Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 60

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 60

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Thomas Sharp Mitchell, the grandfather of Thomas Books Mitchell, was born at Elder- ton. Armstrong Co., Pa., and came over into Jefferson county when a boy. For some time he was employed with Thomas Pain in Perry

township. and later established a store at Hamilton, in that township, where he located in pioneer days. continuing to operate it for several years. In 1854 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson county, and served one term of three years. Mr. Mitchell married Sarah Blose, daughter of George Blose, Sr., and both are buried at the Perry Church in Perry township. Mr. Mitchell died at Hamilton Aug. 27, 1883. They were the parents of a large family: A. R., who was killed while serving in the Civil war; Nancy E .: Ann; Thomas S .; Alex H., who served in the Civil war as captain of Company A, 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and received a medal of honor voted him by Congress; Rebecca A .; Martha T .: James George; Laura M .; Malinda C., and Alice M. Of this family, Hon. James George Mitchell, who owns the old Mitchell homestead at Hamilton, where he resides, has been a leader in the work of the Republican party in Jefferson county for years, and has served in both branches of the State Legisla- ture, as well as in local offices. He is men- tioned elsewhere.

Thomas S. Mitchell, son of Thomas Sharp Mitchell, was a harnessmaker by occupation and one of the highly respected residents of Perrysville (Hamilton), where he operated a tannery, spending all his active years in the same line of work. He died there in 1898. His widow. Ellen (Gourley), daughter of Alexander Gourley, now makes her home at Punxsutawney. Nine children were born to Thomas S. and Ellen (Gourley) Mitchell, viz .: Andrew R. : Margaret, Mrs. C. S. Neal ; two daughters who died young : Lex N., attor- ney at law, of Punxsutawney, mentioned else- where: Bessie, Mrs. W. B. Coon; Thomas Books; Grace, Mrs. H. M. Gourley ; and Al- bert S.

Thomas Books Mitchell was born Aug. 13. 1875, in Perry township, where he attended public school. the training received in his boy- hood proving an excellent foundation for his subsequent . studies. From early boyhood he was taught to be useful in his father's busi- ness, getting a familiar knowledge of har- nessmaking and tanning, but his particular ambition was to continue his education, and accordingly he began teaching in young man- hood. being engaged the first term at Tunnel Hill, in Rose township. Thereafter he taught a term at his home school; one at Perrys- ville ; one at Knox Dale ; three at Reynolds- ville ; and one at the West End, Punxsutaw ney. Meantime, while following his profes- sion in the winter season. he attended the

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spring courses at the Clarion ( Pa.) State Nor- inal School. When he gave up teaching he took a position as clerk in the Citizens Bank of Punxsutawney, which was subsequently consolidated with the First National Bank of the borough, Mr. Mitchell becoming clerk and later assistant cashier of the latter. Eventu- ally the First National was taken over by what is now known as the Punxsutawney Na- tional Bank, Mr. Mitchell acting as liquidation agent for the First National during the change, and when it was effected becoming associated with the Punxsutawney National as assistant cashier. He continued to serve as such until May, 1911, when he became connected with the Farmers & Miners Trust Company as assistant treasurer. In January, 1913. he was made secretary of the company, being one of the valued factors of the executive personnel of this institution, which is noted for high character and dependability.

Mr. Mitchell has always taken a sincere interest in politics, especially local activities of that kind, as a member of the Republican party, and has helped to administer the public affairs of the borough, for three years as school director of the First ward. as secretary to the borough council four years, and as treasurer. having been elected to the latter office in the fall of 1913 for a four-year term. Socially he is well known, holding membership in the Punxsutawney Club, the Country Club and the local lodge of Elks.

On Sept. 27. 1900, Mr. Mitchell married Martha Leila Simpson, daughter of Irwin Simpson, of Punxsutawney, mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Two children have been born to this marriage : Thomas Irwin, who died when six and a half years old; and John Simpson, born Aug. 4, 1916.

WALLACE Z. PATTON. One of the ideal rural estates of Jefferson county is "Suncrest Farm," which comprises 113 acres situated in the specially fine district locally known as the Beechwoods. in Washington township. Of this well-improved farm Wal- lace Zenas Patton is the fortunate owner, and in addition to being one of the prominent and successful agricultural workers in his native county he is a recognized leader in the com- munity life of the township which has repre- sented his home from the time of his birth.

Mr. Patton was born on his present farm Sept. 4. 1867. He is a son of James and Eliz- abeth Jane (Atwell) Patton, who were hon- ored pioneers of Washington township. The

father was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a man of strong mental and phys- ical powers, energetic and resourceful, and leal and loyal in all of the relations of life. He reclaimed and improved "Suncrest Farm," and continued to reside there until his death. After the death of his first wife he wedded Hannah Caldwell, of Curwensville. Clarion county, who after his death continued to reside on the old homestead farm until she passed away. ITis children were : John, Sarah, Mary, Belle. Rachel, Esther, Margaret. Wray, Wal- lace Z., Burnetta, Samuel and Thomas.

Wallace Z. Patton early began to lend his aid in the work of the home farm, and his educational advantages in his boyhood and youth were those afforded in the old Beechtree school, his first teacher having been Miss Annie Matthews. He continued to attend school at intervals until he had attained the age of sixteen years. and during all of the years of his active and industrious life he has been identified with the productive operations of the fine farm of which he is now the owner. His experience has been such as to fortify him fully for successful enterprise as a pro- gressive agriculturist and stockgrower, and his land is of the best type to be found in Jefferson county. He has at all times shown loyal interest in community affairs and is essentially wide-awake and liberal in his civic attitude, retaining the confidence and high re- gard of all who know him.

On April 20, 1893. Mr. Patton married Ella Harris, and after this important event in his life he assumed the active management of the home farm, of which he eventually became the owner, and which he has maintained in the perfect order that bears evidence of thrift and good management. He and his wife are leading members of the Beechwoods Presby- terian Church, in which he is serving as a steward and also as a trustee. His political allegiance has been given unswervingly to the Republican party, and he has been influential in its local ranks.

Mrs. Patton was born in the town of Mor- ris Run, Tioga Co., Pa., on the 2d of March, 1872, and was there reared and educated. Her father. John Harris, died when she was eight years of age and thereafter she maintained her home with her sister, Mrs. Sarah Clarke, until she reached maturity, becoming self- supporting several years prior to her marriage. Her father was born in England, about the year 1832, and was the only representative of his immediate family to establish a perma- nent home in the United States. He followed

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mining in Pennsylvania and continued his association with that line of industrial enter- prise until his death, in 1880. Prior to his immigration to America he married Annie Evans, a native of Wales, and when they came to the United States they were accompanied by their three children, who were born in England. Mr. Harris died at Morris, Ill., and his widow later became the wife of Archi- bald Mclaughlin, with whom she finally came to Coal Glen, Jefferson county, where both passed the remainder of their lives, the death of Mrs. McLaughlin occurring April 18, 1896. Of the twelve children of her first marriage, the eldest was Elizabeth, whose first husband was John Armstrong, and at the time of her death, in 1912, she was the wife of William Baer, of Falls Creek, Pa. ; David, who wedded Mary Kerens, died in 1907, at Scranton, Pa .; Sarah is the wife of Elmer Clarke, of Coving- ton, Tioga county ; Thomas maintains his home at Scranton, this State: William John died in infancy; George William is a resident of Scranton ; Mary Jane is the wife of Delbert Martin, of Corning, N. Y .: Margaret is the wife of George Truesdell, of Brockwayville. Jefferson county : Mrs. Patton was the next in order of birth; Charlotte is the wife of John Campbell, of Ansonia, Tioga county ; Catherine Iretta is the wife of Walter Mckay, of Coal Glen, Jefferson county; Vira is the wife of Edgar Fassett, of Coal Glen.

Mr. and Mrs. Patton have had children as follows: Elvira B., who was born Dec. 14, 1893, is the wife of Raymond A. Holt. Beech- woods, and they have two children, Raymond Dale and Marian M. ; Edward James, who was born Aug. 7, 1895, remains at the parental home and assists in the work and manage- ment of the farm; Jennie Myrtle, born Sept. 12, 1898, likewise remains a member of the home circle, as do also the younger children, Wallace Zenas. Jr., born March 27. 1906, and Leonard Charles, born April 5, 1911.

ROSS SAGER, though now a resitlent of Warren county, where he holds the position of foreman in the blacksmith and forging de- partment of the Warren Axe & Tool Com- pany, is fully entitled to recognition in this publication, for he not only was a resident of Jefferson county for a number of years, but also married a daughter of Sylvester R. Mill- iron, a venerable and honored pioneer cit- izen to whom specific tribute is paid on other pages of this work.

Mr. Sager was born in Mifflin county, this State, and is a son of William J. Sager, who

was a soldier in the Civil war, serving as a member of Company L, 5th New York Heavy Artillery. William J. Sager was a man of fine inventive and mechanical ability, and in 1883 engaged in the manufacturing of axes at Brookville, where he remained until 1892. For the ensuing three years he was similarly engaged at Ridgway, Elk county, and then established his residence at Warren, where he effected the organization of the Warren Axe & Tool Company, which now represents one of the prosperous and important industrial cor- porations of that city. He was prominently identified with its development and upbuild- ing. He was sojourning in the State of Flor- ida at the time of his death, which occurred in 1914.

Ross Sager was afforded the advantages of the public schools and in his youth served an effective and thorough apprenticeship in the manufacturing of axes, his skill as a mechanic having been developed under the careful direction of his father, with whom he was associated during the latter's manu- facturing activities in Brookville and Ridg- way and with whom he was closely associated in the establishing of the Warren Axe & Tool Company, with which he has continued as a skilled employe, of thorough technical knowl- edge and marked executive ability. As fore- man of the blacksmith and forging depart- ment of the well-equipped manufactory of this company he has a force of fifty men under his direct supervision. The establishment in its entirety gives employment to an average force of about one hundred men.

In 1888 Mr. Sager was married to Carrie Milliron, who was born and reared in Jeffer- son county, daughter of Sylvester R. Milliron, who is now living retired near Brookville. Mr. and Mrs. Sager have two children, Emma and Lloyd.

JOHN W. WALKER. Engaged in the successful practice of his profession at Brook- ville, where he is also the incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, Mr. Walker has long held prestige as one of the sterling and honored members of the bar of Jefferson county, and by his character and services has lent dignity to his chosen profession. He claims Ohio as the place of his nativity and had the distinction of representing the Buck- eye State as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war. The same intrinsic loyalty has characterized him in all the other rela- tions of life.

Mr. Walker was born in Harrison county,

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Ohio, on the 23d of October, 1840, son of Robert and Jane ( McCullough) Walker, both of whom continued their residence in that county until they died. Robert Walker was born and reared in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a young man at the time of his immi- gration to America. After residing for a time at Pittsburgh, Pa., he established his home in Washington county, this State, whence he later removed to Harrison county, Ohio, and became the owner of a farm. He be- came one of the successful agriculturists and valued citizens of that county. and remained upon his old homestead until his death, when venerable in years.

The common schools of his native county afforded to John W. Walker his carly educa- tional advantages, and in the meanwhile he gained close fellowship with honest toil on the home farm. His ambition and intellectual advancement were shown by his turning his attention to the profession of teaching, and he had proved himself successful and popu- lar in the schools of his home county before there came to him the call of higher duty, when the integrity of the nation was jeopard- ized by armed rebellion. In the second year of the Civil war. on the 17th of August, 1862. Mr. Walker enlisted in Company F, 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with this gallant com- mand was soon initiated into the hardships and perils of warfare. He participated in the battle of Perryville (Oct. 8, 1862), and received a severe wound, a bullet passing through his left cheek, striking close under the bone, and making its exit beneath the right ear. His injury was such that he was taken to a military hospital, and in February, 1863, he received his honorable discharge. He then returned home. and after recuperating from his injuries, again engaged in teaching in the schools of his native county. Desirous of acquiring a more liberal education, in the spring of 1865 Mr. Walker went to Pittsburgh, where he entered the Iron City College. In this institution he was graduated in June of the same year. He then came to Brookville. where for the ensuing five years he taught advanced studies in the high school. For two terms thereafter he was principal of the union schools of Greenville, Mercer county, and for the next year held a similar position at Con- neautville. Crawford county. He then became principal of the Washington school in the city of Pittsburgh, where he remained one year. The following year he held as a vacation pe- riod, passed in Ohio and Kansas.

In the summer of the Centennial year, 1876.

Mr. Walker returned to Brookville, and soon afterwards became principal of the academy at Corsica, this county, an incumbency he re- tained three years. Then for two terms he was principal of the popular Belleview Acad- emy, at Stanton, rounding out an extended course of effective service in the pedagogic profession.

In February, 1885, Mr. Walker was elected justice of the peace at Brookville and served one term. On the Ist of January, 1900, he was again elected to this office, in which he has been continued to the present time by successive reelections that have denoted the popular estimate placed upon his administra- tion of judicial office. Though his success as a teacher had been of unqualified order, Mr. Walker followed the course of his ambition and began preparing himself for the legal pro- fession. Under the effective preceptorship of the law firm of Andrews & Conrad, which was at the time prominent at the Jefferson county bar, he pursued his studies with char- acteristic energy and receptiveness, with the result that he soon grounded himself firmly in the principles of the law, proved himself eligible for practice, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1877. He has continued in the active practice of his profession during the long intervening period of nearly forty years, but now confines himself principally to office practice.

The principles and policies of the Republi- can party have found in Mr. Walker a loyal and effective advocate, though he has never sought or desired office of a purely political nature, his work as justice of the peace being in direct line with that of his profession. "Squire" Walker is an official member of the Brookville Presbyterian Church : his cherished wife likewise was a devoted and loved mem- ber. Hle has been for many years affiliated with F. R. Brady Post. No. 242, Grand Army of the Republic. has held various offices in the same, and takes a deep interest in this pleas- ing association with old comrades of the Civil war. He is identified also with the local lodge of the I. O. O. F. Now, venerable in years. he is still alert of mental and physical powers. looks upon life with buoyancy and abiding faith, and is favored in being compassed by a host of friends, tried and true.

In the year 1866 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Walker to Eliza J. Mckinney. born in Harrison county, Ohio, daughter of George Mckinney. No children came to this union. The devoted companionship of Mr. and Mrs. Walker continued its ideal relations

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until the loved wife was called to eternal rest, on the 8th of August, 1897, at the age of fifty- nine years, her remains being taken back to her old home at Hanover, Harrison Co., Ohio, for interment. Her life was gentle and gra- cious, and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her kindly influence.

FREDERICK G. WINGERD, whose at- tractive and well improved homestead farm is situated in Polk township, seventeen miles northeast of Brookville, has been conspicu- ously identified with agricultural and lumber- ing operations in this section of the State and is the owner of a large and valuable landed estate in Jefferson county.

Mr. Wingerd was born near Troutville, Clearfield Co., Pa .. July 14, 1848, and is of German ancestry, the original spelling of the family name having been Wingert. He is a son of Henry and Barbara ( Weiss) Wingerd, the latter a sister of Adam Weiss, who was a well-known pioneer of Jefferson county. The marriage of Mr. Wingerd's parents was sol- emnized in Clearfield county, where the father reclaimed and improved a farm near Trout- ville. In 1855 he came with his family to Jefferson county and settled in Polk township, the original homestead being the farm now owned by his grandson, William Wingerd. He passed the later years of his life. on what is now the Riegel farm, on the opposite side of the road from his former place, and there he died at the age of seventy-five years, his widow, Barbara, who was his second wife. having been about the same age when she too passed away. Henry Wingerd cleared the tim- ber from his farm in Polk township, turning it principally into square logs and for about five years rafted the product down the Clarion river to Pittsburgh. He secured such timber on about sixty acres of his first farm and about fifteen acres on the second, principally chest- nut, oak and pine. The chestnut was made into fence rails and the best of the oak and pine into square timber for the Pittsburgh market. Frederick G. Wingerd is the eldest of a family of eleven children. and Henry was the second son: Christina is the widow of Tonathan MeFadden, and lives at Richards- ville : John resides in Polk township: Jacob resided on the old home farm of his father for many years prior to his death : Daniel lives at Whippoorwill Ridge. Polk township: Carrie is the wife of Reeser McFadden, of Polk township: William resides near Sugar Hill. Polk township: Emma is the wife of Solomon Pfiffer, and they reside on the old Riegel farm ;

David died at the age of twenty-five years, as the result of an accident; Harvey resides at Silver City, Warsaw township.

Frederick G. Wingerd was reared to the sturdy discipline involved in pioneer lumber- ing and farming operations. The farm now his home was one for which his grandfather, Frederick Wingerd, had traded other prop- erty, and on this place the honored grandsire died when venerable in years. Frederick G. Wingerd received a common school education, and when eighteen years of age joined his widowed grandmother, Mrs. Kate Wingerd, and her maiden daughter, Kate, on his pres- ent farm, remaining with them until their deaths, the farm of seventy-three acres be- coming his heritage upon the death of his grandmother ; only twenty acres were then available for cultivation.

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Wingerd assisted his father in getting out timber, and also worked industriously skiving timber; in his use of the ax and as a scorer he gained the praise of Jerry Jones, an old and expert hewer of timber. He cleared more of the farm which he now owns and bought additional land, until he now has about five hundred acres. Sixty acres of the home farm are cul- tivated and he still has a goodly tract of valu- able timber. There are good buildings and a fine springhouse, with a neverending supply of cold and sparkling water. The excellent barns and other buildings give ample accom- modations for the abundant crops and the live stock.

Mr. Wingerd has been a worker and a busi- ness man, and thus has found neither time nor desire to enter politics or seek public office. He is loyal in his support of the Republican party and liberal in giving cooperation to the fur- therance of measures for the good of the com- munity. He and his wife are zealous and valued members of the Greenbriar Methodist Protestant Church, and he has served a num- ber of years as a trustee.

Mr. Wingerd was married when twenty-two years old, to Anna Jane Scheckler, who lived with her widowed mother in Polk township. where she was born. Her father, Frederick Scheckler, went forth as a gallant soldier in the Civil war. enlisting in Armstrong county, and sacrificed his life on the battlefield. Mary Elizabeth, eldest of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Wingerd, is the wife of S. Williamson ; John is a farmer in Polk township; Bertha be- came the wife of Richard McManigle and is deceased ther one surviving child, Vinnie, was adopted by her maternal grandparents and is

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a popular young woman of sixteen years at the time of this writing, in 1916); Henry is a farmer in Polk township; Theresa was about twenty-one years of age at the time of her death; Guy is actively concerned with farming in his native township; Harry is employed at Shippensville, Clarion county ; Lida is the wife of Ernest Chamberlin, of Polk township; Bessie remains at the parental home, one of the popular young women in the social activities of the community.

ADDISON H. BOWSER, M. D., was for a score of years engaged in the successful practice of his profession at Reynoldsville and by his noble character, as well as his ability and benignant service in the alleviation of human suffering and distress, he marked him- self as one of the thoroughly representative physicians and surgeons of Jefferson county, so that the community felt a uniform sense of loss and sorrow when he was called from life. His death occurred Dec. 9, 1914, and his mem- ory is held in enduring honor in the community in which he long lived and labored with faith- fulness, ability and definite consecration to his exacting and noble calling. The Doctor was a man of the highest ideals and of fine intellect- ual and professional attainments. In early manhood he served for a time as a clergyman of the Baptist Church, and in the medical pro- fession found equal opportunity to be of serv- ice to his fellow men. It is specially gratifying to note that at Reynoldsville his son, Ira D., is well upholding the prestige of the family name, both as a physician and as a loyal and progres- sive citizen.

Dr. Addison H. Bowser was born in Arm- strong county, Pa., Feb. 28, 1862. His father, David Bowser, was a substantial farmer in that county and passed the closing years of his life at Kittanning. Dr. Bowser acquired his early education in the public schools of his native county, including those at Worthington, and for a time was a student in the schools at Reidsburg, Clarion county. He fitted himself for and was ordained to the ministry of the Baptist Church, but he did not long continue his activities as a clergyman. He finally en- tered the medical department of Western Reserve University, in the city of Cleveland. Ohio, and from this institution was graduated Feb. 25, 1885. For a short time thereafter he was engaged in practice at Salina, Westmore- land. Co .. Pa., later taking up the practice at Centerville and Freedom, Venango county, from which latter place he came to Jefferson county and established his permanent residence

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 60

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