Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 71

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 71

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).

Benjamin Carr and his brothers attended

school at Red Bank and was a young man when the family came to Lawrence town- ship. He operated a saw-mill for several years and then purchased the present farm, then containing 165 acres, from J. & C. Lenox. With the help of his sons he cleared all but fifteen acres which are now very valuable timber lands. He continued in the mill business, hiring help to operate his farm. During the Civil War he was in the service, a member of Co. E, 149th Pa. Vol. Inf., and toward the end of the war was captured by the Confederates and incarcer- ated in Libby Prison, where he died from harsh treatment. His burial was at An- napolis, Md. His marriage was with Eliza- beth Williams, a daughter of Edward Wil- liams, of Bradford township, and the fol- lowing children were born to them : Mercy Jane, who is now deceased, was the wife of Austin Trimp, of Bigler; C. P., of Pike township; W. S., who was married first to Mary Thompson, and second to Orie Bloom, a daughter of Zachariah Bloom; Mary, who is the wife of Peter Gearhart; and Richard, who married Alberta King. The mother of the above family died in 1882.

C. P. Carr attended school at Pleasant Grove and afterward began the duties of life, naturally becoming a farmer and later engaging in teaming. After the death of his mother, the home farm, some ten years later, was divided between WV. S. and C. P. Carr, the former taking the buildings and sixty-five acres of land, and the latter the 100 acres, on which there were no struc- tures. Subsequently he erected the solid, substantial buildings now standing and has lived on his land until the present. He has a valuable coal bank which produces 200

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

tons of coal a month which he delivers to the neighboring tile works. He does some truck farming in addition to his regular agricultural operations, and a productive peach orchard gives him some fine fruit to dispose of each year. He is a member of the Grange and of the Agricultural Society.

On August 31, 1874, Mr. Carr was mar- ried to Miss Annie Leese, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Tomey) Leese, and they have five children : Harvey, who resides on the home farm, married Effie Addleman and they have one child, Helen; Orlo, who also lives on the farm, married Emma Ful- lerton, and they have one daughter, Sarah; Fred, who is also one of the home farmers, married Pearl Cuppler, and they have two children, Leonora and Mary ; Williard, who lives at Luthersburg, married Edith Hays; and Zella, who lives at home. Mr. Carr and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Democrat and has frequently been elected to office on the Democratic ticket, serving as a useful member of the school board, as road supervisor and for the past six years he has been a justice of the peace, and is serving in his second term. He is a member of the Royal Order of the Moose and other fraternal organizations.

HON. CHARLES BIGLER PATRICK, formerly burgess of Burnside, Pa., and a member of the borough school board, has been in the undertaking business here since 1905, and is one of the leading citizens. He was born in Burnside township, Clearfield county, Pa., August 21. 1851, and is a son of James and Eliza (Rummel) Patrick.

James Patrick was born in Lancaster

county, Pa. From there he moved to Arm- strong county, where he married Eliza Rummel, a daughter of John Rummel. He was a farmer and general laborer and lost his life while rafting on the Susquehannah River, when aged seventy-two years. He was a stanch Democrat, but never held of- fice. Both he and his wife were members of the Evangelical church. They had the following children: George, who is de- ceased ; Mary Jane, who is the wife of John Beringer, of Burnside; Chambers, who is deceased; Margaret, who is the wife of J. Brickley, of Burnside; Libby, who is the wife of D. Redmond, of Falmouth, Ky .; John, who died in infancy ; Dallas, who lives in Bell township; Maria, who is a resident of Cherry Tree; Mrs. Fanny King, who is deceased ; and Charles B.

Charles B. Patrick obtained his education in the public schools and afterward, until twenty-five years of age, was engaged in teaming and other work. He then learned the carpenter trade at which he was em- ployed until 1905, when he embarked in the undertaking business. He has all necessary equipments and accommodations and his trade comes from a wide territory, people who have known him and his family for years having the utmost confidence in him.

Mr. Patrick was married to Miss Mary Ann Cuningham, who was born February 5, 1850, at Philadelphia, a daughter of Wil- liam and Margaret (Hannalı), Cunning- ham, natives of Southern Pennsylvania. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick, namely: Margaret, who for- merly was treasurer of Burnside borough ; James D., who is deceased, is survived by four children who live with their grand-

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

father; Earl R., who is a miner, living at Burnside, married Etta Stuchcl; William E, who married Floy Tiger, has two chil- dren; LeRoy, who is deceased; Murray, who is a student in the veterinary depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania , and John A., who is a telephone lineman living at Pittsburg.

Politically Mr. Patrick is a Democrat. He is one of the most active members of the Burnside lodge of Odd Fellows and has passed through all the chairs, having united with it in 1882, and he belongs also to the Encampment and the Daughters of Re- becca. Mr. Patrick and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.

JAMES O. LEONARD,* who is a mem- ber of one of the old settled families of Clearfield county, was born on his present farm of 110 acres, in Girard township, in 1881, and has always lived here. He is a son of Oliver and Christine (Albright) Leonard.

Oliver Lenoard was born on the farm mentioned, on which his father had settled in 1831, and spent his life here engaged in agricultural pursuits, until his death, in June, 1905. He married Christine Albright, who was of German extraction and a native of Lancaster county. She still survives and is now in her seventieth year.

James O. Leonard has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since his school days ended and has taken pride in preserving and improving the estate which has been continuously in the family for eighty-nine years. His methods are those of the intelligent, well informed agricultur-

ist of present day, practical ideas. In ad- dition to being a successful farmer he is active in political matters and has satisfac- torily served two years as township super- visor and seven years as constable of Gir- ard township. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 341, Clearfield, and belongs also to the Gir- ard Grange. The Leonard farm is situated sixteen miles east of Clearfield.

On June 16, 1900, Mr. Leonard was mar- ried to Miss Fannie Krise, who was born, reared and educated in Girard township, a daughter of O. D. Krise, a well known resi- dent. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have six chil- dren who bear the following names: Irene, Christine, Alvin, Oliver, Thomas and Mary.

WILLIAM L. WISE, a foremost citi- zen of Knox township, who, for the past fourteen years has held the responsible of- fice of township treasurer, resides on his well improved farm of 100 acres, which is situated three miles west of Boardman, Pa. He was born in Ferguson township, Clear- field county, March 28, 1855, and is a son of William and Jane (Caldwell) Wisc.

William Wise was born in Center county, Pa .. a son of Conrad Wise. The family moved to Pike township, Clearfield county, in his early manhood and he remained with his parents until his marriage to Jane Cald- well, a daughter of Matthew Caldwell, a prominent farmer of this section. After marriage, William Wise and his wife set- tled in Ferguson township, where he ac- quired a farm of 150 acres, a great part of which he cleared by his own industry. This farm now belongs to the estate of the late

MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. WILKINSON

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Curtis Bell. William Wise also engaged in lumbering, and spent all of his life after marriage, in Ferguson township, where his death occurred in December, 1876, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a consist- ent member of the Lutheran church. In politics he was a Democrat but never entered into any contest for office. His widow lived to be eighty-four years of age and their remains rest side by side at New Millport. She was reared in the Presbyter- ian faith. Their children, ten in number, were as follows: D. A., who is a resident of Altoona, married Ruth McCracken; Susan, who is the wife of James R. Cupples and lives at Lumber City; Abbie, who is the widow of William R. Curry, of Pike township; Lavina, who is the wife of James Ferguson, lives in Ferguson township; Maggie, who is deceased, was the wife of James R. Bloom; George W., who died young ; Eliza, who is deceased, was the wife of John N. Hile, also deceased; Elmira E., who is the widow of Z. L. Hoover, resides at Clearfield; an infant son, deceased ; and William L.

William L. Wise, with his brothers and sisters, attended the public schools in Fer- guson township and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until his own mar- riage, ever since which time he has lived on his present farm in Knox township, all of which is under cultivation except ten acres in valu- able timber. He is not only one of the suc- cessful agriculturists of this section but he is also a very prominent and popular citi- zen. Since reaching manhood he has been interested in public matters in his township and on the Democratic ticket has been many times elected to office, serving as treasurer,

collector and auditor. He is one of the stockholders of the' Farmers' and Traders' National Bank of Clearfield.

In January, 1876, Mr. Wise was married first to Miss Samantha Glenn, who left one child, Vada. He was married second to Miss Olivia Mokel, a daughter of D. E. Mokel, of New Millport, and two sons were born to them: Lester Bryant, who died when aged twenty-three months; and Athol Verne, who, for three years has been in a brokerage office in Philadelphia. He is a graduate of Bucknell Univer- sity, and is married and resides at East Orange, N. J.

JOHN H. WILKINSON, who owns twen- ty-eight acres of land in Bigler Township, Clearfield County, where he is developing a val- uable coal mine, is a well known and highly respected citizen of this section. He was born in England, October 8, 1860, and is a son of John and Alice (Limb) Wilkinson.

The parents of Mr. Wilkinson were born in England and after coming to the United States, located at Osceola, Clearfield County, where the mother still resides, the father being now de- ceased. They had the following children : Mary, who is the wife of James McCrossin; Annie; John H .; Salina, who is the wife of Thomas Mays; Eliza, who is the wife of John Madison: Florence, wife of Mr. Ed- munds ; and Herbert.

John H. Wilkinson attended the common schools only and began work in the coal mines when young and coal mining has been his busi- ness ever since. On his own land he had de- veloped one mine and is opening up a second one and gives employment to six men. His prospects are encouraging, his coal being of

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

excellent quality and the vein seemingly inex- H., Joseph, Mary A. and Reuben, twins, Ferdinand and Isabella, twins, Austin, Lydia Jane, Elizabeth and Jack.

haustible.

In 1883 Mr. Wilkinson was married to Miss Martha Cowfer, a daughter of David Cowfer, of Center County, and she has the following brothers and sisters : Mary, Jane, George, Irvin, Rachel, Wall, William and May. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson the following children have been born: Rosella, who is the wife of John P. Martin; Florence, who is the wife of Philip Henry ; and Frank, Grace, George, Earl, Harry, Martha and Howard. In politics Mr. Wilkin- son is a Republican. He is a member of the fraternal order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the lodge at Houtzdale.

JOSEPH SEYLER, a representative citizen of Brady township, formerly auditor of the township and member of the school board, resides on his valuable farm of ninety-five acres and carries on general agri- culture. He was born in Brady township, June 10, 1843, and is a son of John H. and Sarah Fisher (Kirk) Seyler.

John HI. Seyler was born in Center county, Pa., a son of Michael Seyler. After the death of his mother the father moved to Clearfield county with his two sons, John H. and Joseph, locating in Brady township, one and one-half miles north of Luthiers- burg. The father died there and Joseph subsequently died at Rockton, Pa. John H. Seyler bought the farm and later sold a part of it to H. Aurand, but the other part belongs to the estate, John H. Seyler dying at Luthersburg, at the age of eighty-two years. He was survived for a short time by his widow, who died at the age of eighty- one years. To them ten children had been born, the record being as follows: James

Joseph Seyler assisted on the home farm and attended the country schools until seventeen years of age, when he learned the pottery trade and continued until he be- came a pottery owner, a member of the firm of Kirk, Porter & Seyler. In 1875 he bought the interests of his partners and conducted the business alone until 1895 when he retired from it and settled then on the farm which he had bought in the mean- while. He has resided here ever since his marriage and has carried on the usual farm industries with satisfactory results. A vein of coal is under his farm and it may prove a source of large income.

Mr. Seyler was married June 26, 1870, to Miss Frances Brockbank, a daughter of Thomas and Isabella (King) Brockbank, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Brock- bank settled first at Philadelphia and moved from there into Elk county and later came to Clearfield county, where he died in 1900, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother of Mrs. Seyler was born in 1824, and resides at DuBois, in the enjoyment of both physical and mental health. To Mr. and Mrs. Brockbank the following children were born: Frances Ann, who was born in England and was two years old when the family crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America, the journey consuming six weeks ; Mary, who married Charles Waugh; Mar- garet, who is the widow of A. Pence, once sheriff of Clearfield county ; S. T. and Jo- seph W., both of whom are deceased; and Isabella, who is deceased, was the wife of Austin Long.

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Mr. and Mrs. Seyler have eight children, namely: Mary Emma, who married Jack M. Greismer, and they have four children -Frances, Lenora, Alice and Fredericka, all residing at DuBois; Bertha, who mar- ried Henry Kirk, residing at Luthersburg, and they have five children-Francis, Plebe, Russell, Fred and Richard ; and Ber- nice, Olive, Eleazer, Lynn, Edgar and Har- bison, who is the home farmer. In politics Mr. Seyler is a Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the Grange at Luthersburg.

JAMES LEWIS WEAVER, who is en- gaged in the general mercantile business at Burnside, Clearfield county, Pa., a citizen who stands high in public esteem, was born June 10, 1858, in Burnside township, Clearfield county, and is a son of James H. and Sarah Ann (Campbell) Weaver.

James H. Weaver was born in Union county, Pa., December 23, 1816. When he was ten years old he accompanied his parents to Clearfield county and here obtained a dis- trict school education, according to opportu- nities offered at that time, and afterward en- gaged in farming and lumbering. In 1888 he moved to Burnside and resided here until his death, on March 2, 1905. His parents were John and Ruth (Zimmerman) Weaver, the former of whom was born in Northampton county, Pa., and died in Clearfield county, May 10, 1870. When fourteen years of age he started to learn the tailoring trade at Milton, Pa. In 1827 he moved into Clearfield county which was largely a wilderness at that time. He married Ruth Zimmerman, who was born May 8, 1788, and they had ten children born to them.

On May 30. 1843, James H. Weaver was

married to Sarah Ann Campbell, who was born March 23, 1821, and still survives, re- siding in the old homestead in Burnside bor- ough. Her parents were Thomas and Mary (Wheeland) Campbell, natives of Chester county, the former of whom was born Janu- ary 12, 1786, and the latter, September 12, 1792. To James H. Weaver and wife were born the following children: Henrietta, who is the wife of David Mitchell, of Curry Run, Pa .; Frances Emma, who is the wife of Thomas Mitchell, of Burnside; Mary K., who is the wife of Alvin Schaeffer, lives in the old homestead; Harriet Ruth, who is the wife of John L. Breth; John Thomas, who is de- ceased; and James Lewis. The venerable mother of this family is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, as was the father.

James Lewis Weaver attended school at Deer Run and later an academy at New Washington, under Prof. G. W. Innes, after which, like his father, he engaged in lumber- ing and farming. Iu 1890 he came to Burn- side and embarked in the general mercantile business, in which line he lias been quite suc- cessful and has a place among the foremost business men of the town. He has never taken any very active part in politics.

On March 21, 1882, Mr. Weaver was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Edith Black, who was born December 5, 1857, in Indiana county, Pa., a daughter of Samuel P. and Nancy (Craig) Black. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have two daughters, Sarah Inda and Nancy Emma, bothı of whom are capable young women with mod- ern ideas and both are entirely independent, the older daughter being a milliner and the latter a dressmaker. Mrs. Weaver set the ex- ample, having been a successful and valued

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

school-teacher prior to her marriage. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant church.

C. E. ERHARD, president of the Knox Township School Board, of which he has been a useful member for ten years, carries on gen- eral farming on 150 acres of excellent land, which belongs to his father. He was born in Knox township, Clearfield county, Pa., Feb- ruary 10, 1863.

Christian Erhard, the paternal grandfather, was born in Center county and before mar- riage came to Clearfield county and here the father of C. E. Erhard was born. When the latter reached manhood he married Elizabeth Straw, daughter of Christian Straw, of Fer- guson township, and ten children were born to them, as follows: Alvin; Maria, who is the wife of George Boyce; Emma, who is de- ceased, was the wife of David Bright; Edith J .; C. E .; C. V., who resides in Oregon ; Big- ler W., who is deceased, was formerly a teacher in Bedford county; B. W., a twin of Bigler W., who is a teacher in Bedford county ; J. A., who is a resident of Glassport, Alle- gheny county, married, first, Josephine Shaf- fer, and second, Clara Cesna; and Maude E., who is the wife of Clarence Bevens, of Jen- ners, Somerset county. After marriage, the parents of Mr. Erhard purchased a farm near New Millport and later, after the death of Grandfather Christian Erhard, the father of C. E. Erhard purchased the interests of the other heirs, in partnership with his brother Enoch. The farm is well improved and un- der its present management is a very produc- tive property. The father still survives, the mother dying May 24, 1901. He is one of the highly respected older residents of the town- ship.

C. E. Erhard was reared in the principles of the Democratic party, by his father, but in late years votes as his judgment directs. At all times, however, he has been a good citizen and is one so well qualified for office and so thor- oughly interested in the public schools that his fellow citizens have done themselves credit in retaining his services on the school board. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagles.

ELWOOD S. HENDERSON, a well known citizen of Burnside, whose occupation is the superintendency of planing-mill con- struction, was born in Burnside township, Sep- tember 25, 1854, son of John G. and Matilda (Trimbell) Henderson. John G. Henderson, the father, was born in Armstrong county, Pa. and is still living at the age of 82 years. At the age of 12 he was bound out to learn the carpenter's trade, and ten years later came to Burnside, where he followed his trade until 1904, when he retired from active industrial life. He married Matilda Trimbell, who died October 13, 1903, at the age of 66. Grand- father Henderson was killed by a threshing machine when our subject's father was a boy. Mr. and Mrs. Jolın G. Henderson were the parents of the following children: Elwood S., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Elizabeth, widow of L. H. Haney ; Lilly May, wife of J. H. Prothero of Punxsu- tawney, Pa .; and Della, wife of Samuel M. Wetzel, also of Punxsutawney.

Elwood S. Henderson, after his school days were over, took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed up to the age of 21 years. He then married, after which he followed his trade in connection with lumbering up to 1890. He was then appointed to a position as super-

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intendent of planing-mill work in portions of West Virginia and Maryland, and Burnside, which occupation he has continued until the present time. In 1874 he also became inter- ested indirectly in an undertaking business at Burnside. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Burnside. He votes the Prohibi- tion ticket and has held borough offices, serv- ing one term-in 1900-as burgess of Burn- side. He also served as councilman for eigh- teen years; as a member of the school board three years, and as constable two terms. Mr. Henderson is the oldest citizen born in the borough of Burnside.

Elwood S. Henderson married Mary Vir- ginia Conner, who was born February 15, 1856, at Diamondville, Indiana county, Pa., a daughter of John C. Conner. Her mother's maiden name was Anne Widdowson. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are the parents of two children : Zulah, a daughter, who was born the 31st of July, 1876; Harry, a son, born September 6, 1878, and died December 26. 1878; Zulah is now the wife of A. D. Mitch- ell, a meat market proprietor of Portage, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have four children- Lynn, Torrence, Pauline and Fredrick.

W. W. CATHCART, a prosperous agri- culturist of Knox township, who resides on his well improved farm of 100 acres, situated one and one-fourth miles east of Olanta, Pa., was born July 31, 1860, in Knox township, on an adjoining farm. His parents were James and Rachel (Flegal) Cathcart, the former of whom died July 27, 1884, and the latter, March 8, 1911. The Cathcart family is one of the old, prominent and substantial ones of this section.

W. W. Cathcart attended the Turkey Hill

school in Knox township in his youth and af- terward turned his attention to lumbering and farming. He lived at home until his marriage and for seven months afterward and then came to his present farm, which is a part of the old homestead, his father at one time hav- ing owned 600 acres of land. Mr. Cathcart has fifty acres of his land cleared and under cultivation and has erected substantial build- ings. He also has a mill on the place and does his own grinding and custom work for the neighborhood. He is a stockholder in the Knox Mutual Telephone Company and is one of the township's enterprising men.

In July, 1881, Mr. Cathcart was married to Miss Nora A. Dunlap, a daughter of John R. Dunlap, of Knox township, and they have had nine children, as follows: J. C., who as- sists his father on the home farm; Merna, who is in business for herself as a dressmaker; May, who married James Robbins; and Lewis G., Elva, Ralph, Cora and Howard, all at home; and an infant son, deceased. Mr. Cath- cart and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Turkey Hill. He is iden- tified with Lawrence Grange, in which he takes much interest and belongs also to the P. O. S. of A. and the P. O. of A., at Olanta, as does his wife and two of their sons, J. C. and Lewis G. In politics he is a prominent Republican and is chairman of the Knox Township Cen- tral Committee.

WILLIAM CHICK, whose farm of fifty acres is situated in Sandy township, two miles southeast of DuBois, has been a resident of Clearfield county since 1888, but he was born in England. His parents, William and Ellen Chick, are both deceased. He has one sister, Frances, who is the wife of John Charlton and they also live in Clearfield county.

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

William Chick had but few educational op- portunities when he was a boy and started to work in the coal mines in England when he was only eleven years of age. He came to America at the age of seventeen years and worked first in the mines in Luzerne county, Pa., later worked for six months in the mines in Carbon county and one year in the Adrian mines at Punxsutawney, Pa. In 1888 he came to DuBois and invested his savings in his present farm, purchasing from Harriet Bogle, and for several years afterward kept away from the mines, occupied entirely in cultivat- ing his land and in working in the woods. He subsequently turned his attention to the raising of poultry and has made a success of this busi- ness, going about it in a very practical way and making suitable preparations, including the building of a large poultry house, con- structed of concrete. He has excellent water facilities, plenty of running space for his fowls, and his present average of selling is 1,200 Plymouth Rock chickens a year. He has improved his place in every way, rebuild- ing the house and making his surroundings attractive.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 71

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