Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 45

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 45

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father and mother as long as they lived. The mother was the first to pass away, dying March 27, 1885, at the age of seventy-seven years, six months and twenty-five days. The father, John Frederick Wingert, died July 13. 1887, aged eighty years, seven months and fifteen days.

All the children at this time were still liv- ing, and it was ten years before there was an- other death in the family. Then, on October 20, 1897, Peter passed away at the age of fifty-two years, ten months, twenty-eight days. George H. followed him July 16, 1904, aged seventy years, seven months, eight days. Then came Margaret, who died in the year 1908. aged sixty-nine years, seven months, four days; and afterwards Jacob, who died at the age of sixty-four years in January, 1909. Margaret was the wife of David Swope. The survivors at this writing are Henry, the eldest brother, who resides in Brady; William, our direct subject, residing in Luthersburg; and Frederick and David, living in or near Bucy- rus, Crawford county, Ohio.

William Wingert was but an infant when he accompanied his parents and the rest of their family to Clearfield county. His educa- tional opportunities were very limited, but he attended a subscription school on his father's farm for a time. When but eight or nine years old he had to help to saw the timber for shaved shingles, pulling one end of the saw ; and he also made himself useful in supplying wood for the big fireplace that occupied most of one side of the log house. About the time that each of the brothers had paid for his own land, he began to work on it, sometimes having the assistance of his sweetheart. Thus they grew up and married. William in his turn finally got his land paid for and com-

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menced working on it. He remained at home, however, another year or more, exchanging his work with his younger brothers he helping at home, and they at times helping him on his land, the account being called square on both sides.

In 1864 Mr. Wingert enlisted for one year or during the war in the 100th Pa. Volunteers, which was assigned to the 5th Brigade, 9th Army Corps. The remembrance of these days is still vividly upon him, as he says, "At that time our whole country was sorrow stricken and draped in black, many fathers and moth- ers weeping for their sons, many a wife weep- ing for her husband. But in June, 1865, the whole country rejoiced over peace and liberty once more restored between the North and the South, and almost the entire North rejoiced that the great battles had been fought and the great and final victory won; that our country was once more a country of freedom and liberty. On our way home the women and children of the city of Washington strewed the streets with flowers and roses for the sol- diers to walk over-all from joy: and ever since our country has had peace at home. May it long continue, so that the generations which come after us may reap the benefit of the hardships we endured while playing a soldier's part in the mighty struggle that almost divided the Nation."

In 1868 Mr. Wingert moved onto his own place at Coal Hill, where the Jefferson Coal & Iron Company now have a coal mine in opera- tion. He cleaned up a considerable part of that land and then started in the saw-mill and lumbering business, at the same time contin- uing his farming operations. After getting a little money he began investing to some extent in real estate in DuBois, which place was then

enjoying a healthy growth. His investments proved successful and after increasing his cash capital he bought some stock in a private bank, called the Bank of DuBois. This he did on the positive representations of the president and cashier that it would pay not less than six per cent in dividends, and that he would be put to no trouble in the conducting of the bank, as they would run it. This they did, but not to a fortunate or profitable issue, for on March 14, 1895, it closed its doors. The bank had a capital of but $50,000, of which our subject owned $10.000 in stock. Being a private institution, each stockholder was in- directly liable for its indebtedness. This caused Mr. Wingert a lot of trouble and ex- pense, but he finally got out of the matter with a loss of over $26,000.00 in cash, besides con- siderable other property that he had to sacri- fice. This experience, however, severe as it was, did not discourage Mr. Wingert. He continued to prosecute his farming and lum- bering interests and along these lines his ef- forts were crowned with success. Today he owns five good farms, besides 990 acres of rough or uncultivated lands, amounting alto- gether to about 1,500 acres. To this should be added also several brick buildings in Du- Bois and some valuable vacant lots in that place. He is also a stockholder and director in the DuBois National Bank, and is inter- ested in a timber lot at Oregon, Pa.

In 1868 Mr. Wingert was married to Louisa Swope, and of this union were born four children, all of whom are now living, namely: John J., Mary Emma, Ellis A. I., who are married, and Lula Ella, who is single and resides at home. Mr. Wingert has dealt generously with his children. We have seen how he worked for his father until he was of

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age for $100 per year. He on his part, agreed to pay each of his sons $300 per year. The younger son, Ellis, worked for awhile on those terms and then married Miss Mary Hartzfield, upon which his father deeded to him a farm and gave him with it all the farming utensils necessary, including a wagon and team of horses. Of this marriage have been born five sons, all of whom are living. Mr. Wingert's elder son, after his brother's marriage, con- tinued to work for his father, and the latter raised his wages from $300 to $600 per year, also deeding to him a farm with all the farm- ing utensils, including wagon and team.

The two farms above mentioned as given by Mr. Wingert to his sons were underlaid with coal, which they sold-the one in fee simple at $140 per acre. the other (John F.) selling the coal only at $100 per acre, and now having his farm rented. The latter has built himself a nice brick house in Luthers- burg. He married Frances Weber and they have two children, a son and a daughter-Roy Sylvester and Lillian Alberta. Mary E. is the wife of W. H. Nevil of DuBois. Her father bought her a nice lot and built her a substan- tial brick house thereon, presenting her with the deed. Ellis Ai, whose marriage to Mary Hartzfield has been referred to, lives in Brady township, and they have five children-Ches- ter, Lloyd, Edgar, Clifford and Marlin.

failure, he has at different times sustained other losses of no inconsiderable magnitude, as for instance, on a timber tract investment in Wisconsin he lost some $12,000, besides several other losses of from $1,000 to $4,000, yet he never lost courage or determination, but as soon as he realized that he had suffered a misfortune, went to work to repair it, and in this manner has overcome all adverse cir- cumstances. He has long been one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the commu- nity ; he has paid out thousands of dollars to laborers, and during the summer of 1910 he built a telephone line from DuBois to Cur- wensville, a public improvement that was much needed and which has proved a great boon to the citizens of both places. His lim- ited schooling has been briefly referred to. Of this period he says himself : "During my first years as a boy, I did not know that there was any such thing as a public school. After we got the shabby little schoolhouses, we only had two months in a year, and I had to stay at home and help to saw shingle timber. I could only go when the weather was too stormy or rainy to work. Counting all my days' school- ing, I do not think it would reach four months during my life time." Yet he has served on the school board for the last fifteen years, and his communication forming the basis of this article proved that though his education has been self acquired and in the face of very ad- verse circumstances, amounting almost to an absolute lack of opportunity, he has by self ap- plication acquired the ability to express his thoughts in writing in a clear and impressive manner, and the same applies to other branches of knowledge for which the average person

Much more could be said of Mr. Wingert's career did space allow : still a few words more are due to our subject. A retrospective glance shows clearly that his main characteristic through life has been that resolute, persever- ing industry and thoroughness for which the German people are noted. His business af- fairs have been but briefly touched upon. In has use. Such a life is an encouragement to addition to the large sum he lost by the bank all of limited opportunity. Though general

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conditions are more favorable now than they were in Mr. Wingert's boyhood days, there are still some who complain of want of opportu- nity. Let them reflect on reading this brief sketch and they cannot but feel that such a career is an inspiration, and consequently take courage to do their best and win their way to success like the subject of this memoir.

ALFRED R. HUNTER, a representative citizen of Irvona, Pa., who has been success- fully engaged in a general merchandise busi- ness for the past ten years, was born near Glen Hope, Clearfield county, Pa., June 18, 1875, and is a son of John. M. and Martha (Erhard) Hunter, and a grandson of John Hunter.

John M. Hunter, who was born in Clear- field county, was for some years engaged in hauling timber, but subsequently became a farmer, and still is carrying on operations on his land, although in his sixty-sixth year. His wife died about fifteen years ago. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, five are now living, namely: Elizabeth, who mar- ried Lee Roberts of Mahaffey ; Alfred R .: Ira. engaged in the butchering business in Irvona, who married Alta Gunsallus of Beach Creek ; and Emma and Dora, who are single.

Alfred R. Hunter attended the public schools of Glen Hope, and on coming to Irvona in 1891 he engaged in the mercantile business, in which he has continued to the present time. His fine store was erected by him in 1910, and he resides over his place of business. A Pro- hibitionist in politics, Mr. Hunter invariably casts his vote for the candidates of that party. and he is serving as a director and treasurer of the Irvona borough school board. His fra- ternal connections are with the Ancient Order

Knights of the Mystic Chain and the Knights of Pythias.

In 1909 Mr. Hunter was united in mar- riage with Miss Cora Fulton, a daughter of Zachariah Fulton of Bigelow, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are consistent members of the Presbyterian church.

AMOS H. RUMBERGER, who is one of the representative business men of Houtzdale, conducting a hardware store and doing a plumbing, gas fitting and heating business in connection with the same, was born January 14, 1862, in Huntingdon county, Pa., and is a son of Balser S. and Hannah ( Harper) Run- berger.

Balser S. Rumberger was born in Center county, Pa., but moved to Huntingdon county in early' manhood, where he became a man of considerable prominence and served three years as sheriff, being elected on the Repub- lican ticket. He met with an accidental death, in September, 1910. while crossing a railroad, and at that time was a resident of the 'borough of Huntingdon. His burial was at Peters- burg. He married Hannah Harper, who died in 1868, and her burial was at Warrior's Mark.

Amos H. Rumberger was reared at War- rior's Mark and Petersburg, attending school during the usual period, and at the latter place assisted his father in the mercantile business until 1880, when he came to Houtzdale. Here he engaged as shipping clerk and weighmas- ter at the Van Dusen mines before he entered into the hardware business with R. R. Flem- ing. In 1902 he became a partner in the busi- ness conducted under the firm name of R. R. Fleming & Co., which continued until Janu- ary, 1908, when he became sole owner. Mr.

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Rumberger has been quite active in politics and has frequently been the choice of the Re- publican party for public office and was serv- ing as county auditor when he resigned in or- der to make a visit to British Columbia. He has served as borough auditor and for six years was a member of the council, during three years of which time he was its president. He has been a member of the school board for seven years and is its presiding officer at pres- ent.

Mr. Rumberger was married October 28. 1885, to Miss Ida Roushe, who was born in Huntingdon county and is a daughter of Wil- liam and Helen Roushe, and they have five children, namely: Helen, who is the wife of .Augustus Gleason, of DuBois, Pa., and they have four children-Andrew, Helen, Robert and Ida: Edith, who is bookkeeper for her father: Gertrude; Ida, who is the wife of Mahlon Hagerty, of Philipsburg : and George, who is yet in school.

Mr. Rumberger has been a member of the Houtzdale Fire Company for twenty years He is identified fraternally with the Masons, at Osceola, and the Odd Fellows and Brother- hood of America, at Houtzdale.

R. WILLIAM THOMPSON. proprietor of an undertaking establishment located on West Locust street, Clearfield, Pa., was born March 17, 1867. on his father's farm in Law- rence township, Clearfield county, Pa., and is a son of Rufus and Sarah ( Daniel) Thomp- son.

Rufus Thompson. father of our subject. was born on the home farm, where he was reared to manhood, and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed many years. He married Sarah Daniel, a daughter

of William and Margaret ( Shaw) Daniel, both of whom were natives of Ireland and of their union were born the following children : Reuben H .; Martha, the wife of John Mc- Cool: Elizabeth, widow of R. T. Butler; and R. William. Mrs. Thompson died in 1884 at the age of 54 years, and Rufus Thompson died in November, 1908, aged 86 years.

R. William Thompson was reared on the farm in Lawrence township and attended the local schools. At the age of 16 years he took up carpentering with his father, and after his father met with an accident entered the em- ploy of Thorn and Burthfield. In 1896 he be- gan learning the undertaking business in the establishment of James Fullerton of Pitts- burg, and also took a course at the Champion College of Embalming of Pittsburg. After receiving a diploma from that institution he embarked in the business for himself, buying out Gearhart & Sharbough of Clearfield. He later built his business block, which is located on West Locust street, near Turn Pike ave- nue, and since January, 1909, has had his resi- (lence in this block, where he also conducts the business and has his office. Mr. Thomp- son is fraternally a Mason. a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, the l'. O. S. of A., the O. U. A. M. and Royal Arcanum.

A. J. HUNTER. a well known and popular citizen of Berwinsdale, Pa., where he is con- nected with the great Pennsylvania Railroad system as agent and telegrapher, was born in Jordan township, Clearfield county, Pa., and is a son of John H. and Jennie M. (Van Dyke) Hunter.

John H. Hunter was born in Scotland, June 8. 1837. and was brought to America when ten years of age. He spent sixty years in

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Jordan township, and farming was his main disposed of his land and moved to Curwens- occupation. He married Jennie M. Van Dyke, of Holland ancestry, who was born Septem- ber 3, 1841, and the following children were born to them: William B., Mary S., Robert A., A. J., Maggie B., and Nelson V. Mary S. became the wife of J. H. Moss, and Maggie B. married W. F. Conley.

A. J. Hunter is a self-made man. His edu- cation was obtained in the public schools and his first work was performed as a clerk in a store at Irvona, where he continued for five years. For one year he was engaged in busi- ness for himself at Curwensville, after which he took a course of four months in telegraphy. Proving a very apt pupil, he learned the art quickly and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with which he has been identified ever since, coming to Berwinsdale in his present capacity, on March 1, 1900.

On July 29, 1899, Mr. Hunter was married to Miss Edith F. Breth, a daughter of William B. and Margaret (Montgomery) Breth, and they have two children : Samuel Carl and Sa- rah Kathryn. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. He is inde- pendent in politics.

ELLIS IRWIN, deceased, for many years one of Goshen township's representative, sub- stantial and esteemed citizens and for several decades postmaster at Lick Run Mills, was born near Bellefonte, Center county, Pa., June 17, 1805. He was of Irish and English an- cestry and was reared in the Quaker faith.

Ellis Irwin was educated in the Bellefonte Academy and after his marriage moved on a farm in Penn township. He engaged in agri- cultural pursuits here for four years and then

ville. In 1835 he was appointed prothono- tary, register and recorder and clerk of sev- eral counties and acceptably performed these duties for three years. He then entered into the mercantile business at Clearfield and in 1846 was appointed postmaster. He also served three years as sheriff and filled out an unexpired term of county prothonotary of one and one-half years. Ellis Irwin was recog- nized as a man of such sterling character and as one so well qualified for the responsibilities of public office that the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens was unbounded. In 1856 he moved to Lick Run, in Goshen township, and there became associated with his brother, William F. Irwin, in a lumbering business in which he continued his active inter- est even after passing his three score and ten years. In 1827, Mr. Irwin was married to Hannah Iddings, who died in February, 1881. She was a member of one of the old and re- spected Quaker families of this section and her parents were John and Ann Iddings.

John F. Irwin, son of Ellis and Hannah Irwin, was born February 20, 1829, and ob- tained his education in the subscription and district schools. In 1862 he enlisted at Cur- wensville, Pa. : a company of 100 men was en- rolled in the U. S. service as Company B, 149th Regt. (Pa.), at Harrisburg, Pa. Mus- tered in as a private, he was made second lieu- tenant, was afterward promoted to first lieu- tenant and took part in seventeen battles, in- cluding Gettysburg, where he was appointed adjutant on the evening of the first day's bat- tle. He served subsequently until his honora- ble discharge July 25. 1865.

In November. 1865, he entered into partner- ship in the drug business with Dr. J. G. Harts-

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wick, but is now associated with his son Ellis garet, who is the wife of Edward Wise, of in the same business, the son attending to the active part of the business. On May 25, 1866, John F. Irwin was married to Sarah Rheem, of which union was born the son, Ellis, before mentioned. Mr. Irwin is a member of the Methodist church, which he joined in :873. He resides at No. 305 Second street, Clear- field.

JAMES SPACKMAN, a well known and highly respected citizen of Lawrence town- ship, Clearfield county, Pa., now living retired on his valuable farm of 172 acres, situated five miles from Clearfield and three miles from Curwensville, was born December 10, 1841, on the Richard Spackinan farm in this town- ship. He is a son of William Spackman and a grandson of Daniel Spackman.

Daniel Spackman came to Clearfield county from Chester county, Pa., in 1818, accompa- nied by his wife and children and his subse- quent life was spent on the farm in Lawrence township that was then bought by his sons. Benjamin and Thomas Spackman. The chil- dren of Daniel Spackman were as follows: Benjamin; John; Mary, wife of Thomas Leonard; Elizabeth, wife of William Mitchell; Thomas; William; Jane; Hester, wife of James Mitchell; Sarah, wife of Jerdon Read; and Debbie, wife of David Brown.

William Spackman attended the Pine Grove School in Chester county, grew up on the home farm and after marriage settled on an adjoining farm, where he cleared twenty-five acres. He married Isabella Read, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Jerdon) Read, and four children were born to them: Thomas, who resides at Detroit, Mich. ; James ; Mar-

Knox township; and Alexander, who lives in Lawrence township and married Annie Baker. William Spackman was a member of the Friends' church at Curwensville, Pa. ; his wife was a Presbyterian. In early life he was an old-line Whig, but in later years became a Democrat. He lived to the venerable age of eighty-four years, and his burial was at Mc- Naul Cemetery in Pike township.

James Spackman obtained his schooling in his native township and as soon as age and strength permitted he went to work in the woods and for many years was engaged in lumbering, during that time living with his maternal uncle, Alexander Read. In 1867 he bought his present farm but did not locate on it until 1882, from the time of his marriage in 1869 until the above date living along the river. Mr. Spackman had no clearing to do but has done a large amount of repairing and rebuilding. The brick house, which was built in 1833, and the barn, in 1831, were in re- markably good condition considering their age, but each needed modern conveniences. This barn is a landmark, having been the first frame barn erected in Clearfield county and in the main the materials in its original construc- tion are still preserved. It was put up for Thomas Read by carpenter George Lecch. Mr. Spackman's farm is valuable in many ways. In 1903 a 34-inch vein of coal was opened and in that year 5,000 bushels of coal were taken out and since that time the vein has supplied fuel for family use. Since Mr. Spackman retired from active labor, his sons have had the management of the farm and stock interests and have done well. They raise full blood Percheron horses and have high

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grade mixed cattle and carry on operations ac- cording to modern ideas, regarding agricul- ture as a business and profession.

In October, 1869, Mr. Spackman was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Read, a daughter of J. R. and Mary Read, who were both born in Lawrence township and spent all their married life on this farm. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Spackman, two sons and one daughter: L. E., L. W., and L. H. Neither son has married. The daughter is the wife of Ernest Aughenbaugh, of Curwensville. Mr. and Mrs. Spackman are members of the Methi- odist Episcopal church at Curwensville. In politics, Mr. Spackman is an Independent Democrat, keeping faith with the old-time principles of Democracy but reserving the right to vote as his judgment dictates. Mr. Spackman has served his township as auditor, supervisor and school director and has also been overseer of the poor. He is a member of the county agricultural society and belongs also to the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He is a stockholder in the Farmers and Traders Bank of Clearfield. Although his purchase of the old Driftwood schoolhouse and its erection on his farm as a shed was a practical matter, there was also some sentiment in it, for it was in that building that he passed his entire school boy period, and many pleasant memories clus- ter about it for this reason.

MATTHEW KNEPP, owner of 172 acres of very fine land situated in Bradford town- ship, Clearfield county, Pa., was born in this township, one-half mile north of his present farm, in 1866, and Bradford township has been his home all his life. His parents were B. and Sarah Knepp, the former of whom was born in Juniata county and came to Clearfield

county in youth, with his parents, who were pioneers in Bradford township. He followed farming and lumbering.

Matthew Knepp obtained his education in the public schools of Bradford township. He has devoted himself to farm pursuits from boyhood and is numbered with the most suc- cessful agriculturists of this section. While general farming and stock raising is his rule, he specializes to some extent in wheat and buckwheat. He has an easy market for his- produce, his land lying on the Gray Hampton road, within five miles of Woodland.

In 1876 Mr. Knepp was married to Miss Carrie Jury, a daughter of John Jury of Gi- rard township, and seven children were born to them, as follows: Blanche Mae, who was married first to Roy Lansbury (now deceased) and had one child, Arleina, and secondly to Clyde Wilson, of which union there is one child, Rita Villa; Oma O .; Gertie Belle, who died when aged eighteen months; Chester Kale, who died at the age of three years; Jes- sie Clair, who lived to be nine years old; and Ralph Estil and Thelma Marie. Mr. Knepp and family belong to the Brethren church of Shiloh, in Bradford township, and he is treas- urer of the Sunday school. From 1906 until 1908 Mr. Knepp served as a school director but has never been willing to accept any other public office. He is one of the township's best known and most respected citizens.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 45

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