Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 56

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 56

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Their children were: Thomas, Nathan, Euphrastus, Darius. Hiram, John, Henry, Hannah. Millie, Lucy and Eliza. The father, Thomas Carrier, was born in Massachusetts, a descendant of a Colonial family, and was reared to manhood in his native State, as a young man going to Connecticut. Thomas. the eldest of his sons, went to Tennessee when young, and there married and passed the residue of his life. All of the other sons re- mained in Jefferson county until death. Han- nah became the wife of Thomas Welton and resided in New York State. Millie and her husband. George Eckler, were pioneers of Minnesota, where they died. Lucy when a young woman went West, her family losing all trace of her. Eliza became the wife of Alonzo Baldwin, of Summerville, and was a comparatively young woman when she died.

All of the sturdy Carrier sons who remained in Jefferson county became successfully identi- fied with lumbering and farming operations. Darius, Hiram and John each operated saw- mills, the two first mentioned being owners of mills at Summerville. John built the first saw- mill at Puckerty, now known as Coder, this mill being finally swept away by the swollen waters of Red Bank creek. These three brothers were among the successful lumber- men along the Red Bank. John also owned and reclaimed a farm, and the homes of all three were in Clover township. Darius was the last to pass to the life eternal, dying March 21, 1892, attaining to the patriarchal age of ninety-one years. twenty-one days. His old home is one of the veritable landmarks of Summerville, occupying a position a short dis- tance from the present Summerville bank. In 1861 he erected a flour mill. and continued the operation of the same until he sold to his youngest son. Scott W., who continued in con- trol for fifteen years and then sold the plant and business to J. C. Guthrie. This mill was finally destroyed by fire, on the 13th of De- cember. 1915. The sawmill operated by Dar- ius Carrier was on the opposite side of the creek from his gristmill, and he utilized the same power also in the operation of a factory, manufacturing buckets and tubs and chairs. The sawmill, with old-time upright saws, he operated for thirty years, and then sold the property to his sons. Albert A., Griswold B. and Stewart D. Carrier, who changed the equip- ment to the circular saws. Thereafter Stew- art D. Carrier and Thomas Raine were associated in the operation of the mill until it

Scott W. Carrier.

was sold to Euphrastus and Euphrastus Carrier

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finally became the operator of the mill. install- ing steam power, and continued the enterprise successfully until his death, in 1909. The mill was then dismantled, and the only visible evi- dence at present of these formerly flourishing industrial enterprises is the old dam. Darius Carrier was the owner of 250 acres of land, and on the same has developed all of the town on the north side of Red Bank creek. For many years he conducted a general store, and he was a stockholder in the first bank estab- lished at Brookville. A man of remarkable energy and progressiveness, he wielded large and benignant influence in community affairs and served in virtually all the township offices. besides having been for several years a mem- ber of the board of county commissioners.

Darius Carrier was three times married, the maiden name of his first wife having been Eliza Hetrick. Of their thirteen children ten attained to maturity: Nathan, who served as sheriff of Jefferson county, was fifty-six years of age at his death; John went to Michigan about the close of the Civil war and there died at the age of seventy-three : Lucinda, who be- came the wife of David Ditty, died in 1912; Mary, whose death occurred in 1881, was the wife of Thomas W. Raine : Lavina is the wife of Griswold B. Carrier, a son of Euphrastits Carrier, and they reside at Brookville : Edward is a resident of Asheville. N. C .: Elizabeth became the wife of Elijah McAninch, and they reside in Pinecreek township; Stewart D. is a resident of Summerville: Cassius maintains his home in the State of Florida : Mattie is the wife of David K. Moore, of Summerville. For his second wife Darius Carrier married Rebecca Hetrick, a cousin of his first wife. and of their children Millie is the wife of Tames C. Anderson, of Clover township: Lucy is the wife of Nathan A. Mclaughlin, of the same township; Euphrastus was formerly in partnership with his brother, Scott W .; Anna died in infancy ; Scott W. resides at Summer- ville : Emma is the widow of Charles E. Car- rier, and occupies the old family homestead.

Darius Carrier's third wife was Mrs. Frances (Buell) Shepard. and she died before him. They had no children. Mr. Carrier was a man of exceptional vitality and powerful physique. and his life was guided on the highest plane of integrity and honor. He was one of the foun- ders of the Methodist Episcopal Church. which was organized in his home, he serving the same as class leader for many years. He was strongly opposed to the liquor traffic and it was largely through his efforts that Sum- merville was made a prohibition town. He

was a leader in community affairs, was gen- erous and kindly, the soul of hospitality, and always ready to extend sympathy and tangible aid to those in affliction or distress.

Scott Winfield Carrier was born in the old homestead at Summerville July 16, 1860, and has never faltered in his loyalty to and appre- ciation of his native heath. He gained his early education in the public schools, and even as a boy began to assist in the work of his father's mills. Eventually he and his brother Euphrastus came into control of the flour mill, and in 1886 they installed in the same the roller process, this being the second mill in the coun- ty to acquire this modern equipment. After a period of fourteen years Scott W. Carrier sold his interest in the mill, and then turned his attention to the lumbering industry, his special field of operation being in the getting out of square timber, on the North Fork, in the dis- trict north of Brookville. In this enterprise he and his associates continued operations about twenty years, his partners in the business being G. B., C. E. and E. Carrier, under the title of G. B. Carrier & Company. The firm continued operations for a few years after the opening of the twentieth century, activities being abandoned only when the available sup- ply of timber became practically exhausted. The firm installed a modern sawmill on the North Fork, which was operated under the direct management of G. B. Carrier.

Since his retirement from the lumber busi- ness Scott W. Carrier has given his attention principally to the management of his fine farm. which comprises 110 acres, and which is a part of the old estate of his father. It is most eligibly located near Summerville, and he has made many modern improvements on the place, including the erection of superior farm buildings. It is devoted to diversified agricul- ture and to the raising of good grades of live stock.

Mr. Carrier has had no ambition for the activities or preferments of politics, but is loyal and public-spirited. He is a stalwart Prohibitionist, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In the year 1881 Mr. Carrier married Lucy A. Wesson, daughter of . Bryan A. Wesson, who was at that time engaged in lumbering operations at Summerville and who later be- came prominently identified with the drilling of wells in the Pennsylvania oil fields. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Carrier the eldest. Laura L., remains at the parental home ; Dr. Electa W. is a skillful physician and surgeon,

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as is also her husband, Dr. Thomas Cook, and they are associated in the successful practice of their profession at Osterburg, Bedford Co., Pa .; Wilson W. resides at Reading, this State, and is superintendent of a well drilling force in the oil fields of that locality : Paul D. died in infancy ; Stephen D., Scott A. and Neigh K. are all employed as skilled drillers of oil wells ; Chanley V. remains at the parental home.

ALEXANDER D. DEEMER has main- tained a leading place in the business circles of Brookville as merchant and furniture man- ufacturer, in turn, and throughout that connec- tion has been properly accounted among the live forces at work in the borough to keep the wheels of progress in motion. What he has done for his own interests has been of direct benefit to the entire community, stimulating local trade in various channels by his exam- ple as well as his actual achievements. More- over, he has the creditable distinction of hold- ing to high standards in all his transactions, cherishing his well-won reputation for fair- ness in all his dealings and never losing sight of the fact that a strong sense of responsibility toward others is the surest indication of char- acter and the truest index of honorable pur- pose. With increasing means and influence he has shouldered greater obligations in the way of assisting his fellow men in their struggles toward improved conditions, so effectively that his name is linked with the furtherance of every project worthy of the support of intel- ligent citizens.

Mr. Deemer bears a name which has long commanded respect in Jefferson county. His grandfather, Jonathan Deemer, was a pioneer settler here, coming hither from Westmore- land county in the year 1783. By his marriage to Barbara Pifer, a native of Pennsylvania. Jonathan Deemer had a family of five chil- dren: Peter, John, William, Alexander and Hannah. The latter married George Rhoades, whom she survived, and they settled in Kan- sas, where she continued to make her home after his death ; she is now deceased.

William Deemer, son of Jonathan Deemer, was the father of Alexander D. Deemer. Ile was a lifelong farmer, industrious and thrifty, and worked faithfully to make a living for himself and family, taking no part in public affairs. 1Ie married Mary Sheasley, who was one of a family of eight children, the others being Joseph, David, Simon, Jackson. Jolın, Catherine and Sarah, all of whom lived to a good age except Jolin, who died while'serving as a Union soldier during the Civil war.

Grandfather Sheasley was born in Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. William Deemer died in 1858, Mr. Deemer in 1886. Of their six children, Jonathan and Alexander D. alone survive ; William died thirty years ago; the three daughters, Barbara, Mary and Catherine, have been deceased for several years.

Alexander D. Deemer was born Dec. 24, 1848, in Jefferson county, Pa., and was reared upon the home farm, where he remained until seventeen years old. His educational facili- ties were such as the local district schools afforded, but he had excellent practical train- ing and devoted parental discipline. When he left home it was to become an apprentice to the trade of blacksmith, and he was so occu- pied for three years, at the end of which time he had the courage to start in the business 011 his own account in Emerickville, this county, where he had a shop for about fifteen years. He was prosperous, but there were neither profits nor prospects enough to satisfy his ambitions, and having become interested in the bark and lumber business he then turned all his energies to dealings in that line, in which he met with substantial success from the outset. A few years later he also made invest- ments in the mercantile business, conducting a dry goods store in Brookville which he closed out fifteen years ago, and for some years he had a general store and grocery at Reynolds- ville in partnership with Mr. S. V. Shick, car- rying on the establishment now conducted by Shick & Wagner. He gave up his connection with this sixteen years ago. For some time his principal interest has been in the furniture business, which he commenced in 1901 and operated originally in connection with a saw- mill, and which he is now conducting under the name of the A. D. Deemer Furniture Com- pany. It is one of the most reliable establish- ments in the borough, well managed and enjoying high standing among local business houses, and is a highly valued enterprise, af- fording employment to from seventy to eighty men and by the steadily increasing volume of its operations adding to the general prosperity to an appreciable extent. Mr. Deemer started in this line as.a member of the Brookville Fur- niture Company and carried on its factory for three years, when it was burned, after which lie organized the A. D. Deemer Furniture Company. with his family as stockholders and officers. The building up of the business is practically all the result of his efforts. In this connection he is still engaged in the lumber business in a small way, operating the sawmill in connection with the furniture factory and

AD Deemer

YORK

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buying a large portion of the lumber to supply the factory. Mr. Deemer is vice president of the Brookville Title & Trust Company and a director of the National Bank of Brookville.

Mr. Deemer has given convincing proof of his ability to win success, but he has gone farther and shown an unselfish spirit in his ventures, allowing others to share his pros- perity. His advanced ideas in this respect bespeak foresight and a liberality of thought uncommon enough to deserve comment. But it is a satisfaction to note that his townsmen appreciate the animus which has inspired this attitude toward them, as attested in their per- sonal feeling for him. Mr. Deemer has been an advocate of Prohibition and the principles of the party for almost forty-five years, being long one of the mnost valued workers for the cause in his section. His interest in it is characteristic and thoroughly in keeping with the views he holds on all sub- jects to which he gives consideration.

On May 7, 1871, Mr. Deemer was married to Sarah J. Bussert, and five children have been born to them: Mabel, wife of B. M. Moore, proprietor of a general store at Brook- ville ; Nora E., wife of John M. White, attor- ney, and former burgess of Brookville ; F. C., who is in the gas business, being now one of the most extensive operators in the Pennsyl- vania fields, where his success has been re- markable : Lawrence V., who is cashier in the National Bank of Brookville; and Amor M., who is in the office of the A. D. Deemer Fur- niture Company. Mr. and Mrs. Deemer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he has served as steward and trustee. Socially he belongs to the F. & A. M., P. O. S. of A. and I. O. O. F., and is a past grand of the latter fraternity.

Mrs. Deemer's grandfather, Samuel Buissert, was a native of Schuylkill county, Pa., and settled in Jefferson county in pioneer times, coming here with his first wife, whose maiden name was Wetzel. They had four children, Lucy, Eliza, Catherine and Henry. Mr. Bus- sert had no children by his second marriage. To the third were born: Harriet, Samuel, Charles, John, Elias and Amanda. There were three sons by his fourth union. Emanuel, Simon and George.

Henry Bussert, father of Mrs. Deemer, was born in 1827 in Schuylkill county, Pa., and married Catherine Snyder, who was born in that county in 1825. They were well known residents of Jefferson county in their day. They had two children : Catherine, Mrs. Ben- 18

ninger, of Emerickville, this county; and Sarah J., Mrs. Alexander D. Deemer.

Frederick Snyder, father of Mrs. Cather- ine (Snyder) Bussert, was a native of Penn- sylvania. His family consisted of seven children : Benjamin, Israel, Peter, Samuel, Catherine (Mrs. Henry Bussert), Susan and Harriet.

SIDNEY WILLETT ALMY, late of Brockwayville, filled a place of conspicuous influence entirely justified by his lofty charac- ter. Possessing the practical ability necessary to the satisfactory management of his material affairs, he had ideals of integrity and sterling qualities of mind and heart which not only invited the confidence of his associates but endeared him to them for personal reasons, strong enough in most cases to form the basis of lifelong friendships. Applied Christianity might well be called the leading moral force of his career. He never lacked the courage to live up to his convictions of right or to assume the responsibilities they involved. In business. though conservative in action and discriminat- ing in his judgment, he had the vision which kept him abreast of the most substantial progress as the various connections he made well illustrate. To his family and social com- panions he was ever the exemplary protector and friend, upon whom they never depended in vain for help and sympathy.

Mr. Almy was of the old New England Colonial stock, his earliest ancestor in America having settled in a Massachusetts Colony about 1635. and later removed to Rhode Island. The family has since been numerously and credit- ably represented in both States. Robert Kirby Almy, the grandfather of Sidney W. Almy. was born in Massachusetts April 26, 1782. was a sea captain for years, and when he abandoned the water settled upon a farm in western New York State, where he remained until his death. On Jan. 15, 1809, he married Polly Willett, and their two children were Samuel Willett and Sarah Ann. The daughter married Edward Wightman.

Samuel Willett Almy, father of Sidney Wil- lett Almy, was born May 17, 1821. at Spafford. N. Y., and was a boy of seven years when his parents removed to a farm at Wirt. near Friendship, in Allegany county, that State, where he grew to manhood. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the property. where he passed all his life, dying there April 25, 1899. On July 8, 1811, Mr. Almy was married to Sally Foster Applebee, who was born Oct. 1. 1823, and died on the farm Nov.

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30, 1864, the mother of five children, as fol- lows: Mary E., Mrs. Henry Pierce, now a resident of Clarksville, N. Y .; Sidney Willett ; Adrian A., who died in Deming, N. Mex. (he married Mary Darrow, of New London. Conn.) ; Charles H., of Corning, N. Y., who married Anjeanette Crowner ; and Samuel M., of Avoca. N. Y., who married Florence Shaffer. The father remarried, and by the second union had a family of seven children, viz .: Mrs. G. E. Thomas, of Corning, N. Y. ; Mrs. G. B. Lane, of Clarksville, N. Y .; Mrs. D. L. Hall, of Bradford, Pa. : Mrs. D. M. Phil- lips, of Effingham, Ill .; Mrs. C. B. Pierce, of Wirt, N. Y .; Earl R., of Richburg, Allegany Co., N. Y. ; and A. J., of Wirt. N. Y. All these eleven brothers and sisters survived Sid- ney W. Almy.

Sidney Willett Almy was born Feb. 9. 1844. on the farm at Wirt, Allegany Co., N. Y., near the town of Wellsville, and his early years were spent on the farm or in that town. He had some schooling, but fortunately he was endowed with an ambitious nature, and the lack of educational privileges did not set any limit for his intellectual acquirements. The

same was true of his business activities. Dur- ing the greater part of his independent expe- rience he was engaged in railroad work, having been a conductor on the Erie road for thirty- four years, yet at the same time he conducted successfully important enterprises of various other kinds, becoming prominent in business operations during his long residence in this section of Pennsylvania. At one time he was interested in real estate and mining operations in Scott county. Tenn., where a town was named in his honor. When he sold out he realized handsomely on his investment there. and subsequently started what is known as the Rock Castle Lumber & Mining Company, in Kentucky, establishing its affairs upon a profitable basis. For twenty years he had his home at Dagus Mines, Elk Co., Pa .. where his publie spirit and capacity for important service gained the usual recognition, as his associations would indicate. For four years he held the position of postmaster at that place, receiving his appointment under President Cleveland. In 1895 Mr. Almy brought his family to Brockwayville, where he was already well known, and there he spent the rest of his life. continuing his railroad work and forming several local business connections of import- ance. For some time he had a large interest in the Brockwayville Mill. selling out to the MeKays, and later his principal relation was with the Toby Coal Mining Company, of which

he was the president up to the time of his death. He was also a heavy stockholder in the First National Bank of Corning, N. Y. The combination of interests in his business career was unusual enough to be remarkable. His long service with the one railroad company is no uncertain testimony as to the manner in which he discharged his duties-with a fidelity entirely in keeping with his customary con- scientiousness in all things. Yet he found the energy to engage in outside matters with such enthusiasm and earnestness of purpose that the success he made would of itself have satis- fied the ambitions of the average nature. He never hesitated about undertaking anything because of the labor involved, industry and thrift being to him necessary parts of his ad- vancement, so he did not begrudge them to any enterprise in whose success he was interested. But he always depended upon honest effort, and not upon fortuitous circumstances or tak- ing advantages of others' mistakes or misfor- tunes, for prosperity in his activities. Indeed, his consistent honesty and fairness in his deal- ings with all, his generosity in any transaction where the rights of others were concerned, his nice sense of justice and sincere attempts to be honorable to the last degree, were the qualities which most of all commended him to the high opinion of all who knew him. "He always put wrong-doing to shame, and the world was made better for his having lived in it. He was loved most by those who knew him best and his memory will live long in the hearts of those who knew and loved him." It was these char- acteristics that occasioned such heartfelt ex- pressions of grief from his friends among all classes at his untimely death, which took place at his home on Main street, Brockwayville. Sept. 24. 1907. when he was in his sixty-fourth year. Though he had been ill for several months the feeling prevailed that he had been taken in the midst of his usefulness. The Brockwayville Record said editorially :

"The death of Sidney W. Almy removes to the obscurity of the Great Beyond one of the most influential and promi- nent citizens of the community and one whose life walk from young manhood to the closing of his career is worthy of emulation. Sidney W. Almy was a man of high moral character, public-spirited and honorable, and it is to be regretted that so useful a career has been closed in practically its prime. Besides being one of the oldest railroad men in the service of the Erie Company. Mr. Almy was a busi- ness man of considerable prominence, and was identified with numerous enterprises in this

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section as well as elsewhere. During his long residence in this valley Mr. Almy made many friends and his death is deeply regretted."

Mr. Almy had long been a member of the Presbyterian denomination, uniting with the church at Elkton while a resident of Dagus Mines, and serving that congregation several years as trustee. He transferred his member- ship to the Brockwayville Church upon his re- moval to the borough, and was as valued there as he had been in the former association, not only for the unfailing support he gave to all its enterprises, but also because of the kindly en- couragement and aid he was always ready to extend to the pastor, practical assistance which was deeply appreciated. Fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and Knapp Commandery at Ridgway. His political sup- port was given to the Democratic party. Mr. Almy was buried at Wellsville, New York.

On Dec. 24, 1875, Mr. Almy married Phoebe Sarah Hyatt, of Centerville, Pa .. who was born Sept. 22, 1852, at Kersey, Elk Co., Pa., where she grew to womanhood, receiving her education in the public schools. Among her early teachers were Mary Warner, Nancy Luce and Elias Hancock. The two children of this union, both daughters, were born at Kersey, Elk county, Ruby May on Aug. 13, 1877, and Pearl Ruth on Aug. 8, 1880. The former graduated from the Brockwayville high school in 1897 and took a finishing course at Miss Robinson's School, Corning, N. Y. On Dec. 12, 1907, she was married to Dr. Samuel Gilmore Logan, who is now established at Ridgway, Pa., and they have one child, Sid- ney Willett Almy, born Feb. 14, 1909. at Brockwayville. Dr. Logan was formerly of Brockwayville, his father having built the "Logan House" there, of which hotel he was the first proprietor. Pearl Ruth Almy was graduated from the Brockwayville high school in 1898 and later attended Cook Academy at Montour Falls, N. Y., graduating in 1901, after which she entered Brown University. where she specialized in the languages and music, continuing her musical studies in the Cincinnati (Ohio) Conservatory of Music dur- ing 1907. For several years she was organist of the Presbyterian Church at Brockwayville. On Oct. 16. 1912. she was married to Dr. George McClintock Hutchison, and they re- side at Dagus Mines. They have no children.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 56

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