Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 95

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 95

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TRUMAN B. LONDON, late of Winslow township, a resident of Jefferson county for over seventy years, was eminently worthy of the place accorded him in the ranks of its best citizens. In his death the township and county lost one who could always be depended upon as a valuable factor for progress in all direc- tions, for though he was a man who devoted himself to his private affairs and domestic in- terests, who had no ambition for the power of public position, no selfish aspirations of any

sort, yet he did more than the average toward the uplifting of good standards in his commu- nity. In all this he walked true to the lines laid down by honorable ancestry. Both his great-grandfathers, Edward London and Sam- uel Callender, natives of New Jersey and Virginia, respectively, were soldiers in the Rev- olutionary war, and it is interesting to note that the latter's descendants have erected a monu- ment to him at Scott, Lackawanna Co., Pa. We take the following from an account of the dedication services :

"On Saturday, Sept. 14, 1889, the descend- ants of Samuel Callender to the number of one hundred and seventy-five met at the Scott 'Valley Baptist Church, for the purpose of ded- icating a monument to the memory of one who came to that part of the country and settled at what is known as Green Grove. Samuel Cal- lender was not only a soldier and a patriot, but during the days of peace that followed the Revolutionary war was a man of progress, and hy his energy that part of the county soon be- came one of its brightest spots. He was born in Virginia in 1756. His boyhood days were the same as others at that period of our na- tion's existence, and but little is known of his carly history save that he was ever ready to strike for the right and never shrank from any duty that he was called upon to perform. He left a name covered with honor and an ex- ample that vet today is set before those who have the name of Callender as a model after which to pattern. The monument is the work- manship of Burns & White, of Tunkhannock. is of granite and bears the following inscrip- tion :

"Samuel Callender, born in Virginia in 1756, died in Green Grove, Pa., March 12, 1830. One of Wash- ington's body guard during the Revolutionary war. Mary Slosson, his wife, born in Connecticut 1775, died March 12, 1836.

"The monument is a very neat bit of work, and is a fitting tribute to two worthy people who did all that they possibly could for the good of the community in which they lived and died.

"The exercises were held in the church and the following was the programme :

"Hymn of Praise. . Callender Choir

Reading of Scripture. Rev. D. J. Williams Prayer Rev. Wm. Miller

Patriotic Song. Callender Choir Reminiscences of a Patriot of the Revolutionary War. . Rev. Nathan Callender Reading names of those who donated money for its

erection.

Sword of Bunker Hill. Clark Lowrey

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"Short addresses were made by Revs. N. Callender and D. J. Williams, E. S. Miller and William Miller. These exercises closed the literary part, and the audience was dismissed to indulge in a grand basket picnic and in- formal visiting among the different branches of the family which had gathered from far and near. The number was increased by the presence of many of the people of Scott, Green Grove and other small settlements, until it reached nearly two hundred and fifty. At two o'clock they assembled in the cemetery, and there the closing exercises were held. After the benediction was pronounced the group was photographed, and they were soon on their way to homes many miles apart."

Isaac London, grandfather of the late Tru- man B. London, was born in New Jersey, son of Edward London, who was of English de- scent. He died in 1843 in Luzerne county, Pa., where his father settled and spent the remainder of his life. Isaac married Sarah Callender, a native of Connecticut, daughter of Samuel Callender, above, and she survived him a few years, dying in 1846 in Jefferson county. They were the parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, the sons being: Tru- man Beaman. Nathan, Isaac, Hiram, Samuel. Stephen and Edward, all of whom located in Jefferson county.

Truman Beaman London, second child of Isaac and Sarah ( Callender ) London, was born Oct. 11. 1808. in what was then Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county. Pa .. and there acquired a very good education. Upon reaching man- hood he engaged in lumbering, which he fol- lowed for seven years on the north branch of the Susquehanna river. manufacturing lum- ber and marketing it at Harrisburg. Columbia. Marietta, Port Deposit, and other points along that stream. He was so engaged in his native county until 1837-38, when he came to western Pennsylvania, locating at Brookville. There also he became interested in large lumbering operations, but in 1840 removed to Perry town- ship, settling on a farm he had purchased of C. C. Gaskill, which he cleared and cultivated. In 1843 he made a new settlement. in Bell township. in the midst of his lumber opera- tions, and in 1848 made a permanent home in Winslow township, on the farm afterwards occupied by Fulton Henry, near the site of the residence which was his home at the time of his death. He was a pioneer lumberman on Sandy Lick, cleared and worked several farms. for eight years was a partner of Dr. T. C. King in a mercantile business at Reynoldsville, and by his building operations there and at Rath-

mel was largely instrumental in the material development of both places, having constructed a number of residences in those villages. His activities gave employment to many at a time when industrial operations were needed to at- tract a substantial class of settlers. He was public-spirited as well as enterprising, the roads he opened into new or remote districts, often at his own expense, having been an im- portant feature of the advancement of the county in pioneer days. He served one term as auditor of Jefferson county. Mr. Lon- con lived retired for some time before his death, which occurred April 11, 1891, on his farm in Winslow township. Though not ac- tive in any church, he gave liberally to all denominations in his neighborhood.

On Sept. 13, 1831, Mr. London married Sallie Maria Slosson, a native of Luzerne county, who died June 23, 1842, the mother of six children : Martha Jane, born July 28, 1832, is deceased : Eliza Maria, born March 9, 1834. married Andrew Johnson, of DuBois, and had a family: Truman Beaman, Jr., was born March 10, 1836; Isaac II., born Sept. 3, 1838. followed merchandising in Reynoldsville and later was a farmer in Winslow township: Moses Slosson, born Jan. 31, 1841. died in in- fancy; Mary Ann. born May 20, 1842. died young. For his second wife Mr. London mar- ried Mrs. Sarah ( Rea) Wilkins, who died May 2, 1878. They had no children.

Truman B. London (2) was born March IO. 1836, in Blakely township, Luzerne ( now Lackawanna ) county. and lived at home until he was thirty years old. He was allowed such educational privileges- as were possible and led an active life from boyhood, assisting his father in the various important operations which the latter handled so successfully. When but fourteen years old he began to raft lumber and continued lumbering for twenty- five years, giving it up after his marriage and devoting his energies to agriculture. For a number of years he lived on the farm in Win- slow township where his death occurred Aug. 2, 1900. and where his widow is still residing. Hle is buried at Reynoldsville. Mr. London was a man of intelligent mind, with a dis- criminating appreciation of the best things in life which made him a leader in his own community, where he was held in the highest esteem. With his wife he held membership in the Soldier Run Baptist Church at Reynolds- ville, and he also belonged to the P. O. S. of A. camp at Rathmel. He was a Democrat. fol- lowing in the footsteps of his father, who cast

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his first vote for Andrew Jackson, the son giving his to Buchanan.

On Jan. 1, 1868, Mr. London was married, at Sligo, Clarion county, to Mary A. Fulton, who was born at Reidsburg, that county, daughter of Washington and Rachel ( Pollard ) Fulton and granddaughter of Cochran Fulton, Sr., a prominent iron manufacturer, owner and operator of Washington furnace. The father of Cochran Fulton, Sr., came to this country from Ireland. Washington Fulton was born in Monroe township, Clarion county, assisted his father during his younger life, and for many years carried on a gristmill at Reids- burg, where he died in 1879 at the age of sixty- two years. He married Rachel Pollard, daugh- ter of Nicholas and Elizabeth ( Hariger) Pol- lard, the former a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Fulton survived her husband, living with a daughter at Knox Dale, and dying Jan. 7, 1913 ; she was buried at Churchville, Clarion county.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. London: Myra Bell, Nov. 5, 1868, married N. F. Dean, of Rathmel, and has five children. Olive B., Alfred A., Gladus L., Medith E. and Clara B .; Maggie B., born Sept. 27, 1872, is the wife of Lorand L. Henry, a coal operator. at Rathmel, and has three children, Elvassa MI., Vern F. and Bernice ; Sallie Maria, born July 10, 1878, is married to George Johnson, of Winslow township, and has seven children. R. Devere, Arveda, Virginia, Quinn, Melvina, Neal and Alice ; Truman B., Born June 26, 1880, died April 23, 1881 ; Thomas B., born April 15, 1882, married Mabel Lyons, and re- sides at Rathmel (their children are Allen, Eveline, Russel, Blair and James ) : Monroe C., born Oct. 1, 1885, married Alice Broad- head, and has one son, Raymond C. (they live with his mother).

PETER MINEWEASER has been a resi- dent of Jefferson county from birth and here found ample opportunity for achievement and the winning of high place as a substantial and loyal citizen, who is accorded unqualified con- fidence and esteem. He is a representative of an honored pioneer family of Jefferson county and a fine farm in Eldred township, three miles north of Brookville, is the old home- stead of his birth, which occurred Feb. 12. 1856. Specific review of the family history is given on other pages, in the memoir dedicated to his father, Jacob. He is not only one of the progressive farmers of Eldred township, but has also marked the passing years with suc- cessful operations in lumbering and coal min-

ing. In all the spheres of industry he has proved an able successor of his father.

Mr. Mineweaser gained his youthful educa- tion in the common schools and was reared to manhood on the farm which he now owns and operates. He early became associated with his father in farming, coal mining and lumber- ing, and since the homestead, comprising 178 acres, came into his possession he has added twenty-five acres. In 1873 a coal bank was opened on the place which the father success- fully operated until his retirement. This de- posit is a valuable four-foot vein and it has yielded an average annual output of about twenty thousand tons, nearly all having been used to meet local demands. Peter Mineweaser finds this coal bank a valuable source of rev- enue and the yield bids fair to continue for many years, besides which a gas well on the farm gives a fair degree of production. The substantial barn on the homestead was erected in 1860, and the commodious brick house in 1868. the brick for the residence having been manufactured on a neighboring farm. This is one of the fine farms of the locality, with land of exceptional fertility and improvements of the best; the house is supplied with the purest of water from a spring. Peter Mine- weaser has admirably upheld the family repu- tation for loyal and enterprising citizenship, has served as township inspector and in 1916 was serving a fourth consecutive term as auditor. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church, and both he and wife have been earnest communicants of the same from their early youth. Ilis political support is given to the Democratic party and while he has never figured as a "practical politician," he has shown marked interest in the party cause and in the upholding of good govern- ment.

On the 20th of August. 1878, occurred the marriage of Mr. Mineweaser to Matilda Smith, who was born near Port Barnett, Pine- creek township, on December 28, 1860, a daughter of Albert D. and Mary A. Smith, her father having long been a representative farmer of Eldred township. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Mineweaser are the following data: James A., who operates a portion of the old homestead, wedded Ger- trude Fiscus and they have six children ; Anna 1. is the wife of Frank Hanson, a railroad engineer, and they reside at Reynoldsville : Mrs. Emma Bleas Crate resides at Crates. Clarion county ; Mary S. is the wife of George N. Hughey, a railroad engineer at Oil City : Francis C., who is a farmer on a part of the old

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homestead, wedded Agnes Hughey, and they have two children: Charles died in infancy. Into their ideal home circle Mr. and Mrs. Mineweaser also took Geraldine Mary Perry when a child and, as a gracious and popular young woman, she still remains with her fos- ter parents.

It is interesting to record that Mr. and Mrs. Mineweaser have in their possession a photo- graph that shows four generations of the family on both the paternal and maternal sides. Of the Mineweaser line are shown the son, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and of the Smith line are the mother, son. grand- daughter and great-granddaughter. Mrs. Mineweaser also has of her own family a photograph showing four generations, her son James being the youngest of the group, in which she herself appears as the representative of the preceding generation. The next is rep- resented by her mother and heading the inter- esting group is Mr. Shaffer, her grandfather, whose daughter, Mrs. Caroline Crow, is the second.

JACOB MINEWESER, who was one of the sterling and honored pioneers of Jefferson county, where his industry and ability were so applied as to gain to him independence and sub- stantial prosperity, is specially entitled to a tribute to his memory, which can not fail of general interest in the county that represented his home for more than sixty years.

Mr. Mineweaser was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the 2d of November. 1824, and died at Brookville on the 3d of February, 1916, so that he attained to the patri- archal age of somewhat more than ninety-one years. He survived his venerable wife by only twelve hours, so that in death they were not long divided, even as their loving companion- ship had continued until death severed the gra- cious ties. Mr. Mineweaser was reared and educated in his Fatherland and was about twenty years of age when he came to America and settled at St. Marys, Elk Co., Pa. Soon after his arrival the ambitious young German wedded a young German girl who had come to America on the same vessel, and who died in 1844. heing survived by one of her two chil- dren. Mary having died in infancy and Joseph having lived to the age of about fifty years. After a short period of residence at St. Marys Mr. Mineweaser removed to Helen Furnace, Clarion county, where for several years he was employed in the iron furnace. He then came 10 Jefferson county and established his home on a pioneer farm in Eldred township, about

the year 1852. There he reclaimed and devel- oped one of the fine farms of the county, and his intense industry and good management were fruitful in returns. On his homestead he erected eventually the substantial brick house and barn which still adorn the place, and he continued his active association with the work and management of his farm, besides having been prominently identified with the mining of coal and with the lumbering opera- tions that necessarily accompanied farm de- velopment until 1890, when he removed to Brookville, there passing the rest of his life in well earned retirement. Of his activities as a farmer and man of affairs further men- tion is made in the sketch of the career of his son Peter, on other pages of this volume, this son being now the owner and occupant of the old homestead. As will be noted by refer- ence to the general historical department of this publication, the coal bank which Mr. Mineweaser opened on his farm was by him operated in connection with the first railroad that was established in Jefferson county.

At Brookville, on the Ist of May, 1851, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mineweaser to Mrs. Scholastica (Van Milders) Angles, a young widow who was a native of Belgium and who, like himself, was a devout communicant of the Catholic Church. Of this union were born four children: Annie is a member of the Catholic sisterhood of the Order of the Good Shepherd, and is in a convent in the city of Philadelphia ; Mary Magdalene died on the 6th of March, 1886, at the age of thirty - two years, the wife of Peter Songer; Peter Mineweaser remains on the old homestead ; Michael is a resident of Brookville. Mrs. Scholastica Mineweaser was summoned to the life eternal on the 18th of December, 1888, secure in the affectionate regard of all who knew her, and her remains rest beside those of her husband in the Catholic cemetery at Brookville.

On the 20th of May, 1890, Mr. Mineweaser contracted a third marriage, when Mrs. Cath- crine Conger became his wife, she having been the mother of three daughters by her first mar- riage : Mrs. Charles Arnold and Mrs. Michael Mineweaser, of Brookville, and Mrs. John Walton, of Punxsutawney. She died only twelve hours prior to the demise of her hus- band and the funeral of both was held Satur- day morning. Feb. 5, 1916. No children were born of this marriage.

From an obituary notice that appeared in a Brookville paper are taken the following ex- tracts : "In religion Mr. Mineweaser was a

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devout Catholic, and he died in that faith. He made him a useful citizen. He was born in was of social and friendly disposition, always having a kind word to say to those he met. In business he was strictly honest and exact in all his transactions. He was careful and prudent in investments, but just as careful to see that his fellow man received his just dues. He was successful in the affairs of the world and ac- cumulated a comfortable fortune. In the passing of Jacob Mineweaser one of the old pioneers of Jefferson county disappears. He was a man of wonderful vitality, physical and mental. for, notwithstanding his age, of more than ninety-one years, he was up and about looking after business affairs until only a few days prior to his death.'

NORMAN J. HUMPHREYS, representa- tive at Brockwayville for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, is a son of one of the old, honored and influential citizens, the late Henry 11. Humphreys, and it was on the old home- stead in Snyder township that Norman J. Ilumphreys was born, March 15, 1881. His studies were pursued in the local schools until he completed the curriculum of the township high school, this being supplemented by attend- ance at the Edinboro State Normal School. Two years thereafter he worked at the carpen- ter's trade, in the employ of the Northwest Mining & Exchange Company. Assuming a position with the Prudential Insurance Com- pany, with headquarters at DuBois, he has maintained an office and residence at Brock- wayville since November, 1913. He now has nearly fourteen hundred policyholders to keep in touch with, and is constantly adding to the list.

Mr. Humphreys is vitally interested in pub- lic affairs and is active and loyal in support of the cause of the Republican party. He is affiliated with Brockwayville Lodge, No. 29. 1. O. O. F. While reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he attends and supports the Presbyterian Church of Brock- wayville, Mrs. Humphreys there holding active membership.

At Brockwayville, in April, 1905, Mr. Hum- phreys was married to Maude Britton, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth ( Diebler ) Britton, of Snyder township. Of the five children born to them a son died in infancy, the survivors being: Mary Josephine, born July 6, 1906; Elizabeth Fay, Oct. 11, 1908: Emma Dorothy, Dec. 23. 1910 : John Henry, Feb. 3, 1914.

JOHN BRITTON. of Snyder township, is a progressive farmer whose activities have

the town of Drunagore, County Derry, Ireland, Aug. 6, 1844, son of John and Mary (Orr) Britton. In 1858 they came in the "Mohongo" from Londonderry to Philadelphia, landing after a tedious voyage of six weeks and three days. They soon came to the Beechwoods in Jefferson county, settling on the farm later owned by their son Joseph, and there the father died in early life, the mother surviving him many years, passing away in Brockwayville at the ripe age of ninety-six. They had nine chil- dren: Nancy, Mrs. Robert Orr, who lives in Canada; James, of Philadelphia ; Joseph, who died in the Beechwoods, as did Martha, Mrs. Allan Burtop, and also William; Mary, Mrs. James Curry, who died in Brockwayville, where George also died ; John ; and Jane, Mrs. John Wilson, of Cleveland, Ohio.

With fair school advantages in Ireland John accompanied the family to America when thir- teen years old, helping his father clear the land for cultivation. When married he located on his present farm of 107 acres then all in its wild state. Besides building a new dwelling he has cleared all but twenty-five acres of the property and equipped it with all the conven- iences of a modern farm. He has also shown broad-mindedness by assisting in the general " advancement, filling a number of offices, over- seer of the poor, school director, supervisor, etc. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Brockwayville, which he has served many years as elder. He is a Mason and a stanch Republican.

Mr. Britton was married Aug. 5, 1874, to Lizzie Divler, daughter of Michael and Bet- sey (Haugh) Divler, of Rose township. To them have been born eight children: Luella lives at home: Mary E. married Frank B. Mathers, of Brockwayville; Nellie M. is the wife of McKee Gregg, of Butler, Pa. ; George, employe of the Brockway Glass Company, married Charlotte Heasley ; Maude is the wife of N. J. Humphreys, of Brockwayville ; Coral F .. is at home : Emma Ml. married David Holt, of Butler, Pa. ; Harry E., born Ang. 27, 1885, on the home farm. was educated in the town- ship schools and has always lived at home. larry E. Britton married Marie Pouliot, and has one child, Phyllis Marie.

MARTIN SYPHRIT, of Knox township, is one of the most enterprising farmers in his section of Jefferson county, where he has long been recognized as an advocate of progressive ideas. His present home is located five miles south of Brookville, and its highly improved

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state is the best testimony which could be of- fered as to his ability and competence.

Mr. Syphrit was born Sept. 8, 1856, in Wins- low township, son of Josephi and Mary (Camp- bell) Syphrit and grandson of Christopher and Mary (Shank ) Syphrit. The grandfather, a native of Germany, lived in Canada for a nun- ber of years before settling in the United States, and there Joseph Syphrit was born in 1814, it is said on the day that the battle of Lundy's Lane was fought (July 25, 1814), and further that the roar of the cannon could be heard at the Syphrit home. In 1818 the family came to Westmoreland county, where Joseph Syphrit grew to manhood. It was in 1840 or 1841 that he located in Jefferson county, three miles south of Reynoldsville, then a village with but three houses within its limits. His neigh- bors were very scarce during the early years, only two or three families having preceded him into this region. He passed the remainder of his life on the land which he cleared and im- proved. The work of clearing progressed so slowly at first that he burned the heaviest tim- ber in order to get rid of it. Mr. Syphrit was one of the most useful citizens of his day, intel- ligent, wide-awake, and worthy of the confi- dence his neighbors reposed in him. He helped organize the township, held nearly all the local offices, supervisor, overseer of poor, justice of the peace, etc., and was also active in the estab- lishment of the Paradise (or Syphrit) M. E. Church in his neighborhood, donating land for the church site and cemetery. He built a frame church nearly on the site of the present brick structure. Mr. Syphrit was one of the original class and always a leading spirit in the congre- gation. Originally he was a Democrat, later a Republican, and finally his convictions led him to join the Prohibition party. During the lat- ter part of the Civil war he enlisted as a substi- tute at Cincinnati, to which city he had gone with a fleet of timber, lumbered off his own land. It was his custom to lumber during the winter season and raft timber to Pittsburgh every spring. Mr. Syphrit's kindly disposition was apparent in all relations with his fellow men, but never more than in his capacity as justice of the peace. It was always his aim to avoid litigation and settle disputes out of court wherever possible, advising those who came before him that it would be wisest for each to yield a little rather than resort to litigation, and he was very successful in dealing with most of those who sought his intervention, his sincerity and evident fairness winning their complete confidence. Mr. Syphrit lived to the age of eighty-two years, dying April 8. 1895, and had

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume II, Part 95

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