Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 52

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 52

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ROBERT E. HUNTER

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vonla. His residence and the office for his undertaking business are located at Coalport, while his other business interests are in Ir- vona, and he is known at both places as a self- made, self-reliant business man and as an en- terprising and public-spirited citizen. He is fraternally connected with Mattawana Castle No. 152, A. O. K. of M. C., with the Rose Bud and Oconomowak Tribes of the Order of Red Men, and with Mckinley Lodge No. 181, Knights of Pythias of Irvona.

On January 11, 1911, Mr. Hunter was united in marriage with Miss Marguerite Wil- liams, daughter of Miles and Susan Williams, who live at Utahville and are old residents of Clearfield county. Mr. Hunter resided in Ir- vona until the spring of 1910, since which time he has been living in his comfortable residence at Coalport. While making his home in Ir- vona he took an active interest in political mat- ters and served several terms as judge of election.

CHARLES HARVEY NOTTER, pro- prietor of the DuBois Roller Mills, manufac- turer of and wholesale dealer in flour and feed, has been a resident of DuBois, Pa., since 1889. He was born at New Amsterdam, WVis., October 10, 1860, and is a son of David and Mary (Loubshier) Notter.

David Notter was born in Germany and came to America when a young man. He was married afterward to Mary Loubshier, who was born and reared in Clinton county, Pa., and they made their home in Wisconsin until 1868, when they returned to Clinton county, Pa., where Mrs. Notter died shortly afterward. David Notter subsequently took up his residence again in Wisconsin and spent the rest of his life there. Four children were

born to David and Mary Notter, as follows : Carrie, who is the wife of J. C. Dimling, of Renova, Pa .; Charles Harvey; David, who lives in New York: and John, who is a resi- dent of Allegheny, Pa.

Charles H. Notter was eight years old when his parents settled in Clinton county, Pa., near Lock Haven, and there he was educated in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he bought an interest in the Muckelhat- ten mill at Muckelhatten, which he retained for one year and after disposing of it spent a short time in Ohio and in Western Pennsyl- vania in search of a promising business loca- tion, selecting DuBois in 1889. Here, in asso- ciation with Sidney Fuller and John McCul- lough, he built the DuBois Roller mill, the first one erected after the memorable fire that had destroyed so many business houses in the pre- vious year. Later, Mr. Notter bought Mr. Fuller's interest in the plant and still later, Mr. Mccullough's share. The first mill was a rather small affair but after Mr. Notter be- came sole owner he showed a great deal of enterprise in making additions and improve- ments. The present capacity of the mill is fifty barrels of flour and fifty barrels of buck- wheat per day, and the feed mill is kept busy all the time, the business being both wholesale and retail. The location of the plant, on the corner of Sandy and DuBois streets, affords fine railroad facilities.

In June, 1889, Mr. Notter was married to Miss Mary Fugate, a daughter of J. J. and Elizabeth (Bare) Fugate, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Notter have four children, namely: Mary Irene, who is a graduate of the DuBois High School, of Mrs. Meade's Girls' School, of Norwalk, Conn., a student for one year at Wellesley College,

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and now in her second year at Oberlin Col- lege ; John C., who is a graduate of the DuBois High School and is now in his second year in the Pennsylvania State College at Center Coun- ty; and Charles H. and Stephen Fugate. Mr. Notter believes in higher education and places a value on scholarship, hence he is affording his children superior advantages. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen. Politically a Demo- crat, he has been elected by his party to mem- bership on the borough council, where his prac- tical business sense has made him very valua- ble. In 1902 he erected his handsome brown stone residence, at No. 42 \V. Scribner avenue, Du Bois.

WILLIAM A. DEWALT, who is engaged in a mill business at Irvona, Pa., owning saw and grist mills, together with a planing-mill, has other business interests, in the direction of carpenter contracting and is one of the sub- stantial and representative men of the place. He was born November 20, 1858, in Beccaria township, Clearfield county, Pa., and is a son of Joseph J. and Sarah Dewalt.

The parents of Mr. Dewalt were born in Adams county, Pa. The father moved with his family to Clearfield county in 1848 and spent his subsequent life in Beccaria town- ship, where he followed the carpenter trade. He died in 1896, aged fifty-eight years and was survived two years by his widow. They had the following children : Jennie, who is the wife of Isaac Smith, of Glen Hope; Ellen, who is the wife of W. K. Lull, also of Glen Hope; Catherine, who is the wife of W. B. Wright, a farmer, living near Glen Hope; George W., who is a carpenter and contractor, residing in Florida; and William A.

William A. Dewalt attended the public schools until he was about twelve years of age and then learned the carpenter trade and re- mained and worked with his father until he was twenty-two years old. For the past twenty-two years Mr. Dewalt has been a resi- dent of Irvona, coming here from Glen Hope. He erected his planing-mill in 1895 and added a saw-mill three years later and in 1909 built his grist-mill. He has carried on his various business enterprises with prudence and good judgment and has met with satisfactory results in all his undertakings.

On November 4, 1880, Mr. Dewalt was married to Miss Hattie Lull, a daughter of J. W. Lull, residing near Glen Hope, and they have four sons and one daughter, namely: Paul W., who served as a member of the Ma- rine Corps, and was in the Philippine Islands, but who is now assisting his father; Eugene, who is with the Elk Tannery Company ; Ralph, who married Martha Bailey, of Ir- vona, has two children-Catherine and Elsie ; Bertha and Lawrence, who are at home. Mr. Dewalt is a Prohibitionist in politics and is a very consistent man. He has served several times in the borough council and for some seven years has been a member of the school board. Having always been honest and up- right in his dealings with his fellow men, Mr. Dewalt has earned and enjoys their friendship and esteem.

WALLACE STEELE BRYAN, M. D., physician and surgeon, at Ramey, Pa., has been a resident of this borough for the past three years and has built up a very satisfac- tory practice and is in the enjoyment of the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born June 30, 1878, at Indiana, Pa.,

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and is a son of John R. and Mary E. (Dumm) Bryan.

John R. Bryan was also born in Indiana county, a son of John R. Bryan. The Bryan family is an old one in that section, second only to the Dumm family and both are of Scotch-Irish extraction. John R. Bryan, father of Dr. Bryan, is a contractor and a well known business man. He married Mary E. Dumm, a daughter of Cyrus M. Dumm, and they had two children: Minnie, who is the wife of R. M. Smith; and Wallace S.

Wallace S. Bryan enjoyed superior educa- tional advantages and before he started upon the study of medicine secured literary degrees indicative of high scholarship. From the pub- lic schools of Indiana, Pa., he entered the Nor- mal School there and subsequently became a student at the Washington-Jefferson College, at Washington, Pa., bearing off his degree of A. B. in 1902, and that of A. M. in 1905. He then entered Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1906. Dr. Bryan spent one year as an in- terne at the Mckeesport, Pa., Hospital, after which he practiced there for two years and then came to Ramey. He is identified with various medical bodies and keeps thoroughly abreast with the times in his profession.

Dr. Bryan was married June 10, 1907, to Miss Clara V. Howell, the only daughter of Josiah and Flora ( Mains) Howell, who were natives of Allegheny county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Howell had one son, William Howell. Dr. and Mrs. Bryan have one daughter, Mary E. They are members of the United Presby- terian church. He is not very active polit- ically but casts his vote with the Republican party.

GEORGE M. BILGER, attorney at law and a leading member of the Clearfield bar, was born at Curwensville, Pa., September 15, 1861. His parents were Jacob and Hannah (Gray) Bigler. The father for many years was extensively engaged in the lumber indus- try.

George M. Bilger was educated at Cur- wensville and graduated from the High School in 1878 and from Dickinson College in 1883. He then turned his attention to the study of law being accepted as a student by Hon. W. C. Arnold, and in March, 1886, was admitted to the Clearfield county bar and subsequently to the Allegheny county bar. His practice has been general in character and his success has been such as to place his name among the fore- most attorneys of Clearfield. He is in hearty accord with the Democratic party and has done loyal work for the cause.

Mr. Bilger was married to Miss Annella Furguson, a daughter of William B. Furgu- son. and they have three children. Mr. Bilger and family reside at No. 412 E. Market street, Clearfield, Pa. For a number of years he has been active in the Masonic fraternity, and has devoted considerable of his time to literary work.

E. T. BIRD, proprietor of the Palace Ho- tel, a first class hostelry located on the corner of Reed and Third Streets, Clearfield, Pa., is one of the borough's enterprising and wide awake business men. He was born at Eagles- ville, Center county, Pa., April 4, 1873.

Mr. Bird was educated in the public schools and the Lock Haven Normal School, receiving a teacher's certificate from the latter institution, but before he made use of this doc-

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ument, he became interested in the saw-mill business at Reynoldsville, Pa., where he con- tinued until 1897. He came then to Clearfield and bought the Palace Restaurant, from J. L. Heeton, which he has successfully conducted ever since as an all night eating-house. Two years later he was granted a license under Judge Gordon and since then has carried on a regular hotel business. The Palace Hotel is well arranged for the comfort and conven- ience of guests, there being forty bed rooms, a dining room, lobby, office and writing room, all well equipped and kept in first class order. Mr. Bird's moderate charges are $1.50 per day. Making a specialty of a good table, in spite of the present high prices of food stuffs. Mr. Bird has many patrons and these come from the traveling public and also from set- tled people who can appreciate comforts.

Mr. Bird was married in 1908 to Miss Ada S. Scott, of Reynoldsville, and they have one son, Carl. In politics, Mr. Bird is a Repub- lican. He is identified with the higher branches of Masonry, belonging to the Con- sistory at Williamsport and Shrine at Wilkes- Barre, and to the Blue Lodge at Clearfield. He belongs also to the B. P. O. E., the F. O. E., and the Red Men.

L. W. SPENCER, cashier of the Curwens- ville National Bank. at Curwensville, Pa., has been more or less identified with the business interests of Lumber City and Curwensville, all his mature life. He was born at Lumber City, Clearfield county, Pa., and is the only surviv- ing child of H. W. and Amanda M. (Garret- son) Spencer.

H. W. Spencer was born at Grampian Hill, Clearfield county. Pa., August 21, 1832, and died at Curwensville at the age of 74 years.

He was a man of much business enterprise and was a carpenter and contractor, also a mer- chant and lumber dealer. He served in nu- merous public offices, was postmaster of Lum- ber City and later was burgess of Curwers- ville. He erected many buildings at Lumber City and the Spencer Building in Curwens- ville, in which the business of L. W. Spencer & Co., was carried on for a long time, he be- ing the senior partner. He married Amanda M. Garretson, who died at the age of 67 years. She was a woman of many Christian virtues and a consistent member of the Society of Friends. H. W. Spencer was a member also of the lumber firm of Kirk & Spencer and was a stockholder in the Curwensville National Bank.

L. W. Spencer attended the schools of Lum- ber City and later took a business course in the Eastman Commercial College at Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., and afterward went into the mer- cantile business with his father at Lumber City. In 1877 the family moved to Curwens- ville and he continued in the mercantile busi- ness under the style of L. W. Spencer & Co., which he subsequently sold. He then became cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Cur- wensville which later consolidated with the Curwensville National Bank, an institution of high financial standing in Clearfield county.

In 1902 Mr. Spencer was married to Miss Dema England, who is a daughter of John R. and Sarah England, residents of Leroy, O. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer reside on Ridge avenue, Curwensville. He is a member of the Society of Friends. In politics, like his late father, he is a Republican. He served as councilman and on the school board of this borough and on many occasions has served on committees of public importance. He is identified fraternally with

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the Masons, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery and to the higher branches at Philadelphia, and also to the Odd Fellows at Curwensville.

REUBEN HOLT, one of the leading and best known citizens of Graham township, Clearfield county, Pa., which has been his home for fifty-six years, owns a valuable farm of 115 acres, situated ten miles east of Clearfield and has other public and private interests in this section. He was born in Bradford township, Clearfield county, Pa., in 1851, and is a son of John and Drusilla Holt.

John Holt was also born in Bradford township, a son of Thomas Holt, a native of England, who was a very early settler there, where his life was subsequently spent as a farmer and lumberman. John Holt was reared and educated in Bradford town- ship and became a school teacher. He was a man of much public spirit, a natural leader, and he was very frequently elected to public offices of responsibility. For fif- teen years he was a justice of the peace in Graham township and at different times efficiently served in about all of the other township offices. It was through his enter- prise that Graham township was organized and he was the first postmaster at Wallace- ton. After a long, busy and honorable life, he died on the above mentioned farm, in the spring of 1880. His widow survived until 1891.

Reuben Holt was three years old when his parents settled in Graham township and here he was reared. He attended the pub- lic schools and later, preparing for the ca- reer of a teacher, became a student in the

Millersville State Normal School. Subse- quently he taught one term of school at Wolf Run, one at Williamsgrove, one at Wallaceton and one at Stoneville, meeting with excellent results. He then embarked in the mercantile business at Osceola, Pa., where he remained for two years and then returned to Graham township, where he has been interested in farming and lumbering ever since. Mr. Holt, like his late father, has been a very active citizen. He was as- sistant postmaster while his father served as postmaster at Wallaceton, and in 1900 he was appointed postmaster at Sington, the duties being familiar on account of his former training. In 1908 he was appointed a justice of the peace, on the Democratic ticket and secretary of the school board. Mr. Holt also conducts a general store at Sington and is agent for the Graham town- ship Telephone Company.

In 1874 Mr. Holt was married to Miss Margaret Forcey, of Graham township, and they started to housekeeping at Wallace- ton. To them were born a large and un- usually talented family, all of whom have been given educational advantages and a number of whom have developed into suc- cessful teachers. The following is the fam- ily record: H. G., who married Miss Jen- nie Donaldson, of Philadelphia, and has three children-Donald R., Margaret and Graydon ; C. P., formerly a teacher in Clear- field county, is now district attorney, resid- ing at Shawnee City, Okla., married Miss Mabel Davis, and they have one son, C. P., Jr .: Anna Edna, who taught five terms of school in Clearfield county, is the wife of Walter Harker, of New Jersey, and they have two children-Evelyn and Margaret;

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Clyde F., who married Miss Grace McGov- connected with coal mining since boyhood. ern, of Philadelphia, and they had one son, He was born March 24, 1865, at Shafton, Westmoreland county, Pa., and was an only child. His mother subsequently married John Milsom and a large family was born to that union, namely: Alice J., wife of Joseph Knapper; Charles H .; John E .; Daniel : Elizabeth, wife of Charles E. Diehl ; Margaret, wife of Thomas Gatehouse ; Anna, wife of William Johns; Phebe, wife of A. C. Bowser; Sarah J., wife of Charles J. Neff, and Edward J. Reuben John, who died in infancy ; Mabel M .. who taught cight terms of school in Clearfield county, is the wife of Roy Woodside, of Boggs township, and they have one son, Thomas C .; Ora B., who taught three terms of school in Clearfield county, married Frank Smith, and they have one son, Les- lie C .; Minnie, who taught three terms of school in Clearfield county, married Charles Kreder, of New Jersey, and they have three sons-Le Nard, Karl and Kenneth ; Grover C., superintendent of gas plant at Shawnee, Okla., who is married and has one daughter, Maurine Estell : Lloyd M., who is a student in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, previously taught school ; May C., a teacher who is attending Wilson College, at Cham- bersburg, Pa .; Vida N., who is a student in Perkiomen Seminary, at Pemsburg, Pa .; and Carric V., who is also a student at Perk- iomen Seminary. Mr. Holt and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church in Graham township, of which he is a trustee. The first wife of Mr. Holt died in 1893. In 1895 he was married to a widow. Mrs. Ella M. Stillman of Lewistown, Ill., who was born in Columbus, O., but reared and educated in Illinois. Mr. Holt has long been identified with the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and is a member of Lodge No. 885, at Sing- ton, Pa.

WILLIAM J. JONES, secretary of the school board of Bigler township, Clearfield county, Pa., and a representative business man of Madera, is mine foreman for the Swoope Coal Company, a man of expe- rience in this line, having been more or less

William J. Jones was reared by his grand- parents, John W. and Elizabeth Jones. He attended school in Trumbull county, O., and in Mercer county, Pa., but was only thir- teen years old when he began the hard work of a mine boy. With the exception of a period of cleven years, during which he conducted a general store at Portage, in Cambria county, he has spent his entire life in con- nection with coal mines in some capacity. He came to Madera in 1902 to take the place of mine foreman and still fills this import- ant position. He has always been an active and interested citizen since reaching ma- turity and has accepted public responsibili- ties on many occasions. During his resi- dence in Cambria county he served three years as county auditor, being elected on the Republican ticket with a plurality of 1.500 votes. He has also served several years as judge of elections and in spite of his many business duties has been willing to serve on the school board on account of his interest in general education. His children are re- ceiving many advantages in the way of schooling that he was never able to enjoy.

On October 2, 1895, Mr. Jones was mar- ried to Flora A. Wilson, a daughter of

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George H. and Roxanna M. (Moreland) Wilson, who had other children as follows : Joseph H .; Mary, wife of Joel Venable ; Clara, wife of O. D. Thompson : Alice. wife of James H. Alexander; Albert M .; Edwin D .: John W .; Laura C., wife of A. M. Jax- theimer : and Lanora M., wife of W. H. Mc- Fall. The father was a farmer and mill- wright in Mercer county.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two sons- George Raymond and Arthur Leslie-and an adopted daughter, Esther L. Wilson, a niece. She attends the Madera High School and will graduate with the 1911 class. Mr. Jones and family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and belongs to the Blue Lodge at Osceola, and is a member of the P. O. S. of A. No. 593, at Madera. Mr. Jones has in- vested in property at Madera and owns a fine residence.

CHARLES LIVINGSTON TOR- RENCE, a marble and granite dealer lo- cated on Fourth Street. Clearfield, Pa., has been a resident of this borough since 1900 and was born November 6, 1862, at Punx- sutawney, Pa., a son of Silas Fenton and Jennie (McHenry) Torrence.

The Hon. James Torrence, grandfather of our subject, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and was of Irish parentage. When a young man Judge Torrence came to Punxsutawney, where he operated a tan- nery, which is still in existence, and was one of the first to establish a business in this section of the county. He was subsequently made associate judge of Jefferson county through the efforts of his Presbyterian and

Republican friends. He spent the remain- der of his life in Punxsutawney and died at the age of 75 years. He was the father of the following children: Silas F., father of our subject ; Dr. Monroe Torrence, of In- diana, Pa. : William C., who lives at Punx- sutawney, Pa .; George a resident of Punx- sutawney; and two daughters, deceased.

Silas F. Torrence was born in Punx- sutawney, Pa., and died there in 1890, aged 60 years. He was a tanner by trade, but also followed lumbering some years. He is survived by his widow, Jennie McHenry Torrence (a daughter of James McHenry, now deceased), and the following children : William, Anna, who is the wife of M. Ket- tler, Charles L., Hugh B., Paul F., and Earl M.

Charles L. Torrence grew to maturity in Punxsutawney, where he attended the local schools, and at the age of fourteen began working at his trade during the summer months with Robinson Brothers. He con- tinued in their employ for sixteen years, and in 1900 came to Clearfield and bought out B. Koozer, who was located on Third Street. In 1905 he came to his present place on Fourth Street, where he does marble and granite interior work and monumental work.

Mr. Torrence was joined in marriage with Savilla C. Palmer, a daughter of Philip Palmer, deceased, and their children are: William George, Cecil Miles, Anna Pearl, and Charles L., Jr. Mr. Torrence is frater- nally a Mason and an I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.

JULIUS VIEBAHN, vice president of the First National Bank of Houtzdale, Pa., is one of the solid business men and repre-

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sentative citizens of this borough. He was born October 12, 1847, in Germany, and is a son of Frederick William and Anna Marie (Theis) Vicbahn.

Frederick William Viebahn was a man of much importance and gained so wide a rep- utation as a mine expert that the German government sent him to America to make a study of anthracite coal. He never had any intention of remaining in the United States. and Julius was the only member of his family who ever settled permanently here.

Julius Viebahn was given excellent edu- cational advantages in his own land and later served five years in the Prussian Army, being a lieutenant in his company, and was not yet nineteen years old when he partici- pated in the war of Prussia and Austria, and later the war of 1870-1, taking part in thirty- two battles. He was honorably discharged in March, 1871, and in the following month took passage in the steamer City of New York, and reached the United States in the latter part of April. From May until Octo- ber he remained at Newark, N. J., and then came to Clearfield and in the winter follow- ing to Houtzdale. In 1875 he visited Little Horn River, in the Black Hills, where he spent a winter and in the spring reached Springfield, Ill., where he assisted in the construction of the new State House. In 1878 he married and returned permanently to Houtzdale, where, for eighteen years he conducted a wholesale brewing business.

On July 18, 1878, Mr. Viebahn was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Lewis, who was born in Tioga county, Pa. She was a daughter of Owen Lewis, of Welsh birth but who was a resident of Houtzdale at the time of his death. Mrs. Viebahn died December 27.

1908, a lady who was beloved in the family circle and esteemed by all her acquaintan- ces. Seven children were born to them: Frederick, John H., Edward Amos, William W., Elizabeth, Anna Mary and Julius, Jr. The eldest son, Frederick, who was born February 25, 1879, died at the age of ten years. John H., who was born June 20, 1880, served in the Spanish-American War under Colonel Ray, a member of Co. I, U. S. Vol. Inf., and now resides in New York. Edward Amos, who was born June 4, 1882 conducts a hotel at Smoke Run, Pa. He was educated in Germany and while there met the lady who later became his wife, Miss Hedwig Wienhues. William W., who was born March 7, 1884, attended school in Germany for eighteen months and has been a student in Dickinson University and the University of Pennsylvania. He has been much interested in baseball and hias con- tracted to pitch for the season of 1911 for the Nashville, Tenn., baseball team. Elizabeth has been an instructor in the pub- lic schools of Clearfield county for some years, a highly cultured young lady. Anna Mary is an accomplished musician. The youngest son, Julius, who was born in De- cember, 1890, died November 9, 1900. He was a musical prodigy, in childhood being able to reproduce on musical instruments at home, operas to which he had listened. His carly death no doubt deprived the world of a great musician for the future.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 52

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