Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 109

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 109

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Edgar Early Clary, the eldest of the family started to work in a tannery as a laborer and continued until he had worked his way up to the top and is now superintendent of one of the largest tanneries in the country, located at Richwood, W. Va. He married Jennie Neff, of that place.

H. B. Clary with his brothers and sisters at- tended school in Penn and Greenwood town- ships and afterward he learned the painting and paperhanging trade and for some years worked at it in different parts of the state. . At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted for service. entering Co. L, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf., of which he became corporal, and continued until the close of the war, returning home unharmed. In 1902 he was appointed postmaster of Grampian and he has shown

RICHARD HENRY GEORGE, who is an experienced, practical miner, trained in this line of work since boyhood, is superintendent of the mines of Peale, Peacock & Kerr, at Winburne, Pa., and of another mine at Kar- thaus, is also postmaster at Winburne and is a leading citizen of Cooper township, Clear- field county. He was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, December 18. 1868, and is a son of Thomas and Mary Ann (Brown) George.

The parents of Mr. George came to Amer- ica in 1872 and located at Arnott, in Tioga county, Pa. The father was a miner and was employed in mines in Tioga and Clearfield counties. His death occurred at Winburne, March 29, 1910, at the age of sixty-four years. Two sons and three daughters were born to Thomas George and his wife, namely : Thomas, who is with the Westinghouse Com- pany. in East Pittsburg: Minnie, who is the wife of Donald Curry, of East Pittsburg; Su- san, who is the wife of William Allen, of the

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above place; Jane, who is the wife of John Cameron, of Winburne; and Richard Henry, postmaster at Winburne.

Eight and one-half years is a very early age to have the burden of self support placed on the shoulders of a child, but Mr. George was only that old when he went to work in the mines. His education was secured by attend- ance at night schools. He remained in Tioga county until 1886 and then moved to Houtz- dale, Clearfield county, and from there in 1890, to Philipsburg, working all this time as a miner. In 1892 he entered the employ of Peale, Peacock & Kerr, at the old Victor mine, No. I, at Philipsburg. He was first employed as a mule driver and later as a track-man. In 1894 he went to Glen Richey and was driver and track-man there until 1895, when he re- ceived his certificate as a mine foreman, taking charge of Bloomington No. 3 mine. For six months he was foreman there, later served in the same capacity for the same length of time at Rathmel, for the same company, and then returned to Glen Richey, where he had charge of Bloomington No. 4 mine for two years. On February 4, 1898, he came to Winburne as mine foreman under Alexander Dunsmore, taking charge of Mine No. 1, and in 1904 be- ing made superintendent. Subsequently Mr. George opened up Mines Nos. 6 and 9, under Mr. Dunsmore's supervision. The capacity of the mines at Winburne aggregates tonnage 1,300 gross daily. The Oak Hill mine at Karthaus gives employment to fifty men.

Mr. George was married in December. 1888, to Miss Marguerite Wilson, a daughter of Robert A. and Annie Wilson, and they have seven children: William, James W., Richard E., Adda Grace, Mary, Jolin Lester and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. George attend the

Presbyterian church. He is a member of Win- burne Lodge, Odd Fellows, and Moshannon Lodge, F. & A. M. In politics Mr. George is a Republican and in 1902 he was appointed postmaster at Winburne. He is a director of the Bituminous National Bank, of Winburne, Pa.

JOHN WARREN HURD,* who has been a representative citizen of Chest township for many years, engaging successfully in farming and milling and taking a prominent part in public affairs, was born in this township, on the old Hurd homestead, October 19, 1856, and is a son of Henry Harrison and Catherine (Litzinger ) Hurd.

Henry Harrison Hurd was born in New Hampshire, September 16, 1817, and in boy- hood came to Clearfield county and followed farming and lumbering for many years of his active life, on the L. J. Hurd farm, in Chest township, near La Jose, and is one of the old- est and most highly respected citizens in this section. For thirty-five years he served as justice of the peace and held all other town- ship offices at times, being elected to the same on the Republican ticket. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Edinboro and to the Temple of Honor at La Jose. He was married first to Carolina Wilson, a daughter of Thomas Wilson, and two children were born to them and survived her: Harrison, who resides at La Jose; and Wilson A., who lives on the old homestead. Mr. Hurd was married second to Catherine Litzinger, a daughter of Barney Litzinger, of Cambria county. She is now in hier eighty-third year. To the second marriage six children were born, as follows: M. E., who is a physician at Mahaffey; Frances J., who is the wife of Z. L. Ardery; Angeline,

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who died aged four years; Robert E., who lives on the old homestead; Louis Clayton, who is deceased; and John Warren, who is fourth in order of birth. Henry G. Hurd and wife are members of the Baptist church at La Jose.

John Warren Hurd was educated in the schools of Chest township and afterward taught school for six years. He had some ex- perience in lumbering in early manhood, but has devoted himself mainly to farming and milling. In 1896 he bought the St. Lu grist mill and later another mill near La Jose, and still retains the ownership of the latter, operat- ing it in connection with his agricultural activ- ities.

Mr. Hurd married Mary Caroline Clemson, a daughter of Ely B. and Elizabeth Ann (Hancock) Clemson. Ely B. Clemson came to Clearfield county from Center county, served in the Civil war and later settled at La Jose, where his death occurred. The fol- lowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hurd: Charles Sumner, who resides in Cam- bria county, married Velma Varner; Dolly. who resides at home; Margaret. who is a school teacher: Harry, who is with his father in business; Daisy, who died when five years old; and William, who survived to the age of two years. Mr. Hurd and family are mem- bers of the Baptist church at La Jose. In his political affiliation he is a stanch Republican and has frequently served as a committeeman and as a delegate to important conventions. Ile served one term as supervisor of Chest township, eleven years as a member of the school board and for seven of these was its secretary, one term as township treasurer, and five years as a justice of the peace.

LEWIS ARTHUR PRITCHARD, pay- master for the Morrisdale Coal Company, of the Morrisdale Mines, Clearfield county, Pa., for the past thirteen years, is a leading citizen of Morris township, of which he is serving his fourth term as auditor. He was born Septem- ber 25, 1869, in Trumbull county, O., a son of Daniel W. and Sarah (Pickering) Pritchard.

Daniel W. Pritchard was born in May, 1843, in Victoria, Wales, and came to Amer- ica in November, 1862, locating first in a vil- lage near Pittsburg, Pa. He found employ- ment as a clerk in a store and later went to mining which he followed until 1864, when he went into the army and served until the close of the Civil war as a member of Battery E, Knapp's Independent Battery, until he reached the front, when he was transferred to Co. H, 147th Pa. Vol. Inf. He participated in many engagements and was with General Sherman in the great march to Atlanta. After the end of hostilities and his honorable dis- charge, he returned to the vicinity of Pitts- burg and lived there until 1868, when he moved to Brookfield, Ohio, and there engaged in coal mining. He was married there, in that year, to Sarah Pickering, a daughter of Bar- zilla Eliza Pickering, and they resided at Brook- field until September, 1887, moving then to Warren, Ohio, and from there, in March, 1888, to the Morrisdale Mines, where, for five years, he followed mining, since when he has been chief clerk of supplies for the Morrisdale Coal Company.

To Daniel W. Pritchard and wife four chil- dren were born, namely: Daniel, who died at the age of two years; Reuben W., who died when twenty-nine years old ( was at that time a clerk in the office of the steel mill at Don-

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ora) ; Albert, who is weighmastetr at the same place; Donora, who married Helen Dutcher of Philipsburg; and Lewis Arthur.

Lewis Arthur Pritchard was educated in the public schools of Ohio and the Bryant, Strat- ton & Smith Commercial School of Meadville, Pa., and was graduated from the above insti- tution in 1889, and from then until 1891, he worked in the mines. From 1891 until 1896 he was bookkeeper for the Morrisdale Supply Company and was then transferred to the coal company and was employed on the pay rolls until 1898, when he was made paymaster for the Morrisdale Coal Company and has been connected with this large concern, in some ca- pacity, for the past twenty-one years.

Mr. Pritchard was married in 1892, to Miss Anna Fuge, a daughter of Thomas and Ma- tilda (Hummel) Fuge, and they have the fol- lowing children: Violet Mae, Velma Anna, Paul Walburton, Clayton Fuge, Virginia Catherine and Lee Arthur. Sarah, who died in infancy, was the second child. On the ma- ternal side, Mr. Pritchard is of English an- cestry, his mother having been fifteen years old when brought to America, living first at Sharon, Pa., and later at Brookfield, Ohio, where the Pickering family was well known. The father of Mr. Pritchard is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Philipsburg.

Mr. Pritchard is a Republican in politics and has been an active citizen in township matters for a number of years and has served as township clerk in addition to performing his other duties. He is identified fraternally with Philipsburg Lodge, No. 391, F. & A. M .; Williamsport Consistory : Jaffa Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Altoona; Center Council, No. 803, Royal Arcanum, at Philipsburg;

and the O. U. A. M., at Morrisdale. With his family he belongs to the Methodist church.

CHARLES WRYE, postmaster of Morris- dale Mines, in Morris township, Clearfield county, Pa., is a leading business man of this place, a dealer in groceries, feed, flour and miners' supplies. He was born in Half Moon Valley, near Warriors Mark, in Huntingdon county, Pa., February 8, 1875, and is a son of William and Mary (Basser) Wrye.

William Wrye was born in Huntingdon county, where he died in 1892. He was twice married, two sons and two daughters being born to his first union: Isaac, residing at Grampian; J. P. D., residing at Winber; Rhoda, wife of George Grazier, of Marengo; and Mary, wife of Dr. Myers, of Osceola Mills. Two daughters and two sons were born to the second marriage also: Florence and Lettie, living in the old home; Harry, who lives at Marengo; and Charles, who was two years old when his mother died.

Until he was seven years old, Charles Wrye lived in the family of Daniel Conrad, in Huntingdon county, following the death of his mother, and then came to Munson and Kylertown and lived three years with Morris Dunlap. When he was eleven years of age he went to live with Parker Washburn. His boyhood thus was not a very happy one except as he made it so for himself and his school advantages were rather limited. He went to work in the Morrisdale mines when twelve years of age and continued until twen- ty-two years old, then entering the employ of H. C. Shugert, a merchant, with whom he re- mained for five years. In 1905 he embarked in the mercantile business for himself and has prospered. He served in the Spanish-Ameri-

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can war as a member of the 5th Pa. Inf .. for six months. In politics he is a Republican and in 1905 he was appointed postmaster and is a popular official, and has served also as township auditor and precinct chairman.

Mr. Wrye married Miss Melvina Jacobs, a daughter of Robert and Priscilla Jacobs, of Curtin, Center county, Pa., and they have four children: Thelma, Layne, Wharton and Rex. He belongs to the Jr. O. A. M., the P. O. S. of A., and the order of the Moose. Mr. Wrye is an example of what an industri- ous and enterprising boy can do even when left entirely dependent on his own resources at a tender age.

PETER MOYER, one of the old and hon- ored residents of Kylertown, Pa., who is now living retired after many years of business ac- tivity, is a native of Germany, having been born in Geiselberg, Bavaria, July 29, 1840, a son of Adam and Eva (Adinger) Mover, na- tives of the Fatherland.

In 1853 Adam Moyer came to America, and made his way from New York City to Clearfield county, settling in Rush township, near the Moshannon Creek, one mile from Winburne. Although a stone mason by trade, he worked in the woods and soon earned sufficient money to send to Germany for his family who came to the United States in 1855. Later he purchased a small farm in Center county, but later traded this for his son's in- terest in a Graham township property. He later sold out and spent the remainder of his life in Philipsburg. He and his wife had the following children: Adam, who came to this country one year after his father and is now a wealthy retired resident of Philipsburg, hav- ing for more than thirty years been a specula-

tor: Peter; Henry, who enlisted in the Union army at Bellefonte, Pa., and died during the Civil war; Michael, who is engaged in farm- ing at Knox Run; Jacob, who has mining in- terests in Montana; Philip, who is a farmer of Clinton county ; Gottlieb, who is a success- ful fruit grower of California : John, who was the only child born in America; Elizabeth, de- ceased, who was the wife of Jacob May; Cath- erine, who married Jacob Meisenbach and now resides at LaSalle, Ill. ; and one daughter who died in infancy. The father died at the age of seventy-seven years, his wife having passed away in 1874, when about sixty-two years of age. They are buried in Kylertown.

Peter Moyer was about sixteen years of age when he accompanied the family to this coun- try, and from New York they traveled over night to Philadelphia and thence to Tyrone, where they arrived about ten o'clock. They then walked over the mountain, a distance of about thirty miles, and twelve o'clock at night found them at the little home near Munson. As a boy, Mr. Moyer had gathered dead wood iu the forests of Germany, where the law pro- vided that nothing else could be taken, and here he was delighted to find that there was an abundance of good wood, open and free to whoever cared to take it. He worked with his father on the home farm, and spent his spare time in fishing from the banks of the Moshannon Creek, and when but eighteen years of age was considered an expert pilot in the rafting business, which he took up after he had attained his majority, rafting timber to Lock Haven and Middletown. In about 1870, Mr. Moyer located in Kylertown, where he started a small store, keeping confections at first, and later branching out into the grocery and general store business. During the twen-

PETER MOYER AND GRANDSON

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ty-five years he was engaged in business in this part of the state he started branch stores at Morrisdale, Stonedale and Mitchell's Mill on Clearfield Creek, owning the latter at the time that the Beech Creek Railroad was un- der course of construction. He was for a time in partnership with William Root, and later with John W. Howe, to whom he dis- posed of his branch stores, and in 1890 he sold his Kylertown establishment to O. P. Reese. Mr. Moyer has always been liberal in assist- ing those who have been less fortunate than he, and more than one successful man of this county can thank him for their start in life. During the fifty-six years that he has been a resident of this vicinity he has seen many changes take place, and he has assisted mate- rially in the growth and development of Clearfield county. One of his earliest recol- lections dates back to a Fourth of July during his youth, when his father gave the children permission to do whatever they felt inclined. Young Peter took two wooden pails and went to the hills to pick huckleberries, and after fill- ing the buckets he carried then six miles to Philipsburg, where he sold them for two dol- lars and twenty cents and had to walk eight miles home after his marketing. Although ad- vanced in years, Mr. Moyer is still hale and hearty, and he can look back over a useful, well-spent life.

In 1867 Mr. Moyer was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Adams, of Montour county, Pa., and three children have been born to this union : Mary E., who died at the age of three years; a son who died in infancy ; and Daniel Adams. Mrs. Moyer died April 12, 1906, and is buried at Kylertown. Peter Moyer is a member of Allport Lodge, I. O. O. F., Mor- risdale Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and All-

port Lodge of the Golden Eagles. In his re- ligious views he is a Presbyterian. Politically Mr. Moyer is a Democrat, and probably there is no man in Cooper township who is better versed in public matters and conditions. He has been active in politics all of his life, serv- ing two years as tax collector when Cooper and Morris townships were known as Morris township, and after the separation serving nine years in Cooper township in the same capac- ity. He was elected on the Democratic ticket, in a township that was strongly Republican. He also served as overseer of the poor, and as treasurer, auditor and school director at vari- ous times.

Daniel Adams Moyer, the son of Peter Moyer, was born in Kylertown, and his edu- cational advantages were secured in the schools at this place. As a lad lie assisted his father in the duties of the latter's store, and later en- gaged in agricultural operations, in which he continued for a period covering fifteen years. Since December 1, 1909, he has been in the employ of the Bloomington Trading Com- pany, of Winburne, and he also with his father owns a fine farm of eighty-five acres near Ky- lertown, in Cooper township, which was for- merly underlaid with coal, which has been re- moved.

Mr. Moyer was married to Miss Alice E. Kirk, the daughter of Joseph Kirk, and to this union there have been born three children, namely : Joseph Peter, Anna Mary and Frederick, all of whom are attending school. Mr. Moyer is a member of the Order of Red Men, the Odd Fellows and the Grange. Like his father he is a stanch Democrat.

Mr. Moyer is one of the solid, substantial men of his community, and one who has al- ways had the best interests of his township at

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heart. U'pright and honest in his dealings with his fellow men, capable and earnest as a public official and kind and lenient in his fam- ily connections, he is looked up to and re- spected as a true type of German-American citizenship.

ALBERT S. BROWN .* who has long been one of the foremost business men of Osceola Mills, Pa., is secretary and general manager of the Moshannon Coal Company, and has been an operator in the coal fields here for some eighteen years. He is the present head of the well known mercantile firm of Brown, Baird & Reeves. Mr. Brown was born in 1862, at Jersey Shore, Pa., and is a son of William .A. and Mary A. ( Smith ) Brown.

William A. Brown is a member of an old family of Lycoming county, Pa. He came to Osceola Mills, where he still resides, in 1864, in connection with the Moshannon Lumber Company, which concern cleared off the tim- ber through this section. In 1884, with his son, Albert S. Brown, he established the mer- cantile house of W. A. Brown & Son, with which he is still identified.

Albert S. Brown was two years old when the family moved from Lycoming county to Osceola Mills and here he grew to manhood. After his father retired from the lumber in- dustry, he became associated with him in the general store business under the firm style of W. A. Brown & Son, which continued with- out change of partners until 1903, when A. S. Brown withdrew, selling his interest to a younger brother. The old firm disposed of their dry goods department to Brown, Baird & Reeves, but retained the meat and grocery departments and still continue in those lines.

The latter firm was organized in 1903 by Al- bert S. Brown, Lawshe Baird and J. L. Reeves. They have a commodious store, a large stock and do a satisfactory business. Mr. Brown has many additional interests. In 1893 he em- barked in the coal business as an operator, in partnership with a Mr. Dyer and the coal firm of Brown & Dyer remained in business for ten years, in 1903 selling out to the Moshannon Coal Company. Of this company, Mr. Brown has been the active manager ever since its in- corporation and in the discharge of his duties has given evidence of much business acumen. He is a director of the Osceola Water Com- pany and of the Osceola Building and Loan Association, and was one of the organizers of the Osceola Silica and Brick Company, and served on its directing board until the pres- sure of other interests resulted in his with- drawal from this official connection.

Albert S. Brown was married to Miss Rosa- lie Merrill, who was born at Osceola Mills, and they have five children, namely: Herman S., who is engaged in the insurance business at Osceola Mills, married Miss Maud Kline ; Fred D., who is in the employ of Brown, Baird & Reeves ; and Isabel, Dorothy and Carrie. For many years Mr. Brown has been promi- nent in Masonic circles and is a member of Osceola Lodge, No. 515, F. & A. M., of which he is past master: Jaffa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at .Altoona, and of the Consistory, at Williamsport. Mr. Brown has not only been active and thorough-going in relation to his personal affairs but has watched with interest and assisted by his efforts and influence, the development of public enterprises in the bor- ough. For six years he served usefully as a member of the borough council, where his

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ripened business judgment was exceedingly valuable, and also for eight years was borough treasurer.

CHARLES FOWLER PENEPACKER, one of the progressive young business men connected with the great industries carried on at Morrisdale Mines, Clearfield county, Pa., is manager of the Morrisdale Supply Company's store and has had considerable training along commercial lines. He was born December 18, 1878, at Mifflin, Mifflin county, Pa., a son of Rev. G. D. and Nettie ( Black) Penepacker.

Rev. G. D. Penepacker was born at Lewis- town, Pa., and for forty-four years he was actively engaged in the ministry of the Methi- odist Episcopal church. He was a member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference. At the time of his death, which occurred on January 7. 1911, in his seventieth year, he was pastor of the Fifteenth Street M. E. church, at Hunt- ingdon, Pa., and formerly had been stationed at Clearfield. He married Nettie Black, who survives him. She was born at Huntingdon, Pa. Seven children were born to the above marriage and there are three now living, namely : Wilbur F., who is connected with the wholesale dry goods house of J. V. Far- well & Co., Chicago, Ill., married Martha Bartell; Nettie, who is the wife of James L. Curtin, residing at Russelton, where Mr. Cur- tin is manager of the Russelton Store Com- pany ; and Charles F.

Charles F. Penepacker completed the High School course at Clearfield and then entered Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, where he was graduated in the class of 1898. For a short time he was in the grocery business as manager, at Williamsport and then went to Chicago, where he was engaged as manager

of a department in the wholesale dry goods house of John B. Farwell. From Chicago he came back to Pennsylvania and for five years was manager of the Winburne Trading Com- pany, at Winburne, and in 1908 came to Mor- risdale Mines and accepted his present respon- sible position. He has won confidence by his business integrity and has the enviable repu- tation of being a thorough-going, able man, and a first-class citizen.

On November 20, 1907, Mr. Penepacker was married to Miss Bessie Maxwell, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Husted) Max- well, who were residents of Winburne, Pa., al- though Mrs. Penepacker was reared in Tioga county. They have one son, Charles Mexwell. In politics Mr. Penepacker is a Republican. He is a member of Williamsport Lodge, No. 106, F. & A. M .; Williamsport Consistory ; and the Mystic Shrine at Wilkesbarre. They are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN CHARLES SULLIVAN, M. D., Physician and surgeon at Du Bois, Pa., and one of the representative citizens, was born in Arm- strong County, Pa., October 31, 1866, and is a son of Owen and Bridget ( Healey ) Sullivan.

Owen Sullivan was born August 15, 1814. He was a son of Thomas Sullivan and Cath- erine ( Moore) Sullivan. He was the young- est of seven children, four sons and three daughters.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 109

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