Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 94

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 94

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cut later. "Captain Joe" twice saved for his countrymen the constitutional government of Connecticut, first by taking the State's Charter from British soldiers ( who had come to de- stroy it) and hiding it in the famous "Charter Oak"; and the second time when, as comman- der of the Connecticut troops, he refused to surrender the government to Colonel Fletcher. governor of the .New York Colony, who had come with soldiers to make such demand. Other descendants of William Wadsworth noted in history (besides Capt. Joe and John) were : Benjamin Wadsworth, for twelve years president of Harvard College, beginning 1725; and Gen. Pel. Wadsworth, whose daughter, Zilpah, married Hon. Stephen Longfellow, and was the mother of Henry Wadsworth Longfel- low, the poet. Mrs. Shobert's grandmother. Esther (Wadsworth) Butler, died while with Mrs. Shobert's parents on the old Butler homestead, and is buried in what is known as the old Brookville cemetery.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hamn- ilton Shobert were as follows, beginning with the oldest : (1) Joseph Butler has built and suc- cessfully operated some of the largest and most modern lumber plants in the United States. Mexico, and India, and has the reputation of being the foremost sawmill constructing engi- neer and expert in the United States. He is temporarily located in the Southern States. ( 2) Mary Rena is the wife of W. L. MeCracken, a Brookville attorney. (3) Clyde Hamilton is a machinery expert employed in Brookville by the Deemer Furniture Company. He has in- vented and patented a successful oiling attach- ment for engines. (4) Nora Maude is deceased. (5) Fred Clarke was first a court and general reporter in Pittsburgh ; later clerk with the Baltimore & Ohio and Lake Shore Railroads; chief clerk for the Pressed Steel Car Company ; manager for J. S. & E. G. Fer- guson, attorneys : chief clerk to the director of public works of Pittsburgh ; manager for Pat- terson, Sterrett & Acheson, attorneys; with the law firm of Reed, Smith. Shaw & Beal ; secretary to Hon. John M. Kennedy, former president judge of AAllegheny county Common Pleas courts ; manager for Sterrett & Acheson ; secretary and treasurer of Shady Side Acad- emy. Recently he gave up his Pittsburgh in- terests and removed to Pinecreek township (near Brookville) to engage in farming and coal mining.

THOMAS B. GALBRAITH was an effi- cient and popular member of the police force assigned to the Pennsylvania Capitol building,

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in the city of Harrisburg, from July 1, 1916, to Jan. 1, 1917, but resigned said position in order that he might assist his two sons George R. and B. Vincent Galbraith in the business management of their extensive and growing concert work. He maintains his home at Brookville, Pa., and is a sterling and honored citizen, well entitled to consideration in this history of his home county.

Thomas Brown Galbraith was born near Reidsburg, Clarion Co., Pa., Feb. 17, 1845. and is a scion of one of the well known pioneer families of that county. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Black) Galbraith. Joseph Gal- braith was born in that part of Armstrong county which is now included in Clarion county, and the date of his nativity was April 20, 1805. His parents, John and Re- becca (Smith) Galbraith, were numbered among the earliest permanent settlers of that section of the old Keystone State. John Gal- braith was of stanch Scotch-Irish lineage, and his father, who came to America from the North of Ireland, was a valiant soldier of the patriot forces in the war of the Revolution. It is supposed that he met his death in battle or was captured by the enemy, as he was officially reported as missing and his family thereafter was unable to obtain any trace of him. He was born in Scotland and came to America about the year 1775. As already noted, he showed his loyalty to the land of his adoption by enlisting in the Continental forces at the inception of the Revolution, and after he had gone forth to battle for American indepen- dence it is probable that he was killed on the field of conflict, as the utmost research and investigation on the part of his family and friends never revealed his fate. His only son. John, was born in 1780, and was a young man at the time of his marriage to Rebecca Smith, by whom he had two sons, John and Joseph. The mother passed away soon after the birth of their son Joseph, and about 1815, John Gal- braith, Sr., for his second wife, married Polly Callen. They became the parents of two sons and three daughters: Sarah married and reared children and was of advanced age at the time of her death; Mrs. Eliza McBride died in middle life ; Robert was a pioneer gold seeker in California and was a resident of one of the Western States at the time of his death : the other daughter was Mary : James C. passed the closing period of his life at Callensburg, Clarion county, and was nearly ninety years of age at the time of his death. John Gal- braith, Sr., was a pioneer of western Pennsyl- vania, as has already been stated, and he finally

came to Jefferson county, where he established his home on the old Reitz farm in Beaver township, and where he died at a venerable age.

Joseph Galbraith, the younger of the two sons of John, Sr., by his first marriage, was born near Freeport, Armstrong Co., Pa., and after giving up agricultural industry learned the carpenter's trade and became successful contractor and builder. a

In December, 1830, hie wedded Elizabeth Black, who was born Feb. 17. 1809, and soon afterwards they established their home near Reidsburg, Clarion county, where he en- gaged in farming and also in the work of his trade, and where both he and his wife became members of the religious denomination known as the Associate or Seceder Church. In March, 1855, they removed to Jefferson county and settled on a pioneer farm near Belleview, in Oliver township, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives and where Mr. Galbraith not only reclaimed and developed his farm but where he also continued in the work of his trade to a greater or less extent. He and his wife here became zealous members of the United Presbyterian Church at Beaver Run, and he was a ruling elder of the same at the time of his death. Joseph Galbraith was a man of inviolable integrity in all of the relations of life, generous and kindly, unselfish in his devotion to his family, and honored by all who knew him. His beloved wife passed to eternal rest March 9, 1881, at the age of seventy-two years, and he was eighty years of age when he too passed from the stage of life's mortal en- deavors, on the 8th of March, 1885, the re- mains of these revered pioneers resting in the cemetery of the Beaver Run Church, of which they had long been earnest and devoted mem- bers. The old homestead farm, on which Mr. Galbraith erected good buildings, is still in the possession of one of his descendants. In politics he was originally an old-line Whig and later a Republican, uniting with the latter party at the time of its organization. His brother James C. was a stanch Democrat and served at one time as sheriff of Clarion county. Though their fraternal loyalty and regard never wav- ered, their conflicting political views led them into many a heated discussion, both in person and by correspondence. Joseph Galbraith was an implacable adversary of human slavery and was a vigorous abolitionist during the climacteric period that found culmination in the Civil war. He was a most active church worker. and the church edifice at Beaver Run was erected while he was serving as elder of

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the organization. In the following paragraph are given brief data concerning the children of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Black) Galbraith.

John C. was in his youth a teacher in the schools of Clarion county, and later became a skilled workman at the carpenter's trade ; he finally removed to the State of Illinois, where he became a successful contractor and builder and where he served for a number of years as postmaster at Forreston, Ogle county, his hav- ing been the distinction also of having served as a Union soldier in the Civil war. Henry, who likewise was a teacher and a carpenter, served during practically the entire period of the Civil war, enlisting in 1861 in Company I. 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and becom- ing captain of this company, taking part in many important engagements and continuing as a gallant soldier of the Union until the close of the war. In January, 1864, while at home on a furlough, Captain Galbraith wedded Rachel Davis, and later they came to Jefferson county and established their home at Brookville. \ number of years later they removed to New Kensington, Westmoreland county, where oc- curred the death of Mrs. Galbraith, and the Captain now resides at Pasadena. Cal., he hav- ing celebrated his eighty-third birthday anni- versary in 1916. Joseph M., who likewise proved successful as a teacher and as a con- tractor and builder, resided for a number of years at New Bethlehem, Clarion county, and then came to Brookville. Jefferson county, where he continued to reside until his death. several years ago; the maiden name of his wife was Mary Crisswell. James D., whose active career was one of close identification with agricultural industry in Clarion and Jeff- erson counties, died in 1895: his marriage to Esther Millin was solemnized in 1859. Rachel who never married, passed the major part of her life on the old homestead farm, and was fifty-nine years of age at the time of her death. Robert MI. died in childhood. Norman B., who owns and resides upon his father's old homestead farm, married Esther A. Steele, and they became the parents of fourteen children. Thomas B. was the next in order of birth. Eliza J., who became the wife of Oliver A. Briggs, a talented teacher of music. died when but twenty-eight years of age. Margaret A. became the wife of Jacob Gage, a farmer in Chemung county. N. Y., and there she died at the age of fifty-four years. Mary MI. died in childhood.

Thomas B. Galbraith acquired his rudi- mentary education in the schools of Clarion county and was about ten years of age at the

time of the family removal to Jefferson county, where he so profited by the advantages of the pioneer schools that he proved himself eligible for pedagogic honors when he was but fifteen years of age. At this juncture in his career he assumed the dignified prerogatives of teacher in the Zion school, in Beaver township. Thereafter he attended the Dayton Academy for two terms. While home on his vacation in July, 1864, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted in the Union army, serving about four months with Company F. 1st Battalion, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was honor- ably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. During this brief period of service he was promoted from the rank of private to that of corporal for special valiant conduct. After his return from the army he went West to visit his brother John, then a resident of Forreston, Ill. While there he en- gaged in agency work for a period of six months, until his return East in the fall of 1866. when he again engaged in the teaching profession. He became associated with Rev. Andrew J. McFarland in establishing a private normal school at Stanton, Jefferson county. Here he became the assistant teacher and at the same time also pursued higher branches of study, under the direction of Mr. McFarland. Remaining with this school for two years he was thereafter a teacher in the public schools of Jefferson county until 1870. when he became a teacher in the Brookville high school. This position he retained for six years, and in 1878 he went to Elk City, Clarion county, and be- came concerned with development work in the oil fields of that locality. He served as post- master of Elk City when that city was a bus- tling center of the oil industry, and after the development of oil had virtually ceased in that district returned, in 1881, to Brookville, where he had been requested to resume service as a teacher in the high school. Here he continued his effective pedagogic services, and in 1884 was chosen supervising principal of the schools of the borough, of which responsible office he continued the incumbent for the long period of sixteen years. his retirement from office oc- curring in 1900. His total period of service in connection with the schools of Brookville cov- ered a quarter of a century. Under his regime as supervising principal he organized the first class, of three members, that was graduated from the borough high school, and he infused such enthusiasm and ambition in the educa- tional work of his jurisdiction that each suc- ceeding year showed a definite increase in the number of graduates, the classes having often

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had twenty or more members. During all of this time he continued to give his attention also to teaching the higher branches, and he had the supervision of the work of an average corps of twelve teachers. The three members of the first graduating class were Misses Marjorie Thompson ( now Mrs. Stewart, of Washington township), Ella Hastings (now the wife of Mr. Elliott, editor and publisher of the Reynolds- ville l'olunteer), and Carrie McDowell (de- ceased).

After his retirement from his long and effective service in connection with educational work, Mr. Galbraith was for ten years engaged in the fire and life insurance business at Brook- ville, besides which he developed a prosperous business in the handling of school books and general school supplies. With these lines of enterprise he continued his association until July 1, 1916, when he was appointed to a posi- tion in Harrisburg, as a member of the con- stabulary or police force of the State Capitol.

On the 17th of November, 1869, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Galbraith to Susan Jane Steele, a native of Jefferson county, Pa. To this union were born six children, three of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Galbraith passed to her eternal home June 3. 1897, a faithful wife. a kind and loving mother. and a strict adherent to the United Presbyterian faith during her lifetime. In November, 1898, Mr. Galbraith again married, his second wife being Mrs. Nannie J. Hook, nee Attleberger, who had been an acquaintance of his and of the first Mrs. Galbraith during the time of their residence in Elk City, Clarion Co., Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Galbraith are both zealous mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church of Brookville, in which he has served as ruling elder for more than thirty years, during which time he thrice received the high honor of being selected to represent the Brookville Presbytery at meetings of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church of North America at Pittsburgh, Pa., Denver, Colo .. and Atlanta, Ga. Of the children of his first wife, Kitt M., the eldest, is now the wife of Matthew C. Dickey, of Johnson City, Tenn., and the mother of two boys, Charles Eugene and George Wilbert. B. Vincent and George R. Galbraith have attained to distinction as tal- ented entertainers in connection with repre- sentative lyceum work, and have to their credit ten seasons of popular activity in this field, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York. From a recent announcement are taken the following extracts concerning these talented brothers :

"The remarkable gifts of the Galbraith Brothers in the line of Gospel-song interpre- tation were recognized by the evangelistic con- mittee of New York City, under whose direc- tion they were engaged during the month of July, 1916, to sing to the multitudes in the Washington Heights district in the greatest metropolis on the western continent, and they have an invitation to return for the summer of 1917." The brothers have been most cordially received and appreciated wherever they have appeared in their fine entertainments, and their admirably arranged repertoire includes vocal duets and solos, acting and character songs, musical readings, impersonations, mim- icry, guitar solos and duets, and utilization of the Hawaiian musical instruments and other combinations.

B. Vincent Galbraith wedded Anna Thomp- son, of Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa., and they have one daughter, Katherine, who was born in 1910. George R., the younger of the brothers, is still a bachelor, and both maintain their home in Brookville. Their circle of friends in their native county is coincident with that of their acquaintances.

FRANK A. LORENZO, M. D., of Punx- sutawney. is a product of the latter-day medi- cal school, a professional man whose influence within the circle of his own profession has been unbounded and whose almost uncanny genius for organization, and ability to adapt himself to conditions as he finds them, have made him a potent figure in the civic, social and business life of the thoroughly alive community in which he lives. Energetic. genial, forceful, he has compelled the esteem and respect of his fellow physicians and the admiration and friendship of his townsmen. A man of broad nature and culture. he is well adapted by both temperament and training for the useful career of his choice. He is a native of Laurino, Italy, born July 11, 1880. When six years of age. in September. 1886, he arrived in New York with his parents. For several years he attended the public school in that city, and in 1895 came to Punxsutawney and continued his studies in the local schools. In 1898-99 he was a student at Pennsylvania State College, where he attained prominence as an athlete and a student, establishing a popularity with his fel- low classmen that brought him that which every college man covets, the class presidency. In 1900 he entered Columbia University at New York City, where he graduated from the medical school in 1904. Immediately follow- ing his graduation he began practice as a physi-

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cian and surgeon in Punxsutawney. The com- munity was not long in according him recogni- tion. A student, a man of keen insight and possessed of an 'analytical mind, he soon dis- tinguished himself both as a physician and as a surgeon. He wields a graphic pen, being the author of numerous medical papers that have won the frank commendation and admiration of the foremost of his profession. He has built up a large private practice and the per- sonnel of his clientele is a compliment to his qualifications. He is a member of the staff of the Punxsutawney Hospital and of the Adrian Hospital. He is the physician and surgeon for the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Com- pany at their mines at Walston, Frostburg and Elk Run shaft, having received this latter appointment Dec. 9, 1916. He is a member of the Red Bank Physicians' Protective Asso- ciation, of the Jefferson County Medical So- ciety, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Lorenzo's social connections are multitu- dinous. He is a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and Theta Nu Epsilon fraternities. He is the secretary of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, the president of the Wild Life League of Jefferson county, a director and chairman of the field committee of the Punxsutawney Country Club, of which he was one of the or- ganizers, and a member of the Punxsutawney Club.

Dr. Lorenzo married Mary Gorman Coll- well Sutter, daughter of Martin J. Sutter, and they have one daughter, Josephine Maria.

IRWIN SIMPSON, one of the foremost business men of Punxsutawney, has many valuable interests there and elsewhere in this section, but his activity is chiefly in the lumber trade now. Mr. Simpson has been engaged in various lines during a notably energetic career, and the fact that all have prospered under his judicious management betokens unusual execu- tive ability as well as discrimination regarding favorable conditions, coupled with remarkable foresight. He began lumbering as a workman in the woods and on the river, gaining his fa- miliarity with its details in the most practical manner, and his early experience has proved to be one of his most valuable assets to draw upon in the more ambitious ventures of his later years. The industrial development of the region has been encouraged and aided by him whenever possible, and he has shown his faith in its prospects by substantial investments in a number of concerns whose establishment has

meant increased prosperity and opportunities for this region.

The Simpson family was founded in Jeffer- son county in 1838, in which year John H. Simpson, father of Irwin Simpson, settled here. He was a native of Virginia, and came to Pennsylvania in early manhood, first locat- ing in Somerset county, whence he removed to Jefferson. In early life he had learned the shoemaker's trade, but after following it for some years turned to agriculture and lumber- ing. in which he was engaged until his death, in 1882. Though not ambitious for public honors, Mr. Simpson's public spirit and intelligent views led him into taking part in the affairs of local government, for which he proved so capable that he was chosen to a number of township offices, serving as member of the Perry township school board, etc. In 1840 he was commissioned second lieutenant of the Jefferson Rangers by Governor Porter. Mr. Simpson married Elizabeth Lewis, daughter of Evan L. Lewis, a Welshman and a sailor in the period when it took anywhere from forty to one hundred days to cross the Atlantic. Mrs. Simpson died-in 1887. A large family was born to this marriage, viz .: William E .. who served during the Civil war in the 206th Pennsylvania Regiment : James N., also a sol- dier of the Civil war, killed at the battle of South Mountain; David L., who entered the Union army and was killed at Chancellorsville ; Mary J .: Sarah: Irwin: George; Annie E., who married B. B. Williams : Virginia C .. who married T. Reece Pantall; Theodosia, who married J. B. Lewis of Idaho; Rebecca, de- ceased ; Harvard, deceased ; and Harry D., a resident of Punxsutawney.

Irwin Simpson was born April 5. 1850. in Perry township, Jefferson county, and attended public school there, being reared upon the home farm. He continued to live in Perry township for thirty years, until he bought and removed to a farm in Young township. which subsequently became a part of the borough of Punxsutawney. He farmed this property for about ten years, meantime also engaging in the lumber business, which he followed in con- nection with agricultural work from youth. He had rafted on the Mahoning creek and the Allegheny river. when the "Clostert" railroad was in operation, at Indiana, Pa. He hauled the stone for part of the tunnel at Brookville. on the Low Grade division of the Allegheny Valley railroad. Before the days of the rail- road he walked from his home to Punxsu- tawney or Brookville. as occasion required. having been called for jury duty at the county

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seat in that period. He is fully able to appreci- ate the improvement in transportation facilities.

When he decided to give up the cultivation of his Young township farm Mr. Simpson re- moved to Punxsutawney, where he has since maintained his home, and his real estate hold- ings there are of considerable value, including the Simpson block which he built on Findley street, opposite the Y. M. C. A., a fine office building, and several dwellings. For several years past his time has been taken up princi- pally by the lumber business, in which he was formerly associated with J. Reece Pantall, as well as with H. E. Ginter and Samuel States. At present he is connected with Harvey G. Bowers and Gilbert McGregor in the owner- ship and operation of large and valuable timber tracts in Clearfield and Indiana counties, this State, which are being profitably worked under their direction. When the First National Bank of Punxsutawney was absorbed by the Punxsut- tawney National Bank, in 1909, Mr. Simpson became one of the directors, and he is now serving this institution as vice president. He is also a director of the Wightman Glass Cor- porations.

Though well occupied with his numerous interests, Mr. Simpson has found time for social connections, holding membership in the I. O. O. F. and the local lodge of Elks. He married Mary Sutter. daughter of Philip and Margaret (Snoot) Sutter, and seven children have been born to them: A daughter that died in infancy ; Merle J., who graduated from the Iron City College, Pittsburgh, taught school and died when nineteen years old: Leila, wife of T. B. Mitchell, secretary of the Farmers' & Miners' Trust Company, of Punx- sutawney : Carl D., who died when thirteen years old ; Bessie, who married John F. Crosby. a shoe merchant, of Punxsutawney: Walter C., a contractor, of Punxsutawney, married to Lucile Deible, daughter of Henry C. Deible, postmaster at Reynoldsville, this county ; and Grace, wife of Richard A. Farland, cashier of the West Virginia Bank at Clarksburg, W. Virginia.

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 94

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