USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
William J. Powell obtained his education in the public schools. He then became identified with brick manufacturing and has continued in this industry. In 1905 he was married to Miss Bertha Snyder, a daughter of Everhart and Margaret (Peters) Snyder. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder reside at Woodland and Mr. Snyder is a veteran of the Civil War. Mrs. Powell is the youngest of their children, the others being : Curtin, Charles, Lilly, Marion, Frank and Fred. Lilly married Thomas Mccullough, and Marion married D. E. Young.
Mr. and Mrs. Powell have one little daugh- ter, Ethel. They attend the United Brethren church. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. He is an independent voter but takes no very active interest in politics, devoting himself
closely to business and he has become a recog- nized authority in this section, on brick man- ufacturing.
W. S. PIPER, M. D., one of the leading homeopathic physicians and highly esteemed citizens of Clearfield County, Pa., was born on his father's farm in Bedford County, Pa., Jan- uary 19, 1882, and is a son of S. F. and Laura (Trimbath) Piper, old and respected citizens of Bedford County. Dr. Piper is the only son of a family of five children and spent his boy- hood on the farm. At the age of 13 years he entered Shirleysburg Academy, where he took a three years' course, and after teaching one year in Bedford County he took up the study of medicine. He entered the Hahnemann Medi- cal College of Philadelphia from which he grad- uated with the class of 1904, and during that same year located in Clearfield in the practice of his profession. In 1906 he moved to his present office, which is located at his residence at No. 110 Second Ave. Dr. Piper is a mem- ber of the staff of the Clearfield Hospital, and of the Rane Medical Society, the State Home- opathic Society, and the American Institution of Homeopathy. He is fraternally a Mason. being a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Clearfield, the Consistory of Williamsport, and the Shrine and Jaffa Temple of Altoona. In politics he is a Republican. On August 20, 1904, Dr. Piper married Lena O. Teeter, who is a daughter of A. B. Teeter, of Bedford County, Pa., and they have one daughter Elda Lenore. Dr. and Mrs. Piper are members of the Presbyterian Church.
E. J. WALKER, who, for the past twenty- five years lias conducted a general store at Brisbin, Clearfield County, Pa., operating also
392
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
in coal, under the firm name of E. J. Walker cast his vote according to his ideas of good cit- & Co., is one of the representative men of izenship. He is a member and liberal support- Woodward Township and is one of its mnost er of the Baptist church. substantial citizens. He was born January 13, 1856, at Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a son of Jamies and Mary ( Hirsh ) Walker.
James Walker was a native of England and his wife of Germany. Both are now deceased, the father passing away at Snow Shoe. Pa., and the mother at Bellefonte. They had the following children: Victoria, who is the wife of William W. Temple, resides at Mckeesport, Pa. : Henrietta, who is the wife of Jeremiah Nolan, resides at Bellefonte: Emma, who is the wife of Jacob Rapp, lives at Bellefonte; E. J .; George W., who resides at Brisbin; Martha, who is the wife of Robert Forsythe, lives at Houtzdale; Snynnickson, who is a resident of Bellefonte: and Daniel and John K., both of whom live at Trenton, N. J.
Edward J. Walker was young when his par- ents moved to Snow Shoe, in Center County, where he was reared. After attending school he went into railroad work for a time and dur- ing this period made his home at Reading, Pa., and later, for three years, at Trenton, N. J. From New Jersey he returned to Pennsylvania and lived first at Bellfonte and then spent three more years at Snow Shoe. From there he came to Brisbin, a quarter of a century ago, and embarked in a general store business. In 1901 the E. J. Walker & Co. began operating in the coal fields, E. J. Walker being the finan- cial backer, but in 1905 he admitted his sister- in-law, Mrs. George W. Walker to partner- ship. This firm has high business rating and large operations are carried on.
Mr. Walker has never been very active polit- ically but has always taken a deep interest in the general welfare of the community and has
RAY CHESTER PATCHIN, a prosperous farmer and lumberman, residing at Patchins- ville. Burnside township, was born at this place, July 13, 1877, a son of Aaron Wright and Eliz- abeth (Barrett) Patchin. The Patchin fam- ily is one of wealth and importance in Clear- field county and. is largely connected. Samuel Patchin, the great grandfather of our subject, served in the Revolutionary war and being taken prisoner by the British, was sent abroad, but was later exchanged and returned home, passing the rest of his life in the state of New York. The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, was Jolin Patchin, who died in 1863 at the age of 75 years.
Aaron W. Patchin, father of Ray Chester, was a well known and respected resident of Patchinsville, but is now deceased. He mar- ried Elizabeth Barrett, who was born December 7. 1839, in Nottinghamshire, England. a daughter of George and Frances (Bexson) Barrett. Her father came to America with his family in 1850, in a sailing vessel, the voy- age taking ten weeks. He settled in Indiana county, Pa., where he spent the rest of his life. Elizabeth was the eldest of the family of four children, the others being: Thomas, now re- siding in Indiana county; Ann Jane, unmar- ried, residing at Cherry Tree ; and George Jr., a resident of Camden, N. J., where he holds the office of sheriff. George Barrett, the elder, died April 27, 1902 at the advanced age of 89 years ; his wife died in 1892 at the age of eighty-one. Before her marriage to Aaron W. Patchin, Elizabeth Barrett was engaged in teaching school in Indiana county. She is
393
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
still residing at Patchinsville, where she holds the office of postmistress, the post office there having been in charge of the Patchin family for the last 75 years, she having held it for the past 33 years. She is a member of the Baptist church.
Aaron W. and Elizabeth Patchin were the parents of seven children, as follows: Emma, wife of H. P. Dowler, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. as superintend- ent ; Olive, the wife of P. Ake, a ship builder at Camden, N. J. ; John H., a dealer in lumber and building supplies at Burnside, and a very prominent business man of that place, who has served in the state legislature; Winnie, who is the wife of J. O. Clark, president of the na- tional bank at Glenn Campbell, Pa .; Flora, wife of W. J. Dufton, a hardware dealer of Clearfield; Carl E., engaged in the lumber business at Burnside; and Ray Chester, direct subject of this sketch.
Ray Chester Patchin attended school for the usual period in his boyhood but began indus- trial life at a comparatively early age. He has been successfully engaged up to the pres- ent time in farming and lumbering and is an energetic and enterprising man who knows his business thoroughly and is respected by his fellow citizens. In politics he is a Republican and has been quite an active worker for his party. He is a member of the lodge of Red- men at Patchinsville, and of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Burnside.
Mr. Patchin was married July 11. 1910, to Miss Jessie Chapman, who was born in April. 1888. a daughter of James A. and Anna (Mitchell) Chapman. Her father, who was a native of Indiana county, was engaged in farming and lumbering and also in the coal business. He died August 26, 1910, at the age
of sixty-one, his wife having previously died in 1906 at the age of 56 years.
The latter was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Ann ( Mahaffey) Mitchell. Mrs. Patch- in's brothers and sisters now living are as follows: John H., a farmer; Smith S., also engaged in agriculture; Maud, residing at home; Mary, wife of John Hippes, of New Washington, Pa .; Nellie, wife of H. Young, a farmer; Grace, a teacher residing at home ; Wayne, Daisy and Trudell, all teachers, the last mentioned residing at Burnside.
JACOB W. SCEURMAN, manager of the Grampian Supply Company store, at Gram- pian, Pa., secretary of the school board and also treasurer of the school funds, is one of the enterprising business men and leading cit- izens of the place. He was born February I, 1869, at Philipsburg, Center county, Pa., and is a son of Thomas L. and Sarah ( Williams) Sceurman.
Thomas L. Sceurman was born at Plain- field, N. J. He was reared in Monroe county, Pa., and married Sarah Williams, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Williams. Sarah Wil- liams was born at Saylorsburg, Monroe county, Pa. They became the parents of one son and three daughters: Jacob W .; Lydia, who died when five years old; Katherine, who is the wife of Samuel K. Waring, of East Liberty. Pa .; and Mary M., who is the wife of E. D. Vandling, of Clearfield, Clearfield county ; they have two children-Katherine and Robert. Thomas L. Sceurman was a lum- berman and later a carpenter. His death oc- curred February 9, 1889, at the age of fifty- three years. His widow died December 12, 1909, aged 77 years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church .at Philips-
394
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
burg and they were interred in the cemetery belonging to that town.
Jacob W. Sceurman went to school through boyhood at Philipsburg and his first self-sup- porting work was done in a brickyard. He was sixteen years old when he became a clerk in the general store of Wythes & Huffington, at Philipsburg, where he remained for four years. Afterward he was with C. Munson & Son, and subsequently with A. J. Graham, O. P. Jones and the Onnalinda Supply Company, at Onnalinda, in Cambria county, Pa., going from there to the Valley Supply Company, in Washington county. Mr. Sceurman was con- nected with the last named concern for one and one-half years and then came to Gran- pian. His long experience had well qualified him in the line of merchandising and he be- came a valued employe of M. Burns, whose business was later reorganized as the Gram- pian Supply Company, in which Mr. Sceur- man is interested as a stockholder, and of which he is general manager.
On June 17, 1903, Mr. Sceurman was mar- ried to Miss Anna R. Carr, who was born in Woodland, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Carr, of Karthaus township, and they have one daughter, Sarah Katherine. Mrs. Sceur- man died December 11, 1909, and her burial was at Philipsburg. She was a lady of many virtues and was a valued member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Sceurman also belongs to this religions body and is liberal in the support he gives to its benevolent enter- prises. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Malta.
WILLIAM HILLING, owner and proprie- tor of the Chesterfield House, a first class hotel at Ventland, Pa., which was started in June.
1906, is a native of Wales, where he was born May 4, 1852, and is a son of George and Eliza (Lewis) Hilling, and a grandson of John Hilling.
William Hilling is one of a family of ten children, being the eighth in order of birth, his brothers and sisters bearing the following names : James, Mary, Thomas, George, John, Eliza, Margaret, Lewis and Joshua. Mr. Hill- ing obtained his education in his native land where he remained until I881, when he came to the United States. He located at Philips- burg, Pa., and worked in the coal mines in that neighborhood for ten years and then conducted a store for six years longer and was also in the coal business there for four years, when he moved to McCartney, Pa., and carried on a coal business there for six years. From there he came to Ventland and opened up his pres- ent hotel and has been very successful in this enterprise.
Mr. Hilling was married in 1872 to Miss Margaret Powell, a daughter of William and Margaret (Williams) Powell, who were na- tives of Wales and had four other children : William, Richard, Sarah and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Hilling have had three children; Mar- garet, who died in childhood; and Joshua and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Hilling are members of the Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and in 1895 he was elected on the Democratic ticket, supervisor in Decatur town- ship, in which he was then living. He is a member of the L. O. O. M. at Philipsburg.
JOSEPH SHAW, deceased, for many years was a representative citizen of Clearfield county, largely identified with the lumber in- dustry and later a leading general merchant at Clearfield. He was born March 26, 1817.
395
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
on his father's farm in Bradford township, Clearfield county, Pa., and was a son of Rich- ard and Mary (Irwin) Shaw.
Richard Shaw was born in County Derry, Ireland, February 2, 1792. His parents, Ar- chibald and Mary (Campbell) Shaw, emi- grated to the United States when Richard was yet small. They settled first in Chester county, from there moved to Mifflin county, and in 1810, to Clearfield county, their first pur- chased farm being situated in what is now the borough limits of Clearfield. Richard Shaw became extensively interested in both farming and lumbering and for many years was active in 'business and public life. In 1816 he mar- ried a daughter of Henry Irwin. Mrs. Shaw was born in Philadelphia and accompanied her parents in childhood to Clearfield county. A large family of children were born to Rich- ard Shaw and wife, the eldest of those who reached maturity being the late Joseph Shaw, whose death occurred at Clearfield, in 1907.
Joseph Shaw grew to manhood on the fam- ily estate in Lawrence township and enjoyed such educational advantages as were obtain- able at that day. He inherited much of his father's business energy and capacity and very early interested himself in lumbering and con- ducted a saw-mill on Lick Run. Subsequently. for many years, he operated other business concerns successfully, conducting a general store at Clearfield until he retired in 1874. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat in his views on public questions, accepted official responsi- bilities at times and served as treasurer of Clearfield county. While he was noted for his keen business perceptions, he was equally re- spected for his sterling traits of character.
Joseph Shaw married Miss Elizabeth Ful- ton, who died February 8, 1892, at the age of
seventy-two years. She was a daughter of Samuel Fulton, who was one of the first, per- haps the very first surveyor of Clearfield county. Five children were born to Josepli and Elizabeth Shaw, namely: R. Newton, Cornelia, Thaddeus H., Ella C. and Alice. The two survivors are Thaddeus H. and Ella C., both of whom reside at Clearfield. R. Newton Shaw, formerly sheriff of Clearfield county, died March 12, 1905; Cornelia died in 1872, and Alice died in 1882. Joseph Shaw and family were members of the Presbyterian church. The Shaw family has been so promi- nently identified with the history of Clearfield county that the prospering town of Shawville appropriately perpetuates the name.
ERNEST RENAUD, who has spent his life in Girard township, Clearfield county, Pa., is an enterprising and successful agriculturist and resides on a 101/2 acre tract of land ad- joining the homestead tract of 84 acres, which is owned by his brother, and which is situated fifteen and one-half miles from Clearfield. His parents were Victor and Mary Renaud, na- tives of France, who settled on this farm prior to his birth in 1870. and spent the remainder of their lives here. After his school days were over, Mr. Renaud assisted his father on the home farm and has continued to carry on gen- eral farming and stockraising, farming the old homestead for his brother. His industry and good judgment have brought him success and he is numbered with the prosperous farmers of this section.
In 1898 Mr. Renaud was married to Miss Ella Picard, who was born in Covington township, Clearfield county, and is also of French ancestry. They have three children, Madeline, Alfonse and Charles. Mr. Renaud
396
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
and family are members of St. Mary's Catho- lic church at Frenchville. Ile takes a good citizen's interest in township affairs, favoring good roads and good schools and for four years served as township supervisor.
ALVIN U. LEONARD, whose valuable farm of 140 acres is situated in Jordan town- ship, Clearfield county, Pa., on the town line of Ansonville, is one of the enterprising and successful young farmers of this section. He was born at Ansonville, Pa., March 4, 1886, and is a son of John W. and Edith (Swann) Leonard.
John W. Leonard was born in Clearfield county and spent his entire life here. He fol- lowed lumbering as his main business. He married Edith Swann, who was also born in late father, is identified with the Republican Clearfield county and now resides at Patton, Pa. She is a daughter of Henry and Lucinda Swann. John W. Leonard was identified with the Republican party but never desired public office although he was a man well qualified to administer in the same. He was a member of the Baptist church. Of his children, Alvin U. is the eldest and the only son, there being four daughters : Helen L., Margaret J., Mary E. and Harriet C.
Alvin U. Leonard completed the public school course and then spent one year at Buck- nell University, subsequently taking a com- mercial course at Duff's Business College, at Pittsburg. He then returned home and has devoted himself to farming and stock raising ever since. This property is known as the Henry Swann farm but John W. Leonard bought it about 1885, and at his death, on May 1, 1905, his son purchased it having op- erated it for three years previously. In his success he has demonstrated the value of an
educated man in agriculture, his modern meth- ods and his use of improved machinery bring- ing about very satisfactory returns.
Mr. Leonard was married in January, 1906, to Miss Delilah Deihl, a daughter of Thomas and Martha ( Bell) Deihl, and a granddaugh- ter of Benjamin and Mary Diehl and of Frampton and Matilda Bell. The parents of Mrs. Leonard were residents of Bell's Land- ing, in Greenwood township, where Mr. Diehl followed the blacksmith trade. Mrs. Leonard has one brother, Frank Diehl. Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard to whom have been given the names of John W., Thomas F. and Robert H. They attend the Baptist church. Mr. Leonard takes only a good citizen's interest in politics and, like his party.
ROLAND DAVIS SWOOPE, Jr., the ed- itor of this History, was born in Curwensville. Pa., on June 4, 1885, and is the second son of Roland D. Swoope, Esq., and Cora Arnold Swoope, and a grandson of the late Hon. Henry Bucher Swoope, widely known in his life time, as a brilliant orator, noted lawyer and as the founder and first editor of the "Raftsman's Journal," of Clearfield, Pa., and of the "Pittsburg Evening Telegraph." and who at the time of his death, in 1874, was United States Attorney for the Western Dis- trict of Pennsylvania.
Roland Davis Swoope, Jr., was educated at the public schools of his native town and at Mercersburg Academy, at Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pa. After leaving school, he entered his father's law office where he re- mained until October, 1905, when he became editor of the Curwensville "Mountaineer," a
ROLAND DAVIS SWOOPE, JR.
399
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Republican newspaper, in which his father was interested as one of the founders. As will be noted by the foregoing, the subject of our sketch inherited his fondness for journalism and "The Mountaineer" under his editorship has become the leading Republican newspaper of Clearfield county and is recognized as a powerful factor in every political campaign.
Mr. Swoope, like his ancestors, developed a strong likeness for politics and has taken an active part therein. Ever since attaining his majority, he has served as a member of the Republican Vigilance Committee of his elec- tion district. For several years, he has been secretary of the Republican Committee of Clearfield county. In April, 1908, he was elected as one of the five delegates to repre- sent Clearfield county in the Republican State Convention, receiving 3,814 votes, the largest vote polled for any candidate.
He has also represented the Republicans of liis senatorial district at a meeting of the Re- publican State Committee and was appointed assistant sergeant at arms of the Republican National Convention which met in Chicago in 1908.
Mr. Swoope is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Curwensville, Pa .; is a member of the Union League of Philadel- phia, the most famous Republican Club in the United States, is also a member of Bethesda Lodge, No. 821, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has served the lodge as Noble Grand.
Mr. Swoope takes an active interest in all public affairs, and both personally and as ed- itor of "The Mountaineer," he stands for the best interests of the people of the community, State and Nation.
RICHARD SHAW, deceased, was once a man of high business standing and public sta- tion in Clearfield county, Pa. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, February 2, 1792, and was a son of Archibald and Mary ( Camp- bell) Shaw.
Archibald Shaw was born in County Don- egal, Ireland. His wife was also of Irish birth but probably of Scotch ancestry. Soon after the birth of their second son, Richard, they came to America and found their first home in Chester county, Pa. From there they moved to Mifflin county and from there, in ISI0, to Clearfield county. Archibald Shaw and wife spent the remainder of their lives on the farm on which they then settled, living into the seventies.
Richard Shaw was reared on the home farm, which was situated two miles north of the borough of Clearfield. When twenty-four years of age he married and then located in Bradford township, Clearfield county, and for four years lived on a tract of 100 acres, locally known as Bird Lands. From there he moved into Lawrence township and soon became in- terested in both farming and lumbering, ac- quiring in the course of years extensive tracts of land on the west side of the Susquehanna River. He was a man of extraordinary enter- prise and for years carried on farm industries, operated saw-mills and engaged in merchan- dising. He also led his fellow citizens in pub- lic affairs and served continuously as a justice of the peace for years and also served in the office of associate judge. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, his death occurring in 1876.
Richard Shaw was married in 1816 to Miss Mary Irwin, a daughter of Henry Irwin, who
24
400
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
came to Clearfield county as a pioneer from and his office on the second floor of the Patton Philadelphia, where Mrs. Shaw was born. A Building. He is a stockholder in the Cur- wensville National Bank, a director in the Curwensville Building and Loan Association and is local manager of the State Capital Loan Association, of Harrisburg. He has been a lifelong Democrat and has served on the school board both in Pike township and at Curwens- ville.
large family of children were born to them and those who reached mature years were the following: Joseph, who resides at Clearfield : Jane, who is now deceased, was the wife of Dr. Hills, of Clearfield; Mary E., who is de- ceased, was the wife of Jolin Patterson; A. Henry and Richard, both of whom are de- ceased; Margaret, who became the wife of William A. Wallace, of Clearfield: William (deceased), and A. B., who resides at Clear- field. Richard Shaw and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. The town of Shawville perpetuates their honored name.
JOHN .A. D.ALE, justice of the peace at Curwensville, Pa., now serving in his third term. is one of the representative citizens of this borough and is identified with numerous important interests. He was born in Pike township, Clearfield county. Pa .. two miles south of Curwensville, June 13, 1866, and is a son of Joseph L. and Christianna (Esau) Dale, the former of whom still resides on the old homestead but the latter is deceased.
John A. Dale was educated in the Oakland school in Pike township, the High School at Curwensville, and then took a normal course. after which he taught school for some twelve terms, in West Clearfield, Lumber City, and other parts of Clearfield county. He was first elected a justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket. in Pike township, and after being elected to the same office at Curwensville, re- tired from educational work and has given his attention to numerous other interests. Fol- lowing his marriage he continued to reside for a time in Pike township and then came to this borough, establishing his home on River street
On August 31. 1891, Mr. Dale was married to Miss Abbie Hile, a daughter of Warren and Effie Hile, and they have had four children : Joseph Thomas, who is a student in Pierce College. Philadelphia : Christine, who is a stu- dent in the Curwensville High School: Evana, who is also a High School pupil; and Freder- ick, who died when aged three months. Mr. Dale has been a member of the Curwensville Methodist Episcopal church for twenty-five years, and is now a member of the official board. He is connected officially with several fraternal organizations at Curwensville. For eight years he has been treasurer of the Bethesda lodge, No. 821, I. O. O. F .; for fif- teen years has been Keeper of Records and Seal of Curwensville Lodge, No. 486, Knights of Pythias; and for five years has been Chief of Records of Illini Tribe. No. 362, I. O. R. M.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.