Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 55

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 55

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He was married to a daughter of Hon. Richard Shaw, of Clearfield, Pa., July 20, 1848. He died in New York, May 22, 1896, and was buried in the family plot in Clearfield, Pa. Senator Wallace left to survive him a widow, Margaret A. Wallace, who died Marchi IS, 1911, at Clearfield, Pa., and the following children who all reside in Clearfield, Pa .; Mary W. Krebs, widow of David L. Krebs; Edgar Shaw Wallace; Harry F. Wallace; William E. Wallace; Gussie L. Wrigley, wife

Mr. Shoff was married in 1861 to Miss Elizabeth Stitt, who died December 22, 1906, and is buried at Beulah, Pa. She was a daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Glass) Stitt, natives of Cambria county, whose other children were named as follows: El- len, George, Nancy, James and Christopher. To Mr. and Mrs. Shoff the following chil- dren were born: S. T .: Emma, who is the wife of Andrew Colwell; and J. F., Willis D., Luther, James A., and Lena. Mr. Shoff and family are members of the Lutheran church.

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

JAMES FRANK McFARLANE, one of the leading citizens of Utahville, Pa., post- master at this point and ticket, freight and express agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and also justice of the peace, was born July 18, 1869, at Utahville, and is a . son of Simon and Sarah J. (Clark) McFar- lane.

Simon McFarlane was born in Scotland in 1830. His parents remained in Scotland, and some of his brothers went to Austra- lia. He came to America when twenty years of age and lived for one year in the State of Maine, living at Bangor, and from there made his way to Williamsport, Pa., where he engaged in cutting square timber and rafting logs. He married there in 1858 and then came to Clearfield county and en- gaged in lumbering and in the mercantile business at Utahville and followed lumber- ing until his death in 1903. This was acci- dentally caused by an act of heroism, in an attempt to save a nephew from death from a boiler explosion, both being killed. At Williamsport he married Sarah J. Clark, who was a daughter of John Clark, a well known carly settler, and she survived until 1895, dying in her fifty-eighth year. Four sons and four daughters were born to this marriage, namely : William A., who died in 1879, aged twenty years; Carrie C., who lives at Utahville ; Harry C., who also lives at Utahville; May, who is employed in a bank at Coalport; James F .; Lillie, who is the wife of Frank Caldwell, of Utahville ; Florence, who is the wife of James Edel- bute, of Utahville, and John, who died in 1898.

James F. McFarlane was mainly edu- cated in the local schools, in addition to

having a course at the Williamsport Com- mercial College, after which he followed lumbering with his father, and after the lat- ter's death continued in the same line up to 1909 and still owns a saw-mill. He con- ducted a store from 1905 until January I, 1911. For nearly six years he has been agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, and is serving in his second term as justice of the peace, having been first elected in 1905. He is a Republican in politics, and since July, 1905, has been postmaster.

Mr. McFarlane was married in June, 1902, to Miss Bessie Croyle, who was reared on a farm near Utahville, a daughter of William and Ida Croyle. Mr. and Mrs. McFarlane have two children, Raymond S. and Thelma A. They belong to the Methodist Episco- pal church, Mr. McFarlane being a trustee of the same. He is identified with Coalport Lodge No. 576, F. & A. M., and with Mt. Pleasant Grange of Utahville. He has spent all his life at this place with the exception of three years in Pittsburg and a short sea- son in Williamsport, and his family and property interests all center here.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OSCEOLA, Clearfield county, Pa., which occupies a high place among the safe and sound financial institutions of Clearfield county, was incorporated in 1902, with a capital stock of $50,000. The bank opened for business on December 15, 1902, with the officers who have ever since directed its policy and conserved its interests. They are the following capitalists and men of high pensonal standing : John McLaren, presi- dent; H. W. Todd, vice president ; and E. C. Blandy, cashier. The following are the

HON. JOHN HI. PATCHIN

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directors of this bank: C. R. Houtz, of Philipsburg; James S. Moore, of Houts- dale ; W. A. Gould, of Brisbin ; H. W. Todd, of Philipsburg; John McLarren, of Osceola Mills; E. C. Blandy and Frank Craig, of Brisbin, Pa.

This bank has always occupied its pres- ent site but in 1908 the old building was torn down and in its place was erected the present handsome two-story structure. It is finely finished, equipped with all modern conveniences and especially fitted for the banking business. This institution has made wonderful strides forward in the compara- tively short period of its existence and has paid its twelfth dividend. The surplus is $40,000 and the undivided profits total more than $4,000.

T. C. Blandy, cashier of the above bank, was born at Osceola Mills, but when about eight years old was taken by his parents to Lewes, Dela., and from there to Hunting- don, Pa. In 1890 he entered the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., where he con- tinued for four years. In 1896 he returned to Osceola Mills where he has been in the banking business practically ever since. He was assistant cashier of the Osceola Bank- ing Company, a private enterprise, until 1902, when he was largely instrumental in the organization of the institution of which he now is cashier.

HON. JOHN H. PATCHIN, manufac- turer of and dealer in all kinds of lumber and building supplies, at Burnside, Pa., president of the school board of this borough and for- merly a member of the state legislature, has been a resident of this place since 1903 and is one of its most active and aggressive public

men. He was born at Patchinsville, Clearfield county, Pa., April 9, 1868, and is a son of Aaron W. and Elizabeth (Barrett) Patchin. The latter survives, being now in her seventy- second year. The Patchin family is one of wealth and importance in Clearfield county and is largely connected.

John H. Patchin is the third oldest in a family of seven children, the others being : Emma, who is the wife of H. P. Dowler, su- perintendent of the Pennsylvania Steel Com- pany, at Heilwood, Pa .; Olive, who is the wife of Jno. N. Ake, who is a ship builder, at Camden, N. J .: Winnie, who is the wife of J. O. Clark, who is president of the National Bank at Glen Campbell, Pa .; Flora, who is the wife of W. J. Dufton, who is in the hardware business at Clearfield; Carl E., who is in the lumber business at Burnside; and Ray C., who is a farmer near Patchinsville.

John H. Patchin went from the public schools to Bucknell University, where he took a three-year course and then attended Lafay- ette College, at Easton, Pa. Mr. Patchin then entered into the lumber business with his father and during a part of this time was en- gaged in rafting on the Susquehanna river. In 1903 he came to Burnside and bought the saw-mill and lumber interests of Horace Patchin and is still managing an estate of 2,000 acres. Additionally he is interested in dealing in ship-building supplies, in partner- ship with his brother-in-law, at Camden, N. J., has oil properties in Oklahoma and is a di- rector of the First National Bank at Glen Campbell.

In politics, Mr. Patchin is a Republican, and he is an active and loyal party worker. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature for one term, 1894-5. Frater-

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

nally he is identified with the leading or- ganizations, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter, Masons, at Clearfield; the Elks, at Clearfield; the Red Men at Glen Campbell; and the Odd Fellows at Burn- side, being past master of this lodge. Mr. Patchin is unmarried.

THOMAS GAFFEY, who, as the genial host of the Alpine House, situated on N. Brady Street, DuBois, Pa., enjoys a large volume of patronage from the traveling pub- lic, has been a resident of this thriving bor- ough since 1883. He was born January 23, 1857, in Staffordshire, England, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget (Meakin) Gaffey.

The parents of Mr. Gaffey were born in Ireland, where they were reared and mar- ried, shortly afterward moving to England. In 1867 they came to America and settled in Bradford county, Pa., where Thomas Gaffey died at the age of forty-seven years. They became the parents of nine children, namely: Michael, Thomas, Patrick, James, John, Luke, Mary, William, and Catherine. The last named is the wife of John Norton, and Mary is the wife of Peter Donahue. Michael and Patrick are deceased. For a number of years, Patrick, John, James, Luke, William, Mary and Catherine, were resi- dents of Osceola Mills, Clearfield county. The mother of the above-mentioned family is still living and is in the enjoyment of ex- cellent health. She is a devoted member of the Catholic church.

Thomas Gaffey may be called a self-made man, for he has worked hard from boyhood and has earned all that he now owns. As soon as he had reached a sufficient age, he

went to work in an English pottery, where, for a time he had employment every half day, attending school during the other half. He thus laid a foundation for an education and after he came to America he was am- bitious enough to attend night school after working hard all the day. He grew to man- hood in Bradford county, and there be- came a mine boy, working as a trapper in the Barkley coal mines. From there, in 1879, he went to the mining sections of Iowa but remained only a short time, after which he secured a position at Steubenville, O., as a coal weigher. From there he went to Reynoldsville, Pa., still being in the coal business, and in 1883 came to DuBois, where he labored for a time in the mines. Later he was employed in a hotel here by James H. Hine, with whom he was in part- nership for one year. In 1889 he rented the Alpine House from his father-in-law. Wil- liam Melvin, and has conducted his business ever since under his own name. Mr. Gaf- fey has a centrally located, commodious and well kept house. He has twenty-two bed- rooms and all the other rooms also well fitted to make his guests comfortable. His rates are very reasonable, his charge being but $1.25 per day.

In February, 1880, Mr. Gaffey was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Melvin, a daughter of William and Catherine Melvin. They are members of St. Catherine's Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians and to the Elks; also is a member of the Hotel Men's Mutual Benefit Association ; also chairman of executive committee, Clearfield County Liquor Dealers' Associa- tion.

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JOHN STEVENSON, who is superin- tendent of twelve mines in the vicinity of Madera, Clearfield county, Pa., and is the owner of a fine residence here, is an ex- perienced mine man, having been identified with mining since he was nine years old. He was born March 12, 1865, in Scotland, and is a son of Peter and Margaret (Cra- ney) Stevenson.

Peter Stevenson was born in Scotland, a son of Peter Stevenson, and came to Amer- ica with his family in 1869. He was a coal miner, an honest, industrious man. His death occurred at Morrisdale, Clearfield county, where his widow still resides. They had the following children: John, Eliza- beth, Margaret, James, William and Thomas. Margaret is the wife of Frank Howe.

John Stevenson attended school until he was nine years of age, at which time he was considered old enough to earn his own liv- ing and went to work as a mine boy. Coal mining has been his business ever since, and his present responsible position proves that he is a well qualified man in this line of work.

On September 5, 1892, Mr. Stevenson was married to Mrs. Catherine (Sullivan) Welsh, the widow of Thomas Welsh, and a daugh- ter of Michael and Catherine (McCarthy) Sullivan. The parents of Mrs. Stevenson were born and married in Ireland and they had the following children born to them: Mary, who is deceased; Ellen, who is the wife of Daniel Farrel; Michael, who is de- ceased; Catherine, who is the wife of John Stevenson : Michael (2); Nora, who is the wife of Charles Van Gorder : Johanna, who is the widow of James Purcell; Jeremiah,

who is deceased; Charles; Jeremiah (2) ; Margaret, who is the wife of James Struth- ers; Sarah, who is the wife of Anthony Dunlevy; and Elizabeth, who is deceased. To Mrs. Stevenson's first marriage four daughters were born: Mary, Catherine, Nellie and Esther, Mary being the only sur- vivor. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have three children : Peter, John Lawrence and Mar- garet. They are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Stevenson gives his political support to the Republican party. He is a well known and highly respected citizen.

WILLIAM W. McQUOWN, who has been a resident of Mahaffey, Pa., for the past quarter of a century, is senior member of the insurance and real estate firm of W. W. McQuown & Son, of that town, and has also been prominent in local public affairs for many years. He was born in February, 1851, in Rayne township, Indiana county, Pa., a son of William and Margaret (Shields) McQuown, and a grandson of Colonel Shields, who held that rank during the War of 1812 and later became one of · the leading farmers and lumbermen in In- diana county.

William McQuown, the father of William W. McQuown, was also a native of Indiana county, Pa., from whence at the age of thirty- six years he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regi- ment for service during the Civil War, three months of his service being spent as a pris- oner in a Southern prison. Upon receiving his honorable discharge he returned to In- diana county, but several years later went with his family to a neighboring county, purchased a farm, and there spent the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring in

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1906, when he was eighty years of age. His wife passed away at Mahaffey when she was seventy-two years old.

William W. McQuown was reared in In- diana county, and after completing his edu- cation took up lumbering in Clearfield county. In 1885 he was elected justice of the peace on the Republican ticket, an of- fice which he held for twenty years, and in 1907 he was appointed postmaster at Ma- haffey. He has also acted in the capacity of clerk of the council for nine years, city aut- ditor and member of the school board. For the past seven years he has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business, under the firm name of W. W. McQuown & Son. Fraternally he is connected with Ma- haffey Lodge No. 147. Knights of Pythias, and Clearfield Lodge No. 540, of the Elks.

In 1875 Mr. McQuown was married to Miss Susan Schaffer, of Indiana county, Pa., and to this union there have been born ten children. William B. : Emma, who prior to her marriage to J. H. Bilhart taught school for three years in Bell township; M. L., who married Miss Louise Buterbaugh ; Esther, who married Joseph Hineman ; Robert, who died at Mahaffey at the age of six years ; Victor : Ulrica, a graduate of the public schools and the Lockhaven Normal School, who taught school for three years and is now assistant principal of the Ma- haffey High School; Andrew; Stanley, who died at the age of one year ; and Thomas W.

EDWARD H. WOOLRIDGE, sheriff of Clearfield county, Pa., is a member of one of the substantial old county families and was born in Bradford township, Clearfield county, August 12, 1860. He is one of a

family of eight children born to his parents, John and Jane M. (Hitamys) Woolridge, both of whom are now deceased.

Edward H. Woolridge was reared in Bradford township and obtained his educa- tion in the public schools. His father was interested in lumbering, farming and stock raising and Mr. Woolridge engaged in the same industries and was actively concerned until he assumed the duties of his present office. His interests continue in this line although his personal attention has been withdrawn to a large degree since he was elected to the office of sheriff in November, 1909. In the administration of this office Sheriff Woolridge has displayed the care, patience, good judgment and intelligence that has made him successful as a business man.

Mr. Woolridge was married to Miss Net- tie Wilson, who is a daughter of S. B. Wil- son, formerly county treasurer of Clearfield county. Sheriff and Mrs. Woolridge have three children : Ernest, Boyd C. and Orvis. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been an important factor in the ranks of the Republican party in Clearfield county for a number of years.

ISAAC M. KESTER, general farmer, op- erating fifty-six acres of land which is situ- ated in Pike township, Clearfield county, Pa., at the edge of the borough of Curwensville. was born November 1, 1853, at Lumber City, Pa., and is a son of I. M. and Mary (Winner) Kester.

I. M. Kester was born in Columbia county, Pa., and lived in Greenwood township, where he owned a farm of sixty-two acres. He was a Democrat and served in township offices at

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

different times, being a school director and for tery. Mr. Kester and family are members of eleven years a justice of the peace. He mar- the Society of Friends and he is an elder in this body. He gives his political support to the Prohibition party. He is a man of sub- stantial standing in his neighborhood and has served his fellow citizens very acceptably in township offices. having been a school director for three years, road supervisor for two years and auditor for six years. He is secretary of the Plain View Cemetery Association. ried Mary Winner, who was born in Lyco- ming county, Pa., and they had eleven children born to them, eight of whom still live. They were good and virtuous people, consistent in their membership in the Society of Friends. I. M. Kester died at the age of seventy-one years and his wife when aged seventy-six they were laid to rest in the Friend's Ceme- tery at Grampian. I. M. Kester taught school for six years.

Isaac M. Kester was reared on the home farm and attended school in Greenwood town- ship. For six months following his marriage he worked in a grist mill at Grampian, having been taught the milling business, together with farming, and engaged in the former in- dustry for ten years before settling on his present farm, the old Benjamin Bloom place, which had been owned by that pi- oneer, who was the grandfather of Mr. Kester's wife.

On August 21, 1879, Isaac M. Kester was married to Miss Lydia Lucinda Bloom, a daughter of Thomas and Ruthanna (Walker) Bloom. A family of six children has been born to them, namely: Walker Bruce, who was born September 11, 1880, resides at Terre Haute, Ind., and married Gertrude Stannert, of Lewisburg; Thomas Vincent, born October 2, 1882, resides at Wilmington, Del., and mar- ried Ethel Pierce of Wilmington ; Isaac Lynn, who resides at Curwensville, married Lydia Zilliox, of Curwensville; Rutherford Ross, born December 7, 1886, resides at Effingham, Ill. : Benjamin Ellis, born June 13, 1889, lives at Wilmington, Del .; Oscar Bloom, who was born October 16, 1892, died October 24, 1892, and his burial was in the Plain View ceme-

WILLIAM T. DE HAAS, county recorder and clerk of the courts of Clearfield county, Pa., is numbered with the representative men of this section, having been identified with the interests of Clearfield county for almost forty years. He was born in Center county, Pa., August 20, 1858, and is one of a family of eight children born to his parents, Joseph M. and Sarah (Heckman) De Haas. On the pa- ternal side his family originated in Holland and a maternal great-great-grandfather was Edward Shippen, who was the first mayor of Philadelphia. The parents of Mr. De Haas are both now deceased.

William T. De Haas obtained his education in the public schools and, like his father, fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until he entered of- ficial life. He came to Clearfield county in 1873 and has been an active and useful citizen. In 1904 he was first elected county recorder, on the Republican ticket, and in 1907 was re- elected with an increased majority.

Mr. De Haas married Miss Virginia Lyles, a daughter of the late James Lyles, of Clear- field, and they have two children, Clara and Lulu B. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. De Haas is identified with the Clearfield Grange and belongs also to the Masonic fraternity.

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REUBEN HEGARTY, who maintains his rian church. He is identified fraternally with home in the pleasant village of Madera, Pa., the Odd Fellows and politically with the Re- owns fifty-two acres of valuable land on the publican party. outskirts, in Bigler township, from which coal Mr. Hegarty was one of the original men to try to make Madera a borough, he devot- ing both time and money with that end in view. has been taken in large quantities since 1900. He was born in Beccaria township, Clearfield county, Pa., July 22, 1845, and is a son of William and Jemima (Dunlap) Hegarty.

William Hegarty was born October 11, 1806, in Ireland, and he was married to Jem- ima Dunlap, January 26, 1841. They had seven children, namely: Eliza, born October 19, 1841 ; Isaac, born January 15, 1843; Reu- ben; Susanna, born December 25, 1847 ; Sarah J., born June 24, 1851 ; Adaline, born March 4, 1854; and Hannah C., born July 20, 1856.

Reuben Hegarty grew to manhood on the old home farm and attended the country schools. He learned the principles of farming and also the carpenter trade and also worked in the woods as a jobber. He was gifted by Nature with an aptness for mechanics and to- gether with other occupations he has worked as a civil engineer on the Coal Run Branch Railroad, for the Wallace & Reading Railroad Company. He has invented a number of use- ful articles and one of these, patented and on the market, is an improved measuring pole, and another a folding extension table. Since his marriage, in 1871, he has mainly followed contracting and building at Madera.

Mr. Hegarty married Miss Susan Phebe Davis, who was born at Kerrmoor, Clearfield county, May 30. 1852, a daughter of Thomas C. and Rebecca ( Kooser ) Davis, who were mar- ried in 1849. Mrs. Hegarty had one brother and two sisters: William C., deceased, Mary and Laura. The father was a native of Clarion county and the mother of Somerset county. Mr. and Mrs. Hegarty attend the Presbyte-

HARRISON HAYES SWEENEY, post- master at Houtzdale, Pa., has been a resident of this borough for thirty years and for the past twenty-five years has been associated with his father in the furniture and undertak- ing business. He was born at Powelton, Cen- ter county, Pa., June 2, 1872, and is a son of John and Mary ( Hayes ) Sweeney.

John Sweeney was born in Ireland in 1836 and learned the cabinet-making trade in his own land. In 1863 he embarked for the United States and safely reached America after a voyage of six weeks and three days. He found work at his trade in the city of Philadelphia, where he remained for two years and then moved to Broad Top, Hunt- ingdon county, and in 1873 from there to Houtzdale, where he embarked in the under- taking and furniture business. His records show that he has conducted more burials than any other undertaker in the same length of time, in all Clearfield county. He married Mrs. Mary ( Hayes) Corbin, in 1869, who was the widow of Jesse Corbin, who had been superintendent of schools in Center county. She was born in Blair county and was but six years old when she was left an orphan. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Corbin : Clara, a Mrs. Hayes, who lives at Glen Camp- bell; B. M., who is a conductor on the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at Al- toona: and Nettie, who is the wife of Dr. D. S. Rice, a noted physician of Clearfield county.

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To Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney the following chil- dren were born: Minnie, who is the wife of J. R. Cornelius, of Patton, Pa .; Harrison Hayes; and Nellie, who is assistant postmis- tress and is associated also in the undertaking business.

Harrison Hayes Sweeney was reared at Houtzdale and is a graduate of the Houtzdale High School and also of Duff's Business Col- lege, at Pittsburg. Prior to settling perma- nently in the borough, he was on the road for seven years for John Murphy & Co., in under- taking supplies and also taught embalming, being a graduate of an embalming school. He is not only a very enterprising and reliable business man but he has been active in public affairs at Houtzdale, where he served for six years as a member of the council, during five years of the period being its president, an un- usual honor. He has been a member of the school board for the past two years and in February, 1911, was appointed postmaster at Houtzdale. He is identified with the Repub- ican party, and is in close touch with party organizers.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 55

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