future were frustrated by his death, but in the memory of all that their companionship had meant to them and of the provisions he made with generous devotion, Mrs. Steele finds a measure of compensation and consolation.

Mr. Steele was a man of vital mind and vigorous physical powers, being keen of thought and action. He took loyal interest in things touching the communal welfare, was an active supporter of the cause of prohibition and was zealous in all other movements that tended to conserve social and material well- being. Until its organization lapsed he and wife were zealous members of the United Presbyterian Church at Beechwoods, three miles distant. transferring their membership to the church at Sugar Hill.

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On the 20th of May, 1869, Mr. Steele mar- ried Josephine McCurdy, who was then twen- ty-three years of age, and was born in Wash- ington township, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Temple ) McCurdy. Mr. MeCurdy was a brother of Joseph McCurdy, in whose home Dr. McKnight, author of this history, lived for some time when a boy. Robert McCurdy was but thirty-six years of age at the time of his death. being survived by his young wife and five daughters. The mother proved equal to the heavy responsibilities devolving upon her. and reared her daughters with care and unself- ishness, her skill as a seamstress having come into play in the earlier years. This noble and revered woman died at the venerable age of seventy-seven years, and her memory rests as a benediction upon all who came within the sphere of her influence. She passed the clos- ing years of a gentle and gracious life in the home of her eldest daughter, in Warsaw town- ship. Of the five daughters, the eldest, Mar- tha, became the wife of Ezekiel Stertt, and died in April, 1916, her husband having pre- ceded her, and their sons still remaining on the old homestead; Dorcas Ann became the wife of John B. Horning and they reside in the Beechwoods locality: Sarah Margaret, who was the wife of James G. Smith, died at the age of forty-one, and her twin sister, Joseph- ine, is the widow of Joseph Steele ; Miss Mary McAfee McCurdy died at the age of twenty- five years.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Steele are: William B., a graduate of Iron City Business College, at Pittsburgh, is now engaged in the general merchandise business at Sugar Hill, one mile east of the old home farm; Mary L. is the wife of Samuel Holt, a prosperous farmer in Snyder township; Sarah M. mar- ried John Atwell, another of the representative farmers of that township; Nancy is the wife of L. M. Sibley, a carpenter, of Akron, Ohio; Robert M. graduated from the Clarion State Normal School and Buchtel College (Akron, Ohio), now known as Akron University, has proved a successful and popular instructor, held for three years the chair of German in the State Normal School at Clarion, and in 1916 was appointed superintendent of schools at Latrobe. Pa .; Jay MI., graduate of an agri- cultural college, who now has the active man- agement of the old homestead, married Flossie Blight, and they have a winsome little daugh- ter, Ruth Estelle, who in the home circle is the boon companion of her devoted and in- dulgent grandmother : Anna M., remaining with her widowed mother, was graduated from

the Clarion State Normal School and did three years of successful work as a teacher in the schools of the county.

GEORGE W. NELSON, who is living at Brockwayville, developed a high standard of efficiency during the course of a signally active and worthy career, for nearly a quarter of a century handling important executive duties for the United Natural Gas Company. He was born at DuBois on the 4th of July, 1855, a son of John and Mary ( Horne) Nelson, his mother dying when he was a lad of five years, and he was but fifteen years at the time of his father's death. The orphan boy thus had close fellowship with adversity and was de- nied the customary educational advantages. Early becoming dependent upon his own re- sources, he not only gained a good education but forged sturdily forward to the goal of worthy success, having been the architect of his own fortunes. His active career was marked by diversified service. Mr. Nelson was the third of seven children. His elder brother, Frederick, went West, where he mar- ried and passed the remainder of his life; Amanda is the widow of John I. Shaw, at DuBois; Mary is the wife of James Little, also of DuBois; Charles is a carpenter in the State of Louisiana; Jennie, deceased, was the wife of George Corbin; Nora died at the age of three years.

The home being broken up at his mother's death, George W. Nelson was taken into the home of his grandfather, James Nelson, and when about fifteen years old he was virtually indentured or "bound out" to Jesse Lyon, a farmer near DuBois, where he had ample op- portunity for hard work but none to attend school. At the age of sixteen he felt conditions had become intolerable, and ran away from his employer, the first day traversing a distance of twenty-four miles, over the Clearfield mountains. Finally arriving at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Nancy Leonard, he there passed the winter, meanwhile finding employment in driving a four-horse team in the hauling of square timber, receiving for this service fifty cents a day. In the spring his brother, Fred- erick, joined him and they became associated in rafting timber down the Susquehanna river, this ardnous and hazardous work bringing each of them from eight to ten dollars a day. He had learned the value of money and with habits of thrift saved a good part of his wages. After the close of the rafting season he engaged in hauling lumber and in the autumn found em- ployment in a shingle mill on Jerry run. Here

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he had an accident that nearly resulted in the loss of the fingers of his left hand, though they were fortunately saved by proper treatment. After recovery from his injury he worked in the summer seasons and went to school in winter, realizing fully the great advantage of an education. When he was eighteen years old he did not even know the letters of the alphabet. Ilis ambition and courage under such conditions gained him the kindly aid of Dr. Gregory, then superintendent of schools for Clearfield county, who earnestly encour- aged him to acquire an education. He ever manifests a deep sense of indebtedness to Dr. Gregory and Professor Weaver for the coun- sel and assistance they then gave him. He at- tended public school at DuBois, his alertness and earnest application enabling him to make rapid and effective progress. Finally he took an advanced course in the Clearfield County Normal School, at Curwensville, under his esteemed friend Dr. Gregory, and at the age of twenty-four put his attainments to prac- tical use by entering the profession of teaching in Brady township, Clearfield county. His success was but in proportion to his zeal and he continued the schoolmaster's work for eleven years, during eight of which he was engaged in the public schools of DuBois. Eventually abandoning the vocation in which he had thus proved ability and won success. he went to Janesville, Wis., and took up teleg- raphy. For three years he was employed as an operator on the Panhandle Railroad west of Pittsburgh, until a severe illness compelled him to resign. Meantime he married Alice Burch- field, of DuBois, who proved a devoted wife and helpmate, and to whose care and solicitude he owed much in regaining his former physical vigor. Mr. Nelson had returned to his home at DuBois, where he took the position of watchman in the John E. DuBois Company, being soon advanced to that of engineer. On the Ist of September, 1893, he removed to Brockwayville, where he became local man- ager or superintendent for the United Natural Gas Company, a responsible executive post of which he was the incumbent for twenty-two years, retiring in September, 1915.

Mr. Nelson has served the State as local health officer at Brockwayville since 1908, now giving close attention to the duties of this office. He has always been a supporter of the Republican party, but where no national or State issues are involved supporting men and measures meeting approval of his judgment. Mr. Nelson belongs to the Elks. F. & A. M .. Lodge No. 379; Ridgway Chapter, No. 30,

R. A. M., and Ridgway Commandery, No. 40, K. T., as well as Jaffa Temple, at Altoona. He and his wife are active and valued mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church and are popu- lar figures in connection with the social life of the community.

At DuBois, at the age of twenty-eight, Mr. Nelson married Alice Burchfield, who was born at Ansonville, Pa., on the Ist of March, 1864, daughter of Rev. William M. and Mag- gie (Van Dyke) Burchfield. She was care- fully educated under the direction and effect- ive preceptorship of her father, a man of culture and erudition. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson's children are: Mildred, the wife of Ira Neely, of Center, Perry county, who has three chil- dren, Olive, William and Alice May ; Florence Olive, wife of O. D. Sibley, of Perrysburg, N. Y. : W. Frederick, who was born at DuBois, Clearfield county, Feb. 5, 1891, educated in the public schools and at the Indiana (Pa.) nor- mal school, and is present owner of the Variety Store at Brockwayville; John Basil, studying dentistry in Pittsburgh; and Mary Alice, who remains at the parental home.

Rev. William M. Burchfield was born near Mifflintown, Juniata county, on the 22d of Feb- ruary, 1834, and died at Cisna Run, Perry county, on the 31st of August, 1915. He was the only son of Washington Perry Burchfield and Matilda ( Junk ) Burchfield, both of whom died when he was but two years old. He early manifested contemplative and studious habits, natural predilections leading him to obtain a thorough education, though he was largely de- pendent upon his own resources. He was the first superintendent of public schools in Juniata county, and in 1862 was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church. He became pastor of the Fruit Hill Church at Ansonville, Clear- field county, where he remained about eight years. For the ensuing seven years he held the pastorate at Curwensville, and then became the virtual organizer of a church at DuBois, in which he continued his faithful ministra- tions for eight years. In 1887 he assumed charge of the churches at Landisburg, Center, Ickesburg and Blain, in Perry county, serving all of these until the charge was divided, when he retained the pastorate of the Center Church. In 1910 his impaired health and the infirmities of advancing years caused him to retire from active work of the ministry, and he was made pastor emeritus of the church at Center, the Presbytery placing his name on the roll of hon- orably retired clergymen. Until the close of his long, gentle and noble life he continued to officiate occasionally, revered as a faithful

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worker in the harvest of the Divine Master. "lle was a truly good man, an able preacher, meek, gentle, humble, faithful, and his mem- ory will long abide where he was known and served." Mr. Burchfield was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the beautiful ritual of which was used at his funeral, his remains being laid to rest in the historic old Center churchyard in a plot donated by the trustees, in loving remembrance of their devoted old pastor. He organized Garfield Lodge, at Du- Bois, and was its first Worshipful Master, and was ever given special honor, the lodge sending a delegation to take part in his obsequies.

On the 25th of January, 1859, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Burchfield to Maggie Van Dyke, who still survives him, as do also four of their five children : Effie B. is the wife of Thomas H. Simon, of Pittsburgh ; Mrs. Nel- son was the next in order ; Florence is the wife of Charles A. Weber, of Grampian, Clearfield county ; Arthur Van Dyke resides at Center, Perry county.

HARRY M. BUHITE, one of the success- ful exponents of agriculture in Winslow town- ship, is of the fourth generation of a family that was founded in Jefferson county more than ninety years ago, when this section of the Keystone State was little more than an untrammeled wilderness. His grandfather, George Buhite, was born in Germany and was a lad of twelve years at the time of the family immigration to America, in 1824, the year of his birth having been 1812. His parents set- tled in the forest wilds of what is now Hen- derson township, this county, where the father acquired a tract of land and began the arduous work of reclaiming a farm, both he and his wife having remained on the old homestead, about one mile west of Troutville, until the close of their lives. George Buhite was reared to manhood under the conditions that marked the early pioncer period of the history of Jef- ferson county, and eventually purchased his father's old homestead farm, in Henderson township, where he represented the stanchest type of the pioneer farmer. Finally, however, he removed to the State of Minnesota, re- peating his pioneer experiences and where he died about 1888, after having exceeded the psalmist's span of three score years and ten. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Long and was a member of the well known pioneer family of that name in Jefferson county, another member of this family having been William Long, who in the early days gained special fame as a hunter of wild game.

Mrs. Buhite returned to Jefferson county after the death of her husband and passed the even- ing of her life in the home of her son George A., at Sykesville. Of the children of this hon- ored pioneer couple Frederick is now a resi- dent of Indiana county, Pa .; John A., who resides in Minnesota, was a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war; Henry and Jonas are likewise residents of Minnesota; George A. still remains in Jefferson county and is men- tioned on other pages of this work; David is deceased; Mrs. Ann Cook and her husband reside in Omaha, Nebr .; Caroline is the wife of George Reider, of Henderson township; Sallie is the wife of Henry Reider, of Win- slow township; Rachel is the wife of Luke Wills, of Johnsonburg, Elk county.

Harry M. Buhite was born in McCalmont township, Jefferson county, in January, 1891, and is a son of David Buhite, who likewise was born and reared in this county and was long actively identified with farming and lum- bering operations in McCalmont and Hender- son townships. Finally he removed to Brady township, Clearfield county, where he pur- chased a farm and where he died at the age of forty-eight years. His first wife, Chloe R., was a daugliter of the late well known Silas Brooks, of Winslow township, and she was about thirty-two years of age at the time of her death. She is survived by two children, Harry M. and Meade A. The maiden name of the second wife of David Buhite was Nancy Ellenberger, and she still resides on the old homestead farm near Troutville, Clearfield county. Her children are seven in number : Aldene, Carl, Edna, William, Wayne, Violet and Ray.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 133

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