Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 63

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 63

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Joseph Grube. son of John and Barbara ( Hoy) Grube, was born in Jefferson county, Pa., and throughout his active business career followed farming and lumbering there. He married Amy Q. Cochran, also a native of Jefferson county. daughter of Joseph and Eliza A. Cochran, the former born in Mifflin county, Pa., the latter in Luzerne county. The Coch- rans were of Irish origin. Mrs. Grube died March 4, 1881. Mr. Grube on Dec. 2, 1915. They were the parents of three sons. all of whom entered the medical profession, namely : George W., who died in September, 1896; Joseph Miles, and John F. All these broth-, ers were attending the same medical college at the same time.

John E. Grube, M. D., was born in 1866 in the Grube settlement near Punxsutawney, and acquired his early education in the public schools in Jefferson county. Later he studied for one term at Belleview, Pa., and then entered the State Normal School at Edinboro. Pa .. where he completed a course. After that he spent part of his time teaching until 1888. when he took up the study of medicine under

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his brother George, finishing his preparation at the Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadel- phia, now part of University of Pennsylvania. where he graduated in 1891. For eighteen months afterwards he practiced with his brother at Lindsey. Jefferson Co., Pa., and then established an office at Punxsutawney, whence after a few years' practice he moved to Braddock. He is now at Punxsutawney and besides attending to an extensive general practice acts as superintendent of the Punxsu- tawney Hospital, which he founded in 1902. For the past twenty-five years he has been county surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Punxsutawney, still serving in that capacity. Dr. Grube is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Masonic fraternity, in the latter connection affiliating with John W. Jenks Lodge, No. 534, F. & A. M .. Jefferson Chapter, No. 225. R. A. M., Williamsport Consistory, and Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Altoona, Pa. He also belongs to the Railway Surgeons' Association (lines east). He is a Republican in his polit- ical views.

In February, 1889. Dr. Grube married Ber- tha Pantall, of Jefferson county, by whom he had a daughter. Edna Lucile, who is now the wife of S. C. Goheen, a merchant of Punxsu- tawney : Mr. and Mrs. Goheen have one daugh- ter, Nancy Jane. Mrs. Grube died in 1896. and in December, 1897. the Doctor married (second) Minnie McClelland Newkirk, of Pittsburgh, Pa., by whom he has one child, Olive Jane. Mrs. Grube was a member of the Smithfield Street Methodist Church of Pittsburgh.

The Punxsutawney Hospital. operated by the organization now incorporated as the Punxsutawney Hospital Association, of Punx- sutawney, Jefferson Co., Pa., has developed rapidly from a small beginning as Dr. Grube's private hospital into one in which the general public has become widely interested by reason of its large capacity and excellent equipment and its facilities for accommodating patients of every condition of life- facilities which are readily extended to those who are unable to pay for them. It was started by Dr. John E. Grube, the present superintendent, Sept. 15. 1902, with but one bed, on the second floor of his office building on Mahoning street. With- in the first month four more beds were added, which comprised the full capacity of the hos- pital until April of the following year. when larger rooms on the fourth floor of the same building were taken over, giving a capacity of ten beds, later increased to sixteen. Four

or five years in this location, during which several hundred cases were annually treated, covering a great variety of ailments, both med- ical and surgical, added to the popularity of the institution and extended its scope beyond the original purpose of the founder. It was found that in a community such as this it was practically impossible to confine the prac- tice to pay patients, and as many free cases were admitted as the capacity and resources of the hospital would permit. In 1907, how- ever, it was decided that the conditions de- manded a larger, more modern and more fully equipped building, which was erected, and first occupied in April, 1908, when the citizens inter- ested became incorporated under the present name. With the new establishment the work of the hospital increased largely, while the conspicuous buildings and the incorporation by the court naturally attracted a large propor- tion of non-paying patients. Though all the ordinary illnesses have been treated, such as typhoid fever, pneumonia, acute rheumatism, etc., as well as many obstetrical cases, the staff have been specially called upon for surgical work, for which their facilities are unsur- passed outside of the large cities. The larger part of the surgical work has been in the field of abdominal surgery and gynecology. Cases of acute alcoholism have been accepted, and a few cases of mild insanity had to be refused for lack of proper accommodations.

The need of the hospital has been evident from the first, notwithstanding there is another in the town, but the latter is used chiefly for the coal miners, who contribute to its main- tenance, and it is usually overcrowded. The Punxsutawney Hospital is open to all reput- able physicians who desire to bring in cases and treat them, those not on the staff having the same privileges in this respect as those con- nected with the institution, and the superin- tendent and his assistants are ready to aid whenever required. Many physicians in and out of the town have taken advantage of this privilege, and pay or free patients are ad- mitted upon request of physicians residing in other counties also. It is the policy of the institution to require pay from patients able to afford it, but the income from this source has not been sufficient to make the hospital self-supporting. Free patients are never refused treatment, no matter what part of the State they come from, though the counties adjacent to Jefferson, Clarion, Clearfield, Arm- strong and Indiana, provide the greater num- ber. It is thus that the management endeavors to fulfil its purpose of serving both physicians

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and patients in this populous community, effecting a great public economy by conserv- ing the health of the masses. But this broad work entails heavy expense, and the yearly deficit is so large that State aid must be relied upon. Hence the legislative representatives of this county and district in the Legislature of I910-II, knowing the character and scope of the charitable work carried on at the hos- pital and recognizing that the Association was entitled to State aid, succeeded in securing a substantial State appropriation for the fiscal period beginning June 1, 1911, and ending June 1, 1913, together with an appropriation which enabled the institution to install a mod- ern and fully equipped X-ray apparatus and a steam laundry, besides assisting in completing the unfinished portion of the hospital. Though the next legislative appropriation was $19,200, the increase of work during the period had created a deficit of $7.340.80 within the first eighteen months, and the founders are labor- ing steadily to have the maintenance so assured that there will be no handicaps for lack of funds.

The hospital building is a handsome struc- ture of buff brick, part of which is three stories in height, the remainder two stories, with high and well-lighted basement. It is heated with hot water, and provided with gas and electricity. There are telephone connec- tions in every part of the building. In the basement are the kitchen, store room, boiler room, steam laundry, drying room and nurses' dining room, with space still unused. The first floor contains the offices, waiting rooms, reception room, drug supply room, etherizing room, sterilizing room, nurses' office, record room and X-ray room; the ambulance court in one wing ; a thoroughly modern operating room, sixteen by twenty-two feet in dimen- sions, with plenty of daylight, and well equipped with gas and electric lights, aseptic furniture and the most approved appliances for operating, with every known precaution against septic poisoning. In the other wing on this floor are four wards and sixteen pri- vate rooms, several en suite, with bathrooms and other conveniences ; as well as a special room for accident cases; the diet kitchen; a spacious parlor ; private consultation room for visiting doctors ; and a new laboratory for mi- croscopic and chemical work. On this floor there are now thirty-eight beds in use, the com- pletion of the second floor adding to this eight beds for the use of patients, twelve separate rooms for nurses, a nurses' parlor and two bathrooms.

The main entrance of the building is on Gil- pin street, with the superintendent's office and waiting room. The other front is on Torrence street, on which side a large veranda, high above the street, affords an attractive inclosed space in which convalescents may enjoy the open air. A hall nine feet wide runs through nearly three hundred feet of the length of the building.

The hospital staff consists of Dr. John E. Grube, superintendent; Dr. G. M. Musser, chief assistant ; and Dr. Maurice C. James, sec- ond assistant.

JOSEPHI MILES GRUBE, M. D., was born in 1861 near Punxsutawney, and received his early education in the public schools and acad- emies of his native county, pursuing his higher literary studies at the State College in Center county and at Edinboro, Erie Co., Pa. He was reared to farm life and followed agri- cultural work during his earlier years, but later engaged in teaching, having charge of the home school, where his pupils were mostly relatives and former schoolmates. Subse- quently he taught two years at Burnside, Clear- field county, meantime reading medicine with his elder brother. Then he entered the Medico- Chirurgical College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1889. Ile imme- (liately began practice at Gallitzin, Cambria county, in partnership with his brother, with whom he was associated for a year and a half. Besides looking after their regular practice they were engaged as surgeons for the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company. When he started out in independent practice Dr. J. Miles Grube settled at Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, where he soon opened a drug store, and he was successful in both lines. He moved to Punxsu- tawney in 1890. Dr. Grube belongs to the Jefferson County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and has high standing in both organizations, being as much esteemed among the members of the fraternity as he is popular with his patients.

In June, 1892, Dr. Grube married Kate Douglas, daughter of James Douglas, of West Virginia, and they have two daughters and one son. Alma, Erma and John M. Dr. and Mrs. Grube are members of the First Baptist Church of Punxsutawney, which he has served as trustee. Fraternally he is a Mason, belong- ing to John W. Jenks Lodge, No. 534, F. & A. M., of Punxsutawney : Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, R. A. M., of Brookville; Bethany Com- mandery, No. 83. K. T., of DuBois, Pa. ; Wil- liamsport Consistory, and Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Altoona. He also has other

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pleasant social connections. He is a Repub- lican in political principle.

REV. HARRY GRANT TEAGARDEN. Presbyterian minister, has spent a quarter of a century of his life in the southern part of Jefferson county, and throughout that period has been an enlivening influence in directing the progress of the section through proper channels. Primarily, as pastor of several churches in the region, it has been his province to administer to the spiritual wants of a large proportion of its residents, who look to him for advice and guidance in setting moral and mental standards. But his practical Chris- tianity has carried him even further into their interests, and he has entered into public affairs, social life and material activities with equal zest, infusing much of his own enthusiasm along those lines into the spirit of the com- munity, where he has long been looked upon as a leader of thought and action. Possessed of abundant energy and executive ability. Rev. Mr. Teagarden has had need of both, for he is one of the busiest of men, attending to all the numerous undertakings with which he is associated, and always ready to help other good causes when the necessity arises. He is pastor of the Presbyterian Churches at Adrian. Anita. Eleanor and Panic ( Zion Church ), and for a number of years has made his home at Punxsutawney for convenience in reaching all those points. Mr. Teagarden is a native of Greene county, Pa., born April 25, 1863, at Clarksville, and belongs to an old family whose first representatives in Pennsylvania made a settlement in or near Philadelphia in 1744. But his line is traced back to Abraham Tea- garden, a native of Prussia, who went to Eng- land. where he served as an officer in the English army. While there he married Lady May Parker, and they came to America in 1767. settling on Redstone creek, in Fayette county, Pa. Their son, David. was the father of Thomas Teagarden, of Clarksville, Greene Co., Pa., great-grandfather of Rev. Harry G. Ten- garden. The family is of Prussian Protestant stock. and the original spelling of the name was Tigirten,

Reuben Teagarden. grandfather of Rev. Mr. Teagarden. was long a lumberman and farmer at Clarksville, and was also engaged in the manufacture of cedar tubs, buckets, etc. His son. John C. Teagarden, was born at Clarksville, and in his younger life followed carpentering. while he also gave some atten- tion to merchandising. He was a prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian

Church, in which he served as an elder from the time he was seventeen years old until he died, April 18, 1879, at the age of forty-six years. He is buried at Clarksville. In poli- tics he was a Republican. Mr. Teagarden married Rachel C. Young, who was born in September, 1841, daughter of Stuffei and Rachel ( Boyd ) Young, formerly of Wash- ington county, Pa., who removed to Clarks- ville about 1830 and conducted the "Young Ilotel" there. Mrs. Teagarden survives her husband, continuing to reside at Clarksville. She, too, is a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church. Two children were born to this union, Harry Grant and Samuel L., the latter still living at Clarksville, where he is engaged as a lumberman and farmer.

Harry Grant Teagarden grew to manhood in Clarksville, receiving such educational ad- vantages as the town afforded until he was eighteen years old, when he entered the Cum- berland Presbyterian College at Waynesburg, Pa. He attended that institution under the presidency of Dr. Miller, remaining there ali the while he was preparing for the ministry, and meantime taught school for six terms, one at Clarksville, two at Green Grove, two at Castile and one at Rice's Landing. Graduat- ing in 1891, he came that year to Jefferson county, being stationed at Oliveburg, and tak- ing charge of the Olive and Zion Churches, for which he received the modest salary of four hundred and fifty dollars a year. In November of the same year he organized the Eleanor Church, in a schoolhouse at that point, and that was annexed to his original pastorate. However, he found time for still more work, and on May 10, 1892, organized the church at Anita, with a membership of one hundred. He built new churches at both places, both of which have been enlarged to accommodate the growing needs of the congregations, and Anita built a second church in 1915. He still con- tinues in charge of these, as well as of the Zion Church at Panic and the church at Adrian since 1907. He gave up the Oliveburg Church in November, 1901. After residing at Olive- burg ten and a half years and at Eleanor two years Mr. Teagarden moved to Punxsutaw ney, where he now makes his home, for con- venience in looking after his many interests. In 1896 Mr. Teagarden held a notably success- ful meeting, at which there were one hun- dred and fifty-five converts, and in 1915 he held a similar meeting in the Anita Church, with a result of one hundred and eighty-seven converts. In 1902 he divided his work and organized a church at Yatesboro, Armstrong

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county, where he erected a house of worship and conducted services for five years, in con- nection with his other pastoral duties. His labors have been fruitful and untiring, both in the pulpit and among his people in every-day contact, the result of a combination of personal qualities whch fit him well for his chosen vocation. As a speaker he is welcomed at all local gatherings, and in that connection has also become quite prominently identified with the Grange, having been State chaplain for the Pennsylvania Grange for the last fourteen years, and during the last six years orator at the Grange picnics ; he is now State lecturer. His services in this field are worthy of note. He is a member of Elder Grange at Olive- burg. Mr. Teagarden is a farmer himself. owning one farin of 136 acres in Young town- ship, Jefferson county, another of 120 acres in Winslow township, this county, and a fine farm property in Washington county, this State.

Since his removal to Punxsutawney Mr. Teagarden has served a term as postmaster at that borough, having been appointed Nov. 22. 1910, and filled the office creditably for four years and eight months. His assistant in the work was Charles Snyder. He has numerous fraternal connections, being a Mason, an Odd Fellow ( for twenty-seven years ) and a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Punx- sutawney. His Masonic affiliations are with John W. Jenks Lodge, No. 534. F. & A. M., of Punxsutawney ; Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, R. A. M .. of Brookville : Bethany Command- ery. No. 83, K. T., of DuBois, Pa. ; Williams- port Consistory, thirty-second degree; and Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. of Altoona.

On June 29, 1887, Mr. Teagarden was mar- ried, at Waynesburg, Pa., to Nettie Z. Burson, the ceremony being performed by Rev. James R. Morris, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was born Nov. 8. 1866, at Clarks- ville, Pa., daughter of William S. Burson and granddaughter of Edward and Maria (Stew- art) Burson, natives of Massachusetts, who died at Clarksville. William S. Burson was born at Clarksville Sept. 25, 1846, learned the trade of blacksmith, and became an extensive farmer at Clarksville, where he has been a prominent citizen, serving as justice of the peace. He married Rebecca J. Rose, who was born Dec. 29. 1845. at Clarksville, daughter of David and Mary ( Hewett ) Rose, who were born in Greene county, Pa., and died at Clarks- ville. They attend the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church, of which Mrs. Burson has been an active member. He is a Democrat on polit-

ical questions. Mr. and Mrs. Burson have had three children: Nettie Z .. Mrs. Teagarden ; Cora A., wife of Harvey C. Hope, a jeweler, of Harrisville, Ohio: and John R., a minis- ter of the Presbyterian Church, now pastor at Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

EDGAR W. WOLFORD, D. D. S., is one of the representative exponents of his pro- fession in his native county and, with well appointed offices at Brookville, controls a large and successful practice, with a clientage whose appreciation vouches alike for the Doctor's personal popularity and technical professional skill.

Dr. Edgar Wayne Wolford was born in Barnett township, Jefferson county, on the 2d of March, 1890, and is a grandson of the late Daniel Wolford, who was one of the pioneers of Barnett township, where he devel- oped a productive farm and was also con- cerned with the lumbering industry. Both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in that township. Their children were: Wallace, John, Ernest, Emma, Ida, Margaret and Robert.

Robert Wolford, father of the Doctor, was born on the old homestead farm in Barnett township, where he was reared to manhood and received the advantages of the common schools of the period. lle long held prece- dence as one of the successful agriculturists of his native township, where he became the owner of the farm on which he was born, and he also profited materially through his active association with lumbering operations. He was a progressive and influential citizen of Barnett township, but never consented to serve in any public office save that of school direc- tor. In 1913 he retired from active work and since that time he and his wife have main- tained their home in the village of Sigel, this county, with a secure place in the esteem of all who know them. The maiden name of Mrs. Wolford was Mary E. Aharrah, and she likewise is a representative of one of the old and honored families of Jefferson county. Mr. and Mrs. Wolford became the parents of nine children, namely: William, Frank, Charles, Amos, E. Wayne, Nancy, Bessie, Lin- nie and Birdie. Amos and Birdie are de- ceased.

Dr. Wolford passed the period of his child- hood and early youth upon the home farm and continued his studies in the public schools until he had completed the curriculum of the town- ship high school. Thereafter he attended the Sigel Academy, and finally, in consonance

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with his ambition, entered the department of dentistry in the University of Pittsburgh. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1914, and after thus receiving his well earned degree of doctor of dental surgery he gained his first professional expe- rience in the village of Sigel, where he con- tinued in practice four months. During the ensuing year he was engaged in practice in the city of Pittsburgh, and in July, 1915, he established himself in practice at Brookville, where he has developed a substantial business. His offices are on the second floor of the Mc- Knight building, and his laboratory and oper- ative departments are equipped according to the most approved modern standards.

Dr. Wolford is found aligned as a sup- porter of the cause of the Republican party, holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, as does also his wife, and is affiliated with Hobah Lodge, No. 276, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and with the Psi Omega dental fraternity of his alma mater.

On the 2d of October, 1914, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Wolford to Eva Hag- gerty, daughter of David Haggerty, of Sigel, this county. They are popular factors in the leading social activities of their home com- munity.

I. G. GORDON FORSTER. It is gratify- ing to present a brief review of the career of this native son of Jefferson county who has signally honored the county through personal achievement and sterling character. Hon. I. G. Gordon Forster, who was born in the old homestead of his maternal grandparents at Brookville, on the 5th of November, 1880, is now numbered among the representative younger members of the Philadelphia bar, and besides having won definite prestige in his profession has served as representative in the Pennsylvania legislature. In Philadelphia he is at present the incumbent of the office of special assistant city solicitor, and has proved himself a most resourceful trial lawyer and well fortified counselor, as well as a loyal exponent of the unwritten ethical code of his profession.

Mr. Forster is the only son of William and Helen (Gordon) Forster, his widowed mother still residing in the beautiful old homestead. Mrs. Forster is a daughter of the late Hon. Isaac G. Gordon, of whom special mention is made on other pages. Capt. Robert M. Fors- ter, paternal grandfather of I. G. Gordon Forster, was a soldier and officer of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Civil

war, being killed at the head of his company in the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863. Captain Forster owned a large tract of land near the town of State College, Center county, the property becoming valuable after the establishing and upbuilding of the State insti- tution. In 1856, under the administration of President Buchanan, Captain Forster was ap- pointed the first postmaster of State College, and it is worthy of special mention in this con- nection that his youngest son, Hon. Robert M. Forster, Jr., is serving in 1916 as postmaster of the same town, now an important educa- tional center.

William Forster and his twin brother, Thomas, were long numbered among the prominent and representative business men of Philadelphia, being in the firm of Kirk, Forster & Company, conducting a leading wholesale grocery. The marriage of Wil- liam Forster to Miss Helen Gordon was so !- emnized at her home in Brookville, and here the death of Mr. Forster occurred, on Aug. 18, 1915, his remains being laid to rest in the Brookville cemetery.

I. G. Gordon Forster attended the public schools and Bucknell Academy, and in 1901 was graduated from Pennsylvania State Col- lege, completing the Latin Scientific course. In preparation for his chosen profession he entered the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, being graduated with the class of 1904. Mr. Forster has not only shown such character and ability as insure definite success in the profession, but, as a sup- porter of the Republican party, has been influ- ential in political affairs. In compliance with the wishes of many friends he became a candi- date for the legislature, and was elected by a gratifying majority. He soon assumed a posi- tion of influence in the House, where he be- came the earnest advocate of progressive and advanced legislation. He was an effective worker in securing the enactment providing that students in dental colleges shall complete a four years' course of instruction before be- ing granted diplomas, and which also prohib- its the advertising of painless dentistry unless the claim can be actually maintained. He was otherwise zealous in the promotion of legisla- tion and in furthering the interests of his con- stituent district, the population of which is largely made up of Italians and other foreign elements. He gained such firm hold upon the confidence and esteem of this cosmopoli- tan district that he was easily reelected. Though strenuous efforts were made to com- pass his defeat, he was splendidly victorious,

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 63

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