Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 74

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 74

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The buildings on the Cloverdale Farms are not as conspicuous as on the ordinary estate of their size because of the serried hills to the

west of their location, but their arrangement and trim appearance, the result of unceasing care, are particularly attractive, and the in- teriors bear out the favorable impression first received, all the devices approved in up-to-date construction having been employed to make them convenient and easily kept up. The resi- dence and roomy barn are supplied with run- ning water from excellent springs flowing from the hillside only eight hundred feet dis- tant. The house is one of the finest country residences in Jefferson county, and the estate has a reputation which extends all over Penn- sylvania. The Reitz brothers are wholly de- voted to the work of conducting it along the most enterprising lines known to modern agri- culture, and by keeping to and setting high standards are endeavoring to discharge their duty to the community at the same time, neither having any ambition to enter public life or attain prominence in other channels. Ladd M. Reitz has been a director in the Patrons' Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1902.

The brothers are active and acceptable mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and to a degree the place left vacant in the Meth- odist congregation at Stanton by the death of their father has been filled by them.

The close relationship which exists between the brothers has included even their domestic lives. Their wives are sisters, Ladd M. Reitz having married Maud Brosius, and Harry W. Reitz, Ruth Brosius, daughters of Samuel R. Brosius, of Rose township. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd M. Reitz have one child, Ladd B. Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Reitz have two children, Sara Elizabeth and Robert Harry.

RUFUS G. REITZ, of Brookville, is one of the busiest men in that borough, where his numerous interests bring him into contact with almost all the residents of the town and sur- rounding country, in one relation or another. A son of Benjamin W. Reitz, he is descended from Andrew Reitz through Jacob Reitz and Jacob Reitz (2), a full history of the early ancestors appearing elsewhere in this work.

Benjamin W. Reitz was born in Northum- berland county, Pa., and was only about one year old when the family settled in Jefferson county. He grew up on the home place in Beaver township and spent his early years as- sisting with the agricultural work. He also learned the trade of shoemaker, and when a young man became associated with his brothers Manuel, Edward and Aaron in the mercantile business at Belleview (now Stanton). this

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county, which was conducted under different firm names, E., B. & A. Reitz, E. & B. Reitz and eventually E. Reitz & Son. When he withdrew from that concern Benjamin W. Reitz turned his attention to farming and also sold cattle, in which connection he became very well known. In time he removed to Brook- ville, where he died Dec. 28, 1914, and he is buried in the Berkhouse cemetery in Beaver township. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in Company B, 211th Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and belonged to E. R. Brady Post, No. 242, G. A. R. His religious connec- tion was with the Methodist Church. By his marriage to Rebecca Spare, daughter of Henry Spare, of Beaver township, this county, he had a family of six children : Ada died young : Bertha is the widow of Dr. Henry Barrett : Henry O. is deceased; Rufus G. is next in the family; Aaron M. is employed by the Reitz Furniture Company; Jessie is at home.

Rufus G. Reitz was born Oct. 22, 1873, at Stanton, in Rose township, Jefferson county, where he grew up, in his boyhood attending the local public school and the Belleview Academy. During his early manhood he was engaged in teaching for some time, first at the Smith school, New Bethlehem, for one term; one term at the Ohl school in Rose township; two terms at the Tunnel Hill school in Rose township, and one term at the Crate school in that township. On Oct. 4. 1897, he came to Brookville, where he clerked in the "Commercial Hotel" for about two and a half years, on Jan. 1, 1900, engaging in the fur- niture business with his father-in-law, William Kelso; William M. Dickey was also a mem- ber of the firm, which was known as William Kelso & Co. The business was operated un- der that name until the death of Mr. Kelso, in 1904, when the firm became Dickey & Reitz, and so remained until Mr. Dickey's with- drawal in 1907, at which time Gilmore C. Reitz formed the present association with Rufus G. Reitz. They are doing business as the Reitz Furniture Company, and have a commodious store, carrying a large stock of furniture, as well as carpets, rugs, pianos, phonographs, etc. With a well selected line of goods, attractively arranged, and obliging service to all patrons, they have attracted a large custom in and around Brookville, which they have held by the most commendable methods. Rufus G. Reitz is also a member of the firm of Heasley & Reitz, dealers in clothing, at Brookville, who enjoy a steadily increasing trade, and he car- ries on undertaking in connection with the fur-

niture business. By close application and well directed effort he has gained success in all his ventures, and he is highly respected for the substantial qualities he has displayed in the conduct of all his affairs. Moreover, he has shown an unselfish interest in the support of various good movements set on foot for the general welfare, has taken an active part in the work of the Y. M. C. A. from the time of its establishment here, and is now president of the Brookville organization. He is a member of the Methodist Church, which he has served as steward, and he was secretary of the build- ing committee which had charge of the erec- tion of the fine church building of that denomi- nation now standing in Brookville. Socially he is a Mason, holding membership in Hobah Lodge, No. 276, F. & A. M., and Jefferson Chapter, No. 225, R. A. M., of Brookville : Bethany Commandery, No. 83, K. T., of Du- Bois: Coudersport Consistory, thirty-second degree ; and Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. of Altoona.

Mr. Reitz married May Kelso, daughter of the late William Kelso and his wife Mary ( Andrews), who still resides in Brookville. Mr. and Mrs. Reitz have two sons, Donald Kelso and Fred Wagner.

GENERAL HARRY WHITE. Some wise man long ago said, "It is well our great men have left few sons to shine in the borrowed luster of a mighty name." In the larger sense this is true, but there are conspicuous excep- tions, an instance of which is found in the subject of this sketch, Harry White, third and youngest son of that eminent citizen, Thomas White, and his wife Catherine Brooks (Mc- Connell) White.

Born at Indiana, his environment was happy and his opportunities during his boy- hood for culture and education, both scholastic and social. very great. Like most boys he began at the public schools, then went to the Indiana Academy. This Indiana Academy was an old institution and sent into the world a number of successful prominent men. Judge Thomas White was one of its founders. When this academy languished and ceased to "keep school" Harry White's father secured private tutors, one of whom was the late Hon. John P. Penny, of Pittsburgh, who, while study- ing law with Judge Thomas White, was private tutor to Harry White and the late Senator M. S. Quay. The private tutor taught in a building near Judge White's residence.

Harry was enterprising and ambitious, and,

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naturally, a leader among his boy friends and companions. Early in life he had selected his profession and prepared himself for what he hoped would be his career. In 1850 he went to what was called the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. Getting his degree with the class of 1854, he intended, with one of his school companions, to go South for a while and teach school ; his father objected to this and desired him to begin the study of the law in his office, which he did.

The practice of the courts then, on the matter of applications for admission to the bar, was to appoint a special committee of three lawyers, resident or from abroad. to ex- amine the applicant. After this examination in 1856 Harry White was admitted to the In- diana county bar, and very soon afterward to the bars of surrounding counties. He assisted in the trial of a case the day after his admis- sion.

This year, 1856, was the initial one for the Republican party in national politics. The effort of Stephen A. Douglas in the United States Senate to repeal the Missouri Con- promise in the organization of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, brought the exten- sion of slavery as the living question of the hour before the people of the country. Oppo- sition to this extension of slavery was the leading principle of the Republican party, and Harry White, a voter for the first time that year in national politics, became the first chairman of the Republican party in Indiana county. It was no injury to a young lawyer. in the country districts, to give attention to political questions then before the nation. Without previous political experience he made his first political speech in the town of Blairs- ville. and organized a vigorous campaign throughout the county, resulting in a very large majority for Fremont, the Republican candidate for president.

Harry White, while active in his profes- sion in the intervening years between 1856 and 1860, became a very prominent factor in the politics of Indiana and surrounding coun- ties. Armstrong. Indiana and Westmoreland counties composed a Congressional district. and after a canvass Harry White was nomi- nated for Congress in June, 1860. at Greens- burg. over the late Senator Edgar Cowan. Being barely of the constitutional age for a Congressman, and some contentions arising which apparently endangered the election of a Republican from the district, he resigned the nomination against the protest of many friends, and Hon. John Covode became the

candidate, and with Harry White's active support was elected. That campaign being a most active and exciting one, we shall for- bear narrating all its details.

After Sumter was fired upon, in April, 1861. Harry White, for a while, in common with others, closed his law books and made ceaseless efforts to educate the people of this region to the necessities of the great conflict of arms. He was soon elected captain of a company and tendered it to Governor Curtin. Because the Governor did not accept his com- pany, many of its members joined other organizations. After this Harry White went to see Governor Curtin and inquire why the company he had offered was not accepted. In the interview on the subject the Governor said. "I did not accept you because of the request of your father. You know, Harry. how highly I esteem your father, and with tears in his eyes he besought me not to accept you for service, as you were all he had left at home." Whereupon Harry replied. "I am sorry to distress my father, but I feel it my duty to go into the service and am going, if I have to carry a musket." Then the Gover- nor said, "If that is the way of it I will com- mission you as Major of the 67th Regiment, which is struggling in recruiting at Cam- macks Woods, at Philadelphia." The com- mission was authorized by the Governor. accordingly, and Harry White went imme- diately to work recruiting to complete the filling of the regiment, taking some members of his old company. that he had offered. into it. Recruiting during the latter part of the summer of 1861 was not very active for many reasons, but during the winter of 1862 the regiment was completely organized and sent in active service.

The regiment was sent to relieve Gen. Dick Coulter's LIth Pennsylvania Regiment at Annapolis, Md., and for several months it performed the irksome duty of taking charge of parole camp there, and Major White was detailed to protect the Annapolis & Elk Ridge railroad and the Baltimore & Ohio from Anna- polis Junction to Washington City. After several months the regiment was relieved from its irksome duties and sent to Harpers Ferry and the Shenandoah vallev.

In the fall of 1862, while Major White was in the field, the people of his Senatorial dis- trict, composed of Armstrong and Indiana counties, without his request. elected him to the Senate of Pennsylvania. The Pennsyl- vania Legislature meeting in January, 1863. at Harrisburg. President Lincoln sent Major

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White a leave of absence during the session of the Legislature that winter ; and he served in the Senate during the session of 1863, mak- ing occasional visits to his regiment, then in winter quarters at Berryville, Va. Having taken many of his old friends and neighbors to the service he refused to resign from the army, and on the adjournment of the Legis- lature in the spring of 1863 rejoined his regi- ment. He refused to take his salary as sena- tor, but sent it to the Soldiers' Relief Fund of the two counties of his Senatorial district.

When he rejoined his regiment there was much active service in the Shenandoah val- ley. General Milroy was in command of the division, with headquarters at Winchester, Va. Major White was assigned to the com- mand from Berryville to Snickers Ferry. Almost daily Mosby, Imboden, McNeal and other Rebel partisan commanders were mak- ing raids in the valley, and frequently affairs would be had with these forces of the enemy.

Early in June, 1863, General Lee started on his campaign to Pennsylvania. The Army of the Potomac, under Hooker, was down the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg, and the only force between Lee's advancing army and the Pennsylvania line was Milroy's division, in headquarters, at Winchester. On the 11th of June. 1863, Early's and Johnson's divisions of Ewell's corps of Lee's army approached Winchester, and the Union forces there en- gaged these Rebel forces for three days. On the night of the 12th of June Major White received an order to take the advance with infantry, cavalry and artillery to the relief of Milroy at Winchester. Although Winches- ter was but twelve miles west on a direct road, yet, owing to the position of the enemy, the march to Milroy's relief was roundabout. Reaching Winchester about midnight, the fight was resumed on the 13th. Milroy's division did not know it was engaging Lee's advancing army, but so it was, and in the fight on the 15th Major White was captured by the oth Louisiana Tigers. If the fight of Winchester had not taken place, the battle between Lee and the Army of the Potomac might not have taken place at Gettysburg.

At the date of his capture all exchange of prisoners had stopped, and Major White was sent with other prisoners to Libby at Richmond. This was the commencement of a long, painful and historic imprisonment. The many incidents and occurrences among the prisoners in Libby during the summer and fall of 1863 would fill a volume of star-

tling details. This, indeed, was the angriest time of the war.

When Major White left the Senate, in the spring of 1863, to rejoin his regiment, the Re- publican party had five majority. The fall election that year reduced this majority in the Senate to one, leaving it 17 to 16.

Under the cartel about the exchange of pris- oners made in 1862, surgeons and chaplains as well as nurses were not subject to capture as prisoners of war, but with the captured at Winchester, surgeons and the other exempted classes were all taken to Libby. Among the chaplains was the late Chaplain McCabe. After the captured at Chickamauga were brought to Libby, there were about ninety surgeons there. The deadlock in the exchange of surgeons was broken on the 23d of Novem- ber. 1863, and the effort of Major White to escape as a surgeon is narrated by Judge Robert Ould, the Rebel commissioner of cx- change. In his report on the subject, pub- lished in the Annals of the War, he makes the following reference to Harry White :

"There was one incident in the course of deliveries which was quite dramatic, though very painful to one of the parties-a Pennsylvania colonel. In the beginning of the war surgeons were regarded as non-combatants, and not subject to detention on either side. A difficulty, however, arose between the two governments about one Dr. Rucker, who was held in confinement on the charge of murder and other high crimes. The United States demanded his release, and failing to secure it put Dr. Green, a Confederate surgeon, in confinement in retaliation. This led to the detention of all surgeons on both sides. I made vigorous efforts to restore the old practice and at length succeeded. Accordingly. a day was fixed for the delivery of all surgeons on both sides at City Point, and all the Federal sur- geons were directed to be sent from the Libby prison and put on board the flag-of-truce steamer. I ac- companied the party. When we were nearing the steamer 'New York' I perceived that a signal was flying for me to come to the shore with my boat. I did so, and found there a communication stating that Col. Harry White, commanding one of the Pennsylvania regiments, had disguised himself as a surgeon and was then on board my boat. I imme- diately directed the prisoners to be drawn up :n line on the shore and made them an address, in which I recounted the efforts I had made to secure the immunity of their class, and stated that an officer of the line, not entitled to exchange or release, was among them, disguised as a surgeon. I then raised my voice and shouted, 'Colonel Harry White, come forth.' He stepped in front at once, and in a few words claimed that he had a right to resort to any stratagem to effect his release. I replied that I was not there to dispute or affirm what he said but that he must return to Richmond under arrest. It was a heavy blow to him, struck at the moment when he was sanguine of his liberty. Two minutes more would have placed him on the 'New York,' where he would have been safe, even if his dis-

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guise had been there detected. He had been a long time in captivity and extraordinary efforts had been made to secure for him a special exchange. He had been elected as a Republican to the Penn- sylvania Senate, which, without him, was equally divided between the war and anti-war parties. His presence was needed to effect an organization and working majority in that body. I had learned these facts from more than one quarter, and was not disposed to assist in giving aid and comfort to the war party. I was under no duty to release Colonel White, as the exchange of officers had ceased. So obstinate was I that when the Federal agent offered me a major general and several officers of lower grade for him I declined to accept. I might have speculated to great advantage on him if I had been so disposed, and the situation in Pennsylvania would have warranted it. If every officer and man had been a Harry White there would never have been any difficulty about exchanges. Indeed, if the anxiety manifested about him had been distributed, instead of making him the reservoir of all, it would have been better for a good many people. 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.'"

On his return to Libby, Harry White was put into one of the famous dungeons at that place and his experience there would too much extend the story of his imprisonment. On Christmas Day, 1863, he was taken from Libby and under guard sent to Salisbury (N. C.) prison, with the following order from Gen- eral Winder, the commandant of Rebel pris- ons: "I send you Major White of the 67th Pennsylvania. An important prisoner. You will deprive him of all money and valuables and place him in close, separate and solitary confinement." Having been a prisoner then for six months, he had no money or valuables to be deprived of, but was put in solitary con- finement in a dungeon 8 feet long and 4 feet wide and under constant guard. This con- dition continued for several days when the dead house was cleaned out and he was placed there in solitary confinement under guard the balance of the winter, until the 13th of March, 1864; when he was put in the stockade with the remainder of the prisoners. This harsh, severe and unusual treatment, different from that given other prisoners, was because Harry White was a Republican member of the Senate of Pennsylvania, as well as an officer of the army. In an effort to secure his exchange, the authorities at Washington had told the Rebel commissioner of exchange that they had his resignation as senator, and their refusal to exchange him was only inflicting torture on him. The Rebel authorities did not be- lieve that they had his resignation and placed him in solitary confinement at Salisbury, to make it impossible for him to send any resig-

nation, but Harry White, after his failure to escape as a surgeon, prepared his resignation on a slip of paper and inclosed it in the back of a Sanitary Commission Testament, one of the kind given to soldiers, and gave it to the surgeon whom he had personated when he went out with the surgeons and reached City Point. Following is a copy of the resignation :

Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia. November, 1863.

Hon. J. P. Penny,

Speaker of the Senate of Pennsylvania. Dear Sir :

Considerations I may briefly state, make it prudent and proper for me to tender my resignation as a member of the Senate of Penna.

After the adjournment of our Legislature last spring, I rejoined my regiment and resumed my mili- tary duties in the field. Upon the advance of General Lee's army, in June last, into the Shenandoah valley, on his Pennsylvania campaign, the forces with which I was connected were ordered to Winchester, and in the battle at that place I fell into the hands of the enemy as a prisoner of war, with other Federal offi- cers. I was immediately sent to Richmond, and since the 23d of June I remained a prisoner in the Libby.

No exchange of prisoners has taken place in the meantime, nor does any appear to be in early pros- pect. Shut off for long months from friends and the outer world, I have yet not been entirely ignor- ant of passing events. The recent election in our State has, I learn, altered somewhat from the last session the political complexion of our Senate. My absence, it seems, gives to each party represented there equal numerical strength. This will, in all probability, embarrass organization and delay necessary legislation.

I regret the situation and am unwilling my pres- ent personal misfortune should, in any way, affect public interests or interrupt, for a moment, that cordial cooperation between our State and the National government so necessary in this crisis.

It is true some time must yet elapse before my presence in Harrisburg is actually required, yet, as I have no hope of release by general exchange, the Richmond authorities, I am convinced, will retain me as long as possible, because I am a senator and my vote important. Under the circumstances it behooves me to do what I can to relieve the difficulty likely to result from my continued imprisonment.

I am sure you will not doubt me when I confess it would be much more agreeable to my taste and feelings to spend the months of the coming winter in active legislation in our Senate chamber, than to languish within the gloomy walls of Southern pris- ons. My present situation presents the less agreeable alternative in prospect and I see but one solution of the difficulty. Other and greater interests are involved in this matter than my personal comfort and private inclinations. My health, my life, are nothing to the success of those great principles I was elected to represent. The people of my district are chiefly interested in this matter and my duty to them, in the premises, has given me many an hour of anxious solicitude in this weary prison life. I can- not in any way consult with them. They should not, however, at this time go unrepresented. Their generous confidence was but recently given me and they will, I trust, give the approval of their voice

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to the step I now take, and select as my successor one who will be as faithful to their interests and the great cause of our country as I, at least, tried to be.

Be pleased, therefore, to accept my resignation as a senator from the 21st Senatorial district. Be kind enough to convey to my brother senators assurances of respect and esteem; tell them "though cast down I am not dismayed," though I am in bonds, I am full of hope. Tell them my prayer and trust is, no word or act may go out of the councils of your Senate to weaken the arm or make faint the heart of those brave soldiers of the Union who are bearing in the field, to a sure and triumphant success, the greatest struggle of history. Accept, my dear sir, my per- sonal wishes for your good health and prosperity. I am .. Respectfully yours,

HARRY WHITE.

In May he was started with other pris- oners for Andersonville, but at Chester, S. C., escaped with some fellow prisoners from the train and after recapture was sent to Colum- bia, S. C., to the penitentiary there. Towards the latter part of June he was started again with others for Andersonville, and again escaped, but was recaptured. About the first of July he was again started for Anderson- ville, but at Greens Cut, some miles below Augusta, Ga., cut his way at night out of the car and was out this time twenty-nine days. Traveling only at night through the country in the direction of General Sherman's army, then on his Atlanta campaign, he lived only among the negro slaves, and on the 29th of July he was recaptured in Greene county, Ga., by bloodhounds, and carries the marks of their teeth on his arm.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 74

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