Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 42

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 42

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

GEORGE W. WOOD, M. D., physician and drug store on February 4, 1895, to which he surgeon at Houtzdale, Pa., and proprietor of a gives careful attention and affords residents of the borough the opportunity to purchase drugs and preparations which are compounded not only by skilled chemists but under the su- pervision of an experienced physician. drug store in this borough, has been a resident of the place since May 1, 1891, and during this period has been actively engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. Dr. Wood was born January 4, 1860, at Wellsville, N. Y., and is a son of Coe Harvey and Adelia ( Parrott) Wood.

Coe Harvey Wood was born just outside the city of New York, and his wife's people came from the vicinity of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Af- ter marriage they moved from New York to Pennsylvania and settled near Shawsville, in Clearfield County, where he purchased a farm and also engaged in lumbering. From there they moved to West Clearfield, in 1904, where Mr. Wood died June 28, 1905, and his burial was in the Clearfield Cemetery. He was a son of George W. Wood and the family is of Scotch-English descent. The mother of Dr. Wood survived until February 27, 1910, her death occurring at Houtzdale. The family consisted of four children, the only survivor being Dr. Wood, of this record, who was the third in order of birth. The eldest. Charles, was a physician and died at Coalport, Pa. Alice, who was the wife of T. H. Litz, died at the old homestead near Shawsville. May, the youngest of the family, was the wife of Dr. W. H. Dale, of Houtzdale, Pa.

George W. Wood attended school at Shaws- ville and entered upon his medical studies at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Md., and later attended the Medico- Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. In the spring of 1890 he began practice at Glen Hope, Clearfield County, and in the following spring came to Houtzdale. In addition to attending to a large practice Dr. Wood established his

In June, 1890, Dr. Wood was married to Miss Cora E. Barker, who was born at Chest Springs, Pa., and was a baby when the family moved to Grinnell, Ia., and accompanied them in their return in 1889. She is a daughter of Gilbert A. and Elizabeth (Allen) Barker, the former of whom died in 1903. Mrs. Barker resides at Coalport, Pa. Dr. Wood is a Re- publican in politics. In every sense he is a good citizen, and lending support to every en- terprise calculated to advance the public welfare he has won the respect, confidence and esteem of the people with whom he has chosen to make his home.

ELMER BRUCE McCARDELL. who is agent at Westover for the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads and for the Adams Express Company and American Express Com- pany, was born at New Washington, Clearfield county. Pa., March 7, 1878. He is a son of David Alexander and a grandson of John Mc- Cardell, the latter of whom came to this county from Indiana county, locating at Burnside, where he died at the age of 84 years. He mar- ried Jane Pilson, a daughter of William Pilson.

David A. McCardell, father of our subject. was born at Indiana, Pa., December 26, 1841, and was brought up in the farming and lumber- ing industries. He served three years in the Civil war, in the 105th Pa. Volunteers and took part in the battle of Gettysburg and other severe battles, being mustered out in August, 1864. After returning home he resided for a

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while on the parental homestead in Burnside township, but subsequently bought a farm near the Mt. Joy church, not far from New Wash- ington, which he conducted until 1882. He was then engaged in the lumber business at Burnside for several years and afterwards was engaged in the livery business for five years, selling out in 1891. He then carried on a liv- ery business in Westover for several years but sold it in 1895 and was engaged thereafter in the grocery and restaurant business until 1904, when he was appointed postmaster of West- over, an office he now holds. He is also pro- prietor of a general store in Westover. He has served as Burgess of the borough and as a member of the school board. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Burnside and a member of the Grand Army Post at Cherry Tree. He has been twice married, first to Elizabeth Mitchell, who died in 1870 at the age of 28 years, of which union there were three children, all now deceased. His second marriage was with Mary P. Neff, in 1873, she being a daughter of Joseph L. and Eliza M. (Gallaher) Neff, and born Oct. 27, 1850. The children of this marriage are: Emma, wife of V. K. Rowland, of Westover; Sarah B., wife of George F. Westover ; Elmer B., subject of this sketch ; James B., who married Lena Hurd and resides at Cresson, and Willard D .. a res- ident of Cherry Tree, Pa.

After attending school until the age of 18, the subject of this sketch entered the State Nor- mal school at Lock Haven, Pa., where he re- mained for one term, teaching the following term in Burnside township. He then took up the study of telegraphy and in 1899 entered the employ as telegrapher of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., remaining thus engaged two years. He then became joint agent for the

New York Central and Pennsylvania Rail- roads and has thus continued up to the present time, in addition acting as agent for the Amer- ican and Adams Express companies. He is a member and one of the trustees of the Bap- tist church, also acting as secretary of the board of trustees. A Republican politically, he has served on the borough council, and before com- ing of age acted as the clerk of the council. At the age of 23 he was elected burgess of West- over, being at that time the youngest burgess in the county. For the past seven years he has served as secretary of the borough school board. It will readily be seen that Mr. McCar- dell is a man of good business capacity, en- joying the full confidence of his fellow citizens.

Mr. McCardell was married, January 17, 1900, to Miss Matilda C. Moore, who was born in Westover, February 25, 1876, a daughter of Charles T. and Emma ( McHenry) Moore. Her father, who was a shoemaker by trade, is now deceased; her mother is still living and resides in Westover. The latter is the daugh- ter of Levi and Matilda (Shields) McHenry. Mr. and Mrs. McCardell are the parents of three children: Emma Belle, aged ten years ; Guy Moore, aged six ; and Wilbur Ralph, aged two.

DORSEY J. GINGERY, county commis- sioner of Clearfield County, Pa., is one of the county's best known and representative citizens and has been identified with public affairs for many years. He was born in Center county, Pa., August 6, 1857, and is one of a family of six children born to his parents, who were Samuel and Maria (Dorsey) Gingery, the for- mer of whom died in 1902, the latter having passed from earth in 1897.

Dorsey J. Gingery obtained his education in

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the country schools and until he was nineteen attention more particularly to lumbering and years of age remained on his father's large continued nine years in that line. He bought his farm of 109 acres from John Wearning and operated it for many years but quite recently he has sold it to his son, Harry Reidy, who is a very capable and reliable resident of Morris Township. During the Civil War, Mr. Reidy enlisted for service in 1861, entering Co. H. 7th Pa. Vol. Inf., and was out for eight months, being fortunate enough to escape all serious injury. He is a member of John W. Geary Post, No. 90, G. A. R., at Phillipsburg. farm. In 1876 he came to Clearfield County and has continued to reside here. When he reached manhood he identified himself with the Democratic party and is one of its influential factors in the county. His first business ex- perience was as a clerk in a business house, where he made many friends, and in 1892 he was elected county prothonotary and served six years in that office. Shortly afterward he be- came connected with the clerical force in the sheriff's office, and in November, 1908, he was elected a member of the board of county com- missioners.

Mr. Gingery married Miss Ada Albert, a daughter of George and Sophia Albert. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in its benevolent enterprises. He belongs fraternally to L. L. O. M., the or- der of the Moose, and to the Elks, being the oldest member of the last named organization in the county.

MICHAEL REIDY, one of the best known and most respected retired farmers of Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., who has just disposed of a farm of 109 acres but still retains some sixty acres lying just outside of Wallaceton, Pa., was born in Blair County, Pa., March 6, 1842, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Clossin) Reidy. The father was an educated man and taught school in Blair County. Both he and his wife are now de- ceased, Michael being their only child.

Michael Reidy had but limited school advan- tages. He entered a mill when he was quite young and learned the milling business and con- tinned in it for fifteen years, in Center, Blair and Clearfield Counties. He then turned his

In 1865 Mr. Reidy was married to Miss Ella Odell, a daughter of John and Sarah (Ginter) Odell, residents of Clearfield County. Mrs. Reidy has the following sisters: Agnes, who is the wife of Banister Benn; Jennie, who is the wife of Hiram Ellis; Cordia, who is the wife of Robert Abanathy; and Emma, who is the wife of John Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Reidy have three children: Harry, who resides on the home farm as mentioned above; Paul, who lives in California ; and Edith, who is the wife of James McGee. Mrs. Reidy is a member of the Adventist church. He is a Democrat but has never accepted any township office ex- cept that of school director.

HARVEY T. SMITH, who, for fifteen years has served as high constable of the bor- ough of Curwensville, Pa., and fills other im- portant public offices, was born .April 28, 1843, in Pike Township. Clearfield County, Pa., and is a son of John J. and Nancy J. Smith, both now deceased.

Harvey T. Smith obtained his education in the old log school house known as the "Oak- land." He afterward helped his father on the home farm until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted for military service, becoming

JOHN STONE

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a member of Co. B., 149th Pa. Vol. Inf., the five children-Raymond, Chester, Katie B., famous "Bucktail" regiment. Mr. Smith re- mained in the Union army until the Rebellion was suppressed and then returned to his home to re-engage in peaceful pursuits. He has es- caped all the many hazards that attend a sol- dier's life and came back practically unharmed. Finding profitable employment as a lumber man he went into that business and continued until he settled on his present place in Curwensville. He has a comfortable and commodious resi- dence on McNaul Street, which he has occu- pied for twenty-two years.

On December 5, 1872, Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Annie E. Gensler, who was born at Sharpsburg, Allegheny County, Pa., June 13, 1855, a daughter of George and Nancy J. (Schriver) Gensler. George Gensler was born at Newport, Perry County, Pa., and his wife at Sharpsburg. Both are now deceased, the father of Mrs. Smith passing away at the age of sixty-five years and the mother when aged seventy-two years, his burial being at Curwens- ville and hers in Tioga County. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal and Lu- theran Church respectively. Mrs. Smith is one of a family of nine children, six of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith seven children were born, namely: Percy E., who married Edith Daugherty, is in the ice and coal busi- ness and is constable of the Second Ward, and they have three children-Harold, Lee and Merl W .: Clarence B., (who served in the Spanish American war, in Battery B, 4th Ar- tillery) resides at Du Bois, married Mary Jor- dan, a daughter of Reuben Jordan, of Rock- ton, Pa., and they have four children-Otto, Ralph, Nellie and Annie; Oliver F., whose residence adjoins his father's at Curwensville, married Tensie Johnson, and they have had

Frederick B. and Dewey, deceased ; Katherine, who died at the age of thirteen years, and is interred in Oak Hill Cemetery ; Eugene F., who served in the Spanish-American War, in Co. L, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf., was accidentally killed af- terward, when at work, his young life being taken when he was but twenty-one years of age; Alice I., who is the wife of Fred Mckenzie, lives across the street from her father, and they have two sons-Eugene and Harvey L .; and Harvey, Jr., who is a student at Curwensville. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Pres- byterian church. He has been identified with the Republican party ever since he became a voter and has been a very active and useful citizen. He is a member of the Board of Health at Curwensville and is serving as a jury commissioner. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow and has been through the chairs of the local lodge and belongs to the Encamp- ment at Clearfield, and is a member also of the Red Men. He served as street commissioner sixteen years and at present is not employed.

JOHN STONE, merchant, farmer and stockraiser, in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., is also a prominent factor in pub- lic affairs in this section and stands as one of the representative men. In addition to his store property he owns 325 acres of valuable land. He was born in Boggs Township, Au- gust 21. 1845, and is a son of Alexander and Mary (Kephart) Stone.

Alexander Stone was born in England but spent the larger part of his life in the United States. He owned and operated farm land in Boggs Township for many years and was pro- prietor of a hotel at Stoneville, Pa. He mar- ried Mary Kephart, who was born in Clear-

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field County, Pa., a daughter of Andrew Kep- laceton. Three children have been born to hart, of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Stone this marriage: Sybil, who is the wife of Geo. Pearson: Ara, who is the wife of George Sto- ver ; and John O. Mr. Stone and family at- tend the Methodist Episcopal church. He be- longs to the Grange. were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had the following children born to them: Elizabeth, who is deceased, was the wife of Daniel Dugan; Jane, who is the wife of John Blair : Mary .Ann, who is now deceased, was the wife of Patrick Gallagher: Charlotte, who is deceased; and John, who was the youngest born of the family.

John Stone, the youngest born and the only son of his parents, was given excellent educa- tional advantages, attending the public schools and Clearfield Academy. In his youth and in this neighborhood, the majority of the young men earned their first money through work in the woods and Mr. Stone has been interested to some degree in lumbering all his life since, in addition to farming. He inherited 100 acres of the homestead and later purchased 125 acres from Daniel Ross, and subsequently 100 acres more, from Latimer Barger. He en- gages in general farming and deals quite ex- tensively in stock. His general store is located in the village of Stoneville. He has been an ac- tive and useful citizen in his section since early manhood. He was reared in the Democratic party and has continued his identification with the same. For fifteen years Mr. Stone has served as school director and has been township assessor two terms and township auditor for the same length of time.

Mr. Stone was married first to Miss Jo- sephine Lumadue, a daughter of William and Mary Lumadue, natives of Clearfield County. To this marriage four children were born: Al- exander, William, Franklin and Harry. He was married second to Miss Emma Odell, a daughter of John and Mary Ann Odell, early settlers in this section and residents of Wal-

MRS. LAURA N. SANKEY, who resides in great comfort on her valuable farm of 180 acres, situated in Goshen township, Clearfield county, Pa., came to this place with her late husband some fifty years ago. Mrs. Sankey was born in Lawrence township, Clearfield county, Pa., two miles east of Clearfield, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Ogden) Irwin, and the widow of John Sankey.

Henry Irwin was of Irish parentage but his birth took place in Lawrence township, Clear- field county, where his life was spent, his death occurring in 1890. For many years he was a representative man in his neighborhood and he and wife were well known and highly re- garded people and were leading members of the Presbyterian church. They were parents of three sons and eight daughters and one son and three daughters still survive.

Laura N. Irwin grew to womanhood on her father's farm and was instructed in all housewifely arts by a careful and capable mother. She obtained her education in the Wolf Run school in Lawrence township. In December, 1854, she was married to John Sankey, who was born in Center county, Pa., and died in 1893, in Goshen township, Clear- field county. His father was William San- key, an old resident of Center county and John Sankey worked on the home farm and then learned the blacksmith's trade. After mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Sankey resided at Shaw- ville for six years, where he worked at the

JOHN SANKEY

MRS. LAURA N. SANKEY

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blacksmith's trade, and then bought the pres- ent farm, of Abraham Leonard. Mr. Sankey almost completed the clearing of this land and engaged in farming to some degree, but gave the larger part of his time to blacksmith work, erecting his own shop on his farm. He was a quiet, reliable, home-loving man and was re- spected by his neighbors and by all who had business dealings with him. At the time of his death he was sixty-one years of age. He was a consistent member of the Goshen Meth- odist Episcopal church and his burial was in the cemetery attached to this church. In pol- itics he was a Republican and he took an in- telligent interest in the public affairs of his community and at times served efficiently in public office. He was a charter member of the Goshen Grange.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sankey the following children were born: Mary L., who is the wife of William Lansberry, of Goshen township; William Henry, who died in infancy; John Wesley and Ira B., both of whom also died in infancy; Elva Lucy, who is the wife of Charles Hall, of West Newton, Pa .; Lillie Maude, who is the wife of Irwin Passmore, living in California : U. S. Grant, who lives in Goshen township, married Anna Morrison; Annie L., who is now deceased, was the wife of Harry Shirey; Myron L., who is the wife of John Lynch, of DuBois, Pa .; Stella Belle, who resides at Colton, Calif. : Burton G., who is a resident of Clearfield, married Estella Read; and Samuel Irwin, in business at Clear- field, who married a Miss Hockenberry. Mrs. Sankey is a member of the local Bell Tele- phone Company, belongs to and takes part in the social life of the Goshen Grange and is a charter member of the Goshen Methodist Episcopal church.

AARON MURRAY, who, for forty-seven years has been a continuous resident of Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pa., where he is part owner of 204 acres of valuable farm and coal land, was born on this farm and is a son of Anderson and Perninah (Kyler) Murray, the former of whom, a native of Clearfield County, cleared this farm by his own efforts.

Aaron Murray attended the district schools in his boyhood when his father could spare him, but from youth has been more or less engaged actively in farming and stockraising, coming into possession of the farm at the death of his parents. They were among the best known and most highly respected old settlers of the town- ship. Mr. Murray takes an active interest in township matters, being especially interested at all times in good roads and good schools. In politics he is a Republican and on the ticket of that party he was elected township assessor. in February, 1909. He has served acceptably also on the election board and is considered one of the township's representative and trust- worthy men.

In 1903 Mr. Murray was married to Miss Fannie B. Graham, of Girard Township, and they have four children: Genevieve May. An- nabel, Zella Marie, and Hannah Perninah. Mr. Murray and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN L. LIGHTNER, who for more than twenty-three years has served as justice of the peace at Coalport, Pa., has been prominently identified with the progress and development of this section of Clearfield County during a long period. Born in Clearfield County, Pa., Au- gust 26, 1850, Mr. Lightner is a son of John and Annie (Groom) Lightner, and a grandson of John Lightner, a native of Germany and a

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soklier in the patriot army during the Revolu- tionary War.

daughter of Judge Hockenberry, formerly as- sociate judge of Clearfield County.

John Lightner, the father of John L. Light- John L. Lightner attended the local schools and took a four years' course at Tuscarora Academy, in Juniata County, a Presbyterian institution at what was then known as Acade- mia. He graduated in 1871, after a four-years course in civil engineering, and immediately en- gaged in teaching, a profession which he fol- lowed for twelve years in Clearfield County and one term in Cambria County. About 1883 he identified himself with the firm of Shaw & Dotts, and while with them laid out Blain City and sold the lots, after which, for a time, he was associated with Harry Krotzer. Mr. Lightner was instrumental in securing the brick plant for Irvona, which will employ a large number of people, and in many ways has assisted in the building up of this part of Clear- field County. He has devoted some time to the insurance business, purchased the Thomp- son interests after Mr. Thompson's death, and since March, 1902, has been actively interested in the land business, as a superintendent of the firm of Whitmer Land Company and others. but he has not let his business activities keep him from what he considers his duties as a cit- izen and he has always been found doing his full share in this way. Mr. Lightner has ever been ready to give sound advice and settle dis- agreements, and his reputation as a peace- maker led his fellow citizens, in 1887, to elect him to the office of justice of the peace, in which capacity he has acted to the present time. ner, was born near Carlisle, in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1805, and when but thirteen years of age left home to make his own way in the world, securing his first contract in the construction of the old tidewater canal and as- sisting to build the Columbia bridge which was burned during the Civil War. For some time he kept the Oulet lock on the Pennsylvania Canal, but subsequently, in 1847, brought his family by team and wagon to a farm near Blain City, and paid $1,000 in gold for a farm of 150 acres, which he eventually cleared of the pine, hemlock and hardwood timber. Here Mr. Lightner died May 28, 1890. He mar- ried Annie Groom, who was born in Bucks County, Pa., and they became the parents of fourteen children, of whom seven grew to ma- turity, as follows: William, engaged in the lumbering business up to the time of his death in 1909, served during the Civil War as a mem- ber of the 105th Pa. Vols., and has the dis- tinction of being the only man in Irvona when that town was laid out ; Martha, born in Colum- bia, Lancaster County, married John W. Da- vis; Thomas G., a resident of Blain City, for- merly owned 700 acres of coal and timber land on the present site of the town of Coalport, re- moved to Tyrone in 1867 and there conducted the Clearfield Hotel until his return to Clear- field County about 1886, where he is now liv- ing retired: Jolin L., between whom and his elder brothers five children are deceased : Adda In February. 1903, Mr. Lightner was mar- ried to Miss Zellah McCune, the daughter of Easton McCune, of Irvona. In National and state matters the Judge casts his vote with the married Thomas McQuillen of Tyrone; Alice is the wife of James McClure, of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County: and George, a farmer of Chest Township, Clearfield County, married a Democratic party, but in local affairs lets his

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judgment decide which is the candidate best fitted for the office.

WILLIAM J. POWELL, superintendent of the plant of the W. H. Wynn & Co., manufac- turers of fire brick, in Boggs Township, Clear- field County, Pa., resides in his attractive res- idence at Blue Ball, where he is one of the younger business men. He was born at Wood- land, in Bradford Township, Clearfield Coun- ty, March 5, 1882, and is a son of George and Rebecca ( Bumgarner ) Powell.

George Powell was born in Clearfield Coun- ty, a son of William Powell, and resides at Blue Ball. His life has been mainly devoted to lumbering. He married Rebecca Bumgarner, who died in 1906, a daughter of Joseph and Jane Bumgarner. To George Powell and wife the following children were born: Cora, who married Jolin Conrad ; Lilly, who married John Palmer: William J .; Charles: Albert : Margaret, who married Herman Cleaver; and Genevieve. Morris, Boyd and Guy.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 42

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