Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 103

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 103

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LAWRENCE M. COUDRIET,* the pop- ular host of the Central Hotel, situated at Coalport, was born in Covington township. Clearfield county, Pa., May 23, 1878, and is a son of Leon M. and Gonpiere (Guenot ) Cou- driet.

then styled, and after careful selection pur- chased fifty acres in this region, receiving as a bonus, twelve additional acres. Shortly afterward he had established his family at Clearfield town, and from that point daily walked to his newly acquired property, ax in hand, and without assistance cleared off suffi- cient timber to enable him to put up a log house into which the family then moved. He was an industrious man and was also one of high character. He was a devoted Catholic and contributed the stone from his farm which was used in the erection of St. Mary's church at Frenchville. He became a man of considerable importance in that village and for eighteen years served in the office of post- master.

Leon Mitchell Coudriet was the second born of eleven children. He took charge of his father's business after the death of the latter in 1877 and proved a man of much ability, al- though he had already been concerned in busi- ness for himself. He worked in the woods from early years, having but little chance to acquire an education. Five of his brothers still survive: Prosper, Serdon, Lewis, Frank and Napoleon Coudriet. He was married in 1853 and for about one year afterward lived with his parents, working for his father, after which he moved to Girard township, opening a store on Buck Run. This business he con- ducted successfully until 1866, when he suc- cceded to the business formerly managed by Capt. P. A. Gaulin, at Mulsonburg, and then moved to that place. He was also extensively engaged in the lumber business and acquired a great amount of real estate, together with some of the most valuable timber lands in Clearfield county, hundreds of acres being

Coincident with the settlement of Coving- ton township, Clearfield county, was the founding here of the Coudriet family, of French extraction. This settlement was ef- fected between 1830 and 1840. Francis Cou- driet and wife were natives of France and they came to America in 1831. They stopped for a short time at Lebanon, Pa., and it was during this pause that Leon Mitchell Coudriet, father of Lawrence M., was born, May 10. 1831. As soon as mother and babe were able to travel. the family came on to Bellefonte, Center county, where, for a time, Francis Coudriet worked in a furnace. He was not quite satisfied, however, and during this time made several trips to what were known as the Keating lands, as Covington township was also underlaid with a fine quality of coal.

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Through the division of his father's estate he became the owner of the greater part of it by purchasing the interests of the other heirs. He owned a flour and grist mill at French- ville, also a saw-mill there and at other points he was interested in mills, at one time having three on Sandy Creek. His land possessions reached 10,000 acres. In addition he financed many enterprises and owned a large factory for the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, at Middletown, in Dauphin county.

Leon M. Coudriet married an orphan, Gon- piere Guenot, who was born January 6, 1833. in France, and came to America after the death of her parents. She died November I, 1908, having survived her husband from April 25, 1888. There were twelve children born to this marriage, namely: Francis, who is de- ceased, lived on the old homestead; Prosper, who lives where his father settled and built the stone house which is still standing; Al- pheus, who is also a farmer on the old home- stead; Anne J., who lives at Pittsburg; Hil- lary J., who is manager of the grocery depart- ment of a large store at Philipsburg; Felicia, who is the wife of James Gormount, a farmer in Covington township; Jane, who is the wife of A. L. Picard, lives at Frenchville; Kate A., who is deceased, was the wife of Dr. New- ling; Celestia, who is the wife of F. J. Liegey. a justice of the peace in Covington township; Elizabeth and a sister, who both died about nine years of age; and Lawrence M.

Leon M. Coudriet always took an active in- terest in public affairs but declined to serve in office, making an exception when he succeeded his father as postmaster at Frenchville, where he served thus for eight years. He contrib- uted liberally to the support of St. Mary's Catholic church and through advice and money

forwarded many movements which assisted in bringing prosperity to this region.

Lawrence M. Coudriet was the youngest of his father's family and was given many ad- vantages of every kind. He attended school in Covington township, and afterward the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pa. His mother built a saw mill on Deer Creek about 1901 and he looked after that and her other interests and remained at home' un- til 1903. when he moved to near the mouth of Deer Creek, where Condley is now situated and there entered into a general mercantile business, soon after applying for the position of postmaster, and receiving the appointment in 1904. He continued to be interested at Condley until 1909, the name of this village having been constructed from the two earliest business men of the place-Lawrence M. Coudriet contributing the first part and Al- bert Stanley the second part of the name. In addition to his mercantile interests there, Mr. Coudriet was also in the lumber business and operated a saw-mill. On October 15, 1909, he purchased the Central Hotel at Coalport and has carried on business here ever. since. This house is conceded to be one of the best hotels in Central Pennsylvania, having attrac- tions for those who demand real comfort, an excellent table and attentive service at a rea- sonable price. Mr. Coudriet has the reputa- tion of having been successful in whatever he has undertaken and his management of the Central Hotel justifies it. He makes his guests so comfortable, whether permanent or tran- sient, that he grows in popularity as a host and has a wide circle of warm friends. His build- ing is modern in every particular and lighted by electricity and heated by steam.

Mr. Coudriet has never been very active in

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

politics nor was his father nor grandfather, of William and Catherine ( Rodebaugh) but in all matters concerning the best interests Wagoner, who is also deceased. To this mar- riage were born three sons and six daughters. of the sections in which they have made their home, they have been foremost in fostering laudable enterprises and have been especially liberal in the cause of religion. Like his an- cestors he is a Roman Catholic and is a mem- ber of St. Basil's church.

On May 22, 1901, Mr. Coudriet was mar- ried to Miss Julia M. Donovan, a daughter of John and Rosa Donovan, now of Grampian but formerly of Hawk Run. They have three children : Paul B., Leona M. and Earle. The only fraternal organization with which he is connected is the Royal Order of the Moose.

ISAIAH NEFF, who has been successfully engaged in farming in Chest township, Clear- field county, Pa., for the past thirty-two years, is also interested in merchandising, in 1889 establishing his general store at Five Points, where he does a large business. He was born September 5. 1856, in Chest township, and is a son of John W. and Mary Ann ( Barto) Neff.

John W. Neff is one of Clearfickl county's most venerable citizens. He was born ninety- one years ago, in Center county, Pa., and is a son of Christopher and Sophia ( Holton) Neff. He was six years old when he accompanied his parents to Burnside township, Clearfield county, and is one of the oldest surviving pio- neers. During the entire period of active life he was engaged in farming and timbering. He has been twice married, his first wife. Mary Ann Barto, dying in 1860, at the age of thirty-two years, survived by two sons: Isaiah and John, the latter being a farmer in Chest township. The second marriage of John W. Neff was to Catherine Wagoner, a daughter

Isaiah Neff obtained his education in the ·

carly district schools, and then was associated with his father in farming and lumbering, and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. He then became similarly in- terested on his own account, and later enlarged his business responsibilities as mentioned above. He is numbered with the representa- tive business men of Chest township and is a leading member of Harmony Grange.

Mr. Neff married into another old family of this section, Miss Susanna Snyder, who was born December 29. 1865, a daughter of Jonas and Mary (Fox) Snyder, who came to Clearfield from Center county.

Of the family of children born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff. the following survive: Irwin L., a thoroughly educated young man, who is at present an instructor in the Penfield High School, married Elma Groh, and they have two children: John C., who is engaged in the lumber business in West Virginia; Belle, who is the wife of Perry Kitchen, and they have two children: Clair, who lives on the home farm, married Carrie Woods: George O., who is a successful school teacher: Foster. who is engaged in farming in the vicinity of Phila- delphia ; Mazie and Wayne, both of whom at- tend school: and Myrtle and Quentin. Mr. Neff is identified politically with the Demo- cratic party but has never been willing to as- summe the duties of any public office.

GEORGE D. KANTZ. a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Burnside township. where he is engaged in farming on 109 acres of land. and in lumbering, was born on the old

MR. AND MRS. GEO. D. KANTZ

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Kantz homestead, at the locality known as Slabtown, this county, August 2, 1856, a son of John and Sarah (Baker) Kantz. His pa- ternal grandfather, John Kantz, Sr., was a native of Germany, who came to this country and died in Indiana county, Pa.

John Kantz, Jr., father of our subject, was born in Columbia county, Pa., in 1818. He resided for a time in Lancaster county and afterwards in Indiana county, coming to Clear- field county about 1848. Settling in Burnside township, he engaged here in lumbering, raft- ing his product to market. He continued in this line of industry until 1857, at which time he settled on the present Kantz homestead, or rather on the site, which he cleared and de- veloped in to a good farm. His wife, Sarah Baker Kantz, was born in Snyder, Pa., in February, 1818, a daughter of Philip Baker, who was a pioneer of that county, the section in which he resided, however, being then known as Marion county. She survived her husband, dying in 1892, while his death took place in 1884. Their family consisted of six children, namely: Philip, now living retired at Clearfield, Pa .; Susanna, who is deceased ; Reuben B., a farmer residing in Burnside township: Emma, the widow of John Irwin, now residing in Tacoma, Wash .; Annie, wife of S. Hileman, residing in Tacoma, Wash .; and George Daniel, the subject of this sketch.

George Daniel Kantz attended school but a short time in his boyhood, as there were but four months of free school a year at that time. At the age of eleven years he began to help his father in lumbering, driving a team, making square timber, and cutting logs, and in the spring seasons helping to raft up this square timber and running it down the Susquehanna river to the markets of Lock Haven, Wil-

liamsport and Marietta, and in the summer time being engaged in farming. At the age of seventeen he became a pilot on the Susque- hanna river. He continued to work for his father in this way until he became of age, at the age of twenty-one becoming his father's partner, they working together in this way un- til 1882. Mr. Kantz then bought the home- stead of his father, the latter retiring and making his home with our subject, with whom he resided for the rest of his days, as did also our subject's mother. George D. Kantz con- tinued lumbering until 1903, but which time the virgin pine, hemlock and oak was all cut and run to market. Since then he has been heavily interested in mining-timber, such as motor ties, bank ties and props, railroad ties and sawed lumber.

Mr. Kantz married Marietta Lutz, of Lan- caster county, Pa. She was born September 20, 1855, a daughter of Samuel Parker and Jane (Scott) Lutz. Her father, who was a cabinet maker by trade, later became superin- tendent of various manufacturing concerns. He died January 21, 1910, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died in 1860, at the age of thirty-two. She was a daughter of James and Sarah (Leader) Scott, of Lan- caster county, the former of whom died in 1858, at the age of seventy-five, and the latter in 1870 at the age of eighty years. James Scott for many years was proprietor of an old inn on the Pike road in Lancaster county, known as the Brink Inn, he being also in charge of the toll gate there. Grandfather Jacob Lutz died in 1856 at the age of seventy years. He was a carpenter by trade.

Mrs. Kantz at the time of the Civil war, when her father was absent fighting for the Union, was brought with two other members

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

of her parents' family to Clearfield county, and was reared at McGee's Mills by a family named Sunderland, their mother having died, as before mentioned, in 1860. After the fa- ther's return from the war he found himself unable to locate his family, and it was not un- til several years afterwards that he finally found them. Mrs. Kantz has one. brother liv- ing, Carson Lutz, who is engaged in mining and truck farming at Glen Campbell.

Mr. Kantz is an active, enterprising cit- izen. He is a Republican in politics and has performed active service for his party. He has held several local offices, having served as township treasurer and as a member of local committees. He belongs to the United Brethren church.

FRED S. MCCRACKEN .* whose well kept farm of sixty-seven acres is situated in Ferguson township, two miles northwest of Kerrmoor, was born in this township, April 28, 1850. His parents were John D. and Nancy ( Bloom) McCracken, of old and sub- stantial families of this section.

John D. McCracken was born also in Fer- guson township. He was reared here and spent the larger part of his life in this town- ship, although, after his marriage he lived for a time on the Hoyt farm in Greenwood town- ship. He cleared a farm of sixty-five acres subsequently. in Ferguson township and lived on it during the remainder of his life, his death taking place at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lumber City and his burial was in the Methodist cemetery there. He always voted the Democratic ticket. He married Nancy Bloom, a daughter of Isaac Bloom, and she lived to be eighty-one

years of age and her burial was also at Lum- ber City. They had the following children : Eliza Jane, George, Frampton B., Philip, Ann, Plebe, Fred, Harriet, Ilannah, William Big- ker, John, Caroline, and a son that died in in- fancy. Philip the third son, was a soldier in the Civil war.

Fred S. McCracken attended school in Fer- guson township and afterward helped his father on the farm until his own marriage, after which he lived at Reynoldsville, in Jef- ferson county, for a time and then came to his present farm, which he purchased from his brother. He has erected all the substantial buildings on the place and has made many im- provements. Formerly he devoted some at- tention to sheep raising but not recently. There is a valuable twenty-eight-inch vein of coal on the place which Mr. McCracken occa- sionally works.

Mr. McCracken was married April 20, 1871, to Miss Mary Michael, who was born in Clinton county, Pa., February 17, 1849, a daughter of John and Jane (Lewis) Michael. Mr. Michael died in Ferguson township when aged sixty years and his burial was at Old Zion cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken have two children: Edward M. and Ida, the latter of whom is the wife of Samuel Baer. They reside at Glen Hope and have two chil- dren, Frederick and Anna Mary. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken attend the Baptist church, of which Mrs. McCracken is a member. He be- longs to the Grange at Kerrmoor. In politics, Mr. McCracken is a stanch Democrat and he has served in numerous township offices with the utmost efficiency, having been road super- visor, constable, tax collector and assessor. He is one of the representative men of Fer- guson township.

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A. J. JOHNSON,* division superintendent of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Rail- road, who came to DuBois, Pa., in 1905, is a railroad man whose training in this line be- gan in boyhood. He was born September 4. 1861, at Morefield, O., and is a son of Wil- liam and Mary Johnson.

A. J. Johnson was ten years old when his parents moved to Uhrichsville, O., and there he went to school until old enough to work in a grocery store, where he remained about three years. In 1875 he became an employe of the Panhandle division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Dennison, O., and while working as a messenger boy had the courage, persever- ance and ambition that made him master the art of telegraphy. He became an expert oper- ator and received promotion in the offices of that company and continued until 1888, when lie became train dispatelier for the Cincinnati Southern Railway. One year later he entered the employ of the Sciota Valley Railroad as train dispatcher, residing at that time at Co- lumbus, O., and he continued with that road until it became a part of the Norfolk & West- ern system. In 1893 he became division su- perintendent of the Northern division of the B. R. & P. Railroad, being thien located at Rochester, N. Y., and from there was trans- ferred to his present location in 1905, when he established his home at DuBois.

In September, 1882, Mr. Johnson was mar- ried to Miss Anna Miser, a resident of Co- lumbus, O., and they have three children, namely : George, an employe of the B. R. & P. Railroad, at New Castle, Pa., who married Laura Hicks and has one child, Ruth; Hazel V., who is the wife of W. R. Landis, of Du- Bois, and has one son, Wilbur A .; and Ethel M., who resides with her parents. Mr. John-

son is identified fraternally with Lodge No. 797, FF. & A. M., at Rochester, N. Y., and Lodge No. 349, Elks, at DuBois, Pa. He be- longs also to the Acorn Club at DuBois.

FRANK M. CAMPBELL, who has re- sided on his present farm of 100 acres, sit- uated in Chest township, Clearfield county. Pa., since 1895, is one of the enterprising and prominent men of this section. He was born in Tioga county, Pa., February 23, 1866, and is a son of Ely and Mary E. (Low) Campbell.

Ely Campbell was born also in Tioga county, a son of Robert and Rhoda ( McMas- ters) Campbell, natives also of Tioga county but of Scotch extraction. Ely Campbell was reared on the home farm and worked in the woods near the old homestead from boyhood until he was twenty-one years old. In 1870 he came to Clearfield county and located in Bell township, following rafting and other work of a woodsman for three years and then moved to McGee's Mills, where he remained for three more years. Later he went to Five Points, in Chest township, and lived there un- til 1881, when he returned to the old home- stead in Tioga county, where he still carries on farming. He married Mary E. Low, who also survives. Her parents were Jolin and Ellen Low, natives of Germany. To Ely Campbell and wife the following children were born: Frank M .; David, who' is a farmer in Tioga county; Edward L. and Clayton, both of whom reside in Tioga county; Ida, who is the wife of William Robinson, of Mansfield, Pa .: Edith, who is the wife of C. Preston, of Mansfield, Pa., and Della, who is the wife of F. Campman, of Oregon Hill, Pa.

When Frank M. Campbell was only eleven

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

years old he accompanied his father to the woods and assisted him until he was twenty- one, after that engaging in farming in Chest township, Clearfield county. After marriage he moved to Coalport, Pa., and later to Ir- vona, where he was in the tannery business for three years, and followed draying and teaming for three years more, after which he settled on his present farm and since then has been interested in farming and lumbering.

Mr. Campbell was married April 17, 1888, to Miss Isabel MeGarvey, who was born Oc- tober 30. 1866, a daughter of Anthony and Ellen (Hunter) McGarvey, residents of Jor- dan township for many years, well known and highly respected farming people there. Mrs. Campbell was accomplished and educated and for some years prior to her marriage taught music, having graduated in music both at An- sonville and Cherry Tree. She was a lady of beautiful character and was a devoted mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Camp- bell: Harry D., who is in the street railway service at Pittsburg, Pa .: Vincent A., who is the home farmer ; Willis E., although but sev- enteen years old, has a position in a saw-mill at Pittsburg ; Helen Leola, who attends to the domestic affairs for her father and the younger children; Laura Jane, who attends school; and Bennie Charles, Katie, Nettie May and Ruth, the last named being four years old, while three others died in infancy.

Mr. Campbell is one of the influential Re- publicans in Chest township and is township supervisor, having been a township official since 1905. He is an active citizen in all that concerns the general welfare of this section and is always ready to do his part in promot- ing public spirited enterprises of which his judgment approves.

LEWIS MCCRACKEN,* a retired farmer living on a farm in Ferguson township, ad- joining the one on which he was born, Feb- ruary 8, 1838, owns 172 acres, situated one mile northeast of Kerrmoor, Pa. His parents were William and Mary ( Bell) McCracken.

William McCracken was born in Pike township, Clearfield county, March 10, 1807. and died in January, 1891, and his burial was in the Fruit Hill Cemetery. He was six years old when his parents moved to the McNaul farm, where he grew to manhood. After his marriage he moved to the adjoining farm, in Ferguson township, on which his eleven chil- dren were born, and continued to live there until all had grown up. Then he sold and moved to Virginia, where he was interested in farming at the time of his death. He was an elder in the Fruit Hill Presbyterian church. In politics he was a Democrat and he served one term as county commissioner in Clearfield county. William McCracken married Mary Bell, who was born in what was then Bell but now Greenwood township, Clearfield IS county, a daughter of Greenwood Bell, and died in January, 1886. They had eleven chil- dren, namely: Hiram, who is deceased: Ju- lia Ann, who is the widow of Christian Straw; Robert, who died in 1907; Lewis; Da- vid, who is deceased; Hezekiah, who lives in Lawrence township; Arthur, who died at the age of eight years; Josephine, who died in 1903: Ashley, who lives near Farmville, Va .; and Seth and Amanda, the latter of whom is the wife of Emanuel Shaffer, both living in Ferguson township.

Lewis McCracken obtained his education in the schools of Ferguson township. He worked on the home farm for his father until he was twenty-two years of age and then married and moved to his present farm and

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here has made many improvements including the erecting of the substantial farm buildings. He has his land under excellent cultivation and is utilizing all of it except thirty-five acres on which timber is still standing. He has suc- cessfully carried on general farming, raising crops, fruit and stock and doing a little dairy- ing. Formerly he was very active but in late years has turned his responsibilities to a large degree over to younger workers.

Mr. McCracken was married first to Miss Dorcas Lewis, who was born in Elk county, Pa., and died in April, 1875. They had four children: Ellis; Emily, who is the wife of Joseph Shaw, residing at Marron; William, who lives at Millport, Pa .; and Laura, who is the wife of Charles Wiley, of Ferguson town- ship. Mr. McCracken was married secondly to Miss Elizabeth McGarvey, who was born in Clarion county, Pa., September 17, 1847, a daughter of Hugh and Mary ( Boyd) Mc- Garvey, who moved from Clarion to Clear- field county. To the second marriage of Mr. McCracken, two daughters were born: Es-

tella, who is the wife of William Metlack, re- siding near Kerrmoor; and Delta, who is the wife of Jesse Metlack, residing at New Mill- port, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken are mem- bers of the Baptist church. He has been a Democrat ever since he cast his first vote, and on several occasions has been elected to town- ship offices on the Democratic ticket. He is one of the leading members of the Kerrmoor Grange.

ZACHARY TAYLOR PHILLIPS,* gen- eral merchant at Irvona, Pa., is one of the en- terprising young business men of this place and at present is serving in the office of bor-

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 103

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1040