USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 48
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Mr. Boag married Miss Jennie Patterson, a daughter of Henry Patterson, of Arnot, Ti- oga County, and they have seven children, namely: David C. and Harry P., both of whom are attending college, in preparation for professional life; John, who is general man- ager of the Boardman Supply Company store and assistant postmaster ; and Elizabeth, Mar- garetta, William A., and Park. Mr. Boag and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is identified fraternally with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
JOSIAH S. RICHARDS, president of the board of. county commissioners of Clearfield County, Pa., and a prominent and substantial citizen of Curwensville, has been identified with the lumbering interests of this county for a number of years. He was born in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., September
John Boag was about twelve years old when the family came to America and he had already 5. 1850, and is a son of James and Susanna laid the foundation of a good education and (Dixon) Richards.
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The Richards family came originally from Wales, the great-grandfather being its founder in America. George Richards, the grandfa- ther, established his family in Bald Eagle Val- ley, in Center County, Pa., and was a farmer and iron worker. Of his eleven children, James, the father of Josiah S., was the eldest.
James Richards worked on the home farm and also in the iron furnaces, but his inclina- tions were in the direction of agricultural pur- suits and in 1838 he secured a tract of wild land which he converted into a productive farm and resided on it until 1866, when he moved to Ohio and bought a large farm there. He lived only three years longer, his death oc- curring in 1869. His widow survived until 1876, her death occurring in Clearfield County to which section the family had returned in 1871.
Josiah S. Richards was one of the younger members of a large family, eleven of whom reached maturity. When sixteen years of age he started out to make his own way in the world and the best opportunity that presented itself was work in the lumber regions, and, without any material interruption, Mr. Rich- ards continued work in the lumber regions for thirty years. In 1880 he embarked in busi- ness for himself and since then has carried on both farming and lumbering. The business of lumbering is carried on in practically the same way in all lumber regions and each section has much to recommend it, not only for the devel- opment of manly muscle but also for the good fellowship often established and maintained through years. Mr. Richards recalls many in- teresting experiences and occasionally has met with some injuries, one of these, in 1890, nec- essitating a sojourn in a hospital for a time.
He has mastered every detail of the work and his advice is frequently solicited concerning lumbering enterprises. In 1888 he established a lumber camp on a valuable farm that he had purchased, and later in association with his brother, operated extensively on the estate of the late ex-Governor Bigler.
From 1875 until 1887, Mr. Richards resided at Houtzdale, in Clearfield County, but since 1895, he has lived on his farm in Greenwood Township. He has always been an active and interested citizen and has been elected to nu- merous township offices, and in 1908 was elected a county commissioner. In this impor- tant office he is serving with faithfulness and efficiency and since 1909 has been president of the board. Mr. Richards is well qualified to be entrusted with public responsibilities, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
In 1875 Mr. Richards was married to Miss Rachel Henry, a daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah (Radcliffe) Henry. Jeremiah Henry was born in Mifflin County, Pa., later moved to Indiana County, and there married Saralı Radcliffe, a native of Ireland. They had the following children: Rachel, who is the wife of Josiah S. Richards; Emma, who married W. Smith; James; Jennie, who is deceased; Mollie, who married J. Colmer; William; Sarah, who is deceased; and Samuel and John Henry.
To Mr. and Mrs. Richards seven children were born, namely: John D., Edward G., (in U. S. Army), Naomi Grace, James S. (in U. S. Navy), Earl Daton, Harry L. and Elva V. Mrs. Richards is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in its benev- olent and missionary work. Mr. Richards is identified with the Republican party.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
GEORGE W. PIFER, senior member of the firm of George W. Pifer and Sons, en- gaged in a planing mill and contracting busi- ness at DuBois, Pa., is also its founder and is one of the leading and representative men of the borough. He was born on his father's farm in Allegheny County, Pa .. October 24, 1844, about one month after the family settled in America, and is a son of John and Mary Ja- cobs Pifer.
John Pifer was born in Germany and was reared there on a farm and contracted his first marriage there. With his wife and one son he came to the United States in 1844 and after landing started for Pittsburg. At that time no railroad lines were yet completed across the State of Pennsylvania and the long jour- ney was made partly by wagon and partly on foot. Upon their arrival, John Pifer rented a small farm which is the present site of East Liberty, a suburb of Pittsburg, and there he carried on truck gardening for some eight years. He then removed with his family to Kittanning, Pa., and went to work in the roll- ing-mills. Later, however, he resumed farm- ing, renting land on the Indiana turnpike road, in Armstrong County. In 1859, together with his sons, he bought a farm in Kittanning Township, on which the new owners put up a log house and barn. About ten acres of the land had been cleared and put under cultiva- tion when the Civil War broke out and al- though the old father was left alone on the farm while the brave and sturdy sons were bat- tling for their country's liberties, he received their wages and thus was able to continue the payments on the land. John Pifer died on this farm in which he took vast pride and sat- isfaction, in 1864, at the age of forty-nine years.
John Pifer was married three times, first in Germany as noted above, to Mary Jacobs, who died in Allegheny County. Five children were born to that union, namely: Conrad, who died in Lima, Ohio, (he was a member of Co. I, 78th Vol. Inf.) : George W .: Henry, who died while serving as a soldier, being a member of Co. C. 103rd Pa. Vol. Inf .; John, who lives in Jefferson County, Pa. ; and Martha, who is the widow of Rudolph Crooks.
George W. Pifer was about eight years old when the family moved to Armstrong County and he readily recalls the occasion when he first saw a railroad train that ran to Pittsburg. Shortly afterward he went to work on a farm for John Hood, with whom he remained for six and one-half years and then went back to his father and worked on the home farm until September 16, 1861, when he enlisted for ser- vice in the Civil War. He entered Co. C, 103rd Pa. Vol. Inf., as a private and was pro- moted to be corporal of his company and re- mained in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out in July, 1865, in North Carolina and receiving his honorable discharge at Harrisburg, Pa.
During this long period. Mr. Pifer served under four different captains-Capt. S. P. Townsend, Capt. Albert Vanastock, Capt. John Coughern and Capt. Thomas Coughern. Al- though he participated in twenty-six battles and skirmishes, he was never taken prisoner or wounded, although, on several occasions he had parts of his uniform pierced by bullets. At one time a minie ball carried off the number from the front of his cap, and on another occa- sion, the strap of his haversack was cut in two by a bullet. When the war was over he re- turned to the old farm. of which he was part owner and remained there until 1877, when he
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moved to Jefferson, a small town in Clarion County that experienced a boom on account of the discovery of oil in that region, and there conducted the Commercial Hotel for five years. When the boom subsided, business died out and Mr. Pifer soon looked about for a better busi- ness field. While living in Clarion County he was more or less interested, like everybody else, in the oil business and after the tide of success had passed on, he found himself with several boilers and engines on his hands for which he had no special use. It was in following out a suggestion made by a friend, Delmar Fairchild, that he used this machinery in ex- perimenting in shingle manufacturing and as it seemed a successful venture, in June, 1882, he brought his outfit to Clearfield County and he and Mr. Fairchild went into the shingle man- ufacturing business in the woods near DuBois.
the younger partners have charge of the inside work. The plant is situated on the corner of S. Brady and Tozier Avenue, DuBois, where excellent railroad facilities are enjoyed. Em- ployment is given twenty-five men.
Mr. Pifer has many times demonstrated his business judgment and foresight and never more so than when he bought his first acre of land when he first came to DuBois. To this acre, right on the edge of the village he was able to add more acres and, as he foresaw, the time has come when this land has been added to the town and has been built over and is now some of the most valuable real estate in the place. He is interested also in real estate at Falls Creek, Pa. In 1883 he erected his own comfortable residence at No. 715 S. Brady Street and his sons, following in his footsteps. have also invested in land and have homes in the same neighborhood.
This almost accidental experiment was, in fact, the foundation on which Mr. Pifer has On November 2, 1865, Mr. Pifer was mar- ried first to Miss Hannah Shrumm, who died in 1875. The following children were born to them: Bessie, who is now deceased; Sarah E., who is the wife of Samuel Langford and they have two children-Ethel and Bessie ; James H., who married Carrie Robinson and they have two children-George Cadmus and Virla Wynona ; Charles E., who married Mary Shaw and they have three children-John George, Catherine Eva and Rachel. In 1876, Mr. Pifer was married secondly to Miss Han- nah Malinda Wolfe, a daughter of Isaac and Maria (Ehinger) Wolfe, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pifer have had the following chil- dren: Elizabeth, who is now deceased; Isa- bella : George B. McClellan, a minister, who is a graduate of Mt. Airey Lutheran Seminary ; Warren A., who died at the age of nineteen built up his extensive industry of the present. At a later date he sold out to Mr. Fairchild and then, in partnership with his brother. John Pifer, set up a portable saw-mill and still later, a second one, with J. A. Bowersox. For many years thereafter, Mr. Pifer and Mr. Bowersox dealt in lumber. At a later date, Mr. Pifer, with George Hess as a partner, started into the planing-mill business which has continued un- til the present time, being developed into a very important business enterprise of DuBois. The firm name was Pifer, Hess & Co., until Mr. Hess retired. As Mr. Pifer's sons, James and Charles, reached suitable age, they entered the employ of the firm and subsequently became partners and since then the firm style has been George W. Pifer and Sons. The work is evenly balanced, the senior member attending to the affairs of the firm on the outside, while years; Frances Cleveland: Grace May, who is
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a teacher of music, in Philadelphia; and Flor- ence Leona.
Mr. P'ifer has always been a strong Demo- crat and as Sandy Township is strongly of his political way of thinking, he has been called upon to serve in many township offices. For many years he has been a member of the town- ship school board and by following his practi- cal advice, the schools are in excellent condi- tion, comparing very favorably with those in other sections. He is a member of Easton Post, No. 229, G. A. R., at DuBois, Pa. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran church.
GEORGE W. SMYERS, proprietor of the G. W. Smyers planing mill and retail lumber yard, situated on Daly Street, Du- Bois, Pa., has been a resident of this borough since 1900 and is one of the repre- sentative business men of the place. He was born on a farm in Jefferson County, Pa., November 10, 1863, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Kerr) Smyers.
Daniel Smyers was not a native of Jeffer- son County but was small when he accom- panied his father, also Daniel Smyers, to that section, where he grew to manhood and where he still lives. He followed the cabinetmaking trade for forty years and also for many years conducted a planing mill at Big Run, where he makes his home. He married Elizabeth Kerr, who died in 1890, and they had eight children, namely : George W .; Benjamin; Anna, who married Clark Brooks; Lucinda, who married Joseph Williams; Lawrence; Haddie, who married B. Coleson ; and Charles and Janet. George W. Smyers attended the country school near his father's farm in early boy- hood but as soon as he was old enough he
went to work in the planing mill. He dis- covered that he had a taste and talent for this work and before he was more than a boy he had already become a wood turner with skill equal to that of a more experi- enced mechanic. In his father's factory he had valuable experience and afterward was employed at Pittsburg, Philadelphia and other points, in every shop being made a foreman after a month's work. From Punxatawney, Pa., where he was foreman for the Reese and Rodgers Company, he came to DuBois and he and Mr. Rodgers built the present planing mill, a small shop being the beginning of the business, and in a few years Mr. Rodgers retired. Then C. A. McDonald was admitted as a partner but later he withdrew in order to engage in the hotel business and since then Mr. Smy- ers has been alone. From time to time he has enlarged his plant until it is an important one in this line, giving employment to fifteen men while the product is sash, doors, blinds and all kinds of building material. Mr. Smyers is a practical business man and keeps fully abreast with the times.
On December 30, 1886, Mr. Smyers was married to Miss Mamie Kelley, a daughter of Robert and Agnes (Barr) Kelley and a granddaughter of John S. Barr, once sheriff of Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Smyers have five children: Von, LaRue, Wilda, Vere and Bernard. They attend the United Presbyterian church. The family home is at No. 400 Daly Street, DuBois, and Mr. Smyers owns other real estate. He is a Republican in politics and is fraternally identified with the Masons, belonging to the Blue Lodge at DuBois and the Chapter at Philadelphia, and with the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Punxatawney.
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JAMES J. McCAMLEY, a well known and substantial citizen of Madera, Pa., where he owns a comfortable home and has two valuable lots adjoining it, was born in Scotland, February 14, 1855, and is a son of John and Margaret (Clark) McCamley. The mother died in Scotland and the father, some years later, died at Madera. They had nine children, James J. being the eld- est of the family.
James J. McCamley attended school in boyhood in the neighborhood of his home. As soon as he was old enough he went to work in blast furnaces and later became a coal miner and has followed mining as his main business ever since. He has been a careful, prudent industrious man and has shown his foresight and good judgment in the investments he has made in property. He came to the United States in 1883 and lived for four years at Morrisdale, in Clear- field County, but has been a resident of Madera since June, 1887.
In November, 1883, Mr. McCamley was married in Scotland, to Miss Mary Carroll, who was born July 4, 1861, and is a daugh- ter of Martin and Catherine (Lynch) Car- roll. They never came to the United States and since leaving her native land, Mrs. Mc- Camley has not seen the other members of her family. She has one brother, Patrick, but her two younger sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth, are both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. McCamley ten children have been born, two of whom are deceased-John and Margaret. The survivors are Mary, James, Martin, Jane, Agnes, Gertrude, Patrick and Thomas. Mary is the wife of Bruce John- ston. Mr. McCamley and family belong to the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat.
HARRISON STRAW, whose fine farm of 145 acres is situated five and one-half miles north of Clearfield, Pa., carries on large agricultural operations and maintains a large dairy, with Guernsey stock. Mr. Straw was born April 15, 1861, in Ferguson Township. Clearfield County, Pa., and is a son of John T. and Sarah ( Young) Straw.
John T. Straw was born in Ferguson township and attended school in his native county and later taught school, following which he became a farmer and lumberman and spent his life as a resident of Ferguson township. He was a man of local prom- inence and in 1881 was elected on the Dem- ocratic ticket, a member of the board of county commissioners and served through one full term. He was a member and substantial supporter of the Baptist church. His first marriage was to Sarah Young, a daughter of Albert Young, of Ferguson Township. She died at the age of twenty- nine years and was buried at Zion Cem- etery, in Jordan township. She was the mother of six children : Jeremiah, Albert Y., Harrison, William, Franklin and Anna Mary. His second marriage was to Mary Ellen Barrett, a daughter of Luther Bar- rett. She died when aged thirty years and was survived by three children, Perry, Lot- tie and Ida. His third marriage was to Priscilla Barrett, a daughter of Hiram Bar- rett, and twelve children were born to this union, namely: Rosetta, Cora, Susanna, Blanche, Myrtle, Carrie, John, Peary, Ivy Belle, Jerusha, Nora and Sarah.
Harrison Straw was reared in Ferguson township and attended school there and spent one year at the Indiana State Normal School, after which he taught four terms of school, one in Jordan Township, two in
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Lawrence Township and one in Ferguson Township. After marriage he engaged in farming in Lawrence Township and moved from there to Ferguson Township, where he spent fourteen years and then settled in Goshen township, in January, 1907, purchas- ing what was known as the Thompson Read farm. He has done a large amount of im- proving in the way of building and rebuild- ing and has even extended his improve- ments outside of his own property, prac- tically making a new road to approach it. Mr. Straw has an income from a coal bank on his land. He is a man of commendable enterprise and good citizenship and in all his relations with neighbors and acquaint- ances, stands well esteemed.
On April 9, 1885, Mr. Straw was married to Miss Emeline Read, a daughter of D. R. Read, of Ferguson Township, and eleven children have been born to them, as follows : Clara, Russell, Eunice, Bertie, Harriet, David, Howard, Clayton, William, Donald and Sarah. Clara is the wife of Harvey Smith and they reside in Goshen township. Russell who was a successful school teacher in Goshen and Ferguson townships, is now a resident of Alberta, Canada. Eunice, Bertie and Harriet attend the Clearfield High School, while the younger children, with the exception of Sarah, who died when aged two weeks, live at home and attend the Goshen township schools. Mr. Straw is affording his children every advantage in his power and there is promise of all de- veloping into sensible, capable man and womanhood. Mr. Straw and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Democrat and he has served as school director and also on the election board at different times.
LEONARD KYLER, who has been a valued resident of Bradford Township, Clearfield County, Pa., for twenty-six years, resides on his well improved farm of 130 acres, situated two miles south of Wood- land, Pa. He was born in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., in 1859, and is a son of John W. and Sophia H. (Shirey) Kyler.
John W. Kyler was also born in Clear- field County and was a son of Jacob Kyler. who came to this section with his parents when young. Thus the family naturally is numbered with the early ones of the county. John W. Kyler bought a farm in Boggs Township upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1901, his widow surviving until 1908.
Leonard Kyler attended the schools of Boggs Township in his youth and has de- voted himself ever since to farm pursuits. He has resided on his present place ever since his marriage, with the exception of the first six months, and has developed this farm into one of the best in the township. His industries are general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Kyler was married in 1883, to Miss Edith Smeal, of Bradford Township, Clear- field County, and they have had nine chil- dren born to them, namely: Gussie, a suc- cessful teacher at Bigler ; Rosella, who died at the age of two years ; Belva L., who was married in 1910 to Walter B. Wagner, they now reside at Blue Ball, Boggs Township; Luella Jane ; Catherine ; John W .; Berton, who died when aged eight months; and Sophia and Robert Leonard. Mr. Kyler and family are members of the Presbyterian church at Bigler, of which he was treasurer for five years. He has been active in local politics, served three years as school
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director and at present is the efficient asses- sor of Bradford Township. Mr. Kyler is widely known and is held in general esteem by his fellow citizens.
HON. HARRY BOULTON, who has been engaged in the practice of law at Houtzdale, Pa., since 1897 and is a recog- nized leader of the Clearfield County bar, is also quite prominent in Republican politics in this section. He was born in England, in 1872, and came to America in 1886, locat- ing first in Arizona, where he joined his father. One year later he came to Houtz- dale, Pa., and has resided here ever since.
Mr. Boulton obtained a public school edu- cation, later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1897 and in 1904 associated with Hon. Cyrus Gordon, in the practice of law. The death of Judge Gordon in 19II dissolved this partnership. He has taken a large amount of interest in public questions and is considered a leader of his party in Clearfield County. He has never sought political honors unduly for himself, how- ever, but is willing to work hard for his friends. From 1894 until 1898 he was secre- tary of the Republican County Committee, and was county chairman from 1899 until 1903. In the latter year his party elected him a member of the state legislature and he served until 1905 and in the special ses- sion of 1906. In 1908 he was sent as a dele- gate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago. Quite recently he has been again honored by an appointment as a mem- ber of the arbitration board for Central Pennsylvania, representing the coal operat- ors, this being a direct recognition of his fair minded and conservative temperament.
Mr. Boulton married Miss Emily V. Smith, at Houtzdale, who was born in New Jersey, and they have had two children : Harold J. and Eleanor, the latter of whom died in 1910. Mr. Boulton is a Mason, be- longing to Osceola Lodge No. 515; to the Commandery at Phillipsburg, and to Jaffa Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Altoona. He is somewhat interested as a coal operator and is a member of the directing board of the First National Bank of Houtzdale.
HENRY E. GINTER, president of the Keystone Mercantile Company, at DuBois, Pa., has been a resident of Clearfield County since 1851 and is prominently identified with many of the most important business inter- ests of the county. He was born at Harris- burg, Pa., September 17, 1844, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Miller) Ginter.
George Ginter was born and reared in Bavaria, Germany, where he learned the shoemaking trade, one that he followed all his life. After coming to America he located in the city of Philadelphia and there was soon married to Elizabeth Miller. In 1835 they moved to Harrisburg and sixteen years later, in 1851, to Clearfield, making a part of the trip in a farm wagon. Mr. Ginter had come to what was then a very wild region with the intention of securing land for his children and to provide for old age. He purchased 120 acres in the woods, in Brady Township and lived as renter until a cabin could be built. Fortunately it was the spring of that year, May, and as soon as the other settlers in that region heard of his need of a house, they gathered, as was the friendly custom among pioneers at that time, and soon had a comfortable round log
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house ready for occupancy, constructing it all in one day. Later a barn was added and before his death, Mr. Ginter had cleared twenty acres of his land. He did not live long enough to be able to really enjoy the results of his enterprise and industry, his death occurring in 1857, when he was fifty- five years of age. His widow survived until 1880, passing away at the age of sixty-seven years. They had six children born to them, three of whom died young. The three who reached maturity were : George, Joel A. and Henry Edward. George Ginter was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, during the Civil War, while serving as a soldier in Co. A. 105th Pa. Vol. Inf. Joel A. Ginter was a member of the same regi- ments as his older brother but lived to re- turn to peaceful pursuits and now resides in Indiana County, Pa.
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