Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 134

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 134

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Harry M. Buhite availed himself of the ad- vantages of the district schools of McCalmont and Winslow townships and thereafter pur- sued a higher course of study in the Clarion Normal School. When fifteen years of age he found employment on the old Brooks home- stead, which he later purchased, and which is one of the splendidly improved and extensive landed estates of the county, the same com- prising 297 acres. The land was cleared and otherwise improved by his maternal grand- father, the late Silas Brooks, and is now one of the model places of Winslow township. Mr. Buhite gives his attention to diversified agriculture, the raising of good live stock, and is known and honored as one of the pro- gressive agriculturists and loyal citizens of his native county. His political support is given to the Democratic party and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

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In 1911 Mr. Buhite was united in marriage to Twila M. Zufall, who was born and reared in this county, and whose paternal grand- father, Jacob Zufall, came from Westmore- land county and numbered himself among the pioneers of Jefferson county, having settled in Henderson township, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. His children were: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob B., Joseph and Adaline, children of his first marriage, and Andrew, Lydia and Katie of his second marriage. Jacob B. Zufall, father of Mrs. Buhite, was born in Westmoreland county, came with his father to Jefferson county, and passed the closing period of his life at Big Run, where he died when but forty years of age. He wedded Anna Carpenter, daughter of Thomas Carpenter, and she survived him by two years. Mrs. Buhite, their only child, was left an orphan in her early childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Buhite have three children, Mary, Annabel and Dorothy. Mr. Buhite is an active member of Paradise Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry and takes an interest in its affairs.

Silas Brooks, maternal grandfather of Harry M. Buhite, was a son of Calvin Brooks, a pio- neer settler of Gaskill township, this county, and the maiden name of the latter's wife was Chloe Martin. Their children were six in number : Silas, Mrs. Peter Bowser, George, Mrs. Tobias Long, Jehiel and David. Silas Brooks was born in the State of New York, and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Stunkard, was born in Perry township, Jef- ferson county. They resided for some time in the State of New York and then established their home in Bell township, Jefferson county, later removing to Winslow township, where he purchased of James Torrens the large tract of land constituting the present farm of his grandson, Harry M. Buhite. Mr. Brooks be- came prominently identified with lumbering operations and also gained prestige as one of the leading farmers of Jefferson county. He died on his farm when sixty-four years of age, and his widow attained to the venerable age of seventy-eight years, their remains resting in the United Brethren Church cemetery in McCalmont township. Of their children. Mary M. became the wife of Charles Car- penter ; Chloe R. wedded David Buhite, as previously noted.

JOHN F. PROCIOUS. Adjacent to the corporate limits of Brookville at the southwest is the Edgewood Dairy and Stock Farm, owned and operated by the progressive citizen whose name is here given and who has made his farm

a model in all that pertains to modern and scientific dairying. In the conducting of his dairy he has availed himself of the most ap- proved methods and facilities for insuring per- fect sanitation at all stages, and maintains a fine herd of thoroughbred Holstein cattle, averaging in number somewhat more than twenty head.

Mr. Procious established his present dairy business in 1907, when he succeeded to the ownership of the dairy enterprise of D. F. Diener. His fine farm, comprising 154 acres, is most eligibly situated for the facile handling of his substantial business, where he has the best of accessories and permanent improve- ments for maintaining all operations at the highest standard. He has gained definite precedence also as a successful grower of thor- oughbred Holstein cattle, and has exhibited his fine stock at various agricultural fairs and before leading breeders' associations. He is indefatigable in his activities and is essentially one of the progressive business men and loyal and popular citizens of the county.

Mr. Procious was born in Eldred township, this county, on the 13th of April, 1870, and is a son of Eli and Hannah (Forsythe) Pro- cious, both natives of Jefferson county. Eli Procious passed his entire life in this county, where his parents, David and Eve Procious, settled in pioneer days : the mother died many years ago and the father attained the patri- archal age of ninety-nine years, his death hav- ing occurred in 1906. David Procious was a native of Germany and settled in Jefferson county when it was little more than a wilder- ness. In Eldred township he reclaimed a pro- ductive farm, and also was closely identified with early lumbering operations incidental to the work of development and progress in this locality; his old homestead has been sold by the family since his death. Of his three sons the eldest was William, who sacrificed his life fighting for the Union in the Civil war : George passed his life on the old homestead and was a prosperous farmer and lumberman ; Eli was the youngest of the number.

Eli Procious was reared under conditions and influences of the pioneer days, gained his early education in the primitive schools of Eldred township and in his youth had close fellowship with arduous work as a farmer and lumberman. He was a valiant soldier during the last year of the Civil war. a member of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, but prior to this had been in West Virginia en- gaged in lumbering, in company with S. S. Henderson. Later he became a member of the

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firm of Henderson, Scofield & Procious, which did a large lumbering business in Jefferson county. Finally he went to Washington county, where he continued agricultural in- dustry about four years. He then returned to Jefferson county, where he has long been successfully engaged in the manufacture of lumber. his home being not far distant from that of his son John F.

John F. Procious passed his childhood on his father's farm and attended the local schools. Shortly after reaching his majority he mar- ried Maggie Jane Morrison, daughter of John F. and Martha (Ross) Morrison, of Clover township, where Mrs. Procious was born and reared, she being three months the junior of her husband. The young people went to West Virginia where, as foreman, he was associ- ated with his father's lumbering operations for eighteen months. Later he assumed charge of his father's farm in Washington county, and after an interval returned to his native county where, in 1907, he purchased his present fine farm, formerly known as the Harry Litch place. He has made many improvements in- cluding the erection of a building as a supple- ment to the original dwelling, and one of the most notable improvements is three modern silos, with a capacity of one hundred tons each. Mr. Procious is a man of energy, progressive- ness and good judgment, and is alert in avail- ing himself of modern methods and facilities. After a careful and varied experience cover- ing a period of five years he decided that the best results were to be obtained by the breed- ing of Holstein cattle, and results have fully justified his course in this selection. He has had no desire to enter the arena of practical politics, though he gives a stanch support to the Republican party and is liberal and loyal in his civic relations. Mr. and Mrs. Procious have two sons, Roy Adelbert and Orville Irwin.

DAVID F. DIENER. An earnest, upright and useful life was that of the late David Franklin Diener, who marked the passing years with worthy achievement and by that loyalty that ever denotes a high sense of per- sonal stewardship. He passed the greater part of his life in Jefferson county, where he won success through his own endeavors and where he was the founder of the prosperous dairy business that since his death has been success- fully carried on by his two sons, on the home- stead just outside of Brookville, where his death occurred on the 12th of August, 1909. The widow still remains on the home farm,

which she doubly cherishes by reason of its memories and associations, and continued in control until selling the dairy business to her sons.

Mr. Diener was born in Clarion county, Pa., on the 19th of February, 1858. He was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Keck) Diener, the former born in one of the eastern counties and the latter in Clarion county, where their mar- riage was solemnized. David F. was a lad of about eight years when his parents came to Jefferson county, in 1866, and established the family home on a farm in Rose township, one mile distant from the village of Stanton, where the death of the mother occurred many years later, the venerable father passing his declining days in the home of his son David F. Though in early life Jacob Diener had followed the tailor's trade, the major part of his active career was marked by close and effective association with the basic industry of agriculture.

Reared to manhood on the old homestead just mentioned, David F. Diener profited fully by the advantages afforded in the schools of the locality, and after his marriage, in the autumn of 1884, engaged in farming on a por- tion of his father's place and a part of that formerly owned by his maternal grandfather David Keck. Mr. Diener gave close attention to the improvement and varied operations of the farm, and in 1898 manifested his judgment by establishing a dairy business. One and a half years later he purchased the Litch farmi, near Brookville, and after the lapse of two years bought the K. L. Blood farm, eligibly situated just southwest of Brookville. On this he established his residence in 1905 and con- tinued a successful dairy business in conncc- tion with diversified farming until his death. The farm comprises 135 acres of fertile land and is improved with large and well kept build- ings, including an attractive home. As a dairy- man Mr. Diener developed a large and pros- perous business in Brookville. He maintained an average herd of fifty or more high-grade cows, and for several years was the only dairy- man giving daily service by wagon ; he operated two wagons and customarily retained four men in his employ. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Diener, whose experience has been ample, has proved of great help to her two sons in the dairy business, which supplies about half the milk delivered daily in Brook- ville. Mrs. Diener has sold the place five miles south of Brookville, but retains her interest in the home farm, which is maintained at the best modern standard of dairy equipment, in-

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suring perfect sanitation in the handling of all products. The dairy barns have cement floors, direct water supply, etc., and for the proper feeding of live stock two large silos have been provided, their total capacity being about two hundred tons. All milk is dispensed to patrons in bottles, as is also the cream product, and in every particular the service is kept up to the most approved modern standard.

David F. Diener was a man of invincible integrity and honor and in the well directed efforts which he put forth to gain success worthy of the name he did not forget his duty to others or the responsibilities that devolved upon him as a citizen. He gave his support to measures for the general good and in this connection it should be noted he was one of the incorporators of the Red Bank Telephone Company and its manager, a large part of the system having been installed under his supervision. In politics he gave allegiance to the Democratic party and was a zealous mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, as is also his widow. He carefully reared his children in that faith, and while residing on his old farm the family regularly attended services, though they were compelled to traverse a distance of six miles. The Diener farm is situated just outside the limits of Brookville to the west and the brick-paved street of the borough extends almost to the family dwelling, the place being well located for the dairy business.

On the 23d of October, 1884, Mr. Diener married Emma Dinger, who was born in Red Bank township, Clarion county and who was eighteen years of age when married. Mrs. Diener is a daughter of Michael and Sarah (Graff) Dinger, her father having been a native of Schuylkill county and a child at the time of the family removal to Clarion county, where he eventually came into possession of his father's homestead, upon which both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Diener is survived by six children : Minnie B. is the wife of Walter Hopkins, of Knox Dale; Laura E. is the wife of Rev. William Kline, a clergyman of the Lutheran Church, and who, in 1916, holds a pastoral charge at Topton, Berks county : George H. and Harry C., under the firm name of Diener Brothers, conduct the dairy business; Mary E. is a teacher in the public schools at Summer- ville ; Sarah E. remains at the maternal home.

FREDERICK C. HAAG is the owner of a well improved farm in Young township, where he is known as one of the progressive and substantial agriculturists, as well as a citizen

whose liberality and loyalty are always in evi- dence when support is needed for measures projected for the general good. On the farm he now occupies, in the southern part of Young township, Frederick C. Haag was born Aug. 17, 1867, thirty-four years after the advent of his ancestors in this section. His grandfather, Jolin Nicholas laag, was born and reared in the Kingdom of Bavaria, and there was mar- ried to Mary Catherine Snyder; in 1833 they and their two children, Louisa and Mary, came to America. Endowed with energy, industry and integrity, they were well equipped to bear the burdens of pioneer life, and that same year established a home in Young township. Mr. Haag purchased from the Holland Land Com- pany fifty-five acres of heavily timbered land to which he later added twenty-six acres, plus six per cent., which was given at that time. The first dwelling was a rude log cabin, later replaced by a larger and more pretentious log house, and there these pioneers labored earl- estly and effectively in the development of a homestead and in gaining a due measure of in- dependence and prosperity. Here both re- mained until they died, Mrs. Haag passing away at the age of seventy-six years and her husband at the age of eighty-four, the remains of both resting in the cemetery of the Re- formed Church at Punxsutawney. The four children born to them here were: Elizabeth, Maria, Frederick G. and John Nicholas.

John Nicholas Haag. Jr., was born on the homestead Aug. 31, 1842. He had such limited educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools of the locality, but was not denied full opportunity for arduous toil in developing and operating the farm and lum- bering that necessarily marked the reclamation of land to cultivation. Eventually he became owner of half the old farm, and here continued activities until advancing years demanded and general prosperity justified his retirement. He and his life companion still remain at the old home, and maintain loyal interest in all things touching the welfare of the community, both being devout communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although the original faith of the family was that of the Reformed Church. Mr. Haag was a young man at the time of his marriage to Sarah Catherine Will- iams, daughter of Reuben and Lucinda (Mc- Gregor ) Williams, and also born in the county. Of their children, the eldest is Mary C., now the wife of Daniel A. Snyder, a substantial farmer of Young township; Frederick C. was second ; Lawrence M. is a progressive farmer in Young township and has also been success-

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ful as a teacher in the Jefferson county schools; James D. died in early boyhood.

Frederick C. I laag made good use of the ad- vantages afforded in the public schools, and early became his father's valued assistant on the farm, of which he now has general super- vision, besides owning about seventy-five acres in southern Young township. AAlertness and vigorous policies have characterized his career as a representative farmer and he has shown no desire to swerve from his allegiance to the great fundamental industry of agricul- ture. He gives stalwart support to the cause of the Republican party, and in addition to having served eight years as tax collector was for seven years a member of the school board, being its president one year. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Punxsutawney, where he has be- longed to the Knights of Pythias lodge since 1892. He is a stockholder and director of the Punxsutawney Fair Association, rendering valued assistance in making this one of the State's noted agricultural enterprises.

In the year 1910 Mr. Haag was married to Josephine Work, daughter of Joseph and Ro- linda ( McMasters) Work. representatives of prominent old families of Indiana county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Haag have one son, Charles Frederick, born Nov. 17, 1911.

STEWART WILLIAMSON. The general store of the prosperous rural community plays an important part in local affairs and when properly conducted offers to its owner certain financial returns. Munderf, Polk township, is favored in having the well equipped and efficiently conducted general store of which Stewart Williamson is proprietor. He has built up his business by good service and fair dealings, has shown himself a lib- eral and loyal citizen, and has high standing in the community. His store had its in- ception years ago and was long and success- fully conducted by its founder, Newton Web- ster, from whom Mr. Williamson purchased when Webster became a county commissioner in 1900. Mr. Williamson has brought to bear much progressiveness and energy and under his regime it has expanded in scope and im- portance, success having been furthered by the co-operation of Mrs. Williamson in the store. Mr. Williamson has also developed a substantial and important trade in butter, eggs, chickens, veal calves, pork, etc.

Stewart Williamson is a scion of fine old Scottish stock and the place of his nativity was Fair Island, one of the picturesque Ork-

ney group, off the coast of Scotland, where he was born on the 28th of October, 1857. But he did not long remain amid the pastoral scenes of his native isle, for he was but five years old when his parents immigrated to Canada, where he grew to adult age and at- tended the public schools. His father died there, and the mother passed the closing years of her life in his home in Jefferson county. He came to this State in 1881 and in 1884 became a resident of Jefferson county, where he found employment lumbering for the firm of Degnan & AleDonald. He had previously been with the firm's lumber camps, and it was as its employe that he came to Jefferson county, his prior experience having been in cutting logs on the Susquehanna and assisting in running timber rafts. Mr. Williamson continued with Degnan & McDonald for a long term of years, with headquarters at Brookville, but in 1886-87 he was employed in the forests of West Vir- ginia. Upon his return he resumed associa- tion with Degnan & McDonald, and was fore- inan for the firm from 1892 to 1900, having charge of a force varying from thirty-five to seventy-five men engaged in cutting hemlock timber, stripping bark, hauling the timber to streams and, in the high water of the spring seasons, rafting the same to the mills. He had charge of the hiring of men for his camp and gained their confidence and goodwill, so that they gave effective cooperation and were assured of consideration and good treatment. Mr. Williamson reverts with satisfaction to the record which he made as a foreman, especially that in his entire experience in this position none of his men received serious injury, not- withstanding the many hazards of the strenui- ous work. Upon his retirement from lumber- ing Mr. Williamson became owner of his pres- ent flourishing business. As a young man he became a naturalized citizen of the United States and while he has had no desire for practical politics he gives loyal support to the Democratic party and takes proper interest in community affairs. He and his wife are active members of the Greenbriar Protestant Meth- odist Church.

In the year 1802 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Williamson to Mary Wingerd, daughter of Frederick Wingerd, concerning whom individual mention is made elsewhere. Of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Will- iamson the first died in infancy; Frederick and Harry remain at home.

JOSEPII SPEARS was an ambitious youth of twenty-one years when he left his native

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Cornwall, England, and came to the United States, and during the long intervening period of half a century he has maintained his home in Pennsylvania, where he has rendered good account of himself as one of the world's pro- ductive workers and where he has achieved the worthy success that enables him in the gracious evening of his life to live in peace and pros- perity and in well earned retirement. He is consistently designated as one of the pioneer citizens of Reynoldsville, where he established his home in the spring of 1872, about one year later than the arrival of the well known and influential citizen, Joseph R. Pentz.

Near the ancient and picturesque Cornish seaport of Falmouth, on the extreme southwest coast of England, Mr. Spears was born April 3. 1845, and in that section of the "right little, tight little isle" he was reared and educated, his parents having there passed their entire lives. His father, Thomas Spears, was a farmer by vocation. Of the immediate family Joseph was the only one to establish a home in America. Soon after attaining to his ma- jority Mr. Spears severed the home ties and, in the year 1866, embarked on a vessel which, after a tempestuous voyage of fifteen days, dropped anchor in the port of New York City. Soon after his arrival Mr. Spears made his way to Johnstown, Cambria Co .. Pa., and re- mained there until the spring of 1872, when he came to Reynoldsville. In his native land he had learned the trade of stonemason, and for many years he was here engaged in the work of his trade and in general contracting and building. He has done effective contract work over a large part of Jefferson county. In Reynoldsville and its immediate vicinity he has erected twenty-five houses. For the past five or six years he has lived retired. His wife established at Reynoldsville in 1886 a gen- eral merchandise store, and this she still con- ducts-a capable and popular business woman. Mr. Spears gives his support to the cause of the Republican party and has given effective service as a member of the borough council. He has been affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1874 and has held various official positions in the same.

In the year 1866 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Spears to Caroline Hoeking, who was born and reared in England, a daughter of IIenry Hocking. she having been a young woman when she came to America. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Spears five attained to adult age : Thomas died when about twenty- six years of age ; Charity is the wife of George

Engle, of Winslow township; John resides at Reynoldsville; George died when about twen- ty-two years of age; Lena is the wife of Edward Benney, of Reynoldsville.

ADAM F. SHAFFER has demonstrated energy and resourcefulness in connection with agriculture and his well improved farm, which his wife inherited from her father, the late Jonas Sowers, is eligibly situated in Beaver township.

Mr. Shaffer was born in Clarion county, Pa., on the 2d of May, 1844, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Emholt ) Shaffer, natives of Germany, and whose marriage was solemnized in Clarion county, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives, he as a pioneer farmer and lumberman. John Shaffer was seventy- five years of age at the time of his death and his widow attained the venerable age of eighty- eight. Adam F. Shaffer acquired his early education in the pioneer schools, also gaining experience in the practical activities of life. In connection with his father's lumbering oper- ations he first came to Jefferson county, and was concerned with lumber activities near Sprankle Mills.

At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Shaffer wedded Lydia Sowers, who was eighteen years of age at the time. Her parents were early settlers near Shannondale, Clarion county, where she was born on the 14th of March, 1847. She is a daughter of Jonas and Salome ( Hetrick) Sowers, the former a native of an eastern county of Pennsylvania and the latter of Northumberland county, their marriage having been solemnized in Clarion county. In 1855, when their daughter Lydia was eight years of age. they settled on the present Shaffer place and here for more than sixty years Mrs. Shaffer has lived. Her father reclaimed the farm to cultivation, made improvements of permanent order, erecting the present house in 1867 and the barn in 1862. The parents lived on this place until their deaths, worthy people of strong mentality and held in unquali- fed esteem by all. Mr. Sowers died in 1888 at the age of seventy years, and his widow was seventy-seven at the time of her demise, eight years later ; both were zealous members of the Berkhouse Lutheran Church. Mr. Sowers sold some of his pine timber and had charge of cutting a considerable amount of the oak timber, which he rafted down streams to an available market. He was an honored and influential citizen of Beaver township and while not imbued with ambition for public office, served several terms as overseer of the

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 134

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