USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 68
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Thomas and Ellen ( Lamb) Bellis. His grand- parents on the paternal side were Robert and Elizabeth (Lewis) Bellis, the former a miner and merchant, who died in 1895 at the age of 68 years, his wife dying in 1854 at the age of 35. They were both natives of Wales.
Thomas Bellis, father of our subject, was born at Buckley, North Wales, February 2, 1851. After a brief attendance at school, he entered the coal mines at the early age of eight years as a trapper boy, and was subsequently engaged in the mining industry in his native land, in one position or another, until reach- ing the age of 26 years. He then resided for about three years in Lancashire, England. By this time he had married and, deciding to bet- ter his fortunes by seeking larger opportuni- ties in the New World, he came with his wife and children to this country about 1880, set- tling at Philipsburg, Pa., where he was en- gaged in mining until 1890. He subsequently removed to Urey, Indiana county, where he held positions as foreman and superintendent of mines until his death, which occurred No- vember 20, 1910. He was married in 1870 to Miss Ellen Lamb, who was born in his own native town of Buckley, North Wales, May 9, 1848. Her parents were Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lamb, the father being a miner.
Thomas Bellis was a man well known in mining circles. Either by himself or associa- ted with partners, he was interested financially in various coal companies, including the Urey Ridge Coal Co., the Burnside Coal Co., the Glenwood Coal Co., Cymbria Coal Co., the Springfield Coal Co., of which he was presi- dent, the Pioneer Coal Co., and others. He was also vice-president of the Mahaffey National Bank, of Mahaffey. Pa .; and vice-president of the Clymer Brick and Tile Co., and was inter-
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ested in the Farmers Bank of Indiana, Pa .. and the Eldorado Brick Co., of .Altoona; also in the Barnsboro Bank, of Barnsboro, Pa. The last three years of his life were spent in retire- ment from business activity at Altoona. In addition to the subject of this sketch. Thomas and Ellen Bellis were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Sarah, who is the wife of Ed Kantz, of Burnside: Mary, who is un- married and resides at Burnside; Cora, the wife of J. N. Ake, of Egg Harbor, N. J .; Maud, wife of John A. Plyler, of Brookville, Pa .: and Florence, who is single and resides at Mahaffey, Pa. As may be seen, Thomas Bel- lis was a man of great energy and was a highly respected citizen. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 314. at Clearfield, and the Consistory at Williamsport.
Enoch Bellis, like his father, received an early initiation into the mining industry, be- ginning at the age of ten years, after a brief schooling. After coming to this country he found employment as a clerk for the Passmore Burns Co. of Urey, Pa., dealers in various supplies. Two years later the firm became Passmore & Bellis, with our subject as man- ager, and he has continued a successful mer- cantile career, at the present time being in charge of the Burnside Supply Co.'s store at Burnside and also of their store at Glen Camp- bell. He is still a member of the firm of Pass- more & Bellis at Urey. Pa., and is financially interested in the Springfield Coal Co. at Nanty Glo, Pa. He is also treasurer of the Spring- field Land Co., and director of the Mahaffey National Bank, and is interested in the Farm- ers Bank of Indiana, Pa., the Eldorado Brick Co., of Altoona, the Bellmore Coal Co., of Burnside, Pa., the Barnesboro ( Pa.) Bank, and other flourishing business concerns. He
has served in public office when it has been the desire of his fellow citizens, having been a member of the school board and being at pres- ent a member of the borough council of Burn- side and tax collector. He is a member, stew- ard and trustee of the Methodist Protestant church, of Burnside. He also belongs to the Masonic lodge at Clearfield.
Mr. Bellis was married June 22, 1907, to Perella Lovelace, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., June 17, 1878, a daughter of Thomas L. and Laura (Mccullough) Love- lace, the former of whom is still living at the age of 62 years. Mrs. Bellis's mother died in 1887 at the age of 31 years. She was a daugh- ter of Alexander McCullough, born in 1824, who came from Indiana county to Clearfield county, with his parents. John and Margaret (Sharp) Mccullough. The latter was a daughter of Capt. Andrew Sharp of Sharps- burg. who was shot by an Indian on the Ohio river, and died from the effects of his wound. Mrs. Bellis, who is a graduate of the Burnside high school, belongs like her husband, to the Methodist Protestant church, and is an active member. being president of the Ladies' Aid Society. There have been born to our subject and wife four children, namely: Helen, April 17. 1899, who is attending school; Catherine Ruth, May 13, 1902: Sarah Jane, November 26, 1905: and Gwendola, who died in infancy.
JAMES McCROSSIN. owner and propri- etor of the Madera Inn, at Madera, Pa., has had considerable experience in hotel keeping and is a very popular host with the traveling public. He was born April 4, 1855, in Brad- ford county. Pa., and is a son of James and Mary (Donnely) McCrossin.
James McCrossin was born in County Ty-
JAMES McCROSSIN
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rone, Ireland, and his wife in the city of New Fred, Thomas and Frances. Mr. McCrossin York. They were married in Bradford and family are members of the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat. He be- longs to the order of Elks and the L. O. O. M. at Madera. county, where both are buried. They had the following children: Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of Austin Quinlan; Thomas, who is deceased; John; James; Margaret, who is the wife of Daniel Fink; Edward Gilbert : Sarah, who is the wife of Michael Cox; George; William; and Nellie, who is the widow of Edward Moore. Both parents were members of the Catholic church. The father was a farmer.
James McCrossin attended school until he was fifteen years of age and later worked in a saw mill. After that he spent several years at lumbering and for five more years worked in the tannery at Osceola, subsequently be- coming a contractor in the woods, in 1884, and continuing until 1890, when he went into the hotel business, operating a public house at Madera for fourteen months. For the follow- ing five years he was proprietor of the Amer- ican House at Houtzdale, afterward, for one year. of the St. Charles Hotel at Clearfield, and three months he directed the affairs of the Woodland Hotel. Mr. McCrossin resumed lumbering and spent two years in the industry in Cambria county, and then again became a hotel man, renting his present property at first and then buying. He demolished the old building and erected a new one which is mod- ern in every equipment and is ornamented with tile blocks, which are very attractive.
On July 3. 1874. Mr. McCrossin was mar- ried to Miss Mary Wilkison, a daughter of John H. Wilkison. They have had seven chil- dren, namely: Margaret, who is deceased, was the wife of Haskell Read; Rosie, who is deceased: Edward; John, who is proprietor of the Hotel Ben Venue, at Irvona, Pa .: and
WILLIAM T. HAY, a member of the firm of Hay Brothers, plumbers, doing business at No. 146 West Long avenue, DuBois, Pa., was born on Lost Creek, Schuylkill county, Pa., August 25, 1871, and is a son of William E. and Anna (Dunsten) Hay.
William E. Hay came to DuBois from Pottsville, Pa., in 1882 and carried on a plumbing business in this borough for many years. He married Anna Dunsten and they had eight children, namely: Millie, who is the wife of Frank Guinsburg; Bertha S., who is the wife of Charles H. Hill: William T .: Isaac D., who is a member of the plumbing firm of Hay Brothers; Restore B. : Strange P .; Anna, who is the wife of Theodore E. Vos- burg : and Hazel, who is the wife of Harry S. Hall.
Before coming to DuBois with his parents in 1882, William T. Hay had lived for a short time in Kansas. He began to help his father m the latter's plumbing shop when quite young and thus learned every detail of the business. In 1897, in partnership with his brother, Isaac D. Hay, he embarked in the plumbing business and a very substantial enterprise has resulted, this firm taking the lead in their line at Du- Bois.
On September 6, 1899, Mr. Hay was mar- ried to Miss Matilda M. Moore, and they have three children: Arthur Cole, Howard Robert and Raymond Thomas. Mr. Hay and family reside at No. 16 S. Jared street. In politics he is a Republican.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
JOHN NOWRY, a prosperous farmer of Burnside township, was born in Burnside township, October 20, 1862, a son of Robert and Eliza (Smith) Nowry. His paternal grandfather, also named Robert, was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Robert Nowry, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 and came to Clearfield county when a young man. He was a machine blacksmith by trade, but on coming to this section he engaged in the lum- ber business, in which he was reasonably suc- cessful. Ilis death took place in 1868. His wife, Mrs. Eliza Smith Nowry, is still living and resides on the old homestead, being now 82 years of age. She is a daughter of John and Rebecca (Dane) Smith, who came to America from County Leitrim, Ireland. In ad- dition to John, the subject of this sketch, there are three of her daughters now living, namely : Elizabeth, wife of T. B. Davis of Burnside township; Minnie, wife of Ed Shumway, of Chester City, Pa. ; and Birdie, who is the wife of John McCormick of Philadelphia.
John Nowry, with his sisters, after their father's death, was cared for by an uncle, and he subsequently resided with them until his own death in 1908. He was then quite an elderly man, having taken part in the gold rush to California in 1849, and was familiarly known as "Uncle Ed." He has been engaged since early manhood in farming and lumber- ing, having followed successfully in his fath- er's footsteps, and is now one of the prosper- ous citizens of the township. He is a member of the Protestant Methodist church, and is a Republican politically. He has been supervi- sor of his township for almost twenty years. and has also served as committeeman. He has done active and useful work for his party and
believes that it is every citizen's duty to see that good government is maintained.
Mr. Nowry married Miss Laura Ball, of Big Rapids, Mich. She was born in 1868, her parents being John and Rosanna ( Baer) Ball. Her father, who was born in Ohio, was an officer in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting with four brothers, in Company D, 35th Illinois Regiment. His wife's father was a native of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Nowry have one adopted child, Nellie, now aged ten years.
H. D. McKEEHEN, postmaster and gen- eral merchant, at Berwinsdale, Clearfield county, Pa., was born in Jordan township, Clearfield county, July 3, 1869, and is a son of James and Mary Jane ( Glasgow) McKee- hen.
James McKeehen was a son of David and Mary Ann MeKeehen, of Scotch and Irish de- scent. He engaged in farming and lumbering in Clearfield county and in 1873 embarked in the mercantile business. He married Mary Jane Glasgow, a daughter of John and Sarah Glasgow, and they had the following children born to them: Mary Lavinia, wife of C. D. McMurray : and H. D., John and Joel.
H. D. MeKeehen was educated in the pub- lic schools and the Lock Haven State Normal School, in which institution he was a student for two years. Following this he spent two years on the road representing a medical sup- ply house and afterward passed four years on a farm. Then he turned his attention to mer- chandising, buying the stock of L. L. Hile, at Berwinsdale, and since then has conducted a first class general store, supplying a large sur- rounding territory. On January 24, 1900, he was appointed postmaster at Berwinsdale and
JOHN Y. RAFFERTY
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has proved a satisfactory public official. In politics he is an independent thinker and voter.
On May 23, 1901, Mr. McKeehen was mar- ried to Miss Josephine Bell, a daughter of Warren and Marian (Snyder) Bell, farming people of Ferguson township. Mr. and Mrs. Bell had four children: May, Josephine, Wayne and Lillian, the last named being the wife of R. L. Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Keehen are members of the Presbyterian church. He is an active and interested citizen of Jordan township and has served for nine years on the school board.
CHARLES A. McDONALD, one of the enterprising and successful young business men of DuBois, Pa., is proprietor of the Hotel Windsor and also is interested in handling real estate. He was born April 8, 1881, and is the only son of Donald and Mary (Harris) McDonald.
Donald McDonald was born and reared in Canada and came to Pennsylvania in early manhood, locating in the neighbor- hood of Mix Run, in Cameron county, where he operated a saw-mill and conducted a general mercantile business. He died a comparatively young man. He married Mary Harris, who is a daughter of the late James Harris, once a well known man who was connected as a civil engineer with the construction of some of the early railroads in this section. Mrs. McDonald came to DuBois with her son in 1887 and is asso- ciated with him in his numerous business enterprises.
Charles A. McDonald was educated in the DuBois schools, Pittsburg College and the University of Colorado, being credit- ably graduated in the latter institution with
the class of 1903. For three years after- ward he followed his maternal grandfather's profession, civil engineering, on railroads in the West. After returning to DuBois he entered into partnership with G. W. Smy- ers in the lumber and planing-mill business, on Daily Street, in which he continued un- til 1909, when he sold his interest to his partner and purchased the Hotel Windsor from H. R. Burns. After taking charge the whole place was remodeled. The main building. which contains twenty-six bed- rooms, was built by Mr. and Mrs. McDonald (his mother), and in the annex they have twenty-two comfortable bed-rooms, all fitted up in first class style. In connection with the hotel a modern res- taurant is conducted, which has quite a local reputation for its excellent cuisine. The rates of the Hotel Windsor are very mod- erate, being $1.50 per day.
Mr. McDonald was married April 12, 1905, to Miss Josephine McClure, who is a daughter of the late Dr. M. L. McClure. They have an interesting family of four lit- tle ones, namely: Maime and Josephine, twin daughters, and Donald and Harold, sons. The family home is located at No. 28 N. Main Street, DuBois. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald with Mrs. Donald McDonald, are all members of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. McDonald takes a lively in- terest in politics and has served as chair- man on the Democratic organization in his ward. He belongs to the order of Elks at Du Bois.
JOHN Y. RAFFERTY, justice of the peace at Grampian, Pa., auditor of the bor- ough and a general merchant here, is a native
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
of this place, born January 31, 1876, and is a son of John B. and Bridget (Casey) Rafferty.
John B. Rafferty was born in Penn Town- ship, a son of Thomas and Martha (Young) Rafferty, who were pioneers in Clearfield County, he being a native of Ireland and she of Clearfield County. John B. Rafferty was an early merchant and was a justice of the peace at Grampian, when the place was still known as Pennsville. He was a member of the Catholic church. His death occurred .April 20, 1877. He married Bridget Casey, who died January 1, 1889, and both were buried in the Catholic cemetery at Grampian.
John Y. Rafferty is in partnership in the mercantile business, with his brother, James L. Rafferty, the firm name being Rafferty Broth- ers. They were educated at Grampian and St. Francis College at Loretto. John Y. Raf- ferty married Miss Jane Mckeown, a daugh- ter of James McKeown, of Penn Township, and they have five children: Janetta, John. Francis, Mary and Beatrice. They are mem- ers of the Catholic church. Mr. Rafferty was elected a justice of the peace, on the Demo- cratic ticket. to serve from 1910 until 1915. He owns a one-third interest in the John B. Rafferty Hunting Club and an estate of 182 acres, situated in Penn township, Clearfield county.
James L. Rafferty was born at Grampian, Pa., October 11, 1874. He married Miss Ella Mckeown, a daughter of James McKeown and a twin sister of the wife of John Y. Rafferty. Mr. and Mrs. Rafferty have six children : Er- nestine, Inez. Genevieve, Paul Arthur and Leonard. Mr. and Mrs. Rafferty are mem- bers of the Catholic church. He is a Demo- crat in politics and is serving as a member of
the borough council. His business interests are identical with those of his younger brother.
PORTER KINPORTS, a respected resi- dent of Cherry Tree, where he was for many years one of the town's most active business men, but is now retired, was born at Frankstown, Pa., September 6, 1831, son of John and Mary ( Rench) Kinports. John Kinports, the father, was a native of Penn- sylvania, born near Lancaster, and came with his family to Cambria county in 1845. having previously spent some time in Hunt- ingdon and Blair counties. In the former he was engaged in farming and lumbering, and later at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, was occupied as a miller and millwright. He was a Free Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Hollidaysburg. He died in 1862 at the age of 68 years. His wife Mary (Rench) Kinports died at the age of eighty- two. She was of Maryland parentage. The subject of this sketch is the only one of their family of seven sons and three daugh- ters that is now living.
Porter Kinports attended school until reaching the age of 13 years. From that time until his father's death in 1862 he was in the latter's employ or was associated with him in business matters, with the exception of two terms that he spent in teaching school during the early part of that period. For one year he was in partnership with a brother, but on the latter's death he con- ducted the business alone, from 1845 to 1903 being engaged in lumbering, farming and conducting a mercantile business at Cherry Tree. Aside from his ordinary busi- ness, he is president of the First National
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Bank of Cherry Tree, and a director of the Water Company and the Power and Light Company. He is however now retired from active business life. Mr. Kinports is a Democrat in politics ; he served one term as burgess and was for some time a member of the school board and a councilman of the borough. He has belonged to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Cherry Tree for the past 57 years. He is also a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Curwensville, the Chap- ter at Clearfield, the Commandery at Phil- ipsburg, the Consistory at Williamsport, and the Mystic Shrine at Altoona. He has also been a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge at Cherry Tree for 26 years. His connec- tion with the Masonic order dates back to 1867 and he is now the oldest Sir Knight in the southern part of the county. He was a charter member of Noble Lodge at New Washington.
Mr. Kinports was married September 18, 1860, to Margaret B. Mahaffey, a daughter of John and Ella (Byers) Mahaffey, born April 1837. Of the ten children born to this marriage, but four are now living, namely : Minetta, wife of John Driscoll, residing in West Virginia, who has one child: J. Clyde, residing on the old Mahaf- fey home in this vicinity, who married Mary Belle Lydick ; Stella, wife of George Davis of West Virginia : Boyd W., who is engaged in the lumber business at Cherry Tree, and who is unmarried. A daughter Gertrude, who is now deceased, was the wife of Jo- seph Wilson. She left one child, who is now living with the subject of this sketch. On September 18, 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Kin- port celebrated their Golden Wedding an- niversary, some 200 guests being present,
and the occasion was a most enjoyable one to all.
WILLIAM S. MOORE, superintendent for the Corona Coal Company, at Madera, is an experienced man in his line of work and has climbed from a minor clerkship to his present responsible position through absolute merit. There is very little senti- ment about big business corporations and when they delegate important duties to a man it is very certain that he is deserving of them. William S. Moore was born Feb- ruary 9, 1878, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Charles W. and Emma (Hewitt) Moore.
Charles W. Moore was reared and edu- cated in Blair county, where he followed farming for twenty-two years and then went into the meat business at Madera, with which he is still connected. being man- ager for the Madera Trading Company. He married Emma Hewitt, of Hollidays- burg, and they have seven children: Wil- liam, Samuel, Thomas, Walter, John, Maude and Helen.
William S. Moore attended the public schools at Brisbin and the High Schools of Madera and Houtzdale. All his business life has been connected with the coal in- dustry and for eight years he has been in the employ of the Corona Coal Company.
Mr. Moore was married in 1898 to Miss Jane E. Shoff, a daughter of Robert and Hannah (Dewitt) Shoff, and a grand- daughter of Samuel and Jane (Haggerty) Shoff, and of George and Rachel (Bloom) Dewitt. Mrs. Moore was the eldest of nine children born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have four children, namely: Rob-
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ert, Emma, Henry and Clyde. Mr. and dist Episcopal church of Du Bois and among Mrs. Moore attend the Presbyterian church. its most faithful workers. Mr. Menzie is an ardent Republican and for fifteen years has been a member of the DuBois borough council and has been president of this body since 1905. In politics he is a Republican but takes only the interest of a patriotic and earnest citi- zen who desires faithful men in public offices as well as in business concerns. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the lower branches at Osceola, Pa., and to the Commandery at Williamsport.
WILLIAM MENZIE, president of the borough council of DuBois, Pa., has been continuously in the employ of John E. Du- Bois, the largest individual lumber owner of the United States, since 1879, and now has charge of the retail department. He came to DuBois from Nova Scotia, where he was born January 12, 1846. His parents were William and Agnes ( Donaldson) Menzie, natives of Scotland.
William Menzie spent his boyhood on his father's farm and remained there until he reached manhood, when he went to Hali- fax, N. S., where he started a draying and express business on his own account and carried it on for about seven years. In 1879 he came to the U. S. and to Du Bois, which was then only a small lumber town. He entered the employ of John DuBois and spent the first winter lumbering in the deep woods, afterwards being given charge of the yards, where the labor was not so hard but the responsibilty was greater. He has continued, as mentioned above, and now is one of the oldest employes.
In 1884 William Menzie was married to Miss Lavina Burns, of Osceola Mills, Clear- field county, and they have two children : Mary B. and James F. Mr. Menzie and family are members of the Second Metho-
He has been closely identified with the business interests of the community and his time and means are freely given to any- thing tending to the betterment of the city and its people. He is a past master of Garfield Lodge No. 559 Free and Accepted Masons and is the present Eminent Com- mander of Bethany Commandery No. 83. Knights Templar, both bodies being lo- cated in DuBois.
FRANK G. CONLEY, justice of the peace at Westover and a well known agri- culturist of Chest township, was born at Cherry Tree, Clearfield county, Pa., Janu- ary 5, 1861. He is a son of John and a grandson of Bernard Conley. The latter, who was a native of Ireland, came to Amer- ica in 1830, finding employment at Holli- daysburg, Pa., on the construction of the old canal. He afterwards followed black- smithing and farming and died in Cambria county in 1866 at the age of 60 years. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Green.
John Conley, father of our subject, was born at Hollidaysburg, in 1831. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation and came to Cherry Tree about 1855 at the time of his marriage. In 1864 he removed to Chest township where he continued in the same lines of industry. He died De- cember 12, 1892. He was a man of im- portance in the community, a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He also
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belonged to the Masonic lodge at Curwens- ville, of which he was a charter member, and to the chapter at Clearfield; also to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Ansonville, Pa., and to the Grange. He was a Democrat in politics and served as justice of the peace for 15 years, also for some time as a member of the school board. Of his children there are three daughters and two sons now living, namely: Etta, wife of Samuel Morrison; Alice, wife of W. Billings, of Portage, Pa .: Pearl, wife of E. M. McGarbey, a Chris- tian Alliance minister of Cambria county, Pa .; William F., an Evangelical pastor, re- siding at New Paris, Pa .; and Ernest, a Christian Alliance pastor, of Williamsport, Pa.
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