Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 67

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 67

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In 1891, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Bertha Meas, a daughter of David and Amelia

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(Goss) Meas. David Meas was a farmer in Boggs township. His family consisted of the following children: Joseph: James; Bertha, wife of Mr. Jones; Anna, wife of Edward Dixon; Lyda, wife of Martin Woods; Ro- land; and Rosa, deceased, who was the wife of Theodore Haynes. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have four children: Albert, Ethel, Ada and Robert. Mr. Jones and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a mem- ber of the Grange and belongs to the order of Eagles and also to the Elks, both at Clearfield. He is a Republican in his political views and has served on the election board.

HON. HENRY S. KNARR, formerly bur- gess of DuBois, Pa., where he is a representa- tive citizen, has large real estate interests here and in Clearfield County and is owner and pro- prietor of the H. S. Knarr stock farm, which is situated in Brady Township, one-half mile northwest of Luthersburg, Pa. Mr. Knarr was born on his father's farm in Brady Town- ship, Clearfield County, Pa., February 21, 1853, and is a son of Henry and Catherine ( Mar- shall) Knarr and grandson of George Knarr.

George Knarr was born in Germany and em- igrated to America with his family in 1826. He took up 200 acres of land near Troutville, in Brady Township, Clearfield County, Pa., the above town now partly being built on his farm. Both he and his wife. Louisa (Wisegarber) Knarr, lived into old age, he surviving to be within eight years of the century mark. They had six children, namely: Henry, Andrew, George and Adam, all deceased; Charlotte, who was the wife of Christian Haag, both de- ceased ; and Caroline, who is the only survivor, is the widow of A. K. Weaver, and now re- sides at DuBois.

Henry Knarr was born in Germany and was about eighteen years of age when he accom- panied the family to America and to Clearfield County. . At first he assisted his father on the latter's large tract of land but subsequently took up 150 acres for himself, also in Brady Township and to the clearing of this land and its cultivation, he devoted many years of hard work. He also taught school in Brady Town- ship and was one of the first to teach a German school. He died on his place in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Catherine Marshall, who was born in Germany and died in her seventy-sixth year, in 1898, having passed her last years at Troutville. To Henry and Catherine (Marshall) Knarr six- teen children were born, as follows: Louisa, George, Caroline. Simon, David, Lourine, Henry S., Reuben, William Adam, Mary, Sam- ucl A., Ferdinand, and others who died in infancy.

Henry S. Knarr spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the country schools. He was a very active and adventurous lad and by accident lost one of his limbs. On this ac- count his father was exceedingly anxious that he should have a college education to enable him to enter one of the professions, but the youth decided otherwise after a trial, and con- cluded to learn the tailor's trade and served an apprenticeship at Brookville. In 1876 he opened his own establishment at DuBois, which was then but a small place, and conducted a very successful business until 1882, when he became interested in the buying and selling of real estate, in which he has been equally suc- cessful. In 1882 he traded a property in Du- Bois for the John Reed farm of eighty acres, situated near Clearfield, and shortly afterward traded that farm advantageously for the Henry

HON. AND MRS. HENRY S. KNARR AND FAMILY

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Shaffer farm, which is now included in the 1888, when his loss, as a young business man Fourth Ward, DuBois, although at the time of was $46,000. He was one of the organizers of the Union Banking and Trust Company at DuBois and is one of its directors. the above transaction, it was yet partly cov- ered with timber. It is the forethought shown in such affairs that has made Mr. Knarr the On June 23, 1879, Mr. Knarr was married to Miss Mary A. Buchhide, a daughter of Fred- erick and Elizabeth (Weber) Buchhide, of Jefferson County, Pa., and they have two sons : Silas, who is an employe of the Union Bank- ing and Trust Company, married Alice F. Nel- son ; and Burt E. Mr. and Mrs. Knarr are members of the Lutheran church. Until May, 1910, Mr. Knarr resided in ,DuBois, driving out to the farm every morning, but the tempo- rary home is maintained there at present, it being his intention to sell the farm as his health is entirely restored. and to reside in the bor- ough as formerly. He is a Democrat in pol- itics and served in the borough council and for four years was burgess. successful business man he is acknowledged to be. He cleared the Shaffer farm and then laid it out in lots and improved them with houses and soon became one of the leading real estate dealers in the place. Later he showed still more enterprise, putting up a 66-foot front, two-story brick business block on Brady Street, for the site of which he paid $180, and at present, thirty-five years later, its valuation is $16,000. Still later he erected a second brick business block, locating it on Long Ave- nue and he retains possession of both proper- ties, which rent high, and owns a number of other lots and dwellings. In 1897 his physi- cian advised a rest from the business activities in which he had found so much pleasure and profit, and Mr. Knarr bought a farm of 136 CHARLES E. HOYT, proprietor of Lone Pine Farm, consisting of ninety acres of excel- lent land, which lies in Huston township, Clearfield county. Pa., at Hickory Kingdom, was born on this farm, the old home place, July 31, 1863, and is a son of Hiram and Barbara (Brown) Hoyt. acres, in Brady Township, near Luthersburg, not far from the place of his birth, and went back to Nature, as it were, in order to benefit his health. He soon became interested here. sparing no expense or trouble to improve the property and make of it a fine stock farm. He remodeled the house and has put up barns The Hoyts came originally from New Eng- land, Dr. William Hoyt, the grandfather, hav- ing been born in Vermont. He was married to Ruby Mason in Massachusetts and they came to Clearfield, Pa., in 1819. Here he practiced medicine and also taught school, moving later to Elk county, where he taught the Horton township schools, the first school of the township, and from there to Balltown and taught on the present site of Brockport, Pa. From Balltown he moved to Hickory and bought the improved farm of John I. Bundy, and other buildings and in the construction of which he has used many barrels of cement. He has set out orchards and shade trees and his wife has been equally busy in the tasteful ar- rangement of flower-beds, so that, added to the natural advantages of considerable eleva- tion, this farm is one of great beauty and ex- ceeding value. Although Mr. Knarr has been exceedingly successful he has occasionally met with misfortune, the greatest of which, in a financial way, he deems the fire at DuBois, in

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in Huston township. Clearfield county, later turning it over to his son, William H. Hoyt, and then bought another improved farm one and one-half miles southwest of this. He died in Huston township in 1872, aged eighty-four years. Dr. Hoyt was the father of the fol- lowing children: Cornelia A., who married Benjamin Hulet; Sophia A., who married William F. Green: Sarah M., who married Jeremiah Hewett ; and William H., Edgar M., Eliza Jane, Seth R. and Hiram M. Eliza Jane married Norman Write.

Hiram M. Hoyt, father of Charles E., was born in Elk county, Pa., July 13, 1828. He became a farmer and accompanied his father to Huston township, Clearfield county. and here subsequently bought a farm of about 180 acres on which he spent the rest of his life, following the quiet pursuits of agriculture. His death occurred here March 26, 1903. He married Barbara Brown, who survived until December, 1909. Six children were born to Hiram M. and Barbara Hoyt, as follows: Alexander, who is deceased; Elizabeth, who is the wife of W. H. Bundy; Isaac; Charles Edward; Ida, who is the wife of O. R. Bundy; and Ellen, who is the wife of C. C. Dodd.

Charles E. Hoyt attended the country schools and since then has been more or less continuously engaged in farming. During ten years of his life he also carried on lumbering. He makes a specialty of dairying, keeping twenty-two head of cattle. He is a member of the Grange and his practical progressive- ness may be seen in the excellent care taken of his land and stock and in his building and maintaining a silo, and in the substantial char- acter of his residence and barns. Valuable coal deposits underlie his land and he lias coal leases in Sandy township. Mr. Hoyt is a

stockholder in the Farmers and Traders Bank at Clearfield, of which he was formerly also a director.

Mr. Hoyt was married February 14, 1889, to Miss Elizabeth Bundy, a daughter of J. G. Bundy, of Sandy township, and they have two children, Waneta A. and Hiram M. In poli- tics he is a Republican and he is now serving on the township school board in his fourth term.

GIDEON D. NEFF, a prosperous far- mer of Burnside township, was born Au- gust 26. 1837, in this township, not far from New Washington. His parents were J. B. and Catherine (Barnhart) Neff, and he is a grandson of John Neff, who at one time carried on a distillery at Howardville, Center county, Pa.

J. B. Neff, father of our subject. was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1795, and died September 9, 1879. In April, 1829, he came to Clearfield county with his brothers to begin clearing a 400 acre tract of land which had been purchased previously by their father, John Neff. He was engaged in farming from 1860 to 1865. He later en- gaged in distilling, there being convenient springs, known as the "Big Springs" in the vicinity of the homestead. The house which he occupied at that time was simply a log shanty. J. B. Neff married Catharine Barnhart, who was born February 17, 1795. and who died May 2, 1879. Her parents were from Center county, Pa. Col. Jacob Barnhart served in the Revolutionary war. The father of our subject was one of the organizers of the M. E. church in his local- ity, the business of a distiller at that time not being thought incompatible with a

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Christian life. In 1835 the wives of the Neffs walked to their old home in Center county, where they dried apples and made apple butter, there being no apples then raised in this new settlement. They were obliged to send their grain on horseback to the mill at Tyrone, Pa., and at times it had to be ground in a coffee mill.

Gideon D. Neff is the only one of his parents' children now living. He attended school in his boyhood and remained at home until reaching the age of 25 years, when he removed to his present place, which is known as the Altamont Farm. He has been engaged in farming and lumbering all his life and has been reasonably successful, being now regarded as one of the substan- tial and prosperous citizens of his township. He is a member of the M. E. church but is not active in politics.

Mr. Neff was married May 14, 1863, to Susannah Troxell, who was born Decem- ber 24, 1845, at Muncie, Union county, Pa. Her parents were John and Lydia N. (Hes- singer) Troxell, natives of Union county. The father, born March 23, 1807, died in 1879. Lydia Hessinger, born October 31, 1813, was a daughter of George and Cath- erine (Punsins) Hessinger, of Center town- ship, Union county ; she died May 2, 1893. Mrs. Neff's grandfather, George Troxell, was born November 30, 1782, at New Cale- donia, Pa., his father having come to Amer- ica from Germany. He married Mary Hoffman, who was born January 19, 1779.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Neff are as follows: Rose Etta, born June 24, 1864. married Wm. H. McKee, has ten children, (of Huntingdon, Pa.). Carrie Viola, born September 24, 1866, is the wife of I. E.

Ricketts of Utahville, Pa. and has four chil- dren. Mary, born February 26, 1869, is the wife of L. D. Gardner, of Glen Campbell and has six children. Laura, born June 10, 1871, is the wife of H. S. Gorman of Burn- side township and has four children. James D., born 1874, married Mary E. Byers and they have one child. Russel B., born June 21, 1877, is the manager of the home farm. Reuben is deceased. Della Grace born June 15, 1884, is residing at home with her par- ents.

THOMAS LAURENCE WAY, presi- dent of the Clearfield County Agricultural Society, secretary of the Grange at Cur- wensville, and the owner of a well improved farm of 115 acres, located two miles north of Curwensville, Pa., is one of the represen- tative men of Pike township and belongs to one of the honorable old Quaker families of the county. He was born August II, 1860, in what is now Greenwood, but for- merly was Bell township, Clearfield county, Pa., and is a son of David and Eliza (Mc- Gaughy) Way, and a grandson of Job Way.

David Way was born in Center county, Pa., January 12, 1837, came to Clearfield county in 1854, locating on his farm of 106 acres, situated in Pike township, and owns a one-half interest in a second farm of 100 acres, situated also in Pike township. He is a son of Job and Jane (Barlow) Way, the latter of whom was born in Sinking Val- ley. The children of Job and Jane Way were five in number, namely: Thomas, David, Mary Jane, Robert B. and Adam B. The survivors are: David, Robert B., who married Maria Blackburn; and Adam B., who married Jennie Blackburn. All of

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these children were born in Center county and from there Job Way moved to Clear- field county in 1854 and settled on a wild tract of 110 acres, in Pike township. This land he subsequently cleared and it re- mained his home until the close of his life, his death occurring at the age of seventy- five years and his burial was at Plain View cemetery. His widow survived to be eighty-three years of age. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. In his early years he was a Whig in his political views but became identified with the Republican party after its organization.

David Way attended the district schools in his youth but his advantages were mea- ger in comparison with those which are now almost thrust upon the present gener- ation. Farming and lumbering then claimed his attention and he continued to be inter- ested more or less in both industries during his active years. Following his marriage he continued to live in Bell township for one year and then moved to Penn township, re- maining there two years. after which he came to Pike township, locating on his farm of 106 acres, situated three miles northwest of Curwensville, as previously stated, where he erected farm buildings. He now lives retired on Ridge Avenue, Curwensville, a capable tenant managing the farm. Being a consistent member of the Society of Friends, he has never been much of a poli- tician, but has accepted various township offices and performed the duties of the same to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He has served as school director. road supervisor and overseer of the Poor and at one time was also elected township treasurer. He is a member of the Clear-

field Agricultural Society and belongs to the Grange, taking a deep interest in farming in spite of his years, and anxious to witness the results of modern methods so different from those he made use of for many years. Doubtless he has often proved that practice and theory differ widely. He is one of Pike township's most esteemed and respected citizens.

In November, 1859, David Way was married to Eliza MeGaughy, a daugh- ter of Thomas MeGaughy, and five children were born to them as fol- lows: Thomas Laurence ; Ella J., who mar- ried Samuel Smith, of Curwensville, and has seven children-Verna, Maude, Gussie, William, Louella, Ruth and Lester ; William E., who resides in the state of Oregon, and who married a Miss Palmer ; John A., who lives in Nebraska, who married Ida Mc- Mullen, and has four children-David R., Ira L., John C. and Harvey D .; and Mar- tha, the wife of E. B. Way, residing in Cen- ter county, who has the following children -Sarah H., Lydia L., David C., Pauline L., Loraine, E. Elsworth and Isabel.

Thomas Laurence Way attended the Chestnut Ridge schoolhouse. His brother William and sister Ella J., both became school teachers, but he remained at home assisting his father on the farm until his own marriage, in 1882, when he settled on his father's Chestnut Ridge farm for a time, afterward moving to Bridgeport, where he engaged in teaming for L. E. Ar- nold for a season and then went back to farming. In 1887 he moved to the Col. E. A. Irvin farm and was in the employ of Colonel Irvin for four years, when he bought property near Curwensville and occupied

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it for two years. Mr. Way then settled on the farm on which he has lived ever since, which is situated in Pike township and is the old Bloom homestead, formerly owned by the parents of his wife. Mr. Way has made many substantial improvements here, in 1889 building his fine barn and remodel- ing his house, which was erected in 1886. The old farm-house is yet standing and is the residence of Mrs. Bloom, Mrs. Way's mother. Mr. Way has about 108 acres of cleared land. He carries on general farmi- ing and stock raising and makes a feature of dairying, selling his milk by wholesale, to the milk depot at Curwensville, keeping about twelve cows and calculating on hav- ing twenty-five gallons of milk a day.

Mr. Way was married November 22, 1882, to Miss S. Jennie Bloom, a daughter of Thomas and Ruthanna (Walker) Bloom, and they have had five children, namely. Ruthanna, who married James E. Irwin, a son of William T. and Sarah Irwin, and has had six children-Wava Lucinda, James Byron, Carl Ellis, deceased ; Dorothy Jane, Sarah Chloe and Ruth May ; Mabel C., who married Monroe Bloom, a son of Allen and Mary Bloom, and has two children-Ansel Lee and Chester Alvin : Thomas Hugh, who married Olive Annie Moose, and has one son, Hugh Lawrence; Edith Lucinda, who married Earl McFadden, a son of Scott and Fannie McFadden, and has had two chil- dren-James Harold and Frances Marie, the latter being deceased; and David El- mer, who died April 11, 1898, aged twenty- two months and is buried in Plain View cemetery.

The Bloom family, of which Mrs. Way is a member, is one well known through Cen-

tral Pennsylvania. Her grandfather, Ben- jamin Bloom, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., December 28, 1790, and died August 13, 1878, and was interred in the McClure cemetery in Pike township. He married Sally McClure, who was born Oc- tober 20, 1792, and died September 14, 1868. She was a daughter of Thomas and Margaret McClure, the former of whom was born in Ireland in 1762 and died in 1832. They had the following children : David, born June 21, 1788; Nancy, born in 1790; Sally, the grandmother of Mrs. Way, born in 1792: John, born in 1796: Polly in 1798; Betsey, in 1802: Wilson M., in 1805: Peggy in 1807; and Thomas R., in 1809. Thomas Bloom, father of Mrs. Way, was born September 7. 1813, near Curwens- ville, in Pike township. In 1838 he was married first to Hannah Cleaver, who died May 17, 1853. They had nine children : Elvina, Phineas, Harris, Alvin, Clark, Mary, Margaret, Susannah and

Thaddeus. Thomas Bloom was married secondly Oc- tober 30, 1856, to Ruthanna Walker, who still survives and lives on the homestead. She was born November 5, 1831, in York county, Pa., a daughter of Azahel and Lydia Walker. Two children were born to this marriage: Lydia Lucinda, born Novem- ber 9, 1859, the wife of Isaac M. Kester; and S. Jennie, born May 16, 1861, the wife of Thomas L. Way. Thomas Bloom died November 20, 1892, and his burial was in Plain View cemetery. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.

. In politics he was a Democrat.

In politics, Thomas L. Way has been identified with the Republican party since he reached manhood. He has served ac-

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ceptably as school director, road supervisor, and judge of elections, in Pike township, and at times has served on political com- mittees in his section. Since 1888 he has been a member of the order of Odd Fellows and has progressed through the chairs of the local lodge.

URIAH H. STRAW, one of Boggs town- ship's well known business men who has been engaged in a blacksmith business on his farm of seventy-eight acres of land, in Boggs town- ship, Clearfield county, Pa .. for the past six- teen years, was born in Center county, Pa., September 10, 1851, and is a son of John and Frances (Weaver) Straw.

John Straw was born in Center county, where he spent his life, his business being farming. His parents were Nicholas and Mol- lie Straw. John Straw was a Democrat in politics, and served in some township offices. He married Frances Weaver, who was also born in Center county. They were members of the United Brethren church, good and wor- thy people. They reared a large family, Uriah H. being the eldest. The others were: Philip ; Priscilla, who is deceased; Mary, who is the wife of Michael Murphy; Anna, who is the wife of Benjamin Johnstonbach ; Amos: Dan- iel : William, who is deceased : Andrew ; Celia, who is the wife of Calvin Beals; and Jacob and Edward.

Uriah H. Straw left school early in order to go to work in the woods, where he labored until he was eighteen years of age. After that he gave attention to farming and for nine years was also in the blacksmith business in his native county. On March 27, 1895, he moved on his present place and has remained here ever since.

Mr. Straw was married in 1873, to Miss Harriet Fahr, a daughter of Tobias and Mary (Sextman) Fahr, natives of Center county. Mrs. Straw is one of the following family : Maria, Lydia, Fayette, Aaron, Harriet, Jane, Martha and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Straw have ten children, namely: Wesley, Lewis, Charles, Blanchard, Allen, Howard, May, Frances, Annabel and Martha. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Straw is a very well informed man and takes an interest in township affairs. He casts his political vote with the Democratic party.

FRED CHARLES IMHOF, proprietor of the Hotel Tyler, at Tyler, Pa., is a well known citizen of Clearfield county, in which he has lived for twenty-two years. He was born at St. Mary's, Pa., in Elk county, January 20, 1869, and is a son of George and Mary (Sea- bert ) Imhof.

The parents of Mr. Imhof are old and highly respected residents of St. Mary's and are well known in Elk county. Their family contained six children, as follows: Catherine, who married John Keller, of Elk county; George W., who resides at New Bethlehem; Joseph F., who lives in the old home; Fred Charles, who is a resident of Tyler; Mary, who married Philip Kerner, of St. Mary's; and Charles E., his home being also at St. Mary's.

Fred Charles Imhof attended the public schools at St. Mary's until he was fourteen years of age and then went to work in the mines and followed mining there for the fol- lowing six years. From there he came to Ty- ler in the capacity of a clerk in the store of the Clearfield Coal and Coke Company, remaining until 1893, when he went to DuBois and gained there his first hotel training, as porter

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in the National Hotel, later as bar tender. Subsequently, in partnership with Lorenzo Bing, he embarked in a saloon and restaurant business on Brady street, securing his license from Judge Gordon. Later he and William Schwem bought the Logan House from Wil- liam Logan and conducted it for four years and then sold to James Chambers. In 1904 Mr. Imhof came to Tyler and bought the Ty- ler Hotel from Munch & Hay, and has con- ducted it ever since. He has made many im- provenients and now has one of the best ap- pointed hotels in this section. His house is equipped with electric lights and a hot and cold water system and with steam heat. He has fifteen bed rooms fitted with bath and special attention is given to making these comfortable sleeping apartments. An elegant lobby leads into a fine dining room, where the best the market affords is provided in the cuisine. The location of the Hotel Tyler is conveniently near the railroad station, and the moderate charge for all these accommodations is $1.50 per day.

On March 24. 1894. Mr. Imhof was mar- ried to Miss Clara Shugart. a daughter of Joseph Shugart. They are members of the Catholic church. In politics Mr. Imhof is a Democrat and fraternally he is identified with the Elks at DuBois. The Hotel Tyler is the only hostelry that has ever been successful at Tyler, and in addition to owning this prop- erty, Mr. Imhof is interested with a brother in general store at New Bethlehem.

ENOCH BELLIS. mine superintendent, merchant, and bank director, of Burnside, is one of the best known business men in this part of Clearfield county. He was born at Buckley, North Wales, March 5, 1871, son of

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 67

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