Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 77

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 77

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Harvey Rittenhouse was born April 17, 1873, on his father's farm in Grant township. Indiana county, and passed his early life in that section. Up to the age of seventeen years he attended the local public schools regularly, though he had a two-mile walk to make through the woods in all kinds of weather. But even in youth he had a proper value of the worth of education, which he has never altered, having given evidence of his faith in higher education whenever possible by sup- porting every enterprise intended to place it within the reach of all who desire it. In fact, he considers this the most important of all public movements. Besides helping with the farm work he had a comprehensive training in mechanics, assisting his father at black- smithing and wagonmaking. There was al- ways plenty of work at the home place. and he was there more or less up to the age of twenty-six years, after which he took employ- ment as a blacksmith in the lumber district about Rainetown, Elk county, doing the gen- eral work of that kind for the lumbering concern of Raine & Raine. He was there for a period of four years, coming thence to Brockwayville in 1904 and entering business on his own account. He bought the grocery

of Longwell Brothers, but before long had added to the stock and changed it to a general mercantile business, which he has found most satisfactory, his patronage having increased yearly until he now commands a very fair share of the local trade in his line. In 1915 he built a new store for the accommodation of the business, having very convenient quarters, specially arranged for the needs of his stock, which is well selected and compre- hensive. Mr. Rittenhouse is deservedly popu- lar because of his obliging ways, which his customers appreciate thoroughly. He is a Republican, but takes little active part in poli- tics or public affairs, though he is an earnest thinker and ready to use his influence for a good cause whenever opportunity offers. He was reared in the United Brethren Church and in his younger days was very active in its work. He is a Mason, holding membership in Ridgway Lodge, No. 379, F. & A. M.

In August, 1900, Mr. Rittenhouse was mar- ried, at DuBois, to Mabel Yeager, of that place, daughter of William and Rachel Yeager. They have five children, namely: Margaret Ruth, William Carl, Glen Harvey, Donald Ralph and Raymond Dale. The family oc- cupy a comfortable, substantial residence in Brockwayville, which Mr. Rittenhouse erected in 1909.

WILLIAM A. BOWERS, of Punxsu- tawney, entered the lumber business when a youth of sixteen, and though his operations in that line have become extensive most of them are still in his native county-Jefferson, where he has found plenty of play for an am- bitious nature in his energetic career. Neither did he go far afield when his investments got beyond the bounds of his original venture, for much of his coal interests also lie in the same territory, and all of them in this section of Pennsylvania. With his brother he has gone into coal and lumber operations on a large scale in this region, winning fortune for him- self and at the same time bringing prosperity and employment within the reach of many other residents of western Pennsylvania.

The early family history will be found in the biography of Harvey G. Bowers, brother of William A. Bowers, on another page.

William A. Bowers was born April 12, 1873. on the homestead place in Gaskill township, and obtained his education in the public schools of the vicinity. Like his brother he turned to the lumber business when he sought employ- mont away from the home farm, and was but sixteen when he began in that line, which has

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since been the most important part of his life work. In the course of his various opera- tions he has acquired valuable interests, which now include stock in the Virginia Lumber Company, the Continual Realty Company of Kentucky ( which owns thirty thousand acres of land in that State), and the Punxsutawney Planing Mill (one of the largest industrial plants in that borough ), besides which he owns timber property in Jefferson and adjacent counties which he holds in partnership with his brother Harvey G. Bowers. His other investments are principally in coal operations. He opened the mines at Bowersville, Jeffer- son county, which are located along the Bell- wood division of the Pennsylvania railroad and which are now operated by the Bowersville Coal Company, of which Mr. Bowers is a di- rector ; and he is general manager of the Banks Coal Company, whose mines are at Sidney, In- diana Co., Pa., and of the Burtner Coal Com- pany, whose mines are situated on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh division of the Penn- sylvania railroad. These companies have their offices in Punxsutawney, and Mr. Bowers es- tablished his home in that borough 'in the year 1904, in order to be within easy reach of busi- ness headquarters. Previously he had resided on the homestead farm. His efforts are almost entirely absorbed by the demands of busi- ness, to which he gives practically all of his time, but he is nevertheless public-spirited in his attitude on affairs affecting the general wel- fare, and though he takes no direct part in such matters he throws his influence on the side of good government and progress.

Mr. Bowers married Miss Blanche Winslow, daughter of .1. G. Winslow, of Winslow, Jef- ferson Co., Pa., and they have the following children : Edward W .. Sarah, William A., Jr., Margaret Blanche and George C.

JOHN F. MOBERG. It is uniformly con- ceded that in the element of citizenship which the United States has drawn from the various Scandinavian countries the nation has had much to gain and nothing to lose, for wher- ever it is found throughout the great domain of our republic there we have a class of citi- zens who stand loyal to the institutions of the land of their adoption and show sturdiness and productive resourcefulness that invariably make for civic and material progress. Among the comparatively few citizens of Swedish birth to be found in Jefferson county is the well known farmer and merchant whose name introduces this review, who is the owner of a fine farm in Snyder township, and there also

in the little rural village of Crenshaw, he con- ducts a substantial and prosperous general merchandise business.

John Fredrick Moberg was born in the city of Eskilstuna, on the Malaren river, in the ancient province of Södermanland, Sweden, April 13, 1859. He is a son of Johan Wil- helm Moberg, and his parents came to Amer- ica two years after he himself had immigrated to this country, both passing the closing years of their lives in his home. Mr. Moberg was the third son in a family of twelve children, and his two older brothers, John Bernard and Olaf Renhold, still remain in Sweden.

When John F. Moberg was a child of two years his parents removed to the city of Stock- holm, and about five years later the family home was established in the city of Gefle, a fortified seaport that is the capital of the Swedish län of the same name. There Mr. Moberg was reared to years of maturity, and he continued to attend the city schools regu- larly until he was ten years of age, after he was eleven years old going to school three days in the week and during the other three secular days being employed in his father's blacksmith shop, where he served a six years' apprenticeship under the effective supervision of that skilled workman. After he had com- pleted his apprenticeship he remained two more years with his father, and at the age of twenty years found employment at his trade in the great iron works at the Sandviken, a place known throughout the world as the cen- ter of extensive iron industries, and where the best steel is produced in Sweden. After having been thus engaged for a period of one year Mr. Moberg and his bride-to-be set cour- ageously forth to establish a home in America, their marriage having been impossible at the time in their native land, by reason of the fact that Mr. Moberg had not yet attained to his legal majority, as demanded by the laws of Sweden. The young folk embarked at Goth- enburg on a vessel of the Inman Line, and twenty-two days elapsed ere they landed in New York City, on the 22d of April, 1880. Mr. Moberg's financial resources after he had paid the passage to America were represented by the negligible sum of ten dollars, and when it is understood that at the time he could speak no English, and was dependent entirely upon his own exertions for a livelihood, it becomes evident that both he and his promised wife were not lacking in fortitude or in ambi- tion. It was the intention of the young couple to be married as soon as they arrived in Amer- ica, and after their arrival they remained two

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days with friends who had established their residence in the city of Brooklyn. Mr. Mo- berg found it difficult to obtain in New York such employment as he desired, and under these conditions he and his faithful companion came to Fallbrook, Tioga Co., Pa., where he had been promised work in the mines and his future wife employment at housework. At Fallbrook their marriage was solemnized on the 26th of May, 1880. The bride, Marie Olson, was born at Karlstad, Varmland, Swe- den, on the 11th of February. 1858, and was eight years of age at the time of the family removal to the city of Gefle. Her mother died in Sweden, and her father, John Olson, finally came to America, passing the closing days of his life in her home, where he died in 1913, at the venerable age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Moberg is the eldest in a family of four chil- dren ; Anna is the wife of James Yale, of Elk county, this State : Christina married, and was a resident of the city of Chicago at the time of her death ; Caroline died in Sweden. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moberg obtained from the store of the company by which he was employed the few necessaries demanded in the establishment of a very modest home at Fallbrook, and with mutual devotion applied themselves earnestly to the winning of inde- pendence, their frugality being on a parity with their unremitting application and indus- try. After remaining ten years at Fallbrook they moved to Dagus Mines, in Elk county, and after having there been employed ten months in a blacksmith shop Mr. Moberg came to what is now the village of Crenshaw, Jef- ferson county, where for the ensuing three years he was employed in the blacksmith shop operated by the mining company. By this time he had saved three hundred and fifty dollars from his earnings, and of this he in- vested three hundred and twelve dollars in local real estate, the remainder being utilized in the purchase of a modest stock of mer- chandise, principally groceries and other sup- plies demanded by the mining community. Mr. Moberg was fortunate in having gained so excellent a reputation that he was able to secure ready credit in extending the scope of his mercantile business, and it is most gratify- ing to note that he now controls a large and profitable trade, besides the original line deal- ing in flour and feed at wholesale. Since 1914 the active management of the prosperous business has been turned over to Mr. Moberg's two sons, while he himself gives his personal supervision to the cultivation of his well im- proved farm of 125 acres, and to the operation

of a coal mine which yields a good profit, and he and his wife established their home on the farm in February, 1913 ; it is a source of justi- fiable pride to them, as it represents the con-, crete results of their former years of earnest toil and endeavor. They are numbered among the highly esteemed and valued citizens of Snyder township, and delight to extend the hospitality of their attractive home to their many friends. Both are zealous communi- cants of the Swedish Free Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Moberg is a stanch Re- publican.

Mr. and Mrs. Moberg have eight children : Ida Pauline is the wife of John Levinson, a successful merchant at Vandergrift, West- moreland county, and they have two children, Leroy Moberg and Elaine. Ella Marie is the wife of David Snarburg, of Brockwayville, and they have one child, Ruth; Mr. Snarburg is manager of the general store of B. E. Tay- lor. Frederick and Gust have active charge of the mercantile business established by their father, as previously noted. David is asso- ciated in the work of the home farm and also superintendent at the mines. Sadie is the wife of Edward Snyder, who is engaged in the jewelry business and is also postmaster at Plumville, Indiana county ; they have one son. Jack Leonard. Mabel and Mildred are the younger members of the family circle at the parental home.

ADAM J. SMITH, a retired farmer of Young township, is living upon the old home- stead there where he was born May 9, 1847. son of Jacob Smith and grandson of William Smith. He is one of the oldest residents of that township and one of its most respected citizens, justly esteemed for his honorable in- dustrious life and upright character.

Mr. Smith is of German descent, his father and grandfather having been natives of Ger- many. His grandparents, William and Mar- garet Smith, followed their son Jacob from Germany, securing a home, as he did, in Young township, Jefferson Co., Pa., both dying on their farm near Walston. They had two chil- dren, Jacob and William.

Jacob Smith came to this country at twenty years of age, and was married in New Orleans. La., to Catherine Boas, soon thereafter, in 1835, coming to Jefferson county, Pa. His first purchase, 112 acres of wild land in Young township, was made that year. He erected a log house and began the work of clearing and improving, some years later purchasing an additional 230 acres. He became one of the

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most extensive farmers of his locality, and for some years engaged in lumbering as well. His death, the result of an accident, occurred in 1877. His wife survived him nearly twenty years, dying in 1895, when ninety-four years old. They were the parents of ten children : Jacob, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, died in Jefferson county when eighteen years old ; Katie, deceased, married Adam Weber, a native of Germany, and lived in Pittsburgh ( they had five children ) ; Christopher married a Mrs. Smith and removed to Pittsburgh, where he died before his wife (their three children, William G., Lydia and Jacob, settled in Indiana county, Pa.) ; William J., born in May, 1840, married Annie E. Engelbach, of Jefferson county ; Louisa, deceased, was the wife of Taladin Hoeh, a farmer of Bell town- ship, this county, and had four children, Wil- liam, Katie, Lizzie and Annie ; Philip, a farmer of Indiana county, married Bertha Elbel, of Jefferson county, and had six children, Wil- liam H., Gustus, Charles, Emma, Jefferson and Amos; George, a farmer of Young town- ship, Jefferson county, married Minnie Smith, of Indiana county, and had sixteen children, · Cassie, Olive, George, Philip, Edward. Annie, Thompson, Nelson, Aaron and Lyman (twins ), William, Samuel, Effie, Minnie, Liz- zie and Amie (deceased) ; Adam J. is men- tioned below ; Samuel, who settled at Punx- sutawney, married Mary Trusell and had three children, Harry, Annie and Mintie; Mary, twin of Samuel, married Christ Akerman, of Pittsburgh, and died in that city.

Adam J. Smith grew up at the homestead in Young township and was reared to farm- ing. most of his boyhood having been spent in work about the home place. When a young man he followed lumbering and rafting, but he eventually began farming, in which his success resulted in the acquisition of consider- able valuable property. He has recently sold three farms, but still retains two, the place of 135 acres where he resides, and another tract of eighty-two acres also in Young township, near Walston. For a number of years Mr. Smith was closely associated with public serv- ice, having filled the offices of supervisor, tax collector and overseer of the poor. No citizen has displayed a keener interest in all things tending to betterment in the community, every good movement having in him an ardent advo- cate and supporter. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Smith's first wife was Elizabeth Kess- ler. of Jefferson county, who died in 1875. leaving three children : Sarah C. ( Mrs. Samuel

J. Williams ), Isaac Ephraim and Adam L. For his second wife he married Sarah C. Kessler, a sister of Elizabeth, and a large family has been born to this union, namely : Mary E., William Irwin, Norman (deceased ) , Joseph H., Lloyd, Floranna, Mattie, Clara E. and larry Grant (deceased ).

W. E. JUDD, of Brockwayville, is train dispatcher for the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company at that point and has been in the railroad service during prac- tically all of his business life. But since set- tling in Brockwayville he has broadened his interests, being prominently connected with the Judd Coal Company and otherwise asso- ciated with the operation of coal properties, the business opportunities of the vicinity hav- ing stimulated his enterprise to making various investments which promise well. In their management he has exhibited acumen and executive qualities which, sufficiently exer- cised, deserve the rewards of success.

Mr. Judd is a native of Maryland, born in Hartford county, son of John and Laura J. ( Walter ) Judd, who were the parents of five children: John .A., now a farmer at Delta, Pa .; W. E .: Anna. wife of James Naylor, of Cold Springs, N. Y .; Joseph E., who is sta- tion agent at Towson, Md., and Walter R., deceased. The father was engaged as a dealer in spike timber, carrying on this business until nis death, which occurred in 1898. The mother died in 1908.

W. E. Judd obtained his education at Bel Air, Harford Co., Md. By the time he reached the age of sixteen years he had be- come so proficient as a telegraph operator, having acquired a knowledge of the work at Fallston, MId., that he was appointed agent and operator at Baldwin, that State. After a short service there he returned to Fallston, where he was engaged in the same capacity, spending three years in these two positions. His next appointment was to Orleans Road ( post office Orleans Cross Roads), W. Va., in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- way Company, where he remained for eight years, at the termination of this period chang- ing to Pittsburgh, where for the year and a half following he was employed alternately by the Baltimore & Ohio and Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Companies. In the year 1901 he entered the service of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Company, locating at Mount Jewett, whence he came to Brockwayville in the same year, as telegraph operator. Since 1912, however, he has held

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his present position as train dispatcher for the Erie road at that place. Meantime he has found other activities, principally the develop- ment of coal lands, and he acts as manager and superintendent of the Judd Coal Com- pany, of which he is part owner, also having in contemplation the operating of other coal mines in the neighborhood of Brockwayville, which he now controls under lease. He is a substantial citizen, a man who holds the con- fidence of his fellows by reason of his reliable character.

In 1907 Mr. Judd was married to Mary Rice, who was reared in the vicinity of Brook- ville, being a daughter of William and Mar- jorie Rice. Fraternally he is a Mason and Shriner. In political sentiment he is a Re- publican.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT, JR., the efficient and popular superintendent of the Rochester & Pittsburgh mines at Walston, was born at Clarion, Pa., Jan. 1, 1877. William M. Scott, Sr., his father, resides in the West End of the borough of Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, where he is a successful contractor as a plas- terer and paperhanger, having followed that business for many years. He was born at Clintonville, Venango Co., this State, being one of the sixteen children of William Scott, and there served a practical apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade. His children were all born at Clarion, where he was engaged at his trade for a number of years. Upon coming to Jefferson county he first located at Sugar Hill, a few years later removing to Punxsutawney. where he has since continued as one of the best known and most skillful workmen in his line. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia M. Hepborn, was born in Scotland and at twelve years of age accompanied her parents on their immigration to the United States. Of their children, William M. is the eldest ; Clyde II. resides at Vandergrift, Warren Co., Pa .; Margaret is the wife of James Smoyer; Clark and Anna complete the family.

William M. Scott, Jr., attended not only the public schools but also the Clarion State Nor- mal School. In 1905 he began coal mining, and experienced every variety of service, learning all the details thoroughly and dis- playing such skill and tact that after eighteen months in an executive position at New Beth- lehem he returned to Jefferson county to be- come assistant superintendent of the mines of which he is now in full charge. His ability and effective executive service resulted in his advancement, in 1912, to the responsible posi-

tion of superintendent of those large and im- portant workings, operating a force of about four hundred and fifty men. With a thorough knowledge of all things incidental to the suc- cessful conduct of so important an enterprise, under his supervision the Walston mines are worked with maximum efficiency, being classed as one of the best properties of the owning company. The operations of this plant cover a field several miles in extent, and the output is excellent coal. Under Mr. Scott's superin- tendence the property has greatly enhanced in value, and this is one of the mines where the worth of individual workers is recognized, the kindly and liberal treatment accorded them drawing an able and satisfied corps of most desirable employes.

Mr. Scott is a Democrat and an Odd Fel- low, and he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic Church at Walston. He married Frances Hopkins, daughter of John and Frances ( Williamson) Hopkins, and their three children are William M. (3), Clemens and James.

HENRY H. HUMPHREYS. Estimated by its worth of achievement, its strength and its unyielding integrity of purpose, the life of the late Henry H. Humphreys counted for much, though it was unmarked by dramatic incidents or by any desire on his part to come into the light of publicity. He was one of the honored and influential citizens of Snyder township for many years, whose energy and judgment brought him a generous measure of success as an agriculturist and stock grower, and contributed his own full quota to civic and material advancement. His old home- stead in Snyder township is now owned by his son, Dr. Frank R. Humphreys, of Eldred. McKean county.

Henry H. Humphreys was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in the year 1837, and there was reared and well educated, his father hav- ing been a farmer in good circumstances and a man of influence. At the age of seventeen he severed the ties that bound him to home and native land and set forth to avail himself of the broader opportunities afforded in the United States. Reaching Hokendauqua, Le- high Co., Pa., he was employed as engineer for the Thomas Iron Company. Here he formed the acquaintanceship of the young woman who, about the year 1858, became his wife, Catharine MeLaughlin, who was born in County Donegal, Ireland, on the Ist of May, 1842, and who was five years of age when brought to America. Mrs. Humphreys fre-

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quently recalls her girlhood experience in crossing the Atlantic on an old-time sailing vessel from Liverpool. It was in the winter season, cold and tempestuous, seven weeks being needed for the voyage. Her parents established their first home in this country near Bristol, Bucks Co., Pa., on the Delaware river. The health of Mr. Humphreys becom- ing impaired, about 1860 he brought his fam- ily to Jefferson county, where Mrs. Hum- phreys had acquaintance with the Smith fam- ily, in the Beechwoods. Mr. Humphreys pur- chased seventy-two acres of timber land in Snyder township, made a little clearing on which to build a log house, and with indefati- gable energy set himself to the herculean task of reclaiming the land by cultivation. He made the best of improvements, the present attractive house having been erected in 1892. The Humphreys had their full share of hard- ships and vicissitudes. The wolves afflicted them with their uncanny howling. and bears and other wild animals were still much in evidence. Mr. Humphreys developed a fine farm, achieving independence and definite prosperity. He was well known and uniformly esteemed, being loyal and public-spirited, gen- erous and kindly, and thus the entire com- munity manifested a sense of personal loss and bereavement when this strong and useful man, and true friend, died on the 3d of De- cember, 1892, his remains being laid to rest in Wildwood cemetery, at Brockwayville. His widow still remains on the old homestead, which is endeared by the hallowed memories and associations of many years. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal ' Church, as was her husband, he serving for a long period as superintendent of and teacher in the Sunday school. He took a broad- minded interest in public affairs, especially those of home, township and county, and be- longed to the Republican party. He served many years as justice of the peace, an office which under his administration was made to justify its name, and he gave effective service as school director, being secretary and treas- urer for a number of years.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 77

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