Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 67

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 67

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Abraham Snyder, son of Henry Snyder. was the father of Quincy S. Snyder. He was born in Center county, and settled in Brook- ville. Jefferson county, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years. He lost heavily in a fire which totally destroyed his stock of goods, and so turned to his trade, that of blacksmith, which he fol- lowed thereafter until his retirement from active pursuits, several years before his death. For a long period he was a well known and much esteemed citizen of Jefferson county. leading an energetic and useful life. He died at the age of seventy-eight years. His family consisted of the following children : John Calvin, Clarence, Quincy S., Clintus M., Abra- ham 7 .. , Caroline, Maude and Cora.

Quincy S. Snyder had the privilege of such educational advantages as the public schools of Brookville afforded, and he was fifteen years old when he commenced to learn the trade of tailor, which proved a sufficient foundation for a prosperous business career. He served his apprenticeship with W. A. Thompson, in Brookville, and was employed as a journeyman for a number of years there- after, acquiring familiarity with the best meth- ods of tailoring and also with the commercial end of the business, as he was ambitious to follow it on his own account. In February, 1891, he started up his own establishment, and he has done a thriving business during the twenty-five years in which he has continued it, having exerted himself in every possible way to meet the most advanced requirements of his chosen calling. affording his patrons the benefits of up-to-date service in every de- tail. As his patronage has increased he has added to his equipment until he is now the leading merchant tailor in the borough. Other local investments have also attracted him. In 1903 he was one of the organizers of the Brookville Title & Trust Company, was a member of the original board of directors, and is still on the board.

Mr. Snyder married Elizabeth S. Lincen- bigler, daughter of S. J. and Rebecca (Mc- Murray ) Lincenbigler, and they had one son, Dr. Clyde C. Snyder. Mrs. Snyder died June 5. 1915. and is buried in the Brookville ceme- tery. The family are Methodists in religious connection.

DR. CLYDE CORWIN SNYDER was born in Brookville, Pa., Jan. 6, 1883. He spent his early life there and attended the public schools, graduating from the high school. After the conclusion of his studies there he entered the Philadelphia Dental College in 1903, and grad- uated in 1906 with the degree of doctor of dental surgery, passing the State Board exam- inations in the spring of the same year. While in high school and college Dr. Snyder took a deep interest in athletics, serving as captain of the football team in high school, and cap- tain of the baseball team in college. He also was interested in the social and club life of his alma mater, and is a member of the Xi Psi Phi Fraternity, and the Garrettsonian So- ciety. Dr. Snyder has taken up special work pertaining to his profession. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia School of Anatomy and holds a special certificate for "The Study and Knowledge of Anæsthesia and Anæesthetics," and in 1912 he took a special course in New York City on crown and bridge work and treatment of diseases of the oral cavity, now making a specialty of this line of work.

In 1906 Dr. Snyder located in Clarion, Pa .. and engaged in practice there with Dr. E. W. Reed. but the partnership was dissolved the following year. Dr. Snyder opening private offices in the Citizens' Trust building, Clarion, where he enjoys an extensive practice that is steadily increasing in volume and importance. His offices are equipped with all the modern accessories known to the dental profession. Although still in the prime of his life he has attained a high standard in his profession, and enjoys the reputation of being one of the leading dentists of Clarion county. He is also prominent in Masonic circles and is one of the youngest men in the county having at- tained the thirty-second degree. He is a mem- ber of the Clarion Lodge, No. 277, F. & A. M .: Eden Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Franklin Commandery, Knights Templar : Zem Zem Temple. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Coudersport Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.

Dr. Snyder married, June 1, 1910, Lulu S., daughter of the late John A. MaGee, who was for many years prominent in the public and social life of this section.

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WILLIAM WESLEY BRADEN, an in- fluential citizen of Barnett township, has, like so many other representative farmers of the county, been also closely and effectively asso- ciated with lumbering operations in this sec- tion of the State, and for a number of years operated a sawmill. The locality in which he lives is popularly known as Hominy Ridge, and in this attractive and progressive com- munity. situated two miles distant from Cooks- burg. Forest county, are to be found a Meth- odist Episcopal and a United Brethren Church, as well as a substantial schoolhouse. This region borders on the Clarion river, and has a high elevation that renders the place speci- ally healthful.

In Barnett township, Forest county, about three miles north of his present home, Mr. Braden was born Nov. 20, 1857, son of Jacob and Lavina (Bashline) Braden. His father was born in Crawford county, this State, in 1797, and was seventy-six years of age at the time of his death, in 1873. The mother, who was reared in Clarion county, near the old Polk Furnace, survived him only one year. both dying on their old homestead farm. Jacob Braden reclaimed one of the excellent farms of Forest county, and was long and actively concerned with lumbering operations. Of their seven children all are living except one, and William W. is the only one of the number residing in Jefferson county. Two reside in Forest county, one in Clarion county. and the other two in the city of Pittsburgh. The parents were very earnest and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their daily lives were in accord with the faith which they professed.

William W. Braden received the advantages of the district schools and continued to be associated with the work of the home farm until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, when he came to Jefferson county and worked in the Baxter lumber camps and saw- mill. a few miles above Cooksburg. He assisted in the building of flatboats and also in the rafting of square timber down to Pitts- burgh. After three years thus he put his prac- tical experience to effective use by taking in an independent way contracts for getting out timber, building flatboats and taking the prod- uct down the rivers to Pittsburgh. It was about this time that he purchased a tract of thirteen acres on the Clarion river, and here, at the point known as Maye's Gap, he estab- lished a sawmill and boatvard, two miles dis- tant from Cooksburg. About 1888 he here erected a steam sawmill, and he continued the

operation of the same until 1912, giving em- ployment much of the time to a force of about thirty-five men in the operation of the mill and the manufacturing of boats. At his yards were manufactured about thirty-five such flat- boats for the transportation of lumber, pit- posts and bark to Pittsburgh, and these boats were sold at prices ranging from three hun- dred and fifty to seven hundred dollars a pair. The boats were eventually used in the coal trade on the Ohio river, having an average capacity of twenty-five hundred tons of coal, the average width of the boats being 26 feet and their length 176 feet. In the manufactur- ing of lumber Mr. Braden purchased rafts of timber, and he also cut about sixteen million feet of lumber for the Vasbinder Company. In the meanwhile he had purchased his pres- ent farm and effected the reclamation of much of the same. He now has available for culti- vation about sixty-three acres in his home- stead, and he is the owner also of another farm in Barnett township. Mr. Braden con- tinued the operation of his sawmill for a quar- ter of a century, after which it was demol- ished, the machinery being sold. In all of his operations he was fortunate in never having lost a man by an accident, though he natu- rally had his quota of financial losses in con- nection with boats and lumber transportation on the rivers. Mr. Braden is one of the ener- getic and progressive citizens of his com- munity, has served as constable, township assessor and school director, and also held for some time the office of tax collector. His political support is given unreservedly to the Republican party.

On the 18th of September, 1879. Mr. Bra- den married Sarilda Cook, who was born in Barnett township, daughter of John and Janet ( Felton) Cook, her father a miller and long employed in the gristmill operated by his cousin, Andy Cook, at Cooksburg, a town named in honor of the family. John Cook died in October, 1889, at the age of seventy- three years, and his wife, who survived him eight years, was likewise seventy-three years old at the time of her death. In conclusion is given a brief record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Braden: Lewis, a prosperous far- mer of Barnett township, has a farm not far distant from the homestead of his parents, and is also employed as mail carrier on one of the rural routes ; Francis resides at Water- sonville, Armstrong county, and is a teamster by occupation : Janet is the wife of Coburn Cook, of Clarington, Forest county; Anna Ethel, who became the wife of Elmer Dunkle,

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of Scotch Hill, Clarion county, died on the 30th of August, 1916, at the age of twenty- four years, eleven months, twelve days; Mayme and Arthur remain at the parental home and are attending school.

REV. THOMAS SHARP LEASON, D. D., residence, Brookville. Pa., Presbyterian pas- tor at Mount Tabor Church, Sigel, Pa., for a period of more than thirty years, during a career of remarkably unselfish service in min- isterial work there exercised an invigorating influence in elevating and maintaining social conditions all over his section of Jefferson county. He had the happy experience of continuing his labors to the very close of his life, which ended suddenly while he was yet in the midst of his usefulness, though he had reached his seventy-fifth year: Dr. Leason' was generously endowed with the inflexible moral courage and high principles of his Scotch-Irish blood, as well as the elear in- telleet and vigorous mentality characteristic of its representatives, qualities which fitted him well for prolific activity in his chosen work. The fruits of a generation of conscientious en- deavor in which he took most pride were naturally found in the expanding prosperity of the Presbyterian churches under his care. But he was too large-souled to keep within the bounds of his immediate duties, so many circles in Brookville profited by the interest which extended to all humanity, and he is held in affectionate memory by many besides those of his own fold.

Dr. Leason was of Pennsylvania birth and lineage. born April 29. 1817, in Venango township, Butler county, son of Robert and Hannah ( Sharp) Leason. His parents were both of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the father be- ing a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and a grandson of John Leason, who was a commissioned officer in the Colonial service of the county of Lancaster, then extending to the western limits of the Province. His ma- ternal grandfather, Capt. Andrew Sharp, served under Washington through the war of the Revolution, and, coming west at its close, lost his life a few years later in the last foray made by the Indians upon the white settlers of western Pennsylvania. "The pioneer settler of Armstrong county was Capt. Andrew Sharp, who settled in the Plum Creek region in 1784, with his wife and infant child. He resided there for some years, suffering much from the depredations of the Indians, until finally tiring of the exertions necessary for existence in that harassed region, he decided

to return to Kentucky. In May, 1794, he built a boat, in partnership with three other men, Taylor, Connor and MeCoy, and with their combined families started down the Kiskim- inetas river. At the mouth of Roaring run, near the rapids, they decided to halt for the night, preferring to shoot the rapids by day- light. However, they had scarce started for the bank ere they were fired upon by a band of Indians, who had lain in wait for them. In the ensuing fight MeCoy and Connor's son were killed and Connor and Sharp severely wounded. The boat was quickly pushed off from the bank and rapid progress made away from the danger point. Owing to the wound- ing of the men, Mrs. Sharp was compelled to row the boat all night, but at daybreak she succeeded in attracting the attention of some men on the bank, who took charge of them and piloted the freight of wounded and dying to Pittsburgh, where Sharp died July 8th. From that city Mrs. Sharp went with her brother-in-law. Andrew, to Cumberland county, remaining there three years, later re- turning to her former home at Plum Creek after the conditions were more favorable. Her second daughter, the first white child born in Armstrong county, was the wife of David Ralston, and later of James Mitchell."

Thomas Sharp Leason spent his boyhood upon the home farm. He was prepared for college at Butler Academy under Rev. Loyal Young. D. D., and entered the sophomore class of Washington College, Washington, Pa., in 1841, graduating in 1844. From the History of the Class of 1844, prepared for the semi- centennial reunion of the class at Washing- ton, Pa., June 19, 1894, we learn: "Unlike most of the class, he was already of mature age, and fully decided in making the Christian ministry his life work, so that he did not care to share largely in the pastimes and levities of the more youthful collegians, but found his pleasure in work and service, rather than in play. An instance of this may be eited in the fact that during most of his college life he was accustomed to make a weekly excursion of four miles into the country-and this afoot -in order to teach a Sabbath school class : and one of the pleasantest memories of his after life was that of his pupils in that school ; one became afterwards a distinguished preacher and theologieal professor-Rev. Sam- uel J. Wilson, D. D. But while thus main- taining the character and doing the work of a Christian, he was very far from being odiously sanctimonious. No one was more genial or more fond of innocent mirth. To

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those who really knew him, and had come to appreciate his kindly sympathetic spirit, he was ever a delightful companion." These traits persisted throughout his long life. In the face of discouraging circumstances, toil that seemed to bring no adequate reward, he kept his happy disposition and cheerful man- ner, the spirit within showing itself unde- pressed by external conditions.

After graduating from college Mr. Leason in 1844 entered the Western Theological Sem- inary, where he took the three years' course. Meantime, in June, 1846, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Allegheny and entered upon the practical work of the ministry. His first charge was at Marietta, Ohio, where he was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Zanesville in June, 1848. After two years in that field he returned to Pennsylvania, be- ing pastor of the churches at Leechburg and Pine Run, in the Presbytery of Blairsville, from 1851 to 1859, and in 1860 he located at Brookville, Jefferson county, where the re- mainder of his life was passed. The year of his arrival he took charge of the Mount Tabor Church, seven miles from Brookville, and of the missionary field adjoining it, all in the Clarion Presbytery, in addition to the labors of the Mount Tabor Church, in connection with which at various times he served the churches at Richardsville, Mount Pleasant and Mill Creek. The territory was a large one, and fortunately Dr. Leason possessed abundant health and energy to enable him to do many of the things inspired by his zeal. The long and fatiguing rides to remote points, to fill preaching appointments, or to carry spiritual comfort to the sick and the dying in the lumber camps and the scattered cabins of the region, were made willingly, as he also undertook other services outside of his reg- ular pastoral labors. During the Civil war he was one of the most efficient workers of the United States Christian Commission, and in- defatigable in the accomplishment of the noble purpose for which it was organized. The cause of temperance also had an earnest ad- vocate in this devoted and farseeing servant of humanity, not only in his public addresses but also in his dealings with individuals, many of whom he helped to better lives and under- standing by his sympathetic advice and fra- ternal attitude. With unflagging interest he kept up his work until his death, apparently as active physically and mentally as ever, pass- ing away suddenly at Brookville July 29, 1891, while sitting at a table with his Bible and Greek Testament before him, preparing his

sermon for the next Sabbath. He is buried at Brookville. It is notable that the last year of his life was one of his most suc- cessful in the ministry, his last public serv- ice being at the Mount Tabor Church, where he received thirty new members at communion.

Dr. Leason was as active intellectually as physically. He always found time for study and research, and his congregations had the benefit of his efforts in forceful sermons, car- rying the gospel message and sound doctrinal teaching. conscientiously interpreted and pre- pared with the utmost care. In spite of all the work he attempted he never slighted prepara- tion for the pulpit, having high ideals as to his responsibility in this respect. and faith in the effectiveness of vigorous preaching. His sermons and his contributions to religious literature, particularly those which appeared in the Presbyterian Banner, showed how thor- ouglily true he was to the doctrines of Pres- byterianism, and how wisely he understood them. This was well recognized by the min- istry, and the honor he received from Bellevue College, which bestowed the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him in 1889, was conceded to be well deserved. But though sincere in his adherence to his creed, and competent in its exposition, he never became narrow or dog- matic, and the Scriptures themselves held first place in his reverence. His friend Rev. Dr. Conway, of Brookville, in an address made the day of his funeral, said: "He gave him- self wholly to the work of the ministry. Faithfully that sensitive and diffident, but true, brave soul, amid discouragements and diffi- culties that would have overwhelmed a less conscientious and noble spirit, labored to feed his flock with the choicest of the wheat, put- ting the whole force of his brain, the whole force of his being, to the preparation of his sermons, elaborating them with such pains- taking care as if they were to be spoken to thousands of the highest and most accom- plished in the land. As one who knew him well said, 'He spared no labor of brain, no labor of tongue. no labor of heart, no labor of foot,' that he might successfully accomplish the great work of the ministry.'

Rev. Mr. Leason married, May 16, 1848, Mrs. Mary M. Stewart, youngest daughter of Rev. Francis Laird, D. D., a Presbyterian minister. HIer maternal grandfather, Hon. John Moore. was the first president judge of Westmoreland county. Mrs. Leason passed away Feb. 21, 1889, after a married life of more than forty years, survived by six chil- dren, three of each marriage, who also sur-

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vived Dr. Leason, "all of whom, without dis- tinction. vie with each other in attesting their obligation in common for his wise, impartial. fatherly care, with its ceaseless kindness, its patient forbearance, its judicious discipline, and its ever-safe and inspiring example." We have the following record of this family: (1) W. F. Stewart, who practiced law in Brook- ville, died Nov. 9, 1903. He married Agnes Craig, sister of Capt. S. A. Craig, of Brook- ville, where she now resides. They had three children : Norman, living at Brookville ; Helen, who died young; and Fred, who died young. (2) Mary J. Stewart, who died Dec. 12, 1912, was president of Blairsville College in 1895. (3) Annie E. Stewart died June 1I. 1002. (4) Mirven F. Leason, deceased, is mentioned below. (5) Elissa C. Leason, now the only survivor of the family, resides at Brookville, where she is very highly esteemed, active in church and charitable work and lead- ing a useful life. (6) Elsie W. Leason, who died Jan. 24. tyo8, was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

MIRVEN F. LEASON was born in Jefferson county, Pa., and received his college cduca- tion at Princeton. Ile was first admitted to the bar in Jefferson county, and later ( 1879) in Armstrong county, Pa .. and continued in active practice until his death, which occurred at Kittanning. Armstrong Co., Pa., May 29. 1909. During 1881 and 1882 he was district attorney of Armstrong county, and he was nominated for judge on the Republican ticket. A man of unswerving principles, he fearlessly did what he believed to be his duty, and be- ing unusually intelligent and well read was a power in his community. He married Hannah Reynolds, and five children were born to them: Mary Laird, Mrs. H. W. Bovard ; Jefferson Reynolds; Helen R., Mrs. Arnold ; Judith D .. Mrs. Rohrer ; and Myrvinne. Mrs. Leason died May 2, 1901, firm in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, to which she and her husband belonged. Mr. Leason was a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the B. P. O. Elks. Mrs. Leason's father, Jef- ferson Reynolds, was a member of an old and prominent family of Armstrong county, where he was born and reared, later becoming a lawyer of distinction, so that Jefferson R. Leason, his namesake, came very naturally by his legal ability, inheriting it from both sides of the house.

JEFFERSON REYNOLDS LEASON ( deceased ) , was one of the younger members of the Arm- strong county bar and a progressive citizen of Kittanning, in which borough he was born

.Aug. 11, 1883, son of Mirven F. Leason. He attended the public schools of Kittanning, and the Andover Preparatory School ( Phillips AAcademy at Andover, Mass.), and entered Pennsylvania State College for a two years' course. Following this he read law with his father, and was admitted to the Armstrong county bar in 1907. In 1909 Mr. Leason was elected district attorney for his county on the Republican ticket, and followed his father's footsteps in proving himself a fearless offi- cial. This office had also been filled by Mr. Reynolds, his maternal grandfather, and Mr. Mirven F. Leason, his father. He was a mem- ber of the Order of Eiks, belonging to Kittan- ning lodge. Mr. Leason died suddenly in Pittsburgh, Pa., of heart failure, April 13, 1913, and was buried at Kittanning. In No- vember, 1909, Mr. Leason married Margaret Buffington, daughter of Orr Buffington, an attorney of Kittanning, and one of the city's eminent men. She survives him with one son, Jefferson Reynolds, born July 8, 1911.

ANTHONY FAMILY. In tracing the ancestry of the Anthonys, we find a Mr. An- thony and family among the early settlers of Rhode Island in the time of Roger Williams. Our first definite history bears date about 1760, when a Mr. Anthony with his family moved to a place near Germantown, now North Philadelphia, where a number of the descendants may yet be found. In the spring of 1774 his two older sons, William and Jacoh, decided to go west, and early in May, 1774, arrived in what is now Indiana county, Pa .. near the present site of Shelocta borough.

Jacob Anthony, the pioneer and father of the family treated of in this historical sketch, located here, the lands being unseated and vacant except for the Indians who lived in the vicinity. On March 23, 1775. he received a patent for his land, described as being situ- ated one mile northwest of the Kittany, Kis- kiminetas and Punky-townie (now Punxsu- tawney) path, and known as Anthony's Gar- den, and his deed was signed by John and Thomas Penn.

William Anthony went on into what is now Armstrong county, and located near the mouth of Mahoning creek.

In the year 1782 Jacob AAnthony married Nancy Johnson. Eight children were born to this union, three boys, William, Levi and David, and five girls, Mary, Nancy, Eliza. Sarah and Rebecca.

Levi Anthony, the second son of Jacob Anthony, was born Aug. 15. 1789. and died

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March 13, 1861. Mary Miller, his wife, was born April 3, 1806, and died Sept. 30, 1854 They were married Dec. 27, 1821, and had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters : Jacob, Robert Miller, Margaret, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Nancy J., Henry M., Peter John- son, Levi Todd, James Dowling, William H. Harrison and Ruth Evaline.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 67

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