Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 24

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 24

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ORAN BUTTERFIELD was one of the most popular men in Jefferson county in his day, particularly well known in the northern end of the county, where he resided for some forty-five years. He was born in Jefferson county, N. Y. Albert Adams, his half- brother, was closely related to President John Q. Adams.

In 1847 Oran Butterfield, then a young mar- ried man, came to Jefferson county, Pa., returning after a short stay to his native State, and making a permanent settlement here the following year. He then purchased 150 acres of land, and in connection with its improvement and cultivation carried on lum- bering. He prospered, and added to his first purchase from time to time until he owned six hundred acres. He cleared some two hun- dred acres, and had other extensive interests, for many years engaging in merchandising, and also dealing in stock and raising it. He made a specialty of oxen, in the springtime buying animals which had been used in the lumber camps all winter, letting them run in the woods during the summer season, and then reselling them in the fall to lumbermen, about doubling his money. He also bought horses, sheep and other stock. He would buy timber, and hold it until it was worth his while to sell. In 1854 he replaced the first frame house on his home farmn with a large brick residence, in which he lived and for many years conducted a hotel, "Butterfield's Tav- ern" being known far and near as a favorite resort with the people of the locality, who held dances and other parties there. Mr. Butter- field lived to the advanced age of eighty- seven years, dying Aug. 2, 1893. His latter years were spent in retirement at Merionville. Mr. Butterfield was a leader in the Democratic party, and was not only influential in public affairs but also as adviser to many who knew him personally and respected his opinion. For thirty years he filled the office of justice of the peace, and during that time always attempted to settle disputes without trial whenever possible. He was called upon to perform many marriage ceremonies. At one time he was an independent candidate for associate judge, but was defeated, though well supported in his home district.

Mr. Butterfield was twice married, his first wife, Nancy J. (Reed), dying in Jefferson county, Pa., the mother of five children : Mrs. Louisa Daniels, Mrs. Ann Rust, Mrs. Malinda Agnew, Charles (a farmer in Clarion county, Pa.) and Albert (deceased). About 1857, in Allegany county, N. Y., Mr. Butterfield mar-

ried ( second) Elizabeth Spencer, a native of that county, daughter of Daniel Spencer, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Mr. Spencer passed all his life in New York State. Mrs. Butterfield in her younger days had the repu- tation of being the handsomest woman in Jef- ferson county. To this marriage were born three children: Jennette, Mrs. A. R. Braden; Mary, widow of A. J. Wallace, who was drowned in the Big Horn river in Montana ; and Oran D., who died in 1908, after spending all his life on the old Butterfield farm.

ENOCH C. BUFFINGTON has figured in the business circles of Brookville for twenty years in his connection with hotel interests, having for a dozen years owned and operated the "Long View Hotel," at Brookville. The establishment under his wise direction held up to high standards, accounting for its popu- larity with regular as well as occasional guests. Mr. Buffington now owns and man- ages valuable coal lands in Jefferson county. Personally he is properly included with the responsible class of the community, for he belongs to a family whose members have been looked up to as the exponents of good citizen- ship as far back as the records carry us.

The Buffingtons are an old family, dating their coming to Pennsylvania back to the Provincial days, and three generations have been represented among the most creditable members of the bar in this section-in Arm- strong county. The early members of the family in this country belonged to the Society of Friends. They left England several years before Penn's arrival in America, and in 1677, five years before that event, we find a Rich- ard Buffington among the taxables at Upland, Chester Co., Pa. This Richard Buffington was born at Great Marle, upon the Thames, in Buckinghamshire, England, about 1654. He was the father of the first child of English descent born in the Province of Pennsylvania. From Hazard's Annals, page 468, as well as from the Pennsylvania Gazette, June 28 to July 5, 1739, we learn that "on the 30th of May past" the children. grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Richard Buffington, Sr., to the number of 115, met at his home in Chester county, as also his nine sons- and daughters-in-law, and twelve great-grandchil- dren-in-law. The old man was said to be aged about eighty-five.

Thomas Buffington, second son of Richard Buffington mentioned above, was born about 1680, and died in December, 1739. He mar- ried Ruth Cope, and left among other children

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a son William, who according to Rupp's his- tory of Lancaster county, Pa. (page 112), was first married to Lena Ferree. By his second wife Alice ( whose maiden name is unknown ) . he had a son Jonathan.

Jonathan Buffington, son of William and Alice, was born in 1736, and died Oct. 18, 1801. He owned and operated a flour mill at North Brook, near the site of the battle of Brandywine, and at the time of that battle (September, 1777) the British troops took possession of the mill and compelled the non- combatant Friend to furnish food for them. lle married Ann Clayton, who was born in 1739, daughter of Edward and .Ann Clayton, and died June 16, 1811.

Ephraim Buffington, third child of Jona- than and Aun ( Clayton), was born March 23, 1767, and died Dec. 30, 1832. He kept a hotel at Westchester, Pa., well known in its day as the "White Hall" tavern. Leaving Chester county about 1813. he moved west over the mountains, settling at Pine Creek, on the Alle- gheny river, about five miles above Pittsburgh. On March 4, 1790, he had married Rebecca Francis, at the old Swedes Church at Wil- mington, Del. Among their sons were John and Joseph. John, born about 1799, died March 31, 1832, married Hannah Allison, and their son Ephraim was the father of Orr Buffington, now one of the leading members of the Armstrong county bar, and of Judge Joseph Buffington, now a judge of the United States Circuit court at Pittsburgh. Joseph. the other son of Ephraim and Rebecca ( Fran- cis), was born Nov. 27, 1803, became promi- nent in the law, member of Congress, presi- dent judge of the Eighteenth Judicial district of Pennsylvania, composed of Clarion, Elk, Jefferson and Venango counties, was ap- pointed chief justice of the Territory of Utah by President Fillmore, but declined ; and from 1856 until shortly before his death was judge of the Tenth district of Pennsylvania, resign- ing in 1871 and dying Feb. 3, 1872.

From this stock came Enoch Buffington, grandfather of Enoch C. Buffington. He was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, born in the Lykens Valley, in Dauphin county, and when a young man came out to western Pennsylva- nia, settling in the woods at what is now New Salem, in Redbank township, Armstrong county. It was in the pioneer days of that region, and he purchased a tract of land and set about the work of clearing it, making a comfortable home in spite of the unpromising conditions and spending the rest of his life there. He died at the age of seventy-six years,

and is buried in the United Evangelical grave- yard at New Salem. To his marriage with Lydia Troutman were born the following chil- dren : Jacob, who is now living with his eldest son, Harvey, at Washington, Pa .; William, who lived and died in Redbank township, and who served as commissioner of Armstrong county ; Isaac, father of Enoch C. Buffington ; Levi, living near Hawthorn, in Redbank town- ship; Jolm, whose home is at Lima, Olio; Reuben, living in Jefferson county ; Susan, deceased, who was the wife of Peter Aulen- bangh; and Mary, who is married to Lewis Shaffer and lives in Michigan.

Isaac Buffington was born in 1840 in Red- bank township, Armstrong Co., Pa., and now resides near Timblin, in Ringgold township, Jefferson county, still engaged at his trade of carpenter and also in farming. He was reared in his native county, where he followed car- pentry and agriculture, and after his removal to Brookville devoted his time to the former pursuit for a period of fourteen years, then locating in Ringgold township, where he has since continued to live, well known as a man of substantial character and intelligence and highly regarded by his neighbors and other friends. He is a director of the Farmers' Telephone line in his township. Mr. Buffing- ton married Sarah ( Sadie ) Herring, who was born in 1841 in Redbank township, Armstrong county, daughter of George Herring, and they are the parents of eight children, viz .: George D., born in 1861, was a prominent hotel man in Brookville for a number of years prior to his death : William G., who resides at Brook- ville, is the present register and recorder of Jefferson county; Enoch C. is next in the order of birth ; Elmer E. is deceased ; Alexan- der is a dentist in practice at Akron, Ohio ; Rebecca is married to William Witherow and living at Brookville; Annie M. is married to Amos Mitchell and living in Rose township, Jefferson country ; Hattie lives at home with her parents.

Enoch C. Buffington was born in 1866 in Redbank township, Armstrong Co., Pa., and had average advantages for education and training preparatory to the practical work of life. In boyhood he began to work in the lumber woods, and he early displayed execu- tive ability and self-reliance, being only a young man when he was intrusted with the management of the John Burgoon coal mine near Brookville. When he entered the hotel business it was in the employ of his brother George D. Buffington, who for some years was associated with the operation of the

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"American House" and "Long View Hotel" at Brookville, and he remained with him for eight years. Then, in 1904, he purchased the "Long View Hotel" from Randolph McFar- land, and conducted it on his own account, remodeling it to conform to modern ideas of comfort and convenience, with up-to-date management in every particular, for Mr. Buf- fington was wide-awake and energetic about putting into practice the theories he evolved on competent hotel management during his long experience. They met with popular ap- proval, if that may be judged by the volume of business. The hotel is now closed. In asso- ciation with his sister-in-law, Mrs. George D. Buffington, Mr. Buffington has 320 acres of valuable coal land in Ringgold township, now being profitably worked. Though primarily a business man, he enjoys politics and maintains a steady interest in the activities of the Repub- lican party, in whose circles he is very well known. For three years he served as consta- ble of Rose township. His social connections are with the B. P. O. Elks lodge at Reynolds- ville, No. 519, with the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose.

Mr. Buffington married Annie M. Withe- row, daughter of Samuel and Hannah ( Fisher ) Witherow, of Rose township, Jef- ferson county, and they have a family of four children : Lina M. is the wife of Thomas Glenn, and they reside at Corsica, Pa .; Price E. is engaged in the automobile business at Brookville, and resides at home (he is a mem- ber of Lodge No. 519, B. P. O. Elks, at Rey- noldsville) ; Lester C. is a well known ball player, now a member of the Olean ( N. Y.) team; Ruth is at home.

ASAPH MILTON CLARKE, M. D., for nearly half a century a resident of Brockway- ville. Jefferson county, was identified with the northern part of the county for more than sixty years and active in the practice of his profession to the day of his death, though he lived to be over seventy-five years of age. Dr. Clarke was born in the town of Granby, Hart- ford Co., Conn., March 22, 1808. His par- ents, Philetus and Penelope ( Godard) Clarke, were among the first to penetrate into the Little Toby wilderness, and, with those who were associated with them in the reclaiming of those untrodden wilds, have been noticed in the ear- lier pages of this work. The father, born Oct. 9. 1782, son of Joel and Chloe ( Reed) Clarke, died Jan. 12, 1852. The mother, born Dec. 6, 1787, was a daughter of Tilley and Adah ( Holcomb) Godard. They were mar- S

ried Feb. 20, 1806. Both were of old New England ancestry, descended from early set- tlers in Massachusetts and Connecticut, under Governor Winthrop, though it is not known exactly when the first emigrants from Eng- land came to these shores. The Clarkes were of English origin, the Godards German. The name Godard, also written Goddard and Gos- sard, means "goose herder." The letter "e" terminating a name signified that the possessor could read and write the ancient languages.

The Doctor's forebears, paternal and ma- ternal, were remarkable for longevity. His great-grandparents, John and Molly ( Hill- yard ) Godard, died at the ages of ninety-six and ninety-seven years, respectively ; Ephraim and Dorcas ( Hays) Holcomb, parents of Mrs. Adah ( Holcomb) Godard, died aged eighty- four and sixty-five years, respectively ; while their daughter Adah attained the wonderful age of one hundred and two years. Her hus- band, Tilley Godard, born in Massachusetts ( a patriot soldier in the Revolution), died aged ninety years. All the Doctor's ancestors of the Revolutionary period took part in the war.

Joel Clarke was born in Massachusetts, and was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died Nov. 6, 1844, and his wife, Chloe ( Reed), passed away Feb. 25. 1849. They were the parents of three sons and one daugh- ter, Elihue, Joel, Jr., Philettts and Chloe, and the entire family moved to Jefferson county. Pa., in 1819, from Russell, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., whither they had removed from Con- necticut. Elihue Clarke married Elizabeth Ellinger March 4, 1830; Joel Clarke, Jr., mar- ried Mary Monahan ; Philetus Clarke married Penelope Godard; Chloe Clarke married Mil- ton Johnston.

The reader is referred to Chapter XXVIII. Snyder Township, for Dr. Clarke's account of the family's settlement in Jefferson county. In 1828 Philetus Clarke was appointed post- master at Helen. He died in Brockwayville in 1852, and his wife died in 1878, aged ninety- one years. Philetus and Penelope ( Godard ) Clarke had four children, namely: Asaph Milton, Sylvia G., Ada and Marilla.

Asaph Milton Clarke was about six months old when the family moved to Russell, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where they remained until 1819. He was born amid the scenes of frontier dangers and his home was within hearing distance of the roar of the cannon during the war of 1812. One incident of his infancy is given in his own words: "Perhaps it might have been a joke of the old Canadian Indian who came to our house when mother

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was alone. I was sleeping in the cradle. The savage, taking out his knife and moving towards the cradle, said: 'Ugh ! me kill damn Yankee!' My mother cried: 'No, Socksusup, you will not!' And, perhaps fortunately for my childish scalp, I was left unmolested. My mother, who related the story to me, said she was not afraid; but a quivering, ghost-like thrill of horror creeps over me yet to think of it."

The educational advantages in those days were limited in the extreme, but young Clarke was possessed of an inquiring mind, and the older he grew the more insatiate became his thirst after knowledge. As he says, his first lessons were received at his mother's knee ; that mother whom he loved and revered so tenderly, and who made her home near him until called from earth, only a few short years before him. He was quite quick at repartee, well illustrated by an experience he had while in Huntingdon county, in 1828, where he fell in with a burly woodchopper who had con- ceived an antipathy for him just because he was a "Yankee." ( See Chapter XXVIII.)

At an early age Dr. Clarke evinced his love for the medical profession, and studied under Dr. Jonathan Nichols, the pioneer physician of that part of the State, and to whom, he says, "I am more indebted than to any other person for my success in after years." He became one of the best known physicians in the county. In 1836 he removed to Brockwayville, where he laid out the town and did much to give it its "first start in life." and where for almost fifty years he made his home, watching its every upward stride with a zealous eye. Much of his history has been given in the history of the medical profession, of which he was an honored member, and his patient, faithful and gentle ministrations at the bedside of the sick and dying will not soon be forgotten. He moved to Brookville in the fall of 1857, and practiced there until the fall of 1863. when he returned to Brockwayville. He died there, suddenly, May 22. 1884.

The following fitting tribute to Dr. Clarke was written at the time of his death by one who loved him for his many good qualities of head and heart : "Deceased was intellectually a re- markable man. Denied the advantages of wealth and education, he became not only a learned and skillful physician, but a literary man of high order. Books were the mine in which he delved. and from their pages he brought forth jewels of information and thought most rare. He loved poetry with an ardor words cannot express, and was not only familiar with the leading poets of the past and

present, but was himself the author of a num- ber of fragments which show him to have been possessed of a poetic fire, that, in the hands of one less modest and unassuming than he ever proved himself to be, would have made him an enduring name. His qualities of heart were no less choice than were those of his head. He was generous to a fault, and as meek and gentle as a child. Nothing seem- ingly gave him more pleasure than to do good for his fellow men, and many there are who have partaken bountifully of his store. In the sickroom his presence was always a sweet solace, and his delicate touch almost as sooth- ing as a narcotic. In the social circle he was ever popular, the diversity of his knowledge and the easy flow of his language rendering him a delightful companion. As a man and citizen he was highly respected, as was proved by the spontaneity with which his neighbors gathered about his grave and dropped a tear to his precious memory. His death, like his life, was peaceful, and the name he leaves be- hind is as pure as the lily and as fragrant as the rose."

On March 6, 1831, Dr. Clarke was married to Rebecca Mason Nichols, the daughter of his friend and preceptor, Dr. Nichols, and on the fiftieth anniversary of this 'event they cele- brated their golden wedding at their home in Brockwayville, in the presence of their chil- dren, grandchildren and friends. Mrs. Clarke, who was in very truth a helpmate to her hus- band. died Sept. 13, 1890. Their family con- sisted of ten children, four sons and six daugh- ters : Hilpa A. married William H. Schram, of Ridgway; Adaline was drowned Oct. 9, 1843: Penelope G. married Dr. W. J. Mc- Knight, of Brookville; Julia died Jan. 23, 1839: Myrton died March 31, 1842; Sarah M. married Thomas M. Myers, of Brockwayville; Capt. Asaph M. settled in York county. Pa., but is now residing in Southern Pines, N. C. (he entered the war of the Rebellion and was promoted to captain) ; a son died in infancy April 16, 1847 : Frances Ada married John A. Green, of Brockwayville ; William D. is resid- ing in Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Of Mrs. Clarke's ancestry, the record is not so complete. Her father. Dr. Jonathan Nichols, who has already been noticed in this work, was the first settled minister of the gos- pel in Elk county, Pa. He was born March 4. 1775, the son of Jonathan and Rhoba (Mar- tin) Nichols, and died May 16, 1846. Dr. Nichols married Hannah Mason, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah ( Wood) Mason, on Jan. 17. 1796. She died in June, 1859, aged eighty-two years.

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WENDELL MCMINN AUGUST, of Brockwayville, is one of the leading business men of the younger set in that borough, and one whose achievements to date hold gratify- ing promise of larger usefulness. As super- intendent for the Toby Coal Mining Company, in which he is also interested as one of the owners, he has had plenty of opportunity to test the worth of his earlier experiences, gained in the West, which helped to develop his acquirements as an engineer along prac- tical lines and proved equally valuable to him personally in broadening his mental outlook.

Mr. August's parents, Walter Scott and Charlotte ( McMinn) August, are both de- ceased. The maiden name of his paternal grandmother was Gregg. His father, born Dec. 23, 1863, in Allegany county, N. Y., the grandson of a Russian political refugee to this country, was engaged as an oil operator until his death, which occurred when he was in his prime. At Brockwayville, Pa., he married Charlotte McMinn, daughter of John Mc- Minn, who is fully mentioned elsewhere in this work, and they had two children, Myrtle (Mrs. Trimm, of Big Wells, Texas) and Wendell McMinn, Mrs. August dying when the latter was born.

Wendell McMinn August was born Feb. 18, 1885, at Rew, Mckean Co., Pa., and in early infancy was taken into the home of his aunt, Mrs. D. D. Groves, of Brockwayville, by whom he was reared. His preparatory educa- tion was acquired in the public schools of the borough, and after graduating from the high school at the age of sixteen years he was sent to the Chamberlain Military School, Randolph, N. Y., where he spent one year in mixed stud- ies. Returning home he was occupied for the greater part of the next two years in assisting his uncle as clerk in the post office, Mr. Groves being postmaster as well as storekeeper, and in the fall of 1903 resumed study, at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa., from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of bachelor of science. After two years' connection with a private school at Easthampton, Mass., as teacher of mathemat- ics, he yielded to his desire to see something of the West, visiting in Denver for a short time, and proceeding thence to Olathe, Colo .. and later to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where his uncle, William T. McMinn, was engaged in prospecting. While there he entered his name as applicant for a tract of government land in the Coeur d'Alene region, which was just being opened up to settlers, hut being unsuc- cessful at the drawing returned to Colorado

and went into engineering work, getting his first taste of "hard rock life" at River Portal, which is situated at the intake of the famous Gunnison tunnel, a wonderful piece of con- struction in the mountains that was eleven years in building. He was variously occupied on this undertaking, in the government em- ploy, and next joined an engineering corps at Montrose, Colo., which was sent to Placer- ville, the journey of sixty-eight miles by rail occupying three days. Proceeding on foot to Norwood, twenty miles farther, they obtained a complete outfit at that point and then con- tinned on to the scene of operations, San Juan, where the preliminary survey for an irriga- tion project was to be made-two months of close and interesting scientific examination of a wild region then one hundred miles from the railroad, and noted for its rugged, pictur- esque beauty. Going back to Montrose with the party, he fell in with a college chum with whom he went out to Salt Lake City and thence north to Lima, Mont., at which place he took a position as night clerk in the rail- road yards temporarily. His next move was to Butte, Mont., where his first night's lodg- ing cost him four dollars and a half at the exorbitant rates to which newcomers are some- times subjected in regions where they are at the mercy of hotelkeepers, but he managed to secure a clerkship in the railroad yards which he filled for a short time to help out his finances, his funds having run low. Spokane was his next stopping place, and until he en- gaged as a bridge carpenter he had the rather severe experience of getting along for six weeks on ninety cents. By the time he had put in six weeks at bridge carpentry he was promoted to general bridge inspector on the line of the Oregon & Washington Railroad & Navigation Company, this work taking him all over the route between Spokane and Portland. He held this position nine months.

Having decided that his old home presented a good field for business and professional op- portunities Mr. August returned to Brock- wayville and entered upon the activities in which he has since been engaged, buying a half interest in the Black Diamond Mine of the Toby Coal Mining Company. After oper- ating about a year he reorganized the said company and enlarged its scope by beginning operations at Delwood Station which are still in progress, and which under Mr. August's superintendence have every prospect of pros- perity. He has made a thorough study of local conditions and of the modern ideas of development applicable to them, with the re-

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 24

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