Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 31

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 31

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and navy, who formed part of the team, did much to secure the splendid moral victory of that team, an achievement as great as, if not greater than, their splendid victories in the games.

In a financial way Colonel Thompson has had great success, but he has held and used his wealth as one who acknowledges that money ownership carries a duty to his fellow man. Colonel Thompson has often said that he hoped to so live that when he died many would regret his death. In 1911 he served as president of the Pennsylvania Society of New York, and during his presidency the William Penn dinner was given by the society in London and the Penn memorial dedicated. The success of this dinner was due to Colonel Thompson's wide acquaintanceship with the leading men of Eng- land. The Colonel has a big heart, and his munificence and charities command the atten- tion of kings. He has been honored by the Emperor of Japan, who conferred upon him the Order of the Second Class of the Rising Sun, an honor which in Japan is reserved for men of great achievements, such as Marshal Oyama, Admiral Togo and the other great leaders in the war with Russia. While in Massachusetts. Colonel Thompson entered politics and was chairman of the Young Re- publican committee which conducted the cam- paign against General Butler when Governor Talbot, of Lowell, was elected, and the Colonel was very proud of the fact that he presided over a meeting held in Faneuil hall and pre- sented General Garfield to an immense audi- cnce. Through the courtesy of Robert Means Mason, of Boston, who claimed a far-away cousinship with Colonel Thompson, he was present at many of the meetings of the famous Thursday Club and had the pleasure and honor of meeting and knowing Agassiz, Longfellow. Whittier, Holmes, Lowell and other famous men of that day and time. Louise Alcott. Sarah Orne Jewett, authors of wide celebrity. were his friends, and they were frequently guests at the home of Colonel and Mrs. Thompson. He came to be known as "Colonel" Thompson from the fact that dur- ing the Spanish-American war he was chosen by Gov. Foster W. Voorhees, of New Jersey. as his chief of staff, and though the title of "Colonel" is often the cause of mild amuse- ment to his naval friends "Colonel" Thompson he remains, for in America they say : "Once a colonel always a colonel."

On April 30, 1873. Colonel Thompson mar- ried Sarah Gibbs, daughter of Gov. William Channing Gibbs and Mary ( Kane ), his wife,

of Newport. R. I. Their only daughter, Sarah Gibbs, married Stephen Il. P. Pell, April 17. 1901, and they have two grandsons, Robert Thompson Pell and John Howland Gibbs Pell. -(Contributed by Dr. W. J. McKnight.)

JAMES I. BRADY, who is now living prac- tically retired, with an attractive home in the borough of Brookville, has been a resident of Jefferson county since the time of his birth and has proved himself a worthy representa- tive of a family whose name has been closely linked with the march of civic and industrial progress here, while the name which he bears has been linked with Pennsylvania annals for several generations. Mr. Brady finds ample demands upon his time and attention in his loyal and effective service as a member of the borough council of Brookville and as chairman of the Republican county committee, his finesse in directing political forces having made him specially eligible for this latter office, to which he was elected in the spring of 1914 for a term of two years and reelected in the spring of 1916 for a second term. The year 1916 also records his second experience as a member of the municipal council, in which he is the able champion of progressive measures and judi- cious management of the fiscal affairs of the borough. He had previously served as a men- ber of council for a period of six years.

Mr. Brady was born in Pinecreek township, this county, July 1, 1852, son of Oliver C. and Margaret Ann ( Long) Brady, both of whom were residents of Pinecreek township at the time of their deaths. James Y. Brady, his grandfather, was for many years a prominent and influential citizen and representative farmer of Mahoning township. Indiana county, where he served forty years in the office of justice of the peace. He was a native of Pennsylvania and a cousin of the well known Capt. Samuel Brady, who gained much of historic fame for his service in connection with Indian warfare. James Y. Brady wedded Sarah Ricketts, who was born in Virginia. a member of one of the old and honored fami- lies of that historic Commonwealth, and who was a woman of exceptional culture and of most gracious personality. They continued their residence in Indiana county until they died. They were the parents of the following children: Andrew Jackson, born Feb. 3. 1815: John, born July 12, 1816; Mary Jane, born Feb. 12, 1820; Julia A., born June 21. 1823; James C., born Dec. 23. 1825; Oliver Crom- well, born July 15. 1827; Evaline, born Oct. 10, 1829: William Wallace, born Nov. 25.

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1831 ; George Washington, born July 19, 1833 ; Silas Wright, born July 24, 1836. This family were all born in Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.

Oliver C. Brady was born on the old home- stead farm in Indiana county, where he was reared and educated, and as a young man he became one of the early settlers of Pinecreek township, Jefferson county, where he improved a good farm, besides becoming associated with lumbering operations. There both he and his wife continued to maintain their home until death. Mrs. Brady was a daughter of John Long, who was a well known citizen of Jefferson county. Oliver C. Brady was a man of strong mentality and mature judgment, commanded secure place in the popular es- teem, and was influential in public affairs of a local order. He was a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and in addition to having served many years as justice of the peace in Pinecreek township he was for three years a member of the board of county commission- ers. He and his wife are survived by three children, James I. being the oldest of the num- ber; John L. is a substantial citizen of Pine- creek township, and Nora E. is the wife of George Bankston, near Oil City. The parents were Methodists in religious connection.

James I. Brady found the period of his childhood and youth compassed by the en- vironment and influences of the home farm, with the work of which he continued to be associated until he had attained to the age of twenty years. The public schools of his na- tive township in the meanwhile afforded him good educational advantages. At the age noted he quit the farm and secured employment from James Humphrey, remaining in his employ un- til he located in Brookville, where he took charge of the Blain sawmill as superintendent, owned by his uncles Andrew Jackson Brady and James E. Long. He continued in their employ for a period of fifteen years, until their operations were finished, and thereafter he was successfully engaged in the mercan- tile business at Brookville for about ten years. Since severing his active association with the last mentioned line of enterprise he has lived practically retired, save that the people of his native county, recognizing his eligibility and sterling worth, have called upon him to serve in public office and as one of the able leaders of the Republican party in the county. He is affiliated with the local lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran Church.

In 1877 Mr. Brady was married to Amanda Schuckers, daughter of the late Daniel Schuckers, who came to Jefferson county from Pottsville, Schuylkill county. Mr. and Mrs. Brady have two children : Leroy I., born Feb. 9, 1879, passed ten years as bookkeeper and store manager for a large and important in- dustrial concern in Mexico, and he and his family now reside in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa .; he married Mamie Zimmerman, and they have one child, Carrie May. Alma May, born Nov. 17, 1883, is the wife of John J. O'Sulli- van, of Brookville, and their two children are James Brady O'Sullivan and John Walter O'Sullivan.

HARRY R. GOURLEY, M. D., of Punx- sutawney, member of the staff of the Punxsu- tawney Hospital and known throughout that section as a conscientious practitioner, is one of the popular representatives of his profes- sion in Jefferson county. His office is at the drug store of Dr. S. S. Hamilton, his former employer and long-time associate, with whom he has maintained friendly relations of many years' standing.

Dr. Gourley is a native of Jefferson county and a member of one of the early settled fam- ilies of Perry township, to which section his grandfather, Thomas Gourley, came in young manhood. His great-grandfather. George Gourley, established the family in America and western Pennsylvania. Born in 1769 in Londonderry, Ireland, he came to this coun- try and for a few years thereafter resided in Huntingdon county, Pa. His permanent loca- tion, however, was then made in Armstrong county, where he died aged eighty-two years, Sept. 6, 1850. His wife, whose maiden name was Rosanna McNeal, died Sept. 9, 1853, and they are buried in the Perry cemetery in Jef- ferson county. Having come to this section in the pioneer period, they had many interesting tales to relate of the early days which have come down to the present through their nu- merous descendants. Their large family were born as follows: Thomas, Oct. 28. 1805 ; John. May 19, 1808 (died in May, 1891) : James, Aug. 23, 1810 (died March 21, 1867) ; Mar- garet, Jan. 24. 1812; Alexander, June 4, 1814; George, March 17, 1816 (died Jan. 23, 1846) ; Rosanna, March 12, 1819: Armstrong. Sept. 15, 1820 : Robert, May 27. 1822; Nancy, Nov. 23, 1823: Mary Ann, Sept. 18, 1826.

Thomas Gourley, son of George, above, was born Oct. 28, 1805, in Ireland, and was a boy when he accompanied his parents to this coun- try. In early manhood he located in Perry

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township, Jefferson county, then a sparsely settled region, and he acquired land and fol- lowed farming, making a good home for his large family. He was one of the honored citi- zens of his day. llis death occurred when he was about sixty years old, and his wife Ellen (Adams) survived him some twenty years. She was born in Pennsylvania. daugh- ter of Robert and Margaret (Crawford ) Adams, the former also a native of this State. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gourley, viz. : Robert ; George ; Sam- uel Thomas: Marcus: James, born Dec. 25, 1835 : Lucinda : John ; Crawford ; Lewis ; Mag- gie, and Gaskill. John and Crawford are the only survivors at this writing (1916). The daughter Lucinda married Ralston Mitchell. by whom she had two daughters: Maggie A., wife of Dr. W. F. Beyer, of Punxsutawney ; and Sarah Eleanora, deceased, who was the first wife of Dr. S. S. Hamilton, of Punxsu- tawney. After Mr. Mitchell's death his widow married Jacob Grube, by whom she also had two children: Maude, wife of Elmer Veil ; and Lewis, who married Tena Philippi. Mag- gie, the youngest daughter of Thomas Gourley. married James Hamilton.

Robert Gourley, eldest son of Thomas, was for a number of years a prominent farmer in Perry township, where he owned and operated a valuable tract of land. He was also very successful as a salesman of farm machinery during his active years. Moving in later life to DuBois, Clearfield county, he died there at the age of sixty-nine years. Ilis wife, Anna ( Bell), was a daughter of the late Judge James H. Bell, of Bells Mills, Jefferson county. and to their union were born six children, three sons dying young. The others are : Ella. wife of Lafayette Sutter and mother of Maize, Max, Morey, Irene, Harry. Hamilton, Lenora and Anna Bell ; Harry R. is the only surviving son : Sarah Jane, twin of Harry, is the sec- ond wife of Dr. S. S. Hamilton, of Punxsu- tawney, a leading physician and druggist.

Harry R. Gourley was born May 23. 1872, in Perry township, where he spent his early years in rural environment and obtained his elementary education in the public schools. Subsequently he was sent to the Covode Acad- emy in Indiana county. and had three terms' experience as a school teacher, one in Wins- low township. Jefferson county, one at Coal Glen. Jefferson county, and the other in Clear- field county. For six years following he was in the employ of the American Express Com- pany, at DuBois and Bradford. Pa., at the end of that period becoming a clerk in the drug

store of Dr. S. S. Hamilton, at Punxsutaw ney, a position he filled for eight years. Mean- time he had decided upon entering the medical profession, so in 1898 he entered the Ohio Medical University, from which he was grad- uated in June, 1902. For about nine months he practiced at a small town known as Center Village, near Delaware, Ohio, but he was en- couraged to return to his native county, locat- ing at Punxsutawney, where he was associated in practice with Dr. S. S. Hamilton for a period of six months. Then for a year he was at Rochester Mills, Indiana county, coming back to Punxsutawney and resuming partner- ship with Dr. Hamilton, with whom he prac- ticed from 1904 to 1912. Dr. Gourley was ambitious to take up some special work and accordingly went to Boston, Mass., where he pursued his chosen studies in pediatrics (dis- eases of children) for the next six months, since when he has followed general practice at Punxsutawney, specializing in pediatrics. He gives considerable time to his work at the hospital, and has been active among the mem- bers of his profession as a loyal member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Red Bank Physicians' Protective Association, the State Medical Society and the American Med- ical Association. Socially he holds member- ship in the B. P. O. Elks lodge at Punxsutawney. Dr. Gourley's unselfish devo- tion to the needs of his patrons has won their admiration and unqualified approval, mani- fested in many ways, as much for the fine traits which inspire it as for the success which has attended his efforts.

Dr. Gourley married Edith Jenkins, daugh- ter of John Jenkins, of DuBois, Pa., and their children are Maxine, Sarah and Harry, Jr.

SYLVESTER S. HAMILTON, M. D., a foremost medical practitioner of Punxsutaw ney and one of the leading druggists in that section of Jefferson county, has been estab- lished in the borough since 1878, when he came to practice with Dr. Altman. Born Aug. 12, 1852. in Indiana county, Pa., he is a son of James A. and Isabella ( Sutton ) Ham- ilton, both also natives of that county. James A. Hamilton was engaged as a tanner for about twenty years, having learned the trade in early life, and in 1861 became a merchant in Indiana county, also buying and shipping large numbers of horses. Moving to Big Run. Jefferson county, he carried on merchandising and lumbering there until his retirement. in 1893. He died in April. 1897, aged seventy- three years. Having served more than twenty-

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five years as a justice of the peace, he was well known as "Squire" Hamilton, and was influential among his neighbors, who trusted and esteemed him highly. His wife died in 1883.

Sylvester S. Hamilton began attending school near his carly home, later went to the Covode Academy, and taught during the win- ters in his young manhood, meanwhile con- tinuing his studies as opportunity offered. In 1869 he attended school at Lebanon, Ohio, completed his literary course in the university at Scio, that State, and in 1875 began the study of medicine with Dr. William Altman, of Punxsutawney. He attended lectures at Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and Columbus (Ohio) Medical College, graduat- ing from the latter institution in 1878, in which year he entered upon practice with his former preceptor. The confidence he gained during the early years of his professional ca- reer has never waned, his reputation as one of the most reliable general practitioners in his section having been maintained by inde- fatigable and skillful service to the many who depend upon him as their medical adviser. He became the owner of a drug store in Punx- sutawney which he still conducts, commanding a very large share of the local trade for the various lines of merchandise carried, both drugs and a general stock of paints and the various other commodities usually found in similar establishments. Dr. Hamilton has been honored with the presidency of the Jefferson County Medical Society, and holds member- ship in the State Medical Society, the Amer- ican Medical Association and the National Association of Railway Surgeons. His fra- ternal connections are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knights of Pythias at Punxsutawney. The Doctor is a loyal Re- publican and has been an effective party worker in the county. He was elected to the legislature in 1901 for a term of two years and rendered valuable services while a mem- ber of the House.

Dr. Hamilton has been twice married. In 1876 he wedded Sarah Eleanor Mitchell, daughter of Ralston Mitchell, of Jefferson county, and she died July 24, 1890, leaving one daughter, Dr. Cecil Beatrice, now the wife of Dr. W. H. Gilmore, of Mount Vernon, Ill. ; she has three children, John, William R. and Eleanor. On Feb. 11, 1892, Dr. Hamil- ton married Sarah J. Gourley, daughter of Robert Gourley, and by this union has two children, Sylvester S., Jr .. and Robert. Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Pres-

byterian Church, which he has served as elder for thirty-five years.

ALFRED TRUMAN, of Brookville, is a most honored and versatile citizen of that borough, where he has largely made his home from youth. A native of England, he came to this country seeking the opportunities which its developing resources seemed to offer, and was not disappointed in his quest. Then, hav- ing exceeded his expectations in the line of worldly success, he withdrew from active par- ticipation in business occupations to follow the pleasant ways of his personal tastes. Travel has been one of his chief delights, and his gift as a descriptive writer has been turned to most pleasing use, enabling him to share such pleasures with his fellows. Mr. Truman's connection with lumbering interests in Penn- sylvania covers a varied experience in the practical work as well as in the executive role of operator, and his actual familiarity with all its details, and the intimate knowledge of other interesting things he has acquired at great pains, invest his writings with real worth for his many thousands of readers.

Mr. Truman was born in Nottingham, Eng- land, Dec. 14, 1844, son of Sylvester and Mary Truman, also natives of Nottingham, where they lived and died. Their children were: Annie, wife of Benjamin Warsop, of London, England ; Hon. Henry Truman, of Brookville, Pa .; Eliza, deceased; William, of Brookville, Pa., deceased : Mary, a resident of Oil City, Pa .; Alfred; Frank, who was killed in 1863 while serving in the Civil war; and Emily, a resident of Nottingham, England. The father was a manufacturer of lace machinery.

It was in 1861 that Alfred Truman. then aged sixteen years, came to the United States. It had been arranged between his father and a Mr. Finch, general contractor at that time, that he was to stay in Pittsburgh, Pa., but in- stead he came on to Brookville and engaged in land clearing, farming and the work of lumbering. He was one of the pioneer steam engineers of this region, and, as noted in the article quoted below, ran the first locomotive in Jefferson county and hauled the first saw logs drawn by steam power in America. He married at the early age of twenty, and soon thereafter commenced the work of clearing a farm. His knowledge of the lumber business, in the meantime, had been broadening steadily, and he launched into it with spirit as well as skill, meeting every obstacle courageously, and crowning his career with remarkable success at the age of forty-eight. His lumber opera-

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tions had taken him into Elk and Cameron counties, Pa., as well as his home county, and into Clay county, Ala., his interests in this State being fairly extensive, the Southern operation by far the largest. Though he began with nothing, he went forward so rapidly that he not only had capital to finance his own ven- tures, but to loan to others. It was his policy always to keep clear of debt, and he never labored under its restrictions in any of his undertakings.

Mr. Truman was still in his prime when he retired, and he has had many hobbies to make his leisure enjoyable. He has traveled ex- tensively in Europe, as well as over much of the American continent, having crossed the Atlantic eleven times in his trips to and from the Old World, where he has visited Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, France and Germany, besides covering all of the British Isles. Being thoroughly practical, and a keen observer, and possessing marked ability as a writer, he has written hundreds of descriptive articles con- cerning his travels for the press, as well as dis- cussions on matters of leading interest to the country and the world at large, and he has the reputation of being the best composer in his particular literary field in the several counties adjacent to his place of residence. That others might derive further pleasure and profit from his travels, he has gone to considerable ex- pense to procure stereopticon views of the scenes which he found especially attractive or noteworthy, and with them has given, and con- tinues to give, free illustrated lectures which have been greatly enjoyed wherever pre- sented.

Mr. Truman has had another hobby worthy of particular mention, the making of handsome carving knives for his friends, both at home and abroad, in the countries he has visited. In fact, the years of his retirement have been largely occupied with traveling, writing and knife making, for he has made and distributed. over much of the world, some twelve hundred fine knives. Although not affiliated with church work, he has aided the various churches with lectures and suppers very generously. Local affairs have always had his solicitous attention, and he is serving at present as a member of the Brookville town council.

On July 6, 1865. Mr. Truman married Elizabeth Ford, daughter of George Ford, both from Nottingham, England. Of the six chil- dren born to them, Annie met death by acci- dent when nine years old ; Ella is married to F. H. Kaupp, a lumberman of Alabama and Mississippi : Rena married John J. Laumer,

wholesale lumber dealer, of Birmingham, Ala .; Frank was killed by accident at his father's lumber operation in Elk county, Pa .; Fred, who is in business and residing at Salamanca, N. Y., married Eva Burgham; Ralph, of Brookville, Pa., married Lulu Stewart.

From the interesting personal reminiscences of Alfred Truman we take the following ac- count of the "First Steam Log Train":

"The first hauling of logs by steam power over a tramroad was in the spring of 1864, by the firm of Wright & Pier, then operating at the mouth of Callan run on the Clarion river, seventeen miles north of Brookville, Pa. The idea was conceived by Mr. Wright, the firm hitherto having used horses, just as all lumbermen were doing, to haul logs in the summer time to the mills. An eight-horse- power portable boiler and engine was pro- cured at Pittsburgh, shipped to Kittanning- the nearest point of railway delivery at that time, and from there wagoned to its destina- tion, a distance of sixty-five miles. At this early day, outside of machine shops, there were but two engineers in all of that region of Pennsylvania-Silas Miller, of Brookville, and myself, then a lad of eighteen. I was employed along with Brush Baxter, a mill- wright, to construct a car upon which to erect the engine, and thus convert the thing into a locomotive. It is safe to say that, when com- pleted, it was the queerest looking locomotive the world has ever seen. The power from the engine was transmitted to the axles of the car by means of an eight-inch rubber belt running from a pulley on the engine shaft to a pulley on one of the car axles, made tight by the use of a tightener pulley. The two car axles were connected by cranks and connecting rods.

"The engine having been made to run in but one direction, we had to add an additional eccentric and eccentric rod, both rods being constructed so as to work on the same pin of the rock arm; so that, whilst one of the rods was at work, the other hung in a leather strap and moved idly to and fro. To reverse the engine, one had to change the relative positions of the eccentric rods, and this could only be done by bringing the engine to a standstill.

"The day having been set for the trial of the 'Little Wonder,' invitations were sent out to the ladies and gentlemen of the surrounding firms, among whom was the Raught family, then in the midst of a world of forest wealth common to that noble region in those early days. The day came, and with it the merry gathering of invited guests. The ladies, ar- rayed on the grass-plot bank above the tram-

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 31

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