Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 62

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 62

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Ira F. Tate grew to manhood on the home farm and obtained a public school education in Goshen township. His busi- ness interests have been almost entirely agricultural and he has resided both before and since his marriage on the farm on which he was born. He has all of his land under cultivation, with the exception of forty acres still in woodland. He is a wide awake, progressive farmer, a member of the Go- shen Grange, and is numbered with the township's prosperous agriculturists.

Mr. Tate married Miss Sarah Mor- rison, a daughter of George Morrison, a resident of Goshen township, and they have one daughter, Elma, who is yet a stu- dent. Mr. Tate and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican, but takes no active part in public affairs although, when occasion arises for him to express his opinion, his fellow citizens never fail to understand his attitude. He believes in good government, good schools and good roads. .

EDWARD FOWLER, proprietor of a blacksmith shop and owner of a comfort- able residence and sixteen acres of culti- vated land, on the outskirts of Madera, Pa., was born in February, 1864, in Clearfield county, and is a son of Ephraim and Rachel (Davis) Fowler.

Both parents of Mr. Fowler were natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Wayne county and the mother of Luzerne county. Ephraim Fowler spent his life mainly as a woodsman. He voted with the Democratic party but never desired to hold any public office. The four children born to Ephraim

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

Fowler and wife were: Lewis, Edward, vania, when he settled in Huntingdon County Ella, wife of Walter Kipp; and Tabitha, wife of Henry Schuyler.

Edward Fowler attended school in his boyhood and afterward was variously em- ployed until the spring of 1886, when he learned the blacksmith trade in a shop at Holly, in Wayne county. For the last twenty-one years he has lived at Madera and has built up an excellent business.

In 1891 Mr. Fowler was married to Miss Editlı Hill, a daughter of George W. Hill, who was a native of New York. Mrs. Fowler is the youngest of a family of seven children, namely : Matilda, William, Amanda, Levi, Ashley, Mary and Edith. To Mr. and Mrs. Fowler the following chil- dren were born: Joseph A. and George W., both of whom are manly and industri- ous young men who assist their father in the shop ; and Angie, Kittie, Dewey, Lewis, Agnes and Theodore Roosevelt. Perhaps it is unnecessary to state that Mr. Fowler is a stanch Republican. He is a stockholder in the Madera National Bank.

JOSEPH JOHNSON, a well known busi- ness man of Clearfield County, who has been a resident of DuBois, Pa., since 1881, is a suc- cessful coal operator and one of the proprie- tors of the Rochester Coal Company, in Sandy Township and has additional interests. He was born May 4, 1860, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Thomas and Rose ( Mc- Glone) Johnson.

Thomas Johnson was born in County Meath, Ireland, and when sixteen years old came to America, the only member of his family. He stopped for short seasons in New York. Mary- land and Virginia before he reached Pennsyl-

and from there, in 1882, came to DuBois, which was then a very small place. He was a man of considerable enterprise as he opened up a quarry soon after locating here and later purchased another quarry from Mccullough & Reed, and also was one of the pioneer coal mine operators. He was well known all through this section and had many friends. His death occurred in June, 1904, at the age of eighty-two years. He was married in Maryland to Rose McGlone, who died in her fifty-fifth year. They were the parents of twelve children, the three survivors of the fam- ily being: Mary, who is the wife of Samuel Witt: Joseph, and Patrick J.

Joseph Johnson had but meager educational advantages, as he began to work in the coal mines when he was quite young and mining has been his main business ever since. As he grew older he took charge of his father's in- terests and when the latter died, Mr. Johnson and his brother, Patrick J., associated them- selves together and continued the business. In 1907 Joseph Johnson, Patrick J. Johnson and Thomas Kurens leased the old Rochester mines in Sandy Township, which they are de- veloping, they having proved a profitable in- vestment. The two Johnsons are also operat- ing the Jack McNamarrow stone quarry, which was opened in 1878 (Johnson Bros. now own it). and they, with F. P. Cummings, are cn- gaged in the sewer and brick pavement con- tracting business. Mr. Johnson owns his sub- stantial residence at No. 25 N. Main Street. DuBois and has other real estate in the borough and also in Sandy Township.

In January, 1907, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Ella Kurens and they have one child, Francis Joseph, born April 11, 1910. They

Morrisdale Coal Mining Co.'s Plant

Remains of First Iron Furnace in Central Pennsylvania. Erected by Peter Karthaus, 1817, at Karthaus

Brady Street Roller Mills, Du Bois Manley B. Goff and R. L. Hunter, proprietors

Old Pottery Plant of Joseph Seyler at Luthersburg, Pa.

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are members of St. Catherine's Catholic Church. Politically he is a Democrat and fra- ternally he is identified with the A. O. H.

M. J. GILMARTIN, assistant superin- tendent of the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad, has been a resident of DuBois, Pa., since 1905 and has identified himself with the best interests of the place. He was born at Driftwood, Pa., February 6. 1877, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine ( Na- gle) Gilmartin.

Thomas Gilmartin, whose death occurred in 1905, at the age of seventy-eight years. was one of the old and trusted employes of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which he had served in various capacities. He married Catherine Nagle and they had five children, namely: John, Mary, Winnifred, William and Mark James.

Mark James Gilmartin attended the pub- lic schools of Driftwood and Sterling Run, Pa., and when seventeen years of age be- came an employe of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company as a section hand. He later was made a brakeman and was with the B. & S. Railroad at Austin, Pa., in 1897. He kept on upward, gaining promotion every few years, becoming freight conductor and then passenger conductor, and came to Du- Bois in that capacity in 1905. It is the wise policy of the railroad to thoroughly train every employe before advancing him and thus a promotion carries with it an assur- ance of efficiency. In April, 1908, Mr. Gil- martin was made assistant superintendent, succeeding G. H. Crissman. He is a well . Oregon; Florence, wife of Dr. Maines ; informed. practical railroad man, and the end of his railroad career is not yet.

Mr. Gilmartin was married in July, 1902,

to Miss Harriet Pouliat and they have one daughter, Alice. They are members of the Roman Catholic church of St. Catherines, at DuBois, and Mr. Gilmartin belongs to the Knights of Columbus. Politically he is a Democrat. The family residence is No. 122 Park Avenue, DuBois.

DANIEL W. HOOVER, a practical mil- ler, having charge of the A. McCardell mill in Burnside township, was born in Brad- ford township, this county, May 14, 1848. His parents were Abraham and Margaret (Murray) Hoover, and he is a grandson of Jacob Hoover, who settled in Clearfield county early in the 19th century. Abra- ham, who was a farmer, died in 1865 at the age of 64 years, and Jacob died, aged 84 years.

Abraham Hoover was born in Clearfield county, March 4, 1881. In early manhood ne was engaged in lumbering, but later bought land and cleared a farm, being assisted in this labor by his sons. He had lost his mother when ten years old, at which time -in 1831-the father, Jacob, with his fam- ily had located in Graham township. He married Margaret Murray, who was born in 1825 and who died in 1902. Their family numbered twelve children, of whom ten are now living, as follows: Alfred, a wagon maker, residing in Illinois; Melinda, widow of D. Houser ; Warren, a miner at Morris- dale, Pa .; John, who is a coal operator in West Virginia; Jasper, residing in Iowa ; Nelson, who is a contracting carpenter in

Louisa, wife of John Baer of Pittsburg; Frank, a veterinary surgeon of Davis, Ill .; and Daniel W., the subject of this sketch.

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

Abraham Hoover was a member of the United Brethren church. In politics he was a Democrat and held many local offices.

Daniel W. Hoover, after attending school till the age of fifteen, became connected with the lumber industry, at which he worked during the winters, while he took up the milling trade as a summer occupa- tion, being thus engaged in his native county for four years. He then followed the miller's trade in Cambria county for a year and a half, after which, returning to Clearfield county, he was engaged in milling at Cherry Tree for five years. Ile came to Burnside in 1882 and for fifteen years thereafter re- mained with the H. Patchin family as mill operator. In 1894 he went to New Jersey, where he was engaged in the milling busi- ness for two years. Then returning to Pennsylvania, he bought a mill at Gar- man's Mills, Cambria county, and was lo- cated there for three years, being also en- gaged in the hotel business. He also car- ried on the latter business at Barnesboro, Pa., for two years. He then came to Burn- side, Clearfield county, to take charge of the A. MeCardell mill, and has continued thus engaged up to the present time. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Burn- side and in politics is a Democrat. He has served as borough treasurer two terms and has also been a member of the school board.

Mr. Hoover was married in 1874 to Mary Ellen Phoenix, who was born in Clearfield county, Pa., April 10, 1854, a daughter of William Phoenix. Her mother's maiden name was Armstrong, and both her par- ents were natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have been the parents of six children : William W., who is a fireman,

married Minnie Barrett and has four chil- dren : Fannie is the wife of Henry Plouse of Glen Campbell, and has four children ; Anna is the wife of Ed Clark, civil engineer, residing at Greensburg, Pa .; Alice is the wife of John Farr, of Greensburg, and the mother of two children : Guy is a telephone operator in West Virginia; Frank C. is a resident of Hilewood, Pa.

I. W. COWEN, who is engaged in the livery business at Madera, Pa., where he is a substantial citizen and leading business man, was born. June 4, 1861, in Becarria township, Clearfield county, Pa., and is a son of James and Rachel (Warrick) Cowen.

James Cowen was one of the early volun- teers from Clearfield county to enter the Federal Army for service in the Civil War, in which he lost his life at the battle of Chancellorsville. His widow subsequently married William Riddle. To her first mar- riage but one son, I. W. Cowen, was born, and to the second was one son, John D. Riddle.

I. W. Cowen was a babe of but nine months when his father fell on the battle field. He first attended the country schools, but, as a soldier's son, being entitled to the advantages offered at the Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Huntingdon county, he was placed there and remained there until he was thir- teen years of age. He then went to work to take care of himself, entering the employ of Flynn Brothers, in the lumber business, and remained with that firm for thirteen years, which fact may be recognized as a pretty fair testimonial of the character of this soldier's son. He then bought a farm in Bigler township, Clearfield county, and

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resided on it for three years, when he sold and bought his residence and other real es- tate at Madera.

Mr. Cowen was married first to Miss Lydia Kingston, by Rev. C. A. Biddle, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died August 23, 1898, leaving one daughter, Roby. Mr. Cowen was married second, April 7, 1903, to Miss Matilda L11- ther, a daughter of William and Eliza Luther, of Clearfield county. They attend the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Cowen is a Republican and has frequently been the choice of his party for township offices, serving nine years as auditor of Big- ler township, two years as tax collector of Gulich township, two years as judge of elec- tions of Bigler township and at present is a member of the board of supervisors. He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows at Houtzdale and is also identified with the Red Men and the P. O. S. of A.

S. M. BICKFORD, one of the leading business citizens of Curwensville, Pa., is secretary, assistant manager and assistant treasurer of the Bickford Fire Brick Com- pany, and is also identified with other large enterprises of this city. Mr. Bickford was born at Lock Haven, Clinton county, Pa., the third of the twelve children born to J. A. and Sarah (Bruner) Bickford.

Mr. Bickford obtained his education in the local schools and early in life started in on a business career. He became asso- ciated with the Bickford Fire Brick Com- pany, of which his father. J. A. Bickford, is the general manager and treasurer, and this firm in December, 1907, bought the plant of the Curwensville Fire Brick Company.

Since that date the capacity of the plant has been doubled, it now averaging 100,000 brick per day and employing 400 men. The plant, which is 560x100 feet in size, is the largest fire brick plant under one roof in the country, and the company receives its raw material from nearby land by the tram-road from its own 1,157 acres of fire clay land and 385 acres of coal land. The company uses about 100 tons of coal daily. Mr. Bickford is also connected with Arch David- son of Curwensville and Dr. Woodside of Lumber City in the Bickford Store Com- pany and the Bickford Meat Market, both of Curwensville.

Mr. Bickford was married to Estelle Bowes, the daughter of W. T. Bowes, of Lock Haven, Pa., and to this union there has been born one child, S. M. Bickford, Jr. The pleasant Bickford residence is situated on State Street, opposite the B. R. & P. Ry. depot.

HON. GEORGE A. KNARR, who is en- gaged in a general mercantile business at Troutville, Pa., and is serving in the high- est borough office, being chief burgess, is one of the leading men of this section and is a worthy representative of one of the old pioneer families of Clearfield county. He was born March 15. 1869, at Troutville, and is a son of George L. and Elizabeth (Zil- liox) Knarr.

The founder of the Knarr family in Clear- field county was George Knoerr, according to the German orthography, and he was born in Bavaria, Germany, and in 1831 came to America, accompanied by his family. He took up 200 acre of government land in Brady township, between Troutville and

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

Luthersburg, and continued to live there until the close of his life, dying at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. His wife, Louisa, died before him. They had six children: Henry, Andrew, George, Adam (all long since deceased) : Charlotte, who was the wife of Christian Haag (both de- ceased) ; and Caroline, who resides at Du- Bois, Pa., and is the widow of Andrew Weaver.

Henry Knarr, the grandfather of George A., was eighteen years of age when the family reached Clearfield county. He bought 100 acres of land near Luthersburg, for three dollars an acre, and to this first purchase later added more land and con- tinued to live there during the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1886, when he was aged seventy-three years. In 1843 he married Catherine Marshall, who was also born in Germany, and she died at Trout- ville in 1898, at the age of seventy-two years. To Henry and Catherine Knarr seventeen children were born, their names being recorded as follows: George L., Caroline, Simon, David, Loraina, Henry S., Reuben, William, Fred, Adam, Mary, Sam- uel A., Ferdinand, Catherine, Louise, and two who died in infancy.

George L. Knarr was born on the old Knarr homestead, May 25, 1846, and was reared there and helped to clear off a large part of the brush and timber, but later learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed at Grampian and later at Trout- ville. He built up a large shoe business after factories commenced to turn out shoes in such numbers that hand-made shoes were not in such great demand, and gradu- ally added other goods to his stock until

he found himself a general merchant and doing well. He conducted this business from 1876 until shortly before his death, December 31, 1910, and was always known as a man of business honor and the strict- est personal integrity. He was a Democrat and loyally supported his party's candidates, and was active in the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias. With his wife he be- longed to the Lutheran church.

George L. Knarr was married first in 1867 to Elizabeth Zilliox, who was born in Brady township and died here leaving three chil- dren; George Adam: Mary Emma, who is the wife of J. E. Rishel ; and Sarah Annie, who died at the age of two months, August 22, 1874. The mother of these children died June 27, 1874, aged 24 years, 6 months and 24 days. The second marriage of George L. Knarr was to Annis B. Johnson, who survives him.

George Adam Knarr attended school at Troutville until his father considered him old enough to be entrusted with duties in the store and he helped his father as a clerk until he was seventeen years old, when he began to carry the mail between Troutville and Luthersburg, this being prior to the construction of the B. R. & P. line from DuBois to Punxsutawney. He is still car- rying mail, his route now being from Trout- ville to Skyesville, and his present term will expire in July. 1913. He has been other- wise interested, for twelve years being sec- retary of the Troutville branch of the German National Building and Loan Association, of Pittsburg, and for five years secretary of this branch for the Jamestown Building and Loan Association. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' Building

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and Loan Association at DuBois, and has been interested there since 1889. Mr. Knarr is also a stockholder in the Deposit National Bank at DuBois.

In December, 1893, Mr. Knarr was mar- ried to Miss Florence Margaret Weber, a daughter of J. F. Weber, of Skyesville, and they have one son, Carroll B., who was born July 19, 1896.

Shortly before the death of his father, Mr. Knarr succeeded to the mercantile busi- ness he had founded and the son also bought the homestead farm of eighty-seven acres, which is situated near Troutville. He has been a very active citizen and enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens to such a degree that they have frequently sought him to accept public office. For several years he has served as tax collector and in 1910 was made burgess of Troutville bor- ough, and has administered public affairs with the same careful attention that he has ever devoted to his own. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Troutville, and is a past grand of Mingle Lodge No. 753, I. O. O. F., same place. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.

M. F. SHIMEL, one of the busy and substantial business men of Boggs town- ship, who owns 120 acres of excellent land here, is also the proprietor and operator of a chop and shingle mill at Wallaceton, Pa. He was born in Boggs township. May II. 1861, and is the fourth child of G. W. and Margaret (Shaw) Shimel.

G. W. Shimel, father of M. F., was born in Clearfield county, a son of G. W. Shimel. He was a carpenter by trade and also en- gaged in farming in Boggs township for

many years. He married Margaret Shaw, who was also born in Clearfield county, and their children were: Alice (deceased) ; D. D., N. J., M. F., C. W., I. G., and L. L., all prosperous business men ; and Alice (2d), who is the wife of Harry Peters. The par- ents of this family were members of the Church of God.

M. F. Shimel obtained his education in the common schools, after which he learned the carpenter's trade and to some degree he has followed it all his life, together with saw-mill work. For ten years before he purchased his mill at Wallacetown he oper- ated it on rental, but in 1907 he bought the mill and with the assistance of his sons he has operated it to great advantage ever since. He owns twenty acres in the home farm and 100 acres in a second farm, both tracts lying in Boggs township.

Mr. Shimel was married in 1884, to Miss Susan Kephart, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Jane (Geargart) Kephart, early families in Clearfield county. Mrs. Shimel was the fifth born in the following family: Jessie ; William P .; Edward; Pauline, deceased, who was the wife of Ellis Smeal : Cornelia, deceased, who was the wife of Samuel Ritchey : Mary, who is the wife of Abraham Wisor; and Susan. Mr. and Mrs. Shimel have the following children: Ellsworth, Berva. Homer, Beulah, Eva, Willard, Wes- ley, Esther and Clyde. The eldest daugh- ter is the wife of Henry Willett. Mr. Shimel and family are members of the Church of God. With his sons Mr. Shimel casts his vote with the Prohibition party.

GRANT CATHCART, a well known citizen and successful agriculturist of Knox

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

township, Clearfield county, Pa., owns a valuable property containing 110 acres, which is situated one mile east of Olanta, Pa., near Turkey Hill. He was born Feb- ruary 8, 1868, on this farm which is part of the old homestead, and is a son of James Cathcart.

James Cathcart was long a prominent citi- zen of Knox township. He was born near Glen Hope, Clearfield county, in 1829, and died July 27, 1884, at the age of fifty-five years. His was the first funeral in Mt. Zion cemetery, which tract of land he had do- nated to the Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal church. James Cathcart came to Knox township with his parents and spent his life on this farm, clearing the land and erecting substantial buildings which still stand. He acquired a large amount of property, at one time owning 600 acres in Clearfield county, 300 of which are yet owned by his family. He was a loyal supporter of the Union cause during the War of the Rebellion, and broke down his former robust health through three years of army service. He was a member of Co. F, 100th Pa. Vol. Inf., the famous "Roundheads." After he re- turned to Knox township his subsequent life was spent in farming, lumbering and raft- ing. In politics he was a Republican and the only fraternal organization with which he was connected was the Grange.

James Cathcart married Rachel Flegal, who was born at Morrisdale, Pa., and whose death occurred March 8, 1911. Nine chil- dren were born to them, of whom four sur- vive, namely: D. W., of Altoona ; W. W., and Grant, both of Knox township; and Cora, who married a Mr. Shelow.

Grant Cathcart obtained his education in

his native township, mainly at the Turkey Hill school, and afterward became his father's assistant on the home farm, where he has always lived with the exception of two years following his marriage, when he resided at Glen Hope. He carries on gen- eral farming and stockraising, and is surrounded with all the comforts and con- veniences which, in these modern days, make country life the most desirable and in- dependent of all.

In 1892 Mr. Cathcart was married to Miss Catherine Noel, a daughter of John and Josephine Noel, of Belsena Mills, and they have ten children, namely: James W., Vin- detta, Hazel, Harry, Della, Helen, Charles, Paul Lewis, Elvin and Evelyn. Mr. Cath- cart and family attend the Methodist Epis- copal church. In politics he is an Indepen- dent Republican, being a man who does his own thinking, and he has never consented to hold any township office. He is an inter- ested member of the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

AARON NELSON WORK, contractor and builder, doing a large business in this line at DuBois, Pa., has been a resident here since 1894. He was born June 26, 1867, in Indiana county, Pa., and is a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Spencer) Work.

Aaron Work was a son of John Work and he came to Indiana county with his parents in his youth. He acquired a farm along a water course but preferred to work as a barn builder and it is said that even after he was eighty years of age he might often be found working on a barn roof. His death occurred in 1891, when eighty-six years of age. His first wife, Nancy (Smith) Work,

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died in Indiana county, the mother of ten dences. He built the stately private resi- children, two of whom survive, Robert H. and Polly. Aaron Work was married sec- ondly to Elizabeth Spencer, a native of In- diana county, and eight children were born to them: Domosthenes, George, Aaron, Nelson, Alexander, Thomas B. and three daughters who died young.

Aaron Nelson Work spent his boyhood on the home farm in Canoe township, In- diana county, not far from Richmond, Pa., and until he was fourteen years of age at- tended the little red schoolhouse near his home. He then began to help his father in the latter's saw-mill and in barn building and thus gained much practical knowledge that he put to good use afterward. In 1894 Mr. Work left Indiana county and moved with his family to DuBois, where he entered into the employ of John E. DuBois as a car- penter, and remained as such for three years, after which he superintended the construction of several of the largest busi- ness houses in the place-the D. L. Corbett dry goods store, working under A. Dorner, Hotel DuBois, working for the hotel com- pany. In 1900 he began contracting for himself and has met with more than ordi- nary success along this line. In fact he has been actively interested in the construction of the leading business structures, school- houses and churches, and among the many fine buildings in this borough may be men- tioned the following as examples: Com- mercial Hotel, Central Y. M. C. A., Presby- terian Parsonage, Senor building, Robin- son Furniture Company building, Lowe building, Power and Electric plant, B. & S. Shaft No. 2, Friendship Hose House, in the First Ward, and the Cannon and other resi-

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 62

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