Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 70

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 70

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fested by his honored father in the earlier pioneer days. He finds both material and sentimental satisfaction in maintaining the ownership of the fine old homestead on which he was born, and upon which his father and mother settled nearly three quarters of a century ago, when the county was little more than a forest wilderness. Herculean energy was necessary to reclaim a productive farm under early conditions, but the father proved fully equal to the strenuous labors of the pio- neer, and with the passing years gained a generous measure of prosperity in the devel- opment of his farm. This old homestead of the Frost family, chosen with much discrimi- nation, is eligibly situated in Eldred township, two miles east of the village of Sigel and eight miles north of Brookville.

James Frost, father of James M. Frost, was born in England in the year 1822, and was a youth when he came to America. For several years he was employed in calico print- ing mills at Philadelphia, and in that city married Miss Mary Neild, who was born in this country but whose parents were natives of England. Within a comparatively short time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Frost withdrew from the advanced civilization rep- resented in the Pennsylvania metropolis and, with three or four other families from the eastern part of the State, set valiantly forth to establish a home in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. Among others who came at this time were the Leach, Brown and Scott families, and all settled on adjoining farms in Eldred township, David English coming about a year later and joining this pioneer com- munity. The land purchased by these sturdy settlers was obtained at a cost of about $1.50 an acre. The members of the little colony showed much circumspection in selecting their farms, for the land has proved to be unex- celled in fertility and general attractiveness by any other in the county and is constantly in- creasing in value. Mr. Leach was a minister of the gospel, and thus the spiritual welfare of the somewhat isolated community was not neglected.

On the land which he purchased James Frost forthwith instituted the arduous work of reclamation and improvement. The old log house which was the original domicile of the family was situated not far distant from the present substantial frame dwelling, erected by Mr. Frost in 1871. In clearing his land of heavy timber he burned much of the earlier product, but later he saved his timber for manufacturing into lumber, which was sold in

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the Pittsburgh market. After he had made a clearing on which to build his pioneer log house, which had no windows and was mea- gerly equipped in every other way, he often left his wife alone with their little child in the rude cabin and went forth to do work for other settlers, sometimes at a considerable dis- tance, to aid in providing for his family. Deer, wolves, bear and other wild game were much in evidence, and the loneliness of the young wife and mother was not diminished during the absence of her husband when she was compelled to listen to the howling of the wolves at night. On one occasion she set forth into the forest in the evening to drive in their cows, but the bell cow had lain down. and Mrs. Frost, unable to get any trace of the animals, became lost in the midst of the woods. Lying down beside a log she bravely waited for morning, when she found the cows and made her way back to the home. On this farm, where he established a permanent home in the year 1848, James Frost continued his zealous labors until he had brought about fifty acres under cultivation, and there he and his devoted wife continued to reside until their deaths, she passing away in 1890 and he in the following year, at the age of sixty-nine. Mr. Frost did not hedge himself in with the mere bounds of self-advancement, but took a loyal interest in community affairs and gave his ready cooperation in the furtherance of the social and material prosperity of the county. He had no ambition for public of- fice, but served for a number of years as school director. His wife was a devoted mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, hay- ing united with the Ebenezer Church soon after coming to this county. Of their six chil- dren who attained to years of maturity we make brief mention : Charles resides at Kirk- man, Pinecreek township; Miss Mary main- tains her home in the village of Sigel: Sarah is identified with the hotel business at Horton, WV. Va .: Joseph is a prosperous farmer in Pinecreek township; James M. was the next in order; John is a representative merchant at Horton, W. Va., where he was formerly en- gaged in the hotel business.

On the old homestead which he now owns and occupies James M. Frost was born June 18. 1856. in the old-time log house of which mention has been made. He is indebted to the district schools of the locality for his early educational discipline, and as a lad he served a thorough novitiate in farm and lumbering operations. In time he began to give his at- tention to lumbering independently, and for

twelve years his operations were principally in the buying of standing timber, felling the same and hewing it into square logs, the prod- uct being rafted down the Clarion and Alle- gheny rivers to the Pittsburgh market. His skill as a pilot in the hazardous guiding of these lumber rafts was such that for twenty consecutive years there was not a single sea- son in which his services were not enlisted in this capacity. He knew every bend in the current and every permanent obstacle to be overcome, and thus his work was accomplished with the minimum loss of timber, the while none of his assistants sacrificed his life in the work. Eventually he assumed the ownership of the old Leach farm, adjoining the home- stead on which he now lives, his brother John having operated the Frost farm for ten years after the death of the father. Finally Mr. Frost sold the Leach farm and purchased his father's old homestead, buying the interest of some of the other heirs. His farm com- prises 137 acres, of which about sixty are under cultivation and given over to diversified agriculture. Early in the year 1916 Mr. Frost erected a sawmill on his farm, manufacturing lumber from the hardwood timber still remain- ing in the vicinity. He still has a fine body of young timber on the place, and this is destined to be an important source of revenue. His farm gives every evidence of thrift and good management, being well improved. The large barn was erected by his father in 1882. He has served as school director of his district and has otherwise shown vital interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of his native township and county. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sigel.

On June 4. 1885. Mr. Frost wedded Anna Wallace, then twenty-two years of age. who likewise was born and reared in this county, she being a daughter of the late James Wal- lace, of Barnett township. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have seven children: Ethel is the wife of Robert E. Park, who is a traveling sales- man, and they maintain their home in Eldred township: Opal is a trained nurse and is en- gaged in the work of her profession in Phila- delphia : Merrill is associated with his father in the work of the home farm; Madge like- wise remains at the parental home; Harry is in the employ of the gas company at Sigel : Lillian and Virginia remain at the parental home, and the former is a student in the high school at Sigel.

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ALBERT FRANKLIN REITZ, farmer and business man of Beaver township, has attained a position among the leading citizens by industry and the sheer force of personal merit. He has borne an influential part in township and county affairs, his obvious gifts adapting him well for useful service. His firm adherence to high standards, intelligent ideals regarding the elements of true progress, and courage in upholding his convictions, have been valuable to the conservation of the best interests of the community. He has been suc- cessful in business, and having won his way by his own efforts is entitled to much credit.

Mr. Reitz is descended from German an- cestry, the first of the Reitzes to come in America being his great-great-grandfather, who purchased one thousand acres of land in Northumberland county, and divided it among his four sons. Michael Reitz, the great- grandfather of Albert F. Reitz, was born in Lancaster and settled in Northumberland county, spending the remainder of his life there. He married Catherine Snoke.

John Reitz, son of Michael and Catherine ( Snoke) Reitz, was born in Northumberland county, where he continued to reside until after his marriage to Margaret Smith, also a native of that county. In 1833 they came to Jefferson county, where Mr. Reitz followed farming throughout his active days, dying in 1881, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Reitz died in 1880, aged eighty-two years, nine months. They had the following children: Isaac, who became a farmer in Oliver township. this county ; Mollie, who married George Burk- house, a farmer of Pinecreek township. and survived him; Michael, who spent his closing years in retirement at Sandy Valley : Salome. who married John Reinhart, of Oliver town- ship, and survived him ; Harry, now deceased ; Peter R. ; and Mary, who married Henry Em- erick (he operated a sawmill).

Peter R. Reitz, father of Albert Franklin Reitz, was married in Beaver township Oct. I. 1857. to Catherine Brosius, and they be- came the parents of a large family, viz. : Sarah T .. who married Levi Plyler, of Beaver town- ship: Cornelius, a carpenter, of Beaver town- ship; Elizabeth E., who married Frank Plyler ; Albert Franklin; Adam Hiram, post- master and general merchant at Ohl: John, a carpenter. of Knox Dale ; Emanuel L., a stone- mason ; Catherine Alice, of Brookville : Emma S .; Rebecca, and Charles W. During the Civil war Mr. Reitz, the father, was drafted into the Union service Sept. 4, 1864. and served for nine months, fifteen days, under

Captain Pierce. He had followed carpenter work during his early years, but was obliged to give up that occupation because of rheuma- tism brought on by the hardships of army life, and subsequently engaged in general farm- ing. His death occurred in May, 1900. Mr. Reitz was a Democrat and a Lutheran, his wife adhering to the same faith. She is still living on the home place.

Jacob Brosius, grandfather of Mrs. Reitz, came from Germany to this country at an early day. His son Peter Brosius, father of Mrs. Reitz, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and married Leah Delp, of North- umberland county, who had two sisters, Mrs. Michael Thomas and Mrs. Byerly, both of whom also settled in Beaver township. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brosius had two children. Catherine (Mrs. Peter R. Reitz) and Eliza- beth. The latter married Peter Dinger and died here leaving five children. After her death Mr. Dinger was drafted into the army. and in order to avoid service went to Iowa, leaving the children with their grandmother, Mrs. Brosius, until he found it 'convenient to take them there. The story runs that he had cursed the government officials, praying that lightning would strike them, and that he him- self was killed by lightning a few years after his removal to Iowa.

Albert Franklin Reitz was born May 29, 1863. in Beaver township, one mile south of his present home, near the Burkhouse Church, on what is now the Oxenrider farm. It for- merly belonged to his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Leah (Delp) Brosius. who sold it to the Oxenriders. About 1868 Mr. and Mrs. Bro- sius moved to the farm now owned and occu- pied by Albert Franklin Reitz, and there spent the remainder of their days, he dying at the age of eighty-two years, she at the age of eighty-six.

When nine years old Albert Franklin Reitz went to live with his grandfather, John Reitz. remaining with him for a few years. His father received but fifty cents a day for work at the carpenter's trade, and the family being large it was no easy matter to provide for them adequately, so the boys began to assist at an early age. From the time he was ten years old until he was fourteen Frank hired out to do farm work at fifteen to twenty-five cents a day, and when a youth of sixteen to eighteen he was earning but fifty cents a day. As long as the father continued at car- pentry the sons worked the home farm. When nineteen years old Frank Reitz began to work at the trade of mason with Benjamin Sowers,

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in whose employ he remained one year, receiv- ing seventy-five cents a day. For five or six years following he worked by the day, get- ting two dollars and a half a day and his board, operating all over this part of Jefferson county, in Beaver, Clover and Ringgold town- ships. For fifteen years he worked during the winter and spring at lumbering and raft- ing. in the local woods and streams. His brother Adam having learned the trade with him, they went into partnership for six years, taking contracts for bridge work and masonry of all kinds, and Frank Reitz was so engaged for fifteen years in all, his patronage coming from all parts of Clarion, Clearfield and Arm- strong counties, as well as his home county. For seven years he had from eight to twelve men in his employ, keeping two or three jobs going at once. When nineteen years old he had bought fifteen acres of land from his fa- ther, part of his present home farm, where his maternal grandparents lived for a num- ber of years, and built a home there. This has been his place of residence ever since his marriage, he having added to his original pur- chase until he now has fifty-one acres, lying a quarter of a mile west of Ohl. When this property came into his possession it was so run down, it would not even keep a cow. Mr. Reitz sought the advice of such experienced farmers in his vicinity as Jonas Sowers. J. Brosius and others, read farm journals faith- fully, and applied the knowledge thus gath- ered. In the winter he dug limestone, hauled it three miles and burned it, and has put over fourteen thousand bushels of lime into forty acres of his land, often doing this work at night when occupied at his trade during the daytime. Thus he has brought the soil to a high state of fertility, which has more than repaid his exertions. For the last five years he has also been buying standing timber and cutting it, operating thus in Beaver township and the neighborhood of Summerville, and at present near Kittanning, in Armstrong county. where he has three hundred thousand feet of white oak now being cut. Eight men are kept steadily employed in this enterprise. Mr. Reitz jobs some of the work, letting it out to others, but as he owns a sawmill he furnishes the millwork, doing custom work, largely for bill orders.

Mr. Reitz has a highly creditable record of public service. He has served four or five years on the election board, eleven years on the school board, as assessor and as tax col- lector, in every capacity showing a degree of public spirit which makes him worthy of pub-

lic confidence. In 1908 he was elected county commissioner for a term of three years. his associates being J. Newton Kelly and E. T. McGaw. During his term considerable at- tention was devoted to bridge building. in both mason and steel construction, and his comprehensive experience in that line led to his being given supervision of all such work. The County Farm had also become run down. and here again his experience proved valuable. He was given charge of the work of rehabili- tating the property, and his knowledge of soil improvement was put at the service of the county, with the restilt that the land was brought into excellent condition. During these three years he devoted all his time to public duties, and he was a candidate for reelection, but was defeated by thirty-four votes, corpo- ration influence being thrown too strongly against him. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and has been active in the party" to some extent, but his chief interest in such matters is in behalf of the general welfare and not the promotion of party enterprises. So- cially Mr. Reitz has been an Odd Fellow for thirty-three years, belonging to Summerville Lodge, in which he has passed all the chairs, and he has been representative in the Grand Lodge. He also holds membership with the I. O. Red Men, K. O. T. M., P. O. S. of A., and Eagles. His religious connection is with the Pleasantville M. E. Church.

On Oct. 25. 1885. Mr. Reitz married Mary Elizabeth Plyler, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. Mr. Hetrick, who by the same ceremony united also two other cot- ples. Frank Plyler (nephew of Mary Eliza- beth Plyler) to Elizabeth Reitz (sister of Albert Franklin Reitz) and Park Chitester to Alice Hetrick (a cousin of Mary Elizabeth Plyler). This triple wedding took place at the home of Frank Hetrick, father of Alice Hetrick. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reitz: Ellis Malcolm, who is now in the employ of the Shawmut Mining Company at Conifer, this county ; Mina Grace. now the wife of Edwin F. Gumbert, son of Manoah Gumbert, now living at Niagara Falls, where Mr. Gumbert is in the employ of the Pittsburgh Heat & Light Company : and Alta May, wife of John Brosius (son of Robert). living near Conifer.

Mrs. Reitz is a granddaughter of Daniel Plyler, Sr., who first married a Buffington. and by that union had the following sons: Charles, Moses. Solomon. Ed. and Daniel. Tr. Daniel Plyler, Sr., brought this family from east of the mountains, and all settled

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIDOARY

ASTO' , LEADX TI. CIFF L .DA ION9 -

٤٠٠

John H. Murray, M.D.

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in Beaver township. For his second wife he married Eve Brosius, sister of Peter Brosius, Mr. Reitz's maternal grandfather, and they owned and lived upon what is now the John Horner farm, adjoining the old Brosius prop- erty, the present home of Albert Franklin Reitz. Helen, daughter of Daniel Plyler, Jr., married Isaac A. Carrier, and after her death he married her sister, Mrs. F. P. Hetrick. Mark Plyler was a son of Daniel Plyler, Jr.

JOHN H. MURRAY, M. D., is the head of the Punxsutawney Sanitarium, an institu- tion for the treatment of stomach diseases, which was established in 1911 principally through his efforts. While in private practice he had the reputation of commanding the largest patronage in Jefferson county. For twenty-one years, after his graduation, with the exception of time spent in advanced study, he has followed his chosen calling here, an- swering every demand of an extensive clien- tele, and at the same time striving to meet the larger demands which come to the conscientious plíysician of prevention of dis- ease, by endeavoring to inculcate higher stand- ards of hygiene, sanitation, etc. Dr. Murray has had for his motto for many years simply the word "Service," and that motto he tries to express in an active way in every avenue of his busy life. With such an unselfish ideal in mind it is not surprising that success in a large measure has already been attained.

Dr. Murray is of Scotch-Irish extraction. His grandfather, John Murray, was born in Ireland, and spent all of his life in that coun- try, where he died in 1847 at the age of fifty- five. He was a well established business man of his community. His widow, whose maiden name was Julia L. Goldsbury, was a native of England, and died in 1859 in Jefferson county, Pa., having migrated to the United States with her family in 1848. She was the mother of seven children, viz .: John P.,

Valesius S. (father of Dr. Murray ), Arthur, Caroline (who married John H. Holmes), Julia (who married Joseph Morris ) . Mary ( who married Dr. William Barkley). and Ellen ( who married Alexander C. White, Esq., who represented this district in Congress in 1884-1886). For a few years the fam- ily home was in Philadelphia, later at McGees Mills, Clearfield county, whence in 1852 they removed to Gaskill township in Jefferson county.

Dr. Murray's father, Valesius S. Murray, . was born in February. 1836, in Longford, County Longford. Ireland, coming to the

United States in 1848. His education was conducted for a time by private tutors, then for three years he was at school in Philadel- phia. Mr. Murray had unusual literary train- ing for the times, and he continued to be a scholar to the end of his days, becoming quite an authority upon the works of Shakespeare. He was a warm friend of education, serving as a member of the local school board for some time, as well as holding other offices in his community. He was a man of wide ac- quaintance and had many friends-a man of rugged and strong character. In his young manhood he learned the carpenter's trade and for twenty years followed that calling, taking contracts for schools and churches, some of which stand to this day. The last twenty years of his life were devoted to agriculture and stock dealing, with lumbering on the side. During the greater part of his life he con- tinued to make his home in Gaskill township, and always retained the ownership of a valu- able tract of land there. At his death, how- ever, he was a resident of Punxsutawney. He died very suddenly Dec. 28, 1896. A few weeks before he had been elected commis- sioner of Jefferson county, but did not live to take the oath of office. Politically he had always been a stanch Republican, and had served in the Civil war during the last year of that conflict as a member of Company B, 74th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He had been reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, but attended the Methodist Church. At the time of his death the Punxsutawney Spirit paid the following high tribute to him :

"The name of Val Murray has long been regarded by those who knew his generous, self-sacrificing nature as a synonym for kind- ness and liberality. His services, his purse, and the products of his farm were always at the disposal of those in need. Genial and hospitable to the last degree, he was ever ready to sacrifice his own comfort to the comfort of others. He followed the dictates of his own heart, which was full of sympathy for his fellow men. He was always an ardent Republican, and was a candidate for county treasurer in 1884, but was not successful. He was elected county commissioner last fall by a large majority, and would have begun huis official duties Jan. Ist. Val Murray was in the fullest sense of the word a good man, and those who knew him best will feel the keenest grief at his departure."

In June, 1859, Mr. Murray married Amelia A. Campbell, daughter of the late William Campbell, at one time a prominent merchant

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of Punxsutawney ; cighty years ago he erected the building now used by the Punxsutawney Club. Mrs. Murray now resides at Reynolds- ville, this county. Of the children born to this union, William C., formerly a resident of Punxsutawney, is now located at Reynolds- ville, and conducts a furniture business there and at Oil City : he was appointed to take his father's place as commissioner, and was elected for a second term. The second son, Arthur Henry ( Harry), formerly of Punxsutawney, is now a merchant in Big Run. Martha Julia is the wife of William D. Campbell, of Punx- sutawney. John H. is the next in the family. Ellen M. is the widow of Harry N. Widdow- son, who was a banker at Mahaffey, Pa. Olevia Frances is superintendent of the Punxsutawney Sanitarium conducted by her brother. Frank R. is employed by his brother William. Anna Pearl married W. B. Mott and resides at Mahaffey. Clyde C. is the general manager of the Reynoldsville Brick & Tile Company and also of the Sykesville Brick & Tile Company. Margaret died when three years of age.

John H. Murray was born March 26, 1867, in Gaskill township, Jefferson county, where he attended public school during his boyhood. His higher studies were pursued at the Punx- sutawney Academy, the Indiana ( Pa.) State Normal School and under private tutors, and he had made such good progress by the time he was sixteen that he was ready to take a position as teacher. He was so engaged for four terms, the first in his home township, the others in Winslow township and Rey- noldsville. Subsequently he studied medicine under Drs. W. S. Campbell and John F. Grube, entered the Medico-Chirurgical Col- lege at Philadelphia, and was graduated with honors in 1895, being also president of his class. The same year he located at Reynolds- ville, Jefferson county, and began practice, remaining for fifteen years in that borough, where he met with remarkable success. Be- sides attending to a large circle of private patients he acted as physician for the Roches- ter & Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Company at Soldier and Sykesville, both towns in this county, for a period of eight years, and it was while at that location that he was gen- erally considered the most extensive practi- tioner in the county. Dr. Murray relinquished general practice to devote himself as a spe- cialist in diseases of the stomach, and with that end in view studied for six months at the American Stomach Hospital in Philadel-

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 70

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