Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 49

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 49

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Henry Edward Ginter was seven years old when his parents came to Clearfield County and he had little chance to go to school as at that time Brady Township's school system was practically unorganized and also, on the pioneer farm there was work for every pair of hands. When thirteen years old, after the death of his father, he was hired by a neighboring farmer to drive the horses on the old-time horse-power threshing machine and for this work he was paid twenty-five cents a day. It was in this way that the present capitalist, manufact- urer, man of affairs in which the handling of thousands of dollars is a daily occurrence, earned the money with which to buy his first pair of boots, for which he paid six dollars. Mr. Ginter relates as an indication of the caution which probably has had consider- able to do with his successful management

of important concerns in later life, that for years he would never enter into any busi- ness contract with an employer except on a basis of one day's labor, and by this arrange- ment was able to terminate any connection which he found undesirable.

When Mr. Ginter was seventeen years of age he began rafting, a dangerous and difficult branch of the lumber industry, and from then until he was twenty-one years old his work was taking lumber rafts down Mahoning Creek and the Allegheny River to Pittsburg and frequently as far as Cincin- nati, O. In the year that he reached his ma- jority he purchased his first raft, which he safely guided down the river to Pittsburg. sell- ing it there and on this, his first venture, clear- ing $200. Finding that his undertakings in this line would probably be successful on account of his natural good judgment, Mr. Ginter continued his interest in the lumber business, broadening his operations until he found himself the owner of immense timber tracts, operating saw-mills and manufactur- ing lumber, shingles and square timber, at times having partners in his enterprises and at others being engaged alone. At the present date of writing (1910), he is de- veloping a tract of second growth timber in Brady Township. In 1869, Mr. Ginter, in partnership with Samuel Yohe, bought 218 acres of timber land from George Pentz in Brady Township, this being Mr. Ginter's first venture in this field. As before he found that his judgment had been correct and in a very short time this tract became so valuable that he was able to sell out his interest at a profit of $3300.

In 1873 Mr. Ginter found time to turn his attention to merchandising and in partner-

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ship with S. G. Koontz, embarked in a of Dr. J. G. Hilleary ; James E., who is a general mercantile business at Troutville, practicing physician at Tylor, Pa., married Adria Miles ; and Mordacai E., who married Catherine Blakesley, and they have one daughter, Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Ginter are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at DuBois and they are liberal in the support they give to the various benev- olent organizations conducted and author- ized by this religious body. Nevertheless they are quiet, home loving people whose bulk of charities are never known by the world. They enjoy a pleasant and comfort- able home which is situated at No. 223 E. Long Avenue, DuBois. Since 1869, Mr. Ginter has been a member of the Odd Fel- lows, identified with the lodge at Punxsu- tawney, and he belongs also to the Knights of Pythias. His political sentiments have made him a Republican but he has never been a candidate for any public office.

Pa., engaging also in a lumbering business and this firm continued for nine years, when Mr. Ginter sold out his interest in the part- nership and again devoted himself more particularly to his lumbering enterprises. He has by no means confined his attention, however, to this industry although, as pre- viously mentioned, his interests are large and important in it. In 1894 he moved to DuBois and here has identified himself in many ways with leading business interests. Among these may be mentioned his pres- idency of the Keystone Mercantile Com- pany, dealers in wholesale groceries both staple and fancy. He is a stockholder in the DuBois National Bank and is also a stockholder in the Punxsutawney National Bank, at Punxsutawney, Pa. He was one of the organizers and is vice president of the United Traction Street Railroad Company, and in all these and other enterprises his sound business sense and evenly balanced judgment have proved invaluable, contrib- uting largely to the success which has sig- nally marked them. He owns farming as well as timber lands in both Clearfield and Jefferson Counties.

Mr. Ginter was married in August, 1868, to Miss Louisa Kuntz, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Philip Kuntz. Mrs. Ginter came to America in 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Ginter six children have been born, namely: Harry I., who is a resident of DuBois, married Arlene Waterhouse ; Elizabeth, who married A. S. Moulthrop, and they have one son, Henry S .; Nora E., who married J. W. Schoch, and they have one son, Donald; Sallie A., who is the wife

W. E. DERRICK, one of Grampian's en- terprising and successful business men who conducts a general store and has frequently held public office, was born in a log cabin, situated four miles northwest of Grampian, Pa., in Bloom Township, Clearfield County, March 6, 1864. He is a son of W. G. and Eliza (Moore) Derrick.

W. G. Derrick was born in Pike Town- ship, Clearfield County, Pa., on the Thomp- son farm, on the Erie turnpike road, June 16, 1832, and attended school near Bridge- port. He married Eliza Moore, a daughter of James Moore, and they had nine children. of whom James, who is a carpenter, lives at Grampian ; Ella, Mrs. Dean, lives in Medina County, O .; Ellsworth, lives in Stark County, O .; W. E. is the subject of this

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sketch. At the outbreak of the Rebellion, W. G. Derrick enlisted for service under Col. A. E. Irvin, in the famous "Bucktail" regi- ment. He was wounded in the foot at the battle of the Wilderness and thereby re- ceived an injury that troubled him during the remainder of his life. When he entered the army his wife and four children moved to Grampian, where he subsequently joined them but in the next year sold out his interests there and moved with his family to Kaoland, Mo. Prior to that one more child had been born, Bertha, who is the wife of William Thomas, of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. Derrick resided in Missouri for four years and during that time was a prominent citizen in the community, serving as post- master and also as mail carrier. Before the return of Mr. and Mrs. Derrick one more child was born, David, who lives in Stark County, O .; and after reaching Grampian a daughter, Caroline, was born. She is now" deceased, having been the wife of Job Spencer. The family then moved to a farm in Penn Township, where two more children were born: Harry, who died at the age of two years ; and Victor, who died aged seven months. Mr. Derrick being somewhat in- capacitated on account of the injury to his foot, soon sold his farm and returned to Grampian, where he worked as a carpenter. He was a Republican after the Civil War and served in several public capacities both in the borough and township. His death occurred May 6, 1904, at the age of seventy- three years. His wife had passed away July 2, 1894, and both were buried in the Friends' Cemetery at Grampian.

W. E. Derrick attended school at Gram- pian and when old enough he went to Ohio

and worked by the month on farms in La- fayette Township, Medina County, for eight years. After his first marriage he engaged as a clerk with M. H. Lampman, at Lorain, O., afterward going out on the road for W. B. Chapman, Jr., a dealer in groceries in Medina County. Following the death of his first wife he returned to Grampian and was employed as a clerk by William McDonald for eight years and then for one year was manager for E. F. Spencer. Mr. Derrick then embarked in the meat business with C. G. Russell, the firm being Russell & Derrick, which continued for three years, when Mr. Derrick sold his interest and became a clerk for S. T. Orcutt, in the hardware business. In 1906 he bought the business of his former employer, William McDonald, and has de- veloped a large and constantly growing enterprise. In the winter of 1895, Mr. Der- rick worked for Mr. McDonald for fifty cents a day and in 1896, for seventy-five cents a day, and fourteen years later, through his prudence, industry and acquired experience, was able to purchase the busi- ness and make it his own. He has several valuable pieces of property, two lots being improved with buildings and two lots still vacant. His business capacity has been fully demonstrated.

On September 17, 1885. Mr. Derrick was married in Medina county, O., to Miss Macy Kindig, who was born in Wayne County, O., December 13, 1868, a daughter of David Kindig. Mrs. Derrick died July 21, 1893, and was survived by one daughter, Nora, who is the wife of William L. Nolder of Luthersburg, Pa., and they have two chil- dren: Anna May and Robert Lewis. Mr. Derrick was married September 21, 1898, to

H. A. WOODSIDE. M. D.

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Miss Kittie Shaw, a highly educated lady, who had been a school teacher for eight years previously. She is a daughter of G. Moody Shaw, of Medina County. They have one son, Charles Edinson, who was born January 6, 1901, who is a bright stu- dent in the Grampian graded school. On many occasions Mr. Derrick has been shown proof of the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He has served as assessor and for eight years as borough treasurer and has filled other offices, elected to the same on the Republican ticket. He is collector for the Harrison & Industrial Savings and Loan Association, of Gramp- ian, in which he is a stockholder. He is also a member of the P. O. S. of A.

H. A. WOODSIDE, M. D., physician and surgeon at Lumber City, Pa., where he is numbered with the public spirited and valua- ble citizens, was born in Boggs township, Clearfield county, Pa., August 10, 1871, and is a son of T. B. and Mary Ann (Turner) Woodside.

ham township, before he settled permanently as a farmer in Boggs township, where he owns 155 acres of valuable land. He has been a lifelong Democrat and has frequently served in township offices. Formerly he was identi- fied with the Odd Fellows. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

H. A. Woodside attended the public schools in Boggs township, then the Mahaffey school under G. W. L. Oster, in the class of 1889, and later the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, in 1893. He then taught four terms of school, one of these being in the Winburne High School. After this he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1897, and after a year of expe- rience in the Jefferson Hospital, he came to Lumber City in April, 1898. Dr. Woodside is a member of the county and state medical bodies and of the American Medical Associa- tion. He is a member of the board of health for the borough of Lumber City and also is health officer for Knox and Ferguson town- ships. He is local surgeon for the New York Central Railroad at this point. In addition to a large and lucrative practice he has other in- terests, being a stockholder in two of the lead- ing National Banks of the county, also is con- cerned in the Bickford store and meat market at Curwensville.

T. B. Woodside was born in Center county, Pa., in 1842, and was reared and educated in Center and Clearfield counties. In early man- hood he married Mary Ann Turner, a daugh- ter of John Turner of Boggs township, and they had nine children born to them, as fol- In April, 1890, Dr. Woodside was married to Miss Belle McClure, who was born in Pike township, a daughter of John R. McClure, and they have two children: Wendell H. and Hobart K. In politics Dr. Woodside is a Democrat, and a member of Masonic lodge, Noble Lodge No. 480, Curwensville. lows: H. A .; J. A., who lives at Philipsburg, Pa .; W. W., who is a clerk in the Bickford store at Curwensville; H. L., who is a physi- cian practicing at Clover Run, Clearfield county ; Guy, who is an iron worker, at Johns- town, Pa .; Roy, who lives in New Jersey ; and Donald, Vada and Letitia, all of whom live at home. T. B. Woodside maintained his home CHARLES D. McMURRAY, who is one in Boggs township, at Wallacetown and in Gra- of the representative business men of

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

Jordan Township, Clearfield County, Pa., May 8, 1893: Maud, born November 23, where he owns a valuable farm of 180 acres and has large lumber interests at other points, was born May 15. 1856, in Knox Township, Clearfield County, Pa.

John McMurray, who was the father of Charles D. McMurray, was a farmer all his life and was a highly respected man, a lead- ing member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Democrat and was a man well qualified for public office. He married Jane Alexander Hegarty, and both are now deceased, the burial of the father having been at New Washington, Pa., and that of the mother at Hegarty's Cross Roads. To them were born the following children : John Alexander, Robert Taylor, Catherine Jane, and Charles D. Catherine Jane is the wife of James D. Wiley.

Charles D. McMurray attended the dis- trict schools and afterward went to work in the woods but later embarked in a mercan- tile business at Ansonville, to which he came in 1883, and continued for twenty- seven years. He then resumed lumbering and at the present time is thus interested in Beccaria Township and also in Cambria County.

Mr. McMurray was married first in 1880, to Miss Malissa Shoff, a daughter of Samuel P. and Ruth (Ames) Shoff. She died in September, 1881, and her burial was at Hegarty's Cross Roads. They had two children ; Ferman and Mertie Ann, both of whom are deceased. Mr. McMurray was married second, October 5, 1886, to Mary Lavinia McKechen, a daughter of James and Mary Jane McKeehen, and they have had four children: Georgia Jane, who was born September 5. 1890; Ruth E., who was born

1896, who is deceased : and Dorcas L., who was born February 16, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. McMurray attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Ansonville. He is a Democrat in his political sentiments and has frequently served in public office, for six years being township treasurer, for five years auditor, and also township clerk and school director. He is a member of Curwensville Lodge. F. & A. M., and of the Odd Fellows at Anson- ville, and belongs also to the Encampment at Glen Hope.

N. R. MOORE, funeral director and em- balmer, one of the representative business men of DuBois, Pa., was born August 4. 1873. at Rockdale Mills, Jefferson County, Pa., and is a son of Thomas and Ellen (Mc- Morris) Moorc.

Thomas Moore was one of the pioneer settlers at Rockdale Mills, Pa. He was born in Ireland, came to America in early manhood and was married in Philadelphia to Ellen McMorris, also of Irish birth. They determined to establish a home and as they had but small capital, they were forced to seek a still unsettled region, one in which their thrift and industry would provide for their future. They crossed the mountains into Jefferson County and reached Tyrone in Blair County and from there went by ox- teams to Rockdale Mills, where they started a general store, Mr. Moore having to haul all his merchandise from Tyrone, a long distance. He was a cabinetmaker and a part of his work was the making of coffins. He was a very neat and expert workman. At that time the shape of a coffin was like that of a kite and Mr. Moore's measure-

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ments were very simple, length of body and breadth of shoulders being alone necessary. For many years he constructed these ten- porary receptacles of the dead in his neigh- borhood. He was widely known and lived a busy, useful life, dying at the age of seventy-three years. His widow survived until 1903, when aged seventy-four years. They had the following children born to them : Ella, who is the wife of A. U. Moore ; James, who is deceased; Louisa, who is the wife of A. J. Riley; John; Bessie, who is the wife of J. H. Brown; Emma ; Matilda M., who is the wife of W. F. Hay ; N. Rob- ert, and William.

N. Robert Moore first attended school at Rockdale Mills and later took a course in the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, O. From the age of fourteen years until he was twenty-six years old he followed the car- penter's trade. In 1889 he went to Alle- gheny and there entered the well known undertaking establishment of James Low- ery. in order to learn the business in a thorough manner, and later took a course and received his diploma, at the Champion College of Embalming. He then engaged in an undertaking business and dealt also in furniture, at Rural Valley, where he con- tinued until 1901, when he came to DuBois. Here in 1901 he bought out the business of C. N. Miller, at his present location, on Long Avenue. He purchased the property on September 15. 1910, and on the fifth of the succeeding October, he suffered a loss of his buildings from fire. He went into temporary quarters, where he remained until his present complete and commodious buildings were erected. His office and show rooms occupy one-half of the ground floor

of his building, with a morgue, sanitary in every particular, in the basement. His office is handsomely furnished and every convenience is placed at the disposal of those who have business with him. Mr. Moore has probably the finest general equipments for funerals in all this section. He has a number of fine horses, among these being a team of pure white Arabians, which he purchased in Indiana and which are said to be the best matched team in Clearfield County. He has a number of vehicles appropriate for his business, includ- ing black and white funeral cars, a silver grey ambulance, a call wagon, etc., all of these being given storage in a near-by liv- ery stable. Mr. Moore's patronage comes from over a wide territory. His business is conducted with the dignity that it de- mands and careful attention is given to every detail.

On October 28, 1898, Mr. Moore was married to Miss E. Pearl Laughery, a daughter of W. G. Laughery, of Beach Tree, Pa., and they have two children, Harold and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 559, F. & A. M., and Garfield Chapter, No. 225, at DuBois, and also of the Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias.

PETER BROWN, who, for twenty-six years has been a resident of Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pa., is one of its leading citizens and successfully carries on farming and stockraising on his 118 acres of valuable land. Mr. Brown was born in Ireland and is a son of James and Grace Brown.

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When Mr. Brown was a child of four years, and has served two years as supervisor, sev- his parents emigrated to Canada and he was enteen years as tax collector and for fifteen years as school director. reared and attended school there and helped his father, who was a farmer and stock buyer. Both parents died there, some twenty years since. They were good people, respected as neighbors and earnest members of the Catholic church.

At the age of seventeen years, Peter Brown started out from home to make his own way in the world. He crossed the line into New York and then came to Williamsport, Pa., finding plenty of work in the lumber regions and con- tinuing to labor in the woods until 1895, when he bought his present farm and since then has devoted himself mainly to farming and stock- raising, producing wheat, corn and oats, and cattle and hogs. His land lies fifteen miles southwest of Clearfield, which is his market. It is all underlaid with coal and fireclay and other minerals, and there are So acres covered with a fine growth of young timber, such as white oak, red oak, and chestnut, with some pine. In the summer time hundreds of people come here from Clearfield to spent the day, driving back in the evening.

Mr. Brown was married to Miss Han- nah Krise. a daughter of Daniel Krise, of Girard township, and they started house- keeping at Laurel Run. They had one daugh- ter. Mary, who grew into a beautiful woman. She became the wife of Robert Green and the mother of three children: Iva, Jennings and C. C. Her death occurred at the early age of thirty-four years, leaving many to mourn her loss. Mr. Brown and wife are members of St. Francis' Catholic Church at Frenchville. As a man of sterling character, energy and good judgment, Mr. Brown has frequently been elected to township offices by his fellow citizens

ABRAM C. SHOFF, owner and proprietor of a general store at Madera, Pa., located on Main Street, was born April 16, 1849, in what was then Beccaria but is now Bigler Township, Clearfield County. Pa. His parents were Samuel and Jane (Hegarty) Shoff. The fa- ther came to Clearfield County from Lancas- ter, while it is probable that the mother was born on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, old family records having been lost.

Abram C. Shoff obtained his education in the country schools and as soon as old enough and strong enough went to work in the woods and continued lumbering until it was no longer profitable in this section, the land being practi- cally all cleared off. He owns three acres of land outside of Madera and enjoys looking after its cultivation. In 1890 he embarked in the mercantile business at his present stand and has built up an excellent trade and is ably as- sisted in this enterprise by his capable wife.

Mr. Shoff was married June 19, 1879, to Miss Cynthia E. Lukens, a daughter of J. A. and Agnes (Maguigen) Lukens. Mrs. Abram C. (Lukens) Shoff's paternal ancestors can be traced back five generations. Gabriel Lukens came to America from Germany, one of two brothers; sons, Charles and John, both survey- ors appointed by the Governor under King George. The former did much of the early surveying in Centre County. John was killed by the Indians near Standing Stone, Hunting- don County.

The third in descent was Abraham Lukens, who wedded --- Brown of Juniata Coun- ty; he was twice married, his second wife be-

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ing Miss Maggie Sanderson. His son David He was born August 2, 1870, in Huntingdon wedded Elizabeth Sunderland, daughter of County, Pa., and is a son of John and Katherine McMullen, who never resided in Clearfield County. David and Hamilton Sunderland of Mifflin County, who were of Scotch descent. Four children weer born to this union, James A. being the eldest. The others were Wm. B., Sarah A. Jones, and David of Atchison, Kan., all now deceased. They were mainly Presby- terians.

On the maternal John Maguigen wedded Cross, both of Lancaster County but later came to Mifflin County. To this union there were five children. Mrs. Agnes ( Magui- gen) Lukens is in her 84th year and is the mother of Cynthia E. (Lukens) Shoff. Her other children were: William A., of Clear- field, Pa .; Clara; Blanche and Jessie W., both of whom are deceased : Bertha, who is the wife of W. C. Smith of Johnstown, Pa. ; and Emma, who is deceased, was the wife of George C. Ro- land, of Indiana, Pa. The grandfathers of Mrs. Shoff were David Lukens and John Ma- guigen. Her parents were members of the Baptist church. Her father was a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Shoff have seven children, name- ly : William A., who lives in Madera; Charles, who is manager of a company store at Beulah, Clearfield County; Edna, who is the wife of E. P. Hagan, of Osceola Mills; and Benton, V. E., Joseph C. and Wilhelmina. Mr. and Mrs. Shoff attend the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. For a number of years he has belonged to Lodge No. 669, Odd Fellows, at Glen Hope, Pa.

GEORGE F. MCMULLEN, owner and proprietor of the Grampian Hotel, at Gram- pian, Pa., and a member of the borough school board and is one of the representa- tive citizens and enterprising business men.

George F. McMullen was reared and edu- cated in Franklin County, Pa. In March, 1901, he started in business in the Hotel Aberdeen. Selling out he engaged in the mercantile business being in the firm of A. McGrath & Co. In August, 1904, he again engaged in the Hotel business in Grampian Hotel and in the following year tore down the old building, which had been standing for 40 years, replacing it with a three-story brick hotel, with modern conveniences, heated by a hot water system. He has twenty well furnished bed-rooms and six other rooms for hotel purposes. Mr. Mc- Mullen makes the moderate charge of $1.50 per day while he offers his guests a bill of fare that includes both substantials and dainties. He is widely known and his house is very popular. Mr. McMullen carries a license.

In 1901 Mr. McMullen was married to Miss Lillie Flynn, who was born at Gram- pian, a daughter of M. M. Flynn. They have three children, John, Mary and George. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen are members of the Catholic church. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 540, B. P. O. E., at Clearfield.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 49

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