Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 62

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 62

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Daniel M. Straitewell remained at the par- ental home until he was twenty-two years of age. When about fourteen he began working in the lumber woods with his father, and thus early gained experience in the felling of the forest trees and in the making of square timber. He continued actively as a contractor in lumbering for eight years, operating for the Andrews Lumber Company, at Camp Run, having contracts for cutting four to five mil- lion feet of timber annually. This involved the cutting, peeling and hauling of the logs to the company's sawmill at Camp Run, on Red Bank creek, near Fuller station. In his opera- tions he gave employment to an average force of thirty-five men, for most of whom he pro- vided board and sleeping accommodations. Ile continued actively identified with the lumber industry until 1898, when he purchased his present farm, it then being principally stump land, so that no easy task confronted him in clearing the tract and making it available for cultivation. His industry and enterprise brought about the desired results, as shown in the present well improved and productive farm. It comprises 142 acres, 120 being in a high state of cultivation, devoted to diversified crops. He has remodeled or otherwise im- proved all buildings. At one time he owned

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240 acres, in one tract, and 100 acres in an- other. He has sold the surface of all save his homestead of 142 acres, but retained all mineral rights, besides which he has purchased even more coal rights, so that he now controls the mineral on more than four hundred acres. In company with Levi Schuckers, mentioned on another page, Mr. Straitewell was asso- ciated in the purchase of six hundred acres of coal land in Knox and McCalmont townships, and for the past eighteen years they have operated coal banks that have given an annual yield varying from twelve to eighteen thousand tons, the output being principally taken by the local trade. In 1916 Mr. Straitewell effected the establishment of a coal tipple on a tract of ninety-seven acres owned by J. C. and John K. Straitiff, and has become associated with Smith McCreight and others in the organization of a company which will con- struct a branch railroad to be extended to this tipple, a distance of three thousand feet, the deposit there being an excellent coal vein of from five to eight feet in thickness. On the home farm of Mr. Straitewell is the best gas well in this territory, having a pressure of twelve hundred pounds. All his land is leased for gas development and on another tract owned by him has been sunk a well that like- wise is giving an excellent production.

Mr. Straitewell takes a loyal interest in all things pertaining to the civic and material wel- fare, is a Republican in politics, and served four years as township assessor, four years as township supervisor, and three years as town- ship auditor, besides which he was for twelve years a member of the election board. He is a vigorous and progressive business man, hav- ing won success through his own activities, and has a secure place in the popular estecm. He was formerly in active affiliation with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends and supports the United Brethren Church, of which his wife is a zealous member.

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Straitewell wedded Mary C. Brown, a daughter of the late Daniel Brown, of McCalmont township, where her mother still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Straite- well had ten children, four dying in infancy. Harry Franklin, the eldest son, was killed in the mines at Knox Dale, Sept. 29, 1914; he was married to Mary Uplinger, and was the father of three children, two sons and one daughter, all living. Of the son and four daughters who survive Clara M. is the wife of Aaron Smith, and they reside upon a farm adjoining that of Mr. Straitewell; Julia is the

wife of S. T. Stormer, of Emerickville ; Laura is the wife of Lyman Smith, and they reside in Youngstown, Ohio; Bessie is the wife of Charles Smyers, of Sykesville ; Albert remains at the parental home.

WAYNE L. SNYDER, M. D. Distinctive technical ability and personal popularity are the elements that have conserved the success and prestige of Dr. Snyder and entitled him to be considered one of the representative younger members of his profession in his native county. He is zealous and enthusiastic in his devotion to the work of his chosen and exacting calling, maintains his residence at Brookville, and con- trols a practice that is constantly expanding in scope and importance, the while he is known as one of the loyal and public-spirited citizens who take deep interest in all that concerns the communal welfare.

Dr. Wayne Lawson Snyder was born at Brookville, Jefferson county, on the 13th of March, 1881, and is a scion of an old and honored Pennsylvania family. His great- grandfather, Henry Snyder, was a pioneer citizen of Center county, whence he removed with his family to Clarion county and settled on a farm near Greenville, where he became a prosperous agriculturist and influential citi- zen. He passed the closing years of his life at Brookville, where he died at the patriarchal age of ninety-five years. Abraham Snyder, grandfather of Dr. Snyder, was born in Center county, and for a number of years was in the mercantile business at Brookville. He met with material loss in a fire that entirely de- stroyed his stock of goods, and thereafter he successfully followed his trade, that of black- smith, until his retirement from active busi- ness, several years prior to his death, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was one of the well known, vigorous and honored citizens of Jefferson county. The names of his children are: John Calvin, Clarence, Quincy S., Clin- tus M., Abraham Z., Caroline, Maude and Cora.

John Calvin Snyder, father of the Doctor, was born in Clarion county, Pa., and obtained his education in the common schools. As a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade, and after locating in Jefferson county con- ducted a blacksmith shop for a number of years at Richardsville, whence he finally re- moved to Brookville, where as a skilled black- smith he long controlled a large and pros- perous business. The Doctor now finds in him a most valued coadjutor in connection with his practice, the father having charge of the books.

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However, he is living virtually retired. As a young man John C. Snyder wedded Emma J. Scott, who was born at Summerville, this county, a daughter of the late Edwin H. Scott. Specific mention of the Scott family will be noticed on other pages of this work. Of the children, the Doctor was the second in order of birth and is the only son ; Lillian is, in 1916, a student in the Jefferson Hospital, Philadel- phia, where she is preparing herself as a trained nurse: Muriel is the wife of George Flanagan, and they reside at Cincinnati, Ohio : Inez became the wife of Harry Haag, and was a resident of Troutville, Pa., at the time of her death.

In the public schools of Brookville Dr. Snyder continued his studies, graduating from the high school as a member of the class of 1899. Thereafter he was for one year a teacher at Millstone, Elk county, and for one year presided over the Oats school, near Ridg- way. During intervening spring and summer seasons he furthered his academic education by attending the normal school at Clarion. In consonance with his ambitious purpose he en- tered, in the autumn of 1901, the celebrated old Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and from this institution he was graduated on the 2d of June, 1905. On the Ist of October following his reception of the degree of doctor of medicine he entered Jefferson Hospital as an interne, and during his one year's tenure of this position gained most varied and valu- able clinical experience and became the better fortified for the independent work of his chosen calling. After leaving this institution he served one year as assistant to the distin- guished physician and surgeon, Dr. John E. Grube, at the Punxsutawney Hospital, in Punxsutawney, and then returned to his native borough, where he passed six months as an associate of Dr. Thomas C. Lawson. In March, 1908, he severed this alliance and has since been engaged alone in practice at Brook- ville, where he has a well appointed office and now specializes in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, after having thoroughly forti- fied himself by effective post-graduate courses in the Polyclinic Hospital of New York City, and the Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia. He has gained distinctive success and prestige in this special field of practice, in which his repu- tation is rapidly transcending mere local limita- tions. The Doctor devotes as much time as possible to original research and investigation. and keeps abreast of the advances made in both medical and surgical science. He main- tains active membership in the Jefferson

County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, besides which he is affili- ated with the Phi Beta Pi fraternity of his alma mater. In his home village he holds membership in the L. O. O. M. and the F. O. E., as well as in Hobah. Lodge, No. 276, F. & A. M., and Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, R. A. M., his chivalric affiliation being with Bethany Commandery, No. 83, K. T., at DuBois.

On the 4th of June, 1907, Dr. Snyder mar- ried Ruth Luther, daughter of Austin K. Luther, of Troutville, Clearfield county, and of the five children of this union the firstborn, John Chalmers, died at the age of eleven weeks; the surviving children being Helen Louise, Mary Ruth, Inez Pauline and Anna Claire. The Doctor and Mrs. Snyder are popular factors in the representative social activities of Brookville, and their pleasant home is known for its gracious hospitality.

OTTO J. NUPP is, without reservation, one of the most widely known young men of Jefferson county, not so because of announced intentions, for he has made it a rule never to make such announcements, but because he did not know that big things could not be done in small communities, and went ahead and did them. His accomplishments seemed to result quite aside from the natural order of things. He began and terminated his attainments with- out the blast of trumpets and success followed his every effort because of perseverance and honesty of purpose.

Otto Jay Nupp was born March 21, 1883. in . Clearfield county, near Troutville, and within sight of the fertile valley in which the town of Sykesville, about the same year, had its beginning. He was the fifth child and fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Nupp. Edward Nupp was born in Gettysburg, Green town- ship, Indiana county, April 26, 1844, and his wife, whom he married in 1870, was Emma Widdowson, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Widdowson, and was born in Dixon- ville, Cherryhill township, Indiana county, Aug. 21, 1850. They removed from Rich- mond. Indiana county, in January, 1880, to near Troutville, Clearfield county. Mr. Nupp was a millwright and followed the sawmill business all his life. After the destruction of his sawmill and home by fire, in 1883, they moved to Stanley, Clearfield county, two miles east of what is now Sykesville, where they erected a sawmill and home. In the spring of 1892 they disposed of their holdings and

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moved to the village of Sykesville, where they purchased a home. While employed on the sawmill of A. W. Sykes Mr. Nupp became suddenly ill with an attack of appendicitis, dying one week later, July 21, 1902. Surviv- ing him were wife, five sons, W. Harvey, D. Murray, E. Roy, Otto J. and J. Lloyd, and one daughter, Nena ; another daughter, Electa, having died in 1895, aged fourteen years.

On a certain November evening in 1894, a Sykesville business man called to his office a schoolboy of eleven years and small of stat - ure, asking him to become the agent for the Chicago Saturday Blade. `The proposition looked favorable to the lad, and on Dec. 4, 1894, the first copies arrived. They continued to arrive each Saturday for five weeks before the first copy was sold, not because of any fault of the would-be newsboy, for he visited every store and dwelling in the valley in his effort to get a start. Success finally crowned his endeavor, for his fifth Saturday's work netted him one sale and two cents profit --- the ice was broken and the success of Otto i. Nupp dated from that memorable day, Jan. 1, 1895. That bundle of ten copies weekly grew to nearly one hundred copies daily, and all opposition vanished. On June 1. 1902, his first news depot was established on his meager savings, he having received no money from home since passing his eleventh year. This was the first news stand to have been estab- lished in Jefferson county. As a side line to the news business, a job printing depart- ment was added in 1903, and with such suc- cess that a newspaper, the Sykesville Post-Dispatch, was the outgrowth of the ven- ture in 1905. The printing, publishing and news business grew to such proportions under the hustling and energetic genius of its pro- prietor that he could no longer give all its branches the accustomed attention and in 1912 he disposed of his news stand and book store. a business to which he had given daily atten- tion for more than seventeen years.

The Sykesville Post-Dispatch was estab- lished March 17, 1905. its editor less than twenty-two years of age-the youngest in the State. Like his other business ventures, few persons were apprised of the enterprise until the first edition was off the press and dis- tributed to every family within the confines of the town, telling in as few words as possible that the same would make its regular appear- ance weekly on Fridays and could be obtained at one dollar per year. No support had been solicited or pledged, and the newspaper has grown on merit alone, until to-day it is con-

ceded to be one of the foremost weekly pub- lications of western Pennsylvania, a leader in typographical appearance and as an advertis- ing medium.

Editor Nupp is not a man of imposing pres- ence. His figure is spare and it would be difficult to find a more unassuming man. His most striking physical feature is his eyes, which are large and fine for a man. His thinking machine is intensely practical, and these two things are the key to his actions. He is a student of human nature and can read character in a single brief interview. yet be- lieves that the milk of human kindness is still sweet, and for these reasons is fully capable of conducting a family newspaper along lines which are indicative of success. He has made enemies along with friends but forgave them all and without malice. Nothing could swerve him from using all fairness, nor relinquish his hold upon the safe conduct of his newspaper, and he publishes all the news that could be expected by considerate patrons. He has an absorbing interest in the progress and welfare of the people of his community and has taken an active part in its advance and improve- ment, giving much of his valuable time in the interest of civic betterment and in local enter- prises. He is a man of no bad habits, but with kindly feelings for those who have, and is the personal friend of thousands of people, young and old. If he has a vice it is his habit of tireless industry, for he has for years la- bored every working day and far into the night. He has never discharged an employe. He has yet to lose his temper under strain, and there are numerous opportunities in the offices of the newspapers which do things. He talks but little but thinks for the multitudes, and gets as much real enjoyment out of life as is usually accorded to one man. He has advocated no great reforms, but has given his patrons just the sort of newspaper most per- sons enjoy reading and could not easily do without.

ALEXANDER BOVAIRD was one of the honored pioneers of Jefferson county, where he lived and labored to goodly ends during the course of a long and upright career and where he held precedence as an able and. successful agriculturist. He passed the closing years of his life on his fine old homestead farm, in the locality known as the Beechwoods, in Wash- ington township, where he was summoned to eternal rest in 1908, at the venerable age of seventy-nine years, his memory being revered by all who came within the compass of his

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gentle and benign influence. The old home- stead is still in the possession of the family.

Alexander Bovaird was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in December, 1829, son of Alexander and Martha ( Kearney) Bovaird, both of whom were born in that same section of the Emerald Isle, where their marriage was solemnized and where their older children were born. These children, including Alex- ander, were young at the time of the family immigration to America. They landed at the port of Baltimore, Md., and made their home in that State for some time, the death of the devoted husband and father occurring there. The widowed mother came with her children to Jefferson county in the early pioneer period and passed the closing years of her life in the home of one of her sons, at Sugar Hill, this county. Data now available do not determine fully whether any of the children were born after the immigration to the United States, but it is certain that the greater number were born in Ireland; James was a resident of the Sugar Hill district of Jefferson county at the time of his death, as was also John; Matthew was a bachelor at the time of his death ; Alex- ander was the next in order of birth and was a boy when the family came to America ; Charles died unmarried ; Joseph married Re- becca IIunter and was a resident of Washing- ton township at the time of his death ; Daviel passed the closing years of his life at Sugar Hill; the two daughters, Ellen and Jane, died unmarried.

Alexander Bovaird, Jr., gained his full quota of pioneer experience in Jefferson county, where he virtually reclaimed a farm from the forest wilderness, his old homestead being now one of the well improved farms of Washington township. He commanded the high regard of all who knew him and his life was one of earnest and honorable industry attended with merited prosperity. His politi- cal support was given independent of party. and he took a loyal and intelligent interest in matters touching the community welfare and the government of State and nation. Both he and his wife were devout communicants of the Methodist Church. As a young man Alexander Bovaird wedded Martha Hunter, who was born soon before or within a short time after the immigration of her parents from County Donegal, Ireland, to the United States, her father having been John Hunter ; the family name of her mother was Brown. Alexander and Martha (Hunter) Bovaird both taught public school in Washington town- ship. Of their children, Rebecca remains at

the old homestead; Alexander A. is a repre- sentative farmer in Snyder township; Jennie died at the age of thirty-eight years; James Smith Bovaird, a bachelor, remains with his sister on the old homestead farm, where he is well upholding the honors of the family name, both as a public-spirited citizen and as a progressive and successful agriculturist and stock grower.

MISS REBECCA BOVAIRD, who has, with much courtesy and consideration, given the data from which has been prepared this brief memorial tribute to her honored father, was born on the old homestead where she now resides Sept. 8, 1865. In her girlhood she attended the public schools at Beechtree, and later studied at the State Normal School at Clarion for one year, besides which she availed herself of the advantages of other excellent institutions in amplifying her education along higher academic lines. She early became an ambitious, successful and popular teacher, con- tinuing her activities as such in the schools of her native county from the age of seventeen years until she had attained to the age of thirty. Her ability and zeal contributed to make her a successful teacher and executive, and her gracious personality won to her the affectionate regard of her pupils and of all others who came within the sphere of her influence, so that it may readily be understood that her circle of friends is limited only by that of her acquaintances. Miss Bovaird taught for some time the Beechtree school, in which she herself had gained her early edu- cation, and she also taught at Lane's Mills, Grove Summit, Allen's Mills and other places in this county. She delights to extend to her many friends the generous hospitality of the attractive old family homestead, and is active in connection with the representative social life of the community and also as a devoted member of the M. E. Church.

JOHN E. GRUBE, M. D., of Punxsutaw ney, superintendent of the Punxsutawney Hospital. is the younger of the three brothers who have made this name notable in Jefferson county for unselfish service in the medical pro- fession. His brothers, Dr. J. Miles Grube and the late George W. Grube, have long been known at Punxsutawney also. They are sons of Joseph Grube, and their paternal grandfa- ther, Jolin Grube, was a native of Bucks county, Pa. His father, Peter Grube, came to America from his native Germany at an early day with a brother, and made his home .in Pennsylvania.

York

LADY

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The Grubes are of ancient origin. At the time of the Crusades the princes and knights were obliged to adopt various devices or emblems by which they and their commands could be recognized. From the testimony of various high authorities, as well as data of this historic family to be found in the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress at Washington, D. C., and elsewhere, it is evi- dent that the Grube coat of arms is one of the proven historic coats of arms of record, going back eight hundred and twenty years, to the first Crusade, A. D. 1096. "It is to the time of the earlier Crusades that we can ascribe the establishment of armorial bearings in their present form, when the necessity of quickly recognizing each of the numerous leaders seems to have compelled the princes and knights to adopt a methodical arrange- ment of various distinguishing devices borne on surcoat and banner, and soon after on the shield." ( See The Symbolisms of Heraldry, or A Treatise on the Meanings and Deriva- tions of Armorial Bearings, by Sir W. Cecil Wade, F. R. A. S., etc.)

Siebenacher (Volume V. 4, Plate 12) thus describes the Grube coat of arms: On a silver shield, three piles, red. Helmet: Silver, sur- mounted by two buffalo horns, the piles there- on alternately red and silver. The mantling (scroll work at the sides of the helmet and shield ), a blending of red and silver.

The Grube coat of arms is a peculiarly interesting specimen of a crusader coat of arms, the pile being the bearing of a knight commander of engineers in the army of the Crusades ( see Wade). Three piles indicate that three of this name served in the Cru- sades. This was the Grube coat of arms of original grant, borne in the first Crusade by a Sir Knight Crusader Johan von Grube (see Feyerabend's History of the Crusades, the first printed book published in Frankfort, A. D. 1583, and the most exhaustive and detailed history of the kind ever produced). He seems to be the first of the name of authentic record. This armorial is shown in the famous com- pilation (fifty-four volumes) entitled "Great and General Book of Coats of Arms, by J. Siebenacher. Volume V, Containing Two Thousand Historically Authenticated Coats of Arms of Historic Families. Nuremberg. 1857." See also Helmer's New and Enlarged Book of Coats of Arms, Nuremberg, 1699, Section on Knights and Nobility ; also Potts. Forsternen and other noted authorities on the origin, anti- quity and meaning of family names.

According to the Lexicon of the Ancient 20

and Modern Nobility of Germany, by Baron Zedlitz (Volume II), the Grube family is a very ancient baronial and ducal family orig- inally of Pommern. Later on it emigrated to Denmark, where it received a Danish grant of nobility, and in the sixteenth century it again migrated back to Germany ( Prussia), where it acquired baronial seats at Lubeck. See also Kneschke's History of the Ancient and Mod- ern Nobility of Germany ( Volume III) and Ledebur's history of the same (Volume I). Interesting biographical and genealogical data will also be found in the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ( Dictionary of Germany Biog- raphy ).

John Grube, grandfather of Dr. Grube, born in Bucks county, Pa., removed to Center county, this State, when a young man, and there married Barbara Hoy. Almost all his family were born in Center county. In 1833 he came thence to Jefferson county, settling in what is now Bell township. John Grube had purchased a large tract in what is now the Grube settlement in that township, and had to clear it before he could engage in farm- ing. The remainder of his life was passed on this place, where he died when about eighty years of age. He is buried in the old Grube Church cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. John Grube had children as follows: Elizabeth, George, David, Henry, Sarah, John. Susanna, Jacob and Joseph. All this family lived and died in the Grube settlement in Bell township.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 62

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