USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
Clay Company, of Clymer, Ind .: vice presi- dent of the Clearfield Brick Manufacturing Company, of Clearfield, and is officially and otherwise interested in numerous other con- cerns. He has always been an active and use- ful citizen but has never been willing to accept city offices. During the legislative session of 1897, he was appointed to the office of ser- geant-at-arms, at Harrisburg, by Hon. Frank G. Harris, and performed the duties of that position acceptably. The Snyders have been generous in their donations of land for public purposes, the mother of Mr. Snyder being much interested in the establishing of schools and churches.
On June 28, 1893, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Cora May Ealy, who was born De- cember 25, 1867, in Bedford County, Pa. Her parents were John C. and Mary E. (Walker) Ealy. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had two sons, Stanley G. and Thomas L., the former of whom is deceased. The latter is a sturdy little lad of four years, his birth having taken place March 6, 1907. Mrs. Snyder is a member of the Presbyterian church and is active in the work of its various benevolent organizations. The family home is a mansion situated in S. Second Street, Clearfield.
JAMES I. MEAS, who owns fifty acres of valuable farming land and has, addition- ally, a one-half interest in 400 acres, all in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa .. was born October 30, 1843, in Lycoming County, Pa. His parents, John and Mary (Neice) Meas, were also born in Lycom- ing County, where the father followed farming and lumbering. James I. Meas is
527
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
one of the following children born to his parents ; Thomas; John; Jane, who mar- ried Ellis Livergood; Anna, who married Abraham Wisor; James I .; David; Sarah, who married James Waple ; and Miles.
James I. Meas had only common school advantages. He has been a resident of Clearfield County since he was eight years of age and during the larger part of this time has been engaged in lumbering and farming. He has been an active and inter- ested citizen of Boggs Township for many years and has served in public offices, for one year being supervisor and for twenty- seven years a school director.
In 1870 Mr. Meas was married to Miss Hannah Goss, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Milward) Goss. Joseph Goss was born in Decatur Township, Clearfield County, while his wife was born in Eng- land. Mr. and Mrs. Goss had the follow- ing children: Adaline, who is the wife of Abraham Pierce; Henrietta, who is the wife of Gideon Smeal; Amelia, who is the wife of David Meas; Amanda, who is the wife of Richard Lang; James; Hannah, who is the wife of James I. Meas ; Mary Ann, who is the wife of Timothy Pugh; and Bertha, who is the wife of William Meas.
Mr. and Mrs. Meas have had six chil- dren, namely: Myrtle, who is now de- ceased, was the wife of William Bush ; David: William T .; Leonard I .; Harvey Wallace, who is deceased; and Dorsey G. Mr. and Mrs. Meas are members of the Brethren church, in which she was reared. while Mr. Meas's people were Lutherans. They both belong to the Grange and are active in its good work and enjoy its social side as well as its more practical benefits.
DELOS EUGENE HIBNER, a represent- ative business man of DuBois, Pa., a member of the Hibner-Hoover Hardware Company of this borough, has resided here since 1873. He was born at Tioga Center, N. Y., December 10, 1863, the youngest of a family of fifteen chil- dren, eleven of whom grew to maturity. His parents were John E. and Catherine ( Barr) Hibner.
John E. Hibner was born in Germany, where he learned the shoemaking trade. He came to America in early manhood and shortly afterward opened a shoe shop at Williamsport, Pa. His trade was largely among the lumber men and they paid well and promptly for the substantial and well made footwear he sold, but in the panic of 1872 he lost his best cus- tomers and finally was forced to close out his business there. In looking around for a means of livelihood he and his capable wife decided that the opening of a boarding house at Du- Bois, where John DuBois, through his activ- ities was bringing many workmen to that place, would be a wise undertaking, and so it proved. They started that business in 1873 and con- tinued it as long as it seemed a satisfactory enterprise. John E. Hibner lived to be eighty years of age, but his wife died when aged sixty-six years.
Delos Eugene Hibner was quite small when his parents came to Pennsylvania and he re- members how small a village was DuBois when they came here. The houses were few and scattered, no railroad yet touched the place and the schoolhouse he attended was two miles distant from his home. In 1875 he entered the employ of John DuBois, the founder of the place, and in 1877 accepted a position as clerk with the firm of Long & Brady, hard- ware merchants. In 1882 he bought a third
528
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
interest in the store and has continued in the hardware line until the present. A few years later he became associated with Long & Brady as a partner and subsequent changes came about. Mr. Long was succeeded by M. W. Wise, who, in turn, was succeeded by W. S. Hollister and about the same time, Mr. Brady was succeeded by N. L. Hoover, Mr. Hibner's present partner.
In 1890 D. E. Hibner and N. L. Hoover sold out their interests to Jesse Dale, but in 1892 they repurchased the store from Mr. Dale and have continued to be associated ever since. The store at that time was situated on the present site of the DuBois National Bank, on the corner of Long Avenue and Brady Street. They then bought the building at No. 12 N. Brady Street, from the Turnbach Hard- ware Company and after disposing of the Turnbach stock, rented the building to Harry Christman who conducted a furniture store here for a short time. In 1902 the Hibner- Hoover Hardware Company was incorpo- rated, with a capital stock of $100,000. In 1907 they added two more stories to the three- story building on N. Brady Street and moved their stock to this location in the latter part of the same year. They occupy five floors and the basement and do a large business, its vol- ume being steadily on the increase. The Hib- ner-Hoover Hardware Company are jobbers and retailers of heavy and shelf hardware, manufacturing tinners and coppersmiths, deal- ers in doors, sash and building material, bug- gies, wagons, surreys and harness, also farm machinery and paints and oils. The business enterprise of the firm was still further demonstrated when, in 1908 they bought out F. W. Prothero, a hardware merchant at No. 321 W. Long Ave. This store covers three
floors with a double store room on the first floor. In addition, the firm makes use of five warerooms, affording space for careful stor- age. This is the largest business of its kind in Clearfield County. Mr. Hibner has addi- tional business interests. He is treasurer and manager of the Vulcan Soot Cleaner Company, which was incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, in 1905, with a capital stock of $500,000, and an issue of $200,000. They do business all over the United States. The main office and factory are located at Du- Bois, Pa., with additional offices at Boston. Mass., and Chicago, Ill. Mr. Hibner organ- ized a company and built the first electric light plant at DuBois, in 1889, which was purchased in 1892, by the DuBois Electric Street Rail- way Company.
On December 3. 1890, Mr. Hibner was mar- ried to Miss Frances O. Ellis, a daughter of J. B. Ellis, who for many years was a mer- chant at DuBois. Five children have been born to them: Frances Catherine, Helen Louise (died at age of 6 months) ; Eugene, Mary and Delos. Mr. and Mrs. Hibner are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and has been a useful and loyal party man and was selected as the first candidate for congress after the organization of the Congressional District. He is identified with the Elks and the Masons. The family residence stands at No. 525 N. Brady Street, on the same site on which Mr. Hibner's father settled when the present thriving borough was but a little lumber hamlet on the outskirts of the forest.
EDWARD LLOYD HUGHES, one of the lifelong residents and highly respected citizens of Decatur Township, Clearfield
529
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
County, Pa., lives on the farm of twenty- five acres, a part of the old homestead on which he was born October 24, 1846. He is a son of Richard and Nancy (Kephart) Hughes, and a grandson of William and Mary Hughes, natives of England.
William Hughes, the grandfather, brought his family to America, in 1832, landing at the port of Philadelphia after a voyage of seven weeks. In 1833 he moved to Huntingdon, Pa., and secured work in the construction of the old Pittsburg Canal and after its completion, moved to Decatur Township, Clearfield County, settling on this place. The remainder of his life was passed here, his death occuring at the age of eighty-four years, having survived his wife. The children of William and Mary Hughes were five in number, namely : James, who lived at Tylertown ; John, who lived in Decatur Township; William, who died on the home farm; Richard; and Adam, who died on the ocean during the voyage from England.
Richard Hughes, father of Edward Lloyd Hughes, was born in County Hereford- shire, England, December 23, 1819, and was a youth of fourteen years when he ac- companied his parents to the United States. When the home farm came into his posses- sion, only five acres of the same, had been cleared. He followed farming and lumber- ing and during the last ten or twelve years of his life, he was also a coal operator. His death occurred June 23, 1898. He married Nancy Kephart, a daughter of Henry Kep- hart, Sr., an old pioneer in Decatur Town- ship, where Mrs. Hughes was born and spent her life. She died December 21,
1905, and both she and husband rest in the old cemetery at Center. They had eleven children, the family record being as follows : William, who has never married, lives on a part of the old homestead; Edward Lloyd; Alice, who is the wife of David Burkett, of Clearfield; John R., who is a farmer in Decatur Township; David, who died in 1890; Benjamin F., who lives on a part of the old home place; Harry M., who also lives on the homestead; Sarah, who is now deceased, was the wife of John W. Ashcroft; Essington, who died in infancy ; and two babes that died unnamed. The father of the above family was a member of the Episcopal church, while the mother was connected with the United Brethren church.
Edward Lloyd Hughes now makes farm- ing his main business but for thirty-two years he worked in the coal mines. He built a very attractive and comfortable residence on his farm which occupies a site that gives a pleasant view over the sur- rounding country.
Mr. Hughes was married May 12, 1872, to Miss Anna R. Dunlap, who was born at Williamsburg, Huntingdon County, Pa., a daughter of Benjamin and Catherine (Isen- berg) Dunlap, former residents of Decatur Township and later of Osceola Mills. The father of Mrs. Hughes was a soldier in the Federal Army during the Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. Hughes twelve children have been born, the survivors being: Charles W., who lives at Osceola Mills, married Maggie Crain, a daughter of Bednego Crain; Richard S., who lives in Decatur Township, married Annie Starline and they
530
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
have seven living children-Pearl. May- nard, Willard, Russell, Frederick, Mary and Richard; Clara May, who is the wife of W. W. Boone, of Osceola Mills, and they have three living children-Mildred, Anna and William; Edward Lloyd, Jr., who lives in Decatur Township, married Martha Cad- man, and they have four children-Ralph, Lois, Rebecca and Ruth ; Carrie Belle, who married Alexander Davidson, a resident of Keystone, in Decatur Township, and they have three children-Lorraine and Lenora, twins, and Paul; Grace Glen, who married Daniel Dunn, of Keystone, Pa., and they have five children-Harold, Wilda, Anna, Hannah and Carrie; and Anna, Benjamin F. and Olive Pearl, all of whom reside at home. Three of the children are deceased ; Nancy Ellen, who died at the age of six years and five months; Rosie Violet, who lived only two years ; and a babe that passed away unnamed.
In politics Mr. Hughes is an independent voter. He belongs to several fraternal or- ganizations, including the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. R. M.
DAVID HEGARTY, who is one-half owner of a farm of 250 acres situated in Bigler Township, Clearfield County, Pa., now lives retired, after a busy life devoted mainly to farming and lumbering. He was born on this farm, in September, 1841, and is a son of James and Jane (Boyle) Hegarty.
James Hegarty was born in Ireland, a son of Samuel and Jane Hegarty. He was married there to Jane Boyle, a daughter of James Boyle, and they then came to America and settled in Bigler Township, Clearfield County, Pa. James Hegarty was
a farmer and lumberman. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. They had six children born to them, namely: Jane, who is deceased, was the wife of Robert Alexander, also de- ceased ; Rebecca, who is deceased, was the wife of John Gordon; David; Mary, who is the wife of Walker Miles; Jerry, who is one- half owner of the home farm; and Rachel, who is deceased, was the wife of James Luther.
David Hegarty grew up on the home farm and as soon as old enough worked also at lumbering. In 1863 he enlisted for a term of three months in Co. E, 30th Pa. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War, and when this enlistment expired. reenlisted in Battery B, Ist Pa. Light Artillery, in which he served until the close of the war. After his patriotic duty was done he returned to peaceful pursuits and continued until he decided to lay down the responsibilities of business and take a well earned rest.
In 1866 Mr. Hegarty was married to Miss Luella Alexander, who died in 1896. She was a most estimable lady and was a daughter of William B. and Rebecca (Whiteside) Alexander, he being born in Clearfield County and she in Ireland. Mrs. Hegarty had one brother, Joseph, older than herself, and four younger sisters : Rosa, wife of Henry Miles; Agnes, wife of Edward Miles: Rebecca, wife of Thomas Askey ; and Drusilla, wife of John Jopling. Mr. Hegarty has two daughters, Gertrude and Daisy, both of whom are popular teachers at Madera. He casts his vote in- dependently and has never accepted any public office except membership on the school board.
531
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
MELVIN J. HURD, a well known merchant conducting a store at La Jose, Chest township. where also he holds the office of postmaster, was born at this place April 4, 1884, son of Alonzo L. and Belle (McFadden) Hurd. He is a great grandson of Elias Hurd, who settled in Newburg borough in 1832, clearing land on the site of the present village of La Jose. He came to Clearfield county from Danville, Vt. He died at the age of 75 years, leaving two sons-H. H. Hurd and L. J. Hurd, grandfather of our subject. The latter, who was born in Vermont, married Rachel Wood, and they be- came pioneer settlers in Clearfield county, Pa.
Alonzo L. Hurd was born at La Jose, Clear- field county, Pa., about 1849, and is now liv- ing at the age of 62 years. In early manhood he was engaged for some time in farming. In April, 1892, he opened a general store in La Jose, which he carried on successfully for a number of years, retiring at last from active business life. For some time he held the office of Postmaster at La Jose, which postoffice, for- merly known as Newburg, in now called Hurd, it having been renamed in his honor. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Mahaf- fey, and belongs to the order of P. L. S. of A., at La Jose, of which he is treasurer. In pol- itics a Republican, he has served on the school board since coming of age, and has been a mem- ber of the borough council since its organiza- tion.
Alonzo L. Hurd was first married to a Miss Tozier, of which union there were two chil- dren, namely: Bird, a resident of Johnstown; and Louie, wife of C. Durwell, of Connelsville, Pa. For his second wife, Mr. Tozier married Belle McFadden, who was born at La Jose, this county, a daughter of Robert P. and Ann Mc- Fadden. She is still living at the age of 54 31
years. The children of this second union were as follows: Melvin J., subject of this sketch ; Arthur, who is a partner with our subject in the mercantile business; Orvis, who is agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Barnesboro, Pa .; Joseph, who is attending school at Collinsville; Clair, Herbert and Au- drey, all attending school.
Melvin J. Hurd, after completing his school studies at the age of 15 years, found employ- ment in teaming for his father, with whom he remained until the age of 21. He was then a clerk in the mercantile store of A. T. Wilson of La Jose for four years. He then purchased his present store, being associated at first with both his father and brother, but on the father's retirement has had his brother alone for a partner. He has a well equipped store, carry- ing everything in the line of general merchan- dise for which there could be any probable de- mand in this community, and he has met with a gratifying degree of success. A Republi- can in politics, he was appointed postmaster, July 17, 1908. He is also treasurer of the bor- ough and recording secretary. He belongs to the Red Men's lodge at Mahaffey. Mr. Hurd married Miss Edna Markle, who was born in La Jose, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Wil- liams) Markle, her father being a merchant of this borough. Mr. and Mrs. Hurd have two children-Chetwin, born April 21, 1907; and Mary Belle, born December 8, 1910. Mrs. Hurd is a member of the Baptist church.
JOHN BERNARD MCGRATH was born in a little village on the "Old Portage" Railroad in Washington Township, Blair County, Pa., July 5, 1854, and is the son of John McGrath and Margaret McHugh McGrath.
532
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
His grandfather on his father's side emi- family moved to the Beech Woods Settle- grated from Ireland in 1814, and settled in ment (Jefferson County, Penna.), where they resided until early in 1876, when they returned to Clearfield County and settled at Houtzdale, Pa. Mrs. Margaret McHugh McGrath died at Houtzdale, Dec. 1, 1878. Philadelphia, where John McGrath, Sr., father of John B., was born. On his mother's side he is also of Irish descent. His mother's father, Dennis McHugh, was prominently connected with the Irish Re- bellion of 1798, and was obliged to leave Ireland secretly with his companions ; he settled in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, where his daughter Margaret was born. He served a short time in the American Army in the War of 1812.
John B. McGrath comes from a family distinguished for its connection with the de- velopment of the bituminous coal fields of Pennsylvania. His father, John McGrath, Sr., was one of the pioneers in this indus- try ; he it was who first developed the now famous "Miller" vein, as well as the "Lemon" Vein in Cambria County. Miles McHugh, an uncle, opened the first coal for railroad shipment in the Clearfield re- gion, and Edward McHugh, an uncle, and M. B. McGrath, a brother, are largely iden- tified with the development of the Houtz- dale or Moshannon coal fields of the county.
John B. McGrath was less than a year old when his parents moved to Dudley, Hunt- ingdon County, Penna., and he remained there until he was about 14 years of age. His father died at Dudley, May 6, 1865, and his mother, with her family, John B. in- cluded, removed to Osceola, Clearfield County, Penna., on April 1, 1868 and with the exception of one year spent in Jeffer- son County, the family have resided in Clearfield County since that time.
In 1875, shortly before the great fire that destroyed Osceola, Mrs. McGrath and her
John B. McGrath has resided in Houtz- dale since Feb. 15, 1876; he is now practic- ing law and is a prominent member of the Clearfield County Bar. He is also engaged in the fire insurance business, maintaining an office at Houtzdale, Pa., and is the senior member of the firm of McGrath & Moore, insurance brokers of Clearfield, Pa. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Anda Coal Company, which conducts a coal operation near Houtzdale, Penna. Mr. McGrath was educated in the public schools ; he attended school at Dudley, Pa., and also at Osceola, Pa. He has always taken an active part in politics and all pub- lic affairs. He is an uncompromising Demo- crat and has twice served as chairman of the party organization in the county; first in 1902 and was re-elected in 1903. He has held a number of local offices :- school di- rector, justice of the peace, and is at pres- ent a member of the Houtzdale Borough Council. He takes a great interest in all public affairs and is considered among the progressive citizens of the county.
On July 21, 1888, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Lydia Ingraham Marmion, at Fortress Monroe, Va. She was born at Wilmington, S. C., and was a daughter of Dr. George H. and Elizabeth Coffin (Wood) Marmion. Her father, Dr. Mar- mion, was a native of Harper's Ferry, Va. Mrs. McGrath was descended from Keziah Coffin, who was a relative of Benjamin Frank-
533
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
lin, and her kindred were among the distin- son of Valentine and Charlotte (Bradley) guished people of the country. At the time of Flegal. The father was a farmer, and was a Democrat in politics. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of eight sons, namely : Gilbert, Samuel, Alexander, Austin, Miles, Da- vid, William T. and Peter. her marriage she was a resident of Hampton, Va. Mrs. McGrath was a lady of beautiful char- acter and the accident that caused her death threw a shadow over the community where she was much beloved. Mr. McGrath with his wife and children were driving a spirited team, which ran away when near Ramey, Pa., May 20, 1900, causing injuries from which Mrs. McGrath died three days later. Mr. McGrath was also injured and his lit- tle son suffered a broken leg. It was a very sad ending to what had promised to be a pleasant recreation.
To Mr. and Mrs. McGrath four children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: Margaret; John J., who is a student in Fordham College, New York, and George H. All have been given both educational and social advantages and are being prepared for any position in so- ciety. Mr. McGrath and children are mem- bers of the Roman Catholic Church. He is identified fraternally with the Knights of Columbus but with no other organization. He is one of the valued members of the Clearfield County Historical Society and takes a commendable amount of pride in the preservation of old records and particu- larly those which tell of the early days in the great mining sections of the state.
WILLIAM T. FLEGAL, a successful farmer of Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., where he has 200 acres belonging to the Chase estate under cultivation, together with thirty-nine acres of his own, is one of the best known men in this section. He was born in Clearfield County in January, 1856, and is a
William T. Flegal was occupied until he was seventeen years of age in attending school and working on the home farm. He inherited his land from his father and since it came into his possession he has made many improvements, including the erection of a substantial house and barn. In addition to farming he has worked more or less in the woods all his life.
In 1891 Mr. Flegal was married to Miss Alice Nerhoot, a daughter of Samuel and Anna Nerhoot, of Clearfield County. The other members of their family were: Ward, Lloyd, Eva, Georgia and Dove. Mr. and Mrs. Flegal have three children: Lottie, Furman V. and Nettie Abigail. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Flegal is a Democrat, and he has served on the election board on several occasions.
THOMAS G. SNYDER, deceased. In re- membering the men of worth who once were of Clearfield County and led in her most useful activities and through merit commanded the respect of his fellow sitizens, Thomas G. Sny- der, who sleeps in a soldier's grave, a hero of the Civil War, will not be forgotten. He was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., October 24, 1817. His ancestry was German and his par- ents were David and Mary A. (Kelly) Snyder.
Thomas G. Snyder was the son of a farmer and manufacturer and early associated himself with his parent in the making of shovels, a pion- eer enterprise of the kind in Philadelphia Coun-
534
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
ty and one which the two Snyders developed into a large business. When he retired from manufacturing he entered into merchandising in a suburb of Philadelphia, and in 1851 he came to Clearfield County. He invested largely and judiciously in land, which is still held by his family, and from then until the opening of the Civil War, he gave his entire attention to lumbering. His success in this industry was marked and a long and prosperous business career was his reasonable expectation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.