Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 45

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 45

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was still the owner of seven hundred acres at his death. After the mines were opened he embarked in the mercantile business, operating a store for three years. In all dealings Mr. Ferman commanded the utmost respect, his honesty and integrity were never questioned, and he was looked up to wherever known as a man of honorable principles, progressive and ambitious but not selfish, furthering opera- tions which benefited others as well as him- self, and giving his support to all beneficial movements. He lived at the old home near the mill until his death, which occurred Nov. 7. 1895, and is buried at Brockwayville with his wife, who survived him but a few months, passing away April 19, 1896. They were devout members of the M. E. Church, and led consistent Christian lives, worthy of their religious profession. Mr. Ferman was origi- nally a Whig, later becoming a Republican.

On Aug. 9. 1848, Mr. Ferman married Susanna C. Bundy, born near Brockwayville, May 11, 1826. IIer father, John I. Bundy, was a prosperous farmer, moving to Jefferson from Clearfield county. After operating a large farm for many years he removed to Minne- sota, where he died. His wife's maiden name was Bliss. They had children as follows : Louisa, Susanna, Lucius, Hannah and Rebecca. Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Ferman were the parents of eight children, namely. ( I ) Albert James, born June 21, 1849, died in Brockwayville in March, 1916. He and his brother Samuel con- tinued their father's business. He was a Republican, and a member of the M. E. Church. He married Jennie Mckay, of Brockwayville, who with two daughters sur- vives him. (2) Eliza M., born on the home- stead Oct. 24, 1851, received her education principally under private tutors, her first teacher being Miss Sophronia Hewitt. Being physically disabled, her brother Albert drew her to school in a cart in summer and on a sled in winter. Miss Ferman spends most of her time at the old homestead, but resides part of the year in Brockwayville. (3) Samuel B., born April 23, 1854, owned and died on a part of the old homestead. He married Margaret McLaughlin. (4) Clara S., became the wife of W. H. Horton, and died in Brockport, Pa. (5) Josephine married James G. Daily, now of Philadelphia, and she died in Fredonia, N. Y. (6) Nellie, Mrs. E. D. Iddings, owns her brother Albert's old home. (7) Allie died Aug. 6. 1880, in her seventeenth year. (S) Zadie V., is wife of W. H. McNeil, of Snyder township.

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FRED J. BUTLER. The career of this progressive and influential citizen of Reynolds- ville has been marked by distinctive initiative and executive ability and by effective associa- tion with varied lines of business and industrial enterprises. As mayor of Reynoldsville since 1914 he has given a most circumspect and pro- gressive administration, and his regime fully justified his election to this chief executive position. Further interest attaches to his popu- larity and official preferment by reason of the fact that he became a resident of Reynolds- ville when he was four years of age and was here reared, his early education having been received in the public schools of the borough.

Mr. Butler was born at Catfish. Clarion Co., Pa., on the IIth of April, 1875, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah ( Hoon) Butler, Joseph Butler was long and effectively identi- fied with coal mining in western Pennsylvania and also developed a prosperous contracting business in which he supplied for some time all the coke and ore for the Great Western steel furnace at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county. In 1879 he came with his family to Jefferson county and established a home at Reynolds- ville, where he continued to be connected with coal mining enterprise until his death, in 1893. His widow still lives at Reynoldsville and cele- brated her eighty-second birthday in 1916. Of the children three sons and one daughter are deceased, and those who survive are James T., Mary, Ada, Fred J., Fannie, Britta and Mar- garet.

When a lad of but twelve years Fred J. Butler began to work at the coal mines at Soldier's Run, this county, and there he con- tinued for a period of three years. He then entered the employ of the coal mining firm of Bell & Lewis, with which he remained four years. In the meanwhile he had come to a realization of the need for broader educational discipline, and his ambition was distinctively one of action, as shown by the fact that he entered the DuBois Business College, in which he completed an effective and practical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1897. For the ensuing year he was in the employ of the Pinecreek Coal Company, and the next three years found him in executive service with the Clearfield Coal Company. The next year he was in the employ of the Cowans- ville Mining Company, after which he engaged in the confectionery and tobacco business at Reynoldsville. He developed a prosperous enterprise and after conducting the same four years he sold out and accepted a position with the Pittsburgh Coal Company, at Gradatim,

AAllegheny county, where he remained three years and served as postmaster during the major portion of this interval. After leaving Gradatim Mr. Butler went to Somerset county, where for the following three years he con- ducted a general store. He then returned to Reynoldsville, and engaged in the manufactur- ing and sale of mining machinery until 1912. llowever, his business activities have con- tinued. He is secretary of the Reynoldsville Building & Loan Association, and he is secre- tary also of the local business men's associa- tion. In the autumn of 1914 Mr. Butler was elected mayor of Reynoldsville, on the Demo- cratic ticket, and his selection for this import- ant executive office has proved of unequivocal value in furthering the best interests of the community. Mr. Butler was among the fore- most in effecting the organization of the Reynoldsville Chamber of Commerce, in 1916, and served as its temporary secretary. He has likewise given efficient service in the office of auditor of the borough and since 1914 he has held the position of treasurer of the Demo- cratic county committee of Jefferson county. Mr. Butler is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accep- ted Scottish Rite, as a member of the consis- tory at Williamsport. He holds membership also in the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and in the York Rite of Masonry his affiliations are with John M. Read Lodge, No. 536, Free & Accepted Masons, at Reynoldsville, of which he is past master and which he has served as secretary since 1913; also Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, Royal Arch Masons, at Brookville.

In the year 1897 Mr. Butler was married to Eva Vanen Shick, daughter of Samuel V. Shick, of Reynoldsville. Of the nine children of this union six are living, namely, Fay Irene, Nellie Clara, Fred J., Jr., James LaVerne, Lawrence Earl and Harold Raymond. The deceased children were Samuel and David A. and IJelen E., twins.

JOHN McLEAVY, of Punxsutawney, one of the most successful individual coal oper- ators in Jefferson county, has been identified with the mining industry ever since he came to Pennsylvania half a century ago. His fa- miliar knowledge of all the details pertaining to the local fields, acquired in constant asso- ciation with their exploitation for thirty years and more, is the basis for his reputation as an expert judge of coal properties and their pos- sibilities. In this respect he has few com-

John M Leary

THE NEW YORK U LIDMARY

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petitors, and there are not many men in the business so highly regarded as authority in the broad sense which the term has in its application to Mr. McLeavy. A man of vigorous personality, commanding character and keen intellectual faculties, he has been a notable force in the development of the lead- ing resource of western Pennsylvania.

Mr. McLeavy is a native of Ireland, born June 14. 1840, and in 1848 his family moved to Scotland, where he grew to manhood. Com- ing to America Jan. 27. 1867, he turned at once to Pennsylvania as holding possibilities for the prosperity he sought, and for the next fifteen years was located in Fayette county, this State, during fourteen years of that time in the employ of the Dunbar Furnace Com- pany. As manager of that company's mines he had a rich experience and responsibilities which proved his capabilities and brought him masterly proficiency in the handling of labor, as well as practical knowledge of the Pennsyl- vania coal fields. He studied faithfully un- der W. H. Spear, a prominent engineer, whose advice and suggestions he found most valu- able, and in 1875 became a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Coming to Punxsutawney, Jefferson Co., Pa., Sept. 1. 1882, Mr. LcLeavy formed a con- nection with the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Company which continued for a num- ber of years, during which he handled many properties for the concern advantageously. He opened the mines at Walston, this county. where he erected seven hundred and one coke ovens. Meantime, in 1886, he had become as- sistant general manager of the company, and that year located the Adrian mines in Jeffer- son county, at which point he built over four hundred coke ovens.

In the fall of 1889 he opened up the Eleanora mine, No. I. In the spring of the year 1890 Bell, Lewis & Yates leased the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Company's mines, with L. W. Robinson as assistant general manager, S. B. Elliott be- ing general manager. In May. 1890, Mr. Mc- Leavy opened the Helvetia mines in Clearfield county, just across the Jefferson county line. and built the town of Helvetia. In addition, he acted as superintendent for the Mahoning Valley Railroad Company. His association with the coal company ended in June, 1896, when he began operations entirely on his own account, and has since been so engaged. For a number of years he has been operating the Shaller and Conrad mines in Jefferson county, which have paid well as a result of skillful management. Mr. McLeavy is held in esteem

by his employes as well as his other associates, a fact which speaks well for his sense of justice and fairness in all transactions.

Fraternally Mr. McLeavy has been a Mason since 1874, belonging to Fayette Lodge, No. 228, F. & A. M., of Uniontown, Pa. ; to Union- town Chapter, No. 65, R. A. M. ; and to Beth- any Commandery, No. 83, K. T., of DuBois, Pa. He originally joined Uniontown Com- mandery, No. 49, but transferred his member- ship to the DuBois organization after chang- ing his residence to Jefferson county.

FRANK B. BLAKESLEE. the efficient and popular superintendent of the Jefferson Coal Company, with headquarters at Coal Glen, is a representative of an old and honored family of Jefferson county, though he was born in the little mining town of Carbon Run, Bradford county, this state, on the 28th of June, 1879. He was a lad of six years when his parents came to the county and numbered themselves among the first settlers at Coal Glen, where the father had charge of the opening of mines now controlled by the Jefferson Coal Company.

Austin Blakeslee, father of Frank, was born in Monroe county, Pa., on the 24th of October, 1854, and in addition to the advantages of the public schools he received those of Wyoming Seminary. As a young man he became con- cerned with coal mining operations of the AAbbott-Davis Company of Carbon Run, Brad- ford county, and was but seventeen years of age at the time. He has continued with the same company to the present, though its name has been changed to the Jefferson Coal Com- pany. Forty-five years have passed since this sterling citizen began his service with this concern, ability and fidelity compassing his advancement from office boy to the responsible post of superintendent and general manager. As a young man Austin Blakeslee wedded Martha Cronk, a daughter of James and Jane Cronk, of Bradford county, both of whom passed the closing period of their lives at Coal Glen, where the former died at the age of eighty-six and the latter at eighty-one, their remains being interred in Wildwood cemetery at Brockwayville.

Austin Blakeslee achieved success through his active association with coal mining, and with his wife now resides at DuBois, where he is president of the DuBois Electric and Trac- tion Company, a director of the Deposit National Bank, and president of the Young Men's Christian Association. He has ever been a stalwart Democrat and on the 27th of May, 1886, was appointed postmaster of Coal Glen,

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a position he retained for many years, besides having conducted a general store. He is affi- liated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has received the chivalric degrees and is a member of the commandery of Knights Temp- lars at DuBois. Of the children the eldest is Robert, who married Eliza Osborn, their home being at DuBois, where he is superintendent of the DuBois Traction Company ; Frank B. was the second in order of birth ; Albert, who married Nellie Cole, resides at Northeast, Erie county ; Irving married Dollye Cole and they maintain their home at DuBois; Kathryn is the wife of Mordie E. Genter, of DuBois; Col- son married Miss Mabel Fye and resides at DuBois ; Lucy is MIrs. Earl Sheldon, of Punx- sutawney ; Russell is a student in the Pennsyl- vania State College. Jacob Blakeslee, grand- father of Frank, was of an old Colonial family of New England, and the genealogy is traced to stanch English origin.

Frank B. Blakeslee attended the schools of Coal Glen from the age of six years until he was fourteen, and then entered Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Luzerne county, where he continued his studies somewhat more than four years, pursuing the literary-scientific course, supplemented by a business or com- mercial course in the same institution, which was the alma mater of his father. Upon Jeav- ing school Mr. Blakeslee returned to Coal Glen and became a clerk in his father's general store. In 1910 he was admitted to partnership, and on the 12th of April, 1905, succeeded his father as postmaster, of which office he is the present incumbent. He has continued the mer- cantile business successfully since the removal of his father to DuBois and since 1903 he has held also the position of superintendent for the Jefferson Coal Company. He belongs to the Republican party and is a loyal and public- spirited citizen of the thriving industrial village in which he maintains his home.

At Coal Glen, in the year 1899, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Blakeslee to Blanche Blakeslee, who was born in Bradford county, daughter of George W. and Ida (West) Blakeslee. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee have three children: Robert A,, who is a member of the class of 1917 in the Beechwoods vocational school; Helen May, who is a member of the class of 1920, Beechwoods high school; and Dorothy Dean, pupil in the public school.

GLENN W. MEANS, D. D. S., has been a practicing dentist at Punxsutawney twenty years or more, and one of the successful rep- resentatives of his profession in the county.

He has kept abreast of the times, giving pa- trons the benefit of modern theory and prac- tice, and has been just as much alive to the advance of thought and achievement in other lines, for the range of his interests is wide and his sympathies extend into many branches of activity. Aside from his profession, his prin- cipal business is in agricultural work, in which he has found both recreation and profit, as well as an agreeable field for study and de- velopment. He owns a fine farm in Perry township, which gives him opportunity to test his ideas and which bears testimony to his skill and good judgment acquired in farming.

The Means family belongs to a sturdy race, whose members in Pennsylvania have proved themselves worthy, desirable citizens. His great-grandparents, John and Elizabeth Means, natives of Ireland, came to America early in the nineteenth century, and about or previous to 1820 located in Indiana county, Pa. They had formerly lived in Center county. Later they located in the village of Whitesville, across the Indiana county line in Jefferson county, where their sons purchased two hun- dred acres of land lying in Perry township and built a hewed-log house; the place was soon cleared and transformed into good farms. In the family were eleven children, namely : James, Edward, John, Thomas, Robert, Foster, Joseph, Jackson, Eliza, Margaret and Caroline.

Foster Means, son of John and Elizabeth Means, was the grandfather of Dr. Glenn W. Means.

William F. Means, son of Foster Means, was born at the Means home one mile north of Frostburg, in Perry township, and had the average training and advantages given to boys of his time. In early life he learned black- smithing which he continued to follow until 1882, when he took up farming at Grange, in Perry township, remaining there until his death, which occurred in 1902; he is buried in the cemetery at Frostburg. Mr. Means was twice married, his first wife being Eliza J. Weaver, daughter of Henry Weaver. By this union there were three children : Flora S., who married J. G. Stewart and died in 1894; Glenn W. ; and L. V., who owns and occupies the old homestead in Perry township. For his second wife Mr. Means married Isabella Hen- derson, of Armstrong county, and to them was born one son, Delbert, who is living in Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Glenn W. Means was born Oct. 5, 1868, at Frostburg, where he was reared, during his boyhood attending public school in the home

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district, and also summer school. He prepared for his profession at the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1895. In 1896 he commenced practice at Punxsu- tawney, where he has maintained his office ever since, with quarters in the Spirit building. By conscientious and intelligent attention to patrons Dr. Means has acquired and retained a large clientele, being thoroughly deserving of the good will and high opinion of the many in and around Punxsutawney who have availed themselves of his services. He works toward general progress by his active connection with the Punxsutawney Fair Association, of which he has been president for the last five years. The Doctor has also been one of the leading spirits in the local lodge of B. P. O. E., No. 301, and is a past exalted ruler of that body. In all that pertains to good citizenship he may be counted upon for loyal and public-spirited service.

Dr. Means was married to Sarah M. Blose, daughter of David M. Blose, a pioneer lum- berman and farmer of Hamilton, and they have a family of three children. Ora, Walter and David.

JOHN J. HUTCHISON is proprietor of the only jewelry establishment at Brockway- ville. ' His grandfather, Thomas Hutchison, was born in Ireland early in the nineteenth century ; he married Catherine McClintock, who was born in 1813 in County Clare, and came to Jefferson county in 1849. He died at the old homestead in August, 1895, when ninety years old, surviving his wife thir- teen years, she dying in November, 1882. They are buried in the Beechwoods cemetery. Their children were: James, who died in Penn- sylvania ; Thomas ; Martha, Mrs. M. B. Moor- head. of Brockwayville; John, late of New Bethlehem, who married Mary Hopkins : Mary H., Mrs. Thomas Pifer, of Eleanora : Catherine, Mrs. James A. Cooper, of Cam- bridge Springs, Pa .; Joseph, of Chicago, Ill .. who married Anna McClelland ; and Marga- ret. Mrs. S. Fye, who died in Brockwayville.

Thomas Hutchison, father of John J., was born April 3. 1838. near Londonderry. Ire- land, coming with his mother and two other children at the age of ten to join the father. who had preceded them, in New York State. The same year they located in Jefferson county, two miles west of Brockwayville. The children had received some schooling in Ire- land, but most of Thomas Hutchison's training was of a practical order. When his father

died he took the home place, and was enter- prising in business affairs, looking carefully after his farm interests. He also dealt in agricultural implements, and continued both lines until his retirement to Brockwayville. Mr. Hutchison was a man of keen intelligence and broad ideas, and worked for the good of his community, promoting beneficial move- ments of all kinds and giving efficient service in several local offices. He was notably up- right and honorable in business transactions, and a respected member of the Presbyterian Church, his influence for good being felt in every association of life. On public questions he was a strong Republican. On Aug. 29, 1861, he enlisted in Company H. 105th Penn- sylvania Regiment, for three years, receiving an honorable discharge Sept. 4. 1864, while in front of Petersburg.

On March 5, 1867. Mr. Hutchison married, in Beechwoods, Mary Ann Smith, who was born there Aug. 18, 1845, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth ( Hunter ) Smith, of Washing- ton township. She was a member of the M. E. Church, and like him a devout Christian. Mrs. Hutchison passed away June 2, 1909, Mr. Hutchison on May 9, 1913. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Catherine Ann, Mrs. C. C. Chitester, of Brockwayville; Matthew, now living on the homestead, who married Mary Atwell : Martha J., wife of Dr. F. R. Humphreys ; Elizabeth, a trained nurse, of Brockwayville : Dr. George MI., who gradu- ated from the Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, and is now practicing at Dagus Mines, Pa. (he married Pearl Almy) ; Dr. Thomas Albert, of DuBois, who married Myrtle Hewitt ; Mary S., Mrs. F. E. Walker. of Raeford, Hoke Co .. N. C .; and John J., of Brockwayville.

John J. Hutchison was born in August, 1885. on the farm near Brockwayville. He spent four years as a jeweler's apprentice with George W. Custer and A. C. Guth, at DuBois. He returned to Brockwayville well equipped to start in business for himself, which he did without delay, and has so continued success- fully. handling a stock of reliable goods and giving special attention to watchmaking: ne is watch inspector for the Erie Railroad Com- pany. In 1913 he formed a partnership with George E. Smith, and they are doing an exten- sive business as furniture dealers, in which field they cater to a discriminating trade.

On Sept. 17, 1912, Mr. Hutchison was mar- ried at DuBois to Mande N. Riley, daughter of J. M. Riley, a traveling salesman.

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JAMES WALLACE CURRY, ex-sheriff of Jefferson county, is one of the leading agri- culturists in Snyder township. In addition to general farming he raises considerable stock, and has always done lumbering, being of en- ergetic nature and ambitious temperament. Though yet in his prime he knows by experi- ence what the work of reclaiming this country from the forest has meant, for he worked in the woods with his father when a mere boy. . the rather severe training of his youth prov- ing an excellent preparation for the responsi- bilities of mature years. During a term as sheriff of the county he gave the highest satis- faction by efficient and conscientious discharge of official duties.

Mr. Curry was born on the Bond farm in Snyder township, Aug. 27, 1866, being a son of James Curry, who was born near London- derry, Ireland, about 1835, coming to America in 1857 with his wife and six months' old son, of the immediate family but one sister remain- ing in Ireland. Landing at Philadelphia, they soon came by rail as far as Tyrone, and thence by wagon into the Beechwoods in Jefferson county, where he spent the rest of his active years engaged in farming and lumbering. He died at Brockwayville in March, 1898, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he was a Republican. His wife, Mary ( Brit- ton), was born in County Derry, Ireland, about 1837, a daughter of John and Mary (Orr) Britton, and died in Brockwayville in 1914. Their final resting place is in Wildwood cemetery. Their children were: John, who married Emma Penfield, is living in North Carolina ; Martha, now Mrs. John Tobin, is a resident of Brockwayville; William G., of Brockwayville, married Jessie Niver ; Mamie, Mrs. Robert Adams, died in a hospital at Buf- falo, N. Y .: James Wallace is next ; Daisy, Mrs. C. T. Felt, lives at Franklin : Joseph V., of Falls Creek, married Rose Maxwell ; Elsie is the wife of Dr. O. O. Moorhead, of Butler.

James Wallace Curry attended what is now known as the Frost school in Snyder township, his first teacher being Mary McCullough, of Beechwoods, and his last was Cynthia Ross. He assisted with the work at home and when thirteen years old left school and helped his father in his lumber business, driving a team in the woods. He was capable and strong, and at fifteen was doing a man's work. his experience including all the phases of life re- lated to lumbering. He has rafted on Toby Creek, the Clarion and Allegheny rivers, ever carrying the usual labor of an experienced river man. At the time of his marriage he

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 45

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